LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Dogs

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Hi Deserie,

Thanks for sharing the info about the wholistic vet. How did you find one in your area?

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Flo, my dog has food allergies and seasonal allergies....I went to several vets again and again and eventually went to a wholistic vet who put him on a wheat free/gluton free/corn free diet and recommended half (he's a little guy) a childrens benadryl twice a day during his seasonal allergies. He is doing great..all his symptoms..including seizures...went away.

-- Contributed by: deserie

Hi Lee,

If you're not confident in your vet, it might be a good idea to get a second opion from another vet. The bacterial infection could possibly be secondary to an allergy that caused the itching in the first place. Once the skin is broken, it's possible for bacteria to colonize and spread. You can request to have your dog tested for food allergies. That way your could isolate any possible allergens and know exactly which food(s) to avoid feeding your dog.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a German Shephard that has been diagnosed with a Bacterial infection on the skin in the chest area and part of front legs and also internal. How do I find out if this could be a food alergy. She has eaten Nutro Pro for several years and about 6 months ago, we changed to a supposedly healther food, Halo. Could this have caused her problem? She is now on several medications to get her healthy again. She has a skin odor, itches alot and has recurrent ear infections (for several years)Any suggestions? I am not happy with the diagnosis from our vet because I had her to the vet in July because of the body odor but she is just now diagnosing her with a bacterial infection?

Thanks for any information you may be able to give me.

-- Contributed by: Lee

I have a one year old ...apoo who has started scratching - mostly in her chin area. We have tried difference antihistamines for her, but nothing really seems to work. She is currently on an Omega-3 supplement. Any suggestions?

Hi Mary Anne,

Omega-3 is very good for a dog's skin and seems to aid the cellular repair process, but it won't do anything to prevent a food allergy. Many food allergies first surface as itching around the face, ears and neck. After that they seem to spread across the dog's body as more of the system is enveloped by the allergy.

Antihistamines can sometimes help lessen the itching, but they often make your dog feel tired. It's far more beneficial to identify the source of the allergy and remove it from your dog's diet. At that point, you can use the antihistamines to provide your dog with temporary relief as the allergen is cleared from her system.

I would recommend asking your vet to perform the testing routine to determine exactly which food(s) cause your dog to have a reaction. This is a more accurate process than simply switching to a hypoallergenic diet to see if the symptoms go away.

Thanks for your question, and I do hope your vet is able to determine the cause of the itching, even if it doesn't turn out to be a food allergy.

-- Contributed by: Mary Anne
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