Food Allergies

[phfgkl]

Awhile back, I spoke to my young vet(she's 25). She had been doing a lot of studying on dogs and allergies. She told me most of the dogs that had allergies were not allergic to the corn in the foods. Well, My yorkie(6) is licking her paws constantly. She's been on every kind of food out there(except for cheap foods). Right now, all 6 of my dogs are on TOTW. Well, This morning I've been doing research online, and have found the same thing on a lot of different sites on food allergies. This really surprised me, as I was lead to believe, most of the time it was the "corn".


FOOD ALLERGIES
Another possible irritant, may be found within the food you are feeding your dog. If your dog is allergic to food, it is usually just to one of the ingredients in his or her [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]diet[/COLOR][/COLOR]. Some of the most common culprits include beef, chicken, pork, milk, eggs, whey, fish, corn, soy, wheat preservatives, and even lamb. Even if your pet has been on the same food all of his life, do not rule out a food allergy because one can develop at any time and over time (and most develop from foods that have already been eaten for a long time).

The best way to filter out a food allergy or to discover the food allergen is to stop feeding your dog his or her regular meal and to begin using a homemade diet which includes only protein and starch. Mixing some rabbit or venison with rice or potatoes is one example. Many veterinarian offices also offer prepackaged hypo-allergenic diets for their clients. During this testing phase, the dog should be restricted from all other forms of treats, biscuits, chewable toys and table scraps for at least six to eight weeks. If the skin allergy seems to cease or symptoms improve, begin by slowly adding in additional ingredients (such as chicken, lamb, beef, etc.), but only one per week. This should allow enough time for the allergy to reappear if the irritant is re-introduced, and also allow you to decipher what it is. It is important to consult your veterinarian before beginning such a diet modification with your pet.

Treating your pet for an allergy may be as easy as changing his or her diet, or as difficult as needing chronic [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]medication[/COLOR][/COLOR] and constant veterinary re-examinations. Sometimes simple cortisone creams or [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]antihistamines[/COLOR][/COLOR] may help the skin, but they fail to treat the underlying allergen. In some cases, however, this is the only possible means of help, as irritants such as dust or pollens cannot always be completely eliminated.
Here are some tips for at home when you are living with a dog with allergies:

- try giving your pup an oatmeal bath 3-4 times a week (some pet stores may even carry oatmeal formulated shampoo)
- allow your dog to sit in a bath filled with Epsom salts
- after discussing this with your vet, try using essential fatty acids, namely [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]omega-3[/COLOR][/COLOR] and omega-6. They have natural anti-inflammatory agents and can be purchased at most pet stores or veterinarians
- try using an air de-humidifier and place activated charcoal around house plants to decrease molds
- use air conditioners rather than open windows
- dust and vacuum often
- treat your pet for fleas, regardless of whether or not you see them - use a hypoallergenic dog food or create a homemade diet for your pet - becareful what you are washing your dog's bedding in

[paulalowe6]

Thanks for posting this. Good info. I have one that has a problem with hair loss. She doesn't go bald or anything, just loses a few hairs when she scratches. Our vet said we would treat her as if it's a beef allergy. Like you we've changed the food over and over. My other 3 can seem to eat anything with no problem. I too feed Taste of the Wild. I'll try some of the suggestions you have posted.

[phfgkl]

I know, it gets very aggrivating. I feel so bad for my yorkie, she's always licking her paws, rubbing her butt, breaking out on her belly, which I believe is why she's itching her butt. When she is rubbing her butt, I put stuff on the sores on her belly and then she quits doing the butt rub.

[hugz4all4]

Tucker itched terrible while on TOTW, when I first put him on it, the scratching stopped some but after 2 months on it he started itching really bad all over again. I tried all 3 varities didnt make a difference in the scratching. That was one of the reasons why I switched to something else that and it made is coat really dry and course feeling, I didnt relize it untill I took him off it. Now is coat is soft and fluffy just as it should be. Its really frustrating finding something that works for all dogs in a house hold. Thanks for the info!!

[phfgkl]

I had the little ones on dogswell, but, I really wanted to have all 6 on the same thing, makes our life so much easier. Trying to find something that is good for them that they all like is the hard thing. If I was feedig once a day instead of free feeding, I could give the yorkie something else. So dang frustrating

[ambocken]

This is very interesting. We have come to the conclusion this week that our Grace is allergic to beef. Every time she has it her stool is soft. We give her pumpkin every day so she is not getting diarrhea but we can tell it doesn't sit well in her tummy.

Next time we go to the vet I am considering a holistic vet a bit farther away from our house and we will talk with her nutritionist about it. There is really nothing wrong with our vet, we like her but they don't have the information on nutrition and allergies that I would like.

[fadeddenim]

i can't believe so many yorkies have allergies. for awhile, i thought i was the few who was was having problems. my oldest pup is always scratching. i've tried several different brands of foodin the following order: eukanuba, wellness, natural balance, raw diet, lotus, and now nature's variety and he still scratches.
i just adopted an 11-week old and he too is starting to scratch. i have him on eukanuba presently because that's what the breeder had him on.
i'm beginning to think it might be the environment. i have carpet and i'm thinking it might be the dust that's causing them to scratch. i vacuum often, but there's always a little dust leftover. being that they're their face is always on the ground might contribute to the scratching.
i read somewhere on the forums that owners have given their yorkies benadryl. has anyone here tried that? i'm bringing this up on my next vet visit.
right now, i'm just letting them scratch, but it still worries me. thankfully, their scratching isn't the kind that leaves their skin inflamed. nonetheless, it just makes me worries to see them scratch...UGH!!! so frustrating!

[dre1141]

I give lexi kids dye free liquid benedryl sometimes usually in the spring and summer when her allergies act up. She hates it so I have to use a syringe to squirt it in there. I talked to my vet and she said it's not a problem. Lexi just started constantly licking her paws and I have to remind her to stop but I just started thinking that maybe it's because she is allergic to something in her diet or getting a lack of something. She eats NV Prairie turkey right now so I'm not sure what I would switch her to. I don't really have the time to test out what the info above suggests although it's very good info. If you find something that works for you let me know-and I'll keep everyone postedwith what worked for me. Good Luck!