Hypoallergenic food - help

[lewrox]

Hello all! Quick question, does anyone know if Blue Buffalo is a hypoallergenic food? If not, what is the difference between that and a Science Diet hyperallergenic food? thanks!

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

No they do not. Hahahahaha Science Diet does not make a truly hypo-allergenic food. (Please see dogfoodanalysis.com to see the ratings on all Science Diet food). Their foods all have corn, wheat, soy, by products, etc in them none of which are hypo allergenic, in fact corn and wheat are two of the most common allergy ingredients.

If you want hypoallergenic I'd go with a grain free diet and/or a limited ingredient diet. Natural Balance makes a limited ingredient frain free line which has been GREAT for us, Wellness also makes a limited ingredient diet (although it's not grain free), Wellness also makes a grain free diet (although it's not limited ingredient).

Do you suspect your pup has allergies? Why are you considering a hypo-allergenic diet versus just a good healthy food?

 

[lewrox]

She does have allergies and we are trying to find out what exactly she is allergic to. She has some hair loss/thinning hair, chronic ear infections and bumps on her chin/around her mouth. She is happy and playful and full of energy, she is just very itchy, poor thing :(. We've been to the vet numerous times since it started. This last time the vet suggested trying a hypo-allergenic food, we just (in the last 2 days) have fully switch her to Blue Buffalo. I was wondering if it was worth another switch or if they were essentially the same thing? Is a diet where we cook for her a better idea? Roxie is only 11 months old.

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

My boy developed food allergies (and severe ones) at 8 months old (he'll be 2 years next month). Natural Balance Limited Ingredient diet food has been the BEST and is actually the only food he can eat. It's a single protein and single carb source and grain free. I bounce between the Fish and Sweet Potato and the Venison and Sweet Potato but they also have a Duck and Potato (although my boy is allergic to duck). I would recommend one of those 3. Also I would highly recommend fish oil (1,000mg per 20 pounds of dog) just regular human capsules and a 400 IU capsule of Vitamin E (again jsut human ones I get mine at Costco as they're the cheapest there) daily which should help with some of the itching plus a limited ingredient food diet should help greatly as well. You can also give Benadryl for some of the itching, sometimes it helps sometimes it doesn't with food allergies but it may be worth a shot for a few days anyway.

If she has food allergies I would definitely get her off of a food with grains (which blue buffalo has grains) and 300% skip the science diet.

Good luck.

 

[lewrox]

Meghan, Thanks so much for your help! I'll give that food a try. fingers crossed!

 

[djheitz]

Just a note on Blue Buffalo - They do have a grain free. It's in a shiny blue bag labeled Wilderness.

 

[lewrox]

Thanks Debbie, i've seen the Wilderness kind. I'll check that out as well. Have you used the Wilderness before?

 

[Angelika_23]

Hi there,

Beau has severe allergies to chicken and rice. We have him on Natural Balance Duck and Potato and he does very well on it.

Angela

 

[djheitz]

Thanks Debbie, i've seen the Wilderness kind. I'll check that out as well. Have you used the Wilderness before?

It's in our rotation. Harley always had nasty ear stains, but shortly after I switched over to Wilderness, they cleared up. Now that we're rotating, they have come back, so I may need to keep him on grain free.
Our three love BB, but some owners have reported their dogs had nasty gas issues on it. I use it because I'm in Petsmart just about every week for the rescue and it's just more convenient than making another stop at a feed store.