Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Raw is ideal, but since EVO has no grain, I think it's definitely worth a shot. Also, your dog is not huge, so the price isn't as much of an issue.
I agree with every part of this post!
Keep in mind, though, that if your dog is allergic to a certain ingredient, and that ingredient is part of the food -- no matter what the quality of the commercial food -- the dog will be allergic to it anyway.
But yes, for many reasons, I definitely agree that a great start is to get all grains out of the diet of a dog who has allergy symptoms.
Then, if that hasn't shown improvement after several weeks, and you still suspect food allergies, you'll want to start an elimination diet. This means (again) foods the dog has never eaten. Not a *brand* the dog has never eaten, but *ingredients* the dog has never eaten.
Food allergies develop after repeated exposure. Canine food allergies *are* nearly always allergies to a food the dog has been eating repeatedly.
I always hear "But this has ALWAYS been his food; how can he be allergic to it now?" But that's how it works.
Where oh where might I get Vitamin E and fish oil for him?
I give my dogs the same ones that I take (I usually get mine from Wal-Mart).
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I've had two dogs who were allergic to flax
I added the flax only after the condition started in hopes that it would help. It didn't. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I don't remember the name of the allegy test I had done but it tested for the most common things that dogs are generally allergic to. My dog had very few significant food allergies. The test included 3 or 4 different types of grass common to this area. On a scale of 0-5 (with 0 being no reaction and 5 being extreme reaction) he scored a 4 or a 5 on all grasses. Henry, I assume this is one of the tests the vet did on your dog?
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
That test is being done by the dermotologist next week, and is going to cost a fortune ($850)... I'm hoping the antifungal I'm picking up tonight might (crosses everything that can cross) have a result.
Another theory I've heard is rikettsial infection. I have no clue what that is, will google around tonight.
Could this be what they used to call a "hot spot"...or maybe they still do? We saw these on our GSD's in So. Cal. once in a while. Haven't seen one in a long time. Back in the day they were treated with Gentian Violet and preventing the licking and scratching.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Could this be what they used to call a "hot spot"...or maybe they still do? We saw these on our GSD's in So. Cal. once in a while. Haven't seen one in a long time. Back in the day they were treated with Gentian Violet and preventing the licking and scratching.
I think you're correct that this would be termed a hot spot. The only thing is that "hot spot" has become a big dump term for all kinds of skin pruritis.
Good point that bad-tasting topical applications can sometimes break the cycle of constant licking, but it doesn't help with scratching, and scratching can cause enough broken skin to trigger infections from bacteria that the skin normally keeps out where it belongs, on the surface.
My Brittany gets hot spots. The pictures of the spot bear some resemblence to what they look like. On her, they are a deep red, slightly swollen and hot to the touch. She just can't leave them alone. I know that on Zoe they are caused by allergies (she has sensitive skin) and stress. The vet gives us some sort of antibacterial cream for them to help keep them clean. It probably also contained cortizone (?) to help with the itching. The last time I just used Neosporin on top of keeping the area clean rather than pay for my vet's summer vacation. Also, have you tried one of those hideous "Shakespeare" collars to keep your dog from chewing at it? That can at least minimize how much irritation he is causing trying to get those itchies. I hope this helped a little. Good luck and I hope your dog starts feeling better soon.
I've tried cortizone, which doesn't really help him at all. The location of the spot doesn't let him lick it, he only licks inside his hind legs and irritates that. He does itch constantly though, can't really stop that.
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Re: Help! weird skin problem
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