Dog food - skin flaking

[Ddski5]

So I’ve been using FROMM black/gold bag for a couple of years with Ragnar and even transitioned Freyja to it also.

I’ve always noticed that Freyja had white skin flakes in her coat and if you scratch her back, see even more snow flakes from her skin.

Two things I know:
1. There is an incidence of dogs being allergic to chicken.
2. A lot of red/non black Dobermans seem to have skin issues.

So I’ve been meaning to switch off chicken protein to another kind. I did some digging and research, found FROMM Four Star Trout & Whitefish Recipe Dry Dog Food. Switched over the Dobermans to this Trout & Whitefish and notice no more flakes and a much shinier coat on both Dobermans.

One main thing thoughis the price-
$71 for 26lbs- but after researching all the ingredients/vitamins/minerals and the company….I feel okay with paying the price if it’s good stuff, the poop is small/infrequent and it has eliminated skin flaking with Freyja.

There are different other proteins I make look at later: duck, rabbit, venison, bison, turkey…

Just wanted to share that.

 

[Ravenbird]

Good to know. I feel so lucky that I've not had skin issues. But like you said, seems to be in non-black colors more than solid black. Genetically Asha has zero genes for red or dilutes. She's been eating Diamond Chicken/rice ALS for almost 3 years now with a topper of about 1/4 pound Frankenmeal raw in the evening (raw beef, beef heart, beef liver, turkey, ckn gizzards, ckn feet, green beans, pumpkin & blueberries) plus the weekly sardines & fresh eggs. I feel blessed when I read about the food sensitivities here.

How long have you had them on the Trout/whitefish?

 

[Kaiser2016]

I’m not surprised the trout formula is working so well. Years ago, we had Kaiser on raw trout during the summer and it gave him the shiniest coat. He ended up gaining too much weight though plus handling his meals was extra yucky as the fat would get on your hands and make them smell. It’s a great cooling protein for dogs that tend to run hot, like Kaiser, or dogs that live in a hot climate like yours. I do wonder though if you could have just added sardines to Freyja’s meals. That is what we do for Kaiser now instead of the trout. But if she does have a chicken allergy and the trout is solving all the issues, then definitely stick with it.

Oh, and venison makes them go crazy with energy so steer clear of that!

 

[EricA]

So I’ve been using FROMM black/gold bag for a couple of years with Ragnar and even transitioned Freyja to it also.

I’ve always noticed that Freyja had white skin flakes in her coat and if you scratch her back, see even more snow flakes from her skin.

One main thing though is the price-
$71 for 26lbs- but after researching all the ingredients -


I got a picture (somewhere) of my current girls one time when they were young and at their dinnertime instead of the normal kibble I just tossed a whole duck in each of their bowls.

They stood there eye balling me and waiting for me to actually fix their food.


Instapot for the WIN every time here with anything duck getting cooked.

First do your meat -

Then your rice -

Mix that all together and start filling your portion size containers that you can dole out later -

With the instapot you don't have to smell it near as much as if cooking stove top or baking. This is good.

 

[Gpcoguy]

I cringe every time I go to buy Rose's food. I feed her O.C. raw dog frozen raw patties. 13 1/2 lb. patties per bag , she eats 4 a day. Like everything else its gotten more and more expensive($93 for 2 bags yesterday) but she does so well on it I just suck it up and fork out the dough

 

[Ravenbird]

Like everything else its gotten more and more expensive($93 for 2 bags yesterday) but she does so well on it I just suck it up and fork out the dough

If I won the lotto I'd do that too. Rose always looks great!

 

[Gpcoguy]

Never had any skin/coat issues her teeth are white like a puppy's, stools are small and infrequent never has bad breath.

 

[Ddski5]

@Ravenbird
I’ve never had any issues transitioning over with my two. Usually fully transition over in 3-5 days and noticed the difference about one month afterwards.

Prob been on it since beginning of January.

Also:
Don’t know if it is from this change but I would notice little round wet spots on the couch/chair from where Freyja would be lieing down. I did not address the issue, just spot shot it and cleaned it up. Tbh, I did not want to acknowledge this may be an issue of the female incontinence everyone dreads in female Dobermans…..since the change of proteins/brand flavors, I have not seen any round wet spots anymore.

Coincidence or not?? Idk…but I do know that there are no more wet spots.

 

[Ddski5]

I cringe every time I go to buy Rose's food. I feed her O.C. raw dog frozen raw patties. 13 1/2 lb. patties per bag , she eats 4 a day. Like everything else its gotten more and more expensive($93 for 2 bags yesterday) but she does so well on it I just suck it up and fork out the dough

@Gpcoguy
are you referring to this?

I have always toyed with the idea of getting mine off of dry kibble….

 

[Gpcoguy]

Yes, thats the one. They have different recipes. Beef, chicken, turkey. Fish, duck, rabbit...etc and it comes in different forms. Patties, sliders and chunks

 

[Gpcoguy]

Thats interesting. Never saw the freeze dried variety

 

[EricA]

If I won the lotto I'd do that too. Rose always looks great!

Beef, chicken, turkey. Fish, duck, rabbit...etc.

I get that many grocery stores are different as far as their prices for stuff but still - A lot of those meats I can get from any local grocery chain for a lot less than what that pre-packaged stuff costs 'per pound'. Only one in that list I have not seen locally in a major grocery was rabbit.

 

[Gpcoguy]

Beef, chicken, turkey. Fish, duck, rabbit...etc.

I get that many grocery stores are different as far as their prices for stuff but still - A lot of those meats I can get from any local grocery chain for a lot less than what that pre-packaged stuff costs 'per pound'. Only one in that list I have not seen locally in a major grocery was rabbit.

I agree but its not that simple. Here's the full list of ingredients that I would need to locate,purchase and assemble in the proper recipe

 

[EricA]

I agree but its not that simple. Here's the full list of ingredients that I would need to locate,purchase and assemble in the proper recipe

I DO understand there is more to it than just giving them one thing. Got to be a 'balanced' diet and all.

Definitely not going to be simple trying to feed only raw and have everything perfectly balanced.

 

[Gpcoguy]

 

[Gpcoguy]

To me the convenience is worth the extra cost

 

[Kswoodssue]

Sasha gets little flakes too, and especially when she is excited. We have been feeding Victor All Stages with occasional sardines or eggs or oil topping (can’t remember which oil). She is a picky eater and this is mostly just to get her to eat regularly. Just picked up Victor grain free salmon and sweet potato yesterday. $64?plus for 30#. She likes it. Will see if that helps at all. It still has chicken fat in it.