Bil-Jac to Wellness to Nature's Variety, Now Switching Again?

[Heather]

My mini goldendoodle is almost 5 months old, and in the almost 3 months that we've had her, she's been on 3 different foods. She started out on Bil-Jac from the breeder, but we wanted to give her something more high quality and so switched her to Wellness Super5 Small Breed Puppy. It seemed great - her stools were firmer and she seemed to be on more of a schedule with it. However, she started itching, and someone mentioned that dogs sometimes itch because of the salmon in Wellness, so we switched to Nature's Variety Prairie Puppy Formula. She's now gone through more than half a bag of the stuff and her stools are still mushy, to the point that I'm ready to switch her back to Wellness just because her stools seemed healthier on it. (She had an allergy shot at the same time we were transitioning to Nature's Variety, so she has stopped itching, but I'm not sure if it's the food or the shot.) 

I don't want to keep hopping from food to food, especially considering the way her stomach gets upset during the transitions. Should I go back to Wellness, or is there something else I should try?

Thanks so much! I really appreciate any advice you can give me!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Heather, I don't know who told you that dogs sometimes itch because of salmon, in any food, but that's absolutely untrue and honestly makes no sense. I would not take any further food advice from that source, lol.

 Itching can be a sign of an allergy, but food allergies, especially in young puppies, are extremely rare, and salmon would be one of the least likely things to cause it. In fact, the Omega 3 fatty acids in salmon help improve allergy symptoms like itching. Actually, any kind of allergies are rare in puppies. I can just about guarantee you that the shot (which was steroids) is what caused the itching to stop, not the food change.

At this point, I would have a stool sample checked for parasites, just to be on the safe side.  Then I would switch her back to the Wellness. If you observe itching again, we'll deal with it then.

There are other foods I would recommend over the Wellness Super 5 mix for a dog with loose stools, specifically a grain-free formula. But if she was doing well with it before, I'd switch back and see what happens.

[Heather]

Thanks for the informative reply! Too bad about the salmon thing - it was told to me by a pet store employee who runs Rook's puppy playtime group and she seemed pretty knowledgeable. 

A side question about allergies being rare in puppies... how much itching is normal? Before she got the allergy shot, she was biting her legs until they were raw, which she has now stopped doing, but I've noticed that she'll still itch her face pretty intensely sometimes. She has a Buster Cube and this morning it was roll the cube, itch, roll the cube, itch, which shocked me because usually her focus can't be broken from that cube. She still seems like her happy, playful self, but I don't want her to be in any pain. Thanks again!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

How long has it been since she got the shot? How old was she at the time, and how long had she been eating the Wellness food at that point?

In order for a dog to develop an allergy to something, either food or an environmental inhaled substance such as pollen or dust mites (this is a much more common cause of allergy symptoms in dogs, BTW), the dog usually has to have been exposed to it for a fairly lengthy period of time. Puppies are typically started on solid food around 1 month of age. So the longest period of time a 5 month old puppy could have been eating any one particular ingredient would be 4 months. It's rare for an allergy to have developed in that short a period. If she started scratching within one month of starting the Wellness, it would be almost impossible for her to developed an allergy in that period of time. It is possible that some other ingredient in the food was to blame, something that was also in her previous diet; chicken would be a much more likely candidate than salmon, because she's probably been eating that since she started solids, in all of her dog food.

But out of all dogs who have any kind of allergies, only 10% of them are allergic to any kind of food, and food allergies typically show up between 1-2 years of age. So if her itching is due to allergies, it is much more likely that dust mites, storage mites, or molds are to blame. Pollen can be a culprit, too, but in that case, it would have to be a pollen to which she has been exposed previous to the symptoms appearing, so pollen allergies in a young puppy are also rare in temperate climates.

Omega 3 fatty acid, which is found in salmon more than in any other food, has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory affect, and actually helps reduce itching caused by allergies.

The steroid shot your vet gave her acts as an anti-inflammatory as well. But there can be serious risks when using steroids long term. Nothing can cure allergies, but there are various ways of managing the dog's discomfort, including Omega fatty acid supplementation. If the itching continues to the point that she is stripping away fur, damaging her skin (i.e. biting the legs until they are raw), etc., you are going to need to consult with a veterinary dermatology specialist to help determine what is causing the problem. She should not be scratching to the point of rawness or skin damage ever.

Personally, I would put her on a grain-free food. You can check or list of recommended foods for some choices. I just hesitate to make another drastic change in her diet right now while these issues are occuring, because you won't know what's causing a problem. If you go back to the Wellness and the itching increases, you will know that something in the food is a factor, although probably NOT the salmon.

[Heather]

It's been almost 2 weeks since she got the shot, so she was 18 weeks old at the time. She'd probably been eating the Wellness for close to 2 months, but was transitioning to Nature's Variety at the time. I definitely don't want her getting allergy shots every 2 weeks for the rest of her life, though. The shot was given by a vet clinic where we get her vaccines done - I really like them, but I'm still looking for an actual vet to take her to and possibly get allergy tested. I've struck out with the vets that I've been to so far, which have all been overpriced and unhelpful. 

I live north of Los Angeles and we're affected by the Santa Ana winds, which I've read can increase allergies. The vet at the clinic said that a telltale sign of a pollen allergy is a dog biting their paws, but my puppy leaves her paws alone. 

I think I'll get her some Omega 3 supplements and I'll definitely look into grain-free formulas. Thanks so much! You've given me way more information than any vet ever has! :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I unfortunately have a lot of experience with allergies in doodles. My own LD has been in the care of a veterinary dermatology specialist for several years.

It's important to understand that the shot that your puppy had was not an "allergy shot." Actual allergy shots are part of the treatment for inhalant allergies, which is immunotherapy and doesn't involve drugs per se. The steroid shot simply reduces the inflammation which is causing the itching; it has an suppressive effect on the immune system. If your pup does in fact turn out to have inhalant allergies, to pollen or anything else, she may eventually have to get real allergy shots on a regular basis. But not the steroids.

The only accurate or worthwhile testing that can be done for allergies is the skin scratch testing, which requires anesthetic and is usually only done by a dermatology specialist. general prectice vets don't do them. The blood tests that they are able to do are known to be very inaccurate, and frankly a waste of a lot of money. Skin testing is typically not done on dogs under 1 year old, so I would forget about testing through any general practice vet. No matter how good they are, general practice vets are not experts in all fields of medicine, just as your primary care physician is not an experts in gynecology, orthopedics, allergies, demratology, etc. There is also no accurate method of testing for food allergies. The only way to diagnose a food allergy is through elimination trial diets and/or elimination of other causes.

I can tell you that if she had the shot only 2 weeks ago,  the itching stopped because of the shot, and not because of the switch to Nature's Variety.  

The best Omega fatty acid supplements for itching are either fish oil, or evening primrose oil capsules. Buy the human ones, they are better quality and less expensive.

I would also suggest that if there is any chance that your pup does have any kind of allergies, and you do not already have health insurance for her, make that your number 1 priority. Allergy testing and treatment is extremely expensive, and it is for the life of the dog. If she is diagnosed with anything before you have her covered, any insurance you acquire later will not cover it.

Paw licking and chewing is the most common sign of pollen allergies, but it's not the only one. A dog can still have pollen allergies even if she leaves her feet alone.

[Heather]

Wow, thanks so much for all the information. I feel so much more educated now and hopefully I will better be able to help my puppy. I picked up some fish oil supplements for her just now and I'll definitely get her insurance - been meaning to do that for a while, anyway.

Thanks again! I really can't tell you how much I appreciate all the info.

[Tricia]

My Bridget is almost 7 months. I started her on TOTW  when we got her at 9 weeks.. I mixed in the bag of the food she was on, to transition her.She has never had one problem. Vet says she is at a great weight. She is a Standard doodle and currently weighs about 46 pounds. She is full of pep. Stools are perfect. No stomach upset. Did research prior to getting her and it has a great rating. Good luck in your decision :)

[Heather]

Thanks! I will definitely look into it.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Heather, I agree to stick with Wellness for a while - you need some consistency right now. The runny poos are happening because of all of the change. She is a young puppy!  Peri had mushy poos for the first few months while transitioning foods, lifestyles, etc...

As for the "itchy" pup problem, this is prime allergy season where I am - sounds like it is where you are too.  Peri used to have terrible itchy paws during the spring and fall.  The grass clippings really bother her, as well as the fall leaves.  The evening primrose tablets have helped TREMENDOUSLY. I cannot even tell you how much they help - she gets one a day and literally has very few itchy problems now. It's only when we don't wipe her paws off after a walk or romp in the yard. 

I say stick with a food, try some fish oil or evening primrose tablets, and see if you can get through this allergy bout.  If it continues, go with what Karen is recommending.  And go ahead and get insurance!

[Heather]

Thanks Allyson! When you say wipe her down, do you use just a damp paper towel/rag, or the dog wipes that they sell at the store? I'd like to start doing that to Rook, though I'll be wiping pretty much all of her down, not just her paws.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I just keep a little towel by the door (not wet).  When the grass is really out of control, we use unscented baby wipes (allergy friendly kind).

[Heather]

Thanks! I'll start doing that today.