Limited Ingredients VS Regular Food
 

Cody has been on Natural Balance Limited Ingredients Venison / Bison for a couple of months. Reason for limited Ingredients::::He was constantly scratching Vet said could be food allergies, use Limited Ingredients Venison or Bison. After a couple of months feeding him this he is still scratching. So it’s not food related. he is now on environmentmental meds. I have asked for good quality food suggestions and have received many. Some suggestions were for Limited Ingredients :::So now my question is::: since Cody LOVES his Natural Balance Limited Ingredients with either Venison or Bison, Can I leave him on this? My concern with Limited Ingredient foods is,:::: he is not getting all the nutrients he should be getting. Feeding Limited Ingredient food, is he getting all the nutrients a dog should get to have a balanced diet? Leaving him on Limited Ingredients indefinitely will that harm his digestive system in any way? What are the advantages or disadvantages of leaving him on Limited Ingredient food. If Limited Ingredient will not cause harm to him down the road, I would prefer to not change his food. HELP, lol, I am so confused if I should stay with the Limited Ingredients or change over to a reg, dog food. I have to buy food today now not sure what to do.

It is complete and balanced and is perfectly fine to feed forever.

That said, you have not ruled out a food allergy by using this food.

The NB is nutritionally complete and balanced so if Cody is doing well and you want to keep him on that formula, go for it. Although I personally like to rotate various proteins, I certainly don't think it's necessary in order to have a healthy dog....I wouldn't think that there are any negative effects from just eating the same food all the time as long as it is nutritionally balanced (which these kibbles are). Especially for some dogs that require a special and/or strict diet...they can thrive on the same food for a lifetime.

My parents have fed their beagle the Natural Balance LID for several years...they rotate between maybe two or three different formulas and Mindy always has done well (she's a pretty sensitive one dog)...as long as my parents can get this food, they will feed it because it agrees with her and she enjoys it!

Why would you say that? I was told by my vet feed limited ingredients with either venison or Bison, which I did.

I don't read what ingredients are in dog foods, reason, I don't know the good from the bad. So what you are saying, I should read what proteins are in the food he is now eating, and IF I want, change him to food that offer proteins he is not getting in his currant food. Do I have that correct?

Not quite what I was trying to convey overall but what you stated is basically how you would rotate proteins, yes. What I meant in my original post is that I pick a new flavor each bag because I like to but that it's certainly not necessary and that it's okay to feed the exact same food for as long as you like.

Just because you picked one of the limited ingredient foods that your vet suggest for you to try and Cody is scratching still doesn't mean that it's not food allergy. You need to start with ONE type of LI food and if the scratching doesn't stop switch to a different protein source. With Pebbles I tried many different LI food and when I finally found one that work (NB Sweet Potato and Venison) I stayed with that one. Eventually, the manufacturer changed an ingredient and then the scratching began all over again. So if the variety that you tried has not brought relief from the itching you should buy a different variety to see if it stops the issue. You might need to try many different protein sources before finally eliminating the intolerance. Currently, Pebbles and the other two are all eating Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protien RX food when all of the LD foods were causing an issue. I asked my vet to order it and now he carries it in stock and I purchase directly from him.

Ok got ya, I think it's a good idea to rotate proteins, not to savvy on all these new dog foods, and the importance of checking ingredients. My last baby was on a Hill prescription dog food for years gotten at my vets office, there was never a need to shop around for dog food. This new guy I now how to buy food at Pet stores. Thank you for your help.

OMG, I didn't know all this, I thought just get limited Ing, food, did not know if itching continued I would have to try a diff. brand, Cody has the NB with sweet pot. & venison, also tried with the Bison. I don't want Cody taking meds for environment allergies if that's not he is allergic to, iyiyi. I don't know if this means anything, just gonna throw it out there. My vet advised me to feed limited ingredients with either venison or bison, she did not suggest the NB sweet pot, I came to YT asking for brands that sold limited ing. Members gave brands they use / used, most of them were sold at PetCo, the nearest store is 47 miles from me. I selected the NB because Pet Supply near me carries that. I just want to make clear my vet didn't suggest the NB, I did. I know nothing about allergies, human or animal, 7 past dogs I have had never had allergies, this is all new to me. So he has been eating NB sweet potato with venison just started with the bison that is almost finished, I know nothing about what is protein, carbs and all whatevers. I just pulled this off googleWhat should I be looking for, my vet said venison or bison, now I am really confused. Do I keep using the NB but a diff meat, should I change brands, My head is reeling.

I know a lot of people have negative feelings about the dog advisor website but I learned a lot about ingredients from him. I understand he is "just a dentist" but he does his research in good faith. His 5 star foods have more protein than I want for my little one but I study the ingredients in foods to make a decision. If he lists an ingredient in red, I pay attention. My goal has been finding a good food with the least amount of red :)

Ali's dry food is Acana. They sell tiny bags (less than a pound) so we can have a couple flavors in the house.

Here is a good article about food allergies. Good luck!
Hypoallergenic Dog Foods

The idea is to pick novel (never eaten before) protein spurces for a food trial. Bison may be novel for your pup, but what about the potato or pea component? These contain small amounts of protein. If a limited ingred. diet is not working you need to do 8-12 weeks of a veterinary allergy diet. These are hydrolyzed (protein broken down so far that the immune system does not react). Megansmomma mentioned the RC food. Science Diet and Purina also make these foods.

During this 12 week trial NOTHING else should be given (no treats, no edible chews, no crumbs from the floor, no flavored meds).

Most allergies are not food related, though.

I am so upset sinse reading meganmommas reply, I didn't know I was to try other foods, I was just told to feed the limited ingred. I kept him on NB sweet potato with veniso, last month I gave him with Bison, he's beem on LI for 3 months, I just took him to the vet 9 days ago, now he's getting meds for environment allergies, I don't him to take pills if it's related to food. Now I don't know if I should call the vet, stop this med and continue trying various foods. I don't know what to now, most members said what I put in bold letters. I just don't know now what I should do. I am trying to keep Cody's stress level down, what I'm doing is raising mine along with my blood pressure.

Thank you so much for the link, I need to start educating myself. Why do you pay attn. to what he has in red? Is the red good or bad?

No need to be upset, just learn and move on with your new knowledge. Ellie May is giving very good information too. It might not even be a true allergy but a food intolerance. The reason that a LI food was originally suggested would be help rule out all the more common issues i.e. grains.

The red items are controversial and in his notes he explains why. My last Yorkie had cancer so I am trying to learn as much as I can to keep my new baby healthy. I am not saying that food or other choices caused her cancer but I want to learn all I can about food, vaccines, flea meds etc. this time around. There are so many new foods and it's very confusing!

Food allergies are very rare and environmental allergies are very common. My vet recommends treating for environmental and if that does not work then switching to the hypoallerginic food and or doing a food trial. If you are giving him meds for environmental allergies and it is helping I feel pretty cofident that it's environmental. Limited ingredients to me just means less for my dog to have a reaction to.