Re: My Dogs itching/allergy problem plz help

You're not going to get rid of the itchiness/allergy problem until you find the source. Common allergens in dog foods are: wheat, corn and soy. Some dogs are allergic to the meat source in the food as well, but chances are if it contains any of the other most common allergens to dogs then that usually the problem. So I would look to your pet food first to determine if you need to make a change in her diet. Allergens can also be in the environment as well. Dogs can be allergic to grass, different pollens, etc. So hopefully a change of diet will do the trick.

Here is a list of dog foods that were graded for quality so it's best to choose a holistic food with a high grade. Most people don't realize that holistic dog food doesn't cost much more that most other dog foods, unless your are feeding the cheapest superstore foods, and the payback you get is enormous....such as you feed them much less because the food is nutrient dense, far less trips to the vet, much less risk of developing an allergy, healthy gums and teeth, less waste to pick up, a shiney glossy coat, less matting and generally a happy, healthy pet.

Here is the list:

DOG FOOD GRADES
>>
>>Dog Food scores:
>>
>>Alpo Prime Cuts - Score 81 C
>>Artemis Large/Medium Breed Puppy - Score 114 A+
>>Authority Harvest Baked - Score 116 A+
>>Authority Harvest Baked Less Active - Score 93 B
>>Beowulf Back to Basics - Score 101 A+
>>Bil-Jac Select - Score 68 F
>>Blackwood 3000 Lamb and Rice - Score 83 C
>>Blue Buffalo Chicken and Rice - Score 106 A+
>>Burns Chicken and Brown Rice - Score 107 A+
>>Canidae - Score 112A+
>>Chicken Soup Senior - Score 115 A+
>>Diamond Maintenance - Score 64 F
>>Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice - Score 92 B
>>Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula - Score 99 A
>>Diamond Performance - Score 85 C
>>Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium - Score 122 A+
>>Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Venison & Brown Rice - Score 106 A+
>>Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato - Score 106 A+
>>EaglePack Holistic - Score 102 A+
>>Eukanuba Adult - Score 81 C
>>Eukanuba Puppy - Score 79 C
>>Flint River Senior - Score 101 A+
>>Foundations - Score 106 A+
>>Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold - Score 93 B
>>Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium - Score 73 D
>>Innova Dog - Score 114 A+ ** (This is what I use) ** Sylvia
>>Innova Evo - Score 114 A+
>>Innova Large Breed Puppy - Score 122 A+
>>Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, & Vegetables - Score 110 A+
>>Member's Mark Chicken and Rice - Score 84 C
>>Merrick Wilderness Blend - Score 127 A+
>>Nature's Recipe - Score 100 A
>>Nature's Recipe Healthy Skin Venison & Rice - Score 116 A+
>>Nature's Variety Raw Instinct - Score 122 A+
>>Nutra Nuggets Super Premium Lamb Meal and Rice - Score 81C
>>Nutrience Junior Medium Breed Puppy - Score 101 A+
>>Nutrisource Lamb and Rice - Score 87 B
>>Nutro Max Adult - Score 93 B
>>Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice - Score 98 A
>>Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy - Score 87B
>>Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Wheat Free - Score 86 B
>>Nutro Natural Choice Senior - Score 95 A
>>Nutro Ultra Adult - Score 104 A+
>>Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice - Score 23 F
>>Premium Edge Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Adult dry - Score 109 A+
>>Pro Nature Puppy - Score 80 C
>>Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach - Score 94 A
>>Purina Beniful - Score 17 F
>>Purina Dog - Score 62 F
>>Purina Come-n-Get It - Score 16 F
>>Purina One Large Breed Puppy - Score 62 F
>>Royal Canin Boxer - Score 103 A+
>>Royal Canin Bulldog - Score 100 A+
>>Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult - Score 106 A+
>>Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ - Score 63 F
>>Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies - Score 69 F
>>Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice - Score 97 A
>>Solid Gold - Score 99 A
>>Summit - Score 99 A
>>Timberwolf Organics Wild & Natural Dry - Score 120 A+
>>Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken - Score 110 A+
>>Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold - Score 97 A
>>
>>This is how the grades were determined:
>>
>>Start with a grade of 100
>>
>>1) For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points
>>
>>2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or poultry", meat,
>>meal or fat) reference, subtract 10 points
>>
>>3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points
>>
>>4) For every grain "mill run" or non-specific rain source, subtract 5
>>points
>>
>>5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five
>>ingredients (i.e. "ground brown rice", brewer's rice", "rice flour" are
>>all
>>the
>>same grain), subtract 5 points
>>
>>6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2
>>meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
>>
>>7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points
>>
>>8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points
>>
>>9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points
>>
>>10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract
>>2 points
>>
>>11) If lamb is the only animal protein source unless your dog is allergic
>>to
>>other protein sources), subtract 2 points
>>
>>12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
>>
>>13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to
>>wheat), subtract 2 points
>>
>>14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to
>>beef), subtract 1 point
>>
>>15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point
>>
>>Extra Credit:
>>
>>1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
>>
>>2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed goup or nutritionist, add 5
>>points
>>
>>3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
>>
>>4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points
>>
>>5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
>>
>>6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains) add
>>3 points
>>
>>7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free add
>>2 points
>>
>>8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points
>>
>>9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds) add 2 points
>>
>>10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
>>
>>11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point
>>
>>12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the
>>first
>>one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein source, but
>>"chicken" and "" as 2 different sources) add 1 point
>>
>>13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point
>>
>>14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide
>>free, add 1 point


Hope that helped a little...

Striveon