I have dogs w/food allergies. The food from the vet is expensive. Does any one know of a cheaper food?

8mo. labs. although uncommon this early in there life, they suffer from skin and food allergies. I got them from amish puppy mill and have been committed to giving them a good home. I currently have them on Hills prescription diet from there vet. I was wondering if any body else dealt with this and found a cheaper brand or idea. They are also fatty acid supplement. They are really great dogs.

I have dogs w/food allergies. The food from the vet is expensive. Does any one know of a cheaper food?
I have a yellow lab with food allergies too. You have to do some research on dog foods. You want to find a dog food that has chicken and rice or lamb and rice. I found one called Exclusive that really works for my lab. It's chicken and rice, and it's low fat too. My lab has been one this food for about a year and has only had one out break ine that time and it was a little one. Do your home work and you'll find one that works for you dog.
Reply:Try looking up BIL-JAC CANINE FOOD.


YOU can buy it by the case-if you have freezer space.


My dogs did wonderful w/it.
Reply:Do you know exactly what ingredient they are allergic to? There are lots of different brands out there, and they have lamb and rice, chicken, and more like that. You might also try making their food at home, that way you know exactly what goes into it.
Reply:I can only suggest that you find any dry dog food which is free of preservatives, food colours and artificial flavours. I am in Australia and there is one here which is so cheap, it's brilliant, so it doesn't have to be an expensive vet brand.


Never buy dog food from a vet. They are experts at convincing well-meaning dog owners to buy the most expensive food possible.


Once you've got this everything-free dog biscuit, add some olive oil and raw egg every few days. If it's cold add some hot water to make it into a mash. Add some animal fat or cheap meat minced up. Try adding some Vegemite too if they won't react badly to it - it's full of vitamins.


Make sure they have a raw marrowbone split longwise down the centre every week. The rich marrow in the middle contains essential nutrients.


The most common cause for skin problems in dogs, esp. labs and rotties, is the preservatives in dog food. Good luck!
Reply:Dogs with allergy issues always cost a considerable amount of money. Mostly it is trial and error. If you can afford it I would try a bones and raw food diet a.k.a (b.a.r.f diet). Also depending what is coming out the other end you may want to try prozyme. Its a food supplement that aids in digestion. Most of the alternative stuff I learned from a holistic vet. He used both concepts of eastern and western vet medicine, like accupunture and herbs along with steroids until we could ween our dog off of them. Best of luck.
Reply:I have an 8 year old German shepherd with food allergies. He does well on Natural Balance Venison %26amp; Rice. I didn't have any luck with any of the prescription diets from the vet (Hills D/D or Z/D, IVD Venison or Duck). I also supplement with Heska F.A. powder which has flax seed in it. Omega 3 fatty acids are good, too. Allergy dogs usually need more than your average dog.





Good for you for committing to these very deserving puppies! And good luck with their allergies. It's a trial and error thing sometimes to find just the right food for these guys with skin issues.
Reply:Please get your dogs OFF of Science Diet. As another poster mentioned, Vet Prescription diets are really LOW quality and they are way too overpriced. Vets in North America really receive little to no training in nutrition (which is the same for human doctors) and the training that they receive is funded by Science Diet...see a bias there?!





You didn't mention which of the SD prescription diets you are feeding, so here is one of their low-allergen formulas:





Z/D Low-Allergen:


-DRIED POTATO PRODUCT (dried potato skins, fiber yes, no other nutritional value, the first ingredient should always be protein)


-HYDROLYZED CHICKEN LIVER (chemical altered chicken, yuck, liver contains toxins and should not be in the food)


-POTATO STARCH (this is the same as the sticky stuff that is leftover from boiling potatoes...low grade filler)


-SOYBEAN OIL (many dogs are allergic to soy AND this is a low quality oil)


-Preserved with BHA (this is a PROVEN cancer causing chemical preservative. Most companies have banned its use)


-HYRDOLYZED CHICKEN (yum, more chemically altered chicken)


-POWDERED CELLULOSE (more starchy fillers)


-SALT (should never be in pet foods, increases risk of heart disease)





So, your vet wants you to think that you are feeding this miracle food that is great for your dog. What they don't tell you is that most of the ingredients in the food are leading to your dogs death (harsh but true).





When you look for a food, you have to ask yourself "would I eat this". Of course, you wouldn't, but do you understand what the ingredients are and do they appeal to you?





Here is a food by the Natura Pet Products Company. They are leaders, producing some of the healthiest, safest pet foods in the world. They do not sell to vets or to mass store chains because they want to ensure their products are sold by knowledgeable staff who understand pet nutrition (some holistic vets do sell these foods).





Now you didn't state what your dogs were allergic to but by far the BEST food on the market for dogs with allergies is California Natural. There formulas are made with such high quality, basic ingredients, you don't have to worry about all of the other stuff. Here are their two main formulas, depending on what your dog is allergic to:





CN Lamb and Rice:


-Lamb Meal


-Ground Brown Rice


-Ground White Rice


-Sunflower Oil


-Taurine





CN Chicken and Rice:


-Chicken Meal


-Ground Brown Rice


-Ground White Rice


-Sunflower Oil


-Taurine


Flaxseed





Unlike EVERY other Lamb and Rice or Chicken and Rice food on the market, these two are the ONLY ones that contain no other 'substantial' ingredients like fillers. They are simply meat and rice...exactly what your dogs need.





So, visit www.naturapet.com and use their store locator to find out if it is sold near you (they also ship).





PLease...my advice to you is to do a bit of research on you own...this is a good starting point but there is a ton of information on pet foods out there. A good book to read is "Foods Pets Die For" by Ann M. Martin. Really opens your eyes to the pet food world.





Don't get sucked in by the misconception the vets are experts in nutrition...this leads to too many unnecessary illnesses and deaths.