#1
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Dog Food problems - yeast and allergies (to almost everything)
I got a lab in 2002 with dog food problems. Started with Eukanuba maintenance so I switched him to science diet lamb and rice and from there I tried a few others but ended up on MEDI-CAL Vegetarian.
Syptoms were yeast infections, hairloss, dandruff, rashes etc etc. Vet concluded he was allergic. I have since retired him and gave him away and he is doing well. My problem is I have a rottweiller and a pug with similar problems. They were both on medi-cal. Rotty was on Preventative and Pug was on Vegetarian. When my lab and pug were both on Vegetarian I noticed mild lethargy, dull coast and low energy. But the food did help their problems with yeast/allergies. My Rotty has recently developed a problem with the medi-cal Preventative.....major hair loss, dandruff, hotspots. We switched all our dogs to Eukanuba FP (vet brand). The rotty skin improved in that all of the above stopped, but now he and one of my pugs are showing yeast sensitivity. To sum it up, I'm getting mighty PO'd with vet brands and am wondering if I should just go get some ordinary dog food. I am wondering if anyone here has had a similar scenario and can provide some suggestions. |
#2
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I'd almost switch to a home prepared diet for afew weeks, just to get things cleared up. Then introduce regular food. I'm nota fan of Vet food. Over priced and usualy has poor ingredients.
I'd suggest for kibble a grain free low carb food like Innova Evo or Orijen.
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Please please please give Maggie the steak! Its not too big for her little mouth! Their impression of power is remarkable. They give one the feeling of immense reserves of energy, of great reservoirs of knowledge, of tolerance of disposition, obstinacy of purpose, and tenacity of principle. They are responsive, and they have a lot of quiet, good sense. -J. Wentworth Day, from The Dog in Sport, 1938 |
#3
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I would suggest Orijen...It has worked wonders with my chocolate lab...He has allergy issues! Great food! No Gluten, no grains and no by products! My lab went through the whole vet food thing for years.....I wish I had known sooner how crappy the vet food really is! He loves this food!
Cindy
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Tabitha April 10, 1995 - August 23, 2013 Bomber April 10, 1995 - July 12, 2010 Winston Nov 15, 1999 - September 15, 2011 Sophie Aug 30, 2011 "UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED" He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown |
#4
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Do you know for sure it's food allergies and not environmental?
Are you sure it's actually allergies, rather than just chronic problems that one often sees with dogs being fed lower quality diets? Have you ever had allergy tests done or done a true elimination diet with the dogs? |
#5
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I would definitely switch to grain free, seeing as the vegetarian diet wasn't helping that much either. There are a few great grain free kibbles you could try- they cost more than store bought brands, but similar or less than vet brands. We feed Helix Orijen, which I highly recommend if you can find it (it's an all natural food made in Alberta). Other brands would be Innova EVO or Solid Gold Barking at the Moon. You can look up the websites of the foods to find a store locator which will help you find one of these foods near you (because these foods aren't sold in the big pet stores- usually pet food specialty stores). Here are the ingredients of the Orijen adult formula, to give you and idea of what you would be feeding your dog:
Fresh chicken meat, chicken meal (low ash), turkey meal, steamed russet potato, fresh-caught Northern Whitefish, chicken fat, fresh whole eggs, salmon meal, salmon and anchovy oils, tapioca, chicken broth, sunflower oil, flaxseed, Atlantic kelp, steamed carrots, spinach, peas and tomatoes, sun-cured alfalfa, apple fiber, psyllium seed, rosemary extract, yeast extract (MOS), glucosamine HCl, cranberries, black currants, chondroitin sulfate. TONIC HERBS AND BOTANICALS Chicory, burdock and marshmallow root (FOS), rosehips, stinging nettle, marigold flowers, L-carnitine, fennel seed, chamomile flowers, milk thistle, chickweed, summer savory. ORGANIC MINERALS Iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate. PROBIOTIC MICROORGANISMS Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium (B. bifidus), Saccharomyces (S. boulardii). 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). |
#6
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Quote:
Yes, the vet food brands are crappy....full of corn and other fillers, etc. But, don't go to the supermarket or Walmart to "get some ordinary food" because the brands available there are just as bad. You need to go to a local pet food store to find a premium/holistic brand. As mentioned, Orijen is an excellent choice (www.championpetfoods.com). If that is not available where you live then Canidae (www.canidae.com) and Innova (www.naturapet.com) are also good choices. |
#7
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My suggestion would be similar. I use to feed Eukanuba and Eukanuba low residue (only available at the vet) and once I switched to a better quality diet - I really saw the results in my two dogs. One with a sensitive tummy and one with allergies.
I would try a food switch first to get them on a better quality food - it may take some time to see the results so don't give up right away. If you still see the skin problems you could start experimenting with different protein sources to see if you can pin point the allergy. One of my dogs has environmental allergies which I see seasonally but I believe that a better diet does a lot to increase the immune system and even these allergies now do not seem to bother her as much as when she was on the lower quality diet. |
#8
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Thanks for all the info!
Just to answer a few questions that were asked. I'm a dog master. I have more money at my disposal for K9 care than the average person. My lab (service dog) was the worst case my vet every saw. Unfortunately she wouldn't consider any other food than a vet food....which is why I am here. Yes I did try elimination, it didn't work. I had an allergy test done and my lab was allergic to: (summed up) all carbs, a few different proteins, a lot of enviromental stuff, and many other things....too much to list. I even tried Hyposensitization (which is quite expensive). It didn't work. In the end, he was on a constant dose of Prednisone (which isn't healthy either). He is now retired and living in a new home so I don't really know how he's doing. So I'm quite knowledgeable now about the reactions and behaviors related to food. What I am seeing in my pug and Rotty is definately food related. My vet has now, on more than two occasions, recommended I try a food full of yeast when she knows I have dogs that react to yeast. I don't have a lot of experience with different foods (other than the vet brands) and I no longer trust my vet to advise me on what to feed my dog. She will only suggest vet brands which I've never had success with. Again, I thank you for your posts. I will most likely try Orijen. Here are the brands I have access to: Alpo Azmira Beggin Strips Benny Bullies Buster's Best California Natural Canidae/Felidae Chewrifics Darford Biscuits Deli-Fresh Dog Food Eagle Pack Evo Fancy Feast First Mate Foundations Friskies Go! Natural Gulf Isle. Biscuits Grandma Lucy's Innova Jerky Treats Lean Cuts Liver Bars Luvs Marrobones Meaty Bones Merrick Milkbones Mother Nature Treats Natural Balance Natural Value Nature's Version Chubs Nature's Recipe N.R.G. Food Nutram Nutro 9-Lives Old Mother Hubbard Orijen Pedigree Dentabones Pounce Precise Prism from Eagle Purina Pro Plan Rollover Scoobie Snax Sheba Solid Gold Snausages Techni-Cal Temptations Tripett Tri-V Trixie Treats Wellness Whiskas |
#9
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Again, I'd say try the Evo.
That or the NRG.
__________________
Please please please give Maggie the steak! Its not too big for her little mouth! Their impression of power is remarkable. They give one the feeling of immense reserves of energy, of great reservoirs of knowledge, of tolerance of disposition, obstinacy of purpose, and tenacity of principle. They are responsive, and they have a lot of quiet, good sense. -J. Wentworth Day, from The Dog in Sport, 1938 |
#10
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I'd say start with the Canidae Lamb and rice if your dogs aren't allergic to rice. It's one of the simplest formulas. If that doesn't work, then maybe Evo RM or Orijen (I'm just wary of the chicken because I have a chicken intolerant dog and issues with chicken seem to be on the rise). Solid Gold also has a grain free one, Barking at the Moon.
The problem with most of the grain free ones is that if your dog has a problem with potatoes, they won't work... If you can afford canned food and are out of options, you can try the Evo 95% meat line. Coconut oil also helps with yeast issues. |
#11
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Quote:
http://www.upei.ca/cidd/Diseases/dermatology/seborrhea.htm Last edited by Goldens4Ever; April 25th, 2007 at 09:55 PM. |
#12
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Hey all
I put all my dogs on Orijen....the difference is amazing. I'm even going to recommend the owner of my old service dog try it out. Thanks again! |
#13
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Good to hear they are all doing better!
It takes a little while for the effects of the old food to get out of their system, so you may even notice more improvements as time goes on. Orijen is also coming out with a "6 fresh fish" formula in June so this gives another option to try if needed. |
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