**** Van Pattens Natural Balance® Ultra Premium

2234 Views 16 Replies 11 Participants Last post by chelle, May 13, 2012

ResOps

Discussion Starter · Jun 2, 2008

I did a quick search on here and didnt see any topics on this food yet. Is anyone using it or used it and have good or bad to comment?
Kaiyas having a bad itching issue - she is on her second round of steroids and antibiotics for the sores where shes opened herself up scratching. She is on Revolution which cover fleas, tics and mites and the vet hasnt found anything on her so we are trying this mix to see if its the lamb or rice she's been on.
She seems to enjoy the new mix (potato and duck) and we got the fish(salmon) and sweet potato for treats.
The read on this stuff looks good (to me anyways) so we're gonna try it and see how she does.
I'm hoping it will help the scratching before we have to perform an all-out allergy test.

Link to site - http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/home.html

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JKlatsky

· #2 · Jun 2, 2008

We had a problem similar to this when our guy was younger. We went crazy trying to figure out what it could be. We had to treat a staph infection that had developed because of the scratching with almost 2 months of antibiotics and a special antibiotic shampoo (Chlorhexidrine I think) which he was bathed with 2x a month. We also switched his food to the Natural Balance Fish and Sweet potato and started supplementing with EsterC and a can of sardines to start boosting the immune system.

If you're concerned it's a food allergy I wouldn't use the Ultra premium formula because it has lamb and rice in it just like your old food. The idea with food allergies is to get away from anything that may be causing your dog's allergies. (This includes your treats too) So I would go with either the fish and potato or we also use the venison and sweet potato.

The biggest piece of advice I got from people was to boost the immune system, so your dog has a better chance of fighting the allergies on their own. So far we've had a lot fo luck with that and seem to be allergy free so far this season.

EDit to Add: I seem to remember seeing something not too long ago about how sweet potatos were preferable to regular potatos, something about potatos and arthritis...maybe someone who knwos better can chime in...

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ResOps

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 2, 2008

Re: **** Van Pattens Natural Balance®Allergy Form

oops - J we actually <u>are</u> using the duck and potato (allergy formula) - I just linked to the page

. And our treats are the fish and sweet potato. We are avoiding any lambor rice products completely just to either rule them out -or not-

Thanks for the reply ~Res

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DHau

· #4 · Jun 2, 2008

Re: **** Van Pattens Natural Balance®Allergy Form

It's a very good product because my breeder uses it for all of his dogs and we used it for a while. We switched over to the duck and potato version because I thought she was allergic to chicken.

At some point in time, I may go back to the premium food just to see if I was wrong. It's cheaper too.

luanne

· #5 · Jun 2, 2008

Re: **** Van Pattens Natural Balance®Allergy Form

I've heard very good things about this food and am now in the process of switching Hunter from Canidae to NB. Gracie is on Wellness as it's the only food that doesn't make her lick her rear end with a passion. But I might try her out on NB after I see how Hunter does with it.

Both dogs go crazy over the food rolls (used for training treats). So now we alternate, Zukes, NB food roll, cheese and hot dogs.

Lu

ResOps

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 2, 2008

Re: **** Van Pattens Natural Balance®Allergy Form

Wow it sounds like I'm on the right track for a change

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ldpeterson

· #7 · Jun 2, 2008

I use it and have never had any issues with it. Nothing but good results here.

The dog that I feed it to however, does not have any allergy issues so I can't vouch for that part.

ResOps

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 3, 2008

Originally Posted By: mamagooseI use it and have never had any issues with it. Nothing but good results here.
The dog that I feed it to however, does not have any allergy issues so I can't vouch for that part.

Well Lisa this is our first longcoat - and the first GSD we ever encountered what I think may be allergies. I'm just hoping the food change solves the issue.

DHau

· #9 · Jun 9, 2008

ResOps - After reading your post, I wonder if there is a connection with long coats and allergies with certain foods? My pup is a long coat as well. I am interested to see if this is common with other long coats.

DHau

· #10 · Jun 9, 2008

Re: **** Van Pattens Natural Balance® Ultra Premiu

Just finished reading another thread and I was wondering if owners of dogs with long coats have allergies to certain foods. Mine had eye discharge with Natual Balance Premium dog food and switched over to Duck and Potato. I was just curious if there was a genetic pattern with long coated dogs.

WiscTiger

· #11 · Jun 9, 2008

Re: **** Van Pattens Natural Balance® Ultra Premiu

There is no connection with long coat and allergies. Some dogs have allergies some don't, some stock coats have allergies some don't, dome Stock LC's have allergies some don't.

EastGSD

· #12 · Jun 9, 2008

Re: **** Van Pattens Natural Balance® Ultra Premiu

When using a number of the NB formulas keep in mind that all but the Ultra Premium formula have pretty low fat percentages....fat is needed for healthy skin and coat and a clue that a dog needs more fat in it's diet would be skin problems.

My suggestion is to try the premium formula OR switch to another food with a higher fat percentage to see if the skin problems heal OR add a supplement to the NB formula you are using that adds fat such as a fatty acid supplement, some oil you have in your kitchen (any will do veggie, canola, corn whatever) and see if the symptoms improve. This can be a common problem with these formulations when used on younger dogs with higher fat needs.

And no...there is no connection to allergies and coat length.

Cherri

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ResOps

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jun 9, 2008

Re: **** Van Pattens Natural Balance® Ultra Premiu

We just took Kaiya off Nutro Lamb and rice and she has always been supplemented so I think I would rule out a fat deficiency.
We are now solely on DVP Natural Balance but as I mentioned she is also just finished a run of steroids and antibiotics. The pink spot on her nose is completely gone and the pink spots on her lips are fading as well.
I honestly don't know what to say- our breeder thought possibly winter nose? Anyhow we are going to continue on the allergy formula as she like it.
D'Hau I thought the same thing as you about the LC's but oh well pick of the litter

....updates as they occurr....

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2

Kayos and Havoc

· #14 · Jun 9, 2008

Re: **** Van Pattens Natural Balance® Ultra Premiu

I have all 3 dogs on ND Duck and Potato, they all love it and are doing well on it. Havoc has digestive issues and the single protein seems to help.

brandeeno

· #15 · May 13, 2012

East GSD or anybody,
I am thinking of witching to natural balance ultra from TOTW. Any suggestions for human food to supplement fat? Would raw eggs do the job?

LongFunRun

· #16 · May 13, 2012

brandeeno said:
East GSD or anybody,
I am thinking of witching to natural balance ultra from TOTW. Any suggestions for human food to supplement fat? Would raw eggs do the job?

Yolks, beef or pork fat. Chunks of pork fat would be best. One or two one inch cubes per day should do it.

chelle

· #17 · May 13, 2012

My oldest has been plagued by allergy issues for quite a long time. (non-GSD) I changed her to NB Limited Ingr Venison and Sweet Potatoe and never looked back. Her coat and skin is wonderful. It took 2+ months to see things start to improve, but her skin went back to perfect pink, every itchy spot disappeared and she got new hair growth. Then once diagnosed hypothryroid and getting on medication, her coat really started to improve.

I have a GSD mix on this same food, due to digestive issues. It is working out very well for him, although he must have supplements or his stools are awful.

Expensive food, but has sure been a lifesaver for us.

And just to be clear, it isn't the exact same food as you're talking about -- it is the limited ingredient.

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