Skye at vets

Skye has been suffering on and off with an ear infection also a loss of fur. Her fur is almost back to normal apart from on her back where it's a bit thin but looking good. Now my oh took her to the vets as she had a lump come up on her ear flap and the vet gave her antibiotics and steroids (not to worried about that as I have said for a while we need to get her some) but the vet wants to put her on sience diet to help sort out what she might be allergic to re her skin. I've looked at the ingredients and the main one is starch. I've read so many bad things but don't want to go against the vet (but will) as I only want the best for my girl. The food she is on now is 30%meat but I have been looking at other foods like skinners. Opinions please
The food she wants her on for 8weeks only is Hill's® Prescription Diet®
z/d® Canine ULTRA

I would sat any hypoalergenic grain free food would be OK, you have to be wary with vets giving nutrition advise because they may get commision on the food they sell!

I'm not familiar with skinners but I believe it is a good food. I've recently started feeding raw which is a totally natural diet so that may be something to think about.

I would sat any hypoalergenic grain free food would be OK, you have to be wary with vets giving nutrition advise because they may get commision on the food they sell!
Exactly what I thought

I would go with what Saz has said, have a look around yourself and see what others have used and what they say about it.

When we first took Bane to the vets they were really pushy with the Hills food. At about 12 weeks old he developed what sounds similar to Skye. He scratches at his ears non stop and they get really red and sore in the evenings. He has also started to lose hair on the backs of his ears where the skin has gone a bit scaly.
The vets prescribed loads of treatments that didn't work and said the next thing would be food trials on their special food they have (about £60 for a 10kg bag I think) so we said no we will try it ourselves first. We swapped to raw almost 2 weeks ago, hoping that it will help, if it is a food allergy that is causing it

Just looked at barking heads Tender loving care chicken, looks very good and for the 2 x 12kg for the price of 1 10kg bag of science diet
Has any body tried it ?

No but its on our recommended food list   

http://staffy-bull-terrier.com/dry_food

I've a feeling Kathy may use it or has a some point.

Gazagem wrote:Just looked at barking heads Tender loving care chicken, looks very good and for the 2 x 12kg for the price  of 1 10kg bag of science diet
Has any body tried it ?

Yes Saz,this is what Rocky has so I can highly recommend it. Everyone comments on how healthy he looks and we can see the change in him too since he has been on it (about 2 years now and no reactions). Barking Heads also do a grain free version of their food which is a little bit more expensive, although the TLC is hypoallergenic:

http://www.barkingheads.co.uk/products/dog-dry-food/grain-free-quackers/

I have decided to have a word with the vet as Skye is booked in to see her on fri and find out why she wants to change Skye's diet and that I will change her onto something I feel will do her good

I have been reading this link and I am a bit worried now. Maisey has been on Hills Prescription Liver Diet since October. The vets told me this will help her whilst her liver repairs itself. Still on monthly blood tests and medication so have been too scared to consider anything else for her other than the vets prescribed food. Not much meat in the kibble but I was told it is easily digestible carbs and protein. Would like to think you can trust the vets but not so sure now??

Hi I think Skye may be related to my two one has a allergies to chicken and grass and the other has quite a few allergies and is on prescription hills zd for life his skin and hair is fine but if he has anything with rice in hives bumps swelling you name it it's worth having bloods done for food allergies to rule out any allergies ?

agriff wrote:Hi I think Skye may be related to my two one has a allergies to chicken and grass and the other has quite a few allergies and is on prescription hills zd for life his skin and hair is fine but if he has anything with rice in hives bumps swelling you name it it's worth having bloods done for food allergies to rule out any allergies ?

who where yours relatives?
I have tried Skye on skinners salmon and rice she also has apple cider vinegar in her dinner
Since having antibiotics and a short course of steroids for her ear infection she does seem to be scratching less so will keep her on the skinners for a few months to see how she goes.
I do think she has an allergy to grass as it does seem to flare up when the grass gets cut.

Kippastaff  kennels ones sweet dreams honey and the other bright lightning boy ?

Buster has kipperstaff in his background but I can't remember who I will have to get his kc out buster is kipperstaff boss man
Skye has kenmilleven bluer than blue and kenmillix first dawn her kc is dotty blue

Are must be buster then

Buster doesn't have any skin problems thankfully but he certainly has an attitude problem lol

He looks just like your blue though soooo cute   

Have you had a allergy test done it's the best thing I ever done getting my two checked , lol must be the kipperstaff thing in them blue boy has still got a teenage attitude problem but his sister keeps him in line lol

saffi28 wrote:I have been reading this link and I am a bit worried now. Maisey has been on Hills Prescription Liver Diet since October. The vets told me this will help her whilst her liver repairs itself.  Still on monthly blood tests and medication so have been too scared to consider anything else for her other than the vets prescribed food.  Not much meat in the kibble but I was told it is easily digestible carbs and protein.   Would like to think you can trust the vets but not so sure now??  

Dogs don't need carbs   

agriff wrote:Have you had a allergy test done it's the best thing I ever done getting my two checked , lol must be the kipperstaff thing in them blue boy has still got a teenage attitude problem but his sister keeps him in line lol

If the skinners doesn't work then we will look into one but she seems ok at the moment

Busters attitude problem comes from his previous owners as he was kept cadged a lot with no socalisation but a bit prob comes from his family

Allergies are no fun. We had the same issue with Suki and had to get the test done to get it figured out

Just had an allergy blood test for Bane this morning! Vet's thinking environmental...yay!