These are all too familiar questions many dog owners ask after chronic ear infections, intolerable itching, red sores, horrendous gas/diarrhea and/or patchy baldness crop up out of no where in otherwise healthy adult dog.  So the symptoms have cropped up, now what?  Dr. Susan Wright, DVM, resident veterinarian for Dog Fence DIY offers her advise and shed some light on food allergies.

Food Allergies

by guest author Dr. Susan Wright, DVM

Food allergy is a very common cause of skin inflammation in dogs. It can cause itching and reddening all over the body. Because these changes are happening on the skin, it allows the harmless bacteria that normally live there to multiply, causing infection. This makes the problem worse.

Here are the facts about food allergies in dogs.

1. It’s common, and it often occurs in conjunction with other allergies, such as flea allergy, or an allergy to plant pollens in the air. This means that if you manage the symptoms of one allergy, you often reduce the severity of the other.

2. Food allergy in dogs can be managed without drugs, providing you put the effort into finding out what he’s allergic to, and keeping it out of his dinner bowl. This sounds like hard work, and it is.

3. Dogs aren’t allergic to something new you’ve just added to his diet. The problem is something he’s been eating for several years. Wheat, beef, lamb or dairy products are often problem foods for dogs.

4. The only way to tell if your dog does in fact have food allergy is to perform a food trial. This means you need to figure out a source of protein and also a carbohydrate source he’s never eaten before. If he’s never eaten it before, he’s not going to be allergic to it.

5. Feed him this for 6-8 weeks. Nothing else. No treats, no kibble, no toast crusts. It’s hard, and he will look at you with his soulful eyes, asking for a treat from your plate. Don’t give in. Keep in mind that you’re doing him a favor. If his skin improves, you know his diet is playing a role in his itchy skin.

6. At this point, you start adding the components of his regular diet to his meal. However, you only do it one at a time. So, for two weeks, feed him beef. If he is fine, then you can keep feeding him beef. If he starts scratching again, then you know he can’t have beef any more. Do this with several foods, and make a note of the results. You’ll end up with a list of foodstuffs that don’t make your dog itch, and another list of foods that your dog just can’t eat any more.

7. Throughout this process, work closely with your vet, because there may be times that his skin develops an infection from the bacteria that normally reside on his skin. He may need antibiotics or medicated shampoos to clear this up.

For the rest of your dog’s life, only feed him foods that are on your safe list. That way, he’s less likely to have that constant itching and scratching that comes with food allergies. There’s no guarantee he won’t become allergic to one of his safe foods in the future, but you know what you have to do.

Managing our dog’s food allergy in this way is labor intensive and time consuming. However, it’s much safer than treating him with medication that can have side effects, and may not completely solve the problem. Your dog is worth the effort.

This guest post is brought especially to you by Dog Fence DIY’s staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright, DVM. Dog Fence DIY will help you choose the right underground fence system that you are looking for. They are wonderful with all the steps involved in the purchase, installation, and training of your new pet containment system. Be sure to visit Dog Fence DIY for all your pet containment needs and questions.

I will post pictures from our LAST trip to Chicago tomorrow, they are LONG over do!  The pool party pics are the best!

Its great to be back blogging again.  I’ve miss you all!

xoxo

Rufus looks so smart in his new collar.

I visited their website for several days admiring the images. I contemplated the nuances of each style, comparing the intricate details and specs. I imagined how each of the designs would look on the boys and how the leather would smell and feel in my hands. I found myself staring at the computer screen daydreaming about them … were we starting a love affair? lol.

I have purchased a ton of gorgeous, fancy collars for my dogs but still had not taken the plunge and bought expensive posh leather ones for the Saint Bernards.  I have actually been a little afraid to drop that much money on a leather collar and have it show up looking like so many of those cheap pleather messes I have seen in many of the pet boutiques.   The Dean & Tyler product pictures were amazing and they looked top of the line so decided I would take my chances.

I narrowed it down my choices to two designs (Plaited Perfection and Tylers Vintage) and it was time to pull the trigger, choose wisely grasshopper. I choose the Tylers Vintage in the 25-27” XL size. Yes, bully breed and big dog owners… they actually carry big boy sizes in stock! Hey Mango… tell mama she needs to get you some fancy new duds!

I was in desperate need of another leather leash as well. I only leather one I had; I got at the expo in Chicago in March. That decision was a lot easier though, they offer exactly what I was looking for. The Braidy Bunch; a ¾” 5 foot leather leash with braiding on the handle and clip to give it extra durability - functional, stylish and elegant.

Satisfied with my choices I sat back and waited for my prized purchase. I expected to wait 6 to 8 weeks for it to ship, and much to my surprise it came in about 2 weeks. .The box arrived and I couldn’t wait to open it.  The anticipation washed over me as I tore open the box.  What I found inside was nothing short of magical.  The collar was sooo much nicer than anything I had even imagined.  It’s thick, buttery handmade leather and embellished with elegant antique brass plates.  The quality and workmanship is superb.  It felt absolutely exquisite in my hands. The photos on the site clearly don’t do the products justice. I love the collar so much I just ordered a second one for Brutus so the boys will match (stay tuned for a picture of them both wearing their BIG BOY BLING!) I could go on and on about how excellent they are, but don’t take my word for it, see for yourself.  Dean & Tyler product are certainly worth every red cent - you won’t be disappointed, I promise.

Dean and Tyler has been gracious enough to offer the Its the Dogs Life readers a 25% discount on all their products, in all their shops; collars, harnesses and leashes.  When ordering enter DOGSLIFE in the coupon code box to receive 25% off your entire purchase.

The rain meant we did not stay to play afterwards, thus no pictures.  Disappointing, yes! But the good news is that Wednesday nights we are invited to go to Bark Park to exercise and play with the dogs.  For every 20 miutes I walk the dogs, I get an extra WW point!  Brilliant!

I have been very serious about trying to lose weight and get healthy over the past couple of months. I want to be healthier and more active for my dogs to improve their quality of life as well as mine. I have been doing pretty well, making decent progress. About a month ago Marcia from Bark Park sent me an invitation to join a very special non-traditional (yet sponsored) Weight Watchers group @ Bark Park to help me on my quest. I am really excited!

For the next 10 Saturday mornings the dogs (Zeus/Hera/ Apollo) and I will be going to Bark Park for WW meetings. All the group members will be like-minded dog lovers and will be bringing their dogs as well. The dogs will be running around playing, swimming and socializing on the Bark Park grounds while we are helping and encouraging (and adding accountability) each other become lean, mean, “weight watching” machines. After our meetings we are invited to stay for “healthy” sack lunches and exercise/playtime with the dogs. In addition there will be a group walk/hike scheduled at the Metro Parks numerous Dog Trails during the week for those that can attend. Brutus & Rufus will get to go on these walks when we can make it (I don’t trust them enough to be unattended when I am in the meetings). I even bought them Ruffwear Approach II backpacks so they can carry our water and poop bags on the hikes.  They look like they are wearing saddles…

It get can’t get any better than this! Saturdays at Bark Park with my dogs, losing weight, support group and photographs… oh yea, you know the old Canon will be accompanying me to catch all the action. Paws and fingers crossed I will be successful.

Here’s to getting fit and the return of (a modified) Bark Park Saturday - Cheers!

The labs aren’t bothered by the noise but the Saint Bernards… OMG you would think the sky is falling, and to them, it is.  They bark, growl and lunge at the windows, trying to attack the source of the noise.  If that’s not bad enough, the drooling, panting and frenzied pacing completes the perfect horrorday holiday package for me.  Friday night we were out at the lake and came home to the boys in such distress I thought Rufus was going to bloat.

I stayed home with them Saturday (the actual 4th) and turned up the TV full blast.  My being there helped tremendously.  Rufus was still a wreck, but he calmed down quickly after it was over and actually lay at my feet to go to sleep with in 10 minutes of it being over.  So, I guess I am bound to the house with them from here on out.  Did I happen to mention that I hate the 4th!

ON A LIGHTER NOTE….

Its Zeus’s Birthday!!!!!! Happy Birthday Big boy.  He’s a little whiter in the muzzle these days, but still spunky as ever! Nothing special tonight, his birthday surprise is Saturday… I’ll let you in on the secret tomorrow . Its super duper awesome!

My son had a special birthday boy collar commissioned by the Sew Crazy Dog Lady.  He loves to play billiards and when he was dragged forced went to Joann Fabrics with me, he picked out a cool billiards ball fabric just for Zeus.  Isnt he handsome!  Thanks Sew Crazy Dog Lady!  Zeus looks great and its another fine quality piece to add to our ever growing addiction BLING wardrobe…

For those of you that missed it last year, I made a photo compilation for Zeus’s birthday.  I thought I’d give it one more go round… Happy Birthday Zoobie Doo!  Mommy loves you!

Last week I took the plunge and joined the world of the tragically hip.  I am now officially an iPhone addict user.  I never thought I would upgrade into that realm of smart phones, but I have and there is NO looking back!  I can facebook, check email, IM, text, youtube, surf the web (my site looks cool via iPhone), visit my forums, twit and SHOP all from my phone!  I cant imagine life without all this mobile information at my finger tips.  Is it worth the hype…. absolutely!

Speaking of shopping… a few weeks ago I posted about the most awesome green dog beds (here) called Molly Mutt Dog Duvets. Since then I have ordered a second one and wanted to order a third  Molly Mutts Dog Duvet for the dogs to have upstairs in my bedroom.  The two I already have are working out so wonderfully I dont think I will ever own anything but ever again.  I left the house and went to go and see a movie (OK I saw Ice Age 3 by myself) I forgot to order the bed.  I had about 10 minutes to kill before the previews started and they turned down the lights so I pulled out my handy dandy iPhone and pulled up the Molly Mutts site just to admire and decide which one I would order when I got home.  I clicked on the “Your Hand in Mine” and saw the “add to cart” button.  Could I really order from my phone?  I selected the size and added “1″ in the quantity box and held my breath as I tentatively pushed the “add to cart” button.  I half expected it to give me a connection error but no… it went on to “proceed to check out” - OMG could I really be buying something right here in the movie theater?

I signed up for an account, put in my shipping and payment information… so far so good. Then I submitted the order. I expected that I’d hit a snag at this point but when it said success….. I almost jumped out of my seat and started doing a happy dance!  I wanted to shout to the whole theater “I just bought a Molly Mutt Duvet on my iPhone!!!”  For fear that I would look even more insane that I already did, sitting alone in a kids movie, I opted to tweet it!  Oh technology rocks!

What rocks even more…. Molly Mutt has already shipped my duvet!  I received notification this afternoon with a tracking number and it was already at the FedEx hub!  Talk about the most awesome service ever!! Excellent quality workmanship and superb customer service makes Molly Mutt an A+ in my book (not to mention my dogs seal of approval).  I should receive it in a few days and I will post photos of both of my new beds.  Brutus is sprawled out on his as I type - Saint Bernard tested and approved!

I have bought a few cool dog apps for the iPhone as well.  So far this is my favorite. Dog Diary $2.99 is a great app for dog owners. Organize your dogs pertinent information - this is great for owners like me with multiple dogs.  Each dog is listed separately with a picture icon to keep track of their info.

• Picture Gallery - Show off your favorite photos. Choose photos from your library or take new ones with your iPhone camera.
• ID - Birthday, registration, microchip, type/breed, name.
• Veterinary - Store your dogs’ vet phone and address, get directions from current location in Google Maps app, or call them with just one tap.
• Medications - Keep track of which medications your pet needs, how much, and when.
• Custom info lists - If there isn’t already a field for what you want, just create a new one.
• Notes - Keep whatever other information you want!
• Flexible - All data is editable, all lists are re-arrangeable. Re-size and order photos.