Wondering if a dog that has grass allergies can also be allergic to green tripe.

I split a case of beef tripe with a collegue that has a Golden with allergies (mostly seasonal, improved when switched to raw, des not eat chicken, but does handle turkey well).

He says that he has been feeding a 1/2 of tripe per day (another 2 lbs other varried raw). Nothing but the tripe has changed over the last month in the dog's diet. He says the coat has become dry and dull, and ear infections are worse now.

If the dog has grass allergies (they suspect he does) could green tripe be responsible for this? Or is it more likely environmental, grasses, swimming...?

I told him to quit the tripe and see if the dog improves and then try it again in the winter when the dog has WAY less allergy issues and see what happens.

Anyone have any ideas on if a tripe allergy due to grass not protein is possible?

Thanks,

I may be mistaken, but I was under the impression that the "green" in green tripe was a result of the not fully digested grasses, straw, hay (whatever cows eat).
So if the dog is having trouble with the tripe it is likely from the grasses in it.

edited. Even after replying to your message, I couldn't figure out why the title would be triple allergy? Must have read it at least five times. Now my dyslexia has disappeared and Tripe Allergy makes much better sense.


Edited by Keith Jablonowski (08/16/2007 12:04 PM)
Edit reason: another thought

Just bumping this in case Connie has any ideas as she knows a lot about allergies

 Quote:

I may be mistaken, but I was under the impression that the "green" in green tripe was a result of the not fully digested grasses, straw, hay (whatever cows eat).
So if the dog is having trouble with the tripe it is likely from the grasses in it.

Yes of course, I just am not sure about the difference between contact allergies, inhaled allergies and ingested allergies.....and how tripe might fit in there.

Can we back up?

When your friend says "ear infections," does he mean bacterial or yeast (fungal)?

Is the dog itching/scratching?

Has this dog had a test for hypothyroidism?

Atopy in dogs virtually always presents with itching. I'd expect skin pruritis rather than dryness. Of course, dogs are individuals in their allergy responses......


Your question (I think) is, can grass trigger a true food allergy, right? The answer is pretty much no. A food sensitivity, maybe..... but food allergies are virtually always allergies to a protein in the offending food, even if it's a food we might not think of as a protein source.

A dog who has a grass allergy is actually allergic to the pollens. And the way the pollens enter the system is by breathing them in. I know we talk often about washing off the paws and undercarriage of the allergic dog before he comes inside with pollen on his body, but that's not because of a contact allergy; it's because dragging the various pollens inside, onto the carpet and bed, means bringing the stuff inside to be breathed in full-time.

Atopy in dogs presents with itching because the histamine receptors in dogs are mostly in the skin, as opposed to humans with their histamine receptors in their mucous membranes (nose, eyes, etc.).

There are five types of allergies for dogs: flea, food, bacterial, inhalant, and contact. Flea and inhalant are most likely. Contact allergies in dogs are pretty rare, BTW.

BTW, it's August. August is one of the peak environmental (inhalant) allergy months.

Has this dog had trials of hydroxyzine, chlorpheniramine, etc.?

Is he on fish oil and vitamin E? How much?

Thanks Connie, I was kinda thinking the same thing, but I am not that well read on allergies.

This guy is always comming to me saying that the dog is allergic to bunch of different foods (protien sources, veggies, kelp,oils). I am always trying to convince him that the dog's allergies are environmental.

The dog does not eat chicken, due to a percieved protein allergy.

My big tip off is that the dog is WAY better in the winter!

The dog's main syptoms are itchy, oozy paws (licks them), ear redness and itchiness (not sure how vet diagnosed the ear thing). They sometimes use steroid drops for the ear thing. Eyes a problem sometimes too. Occational more general itchiness.

Fleas are uncommon here, dog lice more prevelent.

My feeling is inhalant allergy. Thanks for re-explaining the paw wiping thing and that that is not really a contact allergy. I think that did confuse me a bit.

The dry coat is a new symptom. I have not seen the dog in a while, I am ging to try and get a little more info on the symptoms.

They have not put the dog on allergy meds. The dog has a sibling with way worse symptoms that has tested positive for all sort of environmental allergies.

Never had a thyroid test, but I don't suspect it.

Still learning I love this dog (he lets me snuggle him, my dog is not into that ) I always want to help him out.

Thanks Connie!

 Quote:

BTW, it's August. August is a peak environmental (inhalant) allergy month.

Has this dog had trials of hydroxyzine, chlorpheniramine, etc.?

Is he on fish oil and vitamin E? How much?

Gonna let them know about allergy month, not on any drugs, on fish oil but not enough and I have told him to inculde E but bet he hasn't yet.

I have been reccomending he try some probiotics as well as has been discussed in another thread.

 Quote: jennifer coulter

 Quote:

BTW, it's August. August is one of the peak environmental (inhalant) allergy months.

Has this dog had trials of hydroxyzine, chlorpheniramine, etc.?

Is he on fish oil and vitamin E? How much?

Gonna let them know about allergy month, not on any drugs, on fish oil but not enough and I have told him to inculde E but bet he hasn't yet.

I have been reccomending he try some probiotics as well as has been discussed in another thread.

How much fish oil?

Vitamin E is so readily available (everywhere..... including regular drug stores; natural food stores not required); maybe he just doesn't realize how simple (and cheap!) it is to add Vitamin E.

And fish oil (any oil supplement) could be depleting the dog's Vitamin E supply..... even to the point of dry skin.

Allergies to "oils and kelp and vegetables" .... hmmmm. This owner needs to do some reading, I think. Everything you say points to inhalant allergies.

((( The dog has a sibling with way worse symptoms that has tested positive for all sort of environmental allergies. )))

Which test? Is that dog now on desensitizing injections based on the test results?

P.S. This: http://leerburg.com/971.htm is a terrific book, IMO.

 Quote: Jennifer Coulter

(not sure how vet diagnosed the ear thing). They sometimes use steroid drops for the ear thing.

What's the name of the med?

Also, I would still rule out hypothyroidism. Maybe it progressed since last winter, as opposed to being seasonal. It's a pretty simple test and simple treatment. And itchy skin, ear infections, etc., are symptoms of hypothyroidism as well as atopy.

(My money's on atopy, though.)