[JenM66]

Okay, did you get the idea I'm frustrated?!!!!!

So we started the Blue Buffalo chicken and rice a few weeks ago, going VERY slowly (we have only jusst finished the 6# bag). At first I was just putting 1/4 cup in Gracie's regular food. Then upped it to 1/2 cup until finally 2-3 days ago I started adding a whole cup. She loves the stuff - coat is shiney, she's put on some weight.

WELL....because things are NEVER easy with Miss Gracie

she started scratching her left ear on Thursday, so hard that she has made it bleed. It's been pretty red and very hot, hotter than her right ear. <grumble, grumble> I took her to the vet today and he looked in her ears, thought they were clean but saw the irritation and the scabs. What is his first question?!!! "Have you changed her food?" <grumble, grumble> So it was a shot of dex, she's on temeril-p for 7 days and tresaderm drops for 7 days (I think). Back to ONLY the low residue food. It's so

frustrating!!!

And, of course, had to start the Tylan again 2 days ago because of "plopppy" poo.....

So much for trying a new food....it's veterinary food for us and I'm determined to stick with it now. <sigh>

 

[tibvixie101]

Aw Jen, I'm sorry that things didnt work out, Gracie's keeping you on your toes!

 

[WiscTiger]

I didn't change food and Lakota has raging red ears that if I am not watching him he scratches the inside until they bleed.

So I know how you feel just a little, last week he had a small bout of pancreatitis, grey clay poop pile. GGRRRRR.

 

[JenM66]

Originally Posted By: Wisc.TigerSo I know how you feel just a little, last week he had a small bout of pancreatitis, grey clay poop pile. GGRRRRR.

Ours wasn't grey

I wonder why??!!!!

 

[WiscTiger]

Grey clay poop is usually the best indicator of Pancreatits.

I thought Gracie had EPI?

 

[JenM66]

Originally Posted By: Wisc.TigerI thought Gracie had EPI?

No, she has SIBO.

 

[WiscTiger]

OK, I have always found that grey clay colored poop is really indicative of Pancreatits. Lakota's mom had pancreatits that didn't show up until after he was 3 years old.

 

[BowWowMeow]

Re: Food <grumble, grumble> Ears <grumble, grumble

That little dancing poop guy just about did me in!

I am dealing with all of this stuff with Rafi too. I have yet to find a kibble that he does well on. So frustrating! He does well on homemade food and I can get away with about 1/2 cup of kibble at a time before he starts having problems. He has been here less than 4 months and I'm trying the 3rd kind now.

 

[3K9Mom]

Oh, that Blue Buffalo has barley in it (barley grass in the Wilderness and regular barley in the Organic). Whew, that stuff makes my guy's ears light up light Christmas trees. The first time he ate barley, they did. I know that some types of barley are supposed to be safer than others, but we can't touch any of it.

Hmm...it has alfalfa too. That's another allergen for us as well. (not as bad as barley, but lightly itch-producing).

Instinct is pretty good "hypoallergenic" kibble. It has alfalfa meal, but no other grains, no potatoes. It's the safest kibble I've found for highly allergic kids like ours. But the fat is high (22% min fat for the turkey/duck), so I don't know how well that will work with her SIBO. Have you tried Natural Balance Fish and Sweet Potatoes? If she doesn't have a potato allergy, that should be a pretty good fit actually. It has 10% fat. The protein is low, but you could always supplement that by boiling chicken or ground turkey (and draining the water/fat) and adding the meat to her kibble.

That's why my guy eats a raw/home prepared diet. There's no safe kibble for him. So I have to feed him what I *know* is safe and only that.

Nothing's ever easy, is it?

Good luck.

 

[Barb E]

3K9Mom beat me too it,

barley anyway, it seems to be the newest grain of choice. Hard to find a food with grain that doesn't have barley.

 

[3K9Mom]

Hmm. I was just looking at Merrick's Before Grains. Potatoes and alfalfa appear to be the major potential allergens. 15% fat; 32% protein on the Buffalo and Salmon varieties.

http://pookiesbowwowbakery.com/shop/dog-..._id=21&sort=20a

 

[JenM66]

I really appreciate everyone's input and help. It's been so frustrating with Gracie and foods!

I had thought about the Natural Balance foods, as Gracie enjoys the "roll around" cookies that they make in lamb but....

With the SIBO, I really need to find a food that has FOS in it - and I was so excited that Blue Buffalo did. Gracie loves it - she even had started picking it out from the Low Residue kibble but....

I considered supplementing the FOS but can't find the dosage amount and her vet wasn't sure.

Anyway, I just check the ingredients and there is no barley in the Low Reside. As much as it pains me to feed her a "lower quality" food, all the higher quality stuff has caused problems. I'm sticking with this!!

Corn Grits, Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Chicken, Fish Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Brewers Dried Yeast, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Fructooligosaccharides, Monosodium Phosphate, 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), Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Choline Chloride, Flax Meal, DL-Methionine, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), Ethoxyquin (a preservative), Rosemary Extract

 

[BowWowMeow]

Re: Food <grumble, grumble> Ears <grumble, grumble

I don't think my store is selling that yet but I think it's too high in fat for Rafi anyway. I wish I could just afford to put him on raw. He does great on the preprepared duck but he only gets a half a patty a day.

What are the other symptoms of EPI? His weight is ok and his poop isn't gray but if he gets too much fat in his food it's very stinky.

 

[3K9Mom]

Barb, I don't get it. That barley is just toxic. I mean, maybe if Camper wanted a nice single malt whiskey for sipping, it'd be fine.

But for food? As you say