Struggling

[Jenny Brockman]

I need opinions please. I have had my Sadie for almost 7 months. When I got her she scratched all the time. So the vet switch her food to royal canin. She refused to eat it. So we tried merrick and she liked it but she kept scratching. The vet thought it was a food allergy. So we put her on zignature which she loves she stopped scratching however we did have our first freeze. She now has had worms twice and has been given medicine. She had diarrhea for 7 days and we followed everyone advice and gave her pumpkin and rice to help. Took her back to the vet and she switched her food to Hills I/D sensitive. Now I have to give her a boiled egg with it everyday. Her breath still stinks and have found no answers. What am I doing wrong and do I put her back on zignature. Help.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hi Jenny, we have a very large and active group here, The Food Group, where we have many discussions about these issues as well as a list of recommended food brands. Please join us.

What you need to know is that food allergies in dogs are actually quite rare, and generally develop after a dog has been eating a particular protein on a regular basis for a year or more. For this reason, it is almost impossible for a young puppy to be allergic to anything.  

Why doesn;t your vet know this? Because most GP vets are not experts in allergies, and because the pet food companies promote their foods. (See below) 
Here is some info on Food Allergies in Dogs

There is no nutrition curriculum in veterinary school (this is documented) and what little most vets do learn comes directly from the saledepartment at Hill's, Purina, & Mars (maker of Royal Canin). Since vets also sell these products, this represents a conflict of interest. There is nothing therapeutic or medicinal in any Rx food; most of them are overpriced garbage. 

The medications that are used to treat worms and parasites in dogs often will cause the dog to have diarrhea when they are discontinued. This is because they destroy all of the good bacteria in the gut that is necessary for proper digestion and stool formation. So any time your dog is on these types of meds, you must also give a good probiotic. The Probiotic should be continued for at least two weeks after the meds are finished, and it must be given at least two hours apart from the meds. 

It's always a mistake to give rice to a dog who has been doing well on a grain free diet, and a diet of pumpkin and rice contains no usable protein and almost none of the nutrients a dog needs. When a dog has diarrhea or digestive issues and you want to give a bland diet, feed a 50-50 mixture of plain boiled white meat chicken cut very fine, and mashed sweet potatoes. You can use very lean ground beef in place of the chicken. This diet has only about half the calories of most kibbles, so you will need to feed about twice as much as you normally feed. 

There is lots more, but I prefer to address these issues in TFG, here you will find all of this info in great detail. 

For now, order Proviable DC (probiotic) today. It is not available in stores. While you are waiting for it to arrive, give your pup a couple of tablespoons of plain, unflavored nonfat yogurt 2-3x a day. Put her on the bland diet described above. Once she has been on the Proviable for a few days, I'd switch her back to  Zignature. 

[Jenny Brockman]

Thank you for responding!!! What is TFG and how do I find it

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

“The Food Group”

On the main menu, click on “Groups”. Find “Browse All”, and put “The Food Group” into search. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

As Karen says, food allergies are quite rare.  If you have a local veterinarian allergy specialist you will probably spend a bit but also says you and your puppy a lot of grief in the long run. 

I would also consider changing veterinarians as the first answer a well informed bet would give for serious itching is not food allergies.

[LORRY SWETLAND]

My pit bull had food allergies. The Vet did a blood test called The Gold Test. he didn't do any scratching but she was fire engine red on her belly. She could only eat venison and pork and sweet potatoes. I would get the blood test done and then go from there.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Blood tests for food allergies are notoriously inaccurate; so much so that veterinary dermatology specialists won;t run them even if you ask. Lots of false positives. And they are very expensive. Personally, I wouldn't waste the money, especially for testing on a puppy.