New Food for Sully - ?'s - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Passionfruition · 11-20-2006, 08:25 AM

Well, I must say that Nutro Natural Choice (Small Bites, Lamb & Rice) has been good to us. Sully has been eating the food just fine for a year and a half now.

Sully started scratching a few months ago....itchy, itchy!!! All the time! So, I took him to the vet, who couldn't really find anything wrong with him outside of a few "hot spots" that were typical for the summer.

My vet suggested I change foods. He said that dogs aren't automatically allergic to food as often as they are able to develop allergies to the food they eat for a long period of time.

So, I have decided (I think) on two foods to choose from. Either I will go with the new BLUE Buffalo dog food company (lamb and brown rice) or Science Diet sensetive skin formula, since he's been so itchy!

Does anyone have experience with either of these foods? I would VERY MUCH appreciate your input.

And if you want to suggest a different food, if I can buy it at PetSmart/locally, I'm all ears. But it looks like anything else I could choose would either be Eukanuba (which I've heard not so good things about) and/or Nutro Max which I think is a step down from Natural Choice.

SO MUCH for your help!!!

eroar2 · 11-20-2006, 08:45 AM

Well Annie has not tried either.... But she does eat Dick Van Patton's Natural Balance. She has been eating successfully for over a year and a half now. No skin problems etc.

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/

Natural Balance is available at Petco and is supposed to be one of the better pet foods and finer products. They have formula's for allergies and even their regular one (which Annie eats) is good for things like that...

JCarlson2004 · 11-20-2006, 08:49 AM

I have only wonderful things to say about Blue Buffalo. It's an excellent food and I highly recommend it.

Passionfruition · 11-20-2006, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCarlson2004

I have only wonderful things to say about Blue Buffalo. It's an excellent food and I highly recommend it.

Cool! Our PetSmart *just* started carrying it and last week, I got to chat with their representative and I was very impressed!

Lexi Rae · 11-20-2006, 09:00 AM

blue buffalo , i go with jen all the time......

bizzbeth · 11-20-2006, 09:02 AM

Well (as you know from another thread) Oliver went from Sully's food to Nateral Balance potato and duck. He had HORRIBLE breakouts on his neck and head and three different vets couldn't figure out what it was! I decided to change his food in hopes that he was allergic to corn? Which is in nutro lamb and rice (small bites). The switch has been good (less itching) aside from the bathroom issues (he goes like 6 times a day! haha)
Hopefully that will level out as his body gets used to it.

Someone posted this site: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/
On another thread and it rates different dog foods (i believe scient diet is rather low on the list)
BLUE and Natueral balace get 4/6 stars
Nutro lamb and rice only got 2/6
I do nt' know how valid this rating system is, just something to look into!
GOODLUCK!

RLC12345678 · 11-20-2006, 09:03 AM

I also picked Blue Buffalo. If you want something you can buy at PetSmart, maybe you can also look at the "new" ProPlan food called "ProPlan Select." It is all-natural and the ingredients look good, too. Or you could try "Nutro Ultra" which also has great ingredients and many members here use it.

RLC12345678 · 11-20-2006, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizzbeth

Well (as you know from another thread) Oliver went from Sully's food to Nateral Balance potato and duck. He had HORRIBLE breakouts on his neck and head and three different vets couldn't figure out what it was! I decided to change his food in hopes that he was allergic to corn? Which is in nutro lamb and rice (small bites). The switch has been good (less itching) aside from the bathroom issues (he goes like 6 times a day! haha)
Hopefully that will level out as his body gets used to it.

Someone posted this site: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/
On another thread and it rates different dog foods (i believe scient diet is rather low on the list)
BLUE and Natueral balace get 4/6 stars
Nutro lamb and rice only got 2/6
I do nt' know how valid this rating system is, just something to look into!
GOODLUCK!

That is an excellent website. I never buy a food that is lower that 5 out of 6 stars. All the foods on the 5 star list are corn and wheat free. Maybe you could find something locally (if not PetSmart, then maybe your local feed & seed store) off that list. Here is the 5 star list (be cognizant that there are 4 pages):

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_f...wcat.php/cat/3

ellie81 · 11-20-2006, 10:35 AM

That a great website, thanks! I can't believe I'm feeding Bengi a food that 1 out of 5!!!!! I'm switching right away!!!!!

Passionfruition · 11-20-2006, 10:43 AM

TWO more questions...

1 So would NObody recommend Science Diet...at all??? Wow, this is interesting!

2. According to that dog food site, is the Blue food the best I could get at PetSmart? I don't know what is sold where, really....and we don't have a Petco here.

simonandhallie · 11-20-2006, 10:49 AM

I took SImon and Hallie off of Science Diet b/c of the by-product ingredients. They are both on Wellness now and I mix in some Nutro. I can only find Wellness at the daycare I take them too or at a local family owned store. I wish they sold it at Petsmart

Poor Itchy Sully! I hope he finds relief with his new food.

SONYSW · 11-20-2006, 10:51 AM

1. I would not recommend science diet.
2. I would recommend Innova or Merrick if you can get it or solid gold (petco carries this brand). You will be fine with blue buffalo. Merrick is very tasty. Your baby will like it.

Passionfruition · 11-20-2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simonandhallie

I took SImon and Hallie off of Science Diet b/c of the by-product ingredients. They are both on Wellness now and I mix in some Nutro. I can only find Wellness at the daycare I take them too or at a local family owned store. I wish they sold it at Petsmart

Poor Itchy Sully! I hope he finds relief with his new food.

Thanks Kimberley! (Btw, did you get my email?)

Eesh, by-products. That's so weird, b/c isn't Science Diet what all the vets recommend in their office??? Weird.

I keep freaking out that Sully has fleas AGAIN b/c it's been such a bad year for his allergies and fleas on top of that, but no, it's not fleas! I almost wish it were so I could treat them and he'd feel better. Ya know? Sully has been taking Benedryl and it helps but doesn't stop the scratching 100%.

And when I'm sleeping at night and he's laying in my bed scratching it gets on my everlasting nerves. LOL.

RLC12345678 · 11-20-2006, 11:04 AM

You should call around to your local vets' offices and see what foods they sell. I have never been able to find Caidae All Life Stages anywhere, but my vet sells it. I get it from her. If you want to try Timberwolf Organics, I know they offer free shipping if you order it off their website. Timberwolf got 5 out of 6 stars on that website.

eroar2 · 11-20-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

And when I'm sleeping at night and he's laying in my bed scratching it gets on my everlasting nerves. LOL.

You too

View Poll Results: Which food should I switch Sully to?
BLUE Buffalo Company (Lamb and Brown Rice)	6	100.00%
Science Diet Sensetive Skin Formula	0	0%
Voters: 6. You may not vote on this poll

11-20-2006, 08:25 AM	#1
Passionfruition Proud of my Sully! Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: beautiful CHARLESTON, S.C. Posts: 5,454	New Food for Sully - ?'s Well, I must say that Nutro Natural Choice (Small Bites, Lamb & Rice) has been good to us. Sully has been eating the food just fine for a year and a half now. Sully started scratching a few months ago....itchy, itchy!!! All the time! So, I took him to the vet, who couldn't really find anything wrong with him outside of a few "hot spots" that were typical for the summer. My vet suggested I change foods. He said that dogs aren't automatically allergic to food as often as they are able to develop allergies to the food they eat for a long period of time. So, I have decided (I think) on two foods to choose from. Either I will go with the new BLUE Buffalo dog food company (lamb and brown rice) or Science Diet sensetive skin formula, since he's been so itchy! Does anyone have experience with either of these foods? I would VERY MUCH appreciate your input. And if you want to suggest a different food, if I can buy it at PetSmart/locally, I'm all ears. But it looks like anything else I could choose would either be Eukanuba (which I've heard not so good things about) and/or Nutro Max which I think is a step down from Natural Choice. SO MUCH for your help!!! __________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - I love my Sully (the Wonderdog!) Last edited by Passionfruition; 11-20-2006 at 08:27 AM.

11-20-2006, 08:49 AM	#3
JCarlson2004 Mommy To 3 Poochies Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New York Posts: 8,287	Blue Buffalo I have only wonderful things to say about Blue Buffalo. It's an excellent food and I highly recommend it. __________________ Mommy Loves Codie, Tia & Baby Cali RIP My Precious Katie - I Love You

11-20-2006, 09:00 AM	#5
Lexi Rae Gina, (Lexi's Mommy) Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: LONG ISLAND,NY Posts: 10,455	blue buffalo , i go with jen all the time...... __________________ Gina & Lexi CLICK HERE for our Photo Album ...

11-20-2006, 09:02 AM	#6
bizzbeth Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 857	Well (as you know from another thread) Oliver went from Sully's food to Nateral Balance potato and duck. He had HORRIBLE breakouts on his neck and head and three different vets couldn't figure out what it was! I decided to change his food in hopes that he was allergic to corn? Which is in nutro lamb and rice (small bites). The switch has been good (less itching) aside from the bathroom issues (he goes like 6 times a day! haha) Hopefully that will level out as his body gets used to it. Someone posted this site: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/ On another thread and it rates different dog foods (i believe scient diet is rather low on the list) BLUE and Natueral balace get 4/6 stars Nutro lamb and rice only got 2/6 I do nt' know how valid this rating system is, just something to look into! GOODLUCK! __________________ Mom to OLIVER & CHARLIE Scents & Warmers for your home from a YT member & Independent Scentsy Consultant https://elizabethcampbell.scentsy.us/Home

11-20-2006, 08:45 AM	#2
eroar2 Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 446	Well Annie has not tried either.... But she does eat Dick Van Patton's Natural Balance. She has been eating successfully for over a year and a half now. No skin problems etc. http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/ Natural Balance is available at Petco and is supposed to be one of the better pet foods and finer products. They have formula's for allergies and even their regular one (which Annie eats) is good for things like that...

11-20-2006, 09:03 AM	#7
RLC12345678 I heart Hootie & Hobbs Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: USA Posts: 7,149	I also picked Blue Buffalo. If you want something you can buy at PetSmart, maybe you can also look at the "new" ProPlan food called "ProPlan Select." It is all-natural and the ingredients look good, too. Or you could try "Nutro Ultra" which also has great ingredients and many members here use it.

11-20-2006, 10:35 AM	#9
ellie81 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Florida Posts: 5,314 Blog Entries: 1	That a great website, thanks! I can't believe I'm feeding Bengi a food that 1 out of 5!!!!! I'm switching right away!!!!! __________________ Ellie and Bengi Bengi Is Home!!! - http://youtu.be/8OKv35pk5Pk

11-20-2006, 10:43 AM	#10
Passionfruition Proud of my Sully! Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: beautiful CHARLESTON, S.C. Posts: 5,454	TWO more questions... 1 So would NObody recommend Science Diet...at all??? Wow, this is interesting! 2. According to that dog food site, is the Blue food the best I could get at PetSmart? I don't know what is sold where, really....and we don't have a Petco here. __________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - I love my Sully (the Wonderdog!)

11-20-2006, 10:49 AM	#11
simonandhallie *I Love My Monkeys!* Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Falling Waters, WV Posts: 11,166	I took SImon and Hallie off of Science Diet b/c of the by-product ingredients. They are both on Wellness now and I mix in some Nutro. I can only find Wellness at the daycare I take them too or at a local family owned store. I wish they sold it at Petsmart Poor Itchy Sully! I hope he finds relief with his new food.

11-20-2006, 10:51 AM	#12
SONYSW Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 218	1. I would not recommend science diet. 2. I would recommend Innova or Merrick if you can get it or solid gold (petco carries this brand). You will be fine with blue buffalo. Merrick is very tasty. Your baby will like it.

11-20-2006, 11:04 AM	#14
RLC12345678 I heart Hootie & Hobbs Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: USA Posts: 7,149	You should call around to your local vets' offices and see what foods they sell. I have never been able to find Caidae All Life Stages anywhere, but my vet sells it. I get it from her. If you want to try Timberwolf Organics, I know they offer free shipping if you order it off their website. Timberwolf got 5 out of 6 stars on that website.