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Crysser · 03-20-2014, 08:40 AM

Hi everybody!
My little guy Joe has always had some skin issue or other since we took him in. I've done my best to keep up with it, but it just keeps coming back : \ Either his fur will become super greasy and smelly and full of dandruff, or he'll chew at his paws until they're red, or he'll lose fur around his armpits and legpits, or his ears will be gross, or any combination. I'm a Veterinary Assistant so I've tried him out on the diets from my work (Medi-Cal Hypoallergenic, Hills d/d salmon and potato, z/d ultra), as well a couple others from the pet stores (mostly that my mom has bought- Orijen, Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Fish, and maybe another one or two I can't remember). Some of these seemed to reduce but not eliminate the problem, some made no difference whatsoever, some seemed to make him even itchier. I thought, maybe it's not a protein, maybe it's the grain. So, I tried a grain-free diet- Blue Buffalo Freedom- and not only did he continue chewing at his paws and losing hair in his armpits and legpits, but I looked in his ears yesterday as part of my regular Joe maintenance, and holy Lord! I'd just cleaned and plucked them recently, but it looked like I'd never touched them, and there was a pus-like discharge in one of them. I brought him right up to my boss, who prescribed Cephalexin, Vanectyl-P, and Surolan- Joe had these before last November, and cleared up nicely for a while (He had a blood test at that time- T4 and everything else was good).
So, before I consider environmental allergens, what are my options? Has anyone else had luck with any particular diets? I've checked Pet Food Advisor, but I want to hear some personal experience first before I make a decision. Thank you!

03-20-2014, 08:40 AM	#1
Crysser Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Delta, BC Posts: 17	Help with hypoallergenic diet suggestions Hi everybody! My little guy Joe has always had some skin issue or other since we took him in. I've done my best to keep up with it, but it just keeps coming back : \ Either his fur will become super greasy and smelly and full of dandruff, or he'll chew at his paws until they're red, or he'll lose fur around his armpits and legpits, or his ears will be gross, or any combination. I'm a Veterinary Assistant so I've tried him out on the diets from my work (Medi-Cal Hypoallergenic, Hills d/d salmon and potato, z/d ultra), as well a couple others from the pet stores (mostly that my mom has bought- Orijen, Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Fish, and maybe another one or two I can't remember). Some of these seemed to reduce but not eliminate the problem, some made no difference whatsoever, some seemed to make him even itchier. I thought, maybe it's not a protein, maybe it's the grain. So, I tried a grain-free diet- Blue Buffalo Freedom- and not only did he continue chewing at his paws and losing hair in his armpits and legpits, but I looked in his ears yesterday as part of my regular Joe maintenance, and holy Lord! I'd just cleaned and plucked them recently, but it looked like I'd never touched them, and there was a pus-like discharge in one of them. I brought him right up to my boss, who prescribed Cephalexin, Vanectyl-P, and Surolan- Joe had these before last November, and cleared up nicely for a while (He had a blood test at that time- T4 and everything else was good). So, before I consider environmental allergens, what are my options? Has anyone else had luck with any particular diets? I've checked Pet Food Advisor, but I want to hear some personal experience first before I make a decision. Thank you! Last edited by Crysser; 03-20-2014 at 08:42 AM.