So Norbie is doing well on the RAW and his ears are showing some relief from his allergies in just the week, which is as good as heavy doses of antibiotics and steriods in the past!!!! And he is much more involved in life....raising a bit of Kane and showing interest as I get his food.

I remember bits and pieces of information regarding what to feed and NOT feed to dogs with allergies. Obviously I want to continue his improvement but want to add some variety too.

He is essentially just eating chicken, vit e and fish oil right now. I think I need to tweak amounts too. He is getting 1000UI of vit e and 2000 mg of fish oil and he is getting about 2.5# chicken leg quarters a day. He is probably ideal 95#..bit fluffy looking at 100#

Read somewhere here that there should be caution when adding kelp or alfalfa. So that got me wondering about veggies too.

I am rerereading the two books I have....the two basic ons that Michael suggested....the one with the Bulldog on the cover and the other written by Kymythy someone. (sorry, how my ADD brain works) so some may be there but I didn't find it today between grooming three westies and a pom

I also, happily, found a local meat market for chicken necks and backs for generally 55cents /# I am gonna find out what other stuff when I pick up the cases I ordered in the next couple days. He did say he had a couple dog feeding customers and started asking me about his two allergy plagued dogs.

BTW...the 4# poodle LOVES and indeed does hork down his new breakfast of chicken!

Last question....I have been feeding two times a day and making evening the bigger meal by a teetch....figuring this is the 'quieter' time. Reading it seems like many feed once a day. I got on two times a day years and years ago with our BeagleXBoxer who was a bloat worry. Does it seem to make a differnce feeding RAW?

Sounds like everything is going perfect.:smile:

I use to add kelp and alfalfa, but got bored remembering to add it to the meals. My dog didn't tolerate alfalfa well so it was short lived around here anyway.

I can't think of any veggies that are more prone to aggravate allergies, either. Somebody on here will know for sure, though.

As with any food or supplement, it is all individual. Now, in the beginning of the switch, will be a great time to learn if something doesn't agree with their allergies. Food items are being added one at a time right now, so you will be able to tell if any individual food raises issues.

Hope that helps. Sorry I don't have any more specific recommendations.

Re: bloat

With raw, I would stick with whatever feeding frequency you are most comfortable with.

Raw is not immune to bloat or torsion issues.

 Quote: Michael_Wise

... I can't think of any veggies that are more prone to aggravate allergies, either. .... As with any food or supplement, it is all individual. Now, in the beginning of the switch, will be a great time to learn if something doesn't agree with their allergies. Food items are being added one at a time right now, so you will be able to tell if any individual food raises issues.

Ditto. I'd stick to very-low-sugar produce (greens, zucchini guts, celery tops, etc.) or green tripe with an environmentally-allergic dog, but actually above-ground green produce is not at all a likely allergy-trigger. I'd skip alfalfa (a forage crop that's high in protein) for an allergic dog. I'd be sure to give the fish oil every day. The more I learn about fish oil (research and experience), the more crucial I think it is for dogs with any inflammation-based ailment (and, in fact, all dogs).

Thanks so much!
I get the feeling he is improved due to less carb and sugars feeding the ick in his system. He really is doing well and I don't want to reverse it.

I think I will go to greens and basics to start and see how he and the Wart does. Wart is game for anything. Norbie is tentative. I am also going to start Widget my Brussels Griffon on it too. She needs allergy relief too. But she is the one that has had pancreatitis...acute and I am gonna look that up too before I jump in with her.

Green tripe is something I have to order in and am looking for a supply still. That and no one in the house is eager for me to start it.....hmmm. Wonder why?

I have some frozen Tilapia fillets that have too muddy a taste for us so I may see if the dogs feel the same way. Would you cook the fish? Is there a parasite worry? Sorry, cleaned too many pond bass with nasty bugs growing in them.

I have an allergy dog - skin allergy tested positive for 43 different allergen. But what he eats doesn't really have anything to do with environmental allergies, except like what Connie mentioned about keeping the veggies with sugars to a minimum to help with controlling yeast and keeping his immune system as strong as possible. I also feed raw, and for the veggie part I make a glop with chicken livers and gizzards, beef liver and parsley, spinach,and zuccini or similar squashes, all mixed together in the blender. I put them in containers and freeze them so I only have to make it once a month or so.

Since food allergies only make up less than 10% of allergies in dogs, you can certainly add things slowly as you start adding the raw meats, but the chances that he'll be allergic to things like squash, parsley, spinach, etc isn't very high. Usually it's proteins if they are going to be food allergic.

Good point Lori. I truly think a lot of his trouble food wise is grains. After that he could be allergic to many things.....grass for all I know. I do know he is improving a lot on just the diet change so hey...