calliecritturs
Posted : 7/12/2009 4:36:02 PM
Food allergies are SUCH an easy cop out. Yes, they exist -- but Iams or Purina One are NOT going to resolve them. But honestly probably neither are any of the better brands.
Can I ask where they live? What part of the country? rural or city? Are the paws generally red and irritated?
"pus" is typically the body's way of casting off toxins. AND the feet are also a place of 'stress' (because they bear the weight) -- but it's the same as with us -- the toxins can filter to the feet simply because of gravity.
I'm not going to say the vet is crazy for saying food allergy -- but I would say that neither of those are good foods, nor are they going to avoid allergens.
For a dog that small would they think of home cooking? You can do an elmination diet easily -- just 2 ingredients and see if it improves and then add ingredients to see what is and isn't well-tolerated. But honestly, altho everyone makes such a big deal about food allergies, it's every bit as likely that some additive (like grain, preservatives, and even preservatives added **before** the meat reaches the manufacturer) is the culprit. Often people spend TONS of time chasing allergens, and can expose the dog to TONS of novel foods all at a time when the body is already in a high allergy state, only to teach the body to be allergic to a TON of other things, and not resolve anything.
Contact allergens would be another thot as far as I'm concerned -- but that would depend on where they live. But they can cause tiny little blisters easily -- are there any tiny little wet blisters on the tummy?
How old is the dog? spayed/neutered? Because this is a chi lets rule out stuff like demodex too.