Time to move to raw??

[IDPiper]

Piper has decided that she is going to turn really picky. I have been giving her canned food mixed with a little bit of kibble and some of them she will eat the canned food and leave the kibble and some of them she won't touch any of it. Of course it's the canned foods that are made for toppers that she loves!! She is on a grain free diet but I still see her biting at the bottoms of her feet and at her joints. Do you think it is time to move her to a raw diet and if so, what would you suggest to start out with. Should I take her to the vet first?

Thank you for any help offered.

Tammy

[ladyjane]

Most allergies are not due to food. Have you done any blood work to check for environmental allergies?
Yes, I think a vet visit is in order. Good luck!

[mimimomo]

What kibble are you feeding now? You can try sample sized bags of premade raw. Nature's Variety, Stella & Chewy's & Primal has them.

Have you done a skin scraping & cytology to determine what could be causing the itchies? It doesn't cost much & they look under the microscope to see if it's bacteria or yeast related.
My guys eat premade raw for 1 meal & kibble for the other & are doing great. Canned food is an excellent topper as well. I would like to switch them to exclusively raw, but it's kinda pricey to feed 4 mouths. If I was to go PMR, it might be more affordable but I'm not @ that level, comfort wise...yet. I have 2 w/enviro allergies & yeast (skin cytology confirmed this), they used to lick their paws excessively & always have a 'frito' smell. They were even on temaril-p for awhile, but now are doing 90% better. I've also eliminated all 'sugary' foods from their diet & no more store bought treats. Hope this vid helps, it helped us tremendously: Eating These Foods Can Cause Dog Yeast Infection

[IDPiper]

Sometimes I wonder if it's a nervous habit for her. She is a rescue dog and her first year was pretty crappy. I mainly notice her biting at herself when we are playing or right before she goes to bed at night, she doesn't do it when she takes her naps during the day. Is that a possibility? I would assume (yep, I know what that word means!) that if it was any type of allergy that it would be a constant thing?

Sorry, what is PMR? LOL...I used to work in the medical profession so that is the only verbage that pops into my head!! :P

As far as what kibble she's eating right now....NONE!! She refuses to eat any that I have tried so far. :/ I'm seriously considering giving her Darwin's Raw because they will ship and I live in a small town a little over an hour from a town that would even come close to having stores that carry raw feed. What kind of kibble are you feeding?

[ladyjane]

Poor baby...she is miserable or she would not be biting herself. I would take her to a vet and find out what she is allergic to. At least maybe they could give her something to ease the itching.

Changing food the way you are doing it, probably will not help with the allergies. I am not saying what you should feed her. I just don't think this is the way to go to find out what the issue is that is making her itch.

Good luck.

[IDPiper]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Poor baby...she is miserable or she would not be biting herself. I would take her to a vet and find out what she is allergic to. At least maybe they could give her something to ease the itching.

Changing food the way you are doing it, probably will not help with the allergies. I am not saying what you should feed her. I just don't think this is the way to go to find out what the issue is that is making her itch.

Good luck.

Do you know why she would only do it during playtime and right before she goes to bed at night?

Don't get me wrong, I am going to take her to the vet but I was going to change her to a raw feed anyway so figured now was as good a time as any. Why do you say "Changing food the way you are doing it..."? I have yet to get her to try any of them as of yet!! The only food she will eat right now is the canned that are made as toppers so not a balanced diet. What am I supposed to do??? I guess my main concern at this point is her not eating more than her biting at her feet during play and before bed.

Please don't try and make me feel bad. I love her with all my heart and only want what's best for her. I'm not a heartless person.

[tricia208]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Most allergies are not due to food. Have you done any blood work to check for environmental allergies?
Yes, I think a vet visit is in order. Good luck!

Ladyjane is right. I just read this article otherwise I would have thought food allergies could be as prevalent as environmental. These are responses from Susan Wynn, an internationally known expert on holistic pet care. Wynn is former president of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, a clinical resident in nutrition at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and author of four textbooks on integrative practice, focusing on dietary supplements such as nutraceuticals and herbs. I agree that a vet check and a lot of reading/research is in order. I hope this helps.

Q: How common are food allergies in dogs?






A: Ten percent of all allergy cases in dogs are food allergies. Dogs also can suffer from food intolerance, which is different from a food allergy.


Q: What are the common signs of a food allergy?

A: Anything from chronic ear inflammation, gastrointestinal problems, and chronic diarrhea to chronic gas, licking their feet, or an itchy rear end.


Q: What are the most common things that could trigger a food allergy in my dog?

A: It’s a genetic problem, and when it’s triggered, it’s by exposure to whatever they’re allergic to. The most common allergens are beef, dairy, wheat, egg, chicken, lamb, soy, pork, rabbit, and fish. And, most dogs are usually allergic to more than one thing.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by IDPiper

Do you know why she would only do it during playtime and right before she goes to bed at night?

Don't get me wrong, I am going to take her to the vet but I was going to change her to a raw feed anyway so figured now was as good a time as any. Why do you say "Changing food the way you are doing it..."? I have yet to get her to try any of them as of yet!! The only food she will eat right now is the canned that are made as toppers so not a balanced diet. What am I supposed to do??? I guess my main concern at this point is her not eating more than her biting at her feet during play and before bed.

Please don't try and make me feel bad. I love her with all my heart and only want what's best for her. I'm not a heartless person.

I was not trying to make you feel badly at all. I am sorry it was read that way. I was just saying that changing the food is not the answer. Nothing wrong with it, but highly unlikely it will change what is going on.

I don't know why she would only seem to scratch at certain times...maybe when she is busy she does not think about it as much?? I have a foster who has been showing signs of allergies and she does tend to itch more when she is not running around.

Just speak with your vet about it and see what he/she thinks. I would definitely want to get something for this because the next thing you will be dealing with skin infections. They are very common in allergic dogs.

Again, I am sorry, I did not mean to offend or insinuate you don't care.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by IDPiper

Do you know why she would only do it during playtime and right before she goes to bed at night?

Don't get me wrong, I am going to take her to the vet but I was going to change her to a raw feed anyway so figured now was as good a time as any. Why do you say "Changing food the way you are doing it..."? I have yet to get her to try any of them as of yet!! The only food she will eat right now is the canned that are made as toppers so not a balanced diet. What am I supposed to do??? I guess my main concern at this point is her not eating more than her biting at her feet during play and before bed.

Please don't try and make me feel bad. I love her with all my heart and only want what's best for her. I'm not a heartless person.

No one is implying that you don't love your little girl. They are saying the food change might not solve your problem.

My boys do a little scratching and licking -- and they always save it for late at night when I finally go to bed. Not sure why they do that unless they feel comfortable when I am there. I tell them to stop and they do.

My guess is that if she biting only her feet and legs, it is probably environmental, maybe something she is walking in outdoors. I know that is why my boys lick and sniff their feet.

You could try rinsing her legs and feet every day with water and see if that helps at all. I wouldn't use any shampoo unless it is a super mild dog shampoo and diluted.

[IDPiper]

I'm sorry I even mentioned the fact that she was biting at her feet. My reason and main concern is the fact that she is not eating her food except for the canned kind that is meant as a topper.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by IDPiper

I'm sorry I even mentioned the fact that she was biting at her feet. My reason and main concern is the fact that she is not eating her food except for the canned kind that is meant as a topper.

I am sorry you feel that way. Just trying to help.

You clearly have linked the biting to grains and we are trying to help you understand that there is a high probability it is not that. Here is what you stated, She is on a grain free diet but I still see her biting at the bottoms of her feet and at her joints. That tells me that you feel she has a problem and you think it is related to food.

Now you are sorry? I thought you wanted to help your pup???

Totally confused.

As for the raw diet...I have no experience and would never consider it because I have strong beliefs about it; but that has nothing to do with my response to you. Others can advise you on that diet. I was merely trying to help you help your pup ... Just like us, when we itch and we scratch it becomes itchier, that is happening to her..BUT we can take things to soothe it. Your pup does not have that luxury. She depends on you. I do hope you will consult with your vet.

[kjc]

Has she had a Bile Acid Test? I would recommend that before going to raw...

[IDPiper]

She is going to the vet. Thank you for your help.

Thank you kjc, that is what I needed to know.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by IDPiper

I'm sorry I even mentioned the fact that she was biting at her feet. My reason and main concern is the fact that she is not eating her food except for the canned kind that is meant as a topper.

If she prefers the canned wet food, there are canned choices that are nutritionally complete diets and not just toppers.

[kjc]

I'd also have her teeth checked specifically. She may have a bad tooth that bothers her when eating kibble.

I've read about some dogs doing fantastic on a raw diet. It wouldn't hurt to get your vet's opinion on switching her over. He may have more tests in mind to make sure it would be beneficial for her.