Other articles with keyword "DOGGIEPING" since 12/29/04
Posted on 10/02/2007 6:51:50 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
We've finally had it with itchy dogs. I think it's their food. We've tried several brands though, dogs still itchy. I don't think they have fleas. They're all on Advantage and we don't see any evidence of fleas.
Add to that all the issues with recalled products from China, and we're ready to try making dog food at home.
We'd like recipes that you've used, along with portion advice. We're currently feeding our two 80-90 pound dogs a cup of dry kibble twice daily and our 45 pound beagle a half a cup of dry kibble twice daily.
My initial thoughts were to use ground beef and rice but I'm not sure on the percentages. If that went well and the itching stopped, then we'd start adding ingredients like vegetables, one ingredient at a time.
We'd like to make it up in big batches and freeze portion sized amounts we can take out each day. That seems more doable than making it up daily.
Bookmarking - I’d like some recipes too.
Why worry yourself over making it “dog food”? Just cook up whatever you wish of “people food” and give it to them. Sure, start with one ingredient and add others until you find the problem.
On the other hand, you might want to check if they are itching because of bug bites or poison ivy. We’ve had a very wet summer and the mesquitoes are worse than they’ve ever been. We also have many more other bugs this year too. Surprisingly, not fleas. You might also check your yard to make sure they aren’t getting into some sort of poisonous plant that they’re allergic to. There are other things than food that will make them itch, perhaps even the shampoo you’re using on them.
Get Dr Ian Billinghurst’s books. They are a good primer on fresh food for dogs or cats, for that matter. Here’s a link to a list of books you might try:
http://www.dogwise.com/Browse/SubCatList.cfm?SubCat=Natural%20Health%20and%20Nutrition
My vet recommended this newsletter, and I've been very pleased with it. It deals with other issues such as training, activities, etc., but there's always an article or two about BARF diet, making foods at home, etc. Lots of recipes and stuff.
Do you wash your dogs bedding frequently? If so try a fragrance free detergent and softener.
Do you use insecticides or herbicides around your home? If so try to not use it around your dogs’ bedding and keep your dog away from those areas.
If you have purebreds contact breeders of those dogs to see if there are specific allergies common for the breed.
I would also like a recipe for dog treats if anyone has one.
Forget playing with homemade stuff now. You may need to find out the essentials. Waste of time and effort if the problem is the type of proteins you’re getting.
My dog is majorly allergic, including foods. She is VEGETARIAN, because she is allergic to ANIMAL PROTEIN, period. She is a case where simply changing from processed dry to homemade beef or lamb would NOT help (in fact, probably make it worse).
Even if dogs aren’t allergic to all animal protein, they can be allergic to specific types. That is why there is not only “lamb” available, but duck, venison, etc.
We tried these, too, after seeing Tara get better on vegetarian, 1st. Unfortunately, she got worse again so is sticking to vegetarian. But some dogs should be fine with certain particular animal proteins.
Another possibility is that many dogs suffer a bit from corn allergy - and many processed foods employ corn meal. Ensure you go away from corn meal - there ARE processed foods (such as mine) that don’t use corn at all.
My vet brand is IVD - currently owned by Royal Canin. Unfortunately, you can only get it through certain vets, or order it from Canada.
BTW, my dog LOVES the IVD vegetarian; once had to try her on Natural Recipe veg because IVD ran out, and she didn’t like it much (smelled like clay to me). But she’d eat IVD right up.
When I adopted an Australian Cattle Dog several years ago it seemed that he would never stop itching. He had no fleas, but the vet said he had dry skin and recommended a fish oil tablet. Worked like a charm.
I’ve since switched him to Eukanuba adult lamb and rice which has oil in it and he seems to be doing well on that without the tablets.
Good luck!
Well, what we’re eating isn’t always appropriate for dogs. For breakfast we usually have cereal and toast. I’m not sure that’s a workable plan for three large dogs.
I don’t think it’s bugs, I don’t think it’s contact allergies. It’s licking and localized itching mostly on the spine and base of tail. The vet advises that Thyroid issues can do this, and one dog is on a thyroid med, but that’s not the case with the other one. I do think it’s a food allergy, the vet advises too that it’s probably a food allergy. They actually seem to finish eating and immediately want to lick and scratch. It’s driving us nuts.
I would agree it’s not necessarily food. In fact, food allergies are a small % of all the allergies dogs suffer. About 10%.
Perhaps they’ve gained some inhalent allergies - atopic dermatitis.
My dog is allergic to numerous inhalents - dust, molds, ants, moths, etc. You name it, she has it (except most “outdoor” type allergens, thank God at least). Inhalents are the most common allergens for dogs and cats.
;-D
Oily, fatty foods seemed to give him a good deal of relief. When I would open a can of tuna, I'd drain the packing water or oil on their dry food, and perhaps weekly I'd cook them up an egg and cheese omelet. At the vet's recommendation, a little Benadryl helped when the allergies got real bad.
Another daily treat my boys are fond of is a large milk bone, wrapped with a slice of American Cheese (I mold it around the bone like clay) and then wrap that with a slice of bologna, or ham or turky. I suspect it somewhat primally replicates the texture of chomping on skin, flesh and bone, and they really seem to enjoy it.
Set it to puree.
Insert one former Atlanta Falcons Quarterback.
Oh! You meant food FOR your dog. Nevermind . . .
Anal area - sign of any allergy such as inhalent or food. Food is rarer.
Look next for muzzle area and ears, and the feet.
We've seen all the "duck and potato" foods but I feel like in trying other foods we're just changing too many variables with each test. We'll never figure out which thing it is or was. That's why we wanted to get down the the simplest diet and see, whether it's rice and beef, chicken, turkey, eggs, whatever. And then add to that one thing at a time. I want to be rid of the ingredient lists full of who knows what additive.
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