Quote:
Originally Posted by Axion  He is on a Eukanuba Small breed formula that is chicken based. I honestly can't see anything wrong with his diet and he does not get any human food at all. |
For me I would Not Feed Eukanuba. I think that is your problem.
Chicken,
Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Fish Meal, Chicken Flavor, Brewers Rice,
Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Egg Product, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, Fructooligosaccharides, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), DL-Methionine, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins (Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Inositol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Vitamin E Supplement, Marigold, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.
First off Chicken By Products include head, feet, entrails, lungs, spleen,
kidneys, brain, liver, stomach, bones, blood,
intestines, and any other part of the carcass not fit for human consumption. Doesn't sound very yummy..
Corn and Wheat are the number one allergy causes in dogs. This could very well be why you have some itchy goobery eyes
For some dogs, corn is difficult to digest and can be allergenic. Corn metabolizes in dogs much the same way as sugar metabolizes in people. So, when you feed your dog a corn-based diet, it’s like feeding a child a diet thats main ingredient is corn syrup. The child is likely going to exhibit dramatic energy spurts and crashes, hyperactivity, lack of attention, and is not going to be very healthy overall. The same is true of dogs on a corn-based diet.
In addition, corn may inhibit your dog's natural ability to receive seratonin in the brain. Seratonin is an important chemical that reduces stress and anxiety. Recent studies suggest that low seratonin levels can lead to impuslive behavior, aggression and other behavioral problems.
Corn can also act as an artificial stool hardener. One of the quickest ways to tell that your dog is sick is the consistency of his or her stools. If the ingredients in your dog's food are falsely making the stools firm, you may delay seeking important medical treatment for your dog.
The value of whole grain sorguhm is very similar to corn and is grown as a feed grain for livestock. I would rather feed meat as my number protein source without cheap fillers to make up for the lack of protein in the dog food.
Dried Beet Pulp is a controversial filler. Some people have no problem with it. But for me if it causes controversy I would rather not feed it until proven otherwise.
Some dogs are actually allergic to chicken! I just changed Taycie's diet to a Turkey based diet because she was having goobery eyes. When I did her eyes got better in less then 24 hours!.
Also trying a grain free option might help as well. Dogs have a particular hard time digesting some grains at all. Doing this may also help.
Some great foods I would try would be Wellness, Soild Gold. Acana, Go! Now! The Honest Kitchen. Many YT's feed EXCELLENT food here! I would definently try changing the food. I am sure you will be shocked!