Comments on When Raw and Natural Dog Food Just Doesn't Work

Do you only deal with dog-related questions? I have cats.

Hi
I acquired a purebred miniature poodle puppy at 8 weeks old. NO puppy shots whatsoever, no worm or flea meds, absolutely nothing because I got her from my mom and she does not give her dogs any of these things. I noticed that she was scratching when I got her...probably due to dirty living conditions. Fast forward another 8 weeks...still no shots or meds. I put her on Primal raw freeze dried food as soon as I got her, and added a variety of fresh raw meat and coconut oil, ACV and keifer to that. I use 5 different varieties of the Primal food to rotate proteins...I stay away from the chicken/sardine one because of HHP. She gets no pork either. She is now itching like crazy (all night), half of her hair has fallen out, red raw ears (but no smell or discharge). She is not licking her paws yet, but she has a red rash on her stomach that looks like impetigo if I had to guess. WTH? She has no fleas (we don't get them here), she has no indication of mites or ringworm, and she has never been outside (because she has not had any shots), so no ticks either. I do not use soap or fabric softener on her bedding...I wash towels and bedding with Borax and vinegar. She is not a dirty puppy (since I got her), she gets a bath every ten days or so, and I follow that up with a 50/50 rinse of ACV and water.
So much for raw diet?
I am thinking about taking her off the Primal freeze dried and just giving her ground lamb and ground veal with home cooked rice and some veggies to see if I can get the itching to stop. She has never been to a Vet...yet. Even if I got desperate enough to take her to one for a culture, I would probably not give her any antibiotics if prescribed...and she would then be exposed to Parvo at the Vet clinic...so that is why I do not take her. The only thing that temporarily soothes her skin is drenching it with coconut oil. I have a black greasy puppy lol!
What the heck am I doing wrong??? My puppy is very active (when she is not scratching), no loose bowels, no constipation, no flaking skin, no red eyes or runny nose...nothing to indicate illness. The only difference between my moms dogs who seem healthy and my puppy is that my house is CLEAN, and my dog gets the Primal freeze dried food and other raw meats. Could there be "something" in the Primal food that is causing all of this????

I have a 2 and 1/2 year old min pin not who has had awful skin problems the past few months. He has been on a raw diet since he was 6 months old, although he's has vaccinations up until the age of 2. His skin problems began around March this year when we noticed he had scabbing and hair loss. We consulted a holistic veterinarian, who informed us to stop vaccinating, take him off of flea and tick medications. Apparently it was folliculitis and we had to stop using shampoo to bathe him, only rinsing him off with water (even that, the vet said is not ideal because we don't want to charge the ph of the skin). His skin healed and hair grew back. About three weeks ago I noticed that he had a small lump on the back of his neck. The lumps then started spreading over his body. Some are small and result in scabs with hair loss, but the one on his neckand some others on his back are not healing. Our vet says they are carbuncles, they ooze blood and pus. He told us to clean the wounds with coloidal silver. I have been doing this, but the sores are spreading and the old sites are not healing. I don't know what to do. Our vet suggested nutriscan, but it's so expensive and I'm hesitant. I feel so helpless, and just completely hopeless watching him break out in sores and lose his hair in clumps. He's not bald patches all over him, and 2 says ago I found a sore around his mouth. I am so terrified. I'm starting to doubt my decisions about him being on raw food. Any advice? I feel so terribly alone in my struggles.

I've been using raw, homemade and various healthy diets on my dogs and my many foster dogs for years. About 2 year ago I adopted a little 3 year old poodle mix from the shelter with an abundance of skin problems. Determined to solve this without using Dr. Whitecoat. Dr. Will was not taking new clients at that time, so I turned to Homeopath Dr. Minter in AZ and we worked together by computer and phone. She had received so many shots and worm treatments, was spayed and clearly traumatized by all that happened to her. It took over a year of patiently trying different homeopathic remedies and diet changes. The biggest change came when we switched from a high protein meat based diet to a more vegetarian diet. The results were dramatic. Now I use one of the premix diet base, usually either Sojos or Honest Kitchen, add in about 20 - 30% of a raw meat mix and other things like coconut oil, raw eggs, lots of veggies like butternut squash and others. I also give her nutritional yeast and a supplement called Veggie Dog. We travel in our motor home a lot so I also use the freeze dried a lot on those trips. She had dental surgery right after I got her and they took out 9 teeth because they said her were not attached to bone. But that makes it difficult for her to gnaw on bones. Do you have a recommendation for a bone that she can chew?

Dr. Will, is the prevention program the same as the treatment program? I am so hoping to hear from you via email, but I did not get your email that you sent. Don't know why. Thank you!

Dr. Will, my dog has lungworm and has been taking Panacur. I am so worried about having to give this. Is there a natural way to get rid of it? He still has it and we have done 3 courses within 4 months now :(

Hi Dr Will,
I have a gorgeous 5 year-old Aussie Bulldog who has had skin problems ever since I got her as a pup. She is an intact, raw-food, no heart-worm, worming, or flea chemicals baby and has been since she came to us as a 12 week old pup. She was vaccinated when I got her and then had kennel cough nasal vaccine annually for two years because there is no way to get your dog in a puppy play-group, training school or boarding kennel around here without it (believe me, I tried!).
Everything you have written here resonates with me. I believe deep damage was done to her by vaccination and I also believe that even without vaccination she would have familial vaccinosis from her over-vaccinated parents. I would have loved to let her have a litter but don't want to send more inherited vaccinosis into the dog population:( It would be great to have a register of raw-feeding, non-vaccinating dog breeders. It would be fascinating to see what generations of this kind of care would achieve for our dogs.

I believe My almost 3 yr old double doodle may have problems from vaccines. She got a rash soon after we received her. Not knowing better we finished her shots. Upon having her spayed and the vet wanting to put her on steroids, she may have already had antibiotics which would always take rash away but would reemerge within a month, I decided to try a holistic vet. After many bouts of antibiotics with the same results the holistic vet wanted to put her on an immune suppressant drugs for awhile. Didn't want to do that so now have been working with a homeopathic vet via email and phone for about 4 months.
At first used merc LM1 1x in liquid form. Rash did not come back as before but her belly is still red with a different looking rash it changes all the time from looking great to terrible, She was also very itchy. Vet said this was good because her body is responding. Then gave her a second dose. More of the same rash all aver the place but her ears started to get really inflamed and red and oozing very badly. She sent the remedy graph 200C which was a bunch of little pellets. It took awhile to clear up but it did then 1 of the ears got bad again then cleared up Then the other one got bad then cleared up with the same advice hang in there she is responding. We are still on this pattern of getting bad then clearing. Ziva our dog never had any ear problems before homeopathy. Her ears were always beautiful. Does this sound like I should hang in there or get a second opinion? Are either of those remedies ones you would use for vaccinosis? I know she should be good she was an editor of a homeopathic news letter at one time.

I feed a home cooked raw diet to my two havanese, 10 yrs and 8 yrs old. One is white and one black and white. I have tried to find a premixed balanced raw food for both and tried Steves, Sojos, Primal, etc., etc. I use to own my own pet boutique and sold many of those high quality foods myself to my customers. However, in the early years I never had problems with tear staining and draining, but in the past two to three years, every time I try to move my pups to a manufactured raw diet within a week the tear staining and draining return. Take them back to home made raw and within a couple of days it stops.
I am somewhat convinced it is because of the palm tree oil used as the 'Natural' Vitamin E source as this oil is reddish in color like the staining. However, according to Steve's Real Food there are no supplements added. So I have three questions: 1. what do you think is really causing the tear staining when ever a manufactured food is used versus making it completely from home, 2. does the 'no supplements added' in Steve's Real Food only imply there is 'nothing above the required label reportable amount' added?, and/or 3. could the meat I use a higher quality with minimal available bacteria than used in any manufactured raw foods as there are only so many suppliers for a large pet food industry.
Thank you,
Sandra

Well, maybe I got lucky, because I am pleased with what ASIT has done for my dog.
Her skin looks beautiful! She hardly scratches at all anymore. She tolerates most foods with a limited ingredient kibble as a base (Nutrisca salmon).
And she only needs the ASIT once a month now, fingers crossed.
Her dermatologist supports my homeopathic measures, I had tried everything prior to going this route...but I have no regrets.

I took my dog to a specialist/dermatologist for skin testing 2 years ago, she gradually improved, receives immunotherapy and is now stable. She is 6 years old.
I do a lot of homeopathic stuff too, fish oil, no vaccinations, minimal pesticides. I have learned a lot from this website.
BTW: Environmental allergies get worse with age, not better. A lot of the allergens are airborne, impossible to avoid.
Good luck with your dog, I'm just sharing what has worked for my dog.

I'm not sure where to start. I have done so much research, seen our regular vet, and now a holistic vet. I feel like my head is spinning. Here is our story. Pardon the length! I know Maisy's issues aren't a quick fix. I just feel like we've taken so many paths that I'm just looking for the 'correct' one. Any insight?
Maisy, a 14 month old chocolate lab.
Maisy's journey with 'allergies' started shortly after we brought her home from the breeder. We found spots on her stomach, took her to our vet, who diagnosed her with a staph infection. Not only was it on her stomach but it had traveled to her ears also. Our vet promptly put her on an antibiotic which cleared up the staph infection and we thought everything was fine. Until, 3-4 weeks later when the staph infection reappeared. Back to the vet, back on antibiotics. Only this time, the antibiotics gave her a yeast infection in her ears. It's been a never ending cycle. She's had maybe 5-6 staph infections. Antibiotics clear it right up and we're back at it, 3-4 weeks later. Her vet is 'hoping' she just has sensitive puppy skin an will outgrow it. We've talked about allergies but he's said she's to young to diagnose and will need to be at least 2 so they can do some testing.
After the 2nd staph infection and itching, I decided to start my research on dogs with allergies. We love our vet, but I am not happy with the answers he's giving me and just treating her symptoms. I want to treat the cause and allow her to live as happy a life as possible. I also contacted Maisy's breeder to see if she had any knowledge about other dogs from her litter (or previous litters) having allergies. She said none of her puppies have ever experienced this problem.
We have tried several different foods. All dry. Exclusive Chicken formula, Taste of the Wild bison formula, Blue Buffalo limited ingredients salmon, Blue Buffalo limited ingredients turkey, and are now trying Natural Balance limited ingredient duck. I have done a side by side comparison of her first few dog foods and have found the common ingredient was chicken (or chicken eggs, chicken meal) and fish meal. So we're trying to at least stay away from anything with chicken. I did do a few days of home cooked food but for her size and the amount of food she needs, it isn't cost effective.
I see a naturopath and know, even for our small town in WA state, that there is a holistic vet locally. SO I figured...why not? What could it hurt at this point? We've been twice. She is fantastic. However, Maisy isn't getting any relief. In fact, she's gotten worse.
The holistic vet gives her laser treatment and acupuncture which I love...amazing way to calm down a lab puppy! smile emoticon She has her on a probiotic, benadryl (if needed), Super Querceitin, San Miao Wan San (for 1 month), Orenda Eze (for 10 days), Zymox ear solution, and an anti-itch spray. I also came home with other ideas to help with itching (peppermint or green tea over food, for example). The holistic vet also believes in chinese 'theory' (for lack of a better word) in which wind=itching. Unfortunately we live in an area of WA state that is known for it's wind and the trees grow sideways if not anchored down as a sapling. We also talked about 'hot' and 'cold' foods and what would be best to put Maisy on. Which is why she's currently on Duck. She also believes in limited vaccinations and rotating foods every 3 weeks until an allergy dog develops an iron gut (her words!).
I'm not opposed to believing that Maisy has some environmental allergies. However, I do believe some of her issues come from food. Example: When we had her on the turkey food she threw up and had about 4 days of very loose mucous filled stool. Took her off that almost a week ago and she's been fine (besides the itching and digging/biting of fur/skin). She has no problem's switching from one food to another.
At this point though, even after everything we've tried, and all the research I've done, I'm at a loss and feel helpless. I know she has to be miserable. You wouldn't know it though! She still eats & drinks wonderfully. Has all the energy & enthusiasm you'd expect a lab puppy to have! But seeing her lose her hair this past week, at a rapid pace, has been alarming. Hoping for some words of wisdom!

Hello Dr. Will! This article speaks VOLUMES to me! I have 2 allergy dogs - one with the itchy flaky skin.... The other with what I call doggie IBS. This is my trouble dog! I know that certain foods are her triggers, but stress also plays a role & that I don't know how to help her with.... We have tried essential oils, Bachs Rescue Remedy, trying to desensitize her, but she continues to have flares with chronic diarrhea. Both are rescue animals so (especially with the IBS girl), I don't know vaccination history. And in my own learning journey, I also vaccinated because I didn't know better!!! They have bith been titer tested last year - IBS dogs numbers were as high as they tested to - so we don't know how high those numbers actually are!! The other dog was double what the numbers should be for protection.... That did not include rabies titers because this is the year that they are due (will not be getting the vaccination - titers instead). I live in western Canada and we are workimg with a holistic vet & trying some Chinese herbs, but we aren't majing progress. have you got ANY suggestions for me - anything DIY?? Feel free to pm me if you can direct me anywhere for help in the the Calgary, Alberta area... Thanks so very much in advance. I really need help!

I wish I could find pain relief for a dog with damaged vertebraes in lower back. I have spent a fortune. Chiropractor and acupuncturist with stem shock added and reduced her weight on and on. She is 5 and has spent t 3 years of that in pain. 4 vets later and no good. Hair analysis you name it. So upset.

I have my IG on a prepared raw for about 5 months now. He loves it! No more not wanting to eat or acting like his tummy hurts. My problem is that I am feeding the recommended about for a 25 lb dog to what was a 17 lb dog. He is now close to 14 lbs. I just can't keep weight on him. I just started with a homeopathic vet so hopefully this can be fixed.

I have a 2 year old English Bulldog that has allergies. I began her on raw milk and coconut oil and saw a drastic improvment. This was about 2 months and she is beginning to get hives again. I don't know anything about raw diet and just began looking into this. She has been vaccinated since the beginning and has been in heartworm and flea prevention. How do I even begin this journey.

Have a 9 year old Labrador who had been on raw food for 2 years. I have had to take her off the raw food due to belching and gas. She is now back on can food and the issues have stopped but I still have to be careful of fats and any type of fish oil. Over the past year I have dealt with many who have tried to help but to no avail. She has only had her puppy shots, no medication, no heartworm and no flea and tick control products. In February I decided to call a well known nutritionist/homeopath for help. Well needless to say, I spent $250 for her assistance with homeopathy. I was given one remedy and told to follow her strict raw diet 90/10 without fail and use only her vitamins. I was given no other instructions but to call her whenever I had a question. She would assume that all is well if she does not hear from me. It has been two months and my dog's issues got worse. I informed her and she said not to worry she is doing great her body just needs to heal itself. I decided that to put her back on can food, probiotics and enzymes and hope for the best. Dr. Falconer, from what I know of homeopathy it is detailed and there needs to be a close relationship between both parties is this correct or am I totally off the mark.

My rescue Btittany mix (12 yrs old) seems to be finally allergy free. She has been raw fed for about 4 yrs which includes green tripe and raw fish. I get my food from TX Tripe.
One major change I made Last year is I also stopped heart worm meds and use your drops. My intuition is telling me that was the icing on the cake for Sadie. She is off prednisone now and is doing very well.

ive had Blaze for almost two years. He was 8 months when I got him. As my first dog, I had a lot to learn. The trainer I worked with suggested the raw diet as the healthiest way to feed him. I now have a stack of books on it, and I've been feeding the raw diet after a few months of having him. His fur is as soft as mink, his teeth are "perfect" according to our Holistic Vet. He continues to have an allergy to something, though. He scratches his ears, licks his paws, and his groin is pink. His Vet wanted to see how he'd do off of chicken, which she said is a hot food. I get his food sent from Darwins: all natural! I'm thinking of getting the antibody test done called Nutriscan. Have you heard of it? Do you have any Holistic treatment suggestions?

Dr Falconer, I applaud your comments regarding including additional thyroid values in your dog's bloodwork. As you know, in the world of functional medicine for humans we don't necessarily use the lab's ranges when we are looking to optimize an individual's health. The lab ranges are designed to establish pathology, and to justify a prescription to "fix" that lab value. For a functional medicine analysis the ranges are reduced, generally, by about 20%, and we look for trends. This is a very general statement and is not true for every value, but for thyroid, you can reduce the upper and lower ranges by about 20% and see if there is a tendency for weakness in that area. By no means allow the vet (or MD!) to tell you, "everything is normal" and you not get a copy of the actual results! Take a closer look and see if you spot a trend! Thanks Doc for all your enlightening work!