Looking for a new kibble since allergy test

[Max X 2]

Max has been on Barking Heads Fusspot but I've had a hair analysis done & he's allergic to the following - which means no more salmon

Soy milk, splenda, brown sugar, honey, chives, iodised salt, bay leaves, pepper, salmon, lobster, lemon, prune, grapes, banana, lemon, gelatin, oats, wheat flour, duck, beef, olive oil, tea, herbal tea, sodium sulphate

Thankfully he doen't get most of the above anyway but I've now got to find a good quality kibble without the above
I've seen CSJ CP24 but it has fillers like beet pulp which I'd normally try to avoid, but its finding something without salmon oil or oats that will probably be a challenge

Any recommendations welcomed

Hoping that whatever I change to also suits Harry - who has a sensitive tummy

[Fluff]

Wainwrights?

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/wainwright-s-cereal-free-adult-complete-dog-food-with-turkey-and-vegetables-1.5kg-87561

[JennyBee]

Maxine, not what you are wanting to hear, but hair analysis allergy tests are very inaccurate, and not backed up by science, this is one link about it:

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/02February/Pages/new-NICE-guidance-for-child-allergies.aspx

[*MaryG*]

we use Royal Cannine Sensible,. don't know actualy contents and pepper has no recognised allergies. however he does get an upset tummy very easily and since he has been on this has been a lot better. worth checking the contents though!

[ElvieMogs]

How can he be allergic to stuff he's never had? It's impossible, you have to have contact first for the body to produce the antibodies which cause the allergic reaction.

I totally agree with JennyBee about the inaccuracy of hair analysis. Actually I think inaccuracy is putting it politely. In my opinion it's a pseudo scientific con. On the plus side, if I'm wrong you shouldn't have too much difficulty avoiding lobster!

[john51]

Agree completely with ElvieMogs. Does Max actually have any symptoms that you think might be caused by food allergy? If not, why not stick with BH if it suits him? People are continually bombarded by unscientific nonsense from the alternative medicine and nutrition world.

[HBP]

Maxine, not what you are wanting to hear, but hair analysis allergy tests are very inaccurate, and not backed up by science, this is one link about it:

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/02February/Pages/new-NICE-guidance-for-child-allergies.aspx

Just what I was going to say. Allergy testing is difficult and contentious in humans and I imagine more so in dogs. Hair analysis is a complete fallacy I'm afraid. Has the vet suggested food allergies?

We use James Wellbeloved, which is hypoallergenic.

[Jane57]

I dont really understand foods that claim to be "hypoallergenic" 
Most of them contain wheat, rice, beet pulp , fillers etc which is more likely to be allergy inducing than any of the meats it claims not to contain.

[HBP]

I dont really understand foods that claim to be "hypoallergenic" 
Most of them contain wheat, rice, beet pulp , fillers etc which is more likely to be allergy inducing than any of the meats it claims not to contain.

Well I suppose nothing is hypoallergenic, if we were to be technical about it... 

[john51]

I think that hypoallergenic is generally taken to mean low chance of causing allergy rather than completely non-allergenic. Also, although people are often more worried about grains and similar substances, beef and chicken (and pork, rabbit, and fish depending whose list you look at) are among the commonest causes of allergies in dogs. The bottom line is that the body can develop an allergy to pretty much any protein and the usual way of determining what the problem is is through a properly controlled elimination diet.

[phoenix]

What were the reasons for you to have the hair allergy test?
Most human non- medical so-called allergy tests , are worthless, so I would be inclined to ask for my money back .
Allergy is a misused word, it strictly means that there is a violent reaction to the allergen, unlike sensitivity which is is applied to a vague range of reactions.
I hope you have nothing to worry about, you are on a good food now.

[Max X 2]

I just thought it was worth cutting out the salmon to see if there was any improvement with his ears or lip folds as a friend cut out certain foods as recommended for her dog & there's been a huge improvement in him

[john51]

There might be a salmon allergy, but obviously a dog's diet consists of so many things (all the kibble ingredients, treats that you give him, treats other people give him, things that he scavenges on walks) that it can be very hit and miss process. If you really believe there may be an allergy the best way to test is to carry out an elimination diet trial. You need to get a proper hypoallergenic kibble (either a novel protein or a hydrolysed protein food) and feed it exclusively for a period of weeks. If there are improvements in the skin conditions you can then introduce the proteins you suspect and look for changes in health.

Many problems with skin are linked to environmental allergies (dust mite, pollens etc.) so even if you change the food the problem may continue. We eliminated food allergies as a primary cause of Lenny's skin problems and ended up with a diagnosis of environmental allergy with cause unknown. Dogs with atopic allergies often also have food allergies.

You could, of course go back to your original plan and try a different food to see how it goes! You probably want to start with something with relatively few proteins, Acana do single meat source foods such as duck with pear and lamb with apple that are good. I tend to switch foods occasionally and, as well as a number of Acana varieties, have had good results with Taste of the Wild Wetlands and Sierra Mountain.

Good luck!

[Hannahc7]

I would have a look at www.whichdogfood.co.uk - they compare dog foods and list all the ingredients and also rate them out of 5 - it's very good. I feed Eden and it is grain free but not sure about the other ingredients you listed.

[Max X 2]

Thanks for all of the comments

I've ordered Acana Wild Prairie, I'm sure they'll appreciate the change if nothing else