You also need to look at the labels on the chicken you are feeding. Some of them have added broth or other liquids to make the selling weight heavier. I have read labels that say it's up to 12% added 'solution'

I only feed organic or a brand called Smart Chicken to my one sensitive dog, if I use any chicken with any added solution she starts to itch and chew within hours.

Our irritation was on the back around the tail basically in the area above the hipbones as well as the ears. He gets little pimply lumps in that area when he has a flare up.

If you are around his anus I would be concerned about an anal gland infection or the beginning of perianal fistulas.

My allergic male has them - (fortunately 3 years post surgery no recurrence) - but his whole immune system is whacko. PF would have other signs as well, eventually they break open, you see an opening from the fisula (like a little channel) and they bleedl. Not so uncommon I learned in middle aged males with low tail sets.

 Quote: Sarah Morris

 Quote: Shannon Ebron

The the little pimples, I notice if I pull his tail straight up in the air there are 2 tiny red bumps or pimple. I don't notice any puss though.

To clarify, are the 2 red bumps in the anus area? Are they on either side of his anus?

Hi Sorry ~ I had some errands to run
Okay, one is one the left of his anus about an inch away and the other is alomst directly above the first one about and inch or so above.

 Quote: Nancy Jocoy

Our irritation was on the back around the tail basically in the area above the hipbones as well as the ears. He gets little pimply lumps in that area when he has a flare up.

If you are around his anus I would be concerned about an anal gland infection or the beginning of perianal fistulas.

My allergic male has them - (fortunately 3 years post surgery no recurrence) - but his whole immune system is whacko. PF would have other signs as well, eventually they break open, you see an opening from the fisula (like a little channel) and they bleedl. Not so uncommon I learned in middle aged males with low tail sets.

My dog is a cocker (not sure about tail set) but I have noticed these pimples before over the years. I'm going to look this up and see if I can find some pictures.

 Quote: connie sutherland

As Nancy knows, beef and chicken are common allergens (to dogs with food allergies, I mean; true food allergies are not common in dogs the way environmental/inhalant allergies are) because they are so ubiquitous in commercial foods. (Allergies develop over repeated exposure.)

The butt area is a big clue, too.

Again, though, the first post sounds like the switch to raw (presumably with chicken?) resulted in a couple of weeks of improvement, and then reversion.

This sounds like maybe something was introduced after a couple of weeks.... another culprit.

 Quote: cindy easton rhodes

You also need to look at the labels on the chicken you are feeding. Some of them have added broth or other liquids to make the selling weight heavier. I have read labels that say it's up to 12% added 'solution'

I only feed organic or a brand called Smart Chicken to my one sensitive dog, if I use any chicken with any added solution she starts to itch and chew within hours.

After reading these post it hit me, I had a hard time finding chicken backs when I first started feeding raw. The first couple of weeks, I was feeding chicken leg quarter that I had left over in my freezer.

I'm beginning to think that culprit may not be the "chicken" persay but the chicken backs or possibly quality of chicken backs or even (like Cindy) mentioned, additives..

I bought a 40 pound case of backs from a man who makes/sells his own brand of raw dog food. Some of you may remember me posting this. He tried to get me to buy his food and told me that I basically "counldn't" feed my dog.

Now that I think about, It all happened around the same time.
I think I'm gonna switch back to leg quarters and start over from scratch. When I think about my post that I posted like 10 days after beginning raw, we were doing great and at that time, I think I JUST started the backs.

Thanks Everyone !

 Quote: Shannon Ebron

... I think I'm gonna switch back to leg quarters and start over from scratch. When I think about my post that I posted like 10 days after beginning raw, we were doing great and at that time, I think I JUST started the backs.

Thanks Everyone !

That's a great idea. Food sensitivities often present with that butt area itching and inflammation.

I buy only Smart Chicken. I have a couple of dogs, one a senior, who came to me with pretty bad skin pruritis and apparent food sensitivities or allergies (as well as environmental/inhalant for one of them).

I had already discovered Smart Chicken Organic when I was researching humanely-raised and -slaughtered meat animals and birds, so I had more than one reason for buying it.

The one who used to have butt-irritation and regular anal-gland problems stopped, and the other one no longer has skin pruritis except for seasonal grass-allergy flareups (which are handled pretty well with Hydroxyzine, rinsing off pollen, etc.).

There are other brands of organic poultry, too. If the quarters don't end the dog's symptoms, I'd try an organic brand next.

It can take from ten days to a couple of months to end all food allergy and sensitivity symptoms by withdrawing the offending ingredient, but IME I have usually seen some improvement very soon.... enough to keep me on the regimen.

Good detective work, Shannon. I hope you'll post back; I'd like to hear how this works out. I would start a log; that kind of info can be invaluable when dealing with allergies and sensitivities (food and other).

http://s248.photobucket.com/albums/gg171/shannonebron/


I took some pictures of my dogs "butt" so you can see what I am talking a bout. They are not that great but I think you can get teh general idea....

The 2nd picture is the side of his tail.

Ps I hope the link works

By the way, the picture that I posted don't show how red & irritated the area is . I just wanted you to see the bumps/pimples......

need to jump in and ask a question.....has there been any study on deer meat.......was wondering since they carry diseases......lyme...parasites...etc.....is it safe?.....ok to feed raw.....want to add it to kibble (innova) for extra protein.

don't know about studies-but during hunting season, the basis for my dogs diet(about 85%) was just deer meat/parts. I live in the south, near the sticks, and have many friends who hunt.

imo,many animals eat deer. raw. If the parasites caused that big of a problem, those animals would have evolved to eat something different.

That plus, my dogs eat all kinds of things, i mean-bad stuff, and i know that mine in particular have iron guts.
Try week old dead deer in the woods.......yum yum. They didn't even get the runs.


you could add it as an extra meal, but you should actually add raw meats with kibble, even a good kibble like innova.

they have different digestion rates, etc.

If you are looking for extra protein, Innova makes grain free high(very) protein EVO.....