Well Maya's 2nd staff infection disappeared the other day after 2 weeks on the Simplicef. She is still Itching and nibbling on her fur though. So after reading alot of threads about Natural Balance Potato and Duck, I decided to try it. It has no preservatives and has a single protein source and it's supposed to be for dogs with allergies.
I can't believe how expensive it is. It cost me $11.92 for a 5lb. bag, that was with tax included. It's something like $26.99 for a 17lb. bag without tax. If it works I guess I won't mind the expense, because I hate to see Maya uncomfortable. I hope this works, because if this don't work, I may try Holistic food next. After that I don't know what to do. I'm tempted to think if this or the holistic food don't work, then It might not be a food related allergy she has. Hope everything works out with the NB though. She has no problems with stools and I hate to switch from the Nutro Lamb & Rice because I love how her coat is now. I just started mixing in a little of the NB Potato and Duck this morning, so probably won't know anything until a week or so when she is totally transferred over.

Good luck with the NB Duck and Potato. I hope it works well for Maya! We are going to start the switch over to NB Duck and Potato next week. We will start once we are down to one 5 lb bag of his Eukaneuba low residue puppy food. NB Duck and Potato is less expensive than what we are paying for Cosmo's current dog food which he still gets the runs from..... Let us know how Maya does with it!

Good luck with the D & P diet, sure hope it works for both of you :).

Please keep us posted on this.

Labs4ever - good luck to you. don't worry about Maya's coat. We are on NB Duck & Potato now for about 5 weeks and I was also worried about the same. I was hanging tough with Wellness, but believe Sierra may have a grain issue. Glad we switched.

Her coat is just as soft/shiny as it was with Wellness. But...no paw lick and she's not stinky. She smells like she just had a bath. Can't remember the last time she smelled like that. She hasn't had a bath in over 3 months. Her paws still smell like corn chips once in a while - but think that is normal. Also she is eating her food with enthusiasm - that's a switch!

Keep us posted. FYI - there are also NB Duck & Potato treats too - she loves those as well.

We're on our 3rd big bag of Duck & Potato and both of my boys smell infinitely better than they have on any other kibble. Coats are good, no licking. Grip's ears have remained clear.

And despite some kind of stomach virus or something we've had going on over the past two weeks, now that they're better they've resumed their enthusiasm for the food - which is a big deal with our Drum. Grip actually remained enthusiastic throughout the whole thing.

I've also started mixing a half a can of the Duck & Potato moist food into the kibble. They adore it.

Fingers crossed it works as well for you!

hmmm It may take up to 2 months before you see any results with Maya just to let you know if its a food related problem it can take some time before a diet switch can help clear the problem up IF it even does...

hmm with all of you having such good success with that NB duck and potato i think if our wellness whitefish and sweet potato doesn't work out we may have to see if that food is available around here....

but keep your paws crossed we don't have to...

oh and btw lol cornchip feet is a normal smell, we always say the dogs have Frito Feet :D

There is no Natural Balance available in my country. I read through many comments in this board and I really want to find something new for my pup.

I love to receive some recommendation of any other kibbles that have quite the same quality and ingredients to D & P.

Pinnie,

The big appeal for us with the Natural Balance Duck & Potato is that it contains no grains. Grains are not a natural part of a dog's diet, so those of us who have tried lots of different foods and still end up with dogs that lick and bite at themselves and who have constant ear infections turn to a food like the Duck & Potato to see if removal of grains from the diet will stop these "allergic" symptoms.

For many of us it does.

I'm not sure what premium foods are available in Thailand.

There are many of us who believe that a homemade or raw diet is the best diet we can feed our dog. There is a great deal of info available on these types of diets in the Natural Diet section of this board.

If you prefer to stay with dry food (kibble), try to find one that lists meat as the first ingredient (real meat like Chicken or Lamb or Beef - not byproducts) and one which contains rice or barley (vs corn or wheat which commonly cause allergies in dogs) and avoid artificial colors, preservatives, flavors and sugar.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

Thanks to ZenCat. Your information is great. I will have to check out carefully on the ingredients contained in the dry food that I feed my pup.

So far I choose Royal Canin with Maxi Junior formular. It seems good. Besides, I select the premium treats which most are natural products.

My pup now has demodex mites. He often licks, bites and scratches himself which it makes me think that the mites cause itching.

Well, It's the 2nd day that Maya has been totally switched over to the Natural Balance Duck and Potato. She seems to like the food, today after breakfast she was licking her chops for about 5 minutes after eating. :D Her poop is normal and it seems like not as bad of itching, although she still does some. I think it's too early to tell on that issue yet. Hope it is going to work out on this one. Just thought I'd fill you guys in. Holding off on buying the NB Duck and Potato Treats for now, a bag costs like $7. :rolleyes:

:clap: :clap: :clap:

Yay Maya!!! Fingers crossed it continues well!

Yea! I am glad to hear that it is working well for Maya. We are going to buy the food this week and start the switch this weekend. We have been using the D&P treats for a week now and Cosmo loves them! We break each bisquit into many little pieces.

We do too, at least we break them in half because they are so expensive. They're pretty big treats!

Can I ask how much you guys are feeding,your dogs wieght and activity level. My MIL"S Engish Springer SPaniel might benifit from this food. He is a wicked Foot chewer.
thank you

So far, so good Andy and Maya! Keep it up!, and hoping her itching becomes less and less :).

krisinme,
I feed Maya 2 1/4 cups a day. One cup at 7am. and 1 1/4 cup at 3pm. Maya's weight back in September was 54 lbs., back then she was only getting 2 cups a day. I think she is a little heavier now, but not overweight at all. She does not get her walks everyday like she did when it was a lot warmer out. She gets alot of play inside, but I won't walk her outside unless its over 30 some degrees. In the warmer months she gets walked a couple of times a day, around a park that is close by.

WE do same with the treats - break them in half. Sierra gets one after she goes out and does her business - that's a lot of treats!

UPDATE: SIerra is now on NB Duck & Potato for several weeks (app 6) and is doing fantastic. No more smell, no licking and biting paws, etc. Coat just as beautiful as it was on Wellness. I am a happy camper. Hope this success continues.

Zencat - how about Grip/Drum - how are they doing? Feeling better I hope????