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I'm sorry Luvntzus, I can't remember what you have done in the past to determine these allergies. Have you actually done an elimination diet? Have you been on SD Z/D? Sorry, I know you have said it before

ORIGINAL: ottoluv

I'm sorry Luvntzus, I can't remember what you have done in the past to determine these allergies. Have you actually done an elimination diet? Have you been on SD Z/D? Sorry, I know you have said it before

That's okay. [] I used to give Gingerbread Old Mother Hubbard treats that have wheat. He was always scratching his ears. I noticed that everytime I ran out of the treats for a few days he would scratch noticeably less. Then as soon as I gave him the treats again the crazy itching started back up. Wheat is the only ingredient that he wasn't getting anywhere else.

With the brewer's yeast, I started feeding him Eagle Pack Duck this past summer when brewer's yeast was still in the ingredients. After a couple of days he was scratching more than ever, he actually scratched to the point that he had scabs in his ears and mats behind them. As soon I stopped feeding him the Eagle Pack (within 12 hours or so) the itching subsided. I didn't do anything else to treat it, no benadryl, no sprays, nothing. A few months later they changed the ingredients and it no longer included brewer's yeast. I tried him on the food again since I strongly suspected the brewer's yeast had caused the problem and sure enough, now he can eat that food.

Maybe it's time to do the skin testing or even the elimination diet to try to find out for sure. It would probably ease your mind to know as well as help you out with all the millions of food choices out there. Do you have a derm vet?

I don't really think I need to go to a derm vet or do skin testing at this point. There are only two ingredients that I'm almost positive he's allergic to, the others are just ones that I'd prefer to avoid.

California Natural or Natural Balance would be perfect for dogs with allergies! I'll keep looking around see what I can find
 
I'll also add I did some other search for your dog for allergy plms I found Solid Gold Holistique Blendz (fish) Adult Dog Food
 
This formula is ideal for the very allergic dog.  It contains Menhaden fish, oatmeal, rye and potatoes.  It is a new "semi-vegetarian" diet to which different protein sources may be added.  It was created to be used as the nutritionally balanced base.  Holistique Blendz may be fed alone, for dogs on a restricted-calorie diet, or for the older dog with pancreatic or kidney problems who needs reduced amounts of protein and fat.  Contains NO soybean, wheat, corn, ethoxyquin, BHA, or BHT.  18% protein, 6% fat, 391 calories per cup.

Ingredients:  Oatmeal, Rye, Menhaden Fish Meal, Potatoes, Salmon Oil, Sesame Oil, Almond Oil, Lentils, Dried Sea Vegetation, Green Tea, Garlic, Spearmint, Pumpkin Meal, Quinoa, Cranberry Meal, Apple Meal, Taurine, Carotene, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, Folic Acid, Thiamine, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Manganese Proteinate, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide

ORIGINAL: ms_paws

California Natural or Natural Balance would be perfect for dogs with allergies! I'll keep looking around see what I can find

Thank you. [] I forgot to mention- I've been feeding him Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Fish recently. It's fine, but the protein is a little low for a small breed dog, as with their other allergy formulas. Plus, a single protein, single carb food is good for an elimination diet, but I don't think it's adequate for the long term. Dogs are omnivores and I really think that they need fruits/veggies too (like in Nature's Variety, Nature's Logic, etc). I'm not going to get into adding foods and designing my own diet. I prefer (for lots of reasons) a nutritionally balanced premade food like kibble and canned.

ORIGINAL: ms_paws

California Natural or Natural Balance would be perfect for dogs with allergies! I'll keep looking around see what I can find

I'll also add I did some other search for your dog for allergy plms I found Solid Gold Holistique Blendz (fish) Adult Dog Food

This formula is ideal for the very allergic dog.  It contains Menhaden fish, oatmeal, rye and potatoes.  It is a new "semi-vegetarian" diet to which different protein sources may be added.  It was created to be used as the nutritionally balanced base.  Holistique Blendz may be fed alone, for dogs on a restricted-calorie diet, or for the older dog with pancreatic or kidney problems who needs reduced amounts of protein and fat.  Contains NO soybean, wheat, corn, ethoxyquin, BHA, or BHT.  18% protein, 6% fat, 391 calories per cup.

Ingredients:  Oatmeal, Rye, Menhaden Fish Meal, Potatoes, Salmon Oil, Sesame Oil, Almond Oil, Lentils, Dried Sea Vegetation, Green Tea, Garlic, Spearmint, Pumpkin Meal, Quinoa, Cranberry Meal, Apple Meal, Taurine, Carotene, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, Folic Acid, Thiamine, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Manganese Proteinate, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide

We were posting at the same time. Thanks again for your help, but EEK at that protein level- 18%. Yikes! That is extremely low. I'm sure it has it's place for certain health issues, but form my small breed dog I'm looking for a food around 26%-36% protein...

Very good point. Maybe add the intake of the amount scoop you give Gingerbread? I feed Misty who is a Miniature Schnauzer whom are very prone to be over weight so I have to keep her weight in a right level etc So I give 3/4 cup twice daily. I use a mesure cup etc As for the breed Shihu Tzus I don't know anything about if they don't have any prones of over weights etc Maybe try to give more of the amount you give her? I know that Shihu Tzu are TINY. So maybe add canned food or/and feed her twice a day addition a couple of treats for lunch? Healthy treats!
 

ORIGINAL: Luvntzus

ORIGINAL: ms_paws

California Natural or Natural Balance would be perfect for dogs with allergies! I'll keep looking around see what I can find

Thank you. [] I forgot to mention- I've been feeding him Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Fish recently. It's fine, but the protein is a little low for a small breed dog, as with their other allergy formulas. Plus, a single protein, single carb food is good for an elimination diet, but I don't think it's adequate for the long term. Dogs are omnivores and I really think that they need fruits/veggies too (like in Nature's Variety, Nature's Logic, etc). I'm not going to get into adding foods and designing my own diet. I prefer (for lots of reasons) a nutritionally balanced premade food like kibble and canned.

Well, feeding him more won't help, it's still the same protein percentage. I do add canned with all of his meals (about 2/3 kibble 1/3 canned) and I'm thinking the canned probably has more protein but I'm not positive. I'd have to do that conversion to adjust for the moisture level in canned food. Can't remember where I saw it, but I'm sure it's on here somewhere...

Really I guess I'm just frustrated because the foods that I REALLY want to feed Gingerbread, I can't because of one ingredient in each of them (Nature's Variety and Nature's Logic) and the other because of availability issues (Orijen). []

UM... I'm gonna think about this thou [] Don't give up hope this is a tough cookie LOL... I think canned food is full of water, but I can't say that 100% then dry food ya know?
 
I'll keep searching for that higher protein, & you have to remember also b/c of the size Gingerbread is he can more likely become round in the belly area etc The smaller dogs are the more weight they can carry then bigger dogs! If you're concern about his weight, I'd take him to the vet to get his weight check etc

Here's what I gather on my side for searching of protein levels etc
 
Natural Balance Ultra




INGREDIENT LISTING 


Chicken, Brown Rice, Lamb Meal, Oatmeal, Barley, Duck Meal, Potatoes, Carrots, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Canola Oil, Brewers Yeast, Fish Meal, Salmon Oil, Lecithin, Whole Ground Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Inulin, Taurine, Spinach, Parsley Flakes, Cranberry, Lysine, L-Carnitine, Yucca, Kelp, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B).
 




Crude Protein
23.0% minimum

Crude Fat
13.0% minimum

Crude Fiber
3.0% maximum

Moisture
10.0% maximum

Omega 3 Fatty Acids
0.5% minimum

Omega 6 Fatty Acids
3.0% minimum
 
 
Natural Balance Venison & Brown Rice




INGREDIENT LISTING 


Venison, Venison Meal, Brown Rice, Ground Rice, Rice Bran, Peas, Tomato Pomace, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Inulin, Taurine, Natural Tocopherols, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B).
 




Crude Protein
22.0% minimum

Crude Fat
12.0% minimum

Crude Fiber
3.0% maximum

Moisture
10.0% maximum

Calcium
1.1% minimum

Phosphorous
0.9% minimum

Omega 3 Fatty Acids
0.5% minimum

Omega 6 Fatty Acids
2.0% minimum
by Nature Bright Life Canine Formula
Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Lamb Meal, Whole Ground Barley, Ground Rice, Whole Ground Oats, Chicken Fat (Stabilized with Mixed Tocopherols), Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Ground Flaxseed, Yeast Culture, Salmon, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Dried Egg Product, Calcium Carbonate, Betaine, Garlic, Dried Carrot Meal, Tomato Pomace, Blueberry Extract, Cranberry Extract, Turmeric Extract, Dried Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Fermentation Solubles, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Sodium Selenite, Rosemary Extract, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C)
 

Crude Protein (minimum) ........... 28%

Crude Fat (minimum) ............... 18%

Crude Fiber (maximum) .............. 5%

Moisture (maximum) ................ 11%

Vitamin E (minimum) ................150 IU/lb

Zinc (minimum).................... 170 ppm

Chelated Zinc (minimum) .......... 60 ppm

Manganese (minimum) .............. 80 ppm

Chelated Manganese (minimum) .. 28 ppm

Copper (minimum) .................... 25 ppm

Chelated Copper (minimum) ......13 ppm
 
By Nature Puppy Formula
Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Ground Barley, Chicken Fat (Stabilized with Mixed Tocopherols), Lamb Meal, Chicken, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Oats, Flaxseed Meal, Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavors, Fish Oil (Natural source of DHA), Alfalfa Meal, Yeast Culture, Salt, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Blueberries, Cranberries, Dried Chicory Root, Raspberries, Turmeric, Garlic, Niacin Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Selenium Yeast, Sodium Selenite, Rosemary Extract, Dried Yeast Fermentation Solubles.

• Crude Protein (minimum) ........... 30%
  
• Crude Fat (minimum) ............... 20%
  
• Crude Fiber (maximum) .............. 4%
  
• Moisture (maximum) ................ 10%
  
• Copper (minimum) ..............25 ppm
  
• Manganese (minimum) ........80 ppm
  
• Zinc (minimum)................. 170 ppm
  
• Vitamin A (minimum) .....5,500 IU/lb
  
• Vitamin E (minimum) ........125 IU/lb
  
• Taurine (minimum)*..............0.03%

I'll come up with some other dog food etc

ORIGINAL: ms_paws

UM... I'm gonna think about this thou [] Don't give up hope this is a tough cookie LOL... I think canned food is full of water, but I can't say that 100% then dry food ya know?

I'll keep searching for that higher protein, & you have to remember also b/c of the size Gingerbread is he can more likely become round in the belly area etc The smaller dogs are the more weight they can carry then bigger dogs! If you're concern about his weight, I'd take him to the vet to get his weight check etc

Wait, what? lol I'm not worried about Gingerbread's weight. I was just saying that feeding him more food with a protein percent of 24% for example doesn't change the fact that it's still 24% of whatever amount I feed him.

Yeah, canned food is something like 78% water, but it usually has less or no grains, so it's a higher meat content and I would assume more protein.

I appreciate you looking into foods for me, but the ones you posted all have ingredients that are on my list of things not to feed. Natural Balance Ultra Premium has barley and brewer's yeast, By Nature has barley and Natural Balance Venison & Rice is okay, but the protein is low.

I'm sorry, I guess this thread was basically me venting... []

Shoot... Maybe get Gingerbread tested to see what exactly is he allergic too?
I guess all good quailty has barley in them? BUT lets not give up! I did some other search on Dog Project this is what I came up with *cross fingers*
 
I did found this that does not have barley, also higer protien
 
Natural Balance Venison & Brown Rice
INGREDIENT LISTING 
Venison, Venison Meal, Brown Rice, Ground Rice, Rice Bran, Peas, Tomato Pomace, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Inulin, Taurine, Natural Tocopherols, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B). 

Crude Protein
22.0% minimum

Crude Fat
12.0% minimum

Crude Fiber
3.0% maximum

Moisture
10.0% maximum

Calcium
1.1% minimum

Phosphorous
0.9% minimum

Omega 3 Fatty Acids
0.5% minimum

Omega 6 Fatty Acids
2.0% minimum
Canidae All Life Stages: Chicken & RiceIngredientsChicken Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Flax Seed, Sun Cured Alfalfa Meal, Sunflower Oil, Chicken, Lecithin, Monocalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Linoleic Acid, Rosemary Extract, Sage Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Mixed Tocopherols (source of Vitamin E), Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (source of B2), Beta Carotene, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, D-Biotin, Sodium Selenite, Dried Papaya, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
 [color=#000000]Guaranteed Analysis
Protein: 26%
Fat: 15.5%
Fiber: 4%
Moisture: 10%[/color][color=#000000]
 [/color]
Life's Abundance Ingredients: Chicken meal, ground brown rice, potato product, chicken fat (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols (vitamin E)), dried beet pulp, brewers dried yeast, natural flavors, flax seed meal, egg product, fish meal, salt, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, l-lysine, carrots, apples, canola oil, alfalfa leaf meal, celery, lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, lactobacillus casei fermentation product, bifido bacterium bifidium fermentation product, streptococcus faecium fermentation product, aspergillus oryzae fermentation product, whole clove garlic, spinach, grape seed extract, vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid, biotin, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione dimethyl-pyrimidinol bisulfate (source of vitamin K activity), citric acid, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, calcium iodate

Guaranteed Analysis
Protein: 26%
Fat: 16%
Fiber: 4%
Moisture: 10%
 California Natural Lamb Meal & Rice[color=#000000]Ingredients: Lamb meal, ground brown rice, ground white rice, sunflower oil, vitamins, minerals [/color]

Guaranteed Analysis
Protein: 21.78%
Fat: 11.3%
Fiber: 3.75%
Moisture: 9.5%
[Carbohydrates: 45.31%]  Canine Caviar - Chicken & Pearl Millet Adult Dog Food
Ingredients: Chicken meal, ground pearl millet, whole ground brown rice, chicken fat (preserved with rosemary extract, citric acid and vitamin E tocopherols), white fish meal, sun-cured alfalfa meal, whole ground flaxseed, beet pulp shreds, canola oil, sun-cured kelp meal, whole clove garlic, lecithin, yucca, peppermint, parsley, chicory root, taurine, rose hips, natural mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract, citric acid, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, mono-dicalcium phosphate, vitamin C, vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), choline chloride, riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2), ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, magnesium amino acid chelate, calcium pantothenate, vitamin K, vitamin B12 supplement, niacin, vitamin a acetate, calcium amino acid chelate, calcium iodate, zinc amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), vitamin D3 supplement, cobalt carbonate, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), biotin, sodium selenite (selenium), beta carotene

Guaranteed Analysis
Protein: 26%
Fat: 16%
Fiber: 4%
Moisture: 8%

Lol, I've gotta give you credit for being persistent!! I don't think I need to have him allergy tested at this point, just avoiding those certain ingredients which is tough, but can be done.

The Natural Balance you listed is the same one- 22% protein and Life's Abundance has brewer's yeast. Canine Caviar is awesome, just not locally available. I had actually forgotten all about that food! They have a brand new one coming out also that's Venison and Split Pea (no grains). So I guess I can try to find a not terribly expensive way to get Canine Caviar []...