Please tell me this is not Mange?

I'm glad to hear it's allergies, and not something more serious. But, I do sympathize because trying to narrow down the allergy can be a huge pain. We went through a time with Lexi where we were only feeding kibble (no treats). Even at agility! Luckily, she didn't hold it against us!

I hope you figure it out soon, and that the hot spot clears up quickly.
 
Toffee's Mom said:
Jut got back from the Vet, who is convinced it is allergies.
Added stress of new roomie, new dog in the house, hot summer, and a history with past allergy points towards Toffee's threshold being passed and whatever he is allergic to is rearing its ugly head.
Ears and butt are clear, but paws seem to be affected.

We have decided to stop the raw food, JUST FOR NOW, as there are too many variables in it, until we figure out what he has a reaction to. He was going to give me raw options, but I am not confident I would have made it a successful trial, so I have agreed to feed him food he has never had to be keeping ALL other food items away.. Not treats for training, no hot dogs, no cheese *omg SUBU is gonna come after me*
Just the food we will use to rule out any other factors http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-canine-dd-canine-skin-support-potato-and-salmon-formula-dry.html
Not happy about it, but decided on what is going to work for me... for now.

He is also on Vanectyl
http://www.camroseanimalclinic.ca/vanectyl-p.html
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Here's a thought:

I don't usually have seasonal allergy symptoms but this year I've had such bad post nasal drip that I haven't been able to sleep through the night for almost 3 months without prescription cough medicine. So far no allergy medications have helped me. :(

One doctor I saw told me that this year seasonal allergies in Ontario are at an all time high because the herbacides that usually kill weeds were banned this year. I'm thinking that dogs are more than likely affected the same way.

While I don't believe there's a band in Nova Scotia yet, herbacides have been band in other provinces, which could be increasing pollen levels all over Canada and maybe affecting Toffee.

Glad to hear that it's just allergies and not something more serious. I hope Toffee gets some relief soon!
 
Allergies can be tough, but at least you can deal with them. So this is good news, although a pain I know. I know the Hill's food isn't something we all like to feed, but it is a necessary evil in these situations. If it helps Toffee, it's a good thing. I hope you can isolate the problem easily and he feels better soon!
 
Thanks guys, I am relieved, FOR SURE... even tho it will be a pain. You are all the best people to unload some of these worries to! Thanks for always being here!!
I was so concerned it was mange, and trust me, Jessica, I believe you!!! I'd rather deal with Allergies than what you and Smudge had to endure!

After this you better believe no more being late with the Sentinel, and will follow instructions, or else the whole trial will be for nothing
The one thing that made sense to me was him saying it doesn't matter how BIG the dose of the allergen is, so he really cannot have ANYTHING else until it is ruled out. The medication is just for relief in the beginning and then after he comes off it there is still a couple of weeks of the food. I will only worry if he throws up again as he did before with Science Diet *GAG* which as many of you know I hate with a passion, lol. I prefer raw.. but I will get back to it once we have a good idea and control over it!
 
Toffee's Mom said:
I was so concerned it was mange, and trust me, Jessica, I believe you!!! I'd rather deal with Allergies than what you and Smudge had to endure!
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I'm no vet, but when I looked at it I just really didn't think it would be mange. Mange can be on a dog's paw, but it just looked too clean. When I say clean I mean there was no scratch marks, no bleeding, no scabs, ect.


This was Smudge's hot spot. I thought it was allergies at first, but come to find out he was licking himself from being dry from the mange dips. They had to shave off most of his paw fur to do his neuter surgery to give him fluids.
 
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Toffee's Mom said:
We have decided to stop the raw food, JUST FOR NOW, as there are too many variables in it, until we figure out what he has a reaction to.
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I have been trying to stay out of food/health discussions, because I think my stance is fairly clear, but I couldn't let this go, so I apologize in advance.

What variables?

Ingredients in raw chicken:
Chicken.

Ingredients in Hill's:
Potato, Potato Starch, Salmon, Potato Protein, Pork Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Soybean Oil (preserved with BHA, propyl gallate and citric acid), Natural Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Fish Meal, Potassium Chloride, Powdered Cellulose, Fish Oil, Iodized Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Vitamin E Supplement, DL-Methionine, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Tryptophan, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.

The Hill's has fish, pork, soy, sawdust, potato, and a bunch of sprayed on chemical "nutrients". How are you going to tell what he is allergic to? This doesn't seem to be simplifying the diet. And you know that cooked foods act on the body totally different than raw foods. So anything you decide he is allergic to in a processed food does not necessarily translate when you go back to raw, i.e. my Collie can't have beef based kibble, but can eat raw beef with no problem.

If you are feeding prey model raw (not prepared or dehydrated "raw"), then you should have no trouble controlling the ingredients list. Starting the Hill's is just a decent into a year of trial and error and loose stool and more allergic reactions, all for nothing when you go back to raw. So simplify the raw diet down to one protein source, and go from there. Get rid of any supplements, treats, etc. Keep it simple.
 
I am with Rachael on this one.
For humans when you try to find your allergies and want to do it at home things go like that -you eliminate pretty much everything from your diet and stay hydrated with water and tea for couple of days, register how you feel. Every next 2-3 days you reintroduce one by one starting with highly unlikely allergens- apples, rice etc until you get to highly likely allergens, like eggs, wheat etc. When you introduce back it means you eat quite a bit of that product but you are introducing back only 1 product so not mix them up. All that time register in journal how you feel, if you have any issues ie BP or skin condition register what is happening.
Going to highly complicated diet with multiple ingredients to establish allergies seems strange to me as oppose to eliminating every treat and commercial food and staying with bare ingredients.
 
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