Kangaroo dog food

   Jessie's not that bad but there are some members who have dogs that may want to try it; it does look pretty good. Have you studied food allergies in your nutrition courses?  We've learned through the elimination diet that we've been doing since October that Jessie's allergic to a few more foods than before, which isn't surprising. What is surprising is that she's allergic to pork and potatoes, which she's had very little exposure to ( the potatos were in the original potato and rabbit elimination diet she was on). I'm wondering if food allergies are hereditary rather than being something a dog acquires after eating the same food for a while. If you think this is too OT you can PM me.

We really don't discuss how to "aid" with food allergies, but we learn how to formulate foods to suit them, lol.  I do know that some breeds have some genetic intolerances to certain foods based on their ancestry, so that could very well be the case. 

Flaxseed oil
 
It has flaxseed oil in it.  Isn't that a common allergen?  I just read it somewhere, but can't remember where.

What is surprising is that she's allergic to pork and potatoes,

 
Janice - I didn't realize you were doing another elimination diet for Jessie.  Was she having problems?  What reaction did you see to the pork and/or potatoes?  The derm vet and I discussed doing another one for Sassy, but she actually suggested using one of the prescription formulas, like kangaroo and something.  I asked if it came in canned and dry though, and she said it didn't.  I really need the canned food just to mix her meds in, but I'm thinking I could probably take the kibble and moisten it enough to hide the pills in.  I'm tempted to try it again, but I can't use pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, duck or fish.  That leaves only hard-to-find and/or expensive proteins.  What are you using?

The derm vet and I discussed doing another one for Sassy, but she actually suggested using one of the prescription formulas, like kangaroo and something. I asked if it came in canned and dry though, and she said it didn't.

It was probably Eukanuba's Kangaroo and Oats. I just got a nice, long email from CS at Iams about their allergy formulas, and an apology that they don't make a high calorie food in a different protein. They said they're going to look into it.

Could you use the Canine Caviar canned beaver for her meds?

Could you use the Canine Caviar canned beaver for her meds?

You know Jennie, I think that would work.  It seems that as long as whatever is in the canned food was novel protein/carb, then it wouldn't upset the trial, even if it wasn't exactly what was in the kibble.  It doesn't make it quite as precise, but it might work.  I'll look it up and see what's in it. 
 
ETA - I looked it up, and you probably already knew this, but it doesn't have anything but beaver in it.  That's a great idea!  Doesn't mean Sassy won't have an allergy to it, but I'm pretty sure she hasn't had it before []

I've been looking at the canned for Ben. I'd love to try them - Brushtail and eel - wow! But Ben can't do rice, so the dry is out.

ETA - I looked it up, and you probably already knew this, but it doesn't have anything but beaver in it. That's a great idea! Doesn't mean Sassy won't have an allergy to it, but I'm pretty sure she hasn't had it before

Sorry I didn't mention that earlier[] That's the reason I like it, too. The only bad thing (for people with normal, non-skinny dog) is that it's super high calorie. They also have a lamb tripe, and a couple others that are cold processed, and nothing but meat.

Janice - I didn't realize you were doing another elimination diet for Jessie. Was she having problems? What reaction did you see to the pork and/or potatoes? The derm vet and I discussed doing another one for Sassy, but she actually suggested using one of the prescription formulas,

 
   I don't know if you remember my thread under the allergy section about Jessie's flare ups last summer but they continued into the fall. They were never anything very serious but it was frustrating because she had been doing so well with immunotherapy for over a year. Antihistamines were not helping; my vet started controlling the flare ups by increasing the frequency of the allergy shots to once a week, then progressed to having me bathe her every week with products made by Virbac, and finally she was on steroids for a few weeks; 5mg., which is a tiny dose for a dog her size, but it was worrisome because it had never been necessary before. I had her thyroid tested at Michigan State and it was normal. We began discussing the possibility of her having new food allergies and she started the IVD Potato and Rabbit diet in October. I saw you mention whether or not you should use the same canned rotein as dry for an elimination diet; I mixed in EVO rabbit with my vet's approval to increase the amount of protein she was getting. EVO also makes canned venison so that may be another option for you. She did not improve on the diet but instead developed an infection under one of her foot pads, which is rare for her, and infections in both her ears. The other strange thing was that the ear infections were not responding well to Mometamax or Baytril and had actually gotten worse.[]  It took a while to figure things out but it wasn't the rabbit that caused the problem; it was the potatoes. We've since learned that she's allergic to salmon, which explains why she was having problems during the summer; she had been on Eagle Pack fish for the last several months before trying the IVD.  The allergic reaction she shows with foods is chewing the area under her tail, and having itchy ears and feet. She doesn't seem to have any reaction in her digestive tract; no vomitting or diarrhea. I honestly think that at least some food allergies are inherited; she's fine with rice even though she ate it for years but has problems with otatoes and didn't have them until the IVD diet. The allergy to pork was a real surprise. She's doing very well right now on lamb and rice. How come you're trying another diet with Sassy; I thought it hadn't been very long since she was on an elimination diet. How's she doing?

How come you're trying another diet with Sassy; I thought it hadn't been very long since she was on an elimination diet. How's she doing?

 
First off, I'm sorry to hear that Jessie's been having problems.  I did remember your thread earlier, but thought it was under control with increasing the shots.  Guess this is something we'll struggle thru with these allergy dogs for a lifetime.
 
I did the elimination diet last spring, but you know, it just never showed me anything.  We were trying to clear up that skin infection on her tummy though, and so I'm not sure it was realistic to expect a diet change to help with that.  She wasn't super itchy, so I couldn't use that as a guide either.  It just didn't seem to tell me much, but for all I know, Sassy could be highly allergic to potatoes too and yet, I'm feeding her Duck & Potatoes [8|].  The vet seems to think it might be worth revisiting the food allergy issue.
 
I've actually left a msg with the derm vet and should hear from her today.  I'd had Sassy on pred to clear up her foot infections.  We'd tried weeks of antibiotics and nothing was helping.  Poor girl's feet were almost 2x normal size from the swelling.  She would barely get up and move or she'd take a few steps and lay down.  It was heartbreaking.  Within 2 days of starting the pred, the swelling was down, she was able to move painfree, and the feet seemed to be almost 100% healed by the end of the dosing.  Well, it's been a little over a week and guess what?  She's starting to develop sores on the feet again [X(].  I just don't know what to do, but I wanted to chat with the vet before it becomes a full blown problem. 

Guess this is something we'll struggle thru with these allergy dogs for a lifetime.

 
    You're right; On a website of the dermatology department of a university ( didn't bookmark it) I recently read that it's common for dogs undergoing immunotherapy to still need treatment for infections caused by allergies. The immunotherapy helps but it's not a cure all and dogs can develop new allergies, which is why they need to be retested from time to time. The thing about Jessie's problems that started last summer is they really weren't responding to treatments for environmental allergies; I should have tried another allergy diet sooner instead of waiting until October [&o].  Thanks for your concern about Jessie; she's doing great right now but I'll need to try some other foods because once spring comes it'll be harder to know if environmental or food allergies are causing the problem if she has a reaction. I didn't know Sassy's paws were swollen so much; yeouch; poor girl.[] Did you ever try the Royal Canin SS 21;  [linkhttp://www.royalcanin.us/vetdiet/canineskinsupport.html]http://www.royalcanin.us/vetdiet/canineskinsupport.html[/link]. I tried it last summer but it gave Jessie very soft stools so she was only on it about a month. It has simple ingredients and is supposed to help reduce itching and bacterial infections. I'm so sorry that she's getting sores on her paws again and really hope you can find out what's causing this before it gets bad again; is there any possibilty that she has an autoimmune disease?

Did you ever try the Royal Canin SS 21;http://www.royalcanin.us/vetdiet/canineskinsupport.html. I tried it last summer but it gave Jessie very soft stools so she was only on it about a month. It has simple ingredients and is supposed to help reduce itching and bacterial infections. I'm so sorry that she's getting sores on her paws again and really hope you can find out what's causing this before it gets bad again; is there any possibilty that she has an autoimmune disease?

 
I haven't tried any of the perscription diets yet, but I think it might be worth a try.  I said to the vet a few weeks ago that I didn't think food allergies were very common and she said they're finding that they're more common than they'd thought.  Interesting to know.
 
I think we've ruled out the autoimmune diseases thru bloodwork and the biopsy.  She's on thyroid meds and that's stable now.  Yeah, this infection of the feet was the worst thing she's had in terms of feeling miserable.  The tummy infection was ugly looking, but she didn't seem all that bothered.  With the feet, I couldn't coax her off her bed, even with food.  The vet looked like she wanted to cry when she saw her and even had a visiting vet come in and look.  That's why I'm worried about the rebound affect post-pred.  The vet said maybe we'd keep her on low-dose pred forever, and if it's the only way to keep her comfortable, well, I guess I'd have to consider it.  I do have her on milk thistle and had her on echinacea. I'm worried about the Atopica and pred together, especially longterm. 

The vet said maybe we'd keep her on low-dose pred forever, and if it's the only way to keep her comfortable, well, I guess I'd have to consider it. I do have her on milk thistle and had her on echinacea. I'm worried about the Atopica and pred together, especially longterm.

 I fully understand why you're worried but Sassy's an especially hard case; hopefully you can avoid the steroids. Both the dermatologist and the vet Jessie sees think food allergies are more common than previously thought, and with recent experience, I have to agree. I was beginning to wonder if Jessie was developing an autoimmune disease and was relieved to learn she had more food allergies. When she goes to the dermatologist this spring for her recheck, I'm going to ask her if she thinks food allergies can be inherited; it'll be interesting to see what she has to say. Keep me posted about Sassy; I'll keep her in my thoughts.