Skin allergies & a raw diet: I am so stoked to report that my BFF Laura finally took a leap of faith and started feeding her Golden pup Lucy a raw diet!
Weβve been friends for a few years now and have a lot in common. However, one thing that we didnβt see eye to eye on for the longest time was raw feeding.Β
It gave her the creeps and her favorite emoji in relation to the raw feeding topic was the one with the face mask over its mouthβ¦
So while my pups Missy & Buzz got raw dog food, Lucy ate kibble.Β
Skin Allergies & Raw Diet: Extreme Itchiness Caused Kibble-Fed Lucy To Chew On Her Paws
Lucyβs 7 years old now and sheβs been super itchy these last few months. The itchiness caused her to chew on her paws to the point that they were sore and angry-red. It got really bad at night time, so she ended up having to wear a cone of shame to keep her from chewing on her paws.
I had a feeling that Lucyβs diet was the main culprit, although she also has a mild case of separation anxiety. I remembered that my pup Buzz used to be bothered by ear infections several times per year.
That was back in our kibble feeding days, and then they magically disappeared once he started eating raw dog food. That’s why I kept nagging and nagging and nagging to give raw a try, just for a few weeks to see if it made any sort of difference.Β
I was SO excited when Laura finally agreed to give it a shot and didnβt cancel our friendship insteadβ¦you rock, girlβ¦Iβm super proud of you!!
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Long story short β Β the raw diet worked after just 2 weeks (!) as you can see in the picture below. All the redness and soreness has completely vanished:Β
The Easiest Way To Start Feeding Raw Is With Pre-Made Raw Meals
I know from my very own experience that raw feeding can be overwhelming at first. That’s why I gave Laura the advice I give everyone who’s looking to make the switch from kibble to raw:
Start with a pre-made, raw diet such as PetcoβsΒ InstinctΒ raw dog food to ease yourself into the new concept of feeding. Once youβre comfortable with it, you can graduate to putting your own raw meals together yourself.Β
Itβs exactly what I did, too, except that I started feeding Missy & Buzz pre-madeΒ raw dog food fromΒ Darwinβs. I mixed it withΒ a dehydrated dog food base mix fromΒ The Honest Kitchen.
It really doesnβt matter too much though which brand you start with, as long as youβre making a change in your dogβs nutrition. You can check out my favorite raw dog food brands in the US here!
Laura ended up following my advice and is currently in stage 1 of feeding Lucy a raw diet. Sheβs been purchasingΒ InstinctβsΒ raw beef recipe at Petco and will be feeding it for a few more weeks before putting her own raw meals together.
Skin Allergies & Raw Diet: Bottom Line
Allergies causing itchiness in kibble-fed dogs are a serious problem and can lead to a decreased quality of life in our best furry friends.
Buzz was just as uncomfortable as Lucy was when he had his recurring ear infections. I also remember how exhausting it was on my part to treat them and worry about his poor ears.Β
If your dog suffers from similar pains as Buzz and Lucy did, consider giving a balanced, raw diet a try. After all, what do you have to lose?
Related Reading:
3 Best Raw Dog Food Brands In The US
How To Make Raw Dog Food At Home
Raw Dog Food E-Book: 10 Recipes & Tips For Dogs With Allergies
Join the K9sOverCoffee Community today! Get your free raw dog food recipe, excerpted from β20 Raw Meals for Dogsβ!
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