allergy?

cmurf70 · 09-29-2011, 06:43 AM

Murf is just over 5 months now and has developed dry flaky skin and does a lot of itching/chewing. I've tried a couple of itch relief baths to no avail. I'm wondering if its his food. He eats 4health puppy.

4health Puppy Formula Dog Food, 35 lb. - 5149566 | Tractor Supply Company

Anyone have any experience or recommendations to pass along? Should I switch brands? Switch to an adult food, same brand?

Thanks much.

ChancetheGSD · 09-29-2011, 02:41 PM

Not sure where you live but if you're in a place where it's starting to get cold, that could be the problem. I'd add 1000mg of fish oil and 400IU of vitamin E to his diet and see if that helps any.

Chance used to get dry skin during the winter and fish oil/vitamin E made a big difference. You can up the fish oil a little more once he's used to it if you want. The typical recommended dose is 1000mg for every 30lb of body weight for a healthy dog.

cmurf70 · 09-29-2011, 04:56 PM

I am in southern Indiana so its not cold here yet. I forgot to mention he gets 2000mg of fish oil in his food daily for about 2 weeks now. Haven't seen any improvement.

I see my link above didnt work.

Kittilicious · 09-29-2011, 05:15 PM

My golden is allergic to beef/meat. I have found that she can handle chicken or lamb, but any beef and she breaks out.

Kittilicious · 09-29-2011, 05:20 PM

I didn't even look at the food you linked. When we first realized her allergy, we were feeding her fish & potato (don't remember the brand) and I introduced chicken about a year later and realized it was a straight beef allergy.

ChancetheGSD · 09-29-2011, 07:32 PM

Are you supplementing with vitamin E? Because it's needed to help process the oils and also fish oil depletes the vitamin E in the body so it needs to be supplemented with to prevent deficiency.

As for an allergy, there are so many common allergy triggers in that food it would be hard to say what it could be. If you suspect an allergy, you need to switch to an LID food. My favorites would be California Natural.

Has he been treated for fleas?

cmurf70 · 09-29-2011, 07:36 PM

Not supplementing the E. I will need to get that tomorrow.

What is an LID food?

Thanks for your input.

Yes, fleas are under control.

ChancetheGSD · 09-29-2011, 09:10 PM

Limited Ingredient Diet.

Like I said, I like the California Natural formulas for an LID food if you wanted to give one a try and see if it improved.

09-29-2011, 06:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
cmurf70 New Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 18	allergy? Murf is just over 5 months now and has developed dry flaky skin and does a lot of itching/chewing. I've tried a couple of itch relief baths to no avail. I'm wondering if its his food. He eats 4health puppy. 4health Puppy Formula Dog Food, 35 lb. - 5149566 \| Tractor Supply Company Anyone have any experience or recommendations to pass along? Should I switch brands? Switch to an adult food, same brand? Thanks much.

09-29-2011, 02:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
ChancetheGSD Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,918	Not sure where you live but if you're in a place where it's starting to get cold, that could be the problem. I'd add 1000mg of fish oil and 400IU of vitamin E to his diet and see if that helps any. Chance used to get dry skin during the winter and fish oil/vitamin E made a big difference. You can up the fish oil a little more once he's used to it if you want. The typical recommended dose is 1000mg for every 30lb of body weight for a healthy dog. __________________ Gretchen -7.5 week old GSD Zoey -14 year old Pekapom Chance -(GSD/Kelpie) 6/2007-6/23/2011

09-29-2011, 04:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
cmurf70 New Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 18	I am in southern Indiana so its not cold here yet. I forgot to mention he gets 2000mg of fish oil in his food daily for about 2 weeks now. Haven't seen any improvement. I see my link above didnt work. Last edited by cmurf70; 09-29-2011 at 04:59 PM.

09-29-2011, 07:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
ChancetheGSD Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,918	Are you supplementing with vitamin E? Because it's needed to help process the oils and also fish oil depletes the vitamin E in the body so it needs to be supplemented with to prevent deficiency. As for an allergy, there are so many common allergy triggers in that food it would be hard to say what it could be. If you suspect an allergy, you need to switch to an LID food. My favorites would be California Natural. Has he been treated for fleas? __________________ Gretchen -7.5 week old GSD Zoey -14 year old Pekapom Chance -(GSD/Kelpie) 6/2007-6/23/2011

09-29-2011, 07:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
cmurf70 New Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 18	Not supplementing the E. I will need to get that tomorrow. What is an LID food? Thanks for your input. Yes, fleas are under control. Last edited by cmurf70; 09-29-2011 at 07:44 PM.

09-29-2011, 05:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kittilicious Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,100	My golden is allergic to beef/meat. I have found that she can handle chicken or lamb, but any beef and she breaks out.

09-29-2011, 05:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kittilicious Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,100	I didn't even look at the food you linked. When we first realized her allergy, we were feeding her fish & potato (don't remember the brand) and I introduced chicken about a year later and realized it was a straight beef allergy.

09-29-2011, 09:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
ChancetheGSD Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,918	Limited Ingredient Diet. Like I said, I like the California Natural formulas for an LID food if you wanted to give one a try and see if it improved. __________________ Gretchen -7.5 week old GSD Zoey -14 year old Pekapom Chance -(GSD/Kelpie) 6/2007-6/23/2011

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