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Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom  Here is a list of nutritionists if you ever need them  : http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...itionists.html
I like both of those brands too (also, Stella & Chewys, and Bravo is good). If what you're feeding him now is temporary and short-term, it should be okay to feed an unbalanced diet for a while. Depending on what your goal is though, if you're maybe thinking of a homemade diet long-term, I'd suggest a pro - esp. for an allergy kiddo.
Btw...not even sure it's worthwhile mentioning...but the other thing that's often tried w/ allergy dogs is over-the-counter anti-histamines...not sure if you've been down this road? Benadryl doesn't seem efficacious in most cases, but sometimes Zyrtec or Claritin can bring relief in some dogs.
Of course, if Alex still actually has a yeast infection right now - clearing just that up first (w/out any other intervention) would be very interesting to evaluate before going down any other road.
Good luck at your appt - and please keep us posted, I'd love to hear how he does! |
Thanks for the info on the nutritionists. Unfortunately, none are in my area, but I'd be willing to make a day trip somewhere. I am going to try and gradually transition Alex onto Nature's Variety. It has worked so well for my other dog and that's probably the best shot at getting him on a normal, healthy, balanced diet.
I will definitely ask the vet about Zyrtec or Claritin. I have a friend who mentioned that he gave his dog Claritin and it worked wonders. The foster mom had been giving him Benadryl and she said it helped, but she stopped using it. Antihistamines like Benadryl often have a nasty rebound effect (that is, they make you feel better at first, but then when you stop taking it, the itching comes back). From my own personal experience, Claritan and Zyrtec do not have that effect. I know he has been given steroids in the past, but I do not want to go down that path again (and from what his records indicate, they were of no help anyway).
He has only itched a slight bit today. I gave him an oatmeal bath this evening, put his little onsie back on, and he is sleeping soundly. We've been with him all day and his itching has been very minimal, just a little more than your average dog would itch on an average summer day. Therefore, I'm incredibly optimistic that we're on the right course, but will consult with the vet regardless this Friday.
Oh, and my other dog LOVES Stella & Chewy's. It's so nice that there are a growing number of natural dog stores (at least there are in the DC area) that carry these wholesome, dog-appropriate foods!