[Amy W]

I recently adopted a gassy little bat-pig (Maddie) myself and switched her from ProPlan to Origen. She too has allergies, which have cleared up tremendously. I also have her on an allergy med, so I can’t tell you how much the food helped. Her coat was nice before, but absolutely glistens now. There is also less gas. I hear Frenchies are a notoriously flatulent breed, but the gas has noticeably diminished. My girl LOVES her food and stools are formed but soft. So far, I would say I am pretty happy with Origen. My dog looks great, seems satisfied after eating, and has tons of energy.

I’m a seasoned cat mom and new to dog ownership I am really enjoying learning from everyone.

[Joanna Y]

I’m looking for a lean dry dog food that is not chicken based.
I currently have my 2 dogs on the Annamaet Lean – which has great reviews – but I think they are allergic to chichen.

Any recommendations?

Thank you

[Anonymous]

My dog with allergies does best on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea (no grains, no potato). But since receiving care by a specialist/dermatologist she can tolerate a variety of foods as her allergies are environmental. She had IDT (Intra Dermal Testing) and has responded well to ASIT (Allergen Specific Immunotherapy)
Some info here: http://www.mspca.org/vet-services/angell-boston/dermatology/allergy-testing.html

PS: I sometimes bathe her twice a week (approved by the specialist) with Malaseb or Antifungal dog shampoo by GNC I like the lavender smell.

Check the search engine here /forums/search/allergies/
I don’t agree with all of the opinions expressed. Hope this helps.
More info here: http://www.allergydogcentral.com/category/symptoms/

[Laura S]

I have a 22 mo. old female frenchie, Stella. I am searching for a new high quality kibble that is grain free and potato free. She has horrific allergies and is on Atopica. Allergy tests were pretty inconclusive with what she is allergic to. She is also a very picky eater. She was on Amicus, which she liked, but about every 2 to 3 weeks she would have awful bouts of diahrrea. So I started transitioning her to Acana Pork & Butternut squash and now she has terrible gas. I have also tried Grandma Lucy’s PureFormance in the past and it made her vomit. I think this food was too heavy handed on the garlic. So I’m not sure what is making her gassy that is in the Acana, perhaps the garbanzo beans??? The Amicus and Acana both have red lentils so it shouldn’t be that. Also, her vet put her on a food trial a while back of Royal Canin Duck & Potato and it completely constipated her and made her really sick. Any suggestions would be welcome. Kind of at a loss at this point as to what to feed her that will not cause ear infections, gas, etc. I do give her a probiotic too.

[Anonymous]

/forums/search/allergies/

Above link found via the search engine here. I don’t necessarily agree with some of the opinions expressed.
Hope this helps.

[Susan]

She may have more environment allergies, if the raw didn’t really help, I saw a change with 2 days when I started to feed a raw diet…..When you did the allergy testing did you do the “Glacier Peak Holistic” Salvia & Hair testing, it tests for 100+ Environment triggers & 200+ food items for $85….. http://www.glacierpeakholistics.com/More-Than-an-Allergy-Test_p_80.html …

[Elyse M]

Ok, new to this site and need help!!

Bella’s history. Adopted at 3-years-old from shelter. No history.
Switched to grain free (Wellness), then to Merrick BG in November 2011. Switched to Acana Pacifica in May 2012.

She has had numerous health issues, but we have battled allergies from the start. This spring I ran the Heska environmental/food panel. She came back allergic to sweet potato, peas, and flax. I put her on raw diet to see if it would help iron out these issues. We don’t notice an allergy difference and now I am treating salmonella. I also have a 15 month old human child at home. I can’t continue raw.

So KNOWING she can’t tolerate sweet potato, peas, or flax- any suggestion on kibble? Or is my best bet to cook for her?

[alberta H]

Hello we have a 13 year old 1/2 mini 1/2 regular dachshund. She has had several bouts of pancreatitis even though she has been on strict diets. We have tried several dog foods including those recommended by the vet. Has to be low fat and moderate protein. Finding a canned dog food that fits that is about wore me out. The vets last recommendation almost killed her with her worst bout yet. It was kibble with hydrolized protein. She nearly died. Then did an allergy test and found she is allergic severly to some of thing things int he past dog foods. Including, RICE, corn, venison, kangaroo. Chicken is just below 100 at 90 so that is close but could be used. The other things she is ok with low on the allergy list is pork and lamp but the fat content prevents that. So we are no searching for a homemade recipe but having difficulties since many of the home made recipes we see are with rice. So, is there anything anyone has come up with that could be used (hopefully a specific recipe) Low fat, moderate protein, no rice or corn. Thank you to anyone that can help. We are so desperate.

[Kevin R]

Hi all. I appreciate the suggestions and insight. As far as the Greenies, she hasn’t had any in several days and I don’t plan on giving her anymore. I did get a referral to dermatologist yesterday, so I may go ahead and do this so I can at least have a better idea on what she is allergic to. Her allergies seem to be year round, so I don’t know. To me, this seems like something she is eating or something in my house. But we’ll see. As far as her food, i would still like to switch it, but I would like to see what the dermatologist office says when I call. I guess it depends on how soon they can get me an appointment.

[Pitlove]

Hi Kim- Seems like a lot is happening at a fast pace with your foster. Went from being fine on Diamond to itching and loose stool in 2 weeks. The loose stool could certainly be food. My dog (and my cat actually) let me know very quickly via their “output” whether or not something is agreeing with them. My cat will throw up instantly if she eats beef and my dog will have diaherra (sometimes explosive) if a food doesn’t agree with him and he gets very bad gas on beef.

For his upset stomach; if he has been eating Diamond his whole life, he probably doesn’t have a diverse enough amount of microflora in his gut to handle the diet change. If you didn’t tranistion him to Earthborn, that is most likely the cause of the diaherra. If you did, you might have needed to give him more time switching. If you gave him even more than 7 days to switch, maybe there is some stress playing a role from the rehome?

For the itching; there could be an ingredient that he is intolerant to in the Earthborn that’s not in whichever Diamond Naturals you were feeding. Compare the 2 ingredient panels and see if something jumps out at you as being different. Look at everything including stuff lower on the list. You can certainly try to go back to Diamond and see if that helps. Or a food that mimics the ingredients if you want to stay away from Diamond.

Not sure where you live or if he came to you from a different state, but down in LA where I live, environmental allergies in dogs is like an epidemic because of the climate. So it could be a change in climate depending on where you live or where he’s from.

If you want you can almost treat him like hes an 8 week old puppy and just keep his food the same til he adjusts. Sometimes going to a new home especially for a dog thats in foster care can be hard on them. Keeping him on Diamond will also give you an idea if it’s the food or the environment. If he goes back to no itching and diaherra, it’s probably the food. If the diaherra clears up, but the itching continues it could be the environment.

On one last note, make sure you check him for fleas as well. Akitas have some pretty intense coats that fleas can hide in, so really look hard for them. Just in case.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by Pitlove.

[Anonymous]

Please check the search engine here: /forums/search/allergies/
Lots of information that you may find helpful, come back if you have more questions.

This is from one of the SkeptVet’s blogs, an excerpt from a response to a comment about allergies. Hope this helps.

“In general, diet trial involve picking a new primary protein source and strictly eliminating all others for 2-3 months before any change is likely to be seen. And there are many sources of allergies besides food proteins, so diet change may not dramatically improve symptoms, in which case other causes have to be investigated. I would strongly suggest working closely with your regular veterinarian or, if it is possible for you, with a board-certified veterinary dermatologist. Allergies require lifelong management tailored to the individual needs of the particular patient, and there is no simple or quick solution”.

NuVet Supplement=Same Old Snake Oil

Anther site: http://www.allergydogcentral.com/category/symptoms/

Integrating Myths and Nonsense with Standard Advice for Allergic Pets

excerpt is from above link (click for full blog and comments)
“There is no research to suggest that the saliva testing is useful for identifying food allergies. It is sold based on questionable theory and anecdotes, which have little evidentiary value. And as far as uncontrolled testing, at least one dermatologist has run the test in dogs with confirmed food allergies responsive to diet change, and the test results were highly inaccurate”.
Other blogs that you might find helpful: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2015/07/no-vet-for-my-pet-veterinary-nurses-can-sell-woo-too/

Canine Nutrigenomics by Dr. Jean Dodds: Science as Windowdressing

[Kim D]

Any suggestions, ideas will be much appreciated!
Fostering dog for 2 weeks, he was on food from rescue Diamond Naturals, I didn’t like amount and way poop looked and he was extremely thin, but no itchies. Also he came from a mostly concrete environment to country life…aka lots of grass.
I switched to Earthborn Holistic (because I had no idea the WHOLE other premium dog food market even existed before 2 weeks ago)
He started chewing at his paws, then legs, then all over itchy.
Now hots spots on legs from chewing, massive hair loss (which I know for AKitas happens 2x/year).
Diarrhea last Friday – Sunday. Fed only rice water, rice and chicken…still itchy.
Back on Earthborn and started Vitahound introduction.
Being a rescue, I am sure his prior food was not the best quality. BUT he did NOT have these sores. Could it actually be seasonal allergies that would take 2 weeks to show up or is it change in food?
I would love any recommendations for a dry kibble that could help with skin problems and help him gain healthy weight. I just feel like there is still way too much information to digest!!!! Thank you in advance!

[Madelon H]

Hey Susan – well I have been on a roller coaster ride with Doc for sure!! After all of your information and my own researching I reached out to Nature’s Logic – I really liked that the founder of the company immediately emailed me himself and without me going into detail about EPI and SIBO he said Doc needed a diet low carb/low natural sugar diet which their food is. The bags say 5% fiber but Dog Food Advisor put it at 4% and the company says it’s between 3-5% but the bag has to have the “max”. So I tried the chicken – he did okay, then i tried sardine (noticed a lot of acid reflux) and we are trying the rabbit now. My vet said to give a food 2 full weeks before deciding if it works or not – I haven’t been doing that 🙁 During this time I was finally able to take a poop sample in with the “worm” – the other vet at the practice who i like much better said she finally saw it and it’s DEFINITELY not tapeworm – which is great but unfortunately Doc had been given 4 doses of Droncit and I believe he’s allergic to Droncit – immediately after getting it his ears flare up and he becomes really itchy and vomits bile. SO of course I feel horrible – she said it looks like fly larvae – we are stumped about him passing live fly larvae – we sent it out for testing and are awaiting the results. What i’ve read online I believe it’s called pseudomyiasis – I think he’s getting it from eating rabbit poop or grass where flies have deposited their eggs and the eggs have hatched and Doc eats it – he LOVES rabbit poop. Anyway, I realized he was passing live larvae I took him in for a full rectal exam and through once over – I asked her to check his ear (I had been asking the other vet but he never did) – came back positive 4 out of 4 for yeast, bacteria and rod in the left ear and 1 out of 4 for yeast in the right ear and he has a yeast infection between his toes. We are not sure if this is from the Droncit or the Tylan that he’s been on or if he could be allergic to yeast altogether. After his first bout of SIBO as a puppy he was put on Royal Canin LF Gastro kibble and did fine then switched to Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Developmental (rx) then switched to Royal Canin GSD Puppy – he did GREAT. SO, I’m thinking the yeast infections he currently has is from the Droncit. We’ve given him a bath with medicated shampoo for his yeasty paws but he is still itchy on his body – his ears are doing much better and his paws but still itchy on the body – not sure if that’s food related or environmental. SO I decided to go back to what worked last time and I bought the RC Gastro kibble and am going to mix that with the rabbit food and get him completely on the RC Gastro and wean off the Tylan (he’s been on it for 60 days). Then I’m going to keep him on the RC Gastro for with a probiotic (doesn’t appear there is any in the kibble) for a month or two and let his insides settle down then I’m thinking about trying the RC GSD Adult (when I read the description it talks about low fermentable foods, etc – it actually sounds like a good food – fiber is a bit high but if it works it works) – I’ve spent hundreds in dog foods that I have sitting half eaten or unopen altogether at this point and am tired of dealing with it and feeling badly for poor Doc.

[Anonymous]

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2011/09/integrating-myths-and-nonsense-with-standard-advice-for-allergic-pets/ (excerpt below)
Bottom Line
Allergies are a serious medical problem that causes a great deal of suffering for pets and their owners. Causes are complex and involve both genetic, developmental, and environmental factors, and symptoms tend to come and go unpredictably, which makes evaluating the effects of any particular intervention challenging. While there are many safe and effective therapies that can help manage allergy symptoms, there is no cure. Only complete avoidance of the antigens the individual is allergic to can eliminate symptoms entirely, and this is often not possible. No treatment that has any benefit is completely without risks, and the risks and benefits must always be carefully and rationally weighed.

The variability and chronicity of the symptoms and the complexity of the causation create fertile ground in which to sow myths and misconceptions about causes and treatments, as this article does vigorously. Providing treatments based on sound scientific understanding of the physiology of allergies and supported by reliable scientific evidence of safety and efficacy is the best way to help patients with this serious condition. Myths about allergy causes and treatments that are without a rational, scientific foundation or any real evidence of safety and efficacy are not legitimate “choices” or “options” to offer pet owners looking for real help. Integrating unproven methods and outright nonsense with established allergy therapies doesn’t add value or reduce risks, it diminishes our ability to help these patients and their human families.

[Anonymous]

@Kevin R, and anyone else that has a pet that is suffering from allergies:

Integrating Myths and Nonsense with Standard Advice for Allergic Pets

excerpt is from above link (click for full blog and comments)
“There is no research to suggest that the saliva testing is useful for identifying food allergies. It is sold based on questionable theory and anecdotes, which have little evidentiary value. And as far as uncontrolled testing, at least one dermatologist has run the test in dogs with confirmed food allergies responsive to diet change, and the test results were highly inaccurate”.
Other blogs that you might find helpful: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2015/07/no-vet-for-my-pet-veterinary-nurses-can-sell-woo-too/

Canine Nutrigenomics by Dr. Jean Dodds: Science as Windowdressing

[Pitlove]

Hi Kevin- If you aren’t sure what she is allergic to your going to beat your head into a wall and kill your wallet switching foods to figure out what works. Trust me. If her symptoms mirror those of an evironmental allergy (my vet said licking the paws is the key one) you are better off going to a dermatologist and at least doing a consulation and going from there. Testing for enviromental allergies would be a good idea, but if you are worried about money at all, I would still at least have a meeting with a dermatologist to have him/her look at your girls skin etc. Thats what I plan to do.

To do a proper test for food allergies/intolerances you would need to conduct a very strict elimination diet. They can be diffcult and time consuming, but it’s the gold standard for diagnosing food allergies/intolerances. I would cut the Greenies out for now. You can try changing the food. My vet suggested a fish based food and so far its been working well.

[Dori]

MaggiesDad I just checked Allprovide’s site and there has been a great improvement to the site. Unfortunately I will not be visiting your manufacturing site nor ordering your food. Reason being that one of my dogs is intolerant of all fowl. The only food I would have been able to order would have been the beef but after reading the ingredients I see that the beef contains turkey.

One of my pet peeves and one that I find incredibly annoying is when companies label their foods and picture on their packaging one protein actually contain more than one protein. Your Beef Formula is listed on your site as only Beef and Vegetables but when you check out the ingredients I found that the second ingredient is turkey. Why not just label it beef, turkey and vegetables. Many many companion animals are allergic, intolerant and/ or sensitive to not only chicken but all fowl. All of your other products are chicken based. Hopefully at some point you’ll add single proteins to your product line. At that point I’ll reconsider Allprovide as a food in rotation at our house.

[Anonymous]

My dog with allergies does best on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea. But since receiving care by a specialist/dermatologist she can tolerate a variety of foods as her allergies are environmental. She had IDT (Intra Dermal Testing) and has responded well to ASIT (Allergen Specific Immunotherapy)
Some info here: http://www.mspca.org/vet-services/angell-boston/dermatology/allergy-testing.html

PS: I sometimes bathe her twice a week (approved by the specialist) with Malaseb or Antifungal dog shampoo by GNC I like the lavender smell.

Check the search engine here for more info: allergies.
Hope this helps.

[Kevin R]

Hi all, I just wanted to reach out as I’m looking for a good food for my 9 year old Westie. She is a very allergic dog, but I’m not certain what all to. I believe its mostly environmental and dust, but maybe some foods. We had blood allergy tests done a few years back, but I’m not sure how accurate it was. In the past, she has been on steroids a few times and then ultimately Atopica. Also, I usually bathe her about once a week with Malaseb, but sometimes I may wait a little longer if she doesn’t appear to need a bath. Anyways, I’m trying to get her off of the Atopica completely if possible. Currently, her skin is somewhat “yeasty” and she may have a vaginal infection which I’m taking her to the vet for. Currently she is eating the Royal Canin prescription food “Venison and Potato.” I recently started giving her some supplements found in this Westie diet here – http://www.westierescueca.com/diet.htm, but I’m not certain if their ingredients would be aggravating any yeast issues she’s having. I had been giving her Greenies treats as well, but I’m looking to eliminate this as well if needed. I recently got some Orijen freeze dried duck treats since its just duck in the ingredients. I guess my question is what be a good food to try if I change her diet completely and should I look for a low glycemic food? Should I add any supplements? Thanks in advance for your help.

[Anonymous]

I tried homemade, I have the time…but it’s just too much work.
I think if you find a kibble that agrees with your dog and add water or presoak (if needed) it’s fine as a base. You can always add to it.

Some info here: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

PS: Now that my dog’s allergies (treated by a specialist/dermatologist) are under control, she can eat a variety of foods without any problems.

If you want to tackle homemade: http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

[Michelle B]

Please do not judge. Presently I have a Great Dane, 3yrs old she is my 6th, last 3 rescued. I got my last 5 from the same rescue the last 3 being full rescues not bred. The full rescues have all had severe health issues. Presently feeding the 3 yr old Evangers rabbit and pork, frog legs because I need only meats, no grains, potatoes, fish, chicken, beef, rice, egg, starches, etc but I am only finding Evangers to be the only source. She is autoimmune thyroiditis and autoimmune pemphigus hence the need for no grains/starches. I have been a reader for a while so I know all about Evangers but my baby needs to eat. Having the autoimmune pemphigus she needs 3 proteins in her diet to not become allergic. Recently we lost beef, in the past we have lost chicken, turkey, pheasant, duck, lamb. She is starting to react to the pork which makes me nervous. One of her thyroid meds is armor the other soloxine so it could be the constant armor that is causing the pork issues. Any and all help would greatly be appreciated, thank you!

[Anonymous]

May I suggest you use the search engine, this topic has been discussed many times:
/forums/search/allergies/
/forums/search/struvite/

Hope this helps

[Diana W]

Our 4 year old rescue Maltese (adopted in December 2014) has struvite crystals in his urine. I was feeding Acana Pork and Butternut Squash but now vet put him on Royal Canin SO. So many articles that I have read state that diet doesn’t change struvite crystals. He is also very itchy and I don’t like feeding SO because it’s not grain-free. This is very confusing. Does anyone have any suggestions how to simplify diet for Casper? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

@Melisssa S.
This is from one of the SkeptVet’s blogs, an excerpt from a response to a comment about allergies, I think it encapsulates what I was trying to say. Hope this helps.

“In general, diet trial involve picking a new primary protein source and strictly eliminating all others for 2-3 months before any change is likely to be seen. And there are many sources of allergies besides food proteins, so diet change may not dramatically improve symptoms, in which case other causes have to be investigated. I would strongly suggest working closely with your regular veterinarian or, if it is possible for you, with a board-certified veterinary dermatologist. Allergies require lifelong management tailored to the individual needs of the particular patient, and there is no simple or quick solution”.

NuVet Supplement=Same Old Snake Oil

[Andrea P]

I have a cocker spaniel that has allergies to wheat, corn, egg and chicken. I am currently feeding Merrick Backcountry and he’s never felt better, but with Purina picking it up.. it makes me nervous.. and I want to know about other brands out there aside from Orijen and Acana..
Thanks!

[Andrea P]

Hello! I am currently feeding Merrick BackCountry, but if Purina changes the formula I am going to change brands. It was hard enough finding one my dog did really well on.. does anyone know of any brands that have more than one flavor of dog food that is grain free, chicken, and egg free? No matter how any of them are processed, cooked, whatever, my dog reacts to them. Aside from Acana and Orijen, what else is out there?

[Kimberly W]

Hi all,

I have a puppy-mill Boston Terrier female named Lexie. I got her at 1 year old and she was in bad shape – demodex mange being one of the issues. We got rid of the mange, but she itches almost constantly still ….. especially mid-back and butt. Her tail has a spot where she’s rubbed all the hair off and now it’s like a callous there. I’ve tried all different proteins (even ground raw venison!) and grain-free foods, allergic injections, prednisone ….. even trying an immuno-therapy serum for common Florida allergens. She’s currently on Apoquel at $2 per DAY ….. it does help, but she still itches. I liked the idea of the Dinovite supplement + the raw diet they promote and switched her over VERY slowly. My first box of Dinovite lasted over 60 days. Lexie has a very touchy tummy and I didn’t want her to get sick. She seemed to do okay with the supplement and the diet, but we noticed that only the Apoquel made her scratch less. And by no means did the scratching stop ….. :/

So, into the 2nd box of Dinovite, Lexie started spitting up after eating. This had happened all along, but just once in awhile – now she was doing it after almost every meal. And it wasn’t RIGHT AFTER she ate, it was hours afterwards. Like we were sleeping at 3am and she’d vomit in the bed with us. And it was always GREEN. Like she was just spitting up just the Dinovite. We weaned her back onto the white fish based kibble she’d been on (that we were sure didn’t make her sick) and just put the Dinovite in that – thinking we’d eliminate the chance that it was the raw food. She STILL would vomit only green stuff.

I’m at my wits end here. I hate thinking she’s miserable. We have really tried a ton of stuff, but I think something in the Dinovite is making her sick. I’m wondering if all the time she was on the raw diet, it was moving the toxins from the crappy food she was fed (before I got her) OUT of her body and then, the grain (sorghum) in the Dinovite finally made her sick????

I wish I could post a picture – she looks SO good – hair is all grown in from where the demodex had her bald, so glossy she shines in the sun ….. everyone comments on how beautiful she is ….. but she itches. Almost all the time. Doesn’t lick her paws and her skin doesn’t smell at all, her ears are pretty pink inside ….. no yeast that I can see manifesting itself on her body anywhere. When I scratch her back where you can obviously tell it itches the MOST, there is some dandruff that comes out. She has no fleas and I’ve washed her with DermaBenss shampoo – as suggested by my vet – for the flaking skin ….. but when that didn’t work, I used a soap-free emu oil shampoo that’s FOR DRY SKIN and that didn’t help either.

This is what a meal looks like for Lexie:

1/2 cup of white fish based kibble – NO GRAINS (no corn, wheat or soy)
3 pumps of Yummy Chummies salmon oil
baked sweet potato or canned pumpkin
2 capsules of food enzymes (opened and sprinkled on the food)
Drs. Foster and Smith adult vitamin
vitamin E capsule – 400IU
***Also, before bed, I’m giving Lexie 2 capsules of bifidophilus, to help repopulate the good bacteria in her intestines.***
***We only use one kind of treats – Yummy Chummies Grain Free treats made with 95% salmon + potato and pea flour.***

The food we are using scores a 3.5 star on the food advisory list and I’m willing to buy her a 5 star food, but am not sure that food is her only issue. Does anyone have ANY suggestions for me? I’d be very grateful for any ideas that I haven’t already explored. Another supplement? A different shampoo? Anything I haven’t thought of or don’t know how to look for? I’ve even wondered if the itching is just a HABIT and maybe she doesn’t know how to stop ….. :/

Thanks for any thoughts!!!!

• This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by Kimberly W.

[Pitlove]

Red- You said: “I wouldn’t worry too much about the food right now, the skin condition/allergies might not even be related to it. I would make seeing the dermatologist the #1 priority. One thing at a time.
I understand where your uncle is coming from, some dogs do okay on a low quality food, but some don’t. See what the vet says. Paying more doesn’t always mean it’s better!”

I said: “As for the recommendation from Red to essentially continue feeding Purina Dog Chow- That is on you. If you feel Dog Chow is a low quality food (most of us here except for a few would agree) then switch”

“Misinterpreting the comments and opinions of other posters does not help anyone
And it reflects poorly upon the person doing it.”

^This does not apply at all. You told her not to worry about changing foods. I did not misterpret anything you said. And I gave a good response that did not belittle your suggestion at all. You are overreacting to my comment, which reflects poorly on you, not me.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by Pitlove.

[Anonymous]

“I didn’t know there were dermatologists for dogs. I wonder if I can just go see one instead of a vet? They might know more than a vet would maybe”?

Yes, you can, and I was going to suggest that. What area are you in (state)? You can call the nearest veterinary school, often they have specialists or will know where to refer you.
Bring whatever records you have, negative heartworm test if you have it, proof of last rabies ( the only vaccination required by law). The only thing is…if they think the dog needs some lab work to rule out medical issues….but they probably have regular vets there too. Has the dog seen a vet in the last couple of years?

I wouldn’t worry too much about the food right now, the skin condition/allergies might not even be related to it. I would make seeing the dermatologist the #1 priority. One thing at a time.

I understand where your uncle is coming from, some dogs do okay on a low quality food, but some don’t. See what the vet says. Paying more doesn’t always mean it’s better!
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/ I have learned a lot from this site (link)

PS: I’d rather be an outdoor dog instead of an indoor dog that was crated all day 😉

[Pitlove]

Hi Melissa-

I completely understand what you are going through. My pitbull just went to a new vet we are trying out today for his first meeting with her because of his skin problems. We talked and she examined him and confirmed my feeling that his skin problems were due to environmental allergies. She thinks food might play a small role in his issues, but it’s not major. She refered us to a dermatologist. My point in all of this is that all we paid for today was the exam fee. She did not push Hill’s on us (though she mentioned it), did not do any testing that we did not authorize on him. It was simply just a consultation if you will about whats going on with my boy. You can do that as well. You are not obligated to spend money that you don’t want to spend at a vet’s office. Any good vet will not just throw meds and prescription diets at you without a proper consultation first. I think this would be a good route to go as it sounds like you are dealing with some pretty intense skin problems.

Best of luck!

[jazzyems]

A little over a week ago I noticed my Boxer/American Bulldog had a lump on her nose. She already had a boney bump like some boxer’s do but this is above it. I thought it was a mosquito, bug or even bee bite and gave her Benadryl and made her a baking soda paste for itching or swelling. She Still has it. It’s soft to the touch and when I lightly press on it she sneezes. I know that she sometimes has allergies but this is new. I ran out of the Great Life Probiotics enzymes for about 2 weeks and started to give it to her, this is the second day of getting her back on them.. I’m a bit nervous about this does anyone have any ideas what this could be?

[Anonymous]

http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

Did you try the search engine : /forums/search/allergies/

[Melissa S]

My pitbull, Ktulu, is having really bad skin problems. Just recently her right ear also became crusty and irritated on the inside. This has happened before to both of her ears, once. We cleaned them out with Keto (we have a prescription from the vet) and it never returned. Until now. She’s also always had skin issues on her stomach and flanks.

It’s gotten incredibly worse and her skin has become darkly pigmented, has lost hair, and I know she’s miserable. She smells like dog. Not like yeast or cheese or stinky feet. Another thing to keep in mind is that because of our living situation, the dogs must stay outside at all times. (Yeah, I know. I hate it, but this isn’t my house and we can’t afford to move to our own)

We haven’t taken her to the vet for this, because I’m afraid they’re going to try and do all kinds of unnecessary tests and give us drugs that won’t work or try to get us to buy Hills Science Diet (which I’m not a fan of at all). Although, I’m thinking that I will, just to see if they’ll take cultures and help us determine if this is a yeast issue (I think it is, along with allergies).

Now, that’s not really my issue. My issue is my partner thinks what we feed our dogs is just fine (Purina Dog Chow-please don’t judge us!). I’ve never liked it, but with our limited budget and our dogs liking it, I thought that it was okay for the time being. Well, the time being has passed and I can’t take it anymore. I’m even considering giving the dogs to people who can properly take care of them (ie. have more money).

If I were to start with a homemade diet, where do I actually start? How expensive is it really going to be? How do I make sure my dogs are getting all the required nutrients? Do you think this is the best route to go considering her skin issues?

I was looking into already prepared raw and freeze-dried, but with how large both of my dogs are, it’s out of the question regarding costs. Also, I want to make sure that I can pinpoint any food allergies as well, and so many of these commercially prepared foods have tons of ingredients.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Pitlove]

Hi Aimee-

Thanks for your response. The vet we were seeing vaguely suggested an elimination diet for my boy because she believes he has not only environmental allergies, but food “allergies” as well (her words). However, she made no effort to explain how to do an elimination diet to me. She told me to pick one food (I’ve been rotating) and feed it for 3 months. Thats all she said. I should have asked more questions, but she quickly moved on to another subject. Nevertheless he has an appointment with a new vet today for a sore on his neck and I’m going to have her look at the bumps he has and the dry flakey patches where his hair is falling out.

[Anonymous]

I suspect that your vet will need to do some additional testing to properly diagnose and treat your dog. Might cost a few bucks, but it is what it is.

The symptoms you describe could be anything from a nervous habit, to a GI issue, to allergies, or even cancer. Just to name a few things.

See if you can negotiate with your vet, rule out one thing at a time?

[Leslie J]

Thanks so much zcRiley for sharing your experience with Zignature! Even though mine have lost a bit a weight since starting on Zignature, they do look much better and there is absolutely ZERO gas, which, to me, is a good sign that they aren’t having tummy troubles. I’m hoping that going grain free will also help ease the symptoms of ragweed allergies. We’ll see in a few weeks if it does! Give your pups a smooch for me!! Thanks again!

[zcRiley]

I switched my pups over to Zignature Zssentials when they became allergic to Orijen Adult (ingredient change probably). I decided to avoid chicken, egg and potato which was near impossible to find. They lost weight but in a good way, the baby fat, bloated bellies and gas disappeared and they’re nice and lean. The poop is more but firm and healthy. They’re 75 lbs each and eat 3 3/4 cup each, not including soft canned as a topper. Since birth, I’ve never fed them grain food.

[Pitlove]

There is still no reason to completely denounce something that could potentially give a allergy dog owner a jumping off point and for 85$ it is worth a shot.

I just helped a couple at work with a lab with allergies and the woman was due to give birth tomorrow. I told her about Glacier Peak because they were concerned with money with the new baby coming and about the time and effort an elimination diet or other testing at a dermatologist would take. They ended up buying Nature’s Logic Sarine at my recommendation because their dog had been eating Purina ONE lamb and rice for 2 years straight and was having a reaction to something in it, but said they would look into the GPH test because they really couldn’t afford to go to a specialist (something I also suggested).

[Brianna D]

Hi! I’ve got a 1 year and 6 month old husky German Shepard mix. Sadly, he’s only 35 lbs due to health issues with his pancreas where he isn’t absorbing enough nutrients. I was going to switch him to blue buffalo food ($$$$$$$) but then someone mentioned I try a raw food diet to help with his digestive issues (food allergies & lack of nutrients, etc) I’ve been doing research for the past 3 days trying to figure out where to start and I’m still lost.

Someone told me they just feed their husky raw chicken & steak and steamed veggies. Everything else I’m reading online is saying organs and stuff like that. I want to make sure I’m doing this right and I’d love to see some weight gain within the next 30 days. Also, I see raw food lists and all of them have multiple different things like chicken backs and grass fed beef 1 whole egg. Is that how much you feed in one day?

Any information would help! I’ve read the measuring chart but unfortunately can’t find my food scale to measure. I’ll probably buy a new one but right now, I’m feeling very overwhelmed and could use some help! Thanks 🙂

[Anonymous]

Integrating Myths and Nonsense with Standard Advice for Allergic Pets

excerpt is from above link (click for full blog and comments)
“There is no research to suggest that the saliva testing is useful for identifying food allergies. It is sold based on questionable theory and anecdotes, which have little evidentiary value. And as far as uncontrolled testing, at least one dermatologist has run the test in dogs with confirmed food allergies responsive to diet change, and the test results were highly inaccurate”.
Other blogs that you might find helpful: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2015/07/no-vet-for-my-pet-veterinary-nurses-can-sell-woo-too/

Canine Nutrigenomics by Dr. Jean Dodds: Science as Windowdressing

[Anonymous]

He may need the steroids (prednisone) for a short period of time so that he doesn’t scratch himself bloody raw and get skin infections.
Once the treatment that is prescribed by a dermatologist kicks in, hopefully he won’t need them again. He may not even have any food sensitivities.
BTW: Hyposensitization, “allergy shots” are the most natural way to treat environmental allergies. Excerpt below from: http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/

Hyposensitization/Allergy Shot Benefits:
•Hyposensitization works on 65-85% of dogs placed on this form of treatment.
•Often the only solution for dogs who do not respond to other allergy treatments.
•A more natural approach to allergy treatments than steroids – trains the body to heal itself and not respond to allergens.

Hyposensization/Allergy Shot Drawbacks:
•May not work for 15-32% of dogs who are placed on this form of treatment.
•May not see significant results for four months to a year.
•Initial test and first round of vaccine costs roughly $500. Ongoing vaccines run roughly $300 per year.
•Lifetime commitment – injections are given every couple of weeks for the lifetime of your dog.
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/category/allergy-stories/

[Anonymous]

What you describe sounds like environmental allergies, I would suggest that you make an appointment with a dermatologist/specialist as soon as possible. /forums/search/allergies/

http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/

Most allergens are airborne, impossible to avoid. http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2014/04/07/just-moved-our-allergic-dog-to-a-new-state/

[phyllis r]

If you are still out there, I sure would appreciate hearing if anything helped. I have a 5.5 yr old rough coat collie and we have had the same types of lesions since last November. We live in Colorado, a place where fleas aren’t so prevalent – NOT! Abut a year after we moved into our house, we noticed 2 fleasy on him. He broke out in little red pimple like lesions. The vet said he was allergic to fleas. We treated for fleas with Frontline & when that didn’t work we tried K9 AvantixII. Treated the skin problem with antibiotics & steroids twice. Even tried an allergy medicine. HAD A HORRIBLE TIME. Finally got rid of the fleas. Then tried to see if was food allergy so went on Purina HA. Didn’t help. Thought it might be mites so tried 3 treatments of Revolution each 2 weeks apart. Didn’t help. In fact, when we used it for flea prevention about 3 months later, he broke out worse. From pictures we can find on the internet, it appears to be ectopic pyoderma but we can’t figure out what is causing it or how to treat it. Right now, we are able to manage it by bathing him in Head & Shoulders shampoo together with providone iodin shampoo twice weekly. We remove the scaly part & treat each lesion with a triple antibiotic ointment. We spray him down twice daily with Purishield Wound. As long as we xan keep him from itching, he seems to be comfortable. Any ideas? Oh, one more thing. before all of this he did have digestive issues. The food that we settled with was Natural Balance Duck & Potato. I would greatly appreciate anyone’s input. Berducci was born in South Dakota. We moved to Colorado when he was 2 & 1/2. We first lived in an apartment. He mostly stays inside except for walks and supervised outdoor time. We live in the city.

[samaroberoi4474]

Labs are an active breed. Generally, these dogs are allergic or sensitive to some foods. Details of these foods are given below:

10 Foods Not To Feed Your Dog

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/foods-are-hazardous-dogs

There are many factors you must keep in mind while choosing puppy food for your Lab. You can also check the sensitivity of your dog towards different foods. For this, you can give new food to your dog in small quantity and check its reaction. If dog showing some digestive problem such as diarrhea, constipation etc.; discontinue the food and try this procedure with another food item.

[samaroberoi4474]

It seems your dog is allergic to certain food. There are some food products that are toxic for dogs and cause food poisoning and allergy. For more information about these toxic foods, you can visit this link:

10 Foods Not To Feed Your Dog

Avoid giving these food items to your dog. Further, raw food is absolutely good for the dogs. But, don’t give raw food to your dog every day. Try to mix raw food with commercial dog foods or homemade dog food so that your dog gets balanced nutrition every day.
Following articles can give you more in-depth knowledge about ideal food for your dog:
/best-dog-foods/raw-dog-food/

Which is The Best Dog Food Raw, Home Cooked or Kibble?

[Kate L]

I have a sensitive bulldog. I have resorted to home making food. However, Instinct canned dog food has several proteins that your dog may be able to eat: rabbit or lamb could work. They also have a limited ingredient lamb and pea recipe (but it is high in fat). I used to think it was all about the protein but a dog can have sensitivities to the carbohydrate sources as well. My dog can’t eat sweet potatoes, rice, peas or quinoa. It is truly frustrating to find dog foods that work. I have read more labels that I care to think about. Good luck. It can be a tiresome and LONG process finding foods that a dog does’t react to. And don’t forget, it could be environmental allergies and NOT food.

[Michelle M]

I have a dog that has very sensitive tummy and skin – and it seems that he is allergic to anything with chicken, turkey or quail in it. Any suggestions on a good dry food? We have used raw venison and that was ok but it seemed too rich for him. He is on raw beef/bison mix and he is super itchy again so I don’t think we are on the right path. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

• This topic was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by Michelle M.

[Gloria K]

Jake’s mom has come up with some very good ideas. If you scroll up for that you’ll see others who have posted suggestions regarding dog treats. I make all of Mickey’s treats so I know exactly what goes into them. I have a Pinterest board it’s just reserved for dog food and treats but this one has proven to be Mickey’s all-time favorite and he goes wild.

APPLE CHEDDER BACON COOKIES

2 1/2 cups flour (Mickey is allergic to wheat so I use chickpea flour or brown rice flour )
2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup yogurt
1 tsp. chopped fresh parsley ( optional)
2 slices smoked bacon most fat removed and very finely chopped
1/2 cup shredded peeled apple
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp. olive oil or bacon drippings.

Sauté bacon till crisp then finely chop. Add to all other ingredients. Mix thoroughly . Drop by tablespoons onto parchment lined cookie sheet, flatten slightly and bake at 375° for 28 minutes.
Keep some refrigerated for up to one week and freeze the rest for 3 months.
I keep about a weeks worth that would be seven biscuits in the refrigerator at one time and the rest I freeze.

[Gloria K]

Jake’s mom has come up with some very good ideas. If you scroll up for that you’ll see others who have posted suggestions regarding dog treats. I make all of Mickey’s treats so I know exactly what goes into them. I have a Pinterest board it’s just reserved for dog food and treats but this one has proven to be Mickey’s all-time favorite and he goes wild.

APPLE CHEDDER BACON COOKIES

2 1/2 cups flour (Mickey is allergic to wheat so I use chickpea flour or brown rice flour )
2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup yogurt
1 tsp. chopped fresh parsley ( optional)
2 slices smoked bacon most fat removed and very finely chopped
1/2 cup shredded peeled apple
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp. olive oil or bacon drippings.

Sauté bacon till crisp then finely chop. Add to all other ingredients. Mix thoroughly . Drop by tablespoons onto parchment lined cookie sheet, flatten slightly and bake at 350° for 30 minutes.
Keep some refrigerated for up to one week and freeze the rest for 3 months.
I keep about a weeks worth that would be seven biscuits in the refrigerator at one time and the rest I freeze.
I use rice flour because Mickey is allergic to wheat flour but you can use any flour you want.

[Anonymous]

I would ask your vet for a referral to a specialist or call the veterinary school in your area. What is causing the IBS, allergies?
Prednisone is a steroid, good for short term to get things under control, then taper off. Not good for long term, bad side effects and other health issues could occur.
Best to get to the root of the problem, now.

I would keep his diet simple, feed him as usual (twice a day) or whatever your vet is recommending. You don’t want rapid weight gain.