Dog Community

Possible allergies - time for a food change?

Posted : 9/27/2006 8:22:23 AM

Winston has been eating Canidae now for about one month . . . I need to clarify though that its not entirely canidae that he's being fed. When I was still switching him over, I had to buy a small bag of Purina One Puppy. Well I didn't want to throw it away and a shelter wouldnt take it because it wasnt in a bag anymore so I mixed the two and I'm still using the same batch. Its about 85% canidae and the rest is the purina one.

So here's the problem . . . Winston (who is a little over 4 months) is itching and biting his hind quarters and licking his butt pretty regularly, and its getting a bit more aggressive. He is not leaving sores or scabs or anything, his skin does look a little red sometimes (which is no surprise considering how much he's biting). His tail and feet seem to be a problem for him as well.

In addition, since getting his last round of shots this past friday, he has had mild diarrea and semi-soft stools . . . . its strange though (and I apologize for being a little graphic here) the first few come out looking very normal. Large, formed and solid turds with their usual dark brown color. Then there's a second stop which comes out a little on the soft side, much smaller, and lighter in color (less amount too). Then there's been a few times where there's a third stop that comes out like the second but MUCH softer (almost liquid, but not quite).

So what do you all think? Is a food switch in order here? SHould I stick with the canidae and wait until all the purina is gone before I do anything?

If I should switch, what are some recommendations? I like canidae a lot, and winston gobbles it pretty quick. Plus the price is great.

Bobsk8

Posted : 9/27/2006 11:20:00 AM

Try one of the Natural Balance allergy foods like Venison and brown Rice or Sweet Potato and Fish, or Potato and Duck . You can get them at Petco. [linkhttp://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/home.html]http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/home.html. [/link]

The stool issue sounds pretty normal for dogs that have a couple of bowel movements in a row. The thing to watch out for is if they are all very soft...........

sooner

Posted : 9/27/2006 11:31:14 AM

4 months is probably too young to have food allergies. True food allergies are rare, and even rarer in very young dogs. Changing foods might help, but you more likely dealing with some other kind of enviornmental allergy or irritation. If it's just the one area he's licking he may have a bug bite, or maybe he sat in something that irritated him?

cakana

Posted : 9/27/2006 11:38:37 AM

Is it possibly a flea problem? It doesn't take a bunch of fleas to cause a problem, just one can cause an allergic reaction. I agree with Kelly that it's unlikely that the itching is a food allergy.

The runny stools could certainly be from the shots last week, but it also could be from the food too. You might give it a few more days and see if it clears up, but if not, I'd consider a food change. I know Canidae is considered a really good food, but it may not be agreeing with your pup.

jessies_mom

Posted : 9/27/2006 11:42:19 AM

I think there's a possibility that the vaccinations may be causing the loose stool since it started after his last shots. Vaccinations are hard on a dog's immune system. Jessie has inhallant allergies and the veterinary dermatologist she goes to recommends that allergy dogs get thier vaccinations in the winter when thier immune system doesn't have to cope with pollen allergies. Are you sure your little guy doesn't have fleas or something else like mites causing the itching? It's unusual for a dog that young to have allergies to food and pollen.
Many people with dogs with food allergies have success with the Natural Balance formulas but I want to let you know that it's likely that most of the calories and a good amount of the protein in the Natural Balance foods probably comes from the potatos rather than the meat. For example; the Potato and Duck formula's ingredients are potatos, duck, duck meal, canola oil, potato fiber, etc. It's 21% protein and about 465 k/cal per cup. Potatos are about 75% water and would drop down further on the list when the water is removed, but , IMO, they have to use a lot of potatos for it to only have 21% protein and 465 calories.
Is there any possibility that his anal sacs are bothering him? Jessie chews and licks the area under her tail when her sacs need emptying.

Shohin

Posted : 9/27/2006 12:29:30 PM

ORIGINAL: jessies_mom
Is there any possibility that his anal sacs are bothering him? Jessie chews and licks the area under her tail when her sacs need emptying.

I guess its possible (but I sure hope not cause that doesnt sound like a fun job). But wouldnt there be some external swelling?

jessies_mom

Posted : 9/27/2006 12:50:02 PM

But wouldnt there be some external swelling?

Not unless they were infected; Jessie has never had external swelling but the biting and scooting she does are signs they need to be emptied. I don't know if a dog that young can have anal sac problems. I know how frustrating it is when they're itching and you don't know why. I hope you find the answer soon.

Twin

Posted : 9/27/2006 2:11:52 PM

Please do not completely rule out a food allergy. My pup had a food allergy beginning when I brought him home at 2 months old. (I got him in December, so it was not an environmental allergy, he was itchy from December thru August). We went through a variety of foods, and he just kept getting worse and worse.

My veterinarian said that dogs CAN get food allergies when they are born. Just like how infants can be allergic to breast milk. Same goes for dogs...so it CAN be a food allergy. Not saying it is...but I would suggest an elimination diet.

I fed my boy strictly Natural Balance Duck and Potato for 2 months straight. Nothing else, no treats, scraps, bisquits, etc. Just the food...this flavor is nice because it comes in a canned formula too, and also has duck/potato bisquits.

Anyway, he stopped licking, biting, scratching, itching, etc. after 2 months. Also, his coat became magnificent...soft, shiny, silkey. I was getting so many compliments. He also started not having an odor at all.

Just wanted to add that you should rule out Sarcoptic Mange, fleas, etc first to make sure those are not the culprit. Those were the steps we took first before starting the elimination diet. It took a very long time, but now we are all happy and itch free! I think the cause was the Milkbone bisquits, Beneful, and Nutro...all those formulas had WHEAT! [:'(] I didn't know anything about food and food allergies back then....so I was just amplifiying his allergy by feeding him those things.

GOOD LUCK! [

]

Shohin

Posted : 9/27/2006 5:39:36 PM

I think that a very careful inspection of winston's underside suggests that fleas may be the culprit. I had ruled the possibility out initally because he has had two revolution treatments since we got him. However, after some research it turns out that this is not always 100% effective . . . . I looked on his underside in the affected area, and around his belly button (I assume its his belly button anyway . . . it looks like a little scar, but its not the same as his scar from being neutered) there appears to be some "dirt" that won't rub off, even with a wet towel. So . . . we may have a flea issue here.

Any recommended courses of action here?

corvus

Posted : 9/27/2006 6:03:00 PM

Fleas can become resistant to treatments. That means that if you treat your dog and a few fleas survive the poison, then they breed and your dog ends up with more fleas that are resistant to the treatment. Then you treat again and again some survive that are stronger than all the rest and pretty soon you can have a flea population that's very difficult to kill. I would recommend changing flea treatments from time to time to keep them guessing. Resistance to one treatment normally doesn't translate to resistance to all treatments.

Also, some seem to be more effective than others. Over here, our two main flea treatments are Advantage and Frontline. We find Frontline to be better because it doesn't lose effectiveness if the dogs go swimming.