Allergy???

[sundog]

My dog has had hair loss. Quite a bit. Poor baby. She's just a pup. I've noticed that she does scratch some, chews on her back paws some, rubs her face some, but not a lot. Her fur is kind-of course. She doesn't have a whole lot of fur left on her tummy. My girl is a 17 week old Westie. Super, super precious!!! I took her to the vet earlier today and he gave her an allergy med. The vet has asked for my pup to return in a couple of weeks to check her coat. I think the allergy meds. will tell us if she does indeed have an allergy. If my dogs coat has not improved, I guess we'll do some tests to see if perhaps there is something else going on.

I guess if it is an allergy, I will start by switching her dog food. I don't want to keep her on meds. I want to get to the root of the problem! I'm keeping my fingers crossed it's nothing serious. I sure love my dog!

P.S. I posted this under a different thread, but it was seven pages long. I decided to make my post a new thread. Sorry if this causes any problems.

 

[~Jessie~]

What kind of food is she on?

 

[sundog]

I have her on Iams puppy canned mixed with small puppy kibble. That is what the breeder had started her on. I just continued it.

 

[Wimble Woof]

I would definately be switching it. This is the puppy smart small breed kibble ( ithink its what your feeding)

Ingredients
Chicken, Corn Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Fish Meal, Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed), Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Egg Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Inositol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), DL-Methionine, Rosemary Extract

First red flag I see, is the "Corn Meal" the culprit in many pet allergies and intolerances. Dogs dont NEED corn, it is a filler and purely useless. Could very much be your culprit here.
Dont let your vet talk you into some prescription diet either, there are MANY good kibbles out there that are formulated for dogs with allergies.

And for the puppy canned ( which was recalled toboot)

Meat Broth, Chicken, Beef, Beef Liver, Wheat Gluten, Meat By-Products, Dried Beet Pulp (Sugar Removed), Guar Gum, Salt, Fish Oil (Preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavors, Tricalcium Phosphate, Caramel, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Phosphate, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of vitamin B1), Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement (Source of vitamin B2)], Minerals [Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Choline Chloride, Titanium Dioxide

First off, Wheat gluten, purely cosmetic ingredient at best, it is used to "bind" the slop together.

 

[Maxy24]

Wimble Wolf has some of that bad things but not nearly all of them.

Ingredients
Chicken, Corn Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Fish Meal, Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed), Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Egg Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Inositol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), DL-Methionine, Rosemary Extract


Meat Broth, Chicken, Beef, Beef Liver, Wheat Gluten, Meat By-Products, Dried Beet Pulp (Sugar Removed), Guar Gum, Salt, Fish Oil (Preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavors, Tricalcium Phosphate, Caramel, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Phosphate, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of vitamin B1), Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement (Source of vitamin B2)], Minerals [Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Choline Chloride, Titanium Dioxide


and I'm sure I missed a few too, Salt is also pretty high up on those lists. This could definitely be causing allergies.

Switch her to something better, here are some suggestion:

*Canidae- http://www.canidae.com/ (and they have a lamb and rice formula which is good for allergies http://www.canidae.com/dogs/lamb-and-rice/dry.html)

*California Natural- http://www.naturapet.com/brands/california-natural.asp (known to be good for allergies, also has lamb and rice formula http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products/default.asp?id=3)

*Innova- http://www.naturapet.com/brands/innova.asp

*EVO- http://www.naturapet.com/brands/evo.asp

*Timberwolf Organics- http://timberwolforganics.com/pet-foods

 

[sundog]

We have a store in town that sells Canidae. When we got our Shepard about eight years ago, that's what the breeder started her on.

Thanks for the advice. REALLY, thanks for the advice!

 

[sundog]

Also, thank you for the link to the Canidae site. I checked it out... Read some tesimonials, and I think I'll just go out and buy some tomorrow morning first thing.

Big question: Do I switch my puppy over all at once or do I do it slowly adding more of the new food with the old over a week? Any suggestions?

 

[Maxy24]

Do it slowly by increasing the amount of new food and decreasing the old food everyday. Some dogs do fine with a quick switch but many get diarrhea.

 

[sundog]

Again, thank you for your advice.