I'd look around for a holistic vet.
Rice is considered a grain as well. Although some dogs can tolerate it, mine cannot. Not brown rice either. Sometimes fish is the best thing.
I've been wondering about this myself with my B (sorry to hijack the thread).
I was feeding my guy Wilderness and noticed he scratched at his ears/face quite often. Went with a 100% grain free food thinking that would fix it, no change. Vet told me it probably was not related to the food but it could be something seasonal.
I've never noticed any bumps on his skin anywhere. It's usually just the scratching at his ears (with both paws) and nose. Happens before and after meals so that's why I'm thinking it's not food related.
Any ways of testing for certain allergies with dogs?
I echo the suggestion to feed a grain free food. Finding something with minimal ingredients is a good idea. I would also try to stick with one protein source, like just chicken or just fish, and no grains. It might not be food related but that will help narrow it down easily. For a general supplement I use Prozyme, which is a digestive enzyme, and I also use Missing Link, which is a nice natural all around supplement. Sometimes I also use fish oil too.
And yes, there are ways to test for certain allergies I believe, but it's very expensive!
I've looked at the Blue Wilderness dog food, if it's the blue bag, it has a lot of grains. There is Oatmeal, Flaxseed, Barley grass. Also, try looking for something with sweet potato rather than white potato. There is more nutritional value in sweet potato. I wouldn't be able to have it near Zina. It could also be chicken that he is allergic too. Zina's father is allergic to chicken, which is another reason why I went to the fish. Just to minimize any reactions. Zina has also been on a raw diet and couldn't do that either, she wasn't getting enough of what she needed and had diarreah. The Orijen is the best I've found so far. There is one other food, but I can't remember the name of it.
Here is the ingredients of Orijen. I would look into something truly 'grain free'.
FRESH REGIONAL INGREDIENTS
Fresh salmon (includes chinook. coho and sockeye species), salmon meal, russet potato, herring meal, fresh lake whitefish, sweet potato, fresh lake trout, fresh Northern walleye, freshwater cod, fresh herring, sunflower oil, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherals, a natural source of vitamin E), sun-cured alfalfa, dried sea vegetables (brown kelp, Irish moss, dulse and bladder wrack), leeks, psyllium, crab shell, rosemary, lecithin, apples, black currants..
TONIC HERBS AND BOTANICALS
Chicory root (FOS), licorice root, fennel seed, zea mays, peppermint leaf, marigold flowers, chamomile flowers, dandelion, summer savory, rosemary, rosehips.
ORGANIC MINERALS
Iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate.
PROBIOTIC MICROORGANISMS
Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Enterococcus faecium fermentation product..
PREMIUM VITAMINS
Mixed tocopherols (source of vitamin E), choline chloride, vitamin A, vitamin D3, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12, folic acid, biotin, pyridoxine (source of vitamin B6).
I don't know if you can get this food down there, but Orijen is fantastic. Zina has severe allergies and this is the one that she itches and swells the least on. It has no grains or flaxseed, which I found bothers her just as much as graings, so I consider it a grain, especially since it grows like a grain.
Hey Arlene, I have a question for you. I think I read that you fed your new litter this year Orijen Puppy. How did that work for you? And were you at all concerned about the protein level for a puppy. My 2 adults are on Orijen (for a year now and LOVE it). Locally the puppy food isn't available in the store but I can order it for my pup, but I wanted to hear from someone that has actually used it.
I've been wondering about this myself with my B (sorry to hijack the thread).
I was feeding my guy Wilderness and noticed he scratched at his ears/face quite often. Went with a 100% grain free food thinking that would fix it, no change. Vet told me it probably was not related to the food but it could be something seasonal.
I've never noticed any bumps on his skin anywhere. It's usually just the scratching at his ears (with both paws) and nose. Happens before and after meals so that's why I'm thinking it's not food related.
Any ways of testing for certain allergies with dogs?
They can test dogs for allergies same as they do people…. but you need to see a specialist....
Hey Arlene, I have a question for you. I think I read that you fed your new litter this year Orijen Puppy. How did that work for you? And were you at all concerned about the protein level for a puppy. My 2 adults are on Orijen (for a year now and LOVE it). Locally the puppy food isn't available in the store but I can order it for my pup, but I wanted to hear from someone that has actually used it.
I didn't end up using it. I was going to change Sugar over, but her stress level prevented me so I just gave up the idea of trying any new food. The puppies were raised on Nutro chicken,oatmeal and rice for sensitive stomachs for puppies and did great on it.
You can have skin tests done. The specialist who tested Sheba told us it probably was not food allergies. The testing was kind of expensive ($500+) but that included the allergy shots. It was very interesting the amount of allergens they tested her for. I think it was over 60 and it was a long process that started over 8 months ago. Now that spring has sprung here in the northwest I think her allergies are acting up again and we are going to try another route. ( by the way it was the rudest vet and office staff we had ever experienced)
Just wanted to thank you all for the information . I will hopefully get a better idea after talking with the foster dad as to what types of things seem to set off the scratching , etc. Then once we get Ricky home I'll be on the look out for triggers .From what you are saying , food seems to be the biggest culprit . As I understand it the Wilderness recipe is grain free , but I'll check . If it's not I'll check for the other brands suggested here . Do you think fish oil supplements are a good idea ?
a holistic vet can do a type of allergy testing - just call and ask. i think it would be easier and cheaper than the more "traditional" type of allergy testing (skin tests).
Do any of you have any recommendations for supplements for skin conditions caused by allergies ? Some of these supplements claim to treat the immune system , thus "treating the cause not the symptom " . Most appear to be based on Omega 3 and Omega 6 plus various and sundry natural ingredients . I'd appreciate any input . We want to keep our new boy happy and healthy.
I know that the Omega 3 and Omega 6 oils will help clear up dry, flaky, itchy skin (They have done wonderfully for my boy). I'm not sure if it helps the underlying condition, but it will help reduce the symptom. I have both of my dogs on a skin and coat vitamin from petsmart (can't remember the brand off the top of my head), but it has been keeping them flake free and I don't see much itching. My dogs don't seem to have as severe allergies as yours does.
In humans the Omega oils are being used to help treat autoimmune disorders (my fiance has an autoimmune kidney disorder and is taking large doses of fishoil as one way to help combat it), not sure how it translates into helping dogs with allergies.
I've found fish oil really works well for the dogs. I don't add extra oil to Zina's food since she is on fish based, but it seems to help with the dander on the other ones. And on the black and whites, you can really see how much dander there is and how much it is reduced once on the fish oil.
If the condition is Allergic Dermatitis, which it sounds like it is, than the thepetcenter.com says treatment for it can be: 'topical medicated soothing baths, ointments and sprays…'
This site is invaluable for stuff like this: http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/itch.html#Allergic
Hope that helps.
Don't forget about any treats, bones, and/or biscuits you are feeding. My boy has allergies, probably food, and he rarely gets treats. He is also a chowhound and would gain weight from too many treats anyway. He gets fed either a fish, venison, bison, elk, etc and usually grain free or something with sweet potato. I do change food from time to time. When his allergies get bad, he will bite at his paws. I find it amazing what is in some treats and biscuits. Now it is easier to find treats that will not cause allergies but some of them are expensive.
I did have a Westie in the past that had severe allergies to….storagemites, which is in every dogfood that has been stored for a few weeks or more, i.e every food known to man, so he was on the raw diet, did great, he was also severly allergic to fleas, or the saliva from the fleas and to mold/mildew, which living in houston Tx there is a lot of. Poor guy was miserable, until we did the raw diet and decided to keep him inside all the time, when the other dogs went out to play he had to stay in..and it is funny he wanted to go out and the other dogs wanted to come in...figures. The few foods out there that are supposedly good for allergies according to my vet is grainfree ones,
Dick Van Pattens sweet potatoe and duck, I believe was one of the ones he recommended. Try to keep the ingredients list as small as possible, cleaner food means less irritants. Just like our food, the less junk we eat the better we feel...
Good Luck, I know how hard it is with a dog that clearly is bothered by something and you don't know how to help it.
I do know that Petco and Petsmart here in Texas will take food back even though the bag has been opened, which is nice if you are having to try various/numerous different brands until you find what works.
Basenjimamma
