itchy 8 month old--possible food allergy?

ollie_leyna · 02-07-2012, 12:43 PM

I have started switching my dog over to Orijen large breed puppy, and I've noticed he's really itchy lately. It's not fleas (it's pretty cold out for that, but I checked for them anyways--nothing), so I was thinking it might be something in the new food. However, when I mentioned this to the vet, she said a food allergy in a dog as young as he is would be really rare.

But then...why is he so itchy? Could he have dry skin or something?

Jax08 · 02-07-2012, 12:47 PM

How dry is your house? I would get a humidifier going and give him good oils/supplements for his skin.

onyx'girl · 02-07-2012, 12:53 PM

I agree with Jax. Even if you haven't seen a flea, it still could be the problem. My dogs are rawfed, supplemented, humid air and they were scratching for a few months beginning in early Sept. I bathed them, no sign of any fleas ever.
In December, a flea jumped on me while I was sitting on my couch with my laptop(heat from the laptop probably attracted it). So I put them all on revolution and so far so good. I've never had a flea problem in 25 years until now. Because of what I do feed/supplement, I don't think my dogs were good hosts to fleas so the outbreak was minimal.
If your dog starts chewing paws & ear infections develop, then allergies may be the reason for itchies. Could be environmental though not food related.

Falkosmom · 02-07-2012, 01:01 PM

My pup is nine months old and I am having the same problem. He chews on his rump a lot and scratches his ears. I switched him to another brand of food suspecting food allergies. It helped for about a month but he is starting to scratch again.

I was not aware that food allergies were not common in young dogs. What age do they tend to show up?

I will treat for fleas and see if that is the reason for his new bout of itching.

Jax08 · 02-07-2012, 01:03 PM

This year was a really bad year for allergies in the northeast. The only thing that finally helped Jax was putting her on Carmen's (carmspack) supplements. I love what I"m seeing. Itchies are gone, flakes are gone and her coat is silky and shiny again.

onyx'girl · 02-07-2012, 01:05 PM

If you treat for fleas, it means taking care of carpet/bedding etc. I used borateem(20 mule team) powder on my carpets, let it sit for awhile before vacuuming up. Also put anything outside that I could to freeze(dog beds)
I'm now giving garlic and ACV in my dogs food, and not going to use spot ons if I can avoid it.

As far as allergies, it depends on the dog, but usually after a year or so sensitivities start showing up/environment or food.

c.baeklim · 02-13-2012, 09:55 PM

I had the SAME EXACT problem with my 6 month old male. The vet said the SAME EXACT thing, he's too young for allergies. He has had this problem for about... 2 months? He is on Blue Buffalo Large Puppy Breed Chicken and Brown Rice.
Only thing I can think of doing is switching the food to a different flavor or clean the carpets and eliminating all the fleas in my house... But if he is on Frontline Plus shouldn't the fleas not bother him?..
For now... I am treating him as nothing is wrong, because my vet says nothing is wrong... :/

ALSO, my GS has solid poop in the morning and diarrhea at night but my vet says his stools are normal after he put his finger up his butthole o_O

KaiserGSDLove · 02-13-2012, 10:37 PM

As I posted on the other thread about food allergies my pup started having his first outbreak of allergies at 4 months which is extremely rare. He is now a year and 8 months and they finally wanted to test him for allergies. He ended up with 24 allergies on the list! food and environmental so I am starting him on shots to get his body to accept the allergens and hopefully stop him from itching. He has also been switched to Natural balance limited ingredients. He is starting to scratch less each day. It seems like a lot of the puppys are showing allergies sooner these days.

KaiserGSDLove · 02-13-2012, 10:38 PM

I'd give him fish oil pills if you think it could just be dry skin. They are really good for their coat.

katdog5911 · 03-02-2012, 08:18 AM

i would be interested in some suggestions as well. my 8 month old has been itchy since we got her. It comes and goes. had her blood tested for allergies, skin scraped and biopsied. no environmental allergies and food was inconclusive. i am thinking of trying to eliminate food groups but not sure how to proceed. the vet wants to put her on a special food for 2 months and nothing else. this will be hard i think.... i like to give her bully sticks and stuffed kongs to keep her busy. and treats for training....

02-07-2012, 12:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
ollie_leyna Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 96	itchy 8 month old--possible food allergy? I have started switching my dog over to Orijen large breed puppy, and I've noticed he's really itchy lately. It's not fleas (it's pretty cold out for that, but I checked for them anyways--nothing), so I was thinking it might be something in the new food. However, when I mentioned this to the vet, she said a food allergy in a dog as young as he is would be really rare. But then...why is he so itchy? Could he have dry skin or something?

02-07-2012, 12:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 14,327	How dry is your house? I would get a humidifier going and give him good oils/supplements for his skin. __________________ Michelle _________________________________________ Jax Von Monkeybutt, CGC Queen Banshee Boo Sierra the Undecided Cracker, The Great Shedder Rich N Handsome, "Red"

02-07-2012, 12:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,605	I agree with Jax. Even if you haven't seen a flea, it still could be the problem. My dogs are rawfed, supplemented, humid air and they were scratching for a few months beginning in early Sept. I bathed them, no sign of any fleas ever. In December, a flea jumped on me while I was sitting on my couch with my laptop(heat from the laptop probably attracted it). So I put them all on revolution and so far so good. I've never had a flea problem in 25 years until now. Because of what I do feed/supplement, I don't think my dogs were good hosts to fleas so the outbreak was minimal. If your dog starts chewing paws & ear infections develop, then allergies may be the reason for itchies. Could be environmental though not food related. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

02-07-2012, 01:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 14,327	This year was a really bad year for allergies in the northeast. The only thing that finally helped Jax was putting her on Carmen's (carmspack) supplements. I love what I"m seeing. Itchies are gone, flakes are gone and her coat is silky and shiny again. __________________ Michelle _________________________________________ Jax Von Monkeybutt, CGC Queen Banshee Boo Sierra the Undecided Cracker, The Great Shedder Rich N Handsome, "Red"

02-07-2012, 01:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,605	If you treat for fleas, it means taking care of carpet/bedding etc. I used borateem(20 mule team) powder on my carpets, let it sit for awhile before vacuuming up. Also put anything outside that I could to freeze(dog beds) I'm now giving garlic and ACV in my dogs food, and not going to use spot ons if I can avoid it. As far as allergies, it depends on the dog, but usually after a year or so sensitivities start showing up/environment or food. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

02-07-2012, 01:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Falkosmom Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,047	My pup is nine months old and I am having the same problem. He chews on his rump a lot and scratches his ears. I switched him to another brand of food suspecting food allergies. It helped for about a month but he is starting to scratch again. I was not aware that food allergies were not common in young dogs. What age do they tend to show up? I will treat for fleas and see if that is the reason for his new bout of itching.

02-13-2012, 09:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
c.baeklim Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Virginia Posts: 39	I had the SAME EXACT problem with my 6 month old male. The vet said the SAME EXACT thing, he's too young for allergies. He has had this problem for about... 2 months? He is on Blue Buffalo Large Puppy Breed Chicken and Brown Rice. Only thing I can think of doing is switching the food to a different flavor or clean the carpets and eliminating all the fleas in my house... But if he is on Frontline Plus shouldn't the fleas not bother him?.. For now... I am treating him as nothing is wrong, because my vet says nothing is wrong... :/ ALSO, my GS has solid poop in the morning and diarrhea at night but my vet says his stools are normal after he put his finger up his butthole o_O

02-13-2012, 10:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
KaiserGSDLove Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 114	As I posted on the other thread about food allergies my pup started having his first outbreak of allergies at 4 months which is extremely rare. He is now a year and 8 months and they finally wanted to test him for allergies. He ended up with 24 allergies on the list! food and environmental so I am starting him on shots to get his body to accept the allergens and hopefully stop him from itching. He has also been switched to Natural balance limited ingredients. He is starting to scratch less each day. It seems like a lot of the puppys are showing allergies sooner these days.

02-13-2012, 10:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
KaiserGSDLove Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 114	I'd give him fish oil pills if you think it could just be dry skin. They are really good for their coat.

03-02-2012, 08:18 AM	#10 (permalink)
katdog5911 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Milford Ct Posts: 391	i would be interested in some suggestions as well. my 8 month old has been itchy since we got her. It comes and goes. had her blood tested for allergies, skin scraped and biopsied. no environmental allergies and food was inconclusive. i am thinking of trying to eliminate food groups but not sure how to proceed. the vet wants to put her on a special food for 2 months and nothing else. this will be hard i think.... i like to give her bully sticks and stuffed kongs to keep her busy. and treats for training....

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