Dog Food Recommendation? Possible allergy. (allergic, poop, prescription, skin)

[tabbcat]

Hi all! Hoping for a good recommendation. We've had our Samoyed on Eukaneuba Large Breed dry food for the past year and a half. Since he was a puppy, he's always chewed on his front legs (it's weird, almost like he has an itch... definitely not boredom). My mom suggested that it could be a food allergy so we'd like to try switching him to a wheat-free alternative to see if that solves the problem.

Cost isn't an issue... we put him on Eukaneuba because we didn't know that better foods existed outside PetSmart We'd like something that's going to be tailored for his breed/size.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[FiveHorses]

Originally Posted by tabbcat

My mom suggested that it could be a food allergy so we'd like to try switching him to a wheat-free alternative to see if that solves the problem.

Moms rule.

It's not just wheat you need to avoid, but ALL grains. If there's a grain intolerance going on then it should clear up rather quickly.

Taste of the Wild gets my vote as well as that of the dogs. It's a good quality, grain-free dry food suitable to all sizes and breeds and you don't have to cringe at the cost. Widely available.

[DandJ]

Originally Posted by FiveHorses

Moms rule.

It's not just wheat you need to avoid, but ALL grains. If there's a grain intolerance going on then it should clear up rather quickly.

Taste of the Wild gets my vote as well as that of the dogs. It's a good quality, grain-free dry food suitable to all sizes and breeds and you don't have to cringe at the cost. Widely available.

Agreed.

[Keeper]

I also feed TOTW to my dogs. You can feed them less food and they poop less too.

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/

[Dashdog]

You might want to also check out a syndrome called leaky gut syndrome there are a bunch of different symptoms they can have ( but no they do not have to have them all) . Often allergies turn out to be this as Itching and skin issues can be symptoms and once you get the condition under control the symptoms go away. Both humans and animals can have this. It can be caused by many different things and parasites are one of the things.

Dazzle has been itching but no fleas I have been considering various allergies but I also just learned he still has Giardia. He had it when we checked after I got him and we treated him for it. We checked a fecal again before his surgery and sure enough he still has the giardia so now I am thinking his itching may be due to leaky gut syndrome . We are treating the giardia again and I will start giving him some digestive enzymes and some Seacure. Hopefully this will stop the itching . He also has not put much weight on which could just be his breed and his young age but it could be from this too. We shall see.

[Glitch]

FiveHorses is right, grains in the kibble is the leading cause of fur and skin problems in dogs. Taste of the Wild is a high-grade, grain-free, kibble. Some other high quality, grain-free, kibble includes Solid Gold, Eagle Pack Holistic, Timberwolf Organics, Natural Balance, Canidae, Flint River Ranch, and I personally buy Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul, Large Breed.

[zugor]

My local Tractor Supply just started carrying Taste of the Wild so you might check if there is a store near you.

Hopy you baby is soon back in good health.

[stan4]

I have checked out all the more holistic/organic high end pet foods and all of them have at least one ingredient our dog is allergic to. The only one that doesn't:

z/d ultra (prescription diet)

[tabbcat]

Thanks so much for the recommendations!

As I've been looking at premium brands, I've noticed that some are chicken based, some are beef based, and some are fish based. Is there a preference? I would have assumed I should get one that's say, salmon-based, because it's probably what Sammies eat in the wild, but who the hell knows I don't know if it matters. He eats chicken and beef treats all the time, and we've also given him cooked salmon as a treat before and I've never seen a bad reaction to any of it.

[DandJ]

Originally Posted by tabbcat

Thanks so much for the recommendations!

As I've been looking at premium brands, I've noticed that some are chicken based, some are beef based, and some are fish based. Is there a preference? I would have assumed I should get one that's say, salmon-based, because it's probably what Sammies eat in the wild, but who the hell knows I don't know if it matters. He eats chicken and beef treats all the time, and we've also given him cooked salmon as a treat before and I've never seen a bad reaction to any of it.

Speaking from personal (or Artie's, rather) experience:

• Artie didn't like the fish stuff. But if your dog likes it, great. Oh, and even though I like fish, I found the smell to be quite awful.
• Some dogs are allergic to poultry. Artie loves chicken but I'm not sure that his body does.
• The venison/bison flavor of Taste of the Wild is like treats to Artie -- he loves them. I think the key is finding something your guy loves AND makes his itchies stop.