Hi
I have a 1 and a half year old Bichon and she has just been diagnosed with having diet sensitivity. She kept scratching all the time and was making her sking really sore and red.

We have been told to stay away from Beef and any dairy products which should help her.

Has anybody else heard of this and could they offer any advise to help her further??

Thanks

Jo

WHen you say she has been diagnosed with diet sensitivity has she actually been allergy tested to prove this or is this just a suggestion by the vet? You can have your dog blood tested for allergies and the results will demonstrate what protein they may be sensitive to and thus you can avoid it. No animal, including humans, are designed to drink milk post weaning and most dogs are lactose intolerant; there is no reason to include any dairy product in a dog's diet with the exception of yoghurt which, being predigested, is an excellent food for the bowels etc. Dogs can often prove allergic to cooked proteins but not raw.

Allergies can be manifested in many ways; my dog that I rehomed last year had chronic ear infections, he was allergy tested and found to be sensitive to beef, soya, wheat, potatoes, maize and oats. Fortunately as I feed raw this is not a problem and since he has been with me has never had an ear infection. Even if you feed commercial food it is possible in most cases to avoid protein sources to which your dog is sensitive and very rarely is it necessary to feed the overpriced diets sitting in vets surgeries!