Question about Allergies

[xmasbaby75]

This may sound completely stupid, but other than the dog's food/treats, what else could be causing them allergies?

My Sapphire started scratching her chin several months ago. I switched all five of my babies to an all natural food (Life's Abundance) about 3 months or so ago. I expected to see a dramatic improvement, but she still scratches - maybe not as much as before, but still.

Also, she has lost some hair due to this scratching, and it is taking forever to grow back. The hair isn't "gone", it just looks very short, like there has been breakage in a couple of places.

There are no rugs in my house - all hardwood floors, so need for carpet cleaners, or anything like that. The strange thing is, I have 5 yorkies, and only 1 seems to be having this problem. Any ideas??

[Ellie May]

Environmental allergies are far more common than food allergies, so that might be the problem. It could be grass, dust, chemicals, shampoo, etc.

Did you go with a different protein and grain source when you switched foods?

[rayray08]

Originally Posted by xmasbaby75

This may sound completely stupid, but other than the dog's food/treats, what else could be causing them allergies?

My Sapphire started scratching her chin several months ago. I switched all five of my babies to an all natural food (Life's Abundance) about 3 months or so ago. I expected to see a dramatic improvement, but she still scratches - maybe not as much as before, but still.

Also, she has lost some hair due to this scratching, and it is taking forever to grow back. The hair isn't "gone", it just looks very short, like there has been breakage in a couple of places.

There are no rugs in my house - all hardwood floors, so need for carpet cleaners, or anything like that. The strange thing is, I have 5 yorkies, and only 1 seems to be having this problem. Any ideas??

Is there a chance this Yorkie is allergic to chicken? That's one of the protein sources in Life's Abundance. Maybe you could consider switching to something like Venison, Fish, Duck, Lamb. See if this helps with the itching. I know there are other environmental factors and some are more sensitive to certain things than others.
What food were they on before L.A.?

Maybe someone can help with the environmental allergies as I don't know much about that. Good luck!

[xmasbaby75]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Environmental allergies are far more common than food allergies, so that might be the problem. It could be grass, dust, chemicals, shampoo, etc.

Did you go with a different protein and grain source when you switched foods?

Well I don't think it's any "outdoor" allergies like grass, etc. since it has been so darn cold out there, she hasn't been outside. I've been using the same shampoo since they were babies (she's 15 months old now), and never had any trouble with that, so I guess I can rule that out. I'm really not sure about the "protein and grain source". I switched from Nutro Natural Choice (after reading all the terrible stores about it) to Life's Abundance brand food if that helps any?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by xmasbaby75

Well I don't think it's any "outdoor" allergies like grass, etc. since it has been so darn cold out there, she hasn't been outside. I've been using the same shampoo since they were babies (she's 15 months old now), and never had any trouble with that, so I guess I can rule that out. I'm really not sure about the "protein and grain source". I switched from Nutro Natural Choice (after reading all the terrible stores about it) to Life's Abundance brand food if that helps any?

Can you post the ingredients of both foods so that we can look at the common ingredients?

[xmasbaby75]

Here are the links to the food ingredients ...

Natural Choice Small Bites Chicken, Rice & Oatmeal Puppy Formula (Old food)

http://www.premium4pets.com/lifesabundancedogfood.html (New food)

[Ellie May]

The allergen could be chicken or rice or a combinatin of idfferent ingredients pushing her over the edge. How about a food with turkey, lamb or maybe fish as the protein and potato or sweet potato as the carb?

[xmasbaby75]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

The allergen could be chicken or rice or a combinatin of idfferent ingredients pushing her over the edge. How about a food with turkey, lamb or maybe fish as the protein and potato or sweet potato as the carb?

Perhaps. I just wish I could make sure it was still the food causing this before having to change brands yet again, and it may or may not be the issue.