Beneful allergies and drooling?

Question

Please help! My dog Max, a 5-year-old (we guess - shelter dog!) neutered male, has started having these episodes where he starts drooling like crazy (at first it was foamy, but now it's just drool), and leans against me and doesn't move while he's drooling. i read that beneful (which we have been feeding him almost exclusively since we got him in december) causes allergies in dogs because it's made of crap.
could this possibly be the cause of max's problem? we've been to the vet and she is going to test him for epilepsy, but also suggested we discontinue the beneful when i told her that the spells happen shortly after he's eaten.
i love my little buddy, and i wouldn't be feeding him something that would hurt him if i'd known!!! i thought beneful was a good food, but reading what's been said, i think i'm wrong. can someone tell me if the food could be causing his drooling problem? before this started, he never was much of a drooler at all.

Answer 1

It could be Tonsillitis

Dogs have tonsils like humans do. Dogs have one set of tonsils: one tonsil is located on each side of the throat. They can become inflamed, and when they do, it is called tonsillitis.


As with other throat and mouth irritations, many dogs will be reluctant to eat and will drool excessively because swallowing is painful. Other dogs with the same condition may swallow repeatedly. Dogs may also retch, cough, and act depressed. Depending on the cause, they may also have a fever (a normal adult canine temperature is 100.5-102.5°F). When inflamed, the tonsils become enlarged and red, fold out of the crypts, and are easily visible with the naked eye.



please talk to your vet about this problem your vet should have recomended some other type of foods for your pet to eat.


I recomend,

The RAW diet
Timber Wolf Ogranics
Royal Canin
Canidae Chicken and Rice Formula
Wellness
Natural Balance
Eagle Pack

Answer 2

Yes, I would suggest changing this food and trying it out. I would suggest using eukanuba - we have looked through the ingredients and it seems like the most healthy ingredients are listed for dogs. It is so hard to go by the commericals and etc that are out there about foods.

As for the drooling - I would say that it isn't from the food. If there was an allergy from the food - then he would itch all the time and would not-stop lick it's paws. Plus, his third eye lids would come out all the time. I have seen a case where a dog had an allergy to the flavoring in Heartworm control (the tabs that prevent heartworm from a vet). That dog was allegic to beef (or the whatever meat it was) and the dog would fall over all the time. It was affecting his muscles and he couldn't stand up straight or walk right. In addition, when you would call the dogs name, the dog would jolt like it was surprised even if you were sitting right in front of it. So, I don't think the food is the problem.

I would say that with my experience it is epilepsy which can start in older dogs which isn't uncommon. Since the dog is foaming only at certain times and leaning on you - I would conclude with that. It could be something in the food that trigers him though to have this issue. Try the new food, what will it hurt. Make sure that you purchase the food from a popular pet store though - nothing from a grocery store as these bags of food sit on the shelves too long and go bad.

Good Luck! Best Wishes for your little buddy!

Answer 3

It's possible. Crap for food can have that affect. We fed our dog Zues Pedigree for the longest time before we discovered just what we were putting into his body. He also had a drooling problem until we switched, though being a Boxer helped him drool.

But take one step at a time. Check for the epilepsy first. Go from there.

And, like your vet said, please discontinue your use of Beneful. And do NOT feed Pedigree, like another person suggested. It's just as bad. You can check this site out (www.dogfoodproject.com) as a way to make a good decision in dog food.

Answer 4

It sounds like epilepsy,but the food could encourage it. I would switch to a quality food purchased from the vet or at a feed store. A fish/potatoe blend works well with dogs having issues with wheat and wheat byproducts found in the lower priced grocery store blends. It very often is the fillers,grains and food colorings in the lower priced foods that cause animals to be allergic or present allergy symptoms. We fed our dogs Pedigree prior to my developing epilepsy(St. Bernard)and took medication for control until about 9months ago. Her body has matured enough that her nervous system doesn't require the meds anymore. This could happen with your dog as well.She continues with the fish/potatoe blend and is given health bars made by Innova. They are full of Omega 3 fish oils, and other nutrients,without food colorings and additives. You can purchase them in the size required for your pet,can be used as training tools,rewards,or just because you love him so much!

Answer 5

No matter how good the food is, if your dogs reacts to it you should switch. Watch out for "fishmeal", Red coloring or anything that sounds too bizarre. Remember ingredents are listed in order of concentration. The principal ingredients will be first. Try ONE. I have had good luck with it. If that does not work, go to special premium brands.

Answer 6

After researching commercial dog foods and finding out what a lot of them are putting into their dog food (even "premium" dog food), I have switched my Corgi to a raw food diet. She loves it, I feel good about the food I am giving her, and she has never looked better. It is not for everyone, but definately worth researching.

Answer 7

The reason pet food companies use corn is that it is cheap, and it contains protein, and most people don't know it is bad for their dog. It boosts the protein percentages on the package. They don't care that the dogs and cats can't utilize the corn protein like people can. They might as well use sawdust for all the nutritional benefit. I stopped buying Science Diet years ago when they started using corn to boost their protein numbers. And I have studied too much animal nutrition to ever feed Purina products.

Answer 8

I heard something about mold in beneful that was killing dogs. Either way Beneful is not a good food, and I reccomend you buy a higher quality dog food.

Answer 9

Get him off it right away. Today would be good. I have a dog that foams at the mouth when I use disinfectant to mop the floor. She is in another room & only as to get a sniff of it to start her off. I don't know if its the smell or an allergy. Now I don't use disinfectant.

Answer 10

they showed that same food that beneful'and lots of animals died and lots of their kidneys have failed..i read it 4days ago on the newspaper on computer...the food got moldy and is toxic to animals,,,,wish i knew more,,,try to look it up on Google or yahoo....this is crazy'buy food for your dog and the dogs get deathly ill,,,,,,,good luck my prayer are with you...