Expert: Herbs, NuVet Plus Supplements, Dog/Cat Food Recipes; ( Marie) - 6/15/2010

Question
Bonnie, 7mo. 70 lbs. American Bulldog has recently developed a reaction to something. She is a house dog and and does not venture outside the back yard much. At 6mo. we put her on heartworm medicine, IverhartMax. This is the only meds that she's receiving up to this point. When we took her to the vet at 6mo. she had a red spot on her lower stomach and the vet gave her a steroid shot which cleared it. Up to this point her diet was Nature's Variety Instinct - Chicken Meal Formula grain free... http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/dog/kibble/chicken One day while at the pet store, after the vet visit, there was a Blue Buffalo sales rep there and we talked. I purchased a small bag of their Wilderness grain free duck formula ... http://bluebuff.com/products/dogs/wilderness-duck.shtml I mixed it with her Instinct and she appeared fine. After all was gone I purchased a large bag of the Wilderness duck formula. After about two weeks of the purely Wilderness formula Bonnie developed welts all over her back, stomach, and legs. It was quite a scare. We took her to the vet where they gave her a shot of benadryl and another steroid shot along with a four day dose of Prednisone 10mg.  She cleared up nicely ... what relief. We had reason to take Bonnie to a friends house. There she was given a small amount of the Blue Buffalo senior chicken and rice formula, Damn if she didn't break out again. I called the vet and they suggested giving Bonnie over the counter benadryl. So I gave her 2 20mg tabs... to early at this point to tell if it has done it's job since it's only one dose.

So the big question is this. I think the Blue Buffalo dog food is the cause of this reaction. Am I right or wrong, or is there something else at work that I don't see?

Thanks, Lewis

Answer
Wow - I am not sure if this is a combination of environmental and food related.
Would you be willing to try the Wellsess Simple Solutions?
SEE here:  Rice and Salmon
http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/product-details.aspx?pet=dog&pid=50&dm=allergy

( also, keep the Benadryl on hand if needed)

If you can't find the Salmon Wellness Solutions, let me know and I can suggest another one.
Also, buy some PURE salmon dog treats - Yummy Chummies or Grizzley Brand.
Also, you can try the Sweet Potato freeze dried treats.


HOPE this helps....
Give me an update after 2 weeks on the new food...
Marie Peppers
mtnmom@gci.net