Does anyone know whether chicken is found to be a common problem with regards to food allergies\?
Or is chicken normlly one of the more "favourable" foods ?

Hi Lel

I am currently going through the exclusion programme with one of mine at the moment, but the vets also said that some dogs can show allergic responces to chicken.  So have taken her off Chicken, wheat and all cereals for the time being.

Chicken is a fairly common allergen as it is contained, one way or another, in many many dog foods and so there is ample opportunity for a dog to become "over exposed" and develop a sensitivity.  Fortunately as there are loads more birds let alone animals to choose from this should not really be a problem.

At the end of the day any animal can be allergic to any or many proteins.

HTH

thanks both
its just that we have been on a trial for 6 weeks and he has been fine (Gus)-
but we re-introduced chicken at the weekend and he seems to have started licking his feet again. Not sure whether this would happen so uickly and whether its just co incidence or not :rolleyes:
Karen , can I ask what your girl is currently on ??

I have a paw licker here too,the majority of meat she gets is chicken.
Karen and Lel,what meats have you been feeding your dogs besides chicken?

christine

Christine
we used to feed Hills with occasional chicken, mackeral, tuna etc .
after advice from a specialist we were told to feed Royal Canin Hypoallergenic for 6 weeks and see if there is a difference and then we could re introduce other foods one at a time .
Chicken was the first thing we re introduced and hes been licking already :(
what foods are you feeding

Lel,
The majority is chicken but they also get duck,chicken and lamb,i have just ordered a supplement,when i get it i will post the ingredients,i would like to hear your opinions.
I also feed royal canin,mini-junior,we dont have the hypoallergenic version here in Australia,bloody typical!!
Once this pack of royal canin runs out i will be switching to innova,the claim to be the best pet food in the world and judging by their ingredients,i have to agree(we only have a choice of 2 healthful pet foods here :( take a look at their site and let me know what you think www.naturapet.com  so sorry cant do links,click on the "innova" link.
As for allergy testing,i have a pretty good idea what she is allergic to,grass and dust mites.She always itches when we get back from our walk on the grassy fields and when she lies down on the carpeted room in my house she starts to itch within 10 minutes.
Insurance will cost $63 per month for both dogs and thats a discount rate :rolleyes: once i get a bit more financially secure i will insure them and get the tests done. I have it pretty much under control at the moment with regular bathing,every 2 days with EPO and oatmeal shampoo.

I would really appreciate it if anyone who interested could take a peep at the above website and let me know what you think of the ingredients :D

christine

I think innova is one of the best foods in the US

Christine & Lel

I have been using Nature diet lamb & Brown rice, White fish and Brown rice, and their Optima. http://www.nature-diet.co.uk ( sorry still can't do links...LOL ) I am also using Burns Venison complete http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/index.htm  another food I recently have ordered to is a whole hollistic food again made by a Vet like burns. Called All in one. http://www.naturaldogfoodcompany.com/ ( this food is based on chicken I have to add )

So its wait and see time, as we have only just started the exclusion diet, the last couple of days, so Lel you are further on than we are...LOL  I wish we had the answers :-)

why not just have the dogs allergy tested?  It would be quicker and you would not be "experimenting";  just a thought.  :)

I have.... but from the blood test stage alone, nothing apart from flea saliva is showing as conclusive, this is what the next step that the vets advised. Food exclusions, for approximately 10-12 weeks, then futher allergy injection tests could be called for if at all necessary.

Food allergies should definitely show up in blood tests; are they using yorktest?

Not sure, but I have a funny feeling they sent them to North west labs. but can call the vets to confirm though. If not have you got their details as I will insist they re-do the blood samples and send them to the labs you stated. Thanks in advance :-) Any help GREATFULLY ACCEPTED I can tell you :-)

http://www.animal-allergy.com/vet-surgeons/who-yorktest.php4

this is the leading centre for both animals and humans in the UK I believe.

HTH

Many thanks

I have bookmarked that website, and I will print off all the information to take along to the surgery, if I find out that they didn't send the samples to York labs, awaiting the vets to call me back with the answer.

Thanks again.

Hi Tohme
we were allergy tested for dust mites which seems to be VERY normal for such tests after listening to other people :rolleyes: and advised to do a food test as a precaution at the same time