What is in the dog food that makes my dog scratch so much?

Question

I was told that my dog may be alergic to certain dog food. She does not have fleas and still scratches alot, I'm trying different brands of food to see which one will help. Anyone have any ideas what I could do or what type of shampoo to use or not use?

Answer 1

Your dog could have been biten from a different kind of insect like a mosquito. Your dog might have dry skin which is really quite nasty. If she/he does you should use special flaky skin shampoo for dogs or organic shampoo for dogs. Aloe vera rubbed into the skin is not a good thing to do( most people say it does) but it just makes matters worse. Your dog may be lactose intolerent aswell. Make sure you check with your vet. You could also give your dog one sardine per meal. The oil in the sardines help your dogs coat to become shiny and healthy looking. Plus the Omega 3 in the sardines are great for your dog.

Answer 2

It's hard to say, different dogs have sensitivities to different things. I'd recommend finding a food that uses No by-products and has only named meats and meat meals in the ingredients. Also, no corn, wheat, or soy as they are common allergens. You want to pick a food that has not artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives in it as well. A good food I'd recommend would be Blue Buffalo available at PetsMart to try to find if it's a protein allergy. If that doesn't help, try a grain free food like Evo to see if it could be grains causing the problem. Blue Buffalo also has a new low grain formula too.

As far as shampoos, the only one that didn't leave my dog dandruffy (and I've tried the Tomlyn Nova Pearls someone else recommended) was Buddy Wash by Cloudstar. It uses a coconut based shampoo which doesn't dry out the skin at all. It's also safe to use with flea preventatives like frontline and advantage. I got the Buddy Wash at Petco but you may find it in some holistic food stores.

Answer 3

be specific. what is in the food she is allergic to? look for those ingredients on the dog food can, box, or bag, and then avoid them. also, it may be that your dog has dry skin.... or an infection of some sort, like ears. i had a dog that got ear problems a lot, and scratched because it was itchy. if it turns out your dog DOES have dry skin, she will probably scratch more during the winter, when the air is extremely dry. if that's the case, ask a vet what kind of shampoo to use, and avoid bathing her often. too many baths actually strips away what natural body oils the animal has to start with. dry winter itch is awful in humans, so i can only imagine how dogs feel.

Answer 4

i'd say stop switching brands and have her allergy tested. switching brands so often not only will make her stomach upset but can cause allergy problems to get worse. the best way is to have an allergy test done. it's expensive but you'll know exactly what she's allergic to. why do you think it's the food? some dogs are allergic to environemental factors and the food is just fine. you could be switching food for no reason. with an allergy test you'll know exactly what it is and how to help her without the cost and trouble of trying several types of foods.


while seasonal allergies can change every season, i've never known a food allergy to change with the weather. if it's a true food allergy a test will tell you exactly what food the dog is allergic to. if you have a peanut allergy you don't have it in the winter but come summer it's all gone and you can eat all the peanuts you want. a food allergy is just that an allergy to a certain type of food. find out what that allergy is so you won't have to keep guessing. my vet told me this.

Answer 5

I would try feeding "Wellness Fish & Sweet Potato" That food is good for dogs who have severe skin allergies. The Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids will help with the coat. It takes about a month before you'll see the results. But it should help your dog.

The Shampoo you should be using is one that is soap free like "Nova Pearls" or "Hydra Pearls" or "Kelco". Stay away from the "Four Paws" shampoo's they use too many harsh chemicals. And never use shampoo for people. We have a different PH balance so our shampoo will cause dry skin. And try to only bathe your dog once a month. If you bathe more often than that it will cause your dog to suffer from dry, itchy skin because you're washing away all the protective oils the dog needs.

Answer 6

It might not be the food, she doesn't have fleas but could have dry skin which makes a dog scratch. One of my dogs has terrible dandruff or dander. I suggest using a dog shampoo and conditioner that is recommeded for very dry and sensitive skin. What breed of dog is this?

Answer 7

They can be allergic to anything in the food.
The first ingredient listed it the primary ingredient. Change to a food that has a different primary ingredient. Try one that uses oatmeal. Anything other than corn. And if you buy cheap house-brand foods then quit and get something like Iams or Eukanuba. My older cat almost died eating kirkland dry catfood. Started with the itching, then barely would get out of her bed. After switching to a good food he was fine in a week.

Answer 8

How do you know she doesn't have fleas? Do you know what flea dirt looks like, and how to search for it?

If a dog has food allergies it means he is allergic to certain ingredients, like pork or wheat, rather than the dog food as a whole.

I suggest you seek veterinary advice. The cause of allergies can be hard to pin down, but they can help your dog's itching in the mean time. They can also help you properly check your dog for fleas.

It might not be fleas or allergies. It might be one of the many types of mange mite, it might even be hormaonal! Like I said, seek veterinary advice.

Chalice

Answer 9

Try your local pet store (not a chain like Petco but a small mom and pop pet store). Ask them to recommend a good healthy food for your dog.

There are a lot of good dog foods out there, unfortunately you have to go to a smaller store to find it. And because the stores are smaller, they may not carry every brand of good dog food.

In general, stay away from anyting with Corn or Corn products and gluten. The better dogs foods with say "human grade", "Organic" or "Hollistic".

The best dog food is Raw. I feed my dogs raw food, add a little olive oil, cottage cheese/yogurt, and pumpkin. If you can afford it, look for something like "Steve's real food" or "Primal". Again, look for food that has "human grade" or "Organic" on it.

Answer 10

My dog's been itchy for a long time already...Over a year..It's something I have been trying to figure out for awhile but no matter what food I feed her she still itches so for my dog it's not the food,