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Expert: - 3/26/2011


Question
My little Pomeranian toy dog Cole, is four, almost five years old. He is up to date with all of his shots, except he won't get his rabies shot again until next week. His diet consists of a dog food brand named Innova Evo, and occasionally a few little pieces of apples. He recently went to the groomers and started scratching his right side and biting at it. I tried to make him stop, but when I woke up in the morning, he had made his skin bleed and plasma was making his hair in that spot stick together. After I got home for work, I filled his food dish, but he wouldn't eat! He just sat around, looking depressed, and tired even though he usually sleeps all day. Could that itchy spot on his skin make him feel that way he's feeling? And for a few months now he's been feeling like this on and off. He had some diarrhea and wasn't eating for a few days, so I brought him to the vet, and they didn't know exactly what was wrong, and thought he had gallstones. A friend heard about how my dog was acting and suggested that I changed his diet because her dog felt the same and had a bug. I gave my dog rice, chicken, and some green beans and he started acting normal again. After a few weeks I started giving him his old food again. Could it be his food that's making him feel sick? I know what I'm trying to describe and ask is a lot, but I'm just really scared for my dog. I love him to death!

Answer
I would hesitate to say that the hot spot on his skin is from his food but that is usually what causes them along with flea problems.

Too much grooming can also cause hot spots. If he is doing well on the chicken/rice diet then get him on a natural diet with chicken and rice or lamb and rice.

I would be very careful about what he eats and switch him over slowly over a 7 day period.

Science Diet makes a natural food that has no additives or preservatives and is balanced for optimal nutrition.

http://www.hillspet.com/products/sd-canine-natures-best-chicken-and-brown-rice-d...

This is what I would use on him. Innova is very high in fat and protein and since they don't make their food the same from batch to batch, (open-formulation vs. fixed-formulation) it is easy to see how a dog can get sick from it.

So make the switch slowly and in three weeks your dog will be a much happier and healthier dog.  

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Jana Connell RVT, CVT

Expertise

PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ME: I am NOT a vet and do NOT diagnose diseases. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I will give you suggestions and steer you toward calling your vet for help. You can call the vet's office and talk to the technician there or the vet at times. Don't be afraid to call them! If you have a serious issue with your pet please post it to one of the veterinarians in here- I will tell you the same thing in my answer. IF your pet is injured or in an emergency situation, CALL YOUR VET- Do not wait and post in here. Just call the vet's office and get them in to see the vet right away. Critical treatment time is lost if you seek answers here when you should have your precious pet at the vets!! Don't sit at home waiting for an answer when your pet is critically ill or injured!! I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I DO NOT answer questions about birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS/REPTILES/FROGS/RABBITS/PET BIRDS OF ANY KIND so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I, as well as other experts in here, do NOT do homework questions- that is for YOU to do! Please respect these rules for all of us. Thanks!

Experience

I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a Small Animal Nutritional Consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina. I also specialized in Small Animal Dentistry which is a field I truly love.

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Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.

Education/Credentials
Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT. Certified Veterinary Dental Technician Have over 500 logged hours of Continuing Education Credits(that means I keep up to date!).

Awards and Honors
Nominated for Expert of the Month for the last 5 years.

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