Scratching/chewing

[jeanniemooney29]

I would prefer to spend less that $40 on dog food but if it will help him, I am willing to spend more.

[Jules&Beau]

Hi, Beau ate Merrick brand kibble as a puppy and never had any issue with chewing or scratching....but when I switched him to the adult Merrick it started. He itched and chewed all the time! I had him to the vets, switched shampoos, and started searching online for a food that might be better as that was the vets last suggestion. After several unsuccessful trilas we found a food that doesn't bother him at all! Within 10 days of starting this food I noticed MUCH less itching and chewing, it continued to decrease and now is resolved. I switched him to original formula Wellness CORE, he likes it and his skin issues have cleared up!

[deepnite10]

i ve been noticing many dog food companies now coming out with a variety low/no grain, natural dog foods..even Purina has a new natural
dog food that i sampled and the dogs loved it..

then there are those who have history of poviding quality no grain foods..

though less likely..your dog could have an allergy to the type of protein in the dog foods..most dog foods will contain chicken, beef or lamb..
a good replacement here would be a fish base protein..

the latter would include Blue Buffolo, Taste of the Wild, Evo, and Origen..all have fish recipes and are grain free..

if using a higher grade dog food seems to work..then you can begin changing to a lower price kibble..cost does nt always mean your giving your dog a lesser quality dog food..

the diamond naturals is such an example..less that $30 a bag and yet they re grain free but do have a lower protein and fat content..not really that important if there s no eating problems..

but, do start with a food that would eliminate the possibility of a food reaction..and use that as a starting point..one more thing.. to help with cost, while experitmenting..get the small bags..

[Hays]

Hayley has been scratching a lot too, and we aren't sure why yet. not sure if it's an allergy, her food, her new coat coming in or what...she does not have fleas and is on Frontline Plus so we are not quite sure yet. Hope to find out tomorrow when she goes to the vet for her 2nd lyme shot. She is on the Purina Puppy Chow as Deepnite mentioned...and we are slowly swtiching her food over to Purina ONE per the vet two weeks ago....soon, she will be off the Purina Puppy Chow, but I am not confident the Purina ONE will be any better as she is given half and half right now...we shall see...

[Moe]

I'm not sure how much better Purina ONE is than Purina Puppy Chow. There is a great Dog Food Analysis Website that lists and ranks almost every brand of commercially available dog food. Both Purina One and Puppy Chow received only one star out of a possible six. You might want to research a high quality kibble and see if that helps. My doodle was fed puppy chow by the breeder and when we got her she had very dry flaky skin. Within 2 weeks of switching her to Orijen puppy her skin was perfect. Another highly recommended dry food is Taste of the Wild.

[Hays]

Thanks Moe!!! I think I will do that and likely switch her! Thanks!