Hello everyone!

I started my three dogs on the all natural diet 10-12 weeks ago and was immediately pleased with the results. Their coats are soft and shiny, my Newf's ear infections have disappeared (and these were chronic) and his joints appear less achy.
The main motivation to start the diet was to get them eating healthy, but also because he's had chronic yeast infections since I rescued him. (His paws have always been super itchy, and the vet did a test and found yeast). His (ex) vet put him on Hill Prescription which made him worse over time. So I got tired of that and started doing my homework and started this diet. I have a new vet now but I haven't talked to him about the diet or the Newf's yeast problems. My guess is like so many other vets he disagrees with raw feeding.

The paw itching has improved a lot. There is still some chewing/itchiness but the paws aren't red all over like they had been. However my Newf has also had itchy forearms and this problem has not improved, I am sorry to say. Today I noticed the skin is starting to be a little pink and irritated on one of the legs. He chews the same place on both front legs.

I am feeding the salmon oil, vitamin E and Super C that Cindy recommends. For meat they are getting chicken leg quarters most of the time and occasionally turkey necks. Alternating days they get chicken livers/gizzards/hearts and eggs.

Does anything jump out? If this diet doesn't cure the Newf's problems I don't know what else I could do. I have a shampoo that helps the itching that I use sometimes but I want to make his itchiness go away for good.

Glad to hear you've seen some definite health improvements!

After 10 weeks on this diet, I think it's time to start adding some variety of proteins. As much as possible, rotating in beef, pork, duck, venison...whatever you can find and afford. Like most of us, chicken and turkey are just too cheap not to be the basis of the diet...but they can't be the entire diet.

But I don't think that will fix the itching...because I suspect it isn't diet related.

Could be that the yeast is still there...and while the improved nutrition will make him resistant to infections from all sorts of things, including yeast, I don't believe the diet's going to kill off an aggressive yeast infection. (I've had luck with Gentian Violet as a simple home-remedy cure for red-stain paw-licking that is yeast related. It's an old-fashioned anti-fungal tincture you can get at the drug store.)

But--It think the most likely cause of the continued itching is an inhaled allergen--pollen, mold, dust mites, etc. "Hay Fever" in people causes respiratory symptoms...but the same allergens in dogs usually cause skin issues: hot, red, moist skin on belly, arms, underarms, paws, ears. Do you ever notice any seasonal patterns to the redness/itching?--is it better in the winter? or about the same year-round?

You might want to start investigating skin allergy issues (there's lots of info on this board) and various treatments. Some dogs get relief from simple meds like Benadryl. There are also holistic allergy treatments.

Thank you Tracy. I agree that I need to start adding more meat variety.
I'd like to add fish also - can they eat the scales and bones with no problems?
I'll check out that Gentian Violet - thanks for the suggestion.

I've thought about trying Benadryl, but I'm kind of anti-drug. Maybe I could give it every other day or something?

I rescued another dog a few months ago and she has itchy skin too (my third dog has no itchiness problems whatsoever). Maybe there is something in my home environment that is making them susceptible. I live in the humid south but my house has never been sprayed for fleas or pests. I have never seen a flea on any of the dogs. I'll start doing some more research. Do you think finding an allergist would be of any benefit?

I did notice the ear infections were less frequent during the winter. And he used to get hotspots only in the warm months. So it does seem to be seasonal.

 Quote: Aubrey Thurmond

Do you think finding an allergist would be of any benefit?

I did notice the ear infections were less frequent during the winter. And he used to get hotspots only in the warm months. So it does seem to be seasonal.

There are a number of people here who will swear by the benefits of a good derm vet (Sarah Morris and Connie Sutherland are 2 of them) in combatting really tricky or irrepressible allergies. Hopefully they will chime in here and offer some advice.

Aside from that, I second the motion to start adding a variety of protein sources, slowly and one at a time. If you've already made a seasonal connection with the Newf's itching, I agree that it's most likely not diet related, but you'll still want to be methodical about adding new proteins, just so you can spot a potential intolerance right away.

Glad the switch to raw has brought your pups so much overall benefit though - that's the kind of success story we like to hear!

~Natalya

Yes, fish--heads, scales, bones and all. (with the caveat that some fish, Tilapia is one, that have such big sharp fins that I think they might pose a risk of cutting a lip, so I have removed those in the past.)

I tend to prefer feeding the smaller, oilier fish--mackerel and sardines--which I buy in bulk, whole, frozen. The smaller the fish, the less likely they have had a chance to build up a mercury toxicity.

Never feed raw salmon. Technically the prohibition is only on the kinds from the Pacific Northwest, but who can remember that at the store? The problem is a parasitic fluke that can infest that fish, and when ingested by the dog can be toxic. Google "salmon poisoning" to learn more. Just avoid salmon. Unless you want to cook it for the dogs. Cooked is fine. Canned mackerel and sardines are also an easy way to incorporate fish in a raw diet. But now I'm rambling...

I know what you mean about being anti-drugs, I have the same tendency. We go to a holistic vet who really tries to solve issues with supplements first. A lot of vets will immediately go to Prednisone to control itching, and I think that category of drugs should be a very last recourse. Benadryl, on the other hand, I feel okay giving, especially if it's just a seasonal course. It's a very safe drug, and can be quite effective. Especially when combined with fish oil/E supplementation.

(((Benadryl tip: All dyphenhydromine is the same. Sam's club sells an enormous bottle of the stuff for the same price as a pack of 24 pills of branded Benadryl at Walgreens. And if you're giving several pills a day for 4 months, it adds up.)))

Leerburg (this site) sells a holistic/Chinese herb product for allergies that I'm going to try this year on my itchy Corgi. Some folks here have reported success with it. I'll give it a try and report back in a few months.

Oh--and if you do decide to try the Gentian Violet, let me know and I'll share with you how I've used it.