Food allergy?

[Knucklesmom]

Knuckles, who is 2 1/2 years old, has had multiple ear infections. He does not have a lot of water exposure. In fact, when he does get a bath, we wash his head with a washcloth and avoid his ears altogether. He has had cultures done in the past, treated with oral and topical antibiotics, antifungals, anti-inflammatories (in the form of ear drops). I have switched him from Innova to KO -I think Eukanuba makes this - on the advice of our vet, and I am also giving him oral itraconazole every day for a month. We finished 2 weeks+ of ear medications again. Right now, his ears are clear. The problem is - he hates the KO (kangaroo and oats - kangaroo is because he likely has never had any exposure to this particular source of protein before.). On the up side, he has lost a few pounds that he needed to lose. I hate to see him not eat, not to mention the looks I get from Knuckles when I set his bowl down! Personally, I don't know whether the antifungal med is working, or the food change is having an effect. Is there any way to tell? I really don't want to keep him on the KO forever. It is expensive, and as I said, he doesn't like it. It has been on of those situations where I had to let him go about 3 days before he decided he would eat it. (I did mix the Innova and the KO together with proportionally more KO until he was on KO exclusively). Has anyone had this problem with frequent ear infections?(Knuckles gets his ears cleaned about every other day, which is why we can get on top of an infection pretty quickly).
By the way, my 5 lb Yorkie absolutely loves the KO and sneaks it out of Knuckles' bowl. I have started giving him a bit every day!
Any one been through this?
Thanks!

[rottnelmo]

I, personally, will not feed anything made by the Iams people, even if my vet suggested it. Can you post the ingredients for the food??

Have you had the RAST test done yet? That would tell you what he is allergic too. Also, do you vaccinate or titer? If you vaccinate with the Lepo vaccine, that can cause allergies as well.

Why is the vet suggesting that you switch from a premium food like Innova to an Iams brand food? You could also feed Wellness Altantic White Fish and Sweet Potatoe. Those are two protein and starch sources that he probably hasnt come in contact with. I am judging the KO without seeing the ingredients.

[brunie's mom]

Innova is a great food...but it does have alot of ingredients...multiple meat sources, fruit, etc. There may be something in the Innova that is bothering him. You could try California Natural...made by the same company as Innova...the Chicken and Rice or Lamb and Rice....it is made for dogs with food sensitivities.

If your dog is not eating the KO...it would probably help to get him on another type of food. You must get his ear problems in control though..and it does seem like he is on an awful lot of medications right now....that could be a problem causing his lack of appetite.

Gina

[Knucklesmom]

Ingredients
Oat Flour, Kangaroo, Canola Meal, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E, and Citric Acid), Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed), Fish Oil (preserved with Ethoxyquin), Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Potassium Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganous Oxide, Biotin, Rosemary Extract, Thiamine Mononitrate (souce of Vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Inositol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Cobalt Carbonate

I don't care for the Eukanuba or Science diet or any of that stuff. I am thinking the animal fat could be just about anything - wombat or tazmanian devil!

[SonnyRott]

Yes, we had recurring ear infections with Sonny from the time he was a baby. It seemed like once every month or so.

I wondered whether it may be a food related allergy (because I read so much about it here) but our vet was reluctant to have me start experimenting with his food since he did not show other signs of an allergy (he has a nice, shiny coat, good skin condition, doesn't chew on himself, no itchy eyes, etc.). Plus, he loved his current food.

The short end of it was.....the medicine I was administering was never COMPLETELY killing all the bacteria way down deep in the canal. The majority of the infection was gone but there was always a small amount of bacteria left which quickly began to multiply as soon as the meds were finished.

We finally did a deep ear cleaning (ostoscopy) while under anesthesia. Poor dog had two ruptured eardrums and nasty bacteria way down deep (and very resistant to meds I might add). And to look at my dog, he had the cleanest ears in town.....I was ALWAYS cleaning them.

I'm happy to report that once the deep cleaning took place, and a strong round of antibiotics was given, he has not had one ear infection in 6 months.

I don't think it is always about food allergies.

[Knucklesmom]

Knuckles is currently only on the itraconazole once daily.
I think the RAST is probably a good idea and I will ask about having the otoscopy and cleaning. That's my feeling too - that there is always some bacteria and/or yeast down deep that doesn't get removed or killed off.

Knuckles loves the Innova and has a beautiful coat and no other symptoms of allergies. I most likely will see about switching him over to California Wellness, since I know where I can get it. I feel like I am giving him the nutritional and taste equivalent of sawdust with vitamins with the KO.
Thanks to all who responded so far!

[2rotties2luv]

If you've switched foods and your dog hasn't improved, it may well be that he's allergic to something other than a food ingredient. While chronic ear infections are characteristic of a food allergy, they are also characteristic of allergies to other things. If you have not had a RAST test or other allergy testing done, it may be worth your while to do this so that you can treat the allergy correctly.
My rottie Jazz had chronic ear infections for years and I switched foods several times, and spent lots of money treating the ear infections, eye infections and skin infections that were a result of his allergy. Here at rott.net I learned about the RAST blood test, requested my vet to do it, and it turned out that Jazz is allergic to dust mites. He has been receiving allergy shots for several years and the only allergy symptom he now has is occaisional irritated eyes.
I also found out about a product called Zymox for ear infections from MaryDVM here at rott.net. It is a non-prescription ear drop which is effective against bacteria, yeast and fungal infections. I found it to be very effective for clearing up ear infections and use it once a week as a preventative. Just follow the instructions, and be sure not to use it with any ear cleaning solution. You can buy it from several sources on the internet.

[groupieindenial]

Allergies are hard to pin point. It's a ton of trial and error, with one ingredient at a time, so switching foods constantly doesn't give their system much time to adapt, let alone accuracy of diagnosis. If you were feeding raw, it would be easier to find the allergy if there is one, since you'd have total control, only changing one thing at a time. THe ear infection may not necessarily be a food reaction, but diet can definately help the situation.

Have you thought about giving your dog a zinc supplement? Zinc is an immune booster that can help your dogs system fight bacteria. Just make sure it doesn't conflict with any medication your already administering.

[Judy Chrusch]

Unless you do the process of elimination you won't really know for sure but the RAST test will help. Czar had chronic ear infections so I had that done and he also was on Innova and was allergic to several of those ingredients but after switching him to California Natural Lamb and Rice he no longer had ANY ear problems . Now grant you a dog may have an allergy to lamb but I actually put Czar on the new food before the tests came back and in 2 days the ears were cleared up and we haven't had a problem since with his ears for now almost a year later. This poor dog had to have thigns done to his ears DAILY for months and he was off and on medications, also not a good thing. Having chronic ear infections can be harmful and if not treated properly they can even lose their hearing so it's good that you're trying to find out what's causing his ear infections.

Find a food with as little ingredients as possible and then there's always prescription food which is always an altenative if all else fails. I hope this helps.

Judy

[Troy]

We were dealing with ear infections until we had Kamen's ears flushed and switched to Innova.

We haven't had a problem since. That was like 4 years ago.

Perhaps Innova has too many ingredients for your dog. Try something like California Natural or Healthwise. Here's a link: www.naturapet.com - Don't forget to compare brands on this site too.

Stay away from Iams products regardless of your vet's recommendation.

[rottnelmo]

Originally Posted by Knucklesmom

Ingredients
Oat Flour, Kangaroo, Canola Meal, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E, and Citric Acid), Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed), Fish Oil (preserved with Ethoxyquin), Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Potassium Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganous Oxide, Biotin, Rosemary Extract, Thiamine Mononitrate (souce of Vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Inositol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Cobalt Carbonate

I don't care for the Eukanuba or Science diet or any of that stuff. I am thinking the animal fat could be just about anything - wombat or tazmanian devil!

I dont care for this food based on the ingredients. There is only ONE meat source in the first five ingredients and THAT is only Kangroo meat...not Kangroo meal. I would be happier to see Kangroo meal, because when it is just straight meat, it tends to be more water and it should be the FIRST ingredient not the second.

I agree with other posters, try Cal Nat. Lamb and Rice or like I said, if you are trying to go for a completely different protien and starch source, try Wellness White Fish and Sweet Potato. Also fish oil and SMALL amounts of ester C can help with infections...but I would definately ask your vet to perform the RAST test.

Good luck!

[Knucklesmom]

I think we will have the RAST done and switch Knuckles to California. I do remember that I started him on some Missing Link once, and he developed an ear infection a couple of weeks later. We got that cleared up, I stopped the Missing Link. I restarted the Missing Link a few months later, and he got another ear infection, I don't know if that was coincidence or food allergy. (Lots of stuff in Missing Link!) Although, our vet really didn't think he could be allergic to Missing Link. I stopped it, got that infection cleared up, and he has had another infection or two since then. I do want to get this problem solved. I know the poor guy doesn't feel well when his ears are bothering him. (Of course, he is an absolute nut case when he is feeling good!)

By the way, my son was in a pet store yesterday and was talking to a woman whose mother raises Corgis. They have ears that stand up, but apparently the breed is prone to ear problems. Here is what they use: 4 ounces of regular Listerine mixed with one tablespoon of boric acid as an ear
cleaning solution. Ever heard of this one?

[spidey]

Originally Posted by rottnelmo

I dont care for this food based on the ingredients. There is only ONE meat source in the first five ingredients and THAT is only Kangroo meat...not Kangroo meal. I would be happier to see Kangroo meal, because when it is just straight meat, it tends to be more water and it should be the FIRST ingredient not the second.

I agree with other posters, try Cal Nat. Lamb and Rice or like I said, if you are trying to go for a completely different protien and starch source, try Wellness White Fish and Sweet Potato. Also fish oil and SMALL amounts of ester C can help with infections...but I would definately ask your vet to perform the RAST test.

The NUMBER of meat sources is irrelevant when talking about a low-allergen diet (and many people prefer to feed a single-protein food as a general rule anyway - multiple sources has advantages, but also disadvantages, there's no hard and fast rule that says that multiple is always better), it's the quality of the source and the percentage meat makes up of the total ingredients weight that matter. How many meat sources do you think are in California Natural? ONE! How many in Wellness Fish? ONE!

I agree about meal being better than meat, but I can certainly see why a vet might want to try a completely novel protein source like kangaroo. Mind you, I'd still rather see a RAST test done instead of muddling around trying to guess.