Changing foods and help wanted

Well, if he were my dog and I could get another year out of the food he's been doing so well on I probably would!  LOL, I've just had so many intestinal issues with Willow that whatever works is what I stay with if at all possible.

That said, if he doesn't do well on the Purina for sensitive skin/stomach I'd probably try him on a food like Natural Balance--one of the allergy formulas. 

Then if he does well and you want to venture into the holistics like Fromm and such do it from that point.  This way, he's easing into the holistic stuff which can be very difficult for them.  And, if he's having problems just going from puppy to adult food it might be for him too. 

Lori

Good idea but Natural Balance turned me off quite a bit during the recall stuff.  I want to pick one, in case it works out fine, that is a company I get a good vibe about safety wise ya know.   I wish there were more Irish Setter people around to ask what they use.  They are known to have problems later on with allergies and are well known to have gluten intolerances.  Selects does have corn gluten like third or fourth in the list which has me concerned too.  He always wakes up large goopy eye boogers and has had two ear infections so far.  We thought it was from all the dirt in the woods and now I am not so sure that is causing his eye goop.  ITs only when he wakes up but I worry about every little thing lately.  Just figuring out what protein to go with is daunting too.  If I use fish now what if later on he gets like major allergies then what would I do?

There are other companies that have minimal ingredient formulas besides NB.  Wellness Simple Solutions has a duck and venison, Pinnacle makes a duck formula.  And, you already know about the California Natural stuff. 

I'd stick with something simple first before you jump to a holistic line with many ingredients for two reasons, he's having trouble with something and also because it's sometimes hard to go from something like Purina or Nutro to a holistic line without digestive issues. 

I have heard great things from people who have hunting type dogs and Pinnacle (birdy type dogs in particular).  Also, if you like the SS, try simply adding canned fish, and/or slightly cooked eggs (enough to make the white opaque), and/or a fish oil supplement. 

Zhi is a healthy happy dog in great condition and with great skin for a Chinese crested, but without extra fish oil AND canned fish AND a little scrambled egg, her little fringes are just pathetic to non-existent.  And life just isn't worth living for a nekkid dog with no fringey feeties or ears.  Just kidding of course, she doesn't care, but the similarity in our problems is striking.

You can also add just a smidge of cooked or raw meat (whatever your comfort level dictates) to increase the protein, to see whether it was the protein or some ingredient in the adult food (or lack of an ingredient, like decreased DHA).