HELP!! Does Jack Need to go to the Em. Vet?!!!

[MaxBooBooBear]

ohhhh–it might be a food allergy.....if you don't want to use canned--you could give mostly dry (good quality--not wheat, corn, etc) with just a little bit of canned, mix with warm water. That's what Tyler and Zoey get, and they love it. I use Nutro for dry and Nature's Recipe canned--I don't think these are expensive. It's what they were on in the shelter; and since they weren't having any problems with it, I just stuck with those brands. Also--it's not good to switch foods quickly--except for allergic reaction.

[wizard]

Another thing you could try is to mix some of the old stuff with new better food and gradually (takes only a few days) wean him off the old stuff. It's not as big a shock on his system then.

[nodakerdeb]

I have a lot of experience with finding the right dog food for a Basenji with problems. Our first Basenji not only had fanconi but was plagued with IBSID – talk about a trip trying to find something she could eat! Now Dan, with his thyroid problems is very sensitive to most foods. Had him on raw for a year (could NEVER get a good coat on him with BARF, but at least his skin didn't break out), then Eureka!! about a year ago I found a food which I can get at Petco (a major plus, although I'm not at all put off by ordering online). Anyway, this food causes absolutely no problems with Dan's skin (and it's looked like your Jack's on several occasions). Here is the poop on it, but you can get it at Petco.

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Castor-Pollux-Organix-Canine-Formula-Organic-Dog-Food/133001.aspx

Needless to say it is more expensive than the food you'll find in the commissary, but in the long run it is a LOT cheaper than vet bills!

[edit] I should also mention that you can get this same brand in canned and treats so if Jack should tolerate it fine you'll not have to worry about giving him something 'new' when you want to treat him.

[WBL]

Good Quality kibble is more expensive yes, but on average a dog needs less because he's get more nutrients from the good kibble.

Also a food with corn should NOT have water added in general, it can cause the corn in the food to expand.

Next I'd try something different for food, if money is really a big issue. I do the commissary and NEX do carry MUCH better food than Ol' Roy. Purina One is okay, Iams is a little better as with Nutro Natural Choice or Eukanuba Natural.

[ChristyRutherford]

OlRoy is a horrible food, but they do like it…think of it like eating snickers everyday -Id be happy, but not healthy.
My dog needs a high fat food, but he has some skin issues so I feed wellness, which is a bit more expensive...but a 20lb bag (at about $25) last me a long long time.
He is also finiky so I buy the Iams gravy and put a dab on top and mix it up just a bit. That way I know it is not mushy and still gets his teeth clean.
You could also switch to a better kibble and add some chicken broth.
I hope you dont take offense to anyone dissing olroy, it is nothing against you. And, unless you learn different, you arent born knowing which food to feed your dog.
Chicken soup for the dog lover is a good less expensive brand. Just remember that with the better brands, your dog will eat less because they will be using more of the food, you will also notice a HUGE difference in stool size.

***funny story about olroy, I once broke up with a guy for buying that for a stray I just got. She was skinny and sickly and I told him to get the best canned food and bring it right over...his idea of best was the cheapest. I fed it to her, because that is all I had and I had to feed her.
That really wasnt the only reason, there were lots, but this one was the funniest to tell my friends.

[Barklessdog]

our Tri has the same issue. He can only eat Wysong Allergin Lamb & Rice so far without breaking out in a rash. He has been on it for about 4 years.

He can't tolerate any wheat or corn or breaks out with the same rash.

All he can have is his food, no treats.

If he was fine on his old food why not go back to that?

[tanza]

@Barklessdog:

our Tri has the same issue. He can only eat Wysong Allergin Lamb & Rice so far without breaking out in a rash. He has been on it for about 4 years.

He can't tolerate any wheat or corn or breaks out with the same rash.

All he can have is his food, no treats.

If he was fine on his old food why not go back to that?

Have you ever tried the duck treats? I know that many with allergies do great on this….

[annandael]

Out of all of the cheap foods that have been listed. Purina One is the best. Try to go for the Chicken or Beef…avoid the Lamb...(I've heard of a lot of dogs allergic to it).

Also, here's a cheap idea for a "gravy" buy some vegetable oil and garlic powder. My dogs LOVE it and their coats have a wonderful sheen due to it!

Just make sure if you do go that route...use just enough of it to coat his food...it will also help him if he had any issues with being regular LOL!

[tanza]

That is true…. many dogs have problems with Lamb.... and also you can make your own gravy by making chicken stock... that way you can control the salt since many of the broths have way to much sodium...

[nomrbddgs]

I never had good luck with lamb. My dogs hated it because it was too hard.

[dmcarty]

actually I've fed Purina ONE for a long long time - matter of fact Purina had promised that they would never make a preium food commercially available in discount stores but they did with ONE - read the ingredients sometime - I do feed Lamb and rice I always make some quick oatmeal and mix it in with just a little bit of Pedigree canned - coats are great - stools are great - just goes to show you - there are a lot of options.

I found a new all meat dry food that I like (only know the bag color how bad is that) sometimes I'll mix in a 10 lb bag of this with the 20 lb bag of ONE to make a little 'buffet' of sorts.

[youngandtired]

I feed Sahara Merricks dry and mix alittle wet with it. If you want to use only dry Merricks that is fine, just put alittle warm water and stir well, it will make its own gravy. I use the Grammy's Pot Pie, which she loves, loves. Sahara use to be a picky eater and this is why I use the dry and wet. I want to wean her off of the wet b/c it is expensive when you buy both. Some probably think the dry is too expensive, but I think it is worth it. You do use less b/c it is much better food. Sahara has dry skin and it is much better since I have used Merricks. It is about $12 for the average bag, not sure what weight, I just get it and go. Sahara also likes to change up sometimes, I also use Cowboy Cookout (beef), and Wingling (Chicken Wing with bone), the bone is so soft it breaks apart in your hand. Like us;dogs get tired of eating the same ole, same ole, day after day, plus it is good for their digestive tract to switch up now and then. As long as it's Merricks their is nothing to Fear!!!!!!!! haha!!!!

[JazzysMom]

@youngandtired:

I Like us;dogs get tired of eating the same ole, same ole, day after day, plus it is good for their digestive tract to switch up now and then. As long as it's Merricks their is nothing to Fear!!!!!!!! haha!!!!

I've always heard that it is better for their digestive system to NOT switch them u; that it's best to feed them a steady diet of the same of the same food and give treats for a variety in taste.

No?

[WBL]

@JazzysMom:

I've always heard that it is better for their digestive system to NOT switch them u; that it's best to feed them a steady diet of the same of the same food and give treats for a variety in taste.

No?

I have heard quite the oppisate they they tend to do better on rotations around every 3-6 months.

Best rule of thumb though is it always depends on the dog and personal preferance

[dmcarty]

Have you gotten new carpet - or even a new carpet square new laundry detergent or fab softener. Any of those can cause a reaction that looks like that.

[red and white furever]

I've always heard that it is better for their digestive system to NOT switch them u; that it's best to feed them a steady diet of the same of the same food and give treats for a variety in taste.

No?

Rotation diets are becoming more and more popular these days. Reasons vary, but my personal belief is that a dog can benefit from different protien sources and vitamin make ups from different foods. Imagine having chicken as the only protien you ever eat - I know my body would crave a big, juicy steak every once in awhile for the vitamins and nutrients that chicken lacks. Rotations can be hard to achieve though on a dog with stomach sensitivities. I rotate through different brands and flavors of canned food, but have started keeping the dry portion of my dog's food the same.

[lvoss]

I have two types of kibble in my house. I sometimes rotate which flavors or brands. I stick to certain brands. Doing it this way has been working pretty well for the last 3 years.

[dash]

we feed 1/2 iams and 1/2 merrick since merrick is so pricey. Then I add 2 tbsp's of merrick wet and mix. They love it and eat it quickly.

[jys1011]

My dog is probably THE MOST allergic dog out here…so I have to weigh in on this topic LOL LOL He pretty much can only have fish, duck, lamb, beef, potaoes, & rice...otherwise all poultry, pork, veggies, & grains are OUT

My vet recommended to start rotating him through different diets because otherwise he will eventually with time become allergic to the one thing I feed him daily & that will become an even bigger headache. We feed Merricks but the only Merricks that I can feed is kibble Salmon & Potatoe & I have to pick out any peas & carrots (he can't eat those either).

So now we started a new food into the rotation...Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Duck & Potato Allergy Formula which he loves & has had NO reaction to & didn't even get the runs from the food switch. SO I think this will work. For gravy I also add water & fish oil for shiney coats!

[tanza]

I have had mine on Duck and Potato for a while also.. and mine are doing really well on it… being seniors, I do need to watch their protein intact (of course the jury is still out on that...ggg)... and was giving them Canidae Senior... didn't like their coats so much....

A breeder friend has a B that the specialist determined many, many allergies, She had open sores that would heal and start all over again... lumps, redness, you name it... once it was determine it was all food related and she was put on "duck" only, in a matter of two month all cleared up....