What to do about dog food allergies...

[Babette]

A few years ago my pomeranian, Babette (my namesake) developed an allergy to her dog food. She had been raised on Kibbles'n Bits. Anytime she ate it she got bloody diarrhea. I started her on Iams and she was much better. I never did find out exactly what it was that was causing the problem. She eats little bits of things that we give her- chicken, beef, pork, carrots, apples, so I don't think it's meat. This weekend she started having the symptoms of a food allergy again, and today she has the bloody diarrhea back. Over the weekend we let her have a little beef soup with potatoes and carrots, so I am not sure if that may be causing the problem. I'm fasting her for the day, then I guess I'll give her the Iams and see if she reacts. If she's developing an allergy to the Iams I don't know what to feed her. Anyone else ever deal with this type of thing?

[Rhiannon12866]

1. Yes, I have. You need to have a serious discussion with your vet.

about her diet. There are really amazing new prescription foods out there. My Sheena was on both Hill's Science Diet B/D (brain diet) to prevent seizures, and N/D, which was a strict anti-cancer diet. Over-the-counter (by that, I mean grocery store, and Iams is considered premium) is not the way to go if your dog has food allergies. And my vet said that such a poor diet could harm the dog, long-term. It seems that all of my dogs have been put on prescription diets, eventually, to deal with various problems, but only your vet can determine the right one for your dog.

You can have her tested to find out what exactly is causing the allergies, but it is not inexpensive. The prescription food is more expensive, but not prohibitively so. You just have the inconvenience of having to get it from your vet. My Sara itches, which am told could be food allergies, so I'm thinking of having her tested. My vet told me to avoid giving her "human food," but I have to give her daily meds in something, so it's tough. I use meat or cheese. He said that bread was bad, but vegetables are good. Fortunately, Sara will eat most anything, unlike many dogs, LOL! My dogs are all rescue, but I never short-change them. If they need anything, I do it. Your vet will be the best one to tell you which food would be the best one to give your dog, if she's prone to allergies.

I would think that the most natural food would be the best, with the fewest additives. Your vet can advise you on that. I've had luck with different varieties of Hill's Science Diet, but there are a lot of natural foods out there. I have a friend who eliminated his dog's seizures completely when he switched her to an all-natural diet. Some people even make their own dog's food, to make sure that it contains no additives, but most people aren't willing to take that step, including me, though I have cooked for my dogs when my vet asked me to, for different ailments. Also, make sure that you're not giving treats with colors or additives, which I learned are very bad for them, after having adopted two dogs who were prone to seizures.

Good luck with this and let us know how this turns out. I can't give specific advice, since I'm not a vet, but I've sure had experience giving special diets. PM me, anytime. I'd check with your vet and ask him specifically about diet. I often visit mine, with notes, so I don't forget anything. He's used to me and has a sense of humor, LOL!:D

[Scout]

2. my dog has food allergies

we had her tested at MSU vet college ... they could not find allergies to grass, mold, etc.

however, her symptoms (itchy feet and face, tendency to ear infections and yeast infections) were consistent with an allergy of some kind. she now eats prescription venison and potato dog food that we get from the vet.

with bloody diarrhea, I'd be more concerned about pancreatitis than food allergies. (my poor dog also had pancreatitis, which we discovered on the way to finding out about the allergies.) definitely get in touch with your vet! bouts of pancreatitis can be triggered by more fat in the diet than the dog is used to. since this is her regular food, the pancreatitis might be getting worse, ie, it doesn't take as much fat or other upset to get it going.

i'd fast the dog for at least 12 hours, with limited water intake (unless you think its' getting dehydrated) while getting in touch with the vet. after the diarrhea is calmed down, you may want to try a low fat food for your dog, and watch the people food treats.

good luck, keep us posted!

[Rhiannon12866]

11. That's what I was going to mention for pancreatitis, a low-fat food

My beloved 18-year-old cocker spaniel was prone to this, so his vet prescribed a low-fat diet. I knew that something was really wrong when he had accidents in the house, since this dog was rescued and finally housebroken at 10-years-old, so he was the very best I have ever had about going outside. Good luck with this, since I've been there, but my dog did overcome it, with a special diet.:-)

[Cadence]

3. I had to switch to

Sensitive Stomach food by Science Diet. It has been a lifesaver for my very allergic dog. There are some dog treats called Allergy Treats by Natures Recipe that are really good too.

[Babette]

4. Update on Babette's condition...

I took her to the vet yesterday afternoon. They tested a stool sample and didn't find any parasites. They did find a slightly elevated level of bacteria that could have caused it. The vet said that usually when diarrhea of this type is caused by bacteria, most of the population is flushed out with the first bowel movement. They don't think it's her pancreas. Since she doesn't have any itchiness they are not sure if it is food. They gave her a shot of antibiotics and some pills for me to give her. I have her on a bland diet- rice and boiled ground beef. She seems to like it. She'll stay on it for a few days. Then I'll try her on the dog food again and see if she reacts. If it's just a bacterial infection then she'll be able to eat it. If it is a food allergy, then she'll react and we'll know. I hate to think of making her sick again like that. She gets so embarrassed when she has diarrhea! I might consider putting her on a higher quality dog food anyway.

She's at home now and didn't have any more nastiness last night. She's a little upset that the vet shaved her fur around her hind end- so if she does have it again she won't have it stuck all over her. It will grow back, but I can't call her "fuzzbutt" for awhile.

Thank you everyone for the thoughts.

[Scout]

5. oh good, I hope it's just the bacterial infection! n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. One of my poms had a bacterial infection twice

So bad that she had to stay overnight at the vet. hosp so she could be re-hydrated. The last time was almost two years ago and she had been fine. Her sister has never been sick and they have the same lifestyle. :shrug: Glad to hear your little one is doing better. That can be scary, it was for me.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. I have posted on a dog discussion forum

and someone posted this site to answer my questions about my dog's food allergies. I'm not going back there, because they ripped my face off when I told them that my vet prescribed Science Diet, said I was poisoning my dog and called my vet, who has always been there through some rough times with my guys, a stooge for the kibble companies. This is a tough bunch, who berated me because I didn't want to go with a raw diet for my dogs. I have cooked for my dogs when my vet asked me to, but a raw diet is too extreme for me. But this site may help you out. It lists certain ingredients to avoid and why. It's long, so I printed it out. Good luck. I have a similar problem.:-)

http://www.mordanna.com/dogfood/index.php?page=list1

[Lizzie Borden]

7. Yes food allergies in dogs can be deadly.

Your vet i s your best resource. You can have the dog tested for the allergies (costs about 100.00) You will receive a complete list of the food your dog is allergic to. In my case it was a Dobe. She came back as allergic to: rice,deer meat, lamb, chicken, corn, soybeans, etc. I tried to put her on an allergy sesitive diet but it onlyy worked for about a week. I found out that an astouding number of these supposedly non-allergic diets had eitherlamb, soybeans ( to bring up the protein level) or rice. If you have your dog tested, the company that tests will send you a list of dog foods that they think your pet wil be able to tolerate. It's worth the bucks. A dog having bloody diarreah can drop a lot of weight in a big hurry.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. I'm thinking of having my dog tested for allergies

Here's what my vet said about it:

Yes, there is a connection with allergies/ear infections and the diet. If Sara continues to have allergies and we suspect food, the best thing to do is to do a blood test for environmental allergens and food allergens. If we want to rule that out without the test, usually I put them on a novice source of protein that typically not used in dog food. This diet is called Eukanuba fish and potato diet. They have another one made from duck and potato. One needs to place them on the diet only for 10 weeks to notice the difference. At that time you can't give them any thing else. There is a treat made from fish and potato, too. Doing the test would be the best to choose the diet and avoid anything else she may be allergic to. They even make an immunotherapy to give her by injections to make her tolerate the allergens slowly.

So I'm deciding whether to go with the tests, which are around $200, or try a change of diet, which takes longer than 10 weeks, since any abrupt change of diet could cause stomach problems, which was my reply to him. I know fish and potato, since my Sheena was on it, and had accidents, because she was put on it, abruptly, when I first adopted her, but that's what they gave me to feed her. It was not a good experience.:-(

[flvegan]

9. Allergies due to diet are very common.

What most vets DON'T explain, sadly, is that the meat in dog (or cat) food is basically slaughterhouse waste that they can't feed to people. Rendering plants process everything from blood and bones to roadkill and euthanized shelter animals to spray over the corn based kibble. Garbage. Folks like to think that Fido is getting kibblized steak or pork chops. Not even close. Some are better than others but are still substandard.

In our rescue, we use Nature's Recipe Allergy Formula Vegetarian. $33 for the big bag at Petsmart. Hundreds of dogs later, not a one has had a single problem...ever.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Thank you. I try to feed my guys good food, and thought I was getting

the best, but, apparently not. Most of my dogs have been on special food, for one reason or another, prescribed by their vets. My guys have had health problems, but I have adopted older animals, who, as my vet said, "may not have had the best of care." He's got that right, but I tend to find pets who need me. I have an 11-year-old Brussels Griffon whose owner died and was a day away from being euthanized and a 9-year-old terrier mix who was found as a stray in Ohio, where they still gas unwanted animals. I lost my cat earlier this year, and I rescued her, myself, from outside, since she'd been abandoned. Heartbreaking stories, all of them. My vet told me that diet is the most important decision that we make for our pets, affecting their quality of life, so I certainly trusted him when he made recommendations or prescribed a certain food.:shrug:

I have often thought of feeding a vegetarian diet, since I mostly am, but I tend to adopt older dogs, and was not sure if they could make the switch. I spent one day on a dog message board and had my face ripped off when I posted on a thread about ear infections and diet, but I trust my vets, and did what they said. My alternative medicine vet has often had me cook for my dogs, when they were unwell, and I did it, though I hate dealing with meat, sauteed liver or chicken & rice, but my pets mean that much to me. My little guy loves vegetables, since my vet had me prepare them for his sister, who he loved, and we lost, last year, to cancer. He had broccoli, with me, just tonight. I will ask my vet about this particular diet and I thank you so much.:-)

[China_cat]

12. The thing is

that it isn't usually the meat that is causing the allergy. We've found, the hard way, that ground yellow corn (first ingredient in most kibbles) is the worst offender, with wheat, and soy running close behind.

Took the dogs off corn based kibble and the 'ears and rears' problems went away, my Bouvier with systemic recurrent staph stopped having as many flare ups and coats have gotten much better.

Takes eating the equivalent of the dog's weight in the new food to show results but they do come.


I hope it doesn't need saying here but please don't try to convert your cats to a vegetarian diet. They are obligate carnivores, get absolutely no nutrition from grains, veggies or other fillers and will go blind without the taurine found in meat.

[Eurobabe]

14. that is interesting, my best friend has a Golden

that has developed the worst allergies...he bites his paws (allergic to timothy grass) has goopey eyes and ears. He just turned 6. We think part of it is his bad breeding (he is a purebred rescue) but her vet did say he has oodles of allergies. I think he is on duck and potato diet.

[luzdeluna]

15. this is all great information

I had the same problem with my little Happy. I spent over a year searching for the answer for him. My vet did all the usual blood testing and stool testing. We tried all types of perscription food and some worked better than others but only for a month or two.

He was so unhappy it was breaking my heart.

Then one day I decided to take him into New York to a specialist, an Endocronologist. He was diagnosed with Cushings. We put him om meds and he recovered beautifully.

I am not saying your dog has Cushings or pancreatitus or any other condition. It's just that it's kind of unusual for a food alergy to cause cronic diareah.

My dog only had one symptom out of a long list of symptoms. My regular vet didn't bother to do the testing Happy needed because he did not suffer from the top two symptoms.

If your dog is suffering you might need to get proactive. Contact some on line vets (just for another opinion) or talk to you vet about a local specialist.

In the end it always saves me time and money and saves my dogs discomfort.


Good luck.

LDL

[Lorien]

16. Both foods use the same types of ingredients

Iams has some pretty awful stuff in it (and it's a "red" company, so by buying Iams, you're contributing to the GOP). The meat sources used by Iams AND Kibbles and Bits are non-human grade; they come from stuff swept off the floor at slaughterhouses (including animal wastes), spoiled meats, and other sources that are illegal to sell for human consumption. Most commercial pet foods also add corn syrups or other corn based products to create a food "addiction" for the animals; it's unhealthy for pets, but the government will give subsidy dollars to companies that incorporate corn products into what they produce, so it's a financial win for them.

Every time I post this information, I pretty much get ignored, but here it goes: try holistic brands, and you'll be amazed at how much healthier and energetic your dog becomes. Try brands like Wellness, innova, Karma, California Natural, Artemis, Steve's Real Food, Spot's Stew and others ( www.pookiesbowwowbakery.com has a good listing). I switched my aging cat to the holistic brands a year and a half ago, and he has been completely transformed; he no longer throws up every day, he's lost weight, he plays daily, his coat is shiny, he no longer has goop around his eyes, he seems MUCH happier. I only wished I had known about holistic human grade pet foods when I still had my beloved cat Peewee; He was so sick at the end, and I thought I was doing the best I could for him by feeding him Science Diet and Iams (after years on Friskies-ugh). I was doing more harm than good, and I'm still beating myself up for that!

[Lorien]

17. One product example:

Wellness Free-Range Venison and Brown Rice "Simple food solutions"

FROM WELLNESS:

FOR ALLERGIES AND FOOD SENSITIVITIES

More than 50% of all dog owners feel that their dog currently suffers from some sort of allergic reaction or food sensitivity:

-Skin & Coat Conditions -Stomach Disorders -Hot Spots -Itchy paws -Ear and Eye Secretions

Holistic practitioners agree that, the common factor with most allergy-afflicted pets is a diet comprised of unnatural foods that often contain chemical additives, preservatives, and flavorings.

For dogs that are currently suffering from an allergic reaction or breeds prone to one or more of these challenges, Wellness has developed "Simple Food Solutions".

"Simple Food Solutions" is the Wellness Way of approaching allergies and food sensitivities. A food worthy of the Wellness brand name, Simple Food Solutions is a natural way to provide relief and restore health, happiness, and well-being to the animals who depend on us. We’ve limited each formula to 1 Meat Protein + 1 Carbohydrate and have perfectly complemented this powerful base with 3 other essential supplemental ingredients... simply 5 main ingredients – that’s all – we never include anything your dog doesn’t need. Five ingredients of superior quality that combine to cover the complete nutritional spectrum and provide your dog a perfect, tasty, balanced meal.

Sounds gourmet – in fact, these two carefully selected protein choices are better than gourmet, they’re all natural, powerful and far less likely to cause a reaction from a pre-existing condition or digestion intolerance. <

The New Zealand-raised Free-Range, Antiobitic-Free, Artificial Hormone-free VENISON was specifically chosen for its anti-allergen properties and powerful nutritional attributes. Best of all, dogs love the taste!

Less is truly more when approaching existing allergy challenges or preventing them from occurring. Holistic nutritional experts strongly advocate limiting the number of foods consumed at any one feeding. Eating only one food at a time aids digestion and elimination and allows for a greater level of nutrient absorption.

1 Unique Meat Protein + 1 Carbohydrate – it’s that simple.

100% HUMAN GRADE INGREDIENTS:

Ground Brown Rice, Venison, Brown Rice Protein, Flaxseed, Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Natural Venison Flavor, Taurine, MINERALS: , VITAMINS: .

http://store.yahoo.net/natureofthepet/wesisovebrri.html

[radfringe]

18. allergies

red dye in food can cause diarrhea -- has Iams changed their food?

we had to change food for our greyhound shortly after adopting him because of the red-dye -- he's doing fine now

sort-of related: friends of ours had a shepherd-mix that developed horrible skin problems. Several trips to the vet for testing/treatments did not help. They also tried holistic/natural treatments and switched the dog over to homemade chicken/lamb/rice food -- did not help

by chance, someone showed up in their yard looking for road directions and noticed their dog -- he told him his dog had also had skin problems and it turned out his dog was allergic to the heart-worm meds.

since it was winter and below freezing -- there seemed little chance of getting bit by a mosquito -- they took the dog off the heartworm meds for the remainder of the winter -- skin cleared up. they mentioned to the vet and managed to find a different brand of heartworm meds that did not cause the skin rashes