Protein source

Great site, makes it affordable to make dog food😃 I have a dog who is on an elimination diet because he scratches a little and has a little less fur on the top corner of his ear. Unfortunately, he has eaten a lot of different things, both raw and dry food, and finding protein was challenging. I therefore tried allergy dry food, but he does not do as well on it as he does on wet food. He ate Spesific, which contains fish, a few years ago. I assume saithe cannot be used then. I do not have access to elk meat. I am considering duck, but buying good cuts of duck in the shop is too expensive, only what is available here. Can I use vom taste duck? And add the other ingredients listed in the recipe?

Hi! Thank you for your kind feedback! 💛 Vom Taste And already contains added vitamins and minerals, so the "balance" will be off if you replace it with a recipe designed for pure meat (without additives). In addition, it’s important to be aware that products such as Vom are often made in factories where several different types of meat are handled. This means there may be residues from other protein sources in the food, which can be problematic when trying to figure out what your dog is actually reacting to. Unfortunately, the same strict requirements to avoid cross-contamination do not apply to dog food as they do to food production for humans – so even if it says "duck" on the package, there may be traces of other meat in there as well. Do you have the opportunity to obtain a different…
Thank you very much for your reply. I'm still unsure whether I'll find anything else. The downside of having given him a varied diet is that he's eaten all varieties of mush over the last year, dry food specifically with fish a few years ago, lamb, m23 and beef. He gets horse only as treats, but horse is not so easy to get hold of. I've used Barfit and men as a supplement on trips/training. Duck has a price per kg here that is not feasible for a 26 kg dog. I tried a bag of Proplan Allergy in the absence of protein sources, but I am not satisfied after 2 weeks, so I will not continue with it. I thought about trying saithe even though he has eaten fish. Do you think it is pointless?
According to the book, one should use a completely new protein source. At the same time, I have found that many dog owners have not had full control over what proteins their dogs have eaten; some have also eaten a little white fish, and yet have done very well on saithe fillets. So I think that saithe is probably the most feasible option, and that it is worth trying, even if it is not entirely "perfect" on paper 💛
Thank you 😊, we'll test it. The worst that can happen is that it doesn't work, and then we'll try something else.
This was helpful feedback for me, as I’ve been pondering the same question. I’ve decided to try saithe and sweet potato, and I’m just getting started with that now. My dog has eaten little fish, but at one point had a large bag of white fish from Vigor&Sage, and I haven't been able to find out what fish they use in it. I've reasoned that I think it's something other than fish that he reacts to, though I can't be 100% sure. But I'm giving it a chance now. How long should I give it to see if this diet is 'safe'? He still has quite soft stools (it's the first day with 75% saithe/sweet potato), but he poos less often than before, which perhaps means he is absorbing the food better? That said. Tio has never been particularly fond of fish, but he LOVES this recipe. He has never been one to fuss…
I think the same applies in your case too. In most dogs, the symptoms will start to subside around week 6 (but again, this is individual, so it's difficult to give a definitive answer). If you don't notice any difference after week 6, it may be worth reassessing and choosing a different protein source (though from experience I do think it will work) 😊 Poop often goes through a sort of "transition phase" where the consistency, smell and colour shift. For some dogs this lasts a couple of weeks before things settle. That’s completely normal, too! And you're absolutely right that the fact he poos less often means his body is utilising the food better 🙌🏼 Oh, that really warms my heart to read 🥹💛 Thank you so much for your kind words – and give Tio an extra cuddle from me 🥰🐾
Exciting!! I am optimistic🙏🫶
Hello again, Ayla😊 I need some motivation to continue with the elimination diet with saithe. It's week 4 this weekend. He has no stomach problems and has never had any before. But he is still itchy😐. His coat has improved a little and he sheds much less. I wonder how long I should continue before giving up on saithe. Could it be that he is reacting to something else? Is it common to react to hemp seeds? He loves the food, so I'm not going to stop😊
Hello! It is common for dogs to stop itching around week 6-8, so unfortunately it often takes a little time. But you can try omitting hemp seeds for the next 4 weeks and see if you notice any difference. You have already come a long way, which is great work! Keep it up 💪🏼☘️
Thank you🥰. Then we'll continue cooking fish and 🤞🤞 fingers crossed. Have you found that dogs with environmental allergies get better on an elimination diet? I haven't had a diagnosis for mine yet.