I am interested in hearing from other Westie owners who use the BARF/ARF diet. I am considering it in hopes that it would help my boy with allergies.
Also, I am curious as to the right amount to be feeding on a daily basis. I am afraid to over feed him, and I certainly feed him, yet he always acts as if he's starving. His weight is great, 19.5# and he's 2 1/2 years old.
Any advice or suggestions in regards to this. He is a rescue that I've had for about 5 months and I'm afraid this may be related.
Thank you all for helping me with this.

I own a 9year old westie who had problems with loose stools & itchy feet & skin. my vet recommended Wafcol gluten free complete & she has thrived on it. No more problems with loose stools now & reduced the itch as well.
I feed a mug full in the morning & a mug full at tea soak with warm water to soften. I aslo give her chicken mince & fish For her treats i get Webbox chomping chews which are gluten free as well. Hope this helps & good luck

Jean

His weight is fine and so is the amount you feed him (whatever is on the menu) if you can just feel (but not see) his ribs when you press lightly on his sides. Whatever the number on the scale says is really not important.

Have you had your dog allergy tested to figure out what he is allergic to?

Stacey

My vet mentioned sending him to a clinic a couple hours away for a series of shots to see what he is allergic to, but this seems pretty painful. Also according to the vet steroid shots is the results regardless of the results. I don't like the idea of steroids. I think that he is allergic to grass. Thank you for your reply to my question.

If he is still itching, I would opt for the shots to figure out what's bothering him. It might be uncomfortable, but better for him in the long run they can pinpoint the problem.

My sister's Cairn gets the itches every year during the late Summer - he goes on an antihistamine mixed with steriod. I think antihistamine would be enough, but that would mean sis would need to start him on them before he starts the itching and irritates his skin. When she lets it go too far without treatment he usually needs the steriod shots at the start of treatment.

My own Cairn started itching in late Spring and it stopped in September. She was mostly itching at the base of her tail. I switched her food (to Nutradiet) and if when really seemed to be itching to excess I used a topical anti-itch spray for dogs. It kept the itch in check without needing any medication. Knock wood next summer it will be no worse - or perhaps even better if the summer is back to normal her in SE England.

Grass is a common allergen, but usually it too is seasonal, eg, it is only a bother when it is in flower. See what happens in the Winter. But so are lots of other things, so I would still go for the shots :-)

Stacey