Sorry, didn't get the "quote" thing right on this!

 Quote: connie sutherland

To the O.P.:

Mike is one of the experts, BTW. He has struggled through the whole thing (books, diets, meds, trials.....), and he knows a LOT about allergies.



Thanks a ton. This is very helpful.


I know you will have questions, and we're here.

Oh, I'm sure I will have questions. I've learned one of the smartest things in life is not to be afraid to appear "dumb" and ask questions. Support like this is the best!

By the way, if you notice any odor (yeasty, cheesey), which you said you have not, you should mention it. :>

Haven't noticed it yet, will keep the nose tuned! Now if I could just figure out this enclosing quotes thing......

Martha, if you do want to try cutting out chicken from his diet to see if that's the culprit and don't have access to other meats and raw meaty bones, you can feed a good raw food called Nature's Variety, comes in patties, includes ground bone, organs, and available in several different varieties like rabbit, beef, lamb, venison. It's also grain-free. Their website is http://www.naturesvariety.com/ and if you click on Store Locater at the top of the page, you'll see there are 130 stores in Ohio.

It's a bit pricey but may help to determine if chicken is a problem for your dog since you'll have plenty of variety to feed him in lieu of chicken, even if just temporarily.

At one time my GSD developed a bit of an itch and one of the things that Connie mentioned was alfalfa being a possible problem. I quit giving alfalfa powder and the itch went away (thank you CONNIE!). Leads me to believe that some grasses can also be a problem for some dogs, whether taken internally or exposed to externally.

Don't remember if you're still giving Embark, but if it's a poultry problem, you might want to cut that out as well as the chicken, if you decide to go that route

Edited by Sandy Moore (12/29/2007 06:14 AM)
Edit reason: additional thought

Thanks Sandy, good suggestions. Will check this out. Stores listed are close to my area
Never thought about alfalfa--hmmmm....The veggie Embark does have a bit of that.
Martha

Remember that a true food allergy is the least likely allergy. An excellent fresh diet, however, is a huge (the hugest, IMO) weapon against it, though.

So are the fish oil and E, as tools against inflammation.

If you DO suspect food, then the only way to track the offending item(s) is with a strict elimination diet.

You could eliminate chicken, of course, for several weeks, and see what happens.

Could you remind me about which THK you are using? I'm confused because you said "the veggie one" and also Embark.
http://www.leerburg.com/honestkitchen.htm

I'm using the Preference that is all veggies and the Embark w/turkey, I mix them together. It's only been a couple of days and it may just be wishful thinking...but after upping his fish oil considerably, I actually think he's scratching a bit less.
Is there anything topical I could put on his ears where he scratches the most? They're not raw, but they look just a tad "sparse" --while I'm trying to adjust diet, etc.
So, no good to just cut back on chicken? Have to eliminate it entirely to see if that's the culprit? He much prefers chicken bones to anything else. Haven't found a beef/pork bone yet that he likes.
M

You are feeding a poultry-based diet (including in the THK). Certainly you can eliminate it and see what happens, and you might see signs of improvement right away if there really is a poultry allergy. I guess I am so ambivalent because, while I have certainly seen poultry allergies (it's one of the Big 5; the foods dogs are fed most are, of course, the common allergens), a food allergy is not the most likely thing, period.

If you do decide to do it, I can give you several possible "menus."

BUT. His ears itch? That is not a classic itch-spot for atopy. Of course, anyplace is possible, but it's unusual. Have you had him looked at for mites?

And yes, the anti-inflammation benefits of fish oil are fast. :>

Oh, and yes: Spray "Relief" helps. I'll find a picture, because there are a million products called "Relief."

http://www.marvistavet.com/assets/images/Relief_Rinse_and_Shampoo.gif

The topical spray looks the same.

Hmmm...mites. No, had him at the vets recently--but how do they check for mites?? The vet did check the INSIDE of his ears and they were fine. That's where mites live, right?
His common itch spots are paws/legs and back of ears, around neck, underarms. No signs of redness, flakiness, or anything other than backs of ears,,which seem just like the hair is kinda thin from scratching.
He didn't get his fish oil today though, cause he's bummed about no chicken and wouldn't eat his red meat. But sometimes he just doesn't want to eat much, so it could be one of those days.
IMO, which isn't based on much knowledge, if he was truly allergic to his food, he'd be in much worse shape---he's been eating poultry for months and months. There just aren't signs of serious allergies, bald patches, flaking, all of that. And he doesn't scratch himself to the point of creating inflamed areas.
I think it's minor, but nonetheless it needs to be addressed.
M