Posts: 895
8/21/11 9:41 P

A lot of times skin allergies show up due to a sensitivity to a certain protein or other food source. But some skin allergies are more environmental in nature. The only way to tell is to have a blood allergy test run or do some food trials.

current weight: 356.0

391 373.25 355.5 337.75

320

SparkPoints: (65,008)
Fitness Minutes: (8,146)
Posts: 3,551
8/21/11 8:58 P

I live in Austin, Tx.

Yes, CORE is a protein only food. I guess I just haven't followed raw feeding. They had told me that CORE would help with skin allergies.

Posts: 895
8/19/11 5:22 P

Beth, where do you live? Raw feeding is becoming pretty popular and most cities have some sort of co-op or network for getting the food you need at good prices. When I first started feeding raw, I had to do everything in my kitchen, for three bullmastiffs...it was a TON of work.

Isn't Core a grain free kibble?

current weight: 356.0

391 373.25 355.5 337.75

320

SparkPoints: (65,008)
Fitness Minutes: (8,146)
Posts: 3,551
8/17/11 4:55 P

Thanks Becky for the information. I guess I wouldn't know where to begin to find someone who would grind the meat and veggies for me as I know I wouldn't want to do that at home. Any ideas on where to start looking?

I've been giving Atopica to my little Bullie for her skin conditions but it is pretty expensive ($72 for about 4 weeks) if I give it to her every other day. I'm not so sure that it is good for her but it does seem to work and my Vet recommended it.

I also switched to a High protein dog food called "Core" which was recommended to me as well. It is hard to tell if it really helped or not.

Thanks for the information. I really appreciated it.

Posts: 4,089
8/17/11 4:04 P

Wow - a lot of work and thought! Thank you for the information!

Pounds lost: 65.0

0 25 50 75

100

Posts: 895
8/17/11 3:49 P

I feed a variety of protein sources as part of the raw diet...chicken, turkey, lamb, beef. Raw meaty bones only makes up a portion of the diet; the rest is pulped veges, like spinach, squash, carrots, yams, beans, cabbage, etc.

I used to process and mix up my own dog food; I had a super duty meat grinder, so I could grind chicken and turkey parts and a juicer, so I could pulp my own veges. Now I buy the food pre-ground/pulped and blended from a local business.

I haven't fed the dogs a commercial diet for more than 10 years. There are a few benefits I really enjoy from the raw diet, they are (in no particular order):
1. Small, tiny, faint smelling bowel movements...considering I used to have 3 bullmastiffs, all weighing over 120 pounds, this was a HUGE PLUS.

2. No dental issues to speak of; never had to take a dog for a tooth cleaning.

3. I control what goes into the dog's food...when I've had dogs with cancer and I've wanted to reduce the glycemic index of what they were eating, I was able to select green veges only for their blend.

4. Reduced, practically non-existent "doggy odor"

current weight: 356.0

391 373.25 355.5 337.75

320

Posts: 4,089
8/16/11 6:29 P

Becky what do you feed your pup on the raw diet? Years ago a friend of mine fed her dog an entire raw chicken leg twice daily. I don't think she fed anything else. I've since lost touch with her and have wondered how the dog has been just eating the raw chicken.

I've always fed my dogs Purina and all have been long lived - the oldest one being 17 or 18 when we put her down. She was a medium sized mutt (she looked like an Akita) just a lovable mutt.

Pounds lost: 65.0

0 25 50 75

100

Posts: 895
8/16/11 6:09 P

I'm very fortunate to have bulldogs without skin problems, so many of the dogs we get in to rescue have skin problems, eye problems, allergies, mange, spina bifida, etc. etc.; that I feel EXTREMELY blessed to have found two "throw away" dogs, without any of the above mentioned problems.

With that said, the first dog I owned as an adult had environmental allergies to just about EVERYTHING. He would get hives and then a staph infection would start and he'd lose his hair in little patches. We did everything our conventional vet said and then started working with a homeopath/integrative specialist vet. Through lots of homeopathic rememdies and a switch to a raw diet, we helped rebuild Foley's immune system to where the environment didn't cause him to react. I've been feeding raw ever since.

current weight: 356.0

391 373.25 355.5 337.75

320

Posts: 4,089
3/27/11 6:53 P

My Sadie has itchy skin ALL the time. I've tried putting a little oil (saffron) on her food and that helped a little bit. I've also tried yogurt, which may have helped too, but stopped. I think I'll try both of those again, because her itching is driving both she & I a little crazy!

Pounds lost: 65.0

0 25 50 75

100

SparkPoints: (65,008)
Fitness Minutes: (8,146)
Posts: 3,551
3/26/11 5:18 P

Well, my little Bullie has very sensitive skin. It is constantly itching and she , of course, bits it till it is raw. I have been to the Vet. She is taking Atopica which is for atopic dermititis but it doesn't seem to be helping. She is also taking Comfortis for fleas/ticks.

Has anyone had success with skin conditions/irritations? If so, what worked?

Beth