Food? Supplements?
This past Saturday we recently adopted a year and half old EBT named Ruby. This is our first EBT - for the past almost 15 years we had a Shih Tzu that passed away in August. Big difference in breeds! We are way out of our wheel house!
When we adopted Ruby we were delighted when they said Ruby ate Pedigree. Our previous dog had food allergies could only eat Natural Balance Potato and Duck dry food and carrots as treats. We tried Ruby on on the dry food we had left and it gave her awful gas! I went and got her Pedigree since that's what she was used to but now she has started to get itchy and hot spots. I bought her the steak and veggies version rather than the chicken version because - well - Ruby is part of the family and she's supposed to be "my husband's dog" and he's a steak man. So - it seemed fitting at the time. After combing through the forums and reading Food and Nutrition I'm not real sure what to try. Here's what I know...
1. Natural Balance Potato and Duck gave awful gas
2. Previous owners said she ate Pedigree and Purina but didn't say what blend
3. She is itchy and has hot spots
4. She may be shedding more now than when we brought her home a week ago. (I'm still getting used to a dog that sheds but I feel like she's shedding more now than the first few days she was home)
Should we try the chicken version of Pedigree/Purina since we know she was fed both seemed fine when we brought her home? Should we try her on grain free even though she hasn't been on it? If she hasn't been on supplements should I start her on them? Also, with the supplements do you just add them to their dog food? I am clueless about supplements all together.
Any and all help and guidance would be greatly appreciated. As I mentioned - we are out of our wheel house on this one! We just want Ruby to be as happy and healthy as she can be, but also not go over the top when it's not necessary.
When we adopted Ruby we were delighted when they said Ruby ate Pedigree. Our previous dog had food allergies could only eat Natural Balance Potato and Duck dry food and carrots as treats. We tried Ruby on on the dry food we had left and it gave her awful gas! I went and got her Pedigree since that's what she was used to but now she has started to get itchy and hot spots. I bought her the steak and veggies version rather than the chicken version because - well - Ruby is part of the family and she's supposed to be "my husband's dog" and he's a steak man. So - it seemed fitting at the time. After combing through the forums and reading Food and Nutrition I'm not real sure what to try. Here's what I know...
1. Natural Balance Potato and Duck gave awful gas
2. Previous owners said she ate Pedigree and Purina but didn't say what blend
3. She is itchy and has hot spots
4. She may be shedding more now than when we brought her home a week ago. (I'm still getting used to a dog that sheds but I feel like she's shedding more now than the first few days she was home)
Should we try the chicken version of Pedigree/Purina since we know she was fed both seemed fine when we brought her home? Should we try her on grain free even though she hasn't been on it? If she hasn't been on supplements should I start her on them? Also, with the supplements do you just add them to their dog food? I am clueless about supplements all together.
Any and all help and guidance would be greatly appreciated. As I mentioned - we are out of our wheel house on this one! We just want Ruby to be as happy and healthy as she can be, but also not go over the top when it's not necessary.
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"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
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I don't feel like any of this is getting better. If anything it's getting worse. She's started scratching her tummy and back. She has a tone of small sores on her tummy from scratching and just last night we noticed one on her back by her neck.
I was starting to think maybe it's TruGreen in our yard? So, earlier this week I started soaking her paws in an Epsom Salt soak before bed. That seems to help her get to sleep, but then in the mornings she is right back to licking, itching, and scratching when her eyes first open.
Last night I gave her a bath with Dawn (I didn't have an oatmeal shampoo handy yet) and then washed her paws before bed instead of doing the soak. She stunk the minute she got wet, and I still could smell it on her after her bath while she finished drying. (I towel dry her and let her air dry.)
I haven't seen a flea or flea dirt at all but she'll be getting her monthly dose of Advantage Multi this evening.
Like I said, her itch is getting worse. And you can see under her white coat in several areas the skin is a bright pink now. Something is not making her body happy. Any suggestions? I don't like seeing our girl like this.
http://bulliesofnc.com/online-store/supplements-vitamins/
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com