Dachshund itching, paw chewing, and stomach pain on allergy kibble?

It can sometimes take up to two months to fully see results of a new food before any symptoms are completely gone if it is a food-based reaction. I would hesitate to keep switching foods as you won't be able to accurately judge if a food is causing it and may just cause added GI upset on top of the itching and scratching. If Jax is still breaking out very badly it would be best to contact the vet doing the food trial with you so they can take note and make suggestions on whether a change should happen or if you should stay on the food for a while longer.

First you have to rule out other things as well like fleas and secondary infection which can both be itchy. If there are any lesions under the skin there may be a secondary infection (common with allergy). For food allergy it can take time for symptoms to resolve (8+ weeks for some dogs) and those pets who are very itchy may need medications to stop the itch (itching can lead to secondary skin infection as well). So if your pup is very itchy you may want to talk to your family vet about meds to help with itch while going back to the old food. And treat for fleas just in case (even if you do not see any). I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

A food elimination trial should last a minimum of 6-8 weeks feeding one food exclusively, no other treats or foods. Afterwards, the condition should be reassessed. If this is the case with two different diets containing a novel protein/carb combo and still no improvement, then a consultation and exam with a veterinary dermatologist may be your next step. If Samson is licking or chewing excessively, an e-collar (cone) should be used. Consider an essential fatty acid supplement, such as DermCaps or EicosaCaps, to promote healthy skin and coat. If allergies are the underlying cause, they can be frustrating to diagnose, but once you determine specific allergens then management may be easier.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Cash may be dealing with a food sensitivity and the chewing of the paws may be allergy related. His discomfort in his abdomen may also be related to the diet. I would recommend switching to a sensitive stomach formula food and see if this helps. I wold recommend Science Diet or Royal Canin formulas. Feed either diet for 4 weeks and if no improvement, I would then recommend an abdominal ultrasound or x-rays. I would also consider adding in a probiotic such as Purina Fortiflora, which can be found online or at your local PetCo. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

If Gemma was previously diagnosed with food allergies, then they don't seem to be better yet. What you are describing would definitely fit with a food allergy, so I'll give some comments about how I would address this problem. First, it can take several weeks for the allergy to go away after a diet change. So, if it's been less than six weeks after the diet was switched, then you'll need to wait a little longer before you know if it worked or not. Food allergies are due to certain proteins and they are usually animal proteins (beef, pork, dairy, etc.). To find the actual protein Gemma was allergic to, you must have done an elimination trial. If there was not an elimination trial done, then you would be only guessing at the source of the allergies. One way I often bypass the elimination trial is by recommending a hydrolysed protein diet such as Hill's i/d. In these diets, the proteins are broken down, so there is minimal chance of them causing an allergy. This would have to be prescribed by a veterinarian though. In the meantime, you may consider starting a diet trial to see if that helps to relieve the problems Gemma is having. Here is a link to a good article that explains how to do the diet: http://communityvet.net/2010/03/diy-elimination-diet-for-the-dog-an-cat/ Keep in mind that your diet trial will cease to work if she is getting any treats or table scraps. Make sure that there is no possibility of this happening - especially if there are kids in the house. As always, it's always best to do these things in consultation with your vet. They can also ensure that nothing else is responsible for the diarrhea. I hope this helps and Gemma feels better soon.

Getting her seen by your vet is ideal, so you could get to the bottom of the cause for her skin issues. I certainly understand financial problems. A food trial is a good idea, and getting her off beef and chicken is a good move since those are the two most common food allergies. Until you can get her checked by a vet, keep her clean and dry and bathe her weekly in lukewarm water with a mild oatmeal based pet shampoo to soothe her skin.

Hi there. What you are describing is suspicious of allergies. While I always recommend that my clients get a skin scrape first to make sure there are no mites, etc, if this is negative we begin the journey to diagnosing the possible allergens. Many dogs have flea allergies. If your pet is up to date on a good flea preventative, this is not as likely. Commonly, dogs can develop food allergies over time as well. The worst part of checking for this is that a true food trial (a new specialized diet) has to be the ONLY thing you feed and can take a few months to see real resorts. Allergy medications are available now through your veterinarian's office. Depending on what they see on physical exam, your pet might be. Candidate for Apoquel or chtopoint injections to control itching. I hope this information helps!