Prescription diet

After the last vet visit for ears and inflamed bowel, the vet recommended a prescription diet – one without the standard meat protein found in dog food. I put Dixie on the overpriced prescription diet, hoping for the best.

The prescription food is made by hydrolyzing protein. In short, it annihilates the protein to a point where the body does not recognize it as such. The result is the same as if I had pulled Dixie off protein altogether. The food helped her gut, but I did not see much improvement in the itchy skin. She scratched less than before, but it did not fully resolve the issue.

On the following visit, the vet recommended a prescription diet for itchy skin. The only protein is egg, which the vet said would be agreeable to Dixie’s gut issues. Dixie has been on the “skin food” for a couple of months, and she is doing remarkably well, with no more incessant scratching.

I was worried about giving Dixie treats since protein seems to be what does her in. I buy hypoallergenic treats (also overpriced), make my own dog treats, or give her small pieces of fruit. The key to it is to avoid the protein.

At this point, I could try to introduce proteins and hope to identify the one she is allergic to, or I could do nothing. I opted to stay the course and plan to continue feeding her the prescription food. If it isn’t broken, why fix it?