Furbaby Friend | 12-15-2011 05:48 PM | Quote:
Originally Posted by ilarancuente
(Post 3759610)
I need some help with this too. I've owned Yorkie's my whole life and never had one with food allergies. I recently switched Nala from Merrick Cowboy Cookout to Blue Buffalo Fish and Brown Rice. She was on Natural Balance before that I she never really ate, switched her to Merrick and same thing wasn't a fan. She LOVES Buffalo Blue, finishes her little bowl in one day! However she has in the last 30 days began the scratching, itching and bites her own hair off her butt. I took her to the vet and they gave me a combo of ketachlor shampoo and temaril. She calmed down for a bit and then when we finished the temaril treatment the scratching begin again. At this point I am assuming its the food since the scratching has begun again but I don't know what else to try. Not once has the vet suggested a food change and Im incurring big vet bills every time I take her. I can hear her all night scratching and I feel terrible. Any suggestion?? It seems everyone had great reviews and Nala loves to eat it but I have to try the food change before I run back to the vet for his next suggestion. (Steroid Shots!!) | I would try some more foods before going to steroids. Especially for a pup :( In fact, allergy shots should be considered for a pup before steroids. I would do a search on YT for allergies. I know there are plenty of pups with them.
As for food, I would try a strange protein source if you haven't yet (venison or duck). NB makes a few flavors in the LID.
Did you try mixing the LID kibble with some LID wet? That might entice your baby to eat it. You could also try soaking the kibble in water to "imitate" wet. They also make some green stuff (forget the name) that you can put on food to entice them to eat (not sure of the allergens in it though as I have never tried it).
My cat, Suki, basically refused to eat when we first switched her food. We mixed it with wet for awhile and then slowly reduced the wet to dry ratio until there was no wet at all. She now eats her food without complaint. Remember, even if they don't particularly love it they will NEVER starve themselves. Your pup might get used to it and eat more as time passes. I say having to eat things you don't particularly like is better than itching and it is DEFINITELY better than steroids (lots of nasty side effects with those).
Not sure about all of these (as I have not tried them all), but here is a list of LID foods available:
California Natural (grain free and unique protein sources) Natural Dog Food, Cat Food and Puppy Food for Pets With Food Sensitivity ? California Natural
Pinnacle Pinnacle® - Grain Free Turkey & Potato Dry Dog Food
Blue Buffalo Wilderness (My girls eat this now. However, neither pup has allergies. Only my cat has allergies. My kitty still eats NB LID.) BLUE Buffalo Wilderness - Natural Evolutionary Duck Diet for Dogs ? Grain Free
Wellness Wellness Dog Simple® Recipes
There are of course more available I'm sure. I hope someone with a pup with allergies chimes in. I highly recommend doing a search on YT for allergies. :) Good luck!:thumbup: |