I have a male 6 year old mantle great dane that is around 190lbs. For his adult life he has eaten Pro Plan Giant Breed until a couple of months ago. The local pet stores stopped carrying it for reasons I am unclear of. As I have to buy two bags at a time to avoid going back to the store every three weeks, I switched him over to the large breed shredded blend that was readily available. The first bag I mixed in with a bag of the regular Giant Breed. He loved it and was eating every meal right away. For the past month or so, he has been on just the shredded blend.
After returning from vacation for the first two weeks of November, I have noticed that he's developed a pretty widespread rash on the inside of his hind legs. While I was away, somebody stayed at the house and he did not leave his normal environment. I am the only one that walks him so the dog sitter just played with him in the fenced in back yard. My guess is that his rash is related to his food and has gradually gotten worse while I wasn't around to watch. Does this make sense to anybody else out there? Should I switch his food to something with less chicken in it? Any help is appreciated.
Pro Plan is really not the best food to be feeding a Dane. It is too grain heavy and contains corn .
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
It is very likely that food is the issue. I would suggest getting this dog on to a better food ... such as Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul regular or large breed, Fromm 4 STAR, Merrick, Orijen, Taste of the Wild , Canidae ALS, Canidae before grain just to name a few.
Taste of the Wild is a very good quality, reasonably priced grain free food and is widely used by experienced, responsible Dane owners/breeders. I feed TOTW to my Danes. My son feeds his Dane Chicken Soup Large Breed Adult.
What does the rash look like. size, color shape, shape? And what kind vegatation do you have in your back yard or state you live in? It could be a rash from fleas, mange, yeast, or allergic reaction to new food. For an allergic reaction dogs can be given 2mg of benadryl per pound, so around 380mg. Childrens liquid benadryl sometimes is easier use.
Always a vet visit.
This could be caused by a number of things ... as mentioned before ... change in food hence new allergy .... corn is common allergen.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com A fungal infection is also possible ... a yeast infection ect.
I've added a link with pics of canine rashes ... may be helpful.
best to you.
I suspect that your dog has allergies. There is probably something in the new food that doesn't agree with him. I don't know what this "shredded" food is (I read that Purina has come out with one) but I suspect that it's a formula change that sontains more corn, wheat, grains).
I would do 2 things ...
1) I would ask the pet food store if they can special order the Giant Breed formula for you. I work at a pet food store part time (as manager) and we have clients we will bring food in for on special request. If Proplan has discontinued the food, then you are our of luck. If the store just doesn't stock it because it doesn't sell, ask the to special order it and tell them you will buy 2 bags at a time and how often. They will likely accomodate you.
2) If the food has been discontinued, check out some other Giant Breed foods (Royal Canin, for example). Try to avoid any foods with a lot of grains in them.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Less chicken is not the answer ... LESS GRAIN .... the meat will not normally cause this type of reaction all of a sudden. Go online and get the ingredients list of the Proplan Giant Breed vs. The Shredded foor you are now using .... I am sure you will see the answer.
If you want more info/suggestions, e-mail me.
