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Fri 3 Jul, 2009 03:24 pm
I just got a dalmatian mix, 2 1/2 years old, from the rescue. She is a great dog but I am having some trouble determining the best food for her. On one hand, I have read that dalmatians should stay away from high protein diets and organ meats. So I tried Blue Buffalo Lamb and Rice formula. She gobbles it up but she has been having diarrhea, bad gas, and has exhibited some strange behaviors like: chewing at her paws and rubbing her body around the carpet like she has a bad itch. I read somewhere that those can be symptoms of a grain allergy. So now I am stuck because if she is allergic to grains and shouldn't have a high protein diet, what else is there? All of the grain free foods I have seen either have high protein or organ meats in it. I want her to be comfortable and eat a food that is good for her and won't cause health concerns down the road.
What were they feeding her at the shelter? Any sudden changes in food can cause problems.
I've had Dalmations and they were all serious garbage guts. I had to put a padlock on the trash bin (not kidding). They'd eat anything.
When any of my dogs is having belly problems I feed them a diet of boiled hamburger and steamed rice. Then I start mixing their regular food back in, increasing the percentage until they are eating well without stomach trouble.
My current dog (a mut) chews on his feet but it is from a grass allergy. If your dog has been in a shelter for a while and is now running outside it could be the same kind of seasonal allergy and have nothing to do with her food.
Find out what the shelter was feeding her and try that. Take your dog to a vet and discuss what is going on.
Good luck!
my sally dog gets only IAMS low fat, she thrives.
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