Question about food transition
Submitted by Sams74 on April 23, 2012 - 5:10pmHi-
So Molly is having some allergy issues-scratching her ears, licking and chewing her paws and has some thinning patches of hair (not bald just thinner). Just as it started to warm up here in NY and the pollen levels became high, I also began to change her food (bad timing)! Now Im not sure if it is the food or the pollen or a combination of both. The vet suggested going back to the original food since she did well on it for so long and see what happens. Okay so my question is...do I have to slowly transition her back to that food (she has been on it since day one) or can I just make the complete switch right away?
This poor dog is so itchy, especially in the middle of the night. She wakes up and scratches and chews/licks paws for an hour straight and her poor mama is losing a lot of sleep too! I give her allergy medicine from the vet before bedtime too and I wipe her paws after every walk!
Thanks!
have you tried benadryl
have you tried benadryl sweetie?or anything anti itch?
poor sweetie i hope she feels better,
smoochies the scrunchy face
If she is completely switched to the new food...
I would slowly transition her back to the old food. Chances are it's environmental if everything is starting to bloom. We have one who is allergic to grass which is just germinating here. Only the bermuda variety. What food was she on and what did you switch her to?
She was on TOTW salmon and I
She was on TOTW salmon and I switched her to the lamb version. She only completely switched to the new food yesterday. Up until then , there was a little of the old food mixed in just because I had some left.
Ive been doing so much research on a good food to switch her to! My gut is telling me it's more environmental but I don't know for sure.
Some dogs do well with lamb and others don't...
We have Chester on TOTW lamb and he's great, Newmand and Ollie were a little itchy on lamb, so we have them on the salmon. Of all the protein sources, I think Salmon is the least likely to cause allergies. But that being said, it could still be pollens, etc.
oops didn't read the last
oops didn't read the last part...about giving her allergy meds
My gut reaction would be to switch fast...but . . .
Its probably not the right thing to do however. Defiantely transition her, I feel bad for her (and you too!)
Last steps taken May 26, 2014 -- Been rolling along ever since . . . .
Just Switch
You may have some loose stools, but if she's miserable on this new food just get her off it. You might want to be proactive and give her pumpkin for a couple of days.
When I was feeding kibble and if I made a change I just switched, never had a problem.
i agree, just do a quick switch...
rather over weeks, just do it within like 2 days or something.. since she is use to the food already, it should be fine. it sucks when you are having allergies because then you dont know what is causing it if you have more then one change at a time. Kibby takes 1 plain claritin a day for her pollen and outside allergies. I couldn't handle all the trial and error with the food allergies anymore so I had kibby do a food allergy test, cost like $250, but was totally worth it, since each bag of her food is like $30 anyways.. if you want to see a copy of it, then let me know and I can email it to you. Its kinda neato because they will give u a list of the foods /brands that should be safe to eat. Kibby never had serious issues, but she had this ongoing darker earwax and brown paws issue from all the licking.. I just couldn't take it anymore. Turns out that kibby is allergic to beef, pork, tomatoes, green beans, wheat, shellfish, barley, sweet potatoes, and bananas... some more then others.. so just as long as I dont give her alot of any or a combination of the ingrediants , then she is fine... of course, I just try to avoid all of it.. you would be surprised at how many dog foods have barley and tomatoes in it! good luck!
sincerely, christine
Just do the switch:-)
I always do a fast switch with mine and deal with whatever may come.
Amy and Sophia
couldnt resist ;)
Sara I couldnt resist
"I always do a fast switch with mine and deal with whatever may come"............. OUT ! LOL
Good Morning BDW
Last steps taken May 26, 2014 -- Been rolling along ever since . . . .
LOL! You read between the lines on that one!!!
LOL!!
Amy and Sophia
Thanks for the advice!
Her Itchiness seems to come and go. She slept through the night last night without any scratching. But I'm going back to the salmon food for now and will reassess later on. I thought about the allergy testing but I don't think we are quite there yet, but it may be worth it one day if she continues to have symptoms. Thanks again everyone! I haven't posted pics of her in awhile so I will get on that soon! She also has a big birthday coming up in a month!!