Need advise / suggestions on limied ingredients / all natural dog food

[matese]

Originally Posted by 107barney

I agree it's likely environmental allergies. I would keep him on the z/d or ask your vet to try a hydrolyzed food like Purina HA. I would also see if you can try something -- meaning medication - for the environmental allergies.

I am not keeping him on Z/D my vet said take him off, the vet tech told me to buy all natural, limited ingredients, allergenic, food, bison or venison. The Z/D he is on for 3 months and still scratching. I am not doing medication until I follow what my vet advised, and that is to feed the all natural, limited ingredients food. If that does not work my vet will take the next steps. I have asked, what environmental allergies could he have had back in Nov. Dec. and the rest of the cold months, seems no one can answer that, all they say is environmental allergies. If the food that my vet advised to use does not work I will ask about the Purina HA. Thank you for your response.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by matese

I am not keeping him on Z/D my vet said take him off, the vet tech told me to buy all natural, limited ingredients, allergenic, food, bison or venison. The Z/D he is on for 3 months and still scratching. I am not doing medication until I follow what my vet advised, and that is to feed the all natural, limited ingredients food. If that does not work my vet will take the next steps. I have asked, what environmental allergies could he have had back in Nov. Dec. and the rest of the cold months, seems no one can answer that, all they say is environmental allergies. If the food that my vet advised to use does not work I will ask about the Purina HA. Thank you for your response.

Um....there are allergens everywhere. My dog has a confirmed dust mite allergy along with all other stuff. So it doesn't matter if it's January or July if they inhale an allergen. Only less than 10% of dogs have food allergies and they don't scratch when they do - they have GI signs. So I'm trying to spare you a long frustrating road of food trials. Natural schmatural.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Um....there are allergens everywhere. My dog has a confirmed dust mite allergy along with all other stuff. So it doesn't matter if it's January or July if they inhale an allergen. Only less than 10% of dogs have food allergies and they don't scratch when they do - they have GI signs. So I'm trying to spare you a long frustrating road of food trials. Natural schmatural.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by matese

I am not keeping him on Z/D my vet said take him off, the vet tech told me to buy all natural, limited ingredients, allergenic, food, bison or venison. The Z/D he is on for 3 months and still scratching. I am not doing medication until I follow what my vet advised, and that is to feed the all natural, limited ingredients food. If that does not work my vet will take the next steps. I have asked, what environmental allergies could he have had back in Nov. Dec. and the rest of the cold months, seems no one can answer that, all they say is environmental allergies. If the food that my vet advised to use does not work I will ask about the Purina HA. Thank you for your response.

Why don't you just ask your vet for the RX allergy food that I suggested and not make yourself crazy trying to figure out a food. You really are making way to much out of all. Also ask for an allergy med for the scratching too. I can't tell you how much money that I spent trying to find the correct combo. All I did was ask mine for the food and poof he gave it to me.

[Lovetodream88]

Callie is on hydroxyzine for itching and it also helps with allergies you may want to also ask about that. Callie has environmental allergies but does react poorly to food with oats in it and it will make her break out and end up with a skin infection. Environmental allergies can be really anything even the detergent you wash his bedding in, or human dander it's not just stuff outside. I do hope you find something that works for the little guy.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Callie is on hydroxyzine for itching and it also helps with allergies you may want to also ask about that. Callie has environmental allergies but does react poorly to food with oats in it and it will make her break out and end up with a skin infection. Environmental allergies can be really anything even the detergent you wash his bedding in, or human dander it's not just stuff outside. I do hope you find something that works for the little guy.

Great post Taylor

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Callie is on hydroxyzine for itching and it also helps with allergies you may want to also ask about that. Callie has environmental allergies but does react poorly to food with oats in it and it will make her break out and end up with a skin infection. Environmental allergies can be really anything even the detergent you wash his bedding in, or human dander it's not just stuff outside. I do hope you find something that works for the little guy.

Poor Callie. I'm so glad you get her the help she needs. You're an amazing owner.

[matese]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Um....there are allergens everywhere. My dog has a confirmed dust mite allergy along with all other stuff. So it doesn't matter if it's January or July if they inhale an allergen. Only less than 10% of dogs have food allergies and they don't scratch when they do - they have GI signs. So I'm trying to spare you a long frustrating road of food trials. Natural schmatural.

thank you, I appreciate that ... If I get the proper food, and it doesn't eliminate the scratching I don't think my vet will have me try another
food. Like I wrote earlier, I am ASSUMING like a car with an Intermitting problem, they start with the simplest thing first. ASSUMING this. I was NOT told this by my vet. So it's important that I get the proper food. I do appreciate your advise and have just learned something new... allergens...Thank you for the answer. I have never had a dog with allergies, and I have had many dogs of diff. breeds, so this is all new to me.

[matese]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Callie is on hydroxyzine for itching and it also helps with allergies you may want to also ask about that. Callie has environmental allergies but does react poorly to food with oats in it and it will make her break out and end up with a skin infection. Environmental allergies can be really anything even the detergent you wash his bedding in, or human dander it's not just stuff outside. I do hope you find something that works for the little guy.

In the beginning of my thread I wrote I adopted Cody, when I went to see him he was scratching, he had just been shaved (to make him look pretty so I fall in love with him lol) I saw him scratching, I blew it off to the shaving, figured shaved hair got on his skin. So he came to me scratching. I don't know what his living conditions were with the prev. owner, what they fed him. Also he was being treated for Colitis, which I read can cause itching. So feeding him all natural, limited ingredients, bison or venison is the first time he is being treated strictly for scratching. He did get an injection in Jan. for itchiness but at that time he was being treated for Colitis. I too hope I find something that works. I want this lil boy to be a happy boy. Due to the innocent ignorance of the prev. owner it looks like Cody came to me with several health issues. I am going to make sure they are taken care of. Thank you for your reply and concern.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by matese

thank you, I appreciate that ... If I get the proper food, and it doesn't eliminate the scratching I don't think my vet will have me try another
food. Like I wrote earlier, I am ASSUMING like a car with an Intermitting problem, they start with the simplest thing first. ASSUMING this. I was NOT told this by my vet. So it's important that I get the proper food. I do appreciate your advise and have just learned something new... allergens...Thank you for the answer. I have never had a dog with allergies, and I have had many dogs of diff. breeds, so this is all new to me.

Starting with food does not sound like the simplest thing.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by matese

thank you, I appreciate that ... If I get the proper food, and it doesn't eliminate the scratching I don't think my vet will have me try another
food. Like I wrote earlier, I am ASSUMING like a car with an Intermitting problem, they start with the simplest thing first. ASSUMING this. I was NOT told this by my vet. So it's important that I get the proper food. I do appreciate your advise and have just learned something new... allergens...Thank you for the answer. I have never had a dog with allergies, and I have had many dogs of diff. breeds, so this is all new to me.

No no no you have it backwards. Food is 10% and allergens that they breathe are 90%. if you're lucky like I am, god gives you both problems so you can drive yourself crazy for years wondering why.... I digress....

Unless Cody is in the 10%, your simplest thing to try to deal with the environmental allergies. Fish oil. Benadryl or other antihistamine. Rx drugs. Testing and shots. Food allergies start in the gut with dogs so they tend to puke or spit up bile or if you're lucky (again like me) your dog has hives AND pukes and poops herself.

Where is your vet in all this!???!! He knows this stuff. Ask him.

[mimimomo]

I agree w/Cathy, food allergies are thought to be 9%-10% or less in the canine. If a dog is to be intolerant or sensitive to a certain food or protein, they will vomit &/or have soft to loose stool. I have one that is intolerant of several proteins which includes chicken, turkey, white fish & venison. Venison was thought to be a novel protein but not anymore. Rabbit, Pheasant, Bushtail, Kangaroo etc would be considered a novel protein, proteins that pet food manufacturers rarely use.

Excessive itching can stem from many different things. Yeasty dogs itch, a lot. Just wondering if skin scraping w/cytology was done? Excess toxins in the body also causes intense itching, wondering if BAT's (Bile Acid Test) should be done?

Krill is oil excellent, easily absorbed by the body's cells & 4 x's more affective than fish oil. Reduces inflammation which causes itching, helps alleviate allergies. My guys who suffer form seasonal allergies have been on it for a couple of months now & are doing awesome.

[matese]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

Why don't you just ask your vet for the RX allergy food that I suggested and not make yourself crazy trying to figure out a food. You really are making way to much out of all. Also ask for an allergy med for the scratching too. I can't tell you how much money that I spent trying to find the correct combo. All I did was ask mine for the food and poof he gave it to me.

I did ask, when I was told by the tech to stop the Z/D food, I asked what to feed him, she tells me "all natural, limited ingredients, either Bison or Venison and the food should say something like for allergies, cannot remember her exact words, I was driving my car when I received the call, could not write it down, but will recognize the wording. In the past when I was shopping for dog food I saw such food. I asked a question about what food had limited ingredients, was all natural, I got answers, am going to check out Natural Balance and Nature's Variety, they look like what I am looking for, so how is that "me making way to much out of this? Thank you for your response.

[mimimomo]

Here's Natural Balance LID page: LID Limited Ingredient Diets Dry Dog Formulas - Natural Balance Pet Foods

NB is a potato or sweet potato heavy food...lots of potato can be a problem for yeasty dogs bc sugary foods are fuel for the yeast. So it would be a good idea to rule out yeast by doing a skin scraping. It's a very simple test, they take a skin sample & look under the microscope. An experienced Vet will be able to see right away if it's bacterial or yeast or both & treat it accordingly.

BTW, Nature's Variety is a very busy food, lots of different ingredients, def not a limited ingredient food.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by matese

I did ask, when I was told by the tech to stop the Z/D food, I asked what to feed him, she tells me "all natural, limited ingredients, either Bison or Venison and the food should say something like for allergies, cannot remember her exact words, I was driving my car when I received the call, could not write it down, but will recognize the wording. In the past when I was shopping for dog food I saw such food. I asked a question about what food had limited ingredients, was all natural, I got answers, am going to check out Natural Balance and Nature's Variety, they look like what I am looking for, so how is that "me making way to much out of this? Thank you for your response.

I thought the vet said to stop the Z/D.