Should I switch to Hill's Prescription?

Thank you a million times.

 
   You are welcome; [] Jessie's veterinary dermatologist told me about the site.

I'd stop feeding any commercial food of any kind. Too many ingredients, you never know what's in there. You're supposed to feed a home-cooked very simple diet for 6 to 8 weeks-- one meat source, one carb source. Nothing else. No treats, no supplements, nothing
 
Most doggy allergies are supposedly environmental. Maybe he just needs some anti-histamines during spring or something. Also, many people find their allergic dog gets dramatically better if switched to a low-carb diet and/or is supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids (fish body oils).

[linkhttp://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=327474&mpage=1&key]http://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=327474&mpage=1&key[/link]=;
  
  " I've been feeding the NB since mid January.  I used to homecook before and he got the same amount of infections on home cooked as he does now.  Actually I think he had been treated twice for an ear infection and 3 times for paw infections on the homecooked."
    
 " I did a allergy blood test in 11/05, that tested positive for 7 different foods.  He is almost 3 years old."  [align=right]

I stand by what I said. There's a reason that most prescription diets aren't recommended to be fed long term. Since the OP's dog has been allergy tested it should be possible to find a higher quality food that doesn't contain those ingredients or homecook. I would homecook before feeding Z/D to my dog.

Also, there are more prescription diets than Hills which people seem to be forgetting. There's IVD and Purina and they have different ingredients which tells me that there's more than one way to treat those conditions. I would choose IVD or homecook if I had a dog with severe food allergies.

 " I've been feeding the NB since mid January.  I used to homecook before and he got the same amount of infections on home cooked as he does now.  Actually I think he had been treated twice for an ear infection and 3 times for paw infections on the homecooked."

If the homecooked food didn't contain any ingredients that the dog is allergic to then that points to environmental allergies.

Let's not forget they make foods for diabetes, cardiac problems, etc, things much more severe than allergies.

Diabetes and cardiac problems are not generally an immediate danger to the dog's life, but anaphylaxis *is*.

Thankfully, Jake's allergies are not that bad. He's scratching a little. IMO, that's not a reason to go onto a diet of hydrolyzed protein, corn starch, soybean oil, and supplements. Of course, if his mom decides to try it, and it really works for him, then it works. The dogs I've seen on Z/D..... looked like crap, in all honesty. Of course, that's just my opinion, but I wouldn't want my dog to have nasty skin, chronic diahrrea,  still be on antihystamines, and have to pay for prescription food. I've seen dogs on I/D that it really, really worked for. Same for J/D.  It's fun to work in a kennel at a vet's office! You get to really see the results of the food that you're scooping, when dogs come in every other weekend, or stay for weeks at a time.

Thanks again for everyone's input.  I appreciate all the replies.  I have decided to wait and continue Jake on the NB.  His scratching and biting are really not that bad and they could be environmental.  He's almost 3, so if things get a lot worse, I can always try it, but right now, I don't think things are so bad for him to be on it.  I took him to the vet today because he was bleeding between his paw pad.  Turns out he has a bacterial infection, most likely from grooming on Sunday.  He is on antibiotics and the vet told me to hold off on the z/d for now, as we don't know if it's food or environmental allergies causing the itchies.  But every time he gets groomed I end up at the vet within the week with paw inflammation or ear inflammation.  Every time after a groom, it never fails. 
 
Anyway, thanks again, I value everyone's opinions and I know the z/d is there if he "really" needs it.

If it is environmental, hydrocortizone shampoos and sprays really helped our dalmatian with seasonal allergies. Allercaine spray worked well because it had a bitter taste to stop him from licking and had antiseptics and numbing agent to help him heal and feel more comfortable.

We also avoided a lot of grassy areas and wiped his feet & legs down after spending much time in the grass. I've heard of using a wash made with tea or tea tree oil for minor bacterial infections. (Never tried tea on my dalmation - I was afraid it would stain his legs brown!)

But every time he gets groomed I end up at the vet within the week with paw inflammation or ear inflammation. Every time after a groom, it never fails.

Are you going to the same groomer? Perhaps your groomer isn't as clean as they could be. Maybe they're getting water in his ears, or making a tiny cut on the pad, when they shave out the hair?

I'd try another groomer, personally.

ORIGINAL: Shelley75

But every time he gets groomed I end up at the vet within the week with paw inflammation or ear inflammation.  Every time after a groom, it never fails. 

Hmmm, do you know what grooming products they use on him at the groomer's? Maybe a hypoallergenic shampoo and rinsing him really well would help...

Thanks again for everyone's input. I appreciate all the replies. I have decided to wait and continue Jake on the NB. His scratching and biting are really not that bad and they could be environmental. He's almost 3, so if things get a lot worse, I can always try it, but right now, I don't think things are so bad for him to be on it.

 
   Good luck; I hope he gets better. Callie had a dog with bad ear infections and one time she was at the groomers while her dog was being groomed; the groomer sprayed water directly into both ears [:@]. Callie stopped her and didn't take the dog there anymore; is it possible they're spraying water in Jake's ears? About his feet; if the groomer  doesn't rinse them well enough they will itch, causing Jake to chew them.

I will post later today or tomorrow under the grooming thread.  Don't want to get in troucle for talking about grooming in the nutrition thread.  And thanks for the advice.

He does scratch his ears and bites his paws, but just a little bit.

Have you tried Benadryl?
Tablets or liquid w/no alcohol or artificial sweetener - Dosage: 1-2mg/lb of body weight 2-4 times/day

W/D helps a dog lose weight because it's basically peanut hulls and other fillers that are just bulk and not nutrition.

My opinion is that there's a much healthier alternative for every prescription diet.

 
 
Since Iv been giving the dogs W/D there poop is PERFECT.... Im so tired of all these other good foods with all the good stuff in it giving them soft serve crappy poops. They eat the W/D canned and really seem to like it I open a can and they act like its steak..... So Im doing one meal of that and the other there kibble with the W/D on it... I feel like Iv made my own dogs sick screwing around with all these other foods. Poor Max with his IBD that I probably created is doing super on W/D.. I was so nervous to let him eat the canned and his poops are a perfect hard tubular stool. Just the way its supposed to be..... So no more wiping hind ends around here....His eyes about pop out of his head when I open a can ..... its wild...  Boy life is just one big learning lesson..... My feelings on all these other foods aren't so good right now... I know Iv bashed Science diet but who knows.. Maybe that is the way to go....  I guess IM just tired of it all right now with all the running Iv done bring all these great foods home.. My dogs turn there noses up and then I open a can of this crappie paste of W/D and they love it.. Can someone explain this to me... Is it like us going to Burger King  after being on a healthy diet or something...[] 

Since Iv been giving the dogs W/D there poop is PERFECT.... Im so tired of all these other good foods with all the good stuff in it giving them soft serve crappy poops. They eat the W/D canned and really seem to like it I open a can and they act like its steak..... So Im doing one meal of that and the other there kibble with the W/D on it...

I feel like Iv made my own dogs sick screwing around with all these other foods. Poor Max with his IBD that I probably created is doing super on W/D.. I was so nervous to let him eat the canned and his poops are a perfect hard tubular stool. Just the way its supposed to be..... So no more wiping hind ends around here....His eyes about pop out of his head when I open a can ..... its wild...

Boy life is just one big learning lesson..... My feelings on all these other foods aren't so good right now... I know Iv bashed Science diet but who knows.. Maybe that is the way to go....

I guess IM just tired of it all right now with all the running Iv done bring all these great foods home.. My dogs turn there noses up and then I open a can of this crappie paste of W/D and they love it..

Can someone explain this to me... Is it like us going to Burger King after being on a healthy diet or something...

 
Listen to what your dogs tell you and not someone on a web board.

terrierlover---I felt the same way you do when I went thru the issues with Willow.  And, I know I probably sound like a broken record but I don't regret putting her on the prescription diet one bit.  And, I did just what you did, tried a million foods and nothing worked.  But, I spent plenty on vet bills!
 
Her health has improved so much that now I'm actually watching her weight!  And, she's on other fresh and commercial foods now, no more prescription. 

I had to do what I felt was right for my dog.  And, I'm sure your instincts on this are right on too.  And, look at the results your getting.  And, I'll say from my experience, once the GI issues start to clear up the whole dog is different.  My dog started playing and acting happy and wanting to exericise, etc.

As for the taste of the foods they do make them so they are fairly well received.  I know Willow is extremely fussy and she ate the i/d with pretty much no trouble.  And, she even at it plain at times which is unheard of for her.[]