Hello. My name is Laurie and I'm new to the site. I have an 8 year old yellow lab with rusty feet and belly. She is on grain free dog food. Does anyone else have this problem? Looking for dog food help.
Hi Laurie....welcome to the forum. Is the rusty feet just her colourings or is this a problem for which she needs grain free. With regards to suggestions you will get as many as people you ask LOL! There is a good dog food site if you are looking for some advice. Perhaps someone else could link to it...I'm on my mobile and technically challenged Jac and Lilly
Grain free is not usually the answer to food allergies/sensitivities - many are related to the protein (chicken is very common). I find that any higher quality single source protein foods tend to be grain free, but finding a single source of protein (lamb, fish) is generally what is recommended to rule out chicken as the allergy source.
Thanks Ashley. She is already on grain free lamb and grain free fish. What type of dog food do you feed your lab?
We are still on puppy food (Fromm Large breed puppy) but have had skin issues the past few months so are searching for a single source protein adult food to transition her to next month - we are eliminating chicken to see if it improves her skin/hair loss issues. We are thinking to go with GO! Shine and Sensitivity salmon formula (Canadian) but there are so many options, we are having a hard time committing to one.
Totally agree. We have tried the most expensive to the least expensive. She does well for a bit then her ears flare up and her rusty Color comes back. Very frustrating. Hopefully someone will have some help for us!
Have you considered feeding her raw meaty bones and raw meat? Some people find their dogs respond very well to unprocessed food, as did our dog, Snowie. He is very allergic but we have it somewhat under control -- although he is still itchy, which can be very frustrating for us and I am sure for him. We have eventually resorted to 1/4 prednisone tablet every second day, and this keeps him far more comfortable. Our vet said this is such a low dose as to not be too harmful to him, but hopefully at some point he can come off it. When he's not too itchy we reduce it further to once every 3rd day, but then it flares up and he's back to once every 2nd day. He's also on a restricted diet of venison, beef, sheep, and ostrich. No duck or chicken, although he is such a scavenger that he eats chicken bones off the sidewalk every day (people just toss their chicken bones on the sidewalk...). Last month our supplier ran out of the food we normally buy so we had to feed him duck for a month, and he seemed to be more itchy, so we think the duck is a culprit. But hard to say given that there are so many factors, environment being one of them. We have found great success with salmon oil capsules (omega 3), so we give him 5 capsules with breakfast and 2 with supper. If you do give these, check the amount in the capsule and then dose appropriately (you can Google the correct doses). We've also found that when he's cool he's less itchy. So he's dips in our pond (no chlorine) every day, several times a day. I am sure it is also washing off allergens, which is helpful, too. While a flea bite can be very itchy and the recommendation is to keep your dog flea-free, we avoid all insecticides as Snowie is epileptic and he has two seizures after taking Bravecto and hated the spot-on insecticide. I am also averse to administering an insecticide to my dog. When necessary I use a repellent on him, as I would for myself, when we go to tick areas. (We do deworm him regularly though.) Best of luck. It is very upsetting watching a dog be so itchy. What does your vet recommend?
Thanks. Our lab is not itchy. She licks her paws and genitals and there is a rust Color. She doesn't itch excessively. She is an indoor dog for the most part. She is fed grain free fish and or grain free salmon.
Allergies not sure to what which is why we went grain free. Doesn't matter what type of food.....high end vet food to pet store food, she's good for a bit then flares up.
I wonder if it is fungal or yeast infection then? Has your vet done a skin scrape? Chlorohexidine is very effective. But before using anything I'd suggest you speak to your vet.
