Rayne Nutrition Kangaroo

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I see that this food is on the recommended list for RX Food.  Lucy met with a new Dermatologist today. She asked us to do some research on this food before our next appointment.  Lucy has been on a limited ingredient food for coming up on a couple years now in addition to her Atopica and Injections.  After her food trial we put her on Natural Balance LI Chicken.  Then we tried the Venison because that was the protein in the food used on the trial.  That didn't seem to work very well, so we went back to chicken.  Last fall I changed her over to the Rabbit and was considering doing the Kangaroo.

Basically my question would be is this Rayne Kangaroo that much better than the Natural Balance Kangaroo or how is it different?  I know that NB was bought out by DelMonte back in '13, but I haven't seen any press on any recalls or problems since that time.  Obviously I want to do what I can to help Lucy but if I'm going to spend that kind of money I want to know the reasons why it is better to do it.  

[Ann Kendig]

Is Lucy on anything like Zyrtec, Benedryl etc.?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Not anymore ... we passed that phase awhile back.  She has been skin tested and food tested and has allergies for both categories.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The ingredients in Rayne are top-notch and the nutritional profiles are the best I've seen in any LID dog food made by anyone. 

28% protein in their kangaroo kibble compared to 21.5% for NB's rabbit formula. The first ingredient is meat, not potatoes. That's partly what you're paying for. Not to mention that Rayne has veterinary nutritionists on staff. They will even formulate custom diets for you. No comparison to any other LID food on the market. 

Have you visited their website? 

Natural Balance has also changed hands again, as Del Monte has sold all of its pet food lines: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/04/us-bigheartpetbrands-m-a-...

Pretty soon, all of the big dog food lines are going to be owned by one company. Not good for quality. 

Nature's Variety also has an LID rabbit based kibble: http://www.instinctpetfood.com//product/instinct-grain-free-limited...

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

She gave me the website info and I was there briefly but have lots of reading to do yet. Thanks for this info. I didnt know natural balance had sold again.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Wow, watching their videos on their sourcing and quality control procedures is certainly impressive.  Here is the one question I would have.  On Lucy's current NB food, for a 60-80 lb dog (Lucy is 77 lbs)  it suggests 3-3/4 to

4-3/4 cups per day.  As we have been working to get weight off of her (which hasn't been working too well) she currently gets 3 cups per day.  This still does not result in much, if any, weight loss.  She gets a few dehydrated sweet potato treats in addition to this.  On the Rayne site it suggests for a 60-80 lb dog that they would get 3-1/2 to 4-1/4 cups per day.  I'm wondering how much I would actually need to feed her per day?  Right now I use a 23 lb bag of food probably in a month.  The 4kg bag of RN food would about about 16 lbs (I think).  So I'm hoping that maybe 2 bags (8 kg) would be around 35 lbs of food and I could maybe get 6 weeks out of that?  Am I figuring that right?  Lucy is not an extremely high energy dog.  She is 7 next month.

[Ann Kendig]

You had her tested for food allergies? Was that blood tests? Recently I had to change Dukes food. I also, under the direction of the derm. specialist, stopped Duke's Zyrtec. He was doing better with his skin issues so we wondered if it was even helping him. After stopping the Zyrtec he developed gastritis and has been very sick. He couldn't keep much down and has lost weight. I had read that Zyrtec etc. can be given to help with food intolerance or food allergies. I have had no luck with any of the foods I've fed Duke. I think giving him the Zyrtec has kept the gastritis at bay. He's ways burped a lot after eating, no matter what he eats. The last protein source we have left is kangaroo so I'm glad you posted this. I don't know what to do if kangaroo doesn't work. I don't know if it's so much the protein source but I think he's allergic to other ingredients in various foods. I'm getting very worried about him. I wish our pups didn't have to suffer so much.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Sorry to hear duke is having a tough time. Wish I had some ideas for you. Lucy went through a food trial and process of elimination which diagnosed her food allergies and then skin and blood work to diagnose the environmental allergies. She has been on shots for almost a year now.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Ann, ~ I am sorry to hear Duke is having problems.  I know how you must feel.  One of my doodles has allergies too and I have had great results with Addiction Kangaroo for the last 8 months or so.  About 4 weeks ago, Chewy informed me my auto shipment of Kangaroo had been delayed.  Apparently Addiction is having a sourcing issue on the kangaroo but are still shipping Venison, Lamb and Fish, but the ingredients are not as limited as the Kangaroo and Beau cannot tolerate any of those three.  They suggested shipping California Naturals Kangaroo - instead of oats like Addiction the other main ingredient is red lentils!  The evening of the second day of feeding it, Beau went into an unbelievable downward spiral - scratching 24 - 7!  Itching his feet starting about 6 inches above his pad and then down through his pads, his spine, tail, ears!  He did not have yeast in his ears.  The vet thinks he is severely allergic to red lentils.  Of course, she wanted to put him on rx food - egg & rice.  He has been on it for 1.5 weeks and not much change.  The thought of him eating it almost makes me sick, but I am at a loss.  I have found 2 bags of addiction kangaroo in the Seattle area and I am driving 3.5 hours this weekend to pick it up in hopes of just getting him back to normal.  That will last me almost 2 months and I will use this time, to figure out something.  Going to the Rayne site now to check it out. Lets hope we can get our doods back on track sooner rather than later! 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Linda --  Can the Vet not use one of the perscription drugs used to reduce the itching.  Lucy is on Atopica at the moment and there is a new drug on the market called Apoquel.  Both are to target the symptoms of allergies, not the cause but are to help.  Both can be used while they do a food trial or skin testing to see what the allergies are.  Are there downsides, yes, but I would weigh them against his itching and see if you think that it might be worth using until you get the other food.  With the Atopica it has been on the market for about 10 years.  Initially in some of the testing there were a few reports linking it to potential cancer.  However, the Dermatologist is saying that they are now after 10 years showing that isn't accurate.  The downside on the Apoquel is just that it is new and hasn't been on the market very long.  It does have good reviews on line as far as stopping the itching though.  Just a thought for you to check out.  Natural Balance makes a Kangaroo food with Sweet Potato as well if that would help you until you get the other food.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

We are going back to the vet.  My DIL has a German Shepherd that has so many allergies.  They now have him on Apoquel and are seeing positive results.  I was hoping we would not have to go that route, but Beau's itching has changed little since the food change.