[LottesMama]

Charlotte has been eating Purina One Smartblend for over a year now... she has also had skin/allergy issues for over a year now and we have tried everything. We talked to a new vet yesterday to get a second opinion and she suggested starting her on a restricted diet. She didn't go into much detail on that because she was really pushing getting allergy testing done, but with the initial visit to the dermatologist costing $600 that is not within reach for us right now. So I want to try and change what we are feeding her and was thinking of going with grain-free. Can anyone recommend something that would be readily available that we could try (something not incredibly expensive either)? Thanks guys!

 

[Annie714]

I wish I could afford to go grain free for Annie! But...it is what it is..anyways, lol, if I could afford it my grain free dog food of choice would be one of the Taste of The Wild varieties. It's just a personal preference after reading the ingredients, customer reviews, etc.

My parents just started their JRT on Nature's Variety Grain Free Instinct dog food to see if that helps her itching.

 

[Barney'spal]

Chicken soup for the puppy/dog lover is pretty much grain free and not as expensive as the others. Amazon has it cheaper than any of the stores in town and they deliver to the door for free. Barney seems to be thriving on it so at this point am really completely satisfied with it.

 

[Esther]

he human makes from-scratch pizza
and I get kibble?

there is something terribly wrong with this situation

 

[Wworm]

oh Estha, ya gotta DEMAND some pizza...!

that's what i do. whatever my humans r eating, i show them that i get some too me trained them to gimme some.

Grain-free-- methinks there is Solid Gold Barking at the Moon that's grain-free
(i eats their puppy food)

--Worm

 

[jaleely]

simply nourish is a great brand, and fairly cheap for what it is. Also, nature's basic! that one even has a no meat bag! it's soy protein. seems delish...like garlic...lol

 

[Herzo]

How about california natural they have one that has potato instead of rice. I can't remember what they called it. Taste of the wild is a good food also and not to bad. At least where I stand from because I have paid allot more. You might also check out to see if costco brand kirkland has a grain free, but I don't know and probably not. It is a surprisingly not bad food.

I sometimes order off the internet and they will have free shipping on orders over $50.00. Have you ever tried fish oil?

 

[Herzo]

jaleely I don't mean to be an old hag here, but would you really think of feeding a dog a food that doesn't have meat in it?

 

[Soundtrack]

jaleely I don't mean to be an old hag here, but would you really think of feeding a dog a food that doesn't have meat in it?

Soy is not healthy for people, let alone dogs. Please do not feed a dog a "vegetarian" diet.

 

[charady2]

We buy taste of the wild for Flash. It runs around 25 dollars for a 15 lb bag. Our rottie did great on chicken soup for the dog lover's soul, but the store in town does not have the puppy formula. So we had to find a different food for Flash. He is doing great on it, so soft to the touch, isn't getting fat but doesn't look sickly either lol. I am happy with it, just wish it was a touch cheaper. a bag was lasting about a month but now that we have increased his amount some, it is going for about 3 weeks. Still less than 10 bucks a week to feed him-wish my kids were that cheap to feed lol!

 

[Esther]

"Bobby, everyone knows you cannot trust a vegetarian"
~Hank Hill

( i kid, barren irony... )

 

[Mikey T]

We talked to a new vet yesterday to get a second opinion and she suggested starting her on a restricted diet.

Keep in mind food allergies constute 10-15% of allergies in dogs so it is unlikely a food allergy is at the heart of the matter. However because it is realitively easy to perform a restrictied diet especial on a cost basis first it is often done. Keep in mind the diet must be done at least 12 weeks. It can not contain any of the same protein sources the dog has been previously exposed to. With the variety of treats etc dogs are exposed to this can be very diffcult and why there are perscription hypoallergenic dog foods made with special processed proteins that shortened enough not to cause an immune response.

So with a restricted diet it is not simply switching to a no grain food beceasue "grains are bad" to be honest the stearch substitutes for grains in the no grains food are usually less healthy than the grains they replace. the thing you need to do is look at the smart blend list of ingredients and write down every protein source and every charboydrate source as unfortunatel most carb sourse also cotain protein, and no find a limited ingredient food that contians none of them Id does no good if the dog is allergic to chicken to swich from a chicken and rice diet to a chicken and potato diet. an exclusion diet must exclude all protein sources the dog has been exposed to. anything less is simply pissing in the wind.

Allergic and Non-Allergic Food Reactions Causing Skin Diseases

Start a feeding trial and choose an elimination diet

 

[Annie714]

"Bobby, everyone knows you cannot trust a vegetarian"
~Hank Hill

( i kid, barren irony... )

You silly puppy, you.

 

[LottesMama]

Keep in mind food allergies constute 10-15% of allergies in dogs so it is unlikely a food allergy is at the heart of the matter. However because it is realitively easy to perform a restrictied diet especial on a cost basis first it is often done. Keep in mind the diet must be done at least 12 weeks. It can not contain any of the same protein sources the dog has been previously exposed to. With the variety of treats etc dogs are exposed to this can be very diffcult and why there are perscription hypoallergenic dog foods made with special processed proteins that shortened enough not to cause an immune response.

So with a restricted diet it is not simply switching to a no grain food beceasue "grains are bad" to be honest the stearch substitutes for grains in the no grains food are usually less healthy than the grains they replace. the thing you need to do is look at the smart blend list of ingredients and write down every protein source and every charboydrate source as unfortunatel most carb sourse also cotain protein, and no find a limited ingredient food that contians none of them Id does no good if the dog is allergic to chicken to swich from a chicken and rice diet to a chicken and potato diet. an exclusion diet must exclude all protein sources the dog has been exposed to. anything less is simply pissing in the wind.

Allergic and Non-Allergic Food Reactions Causing Skin Diseases

Start a feeding trial and choose an elimination diet

Thank you Mikey, that was a lot to process and think about but great information to know. I am not really sure what we will do because Charlotte has seriously eaten every edible substance known to man (or dog). The smart blend food she has been eating come in lamb, chicken and beef so maybe we will start with a fish based food but it is obviously going to take a lot of research.

 

[jaleely]

We tried california natural back in the day, but other stuff is cheaper and just as good or better. Holistic select was really nice.

ANd i know i know, veggie diet for a dog? STupid! But i'm trying to narrow down what his allergy is, and i'd read that some dogs are allergic to chicken...and he doesn't like fish. A lot of foods put sardine as a base, and he won't touch them.
SO...we tried it. It has 21% protein, and no wheat, corn etc. The only veggie it has is dehydrated carrot. It's mostly just soy protein. SO, as long as your dog is okay with soy...
Whey is of course the easiest protein to digest, then soy, then meats and things, at least for humans. I figured it was worth a try since he's so fussy! So...yeah yeah veggie diet =P

 

[Herzo]

I have never done the test but I have heard they are not that good, I wouldn't pay that much if I didn't think they would tell me exactly what my dog was allergic to. Also it can take up to 12 weeks to get all the stuff out of there system to see if the new food will work. I think this is why it is so hard to find out what is causing the problem.

I would also make sure it didn't have corn,wheat or soy. Try to limit the ingredients. My Bullmastiff has trouble with foods and gets a rash on her stomach and thighs. She could eat EVO or Nature's Logic, Nether one is cheap but the Nature's Logic is suppose to be made for dogs with allergy problems. They use millet for the grain and have lamb,beef, and Venison besides the chicken oh and they also have duck and salmon. I know it's not cheap but if you have to keep going to the vet that's not cheap ether.

If you want to know any more about it or where I get it you can PM me.

 

[Boomer's Mom]

Have you ruled out environmental, ie, something in the house or yard she may have brushed against? Plants, chemicals, etc.?

A gal I visit with at a local restaurant has a basset, and she said there is a plant in their yard that her basset is allergic to.

 

[Mikey T]

Have you ruled out environmental

that takes an skin or blood testing which is rather expensive general in excess of $800 so tht is why even though a less likely cause food allergies are often ruled out first.

 

[Mikey T]

I am not really sure what we will do because Charlotte has seriously eaten every edible substance known to man (or dog). The smart blend food she has been eating come in lamb, chicken and beef so maybe we will start with a fish based food but it is obviously going to take a lot of research.

Keep in mind that a dog that is prone to food allergies generally becone allergic to the food exposed to the most. so an occasional ie 1 a year stollen fish stick is not likely to cause an allergy. Allso keep in mind when dooing the resurech that grains and most carbo sources contain some protein hence their bad rap for causing allergies. it is likely that the food she wasy eating has all manners of such grains etc so you need to find a food that does not contain these as well. Most high end manufacture now make a limited ingredient food ie fish and potatoe etc just have to be sure to look on the ingredient because fust because it says fish and potatoes on the front does not mean it does not contain chicken or beef or oats or corn etc. Like I said the other option is truly Hypo allergenic food both purina and royal canine make one they are quite expensive and general require a perscription but the do solve the problem of finding a novel protein and carb source.

Purina HA

Royal Canin HP