[Joey's boss]

Hi!

I just joined and I have a 3 and 1/2 year old German Shepherd with skin problems. He is just recovering from a skin infection; just finished antibiotics and skin support prescription dog food from the vet. I had already been feeding him Blue Buffalo dry lamb & rice. Any other German Shepherd owners who have had good success with this food?

Thanks

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Joey's boss

Hi!

I just joined and I have a 3 and 1/2 year old German Shepherd with skin problems. He is just recovering from a skin infection; just finished antibiotics and skin support prescription dog food from the vet. I had already been feeding him Blue Buffalo dry lamb & rice. Any other German Shepherd owners who have had good success with this food?

Thanks

I don't do commercial dog food (I feed raw and some home-cooking) so I can't tell you much about Blue Buffalo although just the variety you mention is the lowest in taurine (an amino acid). If you want to find out what this means--Find the threads I did in here on my 2 dogs--Corky and Max who now have an enlarged heart--Dilated Cardiomyopathy because prob. not enough taurine in their diet. Will give you links for that info when I am done with this--> http://www.i-love-dogs.com/forums/69816-post.html This should answer somewhat about the special problem that German Shepherds have with getting nutrients from food--any food!

Here is a link about taurine and the heart (And I would check the ingredients on any dog food you feed to see if taurine has been added--Some companies have started adding taurine but pob. a lot that still don't!)--->
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (Heart Disease)

[Lara's mom]

I live in Canada and, I don't believe that particular brand is available here, at least not in Ontario.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

I live in Canada and, I don't believe that particular brand is available here, at least not in Ontario.

There are tons of places in Ontario--Can't bring them all here but these are the ones in Toronto alone!:
GLOBAL PET FOODS
1753 Queen Street East Toronto ON M4L3Y4 416-686-9468
MapFEED ME MORE PET FOODS
451 Church Street Toronto ON M4Y1H2 416-924-1598
MapGLOBAL PET FOODS
381 Eglinton Avenue West Toronto ON M5N1A3 416-482-4995
MapPAWS & CLAWS
660 Eglington Avenue East Toronto ON M4G2K2 416-481-2441
MapGLOBAL PET FOODS
243 Danforth Avenue Toronto ON M4K 1N2 416-463-7387
MapGLOBAL PET FOODS
2100 Bloor Street West Toronto ON M6S1N7 416-604-9272
MapPET VIEW
252 Queen Street West Toronto ON M5V 1Z8 416-593-2560
MapGLOBAL PET FOODS
808 York Mills Road Toronto ON M3B1X8 416-449-7900
MapGLOBAL PET FOODS
171-173 Dupont Street Toronto ON M5R1V5 416-964-0450
MapGLOBAL PET FOODS
1278 The Queensway Toronto ON M8Z1S3 647-341-5202
MapMUDDY PAWS IN THE GUILD
123 Guildwood Parkway Toronto ON M1E 1P1 416-724-1637
MapOSSINGTON PET FOOD
739 Ossington Avenue Toronto ON M6G3P8 416-537-1304
MapOSSINGTON PET FOOD
739 Ossington Avenue Toronto ON M6G 3P8 416-537-1304
MapPAWS & CLAWS
660 Eglington Avenue East Toronto ON M4G 2K2 416-481-2441
MapPET VALU
927 The Queensway Toronto ON M8Z 5Z7 416-251-3454

Here is the link if you want to check out all of Ontario: http://www.bluebuff.com/products/ret...state&do=state

[Lara's mom]

Thank you so much for the information!!! I will absolutely look for that food now. I really appreciate you doing the research. You are the BEST!!!

[Todd]

Blue is a pretty good food. Not the best but still a very healthy kibble nevertheless. How have your dog's allergies been lately? A better kibble for allergies is California Natural because it's a very healthy food and is designed for dogs with allergies in specific because of its concise list of ingredients. If your dog's allergies are doing great then stick with Blue but if they aren't try California Natural, or even better yet, some raw or homemade dog food. At least as supplementation if not a a diet in whole.

BTW I just responded to another thread regarding skin allergies with some all natural, herbal, and home prepared anti-itch remedies which may be helpful to you;

Licking pads till raw

Good luck!

[Lara's mom]

They've been eating a mixture of Orijin and Acana. They all seem to prefer the Acana for some reason...

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

They've been eating a mixture of Orijin and Acana. They all seem to prefer the Acana for some reason...

Were you looking to try the Blue Buffalo? Does one of your kids have an allergy--the new one-Lance?

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

They've been eating a mixture of Orijin and Acana. They all seem to prefer the Acana for some reason...

Is Acana grain-free? I know Origin is.

[Lara's mom]

They are both grain free. None of them has allergies. I've just heard members saying it was a really good food and, my lot get tired of eating the same kibble for breakfast so, I have to change it periodically. Strangely enough, they never seem to get tired of the home cooked food that I slave over every two weeks...

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

They are both grain free. None of them has allergies. I've just heard members saying it was a really good food and, my lot get tired of eating the same kibble for breakfast so, I have to change it periodically. Strangely enough, they never seem to get tired of the home cooked food that I slave over every two weeks...

Well it is good to feed different brands (both are grain-free so that's great!) because it introduces variety. Do you also change the formulas when you buy more food?

[Lara's mom]

I alternate them between two brands made by the same company. I also try to change the ingredients around in their homemade food so they don't get bored with it.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

I alternate them between two brands made by the same company. I also try to change the ingredients around in their homemade food so they don't get bored with it.

Thanks. Sounds like a great plan!

[dna1211]

I was lucky enough to be at a dog store where the Blue Buffalo rep was visiting - I have a small dog (Havanese) with itchy skin - NOT normal allergies - the rep suggested the sole source protein food and indicated that perhaps the dog is sensitive to grains - have been using the food for 3 DAYS and already he is itching less - go figure - Hope this helps

[OrangeDog]

I have been feeding Blue Buffalo to my dogs for a couple years and could not be happier with it. The dogs LOVE it, they have no issues with their ears, skin, eyes and shedding is minimal. They stay in show coat and keep nice muscle tone. I rotate between the chicken, lamb and fish formulas as well as adding their new "limited ingredient" turkey and salmon formulas into the roataion as well. I raise my litters on it also and the puppies take well to it with no digestive upsets. My mom is nwo feeding it to her dogs (and it cleared up her older dogs horrible skin problems within about 8 weeks of being on the food) and most of my clients now feed it also with great results. They have forumlas for puppies, adults, senior, various protein sources, small breed, large breed, reduced calorie, grain free and limited ingredient/allergy. They also have nice canned food (for those who use it - I just give cans as a treat about once a month) and very nice biscuits.

[GSDS4Life]

Originally Posted by Joey's boss

Hi!

I just joined and I have a 3 and 1/2 year old German Shepherd with skin problems. He is just recovering from a skin infection; just finished antibiotics and skin support prescription dog food from the vet. I had already been feeding him Blue Buffalo dry lamb & rice. Any other German Shepherd owners who have had good success with this food?

Thanks

I don't use this food. I'm sure you have heard of Bloat in GSD's. Some things to stay away from with this is Soy, brewers yeast, citric acid and alfalfa. Well Blue Buffalo does have alfalfa in it.

Also, they should not be fed dry exclusively.

[OrangeDog]

I have a breed that is high on the bloat list as well and have never had a dog bloat. I split their food in 2 meals, soak it in water first and make sure they are quiet before and after eating (no running around, etc.)

[GSDS4Life]

Soaking the dry if it contains the citric acid is a huge no no.

I do everything for my dogs to prevent the Bloat. And I have been very lucky. We have to be more careful with Nitro as he is a working dog.

[CorkyMax]

I'm sure you have read the post(s) I did in this thread about low taurine levels but I just noted that you mentioned lamb and rice--THis is one of the worst combos for low taurine unless it has been added to this brand since! Also note this thread (If I haven't mentioned it to you before): Attention-german shepherd/and gs mixes

2-3 strikes here about your dog and low taurine levels.
1.--Does the dog food you use have taurine added? (Prob. not as good as it sounds either if it is added as the high cooking prob. destroys most of it if not all!)
2.--Besides cockers, goldens, and some of the other breeds mentioned as having low taurine---Large breeds are also indicated.
3.--German Shepherds have special problems with being able to get the nutrition they need from any food they eat. (But if there is a breed that would benefit from a raw diet the most--I would think the German Shepherd would be at the top of the list.

I would be adding a taurine supplement if I had this breed of dog! Human grade taurine supplements are what I use.----But mostly too late for my one dog as his heart is 1 and a half times the size it should be and is stretched and flabby!

[GSDS4Life]

3.--German Shepherds have special problems with being able to get the nutrition they need from any food they eat.

If this were true, then there would be many many unhealthy GSD's. No?

I have never had any food issues with any of my GSD's. I can switch foods at any time. They get canned/dry. I give them their raw veggies/fruits, bones and throw in chicken the odd day. I also give them tripe, which they love.

As long as they are eating healthy, they are getting the nutritrition they need. No different then with us humans.