Food Allergies .. Help!

[KashasMom]

I have a non-yorkie question, and I wouldn't even know to ask this ... if it wasn't for the wealth of knowledge I have absorbed in the last 3 months from everyone here on YT.

My family dog is a 9 year old White Scottish Terrier (we bred our little back Scottie who was AKC... the whole deal with another Black ACK Scottie and got her!) Frosty. She has always been itchy(paws and back) & always had a fairly consistent ear infection. But since we lost her momma in Feb, it seems to be getting worse. My mom has always had the girls on Nutro but recently changed to Sensitive Stomach. I have been trying to convince her to get off this food with all the recalls & known allergens associated but she has been feeding it for almost 12 years and is stuck in her ways.

Finally with much begging and pleading on my part she will allow me to try Frozen Raw for Frosty to see if it alleviates her allergies. From what I have read I should do this for 8 weeks or more to really see results, anyone suggest differently? Also, should I include Omega 3's to boost results, reduce inflammation & help her joints (she's not a spring chicken anymore)? I went cold turkey with Kasha but I don't want to upset the balance of my stubborn little Scottie(they give Yorkies a run for their money) Any advice, information or opinions in general would be useful.

- I should also add this ... my moms in a tight spot with $$ so before running tests & dealing with Banfield I would like to see if this will help.

[terlis]

I have not had problems with yorkie allergies but had significant difficulty with my lab. I fed her Orijen 6fish and her skin problems went away. I find food with chicken in it causes problems. I don't know if the omega levels in the 6fish formula were what helped or just not feeding chicken but it definitely worked. I did add extra fish oil to the food as well. I have also fed raw to my yorkies which I made myself with recipes from various reputable sources and they loved it. I switch around types of food to give them variety and it seems to be working.

[Wylie's Mom]

LadyMom just posted this link about food allergies, it's great: Only Natural Pet Store - Dogs Cats Holistic Supplies Products Food Treats Vitamins Medicine Supplements

This is one for pet allergies, overall, that I like too: Pet Care Library: Allergies in Dogs

If you switch to a new food, just make sure you're choosing a novel protein (one she hasn't eaten before). Omega 3s can be helpful in dogs w/ allergies - the vet derms we've seen say they are worth a try.

So, she does itch all year round then? Not worse during pollen season?

[KashasMom]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

LadyMom just posted this link about food allergies, it's great: Only Natural Pet Store - Dogs Cats Holistic Supplies Products Food Treats Vitamins Medicine Supplements

This is one for pet allergies, overall, that I like too: Pet Care Library: Allergies in Dogs

If you switch to a new food, just make sure you're choosing a novel protein (one she hasn't eaten before). Omega 3s can be helpful in dogs w/ allergies - the vet derms we've seen say they are worth a try.

So, she does itch all year round then? Not worse during pollen season?

I actually read that article and it got me really started on this. So many of those symptoms are ones that Frosty has. Great article!

I was going to go with Chicken, but I'm sure that chicken meal was in her food. Should I choose another?

We live in Fla, the pollen is 11/12 months Lol But it doesn't seem to be related to any sort of bloom or environmental source that I can tell. She itches on a pretty constant basis ( and even though my mom has moved within the last year)

I'm going to try the switch next week (Kasha is getting spayed tomorrow so I'll have my hands FULL!) Fingers crossed it works!

Thanks for the great input!!!

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by KashasMom

I actually read that article and it got me really started on this. So many of those symptoms are ones that Frosty has. Great article!

I was going to go with Chicken, but I'm sure that chicken meal was in her food. Should I choose another?

We live in Fla, the pollen is 11/12 months Lol But it doesn't seem to be related to any sort of bloom or environmental source that I can tell. She itches on a pretty constant basis ( and even though my mom has moved within the last year)

I'm going to try the switch next week (Kasha is getting spayed tomorrow so I'll have my hands FULL!) Fingers crossed it works!

Thanks for the great input!!!

I would probably go with something other than chicken. During her life, she has likely had chicken, beef, lamb bc those are in so many kibbles. Maybe try duck, venison, or rabbit? I have used duck and my furs really like this flavor. For an effective elimination diet, she really needs to eat main ingredients that she wasn't on before.

Please let us know how Kasha does!

[hugz4all4]

I have a dog that has food allergies as well as a senstive stomach so finding something he can eat and tolerate has been really tough, but we pretty much learned from process of elimanation and spending a ton of money on food he couldnt eat..(rolling eyes).. Right now he is on California Natural's new grain free line, thier Lamb flavor, which has VERY little ingredients in it and its low in protein/fat so he is at this time tolerating it very well. His itching has just about been elimated, his eyes for the first time since we got him has stopped tearing and he hasnt licked his stomach or paws in almost a week. Not to mention, he hasnt thrown up at all, and my local feed store carries it!!
The only way you are going to find out what she is allergic too (she is beautiful by the way ) is to start elimating foods, then slowly add them back. She starts itching.. take it away. Natural balance has some really good limited ingredient foods, you could ask them for some samples. I would def. add the extra fish oil for her skin, coconut oil is also really good for skin and allergies. Good luck.. I know how tough it can be..

[KashasMom]

Just checked the ingredients on her former kibble, Lamb&Rice, and current Venison&Whole Brown Rice. She's a fancy girl! None of them had anything other than "poultry fat" in them. So, with raw that leaves me with Rabbit, Beef or Bison if we still think the Chicken is out. ( I'm feeding Nature's Variety Instinct Raw because if Frosty is allergic I'll just add it to Kasha's rotation)

I'm glad to hear that these things are curable. I feel so awful for her ... suffering for 9 years. I'm sure that she's also emotional between losing her mom and gaining Kasha and that always makes my allergies worse so why not hers. I will be shopping tonight for foods&vitamins to distract myself from Kasha's absence. Btw she's out of surgery with a few less teeth but the vet said she did great. I just can't wait to have her home tomorrow.

[maybeiloveyou]

Originally Posted by KashasMom

She has always been itchy(paws and back) & always had a fairly consistent ear infection.

I think this stuff is AMAZING for any ear problems: Dog Products | Veterinarian's Best: All-Natural Products for your pets' health.

My dog had stinky ears and was CONSTANTLY scratching them roughly. The vet could find nothing wrong and attributed it to allergies. I switched foods which helped a little but she would still scratch more than I would like. I started using this and though it has a light medicinal smell afterwards (some people are sensitive to it, but I don't mind it), it is FAR better than the stinky odor from before. And best of all, my dog barely scratches her ears now!

The ingredients are all natural so at the very least it doesn't hurt to try. They sell them in Petsmart and Petco in a pack (the wash + dry) for about $16, but I believe Vet's Best site has a coupon for $3 off a purchase.

Also, shampoos and conditioners with aloe vera, tea tree oil, and oatmeal help a lot with the itching.

[KashasMom]

Stopped by my local holistic dog food store today for Frosty ... at their advice I decided to go with Acana Pacifica because of the limited ingredients and it also limits the chance of her ever having anything in there. She's a grazer by nature( since her mom was about a year we just put down the food in the bowl in the morning and they nibble) and she was always taught to share her food( I can usually stick my face in her bowl and push her away from eating and she wont mind) but today she WOLFED down about a cup of the food and growled at me when I came too close!

Hopefully the next 8 weeks go well!

I'll post back as I see some progress! Thank you to everyone!

[Ladym]

Hi,
I have a 4year old male yorkie and he is prone to ear infections. My vet thinks it might be a food allergy. She suggested that I feed him a 50/50 mix of pinto beans and pumpkin for 3 months. We would then add other proteins and monitor his ears. Well, I stopped mixing his kibble, Blue Buffalo Weight Control, with canned food. I now mix it with the beans and pumpkin. Not only has he had no ear infections but he's also lost weight that he needed to lose. He seems to enjoy the mix. I also give cauliflower and apple. He's doing so good with the change and I'm thrilled with results so far.