Looking for Food Recommendations

[aliash]

Bella has been itching and licking like crazy! We have tried food trials, skin scrapes and Atopica. Nothing has helped. There are so many foods out there, that I am not sure where to go from here. Right now she is eating Nutro Lamb and Rice small bits. Does anyone know of a small bit food that may be good for allergies, but also healthy for my little one?

[Ellie May]

Please get her off of the Nutro.
If you Google this food there are so many reports of illness in dogs who eat it and even death. The company will not recall it.

A few kinds Natural Balance are supposed to be good for allergies.
California Natural could work.
Wellness has some but it is not my first choice.
Raw is sometimes good but that is really not my first choice.
Homecooked is great and you can play with the recipe.

When you try food trials, how long do you do that for?
When did it start?
Are you sure it isn't environmental allergies?
Where is she scratching?

[BamaFan121s]

Check the sticky at the top of this section--it has some of the more YT recommended brands. Some of the companies will send you samples and coupons if you contact them.

You also may want to try researching your options on various sites. The link below will direct you to several different sites examining a wide variety of options--commercial foods, home cooking, raw feeding, supplementing...
Dog Food Review Ratings

Do trial an error runs. Research what options you think are best for YOUR dog, try it out and examine the results. Do comparision feedings until you have found what YOU think is a good match for YOUR dog. Just keep in mind, what one person feeds theirs, may not be the best match for yours. You will be the best judge of what is best for him.

[Gracie2006]

Try to avoid grains, those are the cause of most allergies. If you can find it, Timberwolf Wild and Natural has very tiny kibble and is a good food. I am switching my girls over to Merrick Before Grain. They seem to like it and can handle the kibble size without difficulty. Another good one is Nature's Variety Instinct. It is fairly small kibble, like the Merrick. Go to your local supplier and see if you can get a sample of the NV. Merrick does not have samples but does sell a 1 lb. bag.

[Breny]

I feed, sell and totally LOVE Life's Abundance.

It is created by a vet. It is a dry dog food that contains all natural chicken and top quality catfish with the best fresh fruit, vegetables ! It also contains a superior blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants important for healthy dogs. Contains no artificial flavors, colors, sugars, or chemical preservatives.

They use a “fast-cook” process to help preserve the nutritional value of each and every wholesome ingredient. And they maintain strict inventory controls to ensure the quality and safety of our foods. They have been on NO Food recalls!

Since they use only wholesome ingredients, this formula contains …
No artificial flavors
No artificial colors
No corn or corn gluten
No wheat or wheat gluten

Best thing too...my babies LOVE it!!! And I'm happy knowing they are eating what they love and its so good for them!

You can check it out in my link in my signature.

[Yorkieluv]

I agree with Ellie May's post...I wouldn't feed Nutro b/c many dogs have become ill or died while eating this food. California Natural is a good one for allergies, but I have no idea what size the kibbles are.

[Crickettsmom]

My westie has allergies and we thought it was food related but turned out to be enviromental. He really did well on Natural Balance sweet potato and fish and also the California Naturals Herring and Sweet Potatos. He really likes fish based kibble. These two have very few ingredients. You need to keep her on the same kibble for atleast 6-8weeks to get the full benefit of the kibble and to see if it is helping with the allergies. It really takes that long to see if it is working. So don't give up and hopefully something will work.

[Laurn7f]

Originally Posted by Crickettsmom

My westie has allergies and we thought it was food related but turned out to be enviromental. He really did well on Natural Balance sweet potato and fish and also the California Naturals Herring and Sweet Potatos. He really likes fish based kibble. These two have very few ingredients. You need to keep her on the same kibble for atleast 6-8weeks to get the full benefit of the kibble and to see if it is helping with the allergies. It really takes that long to see if it is working. So don't give up and hopefully something will work.

Do you see ANY signs of relief before 6 weeks? Shouldn't it lessen SOME? Mya has some itchy skin too, but no irritation and hardly any flaking, I have her on nature's recipe no grain, corn and it is vegetarian. She is on atopica stuff right now, since Friday-still to no avail, ugh poor Mya.

Lauren


Oh and PS i just switched her to this food about a week and a half ago from pedigree (I KNOW I KNOW, hence me switching from it, she is a little over 3 months old)

[Crickettsmom]

I would really try the two brands that I suggested due to the very few ingredients in them. Yes, there was some relief after about three weeks and more after that. Turbo is also on Atopica and he still has spells esp. if he is outside alot after we mow grass. It will get better, keep faith and I would really switch kibble or try the NV raw medallions. I can not get them where I live or mine would be on them. You will see amazing changes with the new food, esp. since you are going from pedigree and natures recipe. Your pup will thank you!!!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

[Laurn7f]

also, i am struggling to identify the problem because she has NO irritation, no rashes no redness and no hairloss or severe flaking. I have no idea what it could be! Its around her shoulder blades area and her hips. Any thoughts anyone??

[Laurn7f]

oh and why is my nature's recipe so bad?? it's corn and grain free and vegetarian??? i specifically said my dog might have food allergies and I wanted sometimes healthy.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by aliash

Bella has been itching and licking like crazy! We have tried food trials, skin scrapes and Atopica. Nothing has helped. There are so many foods out there, that I am not sure where to go from here. Right now she is eating Nutro Lamb and Rice small bits. Does anyone know of a small bit food that may be good for allergies, but also healthy for my little one?

Do you want to stay with a kibble or are you willing to homecook or feed raw?

If you're firm on kibble, I guess if it's this severe - I'd probably move away from this kind of protein and head toward a fish based kibble. I'd recommend Wellness Core Ocean - it has a mid-range protein, and isn't chock full of ingredients, which is probably good bc with allergies the intestine can sometimes be sensitive.

I would get off the Nutro asap. I don't know the size of the Ocean kibble, so perhaps see if a sample is availbe (otherwise, you could break it up). But I'd really recommend fish.

[Laurn7f]

its not nutro, it's nature's recipe, is that okay then? i Know nutro is supposed to be bad.

[meeker]

if all else fails try chicken and rice or hamburger and rice that you make and this seems to help their stomachs settle down
try this for awhile to settle stomachs
then go back to trying dog foods
you can always ask your vet for ideas for your dog specifically

[Crickettsmom]

Here is the ingredients to Nature's Recipe:

Chicken, Pearled Barley, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Rice, Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Dried Brewers Yeast, Tomato Pomace, Flax Seed, Beet Pulp, Calcium Carbonate, Animal Digest, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Inositol, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Beta-Carotene, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of vitamin K activity), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Yucca Schidigera, Rosemary Extract.


Here is the ingredients for the CN Herring and Sweet Potato:

Herring, Barley, Oatmeal, Herring Meal, Herring Oil, Sunflower Oil, Sweet Potatos, Natural Flavors, Dicalcium Phospate, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins/Minerals, Potassium Chloride, Rosemary Extract

Here is the ingredients for NB Sweet Potato and Fish:

Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Salmon, Salmon Meal, Canola Oil (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), Potato Fiber, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Inulin, Taurine, L-Carnitine, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B).

The reason I listed all the ingredients is to show you that your pup could be allergic to ANYTHING in the food. The less ingredients, the less there is to be allergic to. I would go with the California Naturals and use the fish protien. Alot of dogs are allergic to chicken. This way you are using something that was never given to your pup before. The Natural Balance is good but has more ingredients than the California Naturals. Good Luck!!!