We’ve had our almost 9 year old chihuahua rat terrier since she was about 12 weeks old. Shes always been a happy healthy sweet girl. Over the years, she’s slowed down and started having bad skin episodes. Itching, smelling so bad regardless of medicated baths, hair falling out etc.
We’ve gone to countless vet visits, gotten her on apoquel, antibiotics etc. It started off about 1x per year and the vet said it was most likely environmental. We were on top of her flea meds and did an antibiotic. The infection came back worse, and started to occur about 3-4x per year. Vets would always put her on apoquel and antibiotics. It would work but came back all the time. I had asked if it could be her food. She was on hills science chicken food, chicken wet food, treats etc. Vet said it’s mostly never food allergies and just had her on the same routine of antibiotics and apoquel.
After so many expensive visits, special shampoos and medication, I didn’t know what else to do. I felt so helpless. She was always chewing her limbs, licking herself, scratching and always had wounds on her. At one point, her neck was red and raw and oozing, and smelled like a dead body. I finally decided to try to see if it was her food.
I switched her to just kibble. It was super hard to find something with no chicken. I found this great salmon option on Amazon. It’s been 3 weeks and our girl seems like she’s back to her old self. She’s playful again, her hair is growing back on her bald spots, and even on her chest which she hasn’t had in years, she seems more comfortable and she doesn’t smell bad anymore. I’m truly hoping this is the answer to our issues.
I’m now wondering if the vet just wanted to keep us coming back for medication. I will be continuing this as I know it takes up to 12 weeks for chicken to get out of dogs system. But overall I’m hopeful that we found an easy solution to our zombie girls problem.
TLDR: dog with years of skin issues was put on a chicken free diet and after 3 weeks it’s done more than years of medication.