Food for Cocker Spaniel

Question
I have a male cocker who has been scratching alot.  He was on Innova kibble.  I started added a oil supplement biological Vets in Feb.  Then my vet suggested the Royal Canin skin support in March.  I tried it for 2 weeks along with Innova.  They didn't like it and it really smelled. I stopped using it and then switched to Orijen dog food which is made in alberta Canada where I live. I acutally toured the plant and all the ingredients they use is locally sourced. Then the pet food recall happened.  Skin support royal canin was on the list.  Both my cockers had the blood tests and liver/kidneys are okay. Now after all the pet food recall, I am making a homemade diet, recipe from my new vet, and still feeding orijen.  Are you familiar with Urban wolf.  It is a dehydrated product that you had meat and oil to? Sojo's is another.  They also making Missing Link?  Molly my other cocker has eyes that run all the time.  I heard missing link really helps this.  what do you think of Raw diets/ raw bones/ I am nervous about the raw diet but I have given raw bones and they love it.  casey's nose and pads are really dry and I think from researching, he may have vit a defiency.  On Oprah, her vet recommended Merrick, Evangers, Natures Variety, but still felt homemade fresh foods are the best.  

Answer
Hi Kathy,
Innova is a good choice but I suggest trying Innova EVO canned.  

Re your "scratching male" - I have a few suggestions.  This usually has nothing to do with food (food allergies are the case about 2% of the time).

1.  1,000 mg. Salmon oil a.m. and p.m.
2.  100 IU Vitamin E a.m. and p.m.
3.  1,000 mg. of either Borage Oil/Evening Primrose
4.  10,000 IU of plain Vitamin A daily for a month

With salmon oil, I like Carlson's best.  Very high EPA and rated very well for purity.
Vitamin E must be "d'alpha" (or it's synthetic)

Now..re Molly and the eyes.  I strongly suggest a visit to a vet opthamologist.  If both eyes are running, it's "probably" not dry eye.  Could be inhalant allergy.
For instant relief, buy some Genteal eye gel (totally safe-recommended by my own dog's opthamologist).  It comes in mild-moderate-severe.  Try the moderate first...maybe 4 times a day and see if that helps.
I'd put her on all the above supplements too.

For both of them - try bathing twice a week and see if that makes some improvement.  Rinse extremely well and I'd clip your boy down for the time being.

Re your other food questions...yes, I saw Dr. Goldstein on Oprah too and hoped it would encourage people to make their own food.  I've been doing it for years.  Nothing in a can or box is "real food" and is processed to death.  So good for you.

No, I won't feed raw either and you're taking a very real risk with raw bones.

Merrick-Evangers-Nature's Variety is all good.  I also recommend Newman's Organics - Azmira - Active Life - Eagle Pack - Natural Balance.  But homemade is the best.

I'd like to know what the diet is and if it's varied enough - amounts of protein/carbs/veggies - and what you're using as a calcium supplement?

Don't hesitate to contact me by email at DeeBeck7765@aol.com since I'm more than pleased to answer any and all questions about homemade food.  It's easy (although work) but does have to be done correctly with a lot of variety.  One recipe isn't going to do it.

Also - since your pups were on the recall food and even though they've tested okay, I'd still be temporarily giving a small amount of Milk Thistle to compensate for any damage.
(Most vets give this for liver damage and there's no harm in a little insurance).
Delores