Expert: Kaza - 11/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: My Bichon Frise has an allergy and i am feeding him james wellbeloved biscuits.  Which wet dog food could i feed a Bichon Frise with an allergy?

ANSWER: I would take him off JWB dried foods, there are many reports from owners with the same problem using this food. I suggest starting an elimination diet and start using foods such as pork, lamb, beef, oily fish like pilchards, cottage cheese pref goats milk cheese. Goats milk products, chicken, try to stay away from too much grain in the diet, also use oatmeal for energy and lentils for fibre with fresh peas, apple slices, pear slices, mashed potato, beans a little pasta not too much as it will make them fat. Cucumber, small amounts of broccolli, this is what your dogs requires . Bichon breeds lean towards stones, struvites and oxylates so be careful using any food that will increase this and dried foods will do that. Also ensure that fresh water that can be lappedup is available at all times, dogs produce enzymes when they lap up water that improves digestion , I have seen some people use large rodent type drippers for dogs this is really stupid and will encourage poor health both orally and digestively.

For a better look at how most now fed their bichons please go to my website

www.eurobichons.com
or print off info from my kennel site

www.versailles-kennels.co.uk

and good luck keep me updated on how things are doing .

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have previously read that giving chicken to a dog whom has a food allergy was wrong so i havent gave him any.  However he is now eating tinned dog food with his biscuits as im sure all the nutrients a dog needs would be in the tinned dog food.  At the moment he is eating Tripe, i dont want to give him jsut biscuits but i havent a clue what exactly is making his skin so bad, that bad that he makes himself bleed.
Would you think tinned dog food will be ok?
Thank you for your help

Answer
Giving real food is not your issue here, you must run an elimination diet and I have listed this on site previously, giving these commercial foods will simply prolong his itching.
A raw food diet would be your best solution and I would start giving supplements like fish oils and omegas in the dogs diet, tese have a tendency to control the itching in a relativly timely fashion.

I also suggest washing the coat is neem oil shampoo .