Boston Terrier with Skin Problems

I got this message from a man whose dog has chronic skin problems:

I called in to your show regarding the skin infections on my 2 year old female Boston terrier. You suggested I give her ground beef (or chicken), boiled with carrots for 2 weeks. I assume I drain off the fat after it boils. Correct? You said I could make enough for 2 weeks and freeze it in packs.

I’ll get antibiotics from the vet one more time to help clear it up.

You said to go to www.dogbible.com and there was a downloadable diet there. I went there and got the message “DogBible.com is currently undergoing a major upgrade.”

Do you have a diet in a .pdf?

By the way, my last Boston (this is my 3rd) lived to 12 years old. He was born with a bad liver and the University of Florida vets at the vet school, said he would not live to age 4. Apparently, I take good care of my babies.

I look forward to your input. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Thanks from Ron

Hi Ron – I’m so glad you got in touch because I need to clear up the advice I gave you. If I recall, you said you dog had recurring skin infections and your vet was using antibiotics to clear them up but they would recur – and maybe was also using prednisone tablets?? In any case, my suggestion of what is called an “elimination diet” was for two reasons: to clear your Boston’s system of the poor ingredients and even toxins in the commercial kibble which was her exclusive diet, and also to remove any of the ingredients which may have been causing skin reactions or allergies. So yes, the idea of feeding a bland protein source (be it chicken, beef or lamb) with chopped or grated carrots and rice is the way to do that. Of course all fat should be drained. A tablespoon of plain yogurt with every meal is great too, especially being on antibiotics.

I need to add that this diet would be a good one for the life of the dog, as long as you supplement it with a full balanced product like Platinum Performance. I recommend it to everyone as the finest and most effective glucosamine/chondroitin/omega-3 joint formula, but it is also the ideal way to provide all the vitamins and other nutrients a dog needs if you are home cooking. You can only buy this supplement direct from the company in California and you can find the link to the company on my website, as they are one of the first sponsors of the work I do. However, my website is the name of my book, THE DOG BIBLE, so you need to put in www.TheDogBible.com and you’ll get right there. I do not have any recipes on the website, but many blogs and Q&A’s on nutrition. The book I am a big fan of that does have super recipes is Liz Palika’s book THE ULTIMATE PET FOOD GUIDE – it is linked on my website and you can listen to my interview with her on DOG TALK by going to that section of my website and downloading the show. While you’re there, put your email address in the spot indicated and you’ll start receiving the pod cast of the live show every Saturday afternoon, which is my gift to everyone.

If you buy a copy of THE DOG BIBLE – which I humbly recommend because of the extensive nutrition information – please send me your mailing address and your Boston’s name so I can autograph a bookplate to her to put in it. I will also send you a sample of the most amazing healthy food from THE HONEST KITCHEN, which is a raw dehydrated food with protein, vegetables and carbs made from human grade ingredients in a human food factory.

The other thing that is indispensable for any dog with skin issues is an omega-3 fish oil and the only one sold for pets that has the seal of purity and freshness from the Norwegian government is Nordic Naturals. I have invited them to be website sponsors because of my high regard for the unmatched excellence of their oil, so you can read about them on their page on my website. Most good pet stores carry it or you can go to www.petFoodDirect.com and order it and get 20% off by putting catchat or dogtalk as the coupon code. My dogs’ coats have developed a high shine and they shed less since they’ve been on it.

It certainly seems clear you love your dogs and care for them beautifully – what a shame that the professionals in your life (and that of most dog parents) haven’t steered you well about nutrition. Kibble alone – even the highest quality – cannot be a complete diet any more than eating breakfast cereal three meals a day for your entire life would satisfy or properly nourish you. Please do stay in touch and good luck with her skin.

Tracie