I'll definitely check that out. I am so danged frustrated with her skin issues, I just hope the derm vet can give us some immediate answers. I don't think she's miserable but I can't help but think she's not entirely happy either, she's done so well with her reactivity that she deserves a break.

Is there any grain that is considered a better source for dogs?
I also can't help wonder with the "grain free or LID" diets if they are produced in plants that also produce grained foods. it doesn't make much sense to feed a grain free food to only have it pass through a machine that just held a load of corn based food., and unlike human foods theres no statement on the bag that says produced "in a plant that also produces blah-blah"
Oh well, I guess I'm just feeling sorry for my dog right now.

 Quote: Jodi Moen

... Is there any grain that is considered a better source for dogs? .

Oversimplified but a start:

Quinoa, millet, rolled oats, and brown rice are gluten-free, and gluten is a pretty common dog allergen.

Wheat and corn are pretty high on the allergy (and sensitivity) list, and I'd avoid both.

Quinoa (actually a seed) provides nine essential amino acids (almost unique among plant foods), and it's easier to digest than, say, corn or wheat.

Grain-free doesn't mean starch-free, and IMHO a bunch of white potato or tapioca makes for a high-glycemic-index (and pretty low-nutrition) filler.

I'd avoid grain fractions, look for a better starch than wheat or corn, and also look for a food that is not mostly starch, whether the starch is grain or white potato or whatever.

All JMO!

If you can afford Honest Kitchen, they have one that is white fish and sweet potato. Kasey does really well with that one - it's called Zeal. It's not cheap, so I use it as an addition to my raw stuff.

I buy Zeal too. It's very expensive, but it's probably the highest quality commercial dog food around for sensitive dogs. I split the box with a friend and I keep the unused portion tightly closed (and I freeze it if it won't be used within a couple of weeks; this is high-quality stuff with no preservatives).

Sustainable line-caught fish (three kinds, as I recall), organic coconut, sweet potato, no grains or white potato .....

This is really good stuff. I want my non-allergic dogs to have some of this food made from these ingredients, too, so I do what Lori said: I add it to the raw diet in the form of a "gravy" (or "side dish" would work, too).

THK, unlike non-dehydrated raw, is safe to give with kibble.

http://leerburg.com/honestkitchen.htm

http://leerburg.com/zeal.htm

QUOTE:
We crafted Zeal specifically for sensitive dogs. What was left out of this diet is almost as important as what is in it. Zeal, like all of our diets, doesn’t contain corn, soy, rice, beet pulp or wheat. It is also grain-free, gluten-free and free of flaxseed and white potatoes.

Definitely something I'll consider. I have heard that certain kinds of fish can cause thiamine defiency so I don't know if that is a concern or not.

At this point I think until we see the derm vet to not change anything, I kind of want him to see her in "full flower" so to speak, in the hope that he'll take one look and say "Oh thats X we can treat that easily".

I also remembered that this latest bout of skin issues started after she gave herself the hotspots at the kennel, we just moved so I'm also wondering if this bout is stress related (but happily she has a huge yard to herself with no little dog to antagonize her). But until she sees the derm vet I won't know. She has small scabby itchy bumps on one ear in a cluster at the top, one at the base of her ear, a cluster on the lateral and medial sides of one elbow and some assorted ones on the medial side of her other front leg. The cysts seem to be around where the hot spots were so maybe just residual skin infection??? The lumps on her arm don't express fluid, the cysts do.

I want to thank everyone, especially Connie for listening and helping me try to troubleshoot this, I know I've asked questions you all probably have been asked a million times before so I really appreciate the patience and answers.

i don't really understand why she was doing so good and now this, other than the move and alot of carpet in this house nothing else has changed.

Just wanted to update- I switched Ambi's diet over to Wellness Core, I finally got frustrated with NB. I looked into Honest Kitchen and at this point in time I don't think I can do it. Hopefully the Wellness will work nicely for her. Gosh in hindsight don't know why I was so stubborn about the NB- as far as her skin issues, hot spots have all healed, she will have her derm appt next month and then hopefully I'll now how much of this is allergy and/or anxiety.

Did the skin issues clear up after the switch? Or they had already cleared up?

I only just switched her, got a bag of NB that had small free light colored specks in it (maybe bone?) and was a alot of powdered kibble, I called customer service and was on hold for so long I finally hung up but i digress.
The hot spots have cleared up on their own, she continues to have little lumps on her front legs that have cleared up a little, she had a cluster now has just a few, has another lump on her rear and one on her shoulder, my regular vet isn't sure what they are so we're waiting for the derm appt-wish it could be sooner, we're on the cancel list. I guess maybe a month or so on the new food will be how long for the sin to improve?