Allergies

[New NJ Mom]

Both my girls suffer from allergies. Kisha chews her feet and Jazzy gets gooy eyes. Kisha has seizures and Jazzy is diabetic. I am looking for a new food for them (was feeding candiea) that will help with the allergies. I was considering Natural Life Lamaderm Dog Formula, or Nature's Recipe Allergy Venison Meal & Rice. Any comments or recomendations on other choices?

Lori

[mmgy]

How bad are their allergies, and are they seasonal? You might have to put them on two different foods. It would be very odd if they both shared the same food allergy.

California Natural chicken or lamb are both good to try in this type situation.

[Rott-Wiley]

One other alternative for dogs with allergies is to go with a raw diet or what's commonly referred to as BARF diet. You would have to do some research on it and pick some raw diet to follow.

[moondog]

Can't let that slip by without a plug for a home-cooked diet, LOL! :D My dog's diet to thrive on is home-built, home-prepared and HOME-COOKED! :)

Really, the best way to determine an appropriate and tolerable diet for a dog with food sensitivities is to do an elimination diet, starting with a novel protein and a novel carbohydrate. The diet is then built from that base, incorporating only one thing at a time until it is evident that the dog does not have a problem with any single addition. If he does have a sensitivity to an ingredient, it is easily identified and easily removed because only one ingredient is added at a time.

An elimination diet is impossible to do with commercial foods because you can't isolate the ingredients - either you feed them all, or you feed none of them. It is extremely difficult to identify the problem when feeding any manufactured food.

[mmgy]

Originally posted by moondog
It is extremely difficult to identify the problem when feeding any manufactured food.

Very true. But because Canidae has chicken AND lamb, using either CalNat chicken OR lamb would eliminate one or the other. Whereas the venison formula---while it might work---won't tell her what the problem is.

But Lori, I don't suspect you'll be that lucky. Two unrelated dogs having the same food allergy would be too odd. I would look first at the household that they share. For instance, do you have your carpets cleaned often? Have you changed the detergent you wash beds in? Do you spray your yard? Are these lifelong problems, or recent developments?

I don't know about diabetic considerations, but I imagine you have to have a stable glucose/carb source?

[moondog]

Originally posted by mmgy
Very true. But because Canidae has chicken AND lamb, using either CalNat chicken OR lamb would eliminate one or the other. Whereas the venison formula---while it might work---won't tell her what the problem is.

Not to mention the other 15 or so ingredients that can't be isolated or removed................ :)