Carol,
A lot of what people think is environmental is not. Toto is a cairn. I got him at the humane society and he didn't have much hair and was awfully itchy. I joined a cairn list on yahoo and found out that a lot of cairns and westies have allergy problems. I started making a "stew" that someone had suggested on the list and his itching slowed way down, his greasiness(he used to get "greasy" down the middle of his back) got better and his hair started coming in thicker. He didn't have as many eye crusties or in other places either. When I took him to the vet for his checkup, I found that the people who previously owned him went to the same vet. The vet tech could not believe he was the same dog! She asked me what I was doing and I told her. She told me that the previous owners got rid of him because the wife said that he was always dirty and stunk! She didn't want him around the grandbabies. Well, he does tend to get a "yeasty" odor to him and when he has eaten something he has problems with, he gets itchy and crusty spots on him. I found out that they had even had his anal glands removed. I know when he itches, he itches his bottom and his belly on the rugs, but geez that is supposed to be a very painful surgery.
I was able to eventually put him on a grain free dog food but it is no longer available here in my small town, so I have been trying different grain free foods and he is not doing very well on them. Plus, we have been gone for the holidays and he gets kind of stressed when he is not at his own home. I am hoping that things will settle down soon or I will start making his food again. He is taking prednisone again, every other day and taking benadryl every day again. I don't like him to be on meds if I can help it. I also am rubbing coconut oil on his itchy spots to see if that works but am waiting for a new shipment.
Does your dog's feet smell like Frito's? That is sometimes a clue that he is allergic to the corn in his food. Also, it they get a lot of eye crusties, that can sometimes be a clue that they are allergic to something they are eating, too.
Julie
Subject: [iPad] Re: OT- pet food
My dog gets curtsies also. I have him on antihistamines. I think it is environmental but am intrigued by your food die suggestion. How did you come to that?
We do give dog cookies of human grade ingredients.
Carol
I used to make my dogs' food and may have to start again. One of them has a lot of allergies. I think he is allergic to corn and red food dye. Almost any treat or dog food has something in it that makes him itch and get "crusties".
Do you have any "homemade" suggestions?
Thanks!
Julie
Sent from my iPad Mini
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