Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Fish
 

Anyone have any opinions re this dog food? Kalina is itchy and I'm not sure it's food related, but I want to try a "better" food for all my dogs - one that has low incidence of allergies.

This food was recommended to me. Anyone? :)

What were her symptoms? Can you tell me what changes you noticed in 2 weeks. I noticed that Kalina is scratching like crazy and has been losing some hair around her eyes! I don't know if it's a food allergy yet (going to vet but she just had puppies and can't really take medications until they are weaned in a few weeks) so I thought I would at least start getting her on a really good diet while I wait for the weaning. I am changing her over gradually and figured I might as well do the same with Matty.

I see that NB does not have a puppy food - they call this a lifetime diet. I am really torn if I want to wean the puppies to NB or not. I hope it has everything they need. It says it's fine for puppies, but I worry. Still I don't want all four to be on different foods. That would be insane.

Thanks for your response. :)

Whether or not is should be used as part of an elimination diet depends on if she has eaten fish before. There was some concern about NB's food (especially fish) containing ethoxyquin, so that might be something to check into. It could be a food allergy, but it is very likely something else entirely.

Yep, this may very well work. Sophie had itchy skin and Ivan goopy eyes. Back onto NB and all is cured for both! Good luck! :)

Izzy does not have allergies so we are very lucky on that point. She has pancreatitis/SIBO/IBD. She was hospitalized 4 times and almost lost her that many times until we figured out it was SIBO/IBD which triggered the pancreatitis. She was vomiting and throwing up blood and her tummy rumbled like crazy super loud.:( We have her on Purina EN but now on better food since she has stabalized. She is also on Tylan/Pepcid/probiotics, etc. etc.

Have you talked to your vet yet?

I used the NB Fish and SP for my 2 when Pebbles first started itching bit changed to the Venison version because they all smelled fishy.:scratchhe She was very itchy and had the tear stains too. It did take a few weeks and I also cut out all treats that had other ingredients and she got much better. At the time, Doodlebug was just a baby and he has been raised on this food as well and is very health. When I first brought him home his tummy was always upset and that went away as well with the food change. I added Bogey in the fall last year he was also given this food and he was very malnourished and his coat looked horrible and very thin. The vet said it was due to poor nutrition and to feed him what I was feeding my other 2 at the time. There was a time about 8 months ago that there was a shortage of game meats and I used the vegetarian version and added canned venison and pumpkin which they still get now because they love it. In Feb I added my foster Truman who was so sick from lack of nutrician, teeth infection and lack of care and also put him on this food as well. He looks gorgeous now and has gained 8 lbs while living here! So yes, IMO and from my personal experience I would feed it to everyone. :)

Did he have the itchies before you started LA?

I have all of mine of NB Sweet Potatoe & Fish....and put Captain on it at about 4 months.

This food was suggested to me to help with both itchies and tummy issues....and it has done wonders for both at my house!

do you guys know if they offer free samples?

My guys eat this. They love it. The only downside is it smells horrible.

They do. Just go to their website and ask. They'll send you coupons too.

There's a sticky on this forum where you can get samples. Just email NB, they'll send you a sample.
I feed mine NB Sweet Potato & Venison & are all doing well. I fed Mimi's pups NB Ultra (since they have this in small bites), but as they got older, they like the venison better. I still mix in Ultra since they're still 9 months old. This is the only food they all like. Before, I had a really hard time making Mimi eat, she's super finicky. They all love baked sweet potatos as treats, so I think it's the combination of sp & venison. The only thing is, they don't make these in small bites.

Yes, they're more like wafers. My girls enjoy the food so far. We still have the itchies, but it hasn't been that long.