Chesapeake Bay Retriever skin rash

Question
We have a 7 month old Cheesie male, weighs 65lbs well behaved, active. We live in middle Ga. and have had a mild summer. His run is 15x30 with pea gravel. We live on 10 acres and have an electric fence so he is out roaming (mostly under supervision) most mornings and after work. We have a pool that uses salt for chlorination. About 3 months ago he starting chewing is butt. We took him to the vet and she said he needed his glands expressed. They were full. She gave him a steroid shot to help clean up the sores and it healed up. About a month later it came back but worse. This time not his butt but his tail. Right about mid tail. Then he started breaking out. We had changed his food so we thought that was it. Back to Puppy Chow and to the vet. This time a flea allergy. We went to to pill for fleas sprayed his run. At this time he did not have any visible fleas but the Frontline was not working very good so we were happy to change on both dogs. Another steroid shot and a mange test (tested negative). Clears up for a week or so and here it comes again. We give him Benadyl to get him by until he can get another steroid shot (monthly). Back to vet after a month sores on sides now and underneath. Another mange test (negative) but mange is hard to detect so vet says lets treat him (oral drops (N or Iv ermectin 1 cc a day). Steroid shot and we change food to Purina One (no red dye) We are at 11 days. He was clear for a week. Then he starts with the tail and red rash under his belly. Then goes at the feet. Now sores under the legs. He also, has runny eyes a lot. Greenish yellow. I am reading that Cheeses require a diet high in protein and fat. We have contacted the breeder but no response yet. He was feed Puppy Chow as a pup we think. We have Zoyia grass he loves to scratch his belly on. It is treated by Southern Lawns but Quarterly. We always make sure it is well dry and I am pretty sure it rained before he got on the grass. Last treatment was 1st of August so timing is right but I would think it would not have happened or slowed down in end of June, July.
Can you suggested a diet cure.
He swims daily (usually with me).
We have been using this Vet for 20 years and trust her.


Answer
Hi Jeff,

I'm sorry you've been going through all of this, when a simple change to a high quality dog food might well have been the answer, or at least alleviated much of the problem.

Your dog is showing signs of food allergy/intolerance and you need to get on a premium food and OFF the Purina asap.

can you check locally for the availability of the following:


Acana
http://www.championpetfoods.com/acana/show-product.php?formulation=plb


Innova
http://www.innovapet.com/products/default.asp?id=1259

FrommFourStar (all life stages)
http://www.frommfamily.com/products-fs-d-d-duck.php

Just a couple of ideas for much better foods. I can't say for sure what ingredients might cause a reaction in your dog - and if he's allergic to,say, chicken, it won't matter how high quality a product is, if it has chicken he will react. The duck food is excellent insofar as it uses a novel protein, but my guess is all the grain and low grade ingredients Purina uses may well be behind the problems your puppy s experiencing.

Please let me know if you can't find any of the above foods and I'd like to hear how he does nice you've made the switch. Transitioning a puppy diet should always be done slowly, in this case, I'd say  in increments of one third (new to old) food. Since all of the above foods contain much more meat and less grain then Purina, a too-fast switch can cause a little runny stool, and he doesn't need that.

If this is an allergy, you may need to consider a home made diet down the road, but it sounds like you have a busy life, let's see what can be accomplished with a diet change.

And please - do NOT allow your dog to contact grass that has been chemically treated. herbicides are known causes of cancer in both humans and dogs, especially lymphoma. My father was a vet and I've researched this for decades. I lost my own beloved Ridgeback at only 8 years old, to an herbicide related cancer. PLEASE - if you must use this stuff, keep your dog well away from it.

All the best, Catherine