I have a 2ish year old cross bitch. She is very hyperactive and seems stressed. She sufferes with itchy red smelly ears and is a compulsive cleaner - especially of her feet. She is now developing pink hairless pathces under her chin which she rubs on the carpet and her legs frequently. She gets very distressed when out walking. We struggle to keep weight on her. Could any of this be due to her diet? The vet mentioned in passing that she may be protien intolerent.

Currently we feed her on chicken carcases - when able to get them. She also has raw liver and vegetables, very rarely we have to resort to complete dried food.

Any ideas on what to do - what am I doing wrong?

Hi M/pherson, sounds like it`s an allergy. Could be due to anything from diet/contact or anything you are using for cleaning or flea treatment & even grass you walk her on. What do you feed her on when you can`t get carcasses? She should only have liver 1-2 a week. You could start changing her diet but I would take her to vet & get her checked over & see what he says. It can be difficult to find the cause of allergies.
Christine, Spain.

Thanks for your reply. Do you have any suggestions as to what I should change her diet too? My other dog - a labrador/boxer cross seems to be doing really well on the diet.

We feed chicken 5-6 days a week. They also have liver and fresh, raw vegetables, oily fish, rice and pasta (the last two cooked). For snacks they have raisens, sultanas and uncooked pasta. The love fruit and I add this to their vegetables or give it to them as treats - they beg for tomato!! They also occasionally have a raw egg each.

Many thanks
Amanda

Hi Amanda, think you should get her checked by vet first to make sure it`s not fleas/mites/ticks or any other little crawlys causing the itch. If it`s not any of those things you could try just chicken/turkey with either cooked rice OR cooked pasta & see how she goes on that for a week or 2. If the itching stops then start adding one food at a time, waiting a week or so before adding anything else, & see if the itching comes back. I have never heard of giving them raw pasta & I would give ch/wings with chicken meat & leave the carcass out till the itch is under control. Stick with one or 2 foods only that way you will be able to identify any food causing the itch easier, when you start to reintroduce them.
Christine, Spain.

She could also have ear mites, think a visit to the vet would help. Are you using any kind of shake and vac on your carpets this causes some dogs to have allergies, she could also have harvest mites on her feet, or as you say it could be her diet, I dont think chicken carcasses are a balanced diet for any dog, I feed mine on raw tripe and raw minced chicken with added vitamins, and they are doing well on this diet, my breed is prone to skin infections and allergies.

You could also try cutting out the pasta as many dogs have an intolerance to wheat that often shows itself as a skin irritation.