Can anyone help with a dog with a possible food allergy?

[Yardfulla poopers]

I had my dog tested because his whole body was covered in hot spots and he was going bald. Turns out he is allergic to just about everything in every dog food plus many environmental allergies. I had him on Purina salmon and rice for a while but switched to homemade raw a few years ago and it has been amazing for him. It's not cheap or easy, but I highly recommend it for any dog with allergies (Dr. Becker's homemade raw book is my guide but I do take some short cuts). My point in responding though is maybe look into whether the salmon and rice food has any of the same ingredients you are currently feeding him. I think i was getting it at PetSmart.

 

[Halfpasthen]

I like Dr. becker and I think there is a whole lot of truth to what she claims.

I worked in the pet food industry and I was always told that to form a kibble a lot of starch was needed (be it grains, legumes, etc.) To actually form the kibble. Otherwise they would end up with a pile of mush.

Again, it leads me to surmise that dogs simply shouldn't be eating kibble. It has a lot less to do with "balance" and a lot more to do with marketability and convenience.

It strikes me as funny no one worries about humans getting a balanced diet but a whole lot of emphasis on dogs, chickens, etc getting a "balanced formula"

It's my humble belief that if we eat REAL food (all creatures on earth) will do better than with a highly processed commerical food.

 

[Halfpasthen]

I like Dr. becker and I think there is a whole lot of truth to what she claims.

I worked in the pet food industry and I was always told that to form a kibble a lot of starch was needed (be it grains, legumes, etc.) To actually form the kibble. Otherwise they would end up with a pile of mush.

Again, it leads me to surmise that dogs simply shouldn't be eating kibble. It has a lot less to do with "balance" and a lot more to do with marketability and convenience.

It strikes me as funny no one worries about humans getting a balanced diet but a whole lot of emphasis on dogs, chickens, etc getting a "balanced formula"

It's my humble belief that if we eat REAL food (all creatures on earth) will do better than with a highly processed commerical food.

Even if it's not an ideal balance....it's a hell of a lot better than Highly processed commerical junk.

 

[Weeg]

I have been looking into raw food, and prepackaged food. I do like the sound of the Purina, I thought I had found the perfect food, but then I realized it was 70 bucks for 18 pounds! I am still looking into a prepackaged food and the raw homemade diet as well. I am looking at a few other limited ingredient dog food brands but they are SO dang expensive! I know this isn't gonna be cheep, but I want to find something that wont cost a million bucks!

 

[Weeg]

Look at this food! It looks great! https://www.justfoodfordogs.com/product/fish-sweet-potato/10040103.html
Edit- it is gonna be expensive though over time, so I think I am gonna start to find my recipe for feeding homemade and/or raw

 

[Weeg]

There food calculator does say he needs 9 cups a day though. He is 70 pounds, 5 years old, VERY active, but doesn't 9 cups seem like a lot? Tell me what you think!

 

[Halfpasthen]

There food calculator does say he needs 9 cups a day though. He is 70 pounds, 5 years old, VERY active, but doesn't 9 cups seem like a lot? Tell me what you think!

Mileage is gonna vary a whole lot on those feeding charts. The best way to gauge if your dog is eating enough is by his body condition.

Doing your own homemade raw food is going to be a lot cheaper than premade stuff.
I think people really psych themselves out unnecessarily over getting raw food balanced. It's not nearly as complicated as we make it. Lots of recipes online (though do find a trusted source). Mostly I just feed my dog whole prey. Like an entire chicken with the organ meat. Whole quail that I raise. I also purchase meat from the grocery store like whole fish, rabbit, beef, pork, frog legs, turkey, etc. If it's in its whole form with skin and bones and such it's complete. Less so if it's just hunks of meat. You would want to add small amounts of organ mean and such. Again there are lots of easy recipes to follow. I also give my dog leftover cooked vegetables and grains. And of course, eggs. I don't worry a whole lot about measuring stuff out. If he's looking good and feeling good I'm doing the best I can. If you want to feed partially raw and partially kibble you can but they should never be fed together during the same meal.

 

[Weeg]

Mileage is gonna vary a whole lot on those feeding charts. The best way to gauge if your dog is eating enough is by his body condition.

Doing your own homemade raw food is going to be a lot cheaper than premade stuff.
I think people really psych themselves out unnecessarily over getting raw food balanced. It's not nearly as complicated as we make it. Lots of recipes online (though do find a trusted source). Mostly I just feed my dog whole prey. Like an entire chicken with the organ meat. Whole quail that I raise. I also purchase meat from the grocery store like whole fish, rabbit, beef, pork, frog legs, turkey, etc. If it's in its whole form with skin and bones and such it's complete. Less so if it's just hunks of meat. You would want to add small amounts of organ mean and such. Again there are lots of easy recipes to follow. I also give my dog leftover cooked vegetables and grains. And of course, eggs. I don't worry a whole lot about measuring stuff out. If he's looking good and feeling good I'm doing the best I can. If you want to feed partially raw and partially kibble you can but they should never be fed together during the same meal.

Ya, all the dog food options out there are super expensive! I mean, homemade os gonna be more time and research, but then I will know exactly what is in the food, and once I got het recipe down, I assume its pretty simple. I found a good website that explains how much nutrients the labrador retriever should be fed when feeding raw, I liked it and I think I will follow that for guidance until the book comes. This is gonna be a fun adventure!

 

[Weeg]

This is the website I am looking at, do you think I can use it as a good guide? I am thinking of using turkey or salmon, what ever is easiest for us to get ahold of, and then I will use that meat every time, then for veggies I am thinking sweet potato for easy digestion, and broccoli. Then brown rice for grains, and then a dollop of greek yogurt like the website suggests, and to use flaxseed as a coat supplement since I already mill it for my horses coats. I am pretty excited to pursue this honestly, I feel like it is gonna be fun! Here is the website, tell me what you think! https://www.cuteness.com/article/make-homemade-dog-food-labradors

 

[Weeg]

I am thinking 30% protein, we will decide on either salmon, or turkey, 5% fat, probably fish oil, and the website says that the rest can be covered in grains, brown rice to oatmeal, thinking brown rice, and then for vegetables sweet potato and either carrots or broccoli. How should I feed the grains and veggies percent of diet wise? @TwoCrows @KDOGG331 @Halfpasthen ? I want to get all the ingredients this weekend and next week to start his new diet!