Natural Dog Foods Review

Thanks for the link Stella, it is another good info.
Yes the antihistamine is what the vet described last year.
I saw Duncan Graeme last year too as well as other vets.
No point to see any more vets I think – they can’t tell me any more then I already know.
Vets only have so much time to allocate to a visit – in the end you have to figure it out for yourself.
Yes, I used to vaccinate but I only gave her a booster after her puppy shots she already had.. No more now. She is 4 years old.

I always noticed that she gets worse when it rains. Interesting you say that this encourages fungus. Would the fungus live in the grass too and affect her?
I will definitely stop the Malaseb – I am pretty sure she has got a reaction to it. Just wondered whether other people had used it.

I have bought some vet diet food and will see whether it is food that causes it.
I have also bought a steroid (Yuk, yuk – first time ever I am using something like this) spray with apparently minimal side effects today. Basically I thought either she goes mad with itching or I help her with that for now until I find out what causes it. I just can’t let her go on like this – breaks my heart and it is just not fair. She is sleeping now, Yeah!!. Stopped breathing like a steam train too. I think she was very stressed with the itch. Hopefully I will only have to use the spray for a couple of days to get her out of this mad cycle.

“Good” to hear it has been a bad year for allergies.

I just switched my four dogs to a brand called 4health that has a
lamb & rice formula. It is a brand sold exclusively by Tractor
Supply Company. The 35 lb. bag sells for $29.99 (sale price but
seems to *always* be on sale). The first five ingredients are:

Lamb, Lamb Meal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Cracked
Pearled Barley… Complete list of ingredients are at:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/pet-care/dog-products/dog-food/dry-

dog-food/

So far my dogs are doing well on 4health. The Performance
formula (very high protein & fat) seems to be bothering the dogs
stomach somewhat, so I am putting the whole pack back on the
Large Breed formula which they all did well on before. My English
Pointer seems to have trouble eating the large bites however, so I
will probably put her on something else. My dreams of all the dogs
eating out of one bag will probably not be realized in my lifetime.

Tractor Supply (and other retailers) also sells Taste of the Wild
food that has alternative meat sources such as salmon, fowl, or
bison. But a 30 lb. bag runs $42.99.

A rescue group that I used to work with used ProPlan. Of the
cheaper foods, it is probably the best. They also used Kirkland as
well. I used to feed Authority dry dog food (Petsmart brand) at one
time but can’t remember why I stopped (probably too much corn).

Hope that helps,
Susie

> I am a college student And have 2 dogs. One is a min pin mix and the
> other is a bull terrier. The bull terrier has skin problems so I need
> a food that helps with her skin. She also is allergic to chicken. I am
> feeding them Kirkland lamb adult food right now but I was wondering if
> anyone knows a better kibble I can feed them. One that isn’t too
> expensive and okay ingredients. Any advice would help. Thanks!
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It is always great to see someone able to tell the difference between “chicken” and “chicken meal” (-;

I don’t quite agree with the corn comment as a secondary ingredient. It is not as bad as other ingredients you find in some foods, especially if just used as a filler, and particularly if it is “gluten meal” which is corn protein, not related to the “gluten” in wheat. With Harley and his chicken intolerance we would be lost if corn gluten meal wasn’t a good secondary source of protein for him.

Just out of curiosity, what was the URL for that food?

And I definitely don’t argue that one can purchase better food than what the ingredient list is recommending from what you say.

http://andnowthereisharley.blogspot.com/

http://rdafordogs.blogspot.com/

http://petfoodpitfalls.blogspot.com/

>There are no plants apart from short cattle grass she comes in contact with.
Any suggestions are welcome.

It may be an inhalant allergy as opposed to a contact allergy?
Certainly washing her with an oatmeal shampoo wouldn’t do any harm. It’s possible there is something in the Malaseb that she reacts to, although you say Esta had already started scratching, then, you used the Malaseb?
What are her paws like, red and irritated?
I have found this Summer to be the worst in years for my dog’s skin problems. Even the one without skin issues, had a month of continuous hot spots!

—– Original Message —–

My GSD Esta started to get very itchy in July 2008 and I saw several vets regarding it. After trying a few things like creams which didn’t work and antihistamines which partly worked I did an elimination diet. I found that Beef was the culprit. She also had a yeast infection due to her immune system being constantly under stress (due to being fed beef) and I treated that with the Malaseb Shampoo, washing her twice a week for a couple of month. Once we were on top of that and making sure she wouldn’t get any beef products, her hair on her breastbone and loins grew back, the black skin disappeared, she stopped scratching and biting her feet and was happy. That whole process trying to figure out what was going on took until August 09. She was fine in September. Now she suddenly started scratching in February and the breastbone hair started to disappear, it looked so familiar, so I washed her with Malaseb, then a week later the scratching was worse, so I washed her again a couple of time
Has anyone had a dog with a reaction to Malaseb?
I have given her antihistamine since they helped her last year in summer – have to find something to stop her scratching.
I have only started that this morning, so far no difference. Maybe I should wash her again with an oatmeal shampoo to get the malaseb of her.
Maybe I am barking up the wrong tree..
There are no plants apart from short cattle grass she comes in contact with.
Any suggestions are welcome.

________________________________________________________________________

Yes she was scratching before I used the Malaseb, that’s why I used it but it seems that it made it worse.
Her paws look ok but she eats away at them as well as her legs. Her groin is full of little red spots this morning. Given her more antihistamine and will wash her with the oatmeal when I come back from work.
Just don’t really understand why this has started up again. Might put her back on a vet diet to see whether there is a new allergy developing. Maybe it’s lamb now??
Of course it could be that she suffers from all sorts of allergies including inhalant allergies starting up in summer?

>There are no plants apart from short cattle grass she comes in contact with.
Any suggestions are welcome.

It may be an inhalant allergy as opposed to a contact allergy?
Certainly washing her with an oatmeal shampoo wouldn’t do any harm. It’s possible there is something in the Malaseb that she reacts to, although you say Esta had already started scratching, then, you used the Malaseb?
What are her paws like, red and irritated?
I have found this Summer to be the worst in years for my dog’s skin problems. Even the one without skin issues, had a month of continuous hot spots!

—– Original Message —–

My GSD Esta started to get very itchy in July 2008 and I saw several vets regarding it. After trying a few things like creams which didn’t work and antihistamines which partly worked I did an elimination diet. I found that Beef was the culprit. She also had a yeast infection due to her immune system being constantly under stress (due to being fed beef) and I treated that with the Malaseb Shampoo, washing her twice a week for a couple of month. Once we were on top of that and making sure she wouldn’t get any beef products, her hair on her breastbone and loins grew back, the black skin disappeared, she stopped scratching and biting her feet and was happy. That whole process trying to figure out what was going on took until August 09. She was fine in September. Now she suddenly started scratching in February and the breastbone hair started to disappear, it looked so familiar, so I washed her with Malaseb, then a week later the scratching was worse, so I washed her again a couple of time
Has anyone had a dog with a reaction to Malaseb?
I have given her antihistamine since they helped her last year in summer – have to find something to stop her scratching.
I have only started that this morning, so far no difference. Maybe I should wash her again with an oatmeal shampoo to get the malaseb of her.
Maybe I am barking up the wrong tree..
There are no plants apart from short cattle grass she comes in contact with.
Any suggestions are welcome.

_________________________________________________

Hi
Has she been tested for sebacious adenitis? This is a disease that causes hair loss which is caused by the destruction of the sebacious (oil making glands) in the skin by the immune system. It is heritable and is quite common but not widely recognised by vets in NZ. It took me two years and many vet visits to get a diagnosis for my Std Poodle. The diagnosis is by a skin punch biopsy.
The itching is caused by the skin infection, and if you have been using Malesab sounds like the vet thinks you have infection. The infection has to have strong antibiotics over a long time ( maybe 2 months) to clear it. The way SA is treated is by using oil soaks and regular baths, I use Episoothe by Virbac as the shampoo.
There is quite a lot of good info on the www. It is life long but not life threatening.
The main thing is to get a diagnosis, probably your own vet will not hav heard of it, but a vet skin specialist will get to the bottom of what is wrong. I must say I do get sick of vets going on about allergies, I think they must have all been to the same lecture.

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>Yes she was scratching before I used the Malaseb, that’s why I used it but it seems that it made it worse.

The week inbetween using the malaseb may have been enough time for her skin to worsen, she may need a bath every 2nd day when at her worst.

>Her paws look ok but she eats away at them as well as her legs. Her groin is full of little red spots this morning.

My GSD Ruby, is a nibbler on her legs, but she also gets red and irritated inbetween her toes and in around her pads. I find that by just shampooing her chest, tummy, groin, legs and feet can be enough without having to do the whole body.
If those little red spots have a white pus in them, beware that they may be the start of a secondary skin infection once they pop and weep.

>Just don’t really understand why this has started up again.

I know what you mean, skin problems are sooooo frustrating, sometimes there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why it’s flared up again

>Might put her back on a vet diet to see whether there is a new allergy developing. Maybe it’s lamb now??

Did you have success with this diet last time she was on it? If so, I would seriously consider keeping her on it, if it helps her, go with it
There are times when we can’t fight the “kibble” and must do what works best to give our dogs a quality of an itch-free life.

>Of course it could be that she suffers from all sorts of allergies including inhalant allergies starting up in summer?

Exactly, she is proably reactive to both contact and inhalant. Ruby definately is. We have lots of pine trees that spreads their yellow pollen everywhere and a willow tree that also seems to be an irritant.
Pollens can go for miles on the wind ……… grrrrrr!!

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Hi You do not say where you live. If you are in the Waikato or even uckland then it might be the spawn count when the humidity is high
I know that my pointer was in Hamilton I used to have to give her a zinc tablet and treat the skin with zinc and casteroil but now I am
in the South Island I have been able to stop. Just a thought. Pat Bowen—– Original Message —–

Hi
Has she been tested for sebacious adenitis? This is a disease that causes hair loss which is caused by the destruction of the sebacious (oil making glands) in the skin by the immune system. It is heritable and is quite common but not widely recognised by vets in NZ. It took me two years and many vet visits to get a diagnosis for my Std Poodle. The diagnosis is by a skin punch biopsy.
The itching is caused by the skin infection, and if you have been using Malesab sounds like the vet thinks you have infection. The infection has to have strong antibiotics over a long time ( maybe 2 months) to clear it. The way SA is treated is by using oil soaks and regular baths, I use Episoothe by Virbac as the shampoo.
There is quite a lot of good info on the www. It is life long but not life threatening.
The main thing is to get a diagnosis, probably your own vet will not hav heard of it, but a vet skin specialist will get to the bottom of what is wrong. I must say I do get sick of vets going on about allergies, I think they must have all been to the same lecture.

________________________________________________________________________

> Her breathing is much more labored like a dog on a very hot day – well not
> very hot here at the moment.

Heike, she sounds pretty unhappy. I would take her in for a consult – she is
obviously not improving with Malaseb. I see you used it twice weekly last
time, but not sure if you are using it more often at the moment – if so she
could be reacting to it.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Masaleb-Shampoo

Or just reacting to too much water/wetness, which can encourage fungals to
grow, even with antifungal/antibacterial treatments.
It has been a bad yr for allergy etc, and maybe this time she needs a
different approach.
Skin swabs might help to determine what organisms are causing the problem.

Elimination diet, change of protein and maybe feed it with plain cooked rice
?

> I have given her antihistamine since they helped her last year in summer -

They could have stopped working – can you try a different one? are they vet
prescribed or ? I would touch base with your vet anyway.
Hope you are not vaccinating, which may add to the things she has to deal
with.

Hello,
I am a college student And have 2 dogs. One is a min pin mix and the other is a bull terrier. The bull terrier has skin problems so I need a food that helps with her skin. She also is allergic to chicken. I am feeding them Kirkland lamb adult food right now but I was wondering if anyone knows a better kibble I can feed them. One that isn’t too expensive and okay ingredients. Any advice would help. Thanks!

Not a good food, though certainly not the worst. It’s pretty overpriced for the quality that it is.

Ingredients: Fresh Chicken By-Products (Organ Meat Only), Fresh Chicken, Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed), Fresh Chicken Liver, Brewers Dried Yeast, Cane Molasses, Eggs, Salt, Sodium Propionate (a preservative), DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Menaione, sodium Bisulfate Complex, (source of Vitamin K), D-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganous Oxide, Inositol, BHA (a preservative), Iron Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Cobalt Carbonate, Potassium Iodine, Sodium Selenite.

First ingredient is by-products.. NOT good.
Then there is chicken, which is 80% water and only 20% meat. Dog food should have (meat) MEAL instead of just (meat).
Next there is corn, which dogs are unable to digest and is one of the largest allergens in dogs. NOTHING but a filler.
Then you see by-products again, this time in “meal” form.

So… no. Not a good food, even though it’s not as bad as Purina Dog Chow or something like that.
Spend your money on a better food that you can get for nearly the same price as Bil-Jac.

-
~Mariah & Tiger
Raw Feeding – http://rawfeederr.webs.com/
Tiger’s Site – http://tigermybestfriend.webs.com/
Prong Collars – http://prongcollarforum.webs.com/

> what is the general consensus on feeding potatoes to dogs?

Hi Jane,
I feed a bit of potato occasionally – if we have left over cooked potato,
but don’t give much of it.
The dogs seem to digest it ok.

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I don’t feed potatoes as part of a diet. I do give left overs as I really cant see the point of a dog if you have to throw away scraps. lol. Mine have not had any issues but they have as a rule cast iron guts.
Max is not a big vege fan and nor was Era. Pluto will eat anything, moving or not. Timone is slightly fussy.
I have just joined K9 kitchen and potato seems to be a big thing to feed.
The theory is that it is part of the nightshade family. That, I think is why we don’t feed much. shrug. Cooked it is not an issue.

Without wanting to cause controversy here, what is the general consensus on feeding potatoes to dogs? Was with a group of dog-people today and the majority decided spuds are bad, though I often feed Chaos potato, and others do too, to the point where they are included in some of the branded foods…
Nothing was mentioned about feeding grain, however )

I hope you’ve been enjoying my posts lately. I thought I might do something different today and rustle up a few bits of info from around the WWW. These are some of the news items and blog posts that have been popular over the last few weeks. Leave me your thoughts.

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