I've been reading on this forum for the past 2 years, but never posted. I've learned a lot from all of you and really appreciate all the good information.

I have a dog with skin problems and I am in the process of making an appointment with a specialist in Houston.
My question is: if the vet wants to do a food elimination study would you feed your dog Science Diet for the duration or would you insist on staying with a raw diet?

I have read almost every post on skin problems, and have implemented many, if not all of your suggestions and advice. Thanks a lot for all your help.
We could'nt have gotten this far without it.

That's not the likely first step, for many reasons, one of which is that food allergies are the least likely.

If you have been reading here then I'm sure that you have the dog on fish oil and E along with that raw diet (and good for you!), that you have trialed the top antihistamines, that you are positive that the dog has no flea exposure (#1 by far among canine atopy causes) and that you have a log of worst times and days (with weather notes). I would add to that a strict protocol of wiping down the dog's undercarriage and having the dog walk thorough clean water and then across a towel each time s/he reenters the house from grass, etc. I would also vacuum thoroughly, change mats and blankets used by the dog, and then toss the vacuum bag (if it's not bagless).

I have done food trials on raw, so if the derm vet doesn't know how to get around a raw or homemade limited-ingredient novel-food commercial choice, PM me.

All an elimination diet is, is giving limited (maybe two) ingredients of only foods the dog has never, could never have, eaten. It includes most supplements, all treats, etc., but it's quite doable.

How bad is it? Is the dog's sleep interrupted, and does the dog have secondary ear infections? Skin pruritis?


P.S. Here is a pretty good description of a food trial:

Elimination diets and provocative testing: A food trial consists of feeding an animal a novel food source of protein and carbohydrate for 12 weeks. A novel food source would be a protein and carbohydrate that the animal had never eaten before. An example would be rabbit and rice, or venison and potato, or duck and rutabagas. These are homemade diets but there are several commercial diets available on the market. Special Foods produced by Hill's and Purina, and a food named EXclude are used by many dermatologists. Regardless of the diet used, it must be the only thing the animal eats for 12 weeks. This means no treats; absolutely nothing but the special food and water. Young growing pets have special dietary needs and a homemade diet that only contains one protein and one carbohydrate with no multivitamin or fatty acid may not be suitable even for only twelve weeks. For puppies undergoing a food trial, a balanced commercial diet like the ones listed above is recommended.
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1664&aid=143

I would elect to do it using single ingredients that you can control--whether you do it raw or cooked.

The point of an elimination diet is to find out specifically which food ingredient(s) are causing the problem. If you feed a food with multiple ingredients (like Science Diet), and you get a reaction, you can't possibly know which ingredient it was.

A real elimination diet goes like this:

Dog eats nothing but, say, chicken for a week. (no other foods, treats or supplements, just chicken.) You note whether or not the dog presents symptoms. If no symptoms, then you can safely add ONE new food item to the diet, say, sweet potato. Dog now eats chicken and sweet potato for a week.

Continue adding new ingredients in the diet in this fashion--new meat/grain (if desired)/veg sources/supplements....all one at a time.

It at any point in the elimination a new food is added that does cause a reaction, then you know it was that food.

All this assumes that it is, indeed, a food allergy. Dogs can be allergic to airborne things like dustmites and pollen of all kinds, as well as mold, etc. Or it could be a contact allergen (something in the environment touching the dog's skin.)

I think going to the Derm specialist is exactly the right plan. He/She will be able to help determine what's going on without guessing.

good luck.

Right!

Of course, it would not be chicken because all dogs have eaten chicken.

It's novel ingredients, meaning the dog has never eaten them. Then, if/when the allergic response stops (which it will IF food was the culprit), the system can be "challenged" by each "normal" ingredient, re-added slowly and methodically, to find the culprit(s).

I think the O.P. meant the prescription allergy foods, BTW, which are two types: limited ingredient, like duck and potato, or the "Hydrolyzed Protein" method (which I will explain if anyone wants to be bored to death).

Tracy, excellent point about cooked, too. I would go home-cooked before commercial if I were embarking on a food trial.


Other readers: For a growing dog, or any dog for an extended period, this has to be formulated with the lack of calcium from bones (or from commercial preparations) in mind and cannot be a random mixture of novel ingredients.

Yes to all of the above. Raw diet, fish oil, vit. E, 1/4tsp vit.C, 1/2 cup yogurt.
Flea exposure minimized (as much as possible in Texas),hydroxizine, and Genesis
spray(not very often).

Barely 50lb.,female, 2yr.old German Shorthair Pointer.

The problem is different this summer.
Last year, it was feet and leg licking,big time!
Anal gland problems always. (raw diet helped with that,but didn't eliminate it)
She did really good in the winter months with minimal treatment.

This summer, her skin is flaking, big flakes on her sides and back. Surprisingly her coat is in pretty good shape.
So, just to make sure I understand, you would not go for the Science Diet.

I wouldn't. That's just me. It's not forever, though, and you may decide differently.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

.... I have done food trials on raw, so if the derm vet doesn't know how to get around a raw or homemade limited-ingredient novel-food commercial choice, PM me. ..... Tracy, excellent point about cooked, too. I would go home-cooked before commercial if I were embarking on a food trial. ...

 Quote: Dana Vaughan

... Flea exposure minimized (as much as possible in Texas) ...

One flea exposure can make a hypersensitive dog crazy.

You say there was cold-season relief on the paws?

Paw-licking doesn't generally suggest fleas, but if there is also a problem on the tail or base of tail or spine or other flea spots, then was there cold-weather relief from those symptoms?

Yes, to the cold season relief on paw, leg licking. It is also not as bad this summer
compared to last summer.

She is flaking on her sides and along her spine. Not as much in the tail area, almost no flaking on her stomach. Head and face are flaking also.

No ear problems to speak of.
All of the flaking problems are recent. Started 4 to 6 weeks ago.