Lab and Pug Foods

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have two dogs, 1 6yr.old yellow lab (m) 1 4yr old pug(f) best friends! Both are suffering from itching, shedding,ear redness. I am at my wits end trying to find a GOOD Grain free food for both that may help to resolve this issue. the pug is constantly licking her paws, and keeps me up at night:( the Lab is also suffering w/ fatty tumors! any suggestions w/ be helpful!

ANSWER: Cherilyn,

There are lots of good brands but your dogs may be allergic to a common ingredient. I need to evaluate your pets' current diet before making a recommendation. Please tell me what you are currently feeding (food, treats, etc) along with any other recent foods that had the same problem so that I can look at the ingredients and try to determine the culprit. Please include the brand and the formula so I can locate an ingredient list online.

Thank you,

Tracie Fowler
www.TrianglePet.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Tracie,.. the pug had been eating Royal Canine for Pugs, and the Lab.. Pedigree. 2-3 wks ago I switched them both to Eaarthborn Holistic naturals (grain free). also there treats now are Natural Balance L.I.T... I have even bought them some raw foods... chicken necks from a well known company.

Answer
Cherilyn,

Earthborn Primitive Natural Grain Free is a good food. Give it another 4 weeks (I recommend 6 weeks total to look for improvements before switching again). If you don't see an improvement, try California Natural Grain Free Venison. http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products/default.asp?id=1715 It is a limited ingredient food with a novel protein. Again, give it 4-6 weeks to see if they are improving.

If neither food resolves the issue, please get back to me and we will work through more of the elimination diet. Also, while you are determining the allergen, discontinue all other foods such as table scraps, treats, raw, etc. Right now you are a detective and need to minimize the list of suspects :) If you *need* to give treats for training or competition, be sure to do a single ingredient treat (jerky or freeze dried) of the same protein they are eating in their food. While feeding Earthborn, they can have chicken or turkey. If you switch to California Natural, they need to get venison. Bravo makes a great line of jerky and freeze dried treats to meet this need - http://www.bravorawdiet.com/bonusbites.html

Please let me know how it goes!

Best,

Tracie Fowler
www.TrianglePet.com