Dog Allergies

Sawyer has suffered from allergies (and hotspots) since I got him last January. I first noticed it around February when I got home from work, and he had developed a massive hotspot on his hindquarters. After a quick trip to the vet, he was shaved and had a nice little regimen of steroids and antibiotics to fight infection and control the itch. Several hotspots later, and he had a nice stockpile of steroids, sprays, gels, wipes and herbs all claiming to "stop the itch." Nothing was working. I hated the idea of keeping him on steroids for the long haul, and luckily, my vet agreed. So, I started him on Claritin (loratadine). At first, it made him sleepy, but once he became accustomed to the daily dose, his itchiness began to fade. He made it through the summer without another hot spot. He was a happy boy!

Since Austin is notorious for its allergies, I though the move to Houston would also help. We managed to make it all the way to this past November before he got another hotspot. This time, it appeared on his neck by his collar. Another round of antibiotics and some Genesis topical spray (more on this later), and he was all better. I had to see a new vet here in Houston, and after going through his medical history, she decided that maybe he had a food allergy. Possibly a grain allergy, one of the most common food allergies found in dogs.

I was reluctant to try a food switch. He was on Eukanuba, which is known for providing excellent nutrition to animals. I didn't think it was a food allergy, and I didn't want to stress him out by making the switch. I held out for about a month. She also told me to switch him over to Zyrtec (10 mg/day) instead of the Claritin. I made that switch, and it did not seem as effective.

One day in December as I noticed Sawyer's itching getting worse, I decided to visit an all natural dog food store (Natural Paws) in Houston. I figured it couldn't hurt to ask a few questions. The woman I spoke with was completely knowledgeable about the various types of grain free foods out on the market. She went through the list of ingredients with me to show me which items could be potential triggers or problem areas. I finally decided on Taste of the Wild- because of the various types of proteins that were offered, the big 30-lb bag (apparently organic dog food doesn't always come in large quantities) and the relatively decent price. After reading the reviews online, I decided to give it a shot. I decided on the Bison and Venison type, which is grain free and loaded with all-natural nutrients. Did it work on Sawyer's allergies? Read tomorrow's post to find out...