Dick Van Patten's NB Potato & Duck Allergy Formula?

[Ellie May]

I've never used NB and don't know if the allergy formulas really work but in my opinion, they appear to be very good ones. Meat may not be the first ingredient but the ingredient order can be misleading anyway. Some companies do put meat first but then the next three things are grains, so is there really more meat? No. The final analysis of the food is mostly what should be looked at to determine protein and carb content (as long as things like soy aren't on the list which could boost the protein content but not with meat). Now NB may be low in protein but dogs can live long and happy lives on diets full of carbs, so it isn't too big of a deal to me. If you think the protein content is too low, you can cook up some of whatever protein is already used in the food and add it.

Where is she scratching? Is it her ears and paws or somewhere else?
I would guess that if she has been on lamb and venison NV, it is likely not all food related. Although she could've acquired an allergy to one of those things too.

[cjfox50]

I started feeding Tucker the natural balance duck and potato and still do because I too thought he had food allergies but now I'm starting to think it is seasonal. I have tried all different kinds of food. I have tried royal canine, solid gold, natures variety and he still itched.He doesn't seem to itch nearly as bad now but I don't think the grass pollen is as bad here. I have noticed on this food that he only poops twice a day versus four times a day. I have always fed him half a cup a day.

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by Breny

Hey Brooke...do you want to try the Life's Abundance? I'd be happy to send you a sample ASAP for her to try. Take a look at some of my testimonials on my website Clothes, Beds, Healthy Food, Treats,Grooming products and Dental Care for your furbaby! | Pooch Potato Beds, Life's Abundance Pet foods, Dental Care

I mean it wouldn't hurt to try? Poor tate tate! And if you want to read more about the food, ingediants and what not...click around on my website. There is also a video on my home page.

I hope she's doing better soon!

Hey Brenda! Thanks so much for offering to send her some of the food girl - I greatly appreciate it! Linda sent us a sample a while back and although Tate will eat anything, Stedman is extremely picky and wouldn't eat it I don't know why he has to be so darn picky, but he is I am going to keep him on Raw as he eats that better than any other food I've ever given him, but for Tatum I really do want to try an Allergy Formula since her allergies are just totally out of wack. Since we do have the NB Potato & Duck on hand, I will give that a go tomorrow morning and keep her on it for a while to see how she does on it

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

OH! And I also meant to tell you that the vets I've talked to have also said that allergy tests are expensive and largely unreliable bc, like you said, you end up with a list a mile long, so where does it get you? Back to square one, like you were thinking .

Yeah, I don't get this weight gain. It almost sounds similar to what they're now learning with some humans - that there are indeed some humans who, despite *not* overeating, they cannot lose weight. And it has to do with leptin and blah blah. Not that this may have anything to do with Tatum - but my point is, there are so many reasons she could be holding weight - some of which we don't even have the answers to yet. So, I do think you're on to something here, even if it isn't the thyroid.

Yeah, that is exactly what he told me. I was willing to do the allergy testing despite the cost, but he said that it really IS expensive and the chances of us being able to pin point exactly what she is allergic to is HIGHLY unlikely - so we passed per his recommendation.

Maybe when she goes in for a blood test it will give me some answers, and hopefully so, but if not then I guess we are back at square one I guess like you said, sometimes you just never know what the problem is - after all, we are only human and we don't know EVERYTHING, unfortunately! Not that I WANT there to be anything wrong, but it would almost be a sigh of relief in a way - that way at least I would know what is causing all her chubbiness, lol...and her very LARGE appetite.

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I've never used NB and don't know if the allergy formulas really work but in my opinion, they appear to be very good ones. Meat may not be the first ingredient but the ingredient order can be misleading anyway. Some companies do put meat first but then the next three things are grains, so is there really more meat? No. The final analysis of the food is mostly what should be looked at to determine protein and carb content (as long as things like soy aren't on the list which could boost the protein content but not with meat). Now NB may be low in protein but dogs can live long and happy lives on diets full of carbs, so it isn't too big of a deal to me. If you think the protein content is too low, you can cook up some of whatever protein is already used in the food and add it.

Where is she scratching? Is it her ears and paws or somewhere else?
I would guess that if she has been on lamb and venison NV, it is likely not all food related. Although she could've acquired an allergy to one of those things too.

Thanks for all the info girl! I swear, I come here and read so many posts by so many people that have SO MUCH information about canine health and diets and it makes me feel like a total idiot because I don't know HALF of this stuff LOL BUT - I'm learning!

99% of the time Tatum scratches herself on the nose/mouth/chin area. Actually, now that I think of it, I think that's just about the ONLY place I ever see her scratch. She does chew and bite at her paws though - that is a new thing over the past month or two. She used to not do that.

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by cjfox50

I started feeding Tucker the natural balance duck and potato and still do because I too thought he had food allergies but now I'm starting to think it is seasonal. I have tried all different kinds of food. I have tried royal canine, solid gold, natures variety and he still itched.He doesn't seem to itch nearly as bad now but I don't think the grass pollen is as bad here. I have noticed on this food that he only poops twice a day versus four times a day. I have always fed him half a cup a day.

Poor little Tucker! These allergies are just awful and the itching is so unbearable...for us as mommies and for our babies too. I just hate it. I can't imagine going crazy itching all the time like they do I'd go bonkers!

Aren't the twice a day poops nice? Both of my kiddos are eating NV Raw (for right now anyway) and they only poop twice a day as well - and it is very tiny and has NO odor what so ever, that I can smell anyway Gotta love it!!

[LIL MIS' MAGIC]

I have been feeding the DVD BD Sweet Potatoe and Fish for about a year and a half now. I originally tried it due to several reasons - good for sensative tummies (Magic) and good for allergies (Sailor). It has really been a great choice for my bunch....but I did notice some weight gain and went down to the low end of what they suggest to feed. (That and some exercise and they are back great now and are maintaining their weight.)

While I may not like everything about the food...it was an improvement on what the vet had Magic on for her tummy issues.

I boil chicken for my bunch and add that to their meals....but I also give them a little less than the low end of what they suggest to feed to offset the extra calories.

That's what is working for me and while their are still some seasonal allergy issues, my pups are much better than they were.

Just change slowly.....as I have had this food upset my newest show dog's stomach when I tried to switch him quickly. (I tried again a week later and made a 10 day switch and he has been fine every since.)

Good luck on finding a solution that works for you.

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by LIL MIS' MAGIC

I have been feeding the DVD BD Sweet Potatoe and Fish for about a year and a half now. I originally tried it due to several reasons - good for sensative tummies (Magic) and good for allergies (Sailor). It has really been a great choice for my bunch....but I did notice some weight gain and went down to the low end of what they suggest to feed. (That and some exercise and they are back great now and are maintaining their weight.)

While I may not like everything about the food...it was an improvement on what the vet had Magic on for her tummy issues.

I boil chicken for my bunch and add that to their meals....but I also give them a little less than the low end of what they suggest to feed to offset the extra calories.

That's what is working for me and while their are still some seasonal allergy issues, my pups are much better than they were.

Just change slowly.....as I have had this food upset my newest show dog's stomach when I tried to switch him quickly. (I tried again a week later and made a 10 day switch and he has been fine every since.)

Good luck on finding a solution that works for you.

Thank you for sharing your experiences with it Kristin! I greatly appreciate it It sounds like your little ones are doing absolutely fabulous on it...THAT'S GREAT!! I hope that we too get the same results I checked the bag earlier and it said that dogs under 10 lbs could be fed 2/3 cup a day - that was the minimum...so that is what I will be feeding Tatum She gets fed twice daily, so I will divide the 2/3 cup in half, for morning and night. I hope she doesn't have any weight gain - that is the very LAST thing she needs! I agree with what you said...it may not be *IDEAL* ingredient wise of what I'd LIKE to feed...BUT, if it helps (and with Tatum, it may not - who knows) then it's worth it to me in the end

[mainegirl]

I'm a bit behind here in my response sorry!! I have Ozzy on the NB Duck and Potato for what we think is food allergies. He has done wonderful on it and he loves it. No more diarrehea and he looks great. I have also noticed a decrease in his paw licking which is an added bonus Just my two cents

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by mainegirl

I'm a bit behind here in my response sorry!! I have Ozzy on the NB Duck and Potato for what we think is food allergies. He has done wonderful on it and he loves it. No more diarrehea and he looks great. I have also noticed a decrease in his paw licking which is an added bonus Just my two cents

Thank you so much for your review sweetie, it is greatly appreciated! Tatum has been on this food for almost 2 and 1/2 weeks now, and I must say...I HAVE NOT seen her itching/scratching as much as she used to. So, I am just keeping my fingers crossed that this continues!

I am going to keep her on it for a good 3 months before I REALLY start to judge it - but so far, so good!

[Yorkieluv]

My mom's dog does really well on the NB Potato and Duck He does have some allergies, and they subsided after a couple of months on that food. He's been on it for a yr now and doing great!

[eaglez28]

Originally Posted by stedmansmommy

It really does seem like there is, doesn't it? My mom has been telling me for a while now that I need to have it checked out - and hubby also. And it's funny because Stedman was on Orijen and he gained a little (I'm talking a couple ounces) - but Tatum gained I don't even remember how much....almost half a pound (maybe even more) in a VERY, VERY SHORT time. I'm telling you, it was just crazy fast. And - Stedman lost the couple of "ounces" that he gained whereas I was NEVER able to get Tatum to lose an OUNCE of what she gained on the food.

Hi Brooke,
My Stormy has a short square body type & is a chunky monkey.
She eats a little bit of food at one time - but eats often throughout the day.
Most people can't believe her weight is 4 1/2 lbs Because she is small looking.
Her mother is larger than her but has a very stocky body also.
A friend of mine has Stormy's older brother & he is very very stocky But overweight too!
Maybe one of Tatum's parents are stocky?

Glad to hear Tatum is doing well on NB.
I had Scruffy & lexi on NB 1 1/2 ago before they made the small bites.
They did well on it.
all 5 of mine eat Innova small bites now.

[Stella's mom]

Brooke, I'm so glad Tatum is doing better on the NB....I can totally feel your and her pain with the scratching. My vet told me the same about allergy testing being inconclusive. They told me 8 weeks to see if the food was working. Currently she is eating a mixture of Chicken Soup and EVO, the Royal Canin IVD prescription food was just not for her. If Tate's scratching gets worse you may want to talk to your vet about Atopica, but I think she would need to weigh 4 lbs. I'm attaching a link for you to review

Is Your Pet Itching for Relief?

[LunasMomma]

My girls have stopped scratching since switching to the DVP grain-free kibbles. I alternate between the duck and potato and the venison one. No poultry for these kids! They were eating Merrick Grammy's pot pie (chicken) and they not only started getting fat, they were itching like crazy