The Itchy Bitch

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by geckogully on 19 March 2011 - 03:03

My 4yo speyed Miniature Pinscher bitch is always itchy.

Personally, I think it is food-related, because she gets worse if I give her certain things like apple.

The vet has said this then that then the other. A couple of years ago I was feeding her a home-cooked diet, and it was working well, but then he said that was not good because she wasn't getting all the nutrients she needed.

So I put her on supermarket dog food (tried all sorts of brands) and she got itchier and itchier.

Then I put her on ONLY Eukaneuba, which the vet recommended, and she got even worse.

Right now (as of a week ago) she has been on a dried food called Z/D which is a low-allergy diet. She is also taking various tablets, including cortisone. She is a LOT better, but I think it is the tablets, and they can't go on for ever.

I am seeing the vet again in a week. I am thinking what I want to do is put her back on the home-cooked diet (he even suggested this - duh). But I want to give her something like vitamin tablets to make sure she isn't missing out on anything.

Opinions please? The itchiness is face/ears, tummy and paws. The vet thinks it is not food, but grass or something. But that doesn't explain why the variations are so strongly linked to when I change her diet.

Thanks!

Christine Abela

PS I am in Australia, so please don't recommend brand names unless they are available worldwide.

by gsdlvr4life on 19 March 2011 - 03:03

I have a male that cant have anything but a fish based food or he is itchy. I also add salmon oil to his food and he doesn't scratch anymore/
I think you are right that she is allergic to the food and it is probably the grain in the food.Eukanuba and vet brand foods for the most part are crap food. There ingredient lists are grain and by products

Try a grain free food and maybe start with fish based. You could also go the raw food route and give her things slowly and watch for a reaction. If she reacts to a certain food remove it.

Hope she feels better soon:)

by shepherdace on 19 March 2011 - 04:03

Its good to hear from a min pin owner.My min pin will be 15 in 2 weeks.Just go back to your home cooked food but remember it may take some time to see your dog improve.Avoid telling anyone as there will be just too many smart alecs!

by Uber Land on 19 March 2011 - 08:03

http://www.rawlearning.com/
this lady is in Austrailia too. could help you alot

by Domenic on 19 March 2011 - 10:03

Good morning,I have been dealing with the same problem with one of my boys and the Ultra ZD did NOT work for me.If your Vet is worried about the diet not being complete and balanced then go to www.balanceit.com and they will provide you with a complete diet AND 2 choices of easy to get supplements.One of them is complete with EVERYTHING and they also give you another choice of easy to get stuff.Now,they will give you a FREE complimentary diet so remember what you were feeding before and use those ingredients and at least the diet wont cost you anything.Hope this helps your pup.Good luck Domenic

by Domenic on 19 March 2011 - 10:03

Ok ,I read my response to you and just want to clarify that this site www.balanceit.com makes a complete vitamin-mineral supplement with EVERYTHING including the calcium etc in it and is owned by a very well known and respected Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist Dr.Sean Delaney.It is staffed by several BCVN's as well .These are people that have the proper software to make a proper homecooked diet which is complete with all known nutrients.Now you dont have to buy there product because they do give you another option to buy the supplements at your local health food store or pharmacy.There product is easier cause it has everything you will need in it.Now as I said in the other respose,pick the protein and carbohydrate that has worked for you in the past and use that to formulate the diet.Its very easy to do when you get to there website.I have not been there for a long time but can assure you its still the same.If you find it complicated then just give them a call and tell them its your first time and you would like to try a promotional free receipe.Oh yea,by the way,I DONT WORK THERE AND I DONT MAKE ANYTHING BY YOU GOING TO THERE WEBSITE.Good luck

by Nans gsd on 19 March 2011 - 15:03

Go back to home cooked and buy a supplement to complete the diet. Pure and simple.

by TingiesandTails on 19 March 2011 - 16:03

I agree with Nans gsd - go back to your home cooking and supplement what is necessary only.

There is a good book about making your own dog food and supplements - it is by a veterinarian. You can get this book through amazon.
"Dr Pitcairn's Natural Health for Dogs & Cats" .

by Niesia on 19 March 2011 - 19:03

I agree - go back to your home cooking. Don't listen to your vet - he is selling you/recommending products that make your dog sick. You said yourself that you didn't have the issue when you home fed your dog. I just wonder why did he suggest you stop doing something that worked for your dog in the first place? Did he do a blood test and showed you bad results? If so, why didn’t he prescribe supplements to your dog? The problem would be over… Did you think about changing the vet?

Regarding "balanced died" – I don’t believe that it really exists. Do you eat a complete, balanced diet every day yourself? We balance our diet overtime and you can achieve the same with your dog’s diet - just very it (i.e. don’t feed your dog only steaks for a year). The dog will be happier, his meals more interesting. I believe that dogs, as people, like variety too. Supplements are fine only if your dog really needs it – do the blood test first. Overdoing of a good thing sometimes is not so good at all.
A have a kind of “dry skin quick fix” recipe from the old times that you may want to give a try. Two tablespoons of vegetable oil mixed in every meal. This makes dog’s coat shiny, a bit oily and it helps with dry skin and itchiness.

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