General Chat

Good luck Kaye (and Storm!) Let me know how it goes. Sarah

Oh Bless Sarah - he sounds just like my Storm. We think we should have called Storm Scooby Doo as he's scared of his own shadow - I'm sure some people must think he's been badly treated as he's nervous of strangers. He's worse with Women (and petrified of most children) and when I tell people that they always look at me! lol He follows me everywhere and whinges if I come upstairs on the computer for too long - even when Hubby's downstairs with him. They are certainly characters aren't they? Thanks for your comments - I think we will probably try that Vegan food. Cheers Kaye x (and Storm)

Hi Kaye, Mine is allergic to allsorts, I never had the tests done as the vet thought it would reveal quite a bit, and fortunately he doesn't get really ill if he has something he shouldn't. Certain foods give him blisters in and around the mouth such as red meats, dairy products (he is ok with soya), anything sugary (oops!), and something in mixers but I'm not sure what - maybe wheat? I believe the cereal in the ami food is corn based, but I could be wrong. He eats any fish ok, except mackerel, but won't eat fish that often, eggs (but only scrambled - did I mention he is also really faddy?!), I also give him veggie gravy on his dinner! I gave him duck and liver recently and he seemed ok, he loved it, but I wouldn't give it him too often as a) its probably too rich for him and b) he might develop a new allergy. He is also alergic to pollen (red welts all over him) so has to be washed down when we go out in the summer - which he hates!! Oh and a flea allergy, so he stays on programme tablets - frontline is as bad as fleas! He sounds like a nightmare, but touch wood has been ok for the last few years, he's nearly 10 now and we have known about his allergies for about 6 1/2 years, so lots of time to try stuff out. Apparently allegies are really common in german shepherds, I'm sure you will sort it out. Yes he is a complete coward, you want to see him if you touch his feet, anyone would think he was suffering from the worse form of abuse ever from the sound of the squeals coming from him! Sarah

Joy - thanks I'll take a look. Sarah - I have just been to VeggiePets and taken a look at their Ami Complete Vegan Dog Food (the one you use I think?) and it definitely looks like it could be ok - I'm going to email them about the cerea in it as he is apparently allergic to wheat, but it does look good. Thanks Kaye x

try typing in k9,theres a site there and there v/helpfull

Thanks Sarah - I'll go and have a look at that now. Is yours ok with white fish? I was going to try a Salmon and Potato food for mine - he's allergic to white fish, but perhaps Salmon will be OK? I emailed Burns about their dog foods and they suggested trying their Vension and Ricea and sent me a couple of attachments about allergies - apparently allergy tests are only 25% reliable and this Veterinary Professor has only known ONE true rice allergy in his time. The Vet said we can try a prescription diet, but that's going to cost us about £40 a fortnight just for Storm - we'll still have to get normal food for Bonnie. So we're going to give him potato and egg for a week and then start introducing either Burns Venison and Rice or the Salmon and Potato gradually and see how he gets on. Sounds like a typical German Shepherd problem - one other thing Sarah, is you dog a complete coward too or is that just mine? lol Kaye x

I also have a german shepherd who is allergic to lots of things. This website is good for vegetarian/allergic dogs, all foods listed show ingredients, don't know if it helps: www*veggiepets*com Replace * with . The ami complete vegan dog food suits mine, although he didn't like it much to start with, he will eat it better if I mix with eggs/tuna (he can have fish) Good luck, Sarah

Thanks everyone for all your comments - I am surprised at how many pets suffer in this way. Storm doesn't have any skin problems - his are intestinal - but funnily enough Bonnie my Retriever has terrible skin, so I am going to try her on a different food too and may try some Evening Primrose Oil as suggested on one of the threads (sorry can't remember which one now). We had a trip to the Pet Shop (which is where our Vets is too) and found a complete food that contains Salmon and Potato, so we may try that in a week or so, but for now he's on egg and potato. The vet said he was allergic to certain types of grass too and also Rice - I was really shocked and thought that must be rare, but obviously not. It's nice to know there are so many good pet owners out there - thanks again to you all. Kaye x

my dogs allergic to grass, that means she cant go for many walks, and when its really sunny she takes piriton, and evening primrose, shes allergic to one brand of dog food but we just advoid that

One of our cats had the same sort of problems. Had him tested & then a cocktail of anti alergy injection was made up for the ten most things hes allergic to, Took many months of desensitising injections on sliding scale timewise to inject the full course. I rang around the cat food suppliers to get details of what their foods had in them to find one that didnt contain any cereals(the worst of his reaction) or veggies because he s very allergic to carrots. We did finnalyy find a food he could & WOULD eat,they are so fussy!! & as we have two cats,that the other one would be ok on too. AS others have said your vet is probably the best one to advise. Have found with the prescription ones that they dont seem that appertising to them. Plus they seem to be rice based rather than cereal, & guess what?? he's allergic to rice too!!! Shirley

We used to have a Dalmatian who was always scratching and itching. We took him to the Veterinary College in Cambridge and after a barrage of tests they told us he was allergic to one of 28 grasses - well worth the trip and money! In fact he got better on his own. Our old Lab also developed an allergy in later life. I stopped feeding her ANYthing other than her one meal a day - we actually used something called Repnor Gold. And we washed her in sulphur shampoo and rubbed sulphur ointment into her sores. It did work and all her hair grew back and she was a healthy girl after that. But I guess each dog is different.

Thanks Maz - have had a quick look at that website. I will go back later and have a proper look, it may be worth emailing them? Kaye x

Try this site, it says they specialise in foods? If not they may be able to advise? http://www(.)pets-express(.)co(.)uk/ REMOVE BRACKETS Maz x

Hi Brenda - What's mealie meal? Kaye x

I used to feed my dog on mealie meal in Africa, he did very well on it with just a little meat. Its jsut a thought brenda

Thanks Hal - I will ring my rellies later and find out an address for the veterinary school. We were silly and got Storm from someone local who owned two German Shepherds and decided to breed from them - we went to see Mum & Dad and they seemed fine and so we thought the pups would be ok! We should have known better really, but we don't regret getting him - at least with us he's still alive and has a loving, happy home. Bryan - we already give him James Wellbeloved Lamb and Rice and he's apparently allergic to that too. You Lab sounds typical - bit like my Retriever - always on the look out for scraps! lol Thanks everyone Kaye x

One of our Labs is allergic and has to have de-sensitising injections each month. However, Eukanuba lamb and rice seems to suit him. Along with as much human food as he can steal.

Kaye,It could be that the dog was too closely interbred,Check on your Pedigree Document. it might also be common in that line. you may be able to ask the breeders, Also The Vets Collage is or used to be on the road that leads to the American Cemetery,just going out of Cambridge on the left hand side. Hal.

Wow Jess - I really thought you'd mistyped! I've never heard of a dog scavenging soap before - how bizarre. You could check the ingredients in the Imperial Leather Soap (good choice by the way Bobbin) to see if there's something that perhaps Bobbin is lacking - bit like pregnant women and their cravings? Storm isn't a scavenger fortunately, but my other dog Bonnie just has a penchant for horse dung - a real delicacy in her book! lol Kaye x

Kaye- I did mean SOAP- i don't give it to her, she helps herself just as often as she can, and will scramble up onto the side of the bath to get it off the rack, which (believe me) is high on the wall! Imperial Leather original is No1 on the choice list. The vet says it wont harm her...which i find hard to beliveve. Not to be incouraged! jess x (and Bobbin, .....with very clean teeth!)