Connie or anyone who's done this!,
I haven't posted in some months - just trying to figure out how to do this! Kasey, my male golden, 1 1/2 yrs old, has allergies - I'm not surprised! I tried raw feeding and he threw up the bones in the middle of the night (all different kinds of chicken, turkey bones), and had the runs a lot. He has a sensitive stomach. I tried, out of desperation, EVO, Innova, and a duck and potato kibble - still the itching persisted. He would bite his legs, bottom of feet, scratch his mouth a lot, etc. Very little rash on inside thighs and occasional in ears - no ear infections at all. He has no parasites, mites, yeast, etc. Vet says that's all clean.

I believe it is in part to environmental, not sure about food. So I decided to do an elimination diet - just hamburger and sweet potato. Beef was the only protein I could get that he hasn't had. It has been 5 weeks on this and I would say he is about 50% less itchy. Whereas he would be biting and scratching all the time, he now has much more time when he's just laying there not scratching or chewing on his feet. His feet and around his mouth/under chin remain the most itchy.

My question is, this diet is costing me a fortune, he's not getting enough vitamins/minerals, etc (I had him on vit E, Grizzly salmon oil, probiotic/enzymes before the elimination diet), so not getting those he now has flaky skin which he did not have on the oil. I don't know whether to keep up this diet for the entire 10 - 12 weeks you're suppose to, or add something like Honest Kitchen Preference which will help with vit/minerals, etc. Even after the 10 weeks is over, you can only add one thing at a time which will take forever to get a balanced diet going! Help! Thank you for any experience or insight anyone has!
Lori Hall
So. California

Lori,

Have you seen this thread?:

Still has Diarrhea

He only had diarrhea when on the raw. He did not have it with the kibbles I tried or the elimination diet he is on now.

Lori, is he getting any ground bone in with the beef? If not, he's not getting calcium although I'm not sure if that's a consideration on an elimination diet. Connie would know.

And a probably silly question, but you've checked for fleas? It's the first thing that pops into my mind when I hear about itching and scratching. Second is allergies. So had to ask.

Definitely flea-free! I had another allergy golden for 11 years up until a year ago, so I'm very aware of ruling out all the 'easy' to rule out things!

I figured, just thought I'd throw that out there. What about the ground up bone or calcium supplement? Where's that Connie?

 Quote: Lori Hall

He only had diarrhea when on the raw. He did not have it with the kibbles I tried or the elimination diet he is on now.

As Sandy, I just figured I would throw it out there, just in case something looked familiar to you.



So, now it is just the itching and no vomiting or diarrhea?

I am not sure I would use THK if you are trying the elimination diet as THK has several ingredients and you would not be able to tell which it is.

Yes, definitely need Connies input on this one, or Cindy's as well.

Right, no vomiting, no diarrhea or any other health concerns other than the itching, which is 50% since stopping the different kibbles. He does get itchy when he plays on the grass, so I keep him off it as much as possible and I wash his paws a lot. I mainly need advice on where to go with this elimination diet since his skin is now getting dry and flaky w/o salmon oil and vit E, and he's not been getting any nutrition except what's in hamburger and sweet potatoes. I can't find a hypoallergenic muti-vitamin/mineral supplement for dogs anywhere.
Lori

What about a hypo allergenic kibble like Steve was discussing in the thread link I posted?

 Quote: Carol Boche

What about a hypo allergenic kibble like Steve was discussing in the thread link I posted?

Ditto that. Also I can't imagine that vitamin E would cause any problems since it's a vitamin, and it would help to keep his skin in better condition, you can give it without salmon oil. I also have my doubts that salmon oil is a problem. I think after 5 weeks you could add back the salmon oil and E, see if there's any negative reaction.