advice for sharpei feeding...

[joce]

My grandma has three shar peis and they all have skin issues. the last one they got was a rescue and she at times basically has no hair. Last year they were going to the vet for shots every couple of weeks for the itching(i'm guessing cortazone) but the vet mentioned that since they are so cancer prone anyway and they lost one that way that they should keep trying different stuff. I convinced her to finally change food but I have no clue what to suggest. Here is the dogster page I made for the one and you can see its coat is just horrible.
http://www.dogster.com/?100861 She is now missing some of the hair on her back too.
Shes was feeding pedigree untill the last bag when the person at the pet store told her benefull is the best I was going to get her a bag of the kirklands but I don't think she cares how much it costs so I figured I'd ask what might help and where we can get it.

I'm not expecting all the issues to go away with the food switch but I figure it is better for them anyway and it couldn't hurt. thanks for any help

 

[nedim]

Innova, Eagle pack.... Those ar among the top. Wait for Mordy. I'm sure she'll be able to help.

 

[Adrienne]

I would suggest eliminating corn, soy, and wheat from the diet, the three most common allergens in a dog. Canidae is free of all three as is Innova, don't know about Eagle Pack, maybe their holistic line is.

 

[joce]

what store has these? I know someone said pets supplies plus did but all I ever see there is nutro.

 

[Adrienne]

I get my Canidae at a feed store. Look in the phone book and start calling small independent pet supply stores, one of them is bound to carry one of these products. If not there's always the internet!

 

[joce]

Do you know if their store locator is accurate? I tried it with all the area codes I could think of and they all told me no. Do you mean like a TSC? I know our actual feed store in the sticks has dads dog food or something I can't remember looking at anthing at TSC in the dog section but I guess I'll check tommorow! Thanks!

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

Has she considered homemade food? I've heard some people say it worked wonderfully for their dog's skin problems.

 

[joce]

I donn't really know if she would be willing to try it or not. hse definately isn't decrepid by any means,but she is older,I just dont know if she would be up to it. But I also don't know what all goes into it.

 

[Ash47]

At our local Pet Supplies Plus they have: Nutro, Canidae, Eagle Pack, Solid Gold, and Wellness.

 

[furby]

a friend of mine has a sharpei that wa shaving serious skin issues! They swithched to Eagel Pack holistic lamb and rice formula about 4 months ago and the dog looks FANTASTIC! Her skin and coat look awesome! and she is active and happy (she is a senior and had been looking very old prio to this!) I have heard that the holistic lamb and rice formula of eagel pack is good for dogs with food sensitivities so it could be worth a shot!

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

I donn't really know if she would be willing to try it or not. hse definately isn't decrepid by any means,but she is older,I just dont know if she would be up to it. But I also don't know what all goes into it.

What many people do is prepare the meat and vegetables once a week and then put them in a bowl in the fridge. They measure it out into bowls, pour some hot water into it, and then add any supplements the dog needs.