Leavitt Bulldog Association

Food Allergens

Posted by Marian <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/LBA/info/user=Marian' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 18, 2012, 10:05 pm

Allergies are a symptom of a suppressed immune system that at times have been pointed toward genetics. I would agree with issues such as grass or other natural substances but as a groomer, I have seen it over a thousand times...when a vet tells a client their dog has food allergies, the dog is on a poor diet or the dog is given treats ...junk treats with red dyes. Clients that listen to my suggestion for a higher quality dog food have excellent results. Veterinarians do not get schooled on nutrition. Sometimes they will tell clients to go with lamb and rice products but never mention higher quality. And sadly they generalize with meat products when most of the time the commercial dog food is junk. If the body is not getting the proper amount of nutrition, the immune system gradually wears down into suppression hence the allergies. Grocery store food...junk. Dr Pitcairns wrote a book on Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats. To read this, one would never give their dog kibble again. I am a true believer in "we are what we eat" and today things are quick and in a box. Did you know the AAFCO which approves dog food is legally allowed to stamp the bag with 100% complete nutrition as long as the food will keep your dog alive for 5 years?

Once the body is in a state of suppression, the dog will worsen when put on a better dog food as the toxins leave the body until the body has detoxed. So the average person runs their dog to the vet to have the vet prescribe Prednisone (synthetic steroid used to boost the immune system). Prednisone temporarily boosts the immune system but in the long run lowers it. So the client sees that their dog is getting better and when the body has to take over, again the immune system can not handle the allergens in the food. It becomes a vicious cycle. Now the one I love the most is when the vet will tell the client to put the dog on a food that is not much better than the grocery store food and is made at the same manufacturer with a different label. It's a vicious cycle. And if the dog scratches, which most dogs do because they are miserable, then a bacterial infection can set in resulting in antibiotics. The antibiotics heal the skin, the client thinks the dog is better, they feed the same foods but sure enough...back to the vet they go in due time. The vet makes money, the owner believes they are doing what is best for the poor dog and until the food is changed, the cycle continues until gradually the dog's body is too weak. Wolves never hunted for kibble.

Until a dog is serum tested to find out exactly what the cause of the allergen most vets will blame it on food and pass it off as genetics and poor breeding.

www.legacyleavittbulldogs.com

Re: Food Allergens

Posted by Lia <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/LBA/info/user=lia' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 24, 2012, 6:32 am, in reply to "Food Allergens"

Very interessting!

All our dogs eat raw food. Bone, organs, meats and sometime raw stew vegetables and suplements. The quality of the raw meat is equal or better than the "meat" used in dry dogfood premium. I use that some Swiss meat, because we use very few medicines on the cattle and it is very checked.
For me, and I indeed say for me, the best of dry petfood is not as well as of the raw food.

I am convinced that a good food is the best means to have healthy dogs.

( sorry for my english

)

Re: Food Allergens

Posted by Aubrey <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/LBA/info/user=Aubrey' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 22, 2012, 7:46 pm, in reply to "Food Allergens"

Great post!

I squirm every time a client comes in to drop their dog off for boarding and when I ask what they are feeding the dog, they say Ol Roy or Gravy Train or some other cheap food. I know quality food can be costly but it is WORTH the expense!

My parents' rescue pug Chloe has terrible allergies. She gets recurring ear infections several times a year, always itches/licks her paws, gets infections in her wrinkles and has to have her anal glands expressed all the time. They feed Canidae All Life Stages and typically give baby carrots as treats - but I suspect she is allergic to one of the meats or other ingredients in the kibble.

My ex used to feed his pit/Am bulldog mix Bane Kibbles n' Bits. We noticed he had a small lump growing on his leg - the vet told him it would be $700+ to remove it. I convinced him to switch to Canidae and within a few months the lump disappeared and the vet could not understand why... needless to say, I switched vets soon after.

It's funny, I have heard some vets say that feeding some of the big brand foods like Iams is better than feeding an all natural kibble, because "they have been on the market for years and because of such, are safe"...

I disagree. Anyone who looks at the ingredient list will see all the crap they add into it.

I saw the link that Marian posted about some sweet potato treats causing dogs to get very sick, similar to the chicken jerky fiasco

. From here on out, I am going to be making all my own treats for my dogs. It's easy enough to make homemade chicken and sweet potato jerky. My dogs LOVE carrots, which is another low fat, healthy treat option.

Re: Food Allergens

Posted by Dragonfly Bulldogs <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/LBA/info/user=Holger' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 19, 2012, 2:59 pm, in reply to "Food Allergens"

Hi Marian,

thanks for sharing informations.
I feel that a dog should get excellent cold pressed food and additional salmon oil or linseed oil , brewers yeast and carrotts. As well as raw meat from time to time. I go with the stuff Annelies already posted. Good nutrition is basic for the development of a dog. Of course there are genetic diseases you even cannot fight with nutrition, but everyone can do his best to keep his dog healthy.

Best regards
Holger

Link: http://www.oldeenglishbulldogge.eu

Re: Food Allergens

Posted by annelies <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/LBA/info/user=annelies' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 19, 2012, 12:01 pm, in reply to "Food Allergens"

We just had at the clinic this week a dog that had allergy for??? The own vet from this dog did not know, so for years ans years the dog got Prednisone , that much that now it does not help any more, the dog has a skin that looks like a red Crab,no hair, is only itching...terrible I almost cried when I saw the poor thing....his legs were vibrating, he has so many complications...
The specialist at my job is trying to low the dosis from the Prednisone...it is like an addiction...He is getting special dietfood now and they hope he will get better...

So indeed when a vet says, it is just a bad breeding bla bla story...

I think you need to feed your dog good natural healthy food. We also feed kibble and meat...vegatable's, fruits...pasta ones in a while...I found a natural source for vitamine C
rosehip powder and they get Salmon or linseed oil...

It is almost like cooking....but my dogs love it and are healty.

I believe very much in natural product and indeed Marian, the wolves have no store.....

Gr Marco and Annelies
http://www.sundancebulldogs.nl/

Proud member of the L.B.A.E.
http://www.leavittbulldogassociationeurope.com/

Re: Food Allergens

Posted by Marie <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/LBA/info/user=Marie' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 19, 2012, 8:53 am, in reply to "Food Allergens"

I will have to agree 100% with you Marian. I am also a firm believer of a high quality dog food. I feed kibble, but I ALWAYS feed an all natural kibble, NO corn, NO grain, NO byproducts... everything is fresh, never frozen. I also like to use a dog food that has Glucosamine and Chondroitin in it for an extra to help with bone and joint development.

Every time a pup is going to a new home, I ALWAYS encourage the new owners to feed the pup an all natural kibble, even give them a list of some great quality brands. I always explain why and how important it is to feed a better dog food. It BURN MY BRIDGES when people ask if Ol' Roy is a good food

Some people feel that feeding your dog a poor quality kibble will bring out and let bad genetics show its ugly head in the dogs, I think that's a load of crap and absolutely ridiculous!

That to me is saying either of 3 things. 1, you just didn't know better, 2 your just an idiot or 3, you are trying to skimp by on giving your dogs a quality kibble that will ensure their overall health and give them the proper nutrition to keep their immune system up to pare and help fight against "allergies" and diseases, even demodex, which is caused by a weakened immune system. If one can eliminate these things by just feeding a better high quality, all natural kibble, why would you not spend the extra couple $$ and just buy the better brand?? Saves you money in the long run on unnecessary vet bills, meds and your dog is much healthier, not to mention better skin, coat, clear eyes, ect... Why would one not avoid all this by just feeding a better quality kibble?

Great Post Marian!

Life is to good to be bothered by ignorant people.

Re: Food Allergens

Posted by Marian <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/LBA/info/user=Marian' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 20, 2012, 7:50 am, in reply to "Re: Food Allergens"

Marie-you state something very important which is the no grain, no corn and no byproducts.
We feed all natural kibble as well as supplements but we also feed muscle, organs and some vegetables. I have often thought of putting my dogs on a raw diet but I worry about the quality of the meat and honestly I do not know enough about that to feel comfortable that I am feeding them exactly what they need for balance. We have a animal acupuncturist / nutritionist that is a wealth of information. She talks about carbs, protiens and fats having a proper balance in order to benefit the dog and we also have to be aware of that detail of balance even in the high end quality food.

www.legacyleavittbulldogs.com

Re: Food Allergens

Posted by Laure <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/LBA/info/user=Laure' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 19, 2012, 3:24 am, in reply to "Food Allergens"

Great article!

Re: Food Allergens

Posted by kent <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/LBA/info/user=ibkenny' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on July 20, 2012, 1:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Food Allergens"

We nevr have skin problems at our kennel...... I think it's due to the fact we feed raw!! We have one dog but got her tested and it was genetic...(thyroid). it's all about there immune system, even i eat fresh and organic food's for my allergies!(no preservatives). we find raw helps everything it's more work my wife prepares food for them more than me lol. but its worth it.

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