Sensitive skin, chewing her feet

[coco_momma]

Found y'all, and registered here today while searching for reasons/suggestions for my itchy little girl!
Been reading many threads and want to start a new one.
Here's MY story.....<sigh>

I've always had multiple furry kids.
Had to put my beloved 14yo Yorkie, Chloe, , down 5 months ago.
Her daughter, Coco, just turned 9. I also have a 13yo LH Chihuahua (coco's poppa) and a 3yo Aussie.

Momma started scratching and licking her feet, and her skin was always red, with raised brown spots when she got to be 10 yrs old.

Back then we took to find out what was going on. We knew she was VERY sensitive to flea bites her whole life, tho she hadn't had fleas in years. The vet did skin scrapings, blood tests, we added vitamins/oils and eliminated/changed foods and shampoos, tried itch conditioners, even cortisone creams, put products on the lawn to kill bugs, didn't use any products on lawn. Rinsed her feet when she came in from outside. Got rid of carpets, washed floors w/ vinegar and water.
Her condition only had temporary relief from 24/7 12 months out of the year scratching, for a day or two after baths or from the topical anti-itch creams.

2 months ago, Coco started biting her ankles/scratching, and her skin looks red. <smilies ripping hair out of head>

Years, sadly, of "research" has me convinced that there is some "Yorkie sensitivity/skin issue". None of the dozen dogs I've owned, all diff purebreds, have experienced this skin issue except for my 2 Yorkies.

Sorry for the diatribe, but wanted to share my experience in hopes that y'all might have some thoughts/suggestions.

THANKS for reading! And any thoughts!!!
Sharon

[lovespandp]

I'm sorry for your little one- my Peanut has had the same issues. I started him on Canine Caviar and it has done wonders- no more itchies- no more hot spots- no more watery eyes- no more red tummy- he doesnt chew the hair off his leg anymore!! I use to give him an allergy pill daily- not anymore!

I know food doesnt always fix the problem, but it did with us and other members!

Www.caninecaviar.com

Hopefully you find somehelp for your baby!!

[coco_momma]

Thanks!! You have a beautiful Yorkie!
I went right to the site for Canine Caviar and I'm a bit overwhelmed w/ all the choices!! Excited to try ANYTHING!
Would you mind sharing which ones have worked for your girl?

[lovespandp]

Thank you~ They do have a lot of choices- I have Peanut on the Canine Caviar Open Sky- here is the link

http://mycaninecaviar.com/product/open-sky-als/


What food is your baby currently on?

Oh, P.S Peanut is a boy

[RileyDC]

I have been feeding my boy Riley Canine Caviar since August 2nd.

He used to get little brown/grey dry spots on his belly... when he was eating ACANA. He then had a reaction to the grains in FROMM. We have had several food trials this past 2 1/2 years and he does the BEST on Canine Caviar. His skin started clearing up immediately and he is completely cleared up now!! He is also, still very excited for meal time... He goes running into the kitchen full speed... all excited!!!! Eats it all down and is Happy all night which makes me Happy!! It's such an Awesome feeling when you find The Food for your pup.

He started on Wild Ocean.... ate that for 3 months then we switched to Open Sky... He also had a 1lb bag of wilderness about a month ago and did fine on that one, as well!


I actually got Deanna, "Peanut's Momma", started on it!! I know she and Peanut both give it a two thumbs up!!

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by RileyDC

I have been feeding my boy Riley Canine Caviar since August 2nd.

He used to get little brown/grey dry spots on his belly... when he was eating ACANA. He then had a reaction to the grains in FROMM. We have had several food trials this past 2 1/2 years and he does the BEST on Canine Caviar. His skin started clearing up immediately and he is completely cleared up now!! He is also, still very excited for meal time... He goes running into the kitchen full speed... all excited!!!! Eats it all down and is Happy all night which makes me Happy!! It's such an Awesome feeling when you find The Food for your pup.

He started on Wild Ocean.... ate that for 3 months then we switched to Open Sky... He also had a 1lb bag of wilderness about a month ago and did fine on that one, as well!


I actually got Deanna, "Peanut's Momma", started on it!! I know she and Peanut both give it a two thumbs up!!

So glad I listened to you Girl!!

[mimimomo]

I also feed Open Sky Canine Caviar. It works well for yeasty itchy dogs bc it doesn't have potato or sweet potato in it. I've had cytologies (skin scrape) done on both of mine who used to constantly lick their paws (Princess also had smelly itchy yeasty ears) & after watching this vid, I've eliminated store bought treats & 'sugary' foods from their diet. No more licking (frito) paws & itchy ears!
Eating These Foods Can Cause Dog Yeast Infection

[coco_momma]

Peanut! Dude!!! Sorry, lol!

I started grain-free kibble a few years ago. I usually buy Taste of The Wild Sierra (Buffalo) and add meat/veggie/rice leftovers from our dinner. I occasionally treat them with dried chicken/beef - don't remember what its called and too lazy to go look at the moment. I also supplement kibble w/ Natural Balance. It's this loaf of soft-ish food that I cut a slice off of and chopped, add to dry or use as treat.

I am def going to try your suggestions ladies. THANKS!!!

[Wylie's Mom]

Vet Derms will tell you that yorkies are notorious for allergies, so you're actually spot on in figuring that out for yourself.

To me, it sounds like enviro allergies. Some dogs can live with that, but when it starts to interfere w/ their quality of life (and it sounds like that's where you are w/ her)...then it's really time to consider meds.

If allergies are mostly all year round: use Atopica, or allergy testing / then shots, or possibly Temaril-P (not my fave for all yr bc of the constant steroid...but I would do it if it was my only choice)

If allergies are just seasonal: Oral steroids or injections, or Temaril-P

Food allergies are rare - they only account for about 10% of dog allergies. That said, it can be supportive for an enviro allergy dog to be on a diet that is low in more common allergens.

Btw, if you haven't had her thyroid checked - you prob should; anytime dogs have skin issues, thyroid issues should be considered.

[coco_momma]

Ann (aka W's M) Laughed out loud at your quote. I will def 'borrow' at some future time!!

Thanks for sharing your info w/ me. Learned a lot more about allergies in your post. I've been tempted on many a night to toss a Benedryl down her gullet, so feel meds will have to be the next step.
Pooch problem has a good chance for getting solved and I really appreciate everyone's input.

[RileyDC]

I thought Riley had environmental allergies.... but now I'm not so sure. For his first 2 1/2 years he was getting little dry flakey spots and some light red spots on his tummy... and he kept having Ear issues. My vet advised that chronic ear inflammation is a common sign of a food allergy. I definitely think a food with fewer ingredients is the way to go.

All I know is that ever since switching to Canine Caviar, his little Tummy is as 100% Completely Clear as the day I brought him home. He has not had one flakey or red spot and he has not had any issues whatsoever with his ears since he started eating it, 5-months ago... and he goes outside more now than he ever has. We were even in Florida for 2-months in September and he had No Issues at all.

Here is a before pic. [when he was on Acana....] and an after pic. After I started feeding him Canine Caviar. That is only 7-days after switching. I need to take a photo now to show how completely clear he is Today!

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by RileyDC

I thought Riley had environmental allergies.... but now I'm not so sure. For his first 2 1/2 years he was getting little dry flakey spots and some light red spots on his tummy... and he kept having Ear issues. My vet advised that chronic ear inflammation is a common sign of a food allergy. I definitely think a food with fewer ingredients is the way to go.

All I know is that ever since switching to Canine Caviar, his little Tummy is as 100% Completely Clear as the day I brought him home. He has not had one flakey or red spot and he has not had any issues whatsoever with his ears since he started eating it, 5-months ago... and he goes outside more now than he ever has. We were even in Florida for 2-months in September and he had No Issues at all.

Here is a before pic. [when he was on Acana....] and an after pic. After I started feeding him Canine Caviar. That is only 7-days after switching. I need to take a photo now to show how completely clear he is Today!

I totally agree! I know for a fact Peanut has enviro allergies. However once I started him on the CC all his itchiness, dry skin, hot spots, licking his feet, redness, and red little bumps went away. Like I said I had to give him a Benadryl daily to keep him in “control” once I started him on CC everything just stopped. I def think a dog can have “food allergies” . I also said “what works for us might not work for you”, but I would take the chance- you have nothing to lose- To me feeding a high quality food is way better than injecting or giving your dog pills everyday!!

[Farleys]

Originally Posted by RileyDC

I thought Riley had environmental allergies.... but now I'm not so sure. For his first 2 1/2 years he was getting little dry flakey spots and some light red spots on his tummy... and he kept having Ear issues. My vet advised that chronic ear inflammation is a common sign of a food allergy. I definitely think a food with fewer ingredients is the way to go.

All I know is that ever since switching to Canine Caviar, his little Tummy is as 100% Completely Clear as the day I brought him home. He has not had one flakey or red spot and he has not had any issues whatsoever with his ears since he started eating it, 5-months ago... and he goes outside more now than he ever has. We were even in Florida for 2-months in September and he had No Issues at all.

Here is a before pic. [when he was on Acana....] and an after pic. After I started feeding him Canine Caviar. That is only 7-days after switching. I need to take a photo now to show how completely clear he is Today!

Thanks so much for posting those pics. Thats so weird, my yorkie gets these spots on his belly too. My vet thought it was bug bites. But this winter he still has one or two at a time, and i was thinking there is no way this is bug bites. Then my Labrador ended up with alot of these on his belly.
No i am wondering if its food related.
I did just switch them to Nutrisca- grain and potato free, Im curious to see what happens.

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by coco_momma

Peanut! Dude!!! Sorry, lol!

I started grain-free kibble a few years ago. I usually buy Taste of The Wild Sierra (Buffalo) and add meat/veggie/rice leftovers from our dinner. I occasionally treat them with dried chicken/beef - don't remember what its called and too lazy to go look at the moment. I also supplement kibble w/ Natural Balance. It's this loaf of soft-ish food that I cut a slice off of and chopped, add to dry or use as treat.

I am def going to try your suggestions ladies. THANKS!!!

LOL its ok, people always think he is a girl!! He is kinda metro-

If I were you, (and this is just based on what I went through with Peanut- you totally do not have to take my advice) I would just feed one kibble. To be honest I would stop all kibble you are feeding and try CC. It sounds like you are giving way to much to them. ( How many babies do you have?) They don’t really need any add ins, (like the meat, veggies, rice) they will get all the nutrients from the food. If they do have enviro/food allergies all those add ins won’t help them.

That is another thing- All the kibble Peanut has been on he really wasn't into it- It would take him a couple days to finish 1.4 of a cup. He was never really excited to see the dry food in his bowl… Once I started him on CC- he licks his bowl clean every day! In the morning I give him 1/8 of a cup – it is gone by 2 then I get home and feed him another 1/8 and he is sitting there waiting for me to place his bowl down- he will lick his bowl clean and still want a little more!!

I can totally send you a sample of the CC to see if they like it.. then if you want to try it at least you know they will eat it!!

[lovespandp]

This was him last night.... waiting for his food- NEVER has he done this with any dry food!