[Ivy H]

My 7 month old poodle puppy has been scratching since day one. He was on Purina Pro Plan Foucus. Had to switch to Royal Canin Gi for tummy issues. I don’t like ingredients and still itching so much. Searching for a good quality puppy food. Vet says he’s too young for allergy. I need an answer and cure for his scratching. My older poodle is on Holistic Select Salmon. Can anyone give me any suggestions

[anonymous]

I would go to another vet for a second opinion. The first thing you need is an accurate diagnosis, not a new dog food. I would consider going to a veterinary dermatologist and see what he advises…..
Food may not be the culprit.

[Susan]

Hi Ivy,
sounds like your dog could be sensitive too an ingredient in both foods he’s been eating whats the common ingredients thats in both kibbles Purina & Royal Canine? he’s been & is eating? for him to be on a Gi for tummy food for tummy issues sound like food senitivities to me, change vets, the Royal Canine Intestinal vet diet made my boy itch & smell real yeasty, does he smell yeasty & itch?? the R/C vet diet fixed Patch stomach & bowel problems but made him itch & smell bad, are you bathing in a medicated shampoo?
have a look at “Canidae” Pure Sea, Pure Wild, or Pure Sky these are very high in Omega fatty acid that will help his skin & have limited ingredients & has no chicken. https://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products click on link then scroll down a bit look to your right for “View All” click on this & the pages of all Canidaes formula’s start to come up
the “Holistic Select” Salmon grain free is a Puppy/adult formula why havent you tried that??
it helped my boys IBD & itchy skin but then after 3months he started being sick vomiting then I seen the Holistic Select Puppy/Adult G/F Salmon was on the worse top 10 highest kibbles for toxins & contaiminates list google “Pet Foods high in toxins” & you’ll see a link Pet food Study 1,084 pet pruducts from 80 different brands, just be careful when feeding a fish kibbles & start rotating your dogs kibbles between a few different brands so your dogs arent eating the same pet food 24/7… Canidae did really well when tested for Arsenic, Lead, Mercury, Cadmium & other contaminates…

Change his food to a grain free Limited ingredients, high omega 3 diet & see how he goes & if his tummy issues & itchy skin goes away & get a shampoo that’s anti-fungal, anti-bacterial medicated shampoo I use “Malaseb”medictaed shampoo it stops the itchy skin, kills any bacteria & yeasts that’s on skin & puts moisture back into their skin.
I feed “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mounation Roasted Lamb G/F only has Lamb Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas, Egg & Berries its an all life stages formula excellent for stomach/bowel problems & fixed Patch skin problems then once Patch was doing really well I started to rotate & feed “Canidae” Pure Wild & a few Ausralian made kibbles & I give my boy K-9 Natural freeze Dried Green Lipped Mussels 2 mussels a day…chewy sells them I also add Tin Salmon in spring water, I add 2 spoons salmon to 1 of his meals a day I give him Omega 3 thru foods cause he gets acid reflux when he has Fish/Salmon Oil capsules…keep us posted how he’s doing .

[Ivy H]

Hi Susan
I can’t thank you enough for all that great info. I love my vets but they really don’t know when it comes to food plus have not been helpful with his itching. It’s not normal for a puppy to scratch like this!
I was about to switch him to the Holistic Select as well and then I read what you said about how bad it can be. I will look that up and perhaps switch my other dog. I was reading that fish might be bad anyway. She had a a mass cell several years ago and all I wanted to do is feed her a good food. She has tummy and skin issues and this worked for her. But now I’m afraid. I want the best food for her as well.
The shampoo you mentioned can you buy it in the pet store? I will change his food and try your suggestions. He does have a slight smell. I thought its a puppy smell. But maybe it’s yeast. I’m don’t know? I just want him to be better and get to the bottom of it. So thanks again. I will let you know.

[pitlove]

Hi Ivy-

I didn’t see this mentioned anywhere, but has fleas or flea bite dermatitis been ruled out?

[Ivy H]

Hi
No he doesn’t have fleas. He’s on flea preventive and has been checked and rechecked. But of course I initially was thinking that too. Thanks for thought though

[pitlove]

And what about a flea bite allergy? It only takes one bite from a flea you never see (whether they are on prevention or not) to cause a full body reaction.

[Susan]

Hi Ivy,
the “Malaseb” Shampoo can be bought online Chewy… start bathing weekly or twice a week if real itchy & to wash off any allergens, yeast, bacteria that may be on the skin, Malaseb can be used daily if needed..

[Ivy H]

Hi Susan
Yes thanks so much I ordered the Malaseb shampoo on line from your advice. It was out everywhere but I did find it so I can’t wait for it to come. Hoping it will really help. In the meantime I will be switching foods. Thanks so much!

Pit love
You are right it only takes one flea bite to cause a full body reaction. And when I got him he had never been on fea prevention. I don’t like to give my dogs this stuff but I’ve had a terrible flea problem a few years back and my female is allergic to flea bites. She was on prevention at the time. Thanks

[Laurie P]

Do you suppose the flea preventative could be causing the all-over itching? I give my pets the standard chemical liquids so I’m not pushing “natural” flea products. I was just thinking that may be the only change the pup has had in his environment. I’d let him go at least 6 weeks between flea applications to see if that changes anything OR try a different brand.
Good luck! I know itching skin problems can but a HUGE source of concern and trouble!

[GSDsForever]

“Vet says he’s too young for allergy.”

I have had multiple dogs with allergies, food and otherwise, been advised by specialists and excellent experienced general practice vets, as well as done my own judicious research and I have NEVER heard that from any source. I would question that.

While my current dog has had the most challenging to figure out and overcome allergies I have personally encountered, she is now doing exceptionally well. We (my vet & I) have used a multi-pronged approach for this dog that has both food and environmental allergies.

I agree w/anon — see a different vet, get a second opinion and get an accurate diagnosis based on good, solid veterinary knowledge and experience, a specialist as needed. Ask for a referral to the specialist if necessary. A good generalist vet should be happy to refer.

Pitlove also makes a good point. Fleas aren’t a big challenge where I live, but I do know that flea bite allergies (even from a single flea when you don’t see fleas, flea dirt) are a major cause of allergies/itching for many dogs.

This is the protocol for my dog, some or all of which may be helpful to your dog if you haven’t tried something (or the combined approach):

1)DIET
Novel Protein (10-12 weeks to see results) Limited Ingredient Diet — homemade or from a company with very strict allergen/cross-contamination AND NOT ONE DEMONSTRATED IN VET JOURNALS TO BE CROSS-CONTAMINATED ALREADY (Royal Canin, Natural Balance, Nature’s Variety/Instinct, et. al.)

— and ABSOLUTELY NO treats, supplements, “real”/”people” food, medicines (i.e. heartworm preventatives), or even chew/dental toys (i.e. Nylabone) that contain the established top food ingredient allergens for dogs (beef, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy, wheat, soy, corn). I treat w/her actual food or low allergen potential real food (i.e. blueberries, green beans, watermelon)

***Because I feed kangaroo — having needed a more unusual, rare protein source — I feed Zignature Kangaroo LID (GF) dry & canned food.

I also supplement, per vet prescription, Omega 3 EPA & DHA at a high, therapeutic/condition treating dose daily for anti-inflammatory effects, plus skin, coat, brain benefits — and I use Grizzly’s Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil in pump bottle.

2)ENVIRONMENT:

a)Frequent thorough bathing w/very hypoallergenic and gentle shampoo & skin soothing, skin repairing/barrier protective, etc. ingredients

b)frequent washing of dog’s bedding, etc. in hypoallergenic laundry detergent

c)frequent vaccuuming (pollen, dust/particulates, etc.)

d)hypoallergenic wet wipes wipe down of whole dog, especially paws (or dunking/rinsing paws off), after all walks & trips outside (pollen, dust/particulates, etc.)

Finally — consider & don’t overlook your own personal care/cleaning products that may cause allergic responses in your dog.

3)Cytopoint (aka CADI) injections, every 4-8 weeks as needed, seasonally or otherwise

I researched, considered, and rejected two other rx allergy/itch meds, Apoquel and Atopica.

I also researched and considered trials of 4 (recommended #) OTC antihistamines (e.g. benadryl, zyrtec/cetirizine).

I tried the above all in that order, before adding the next step.

We also tried once, but didn’t receive good relief and diagnostic results from a steroid injection — to see if she had seasonal environmental only allergies vs. food/combination.

[GSDsForever]

Ivy,

If helpful to you, the shampoo & treatment rinse I use are Tropiclean’s OxyMed. And I keep on hand and occasionally use the companion OxyMed anti-itch spray.

My vet & I like these, and they have been covered by my doggie health insurance (along with the Omega 3 and Cytopoint).

I use a (privately available) show coat conditioner additionally, between baths diluted spray of the same, that’s hypoallergenic also. But that’s more just to combat dry skin (particular to my breed & environment) and help maintain a gorgeous soft, shiny coat.

[GSDsForever]

Ivy,

This article from a board certified veterinary dermatologist (specialist), discussing itchy dogs and allergies might also be helpful:

http://beta.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?pId=17256&catid=93480&id=4951526

Good luck!

[Bridget F]

Do you happen to have creeping charlie in your yard? We had the same problem with our Mini Aussie. I was convinced it was the food… and come to find out it was the creeping charlie. His allergies do not subside until we get snow cover and he doesn’t touch it.

[Author]

Posts