DOG FOOD AND TREATS First off, let me state that I am not a vet, nor do I hold any degrees in nutrition. Any serious skin or health problems should be seen by a vet immediately! I am a "groomer" and in our shop we sell 4 brands of really great pet food. I have read lots and lots of information regarding pet foods; therefore, I feel that I am knowledgeable enough to give my opinion, if you want to listen. I am just trying to help as many pets as I possibly can. Now, "Don't always believe what you see on TV or read in advertisements!".

Here is a list of questions you should ask yourself to determine if your dog might be having a problem with their food:

1) Are they licking their paws? Biting at their tailend?
2) Do they scratch all the time, even though there are no fleas?
3) Do they have "hot spots" that never seem to heal completely?
4) Do they have dry, flaky skin? Are they losing their hair?
5) Are their ears and/or skin very red and hot to the touch, or a rash?


If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, you probably have some sort of food issue. This would be the first place to start. If nothing improves, see your vet. Your dog might have an underlying problem with their immune system. Maybe they can't absorb the nutrition from the food? Your vet should be able to take tests to find out. With that said, the first bit of information I would like to share with you is about allergens. There are food allergies and there are inhalant allergies. Food allergies you can deal with better than inhalant allergies. Inhalant allergies can be seasonal, just like in humans. Some of the top allergens for dogs are as follows:

1) Milk
2) Soybeans
3) Corn (of any kind)
4) Pork (to salty)
5) Eggs (Raw)
6) Wheat and wheat by-products (when in combination with other allergens)
7) Some meat products (depending on the sensitivity of your dogs system they could be allergic to Lamb, Beef, Chicken or Turkey. If so, try Fish, Duck or ?.)


Other ingredients that you will want to avoid are:

1) ANY by-products or by-products meal
2) Animal digest
3) BHA/BHT
4) Salt
5) Sugar
6) ANY of the endless arrays of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, stabilizers, etc.


The most important thing I can say is "read your label". Just because the front of the package says "Lamb & Rice", that's not all that could be in the food. There are a lot of good pet foods out there, you just have to look. And then if your dog is still having problems, check with your vet. Remember, depending on your dog's immune system and how sensitive their internal system is, dogs can be allergic to anything. Maybe research on how to make a home made hypoallergenic diet. It usually doesn't take much time, probably one time a week. And don't forget vitamins (NuVet Plus is a good one). A good dietary supplement is always a bonus to any diet. Also please remember to check the dog's treats. A lot of dog treats are made with corn meal, by-products, salt and sugar. All of which are not healthy for your pet. Some great treats are "Buddy Biscuits". When you change your pet's diet, you should notice an improvement in about 7days. If you want to "clean out" their system before changing foods, you can fix them "cottage cheese, baked potatoes and carrots". Serve this for 7 days, and then introduce the new food. You can also use this method if you notice a reaction to a food. Always feed for 7 days before you try a new food item. It usually will take approximately 4-6 weeks to see that your dog is on the road to recovery. The skin will clear up; the coat will start growing back and become shinny again. Your dog will get their "puppy like" playfulness back. The short list below shows several healthy pet foods. There are many more, just read and educate yourself. Spend a little more on dog food, spend less time and money at your vet's office and you will find that you have a much happier and healthier dog. And remember a happy, healthy pet is less inviting to fleas!