Raw and kibble mixed, new research

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

It was carbs and cheap fillers in kibble and wet dog food that caused the yeast overload and then the manky ears, which resulted in several ear infections, terrible itching/scratching and paw chewing with my dog. Initially my vet put her on steroids and then wanted to give her Apoquel, I said no more drugs. Fortunately I have managed to resolve her problems after lots of research and trial and error, without drugs. She has Orijen kibble which is high in protein and low in carbs, no grains, potatoes or sugar beet, and Forthglade Just Range. Even Forthglade with veg has set her off again with the problems. Stinky Stuff's food supplement daily helps considerably with these problems and encourages hair regrowth. Aromesse Pet Nat products are good for cleaning and soothing ears and an occasional itching/ paw licking or chewing episode. Home cooked chicken or any other meat and fish doesn't cause her any problems.
I had never encountered any of these problems with any of my dogs before, it was a nightmare to get them sorted. Steroids and other drugs just mask the problems, they don't cure the root of the problem. When you look on Itchy Dog Sites on fb it is apparently a fairly common problem.
I hope that you manage to resolve your dog's itching before it gets worse. It can take a few weeks for the irritant to leave their systems. the Stinky Stuff's food supplement should help with this.

I started Bear and Zak on Orijen before going fully raw and I thought it was great, if expensive, but whichever kibble you use, you’re going to find that it has, by its very nature, been stored for weeks or been on a ship etc. So the mite comment might (ha!) hold value.

I’ll have a look at Stinky Stuff, I’ve read excellent reviews. He isn’t in distress, it’s a minor irritant at most. Is it the food stuff you use?

I’ve just picked up after him and I’m sure I can see bone in there so I think the OH fed him chicken wings this morning, which he knows not to do, I’m doing a 2 week elimination of chicken. The inside of his ears are red again when they weren’t yesterday. ? I’ve bought lots of raw fish to replace the chicken wings/mince.

 

[Andie02]

Thanks. May give it a go for Jack x

Is he having problems with itching/ears ?

 

[Andie02]

Is it the food stuff you use?

It is, however I found that their ear stuff made her ears sore.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

It is, however I found that their ear stuff made her ears sore.

Thing is, he was fine yesterday but has chewed his paw and done head shaking today. I’ll blooming kill my OH, it’s purely cos he was on early shift today that I got a lie in and he fed. ?

 

[Andie02]

Thing is, he was fine yesterday but has chewed his paw and done head shaking today. I’ll blooming kill my OH, it’s purely cos he was on early shift today that I got a lie in and he fed. ?

Having been all through this with our dog which was a nightmare to resolve, it does sound like yeast ! I would get him on the Stinky Stuff food supplement asap and check ingredients in the kibble for carbs. Aromesse stuff great for ears, and the Dermacton cream and spray good for itching/chewing paws. Head shaking is a sign of an ear infection which can be the yeast. Just a thought could the swimming be causing ear problems or adding to them ?

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Having been all through this with our dog which was a nightmare to resolve, it does sound like yeast ! I would get him on the Stinky Stuff food supplement asap and check ingredients in the kibble for carbs. Aromesse stuff great for ears, and the Dermacton cream and spray good for itching/chewing paws. Head shaking is a sign of an ear infection which can be the yeast. Just a thought could the swimming be causing ear problems or adding to them ?

No chicken was fed this morning, only whichever mince is in the bag. Unfortunately, I don’t know if it was the beef or the lamb, they look identical. He hasn’t been swimming for ages and after issues with Zak’s ears, we always take tissue to dry them in the car. He looked like he’d been stung when he was head shaking, like he was trying to get something off. I’m buying the Stinky Stuff right now! Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[Andie02]

No chicken was fed this morning, only whichever mince is in the bag. Unfortunately, I don’t know if it was the beef or the lamb, they look identical. He hasn’t been swimming for ages and after issues with Zak’s ears, we always take tissue to dry them in the car. He looked like he’d been stung when he was head shaking, like he was trying to get something off. I’m buying the Stinky Stuff right now! Thanks for the recommendation.

It's unfortunate you didn't mention last week, they have just had an offer of 25% off so obviously I put an order in.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

It's unfortunate you didn't mention last week, they have just had an offer of 25% off so obviously I put an order in.

I was just doing elimination last week and we were away from home. I’ve only bought 100ml as according to the dosage, he needs 5ml a day, so enough time, imo, to see if it helps. He hasn’t been scratching his ears. I wonder if the redness is exacerbated by his frankly crazy running through cover, he is a bit wild in the woods and likes to go straight through brambles!

 

[Equi]

Fairly certain I ate the cornflake dog food as much as the dog did. One for me one for you….

 

[honetpot]

Vitalin, that’s the one, cornflakes for dogs! I may as well have gone down the cereal aisle in Asda! I stuck to the green tripe.

Our first dog got Vitalin and left overs, it was recommended by a sheep farmer who gave it to his dogs, our collieX lived to be eighteen.
I have never fed raw, I just do not get it, having sold human food and had half a cow, literally in my freezer the safe storage and handling boggles me.
I started trying new types of dry dog food when we got a rescue lurcher,who came out of kennels with every infection going and explosive bowels, so tried many types, and ended up with a high meat, no grain dry kibble, which seems to suit my dogs since. The vet today said my Rottie X who is eleven, looks about six, with very clean teeth. Since some of mine love to snack on any sort of poop they can find, I think dried is not going to hurt them, they get a top dressing of Butchers and chorizo for snacks.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

My dogs'food comes in handy 1kg bags, minced, plus they have offal and chicken wings, no half cows here, although a mate gave me 20 brace of mixed birds once, that was fun!

 

[AmyMay]

Is he having problems with itching/ears ?

He’s a licker of the arm pit (his), and your comment about carbs resonated. Won’t hurt to try a different feed for him.

 

[Moobli]

I’ve fed a kibble and raw diet for a good few years now and my dogs do great on it. I’ve never understood the different digestion rates stuff that is bandied around about it. Just doesn’t make sense.

 

[Andie02]

He’s a licker of the arm pit (his), and your comment about carbs resonated. Won’t hurt to try a different feed for him.

Good that its not your armpits that he has a fetish with

What about Daisy, surely you aren't going to deprive her !

 

[AmyMay]

Good that its not your armpits that he has a fetish with

What about Daisy, surely you aren't going to deprive her !

If Jack does well on it she’ll have it too. Xx