Dog Community

Finally something works!!!

Posted : 1/18/2007 4:00:13 PM

Some of you probably know about Jetta's really bad allergies--CONSTANT itching, lickig paws, etc. I tried her on so many diets, even hypoallergenic ones--nothing helped. I tried antihistimines, prednisone, special shampoo---everything!! But the poor dog was still soooo itchy!

Then, about two months ago, I decided to homecook her food. Its not at all an allergy diet--its has all sorts of ingredients. But for some reason it is working!! Isn't that weird? This week her diet is chicken, rice, broccoli, carrots, and pears. Her itching is about 70% better. The occasional itch I think is due to dry skin or environmental allergens (which I know she has).

I also add fish oil, vit e, biotin, and a vitamin supplement. I can't believe how much better her skin is--NO HOT SPOTS!![

] Maybe all this time she was allergic to something in the way the kibbles are processed, because even though she was on the best kibble available, she would still have terrible skin.

I just wanted to share this for all the owners of allergy dog suffers who have tried "everything". I really think homecooking is worth a shot, but, of course, it may not work for every dog.

cakana

Posted : 1/18/2007 5:54:17 PM

Yay Melissa!! I'm so happy you've had some success in helping Jetta. I've often wondered the same thing about the diet and the kibbles, even the allergy formulas. There's just so much in them that it's hard not to point the finger and wonder if something in there that's maybe, just maybe, causing a problem. I was so hopeful when I did the elimination diet with Sassy last year, that it would show some positive result, but it didn't. I'd have been happy to homecook for her forever if it had helped. I'm so glad it's working for you though and I agree that others who're trying to figure it out should maybe start with the diet too.

dvet

Posted : 1/18/2007 9:50:20 PM

as a vet I also am glad to hear that...i used to try to suggest dietery changes to find the causes but lots of owners didn;t have the patients so I had to put the dogs on steroids etc...low dose for short times but finding the cause was much better....but it did take patiants and thought and time..neither of which lots of owners had

jennie_c_d

Posted : 1/18/2007 10:14:50 PM

That is absolutely fantastic!!! The same thing happened, for Emma. I do avoid foods that make her itch, but she eats all sorts of stuff, and she's 1000x better. I'm so happy for you and Jetta!

M.W.Lewis

Posted : 1/19/2007 2:49:40 PM

[sm=dance.gif][sm=dance.gif]That's wonderful news!
I also wonder if there are trace amounts (or even substantial) of ingredients in dogs foods that are not listed. A highly sensitive dog may react. What you have demonstrated is something one of my dog's vets wrote about in his book. He wrote that even with the seeminly same ingredients some dogs would react negatively to the commercial food but not the homecooked.

calliecritturs

Posted : 1/19/2007 7:26:35 PM

RAH!!!

Home cooking so often helps SO MUCH!! It can also simply be that she's getting more nutrition from her food -- I'm sorry, kibble is 'used food' to me. It's made, pureed into glop, extruded into tiny blops and the heck dried out of it. How it retains any nutrition is beyond me.

Ok, I'll shut up now! *grin*

ladiebug

Posted : 1/19/2007 8:40:29 PM

YAY!! I'm so happy for you. I can appreciate your plight. Draico was diagnosed with Atopy and I thought I'd lose my mind. His second severe reaction led to a staph infection. Poor baby had to take antibiotics - ARGH! Well, he needed a diet change too, as I suspected allergies to wheat, corn, or both.

Both dogs like Royal Canin Maxi GSD formula, it works. So they get the kibble for breakfast. For dinner they get mostly fish, salmon, mackerel, sardines, then some chicken or beef heart, liver, gizzards mixed with sweet, white potatoes, or rice. Vegies & fruit, they get broccoli, carrots, garlic, trying to incorporate kale - that will take patience, apples, pears, plantains. Nightly they get plain yogurt mixed with fish oil.

Also, when I bathe them it's with a Coal Tar shampoo and rinse with Tea Tree Oil (10 drops per gallon water). Callie suggested the Tea Tree Oil and it's TERRIFIC!! Thanks, Callie.