Foster Smith---New Allergy Products

I'm always interested in reading about stuff like this, but I'm a big chicken to try it.  With the number of things Sassy tends to be allergic to, the ingredients in the Allergy Tabs (whey, for one), would make me nervous.  In addition, I'd have to give 4 of the tabs a day for her size, and that's for any dog over 30 lbs, which she's more than double, so even 4 tabs might not be enough.  A bottle of 90, at $21.99, wouldn't even last a month.  That's also considering only buying the Allergy Tabs, and not the kit.  Sorry, for the long rambling, but if you do decide to try it, I'd love to hear how it works.

Quercetin, Bromelain, and C are GREAT for allergies. I wouldn't buy those nasty flavor tabs, though. I take Solaray Mega Quercetin. For the dogs, I'd probably get their QBC Plex (lower dosage of the same stuff). 

I continue to be amazed at what these companies put in therapies - liver, what kind of liver? and whey of course Ben is allergic too. Doesn't do any good for my one allergy dog! [8|]

I'm not sure I'm getting what everyone is saying. . .it says liver flavor. . .that's not real liver, right??  What type of food is whey?? A grain?? 
 
So, a no to the tabs but the omega fish oil pills are OK?? 

Whey is milk protein. It's what's left when you take out the butterfat and casein (firm cheese).

but the omega fish oil pills are OK??

 
The "liver flavoring" probably isn't real liver, but what is it?  Beats me, but as I said, I'm a big chicken with stuff like that.  Heck, I worry about the pink dye on the benadryl caps and would use the dye-free ones, but they cost too much for as often as I was using them.
 
Here's some great info on the Omega 3/6s.
[linkhttp://www.dermapet.com/articles/essential_fatty.htm]http://www.dermapet.com/articles/essential_fatty.htm[/link]
 
 
I would definitely suggest using the omega 3/6s though, and the ones that are part of that kit but can be bought separately, look good to me. 

Honestly? I buy human fish oil, most of the time. The rest of the time, it's Iceland Pure, which doesn't come in a capsule. I don't use flavored stuff. It's not worth the risk of an allergic reaction, to the flavoring.

I just ordered that for my dog, she's been on it for a week, too soon to tell if it's working yet, although she does seem to be a tad less itchy.. The pills are really big so I have to crush them.
I tried salmon oil a few months ago and they did nothing  but make her smell bad. I'm hoping the fish oil gel caps are better.

hummmmm. . .I think Willow will be OK with whey then.  She loves milk and dairy and does fine on them.  The liver flavor I'm not thrilled with either but I don't know if only that should stop me from trying them.
 
See, the thing is is that I've tried human fish oil and also a combination of human vitamins with fish oil and it didn't really make any difference in her.  I've also tried DermCaps, and a few other over the counter type things and even one from the vet Allerderm EFA-Caps HP.  They all help just a little but not enough. 
 
So, I don't know.  I thought maybe since this is new I could give it a shot. 
 
Any other blaring issues other than the liver flavor that would stop any of you???
 
Of course I don't want to give her anything that might hurt her. 
 
Thanks!!!

My vet has started Guinness on omega 3's. He says it takes quite a while for them to start to be effective and they do not work by themselves but rather they will help the effectiveness of the antihistamines that she is on.
 
He only gave heer a dosage of 300mg per day. All of the human formulas that I have seen were 1000mg or above. I wonder if you can give too much omega 3? Will it give them runny poop?

Like Patty, I think that it can take some time to see any benefits, and even then, it might not be a stark difference.  I give them every day to both dogs, and have for a year or more.  I can't say I see a huge difference, but I trust that they're helping.  I actually have Sassy on a different brand that uses anchovies and sardine oils.  Not sure it's doing anything different, but I thought I'd try it. 

As for what the effects of a larger dose would be, I'm not sure, but 300mg seems like it might be a little lower than what the manufacturers recommend.  Still, if that's what your vet recommends, I'd go with that.  I've heard people say that their dog smelled fishy while on the supplements, but I've never noticed that with mine.

Lori - if you think that allergy kit might help, you should give it a try.  As I said, I just get nervous when I see multiple ingredients and any that I don't know enough about.  The product is probably safe and might help Willow.  You can be our test pilot and let us all know how it works [].

Oh, I understand, I'm leary too. 
 
But, I've tried lots of stuff and given the time like you said and it's hasn't really dont much.  So, I'm to a point where I'm either going to stop them altogether or try soemthing new that might work better.
 
I think I might give it a shot.  If those are my worse cons whey and flavoring I think it's worth it. 

  We get the catalog in the mail and I've seen the new allergy kit but I can do just as well and save money. I get fish oil capsules for large dogs made by DermCare at PetsMart;  the recommended amount is one a day; 2 have the same amount of EPA as 4 of the Foster & Smith pills, which is the recommended amount for a dog her size. She also gets a quercitin-bromelain supplement made by NOW which I get at the local health store.

She also gets a quercitin-bromelain supplement made by NOW which I get at the local health store.

Janice - is this an anti-inflammatory supplement?  I've seen folks recommend it, but wasn't sure what it was for.