squirrel shooter Posted October 11, 2021 Report Share Posted October 11, 2021 Hi I have a 3 year old lab, who has had problems with dry skin/redness/itching. My vet recommended a hypoallergenic diet as he thinks she could have tolerance to certain ingredients. The hypoallergenic diet has worked on and off, my father recently spoke to a dealer on a working dog food stand at a show and he said that I should put my bitch on a grain free diet. Could someone please explain the differences, as I'm wondering why the vet never said this in the first instance. My bitch has had to have steroid injection and tablets she's back to her self then, and then after a period she's scratching again some weeks later. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poor Shot Posted October 11, 2021 Report Share Posted October 11, 2021 59 minutes ago, squirrel shooter said: My bitch has had to have steroid injection and tablets she's back to her self then, and then after a period she's scratching again some weeks later. Many thanks A bit cynical on my part but perhaps that's your answer right there. Your vet didn't suggest the grain free diet as tabs, injections and hypo allergenic food would be an ongoing income stream for the life of the dog. We started to feed ours on an 80/10/10 raw food diet a few months back when our spaniel pup started to develop some itchiness and dry skin on her belly. We thought it could either have been an allergy to the dry/ wet mix puppy food or a grass seed and pollen allergy. As well as being a lot more keen to eat their breakfast in the morning I think the feeding of raw over canned/ sacked premade foods has helped reduce the itchiness and dry skin to nothing (this could also coincide with the changing of the seasons and reduction in seeds and pollen she has come into contact with on walks) and given a noticeable boost in their energy levels and overall wellbeing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted October 11, 2021 Report Share Posted October 11, 2021 Many grain free dog foods are hypoallergenic. Sometimes it’s just an odd ingredient though. I find CSJ tripe decent even for my dog with a very sensitive stomach. CSJ no grainer even better but few £ more. BARF can be very good if you have the facilities and time but it’s hard work if you want to go away anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob85 Posted October 11, 2021 Report Share Posted October 11, 2021 If you can get it then the raw food is probably the way forward, at least to try anyway. I used to get bags of meat trimmings from a local butcher that would have otherwise been binned at 20p a bag and the odd big marrow bone for free, that was about 12 years ago and he has since retired and I've now no supply but my word it was great stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poor Shot Posted October 11, 2021 Report Share Posted October 11, 2021 We get our raw food delivered frozen from a specialist raw food shop. Comes in 500g packs and works out at less than £1 a day to feed two dogs. As it's made from flesh, organs and bone chunks there is a very little in there to trigger alergies. If you have young children and your kind of lax about the dogs licking the children's faces or your children could easily access the feed bowls then it's probably not suitable but in all else cases it's the better option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krico woodcock Posted October 11, 2021 Report Share Posted October 11, 2021 Does anyone on here feed dry beef? I have tried it, and found it had to be used sparingly otherwise it would run the guts out of them!. I feed Tripe and beef, especially fatty stuff,is top stuff for dogs, along with nuts but only when working them through season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peteg Posted October 11, 2021 Report Share Posted October 11, 2021 I’ve got a Springer and a not sure spaniel, possibly Brittany. Both now on raw they both are much better dogs on it all round. The Brittany or what ever he is doesn’t have an undercoat to speak of and in summer was getting bothered by something pollen or grass and is much better on raw. Temperament of them both is better too. Bulmers complete is the one we’ve settled on. It’s easy enough to feed and available locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted October 17, 2021 Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 (edited) Skinners do a grain free diet based on sweet potato instead of grain. Also coconut oil brushed through the coat to the skin helps as it moisturises the skin and is a natural antihistamine. Edited October 17, 2021 by loriusgarrulus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 On 11/10/2021 at 15:01, Lloyd90 said: Many grain free dog foods are hypoallergenic. Sometimes it’s just an odd ingredient though. I find CSJ tripe decent even for my dog with a very sensitive stomach. CSJ no grainer even better but few £ more. BARF can be very good if you have the facilities and time but it’s hard work if you want to go away anywhere. It is worth trying different foods until you find one that suits the dog. As Lloyd says it can be just one ingredient or the way the food is put together. I had the same problem with my last pup. Eukanuba used by the breeder had him scratching but a move to Harringtons puppy and problem solved. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 one of my dogs bad guts and bad cote flaky skin changed to a gluten free bag food gablestock at newark £15 a bag pets shops same bag £45 never looked back chicken is the other one that causes problems when i was a kid we fed our dogs with table scraps left overs etc they were our dustbins nothing wasted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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