About to lose it. Help please!

[bizzbeth]

FIRST QUESTION: He has been on Natural Balance potato and duck for a couple of weeks. I'm not sure if the food is too rich or what but he smells to HIGH HEAVEN and is actually FARTING none stop! He has never done this before. Should I change his food, again, even though Natural balance is supposed to be really good for him?

SECOND: Ah, I'm sure many of you have read about my frustration over Oliver's skin! HE STILL HAS ITCHY BUMPS ALL OVER HIS NECK AND HEAD. It wasn't his food, because he has been off of it for weeks. I'm not sure what else to do? Should I try, yet another vet? (he's been to 3 already)

I wouldn't trade him for the world, but I worry so dang much about him that it's giving me gray hairs at 20!

thanks guys! Any advice would help. You guys give me such relief!

[red98vett]

hahahahaha - sorry for laughing - don't light ANY matches in the room

if it's bothering him that much (if it were me) - I'd change food -

and on his itchy skin - have you tried oatmeal shampoo or any medicated shampoos for itchy skin ? Why are the bumps only on his head and neck ?? do you think something bit him or is he wearing clothes that are rubbing on his neck ??? Collar ? something he sleeps on maybe ?? There's so many things it could be - the detergent you use to wash his bedding etc

I would ask the vet about that because it's not normal for a yorkie to have a rash

[Tophersmom]

I agree with Villette...the bumps could be so many things that I'd get the vet to check it out.

Oh, Topher can fart with the best of them, too...lol. Sometimes when he's sitting at my feet when I'm on the computer, he'll let one go and it's so bad I have to get up and leave the area for a while...ugh. He's not so bad now that he's on dry adult food, but when he was on soft, canned food it was really bad lol. Perhaps try changing his food and you might see a difference.

[amyd]

Wow, what a familiar post.......

We had a pitbull that ate Natural Balance and he was SO gassy, regardless of the flavor. We tried them all. Anyway, he had bumps on his feet and legs that looked more like boils and they would bleed and swell up. It was awful. We finally broke down and let the vet do allgergy testing on him. He was allergic to corn, rice, turkey, and lots of trees and grasses. One of the main allergies was Maple trees and we have 3 in our backyard. He was on shots until the day he went to rainbow bridge. They helped tremendously. It cost about $150 for the testing and $100 for each round of shots, which last about 10 months. It was worth every cent.

[bizzbeth]

Thanks for the replies!
Villette- one of the many vets I brought him to thought it was his collar so h e hasn't worn one since ( i know that's bad... but I don't want him itching) but the rash is back. He gets an oatmeal bath once a week with medicated shampoo... still a rash! He doesn't wear clothes very often at all. Maybe once a month for 20 minutes. Still a rash! I'm running out of options and I might need to do the allergy testing.

[bizzbeth]

and a couple weeks ago i went form a corn based food to natural balance so I know he's not allergic to corn... so i'm stumped!

[bizzbeth]

on a roll here...
it COULD be the detergent. We use SUN... anyone have a problem with SUN around here? Maybe it is common for them to be allergic to it? Haha I'm reaching for ANY possibility!
I'll swtich detergent and see if that helps!

[bizzbeth]

Originally Posted by amyd

Wow, what a familiar post.......

We had a pitbull that ate Natural Balance and he was SO gassy, regardless of the flavor. We tried them all. Anyway, he had bumps on his feet and legs that looked more like boils and they would bleed and swell up. It was awful. We finally broke down and let the vet do allgergy testing on him. He was allergic to corn, rice, turkey, and lots of trees and grasses. One of the main allergies was Maple trees and we have 3 in our backyard. He was on shots until the day he went to rainbow bridge. They helped tremendously. It cost about $150 for the testing and $100 for each round of shots, which last about 10 months. It was worth every cent.

what food do you feed him now?

[Lou]

Have you taken Oliver to a groomer since this started? If not maybe do so and ask kim/her if he/she has ever seen this before. You may get an answer there.

(Just a thought)

Have you tried feeding him lamb and rice?

Our beagle (which was way overbred and turned in to a shelter because he couldn't keep anything down) was allergic to just about anything that had protein in it, grew outdoors, of floated around in the air. Poor little guy couldn't get adopted because of the expenses involved in trying to figure out and fix his problem. We had to feed him lamb and rice because it was what he was least allergic to. He was on shots too.

[Maizee Grace]

I had a dog that was allergic to her own dander. . That really caused problems. But, I would take him to the vet to get tested for allergies because you never know what could be causing it. Who would have thought a dog could be allergic to itself??
Good luck and let us know what you do!

[mollymae]

Hello,

I feed mine Nutro Lamb and rice. Absolutely nothing with corn, cornmeal. My Mollie had an itchy problem also, I changed to Nutro and she is fine now. She still scratches off and on, but they all do that. My previous baby was even allergic to Science Diet, which is supposed to be great.

Good luck. I know what you're going through.

Jan

[I Love Bailey]

Originally Posted by bizzbeth

on a roll here...
it COULD be the detergent. We use SUN... anyone have a problem with SUN around here? Maybe it is common for them to be allergic to it? Haha I'm reaching for ANY possibility!
I'll swtich detergent and see if that helps!

My dog isn't allergic to Sun Laundry Soap but my son is, I sent hubby to the store and he bought that brand....Our son broke out with an allergic reaction. We switched to All Clear, or whatever....there are several allergin free brands now.
I posted this in another thread but my friend has a dog that is allergic to dust mites so she has to vacume alot and dust (her house is always clean)
My Aunt's dog was having terrible allergies and she is allergic to fleas and her flea medicine, so she is getting allergy shots now.
Is there a homeopath vet around where you live?
My mom has 3 bengal cats that were rescued, with alot of health issues and they are so healthy now, my mom swears by her vet. Worth a try to check into it.

Good Luck,
Michele & Bailey

[ARCHIE]

Buddy is on Natural Balance Organic. The duck and potato was too rich
for him and gave him loose bowels. Try the Organic one. Poor little guy.
There is nothing worse than a dog's farts!

Carol & Buddy

[amyd]

Originally Posted by bizzbeth

what food do you feed him now?

Sadly, he isn't with us anymore. But he ate Natural Balance until the end. It helped him so much that we just dealt with the gas...

I notice that you said you switched a couple of weeks ago, so give it some time for his body to really adjust. I hope for your sake that it is only a food allergy. You may just want to bite the bullet and have the test done. It will put your mind and your baby at ease!

[bizzbeth]

Well i bought him Nutra Ultra and we'll see how his smelly situation goes.
I'm pretty sure it wasn't the food causing it in the firs tplace. We have changed several differnt times and there is no change in his rash.
I think it may be fleas! He is on treatment but the advantage I use i've heard doesn't work that well....
Anyone suggest a better brand?