Just over a month ago my 8 year old Golden Retriever was diagnosed with IBD and since then she has been on Royal Canin Hypoallergenic DR21. She used to be on Skinners Field and Trial Duck and Rice. The vet phoned me up today for an update and mentioned about changing her food to either James Wellbeloved or Arden Grange and she recommended either the Lamb & Rice or Duck & Rice. I am a bit unsure as I cannot see much of a difference between what I have been feeding her (Skinners Field & Trial Duck & Rice) and the other two diets. I am just wondering if there is somebody knowledgeable out there that could give some guidance. 
Hello and welcome to the forum. I am not sure of the guidelines for reducing IBD symptoms. There are lots of variables which makes it difficult for anybody to advice you on the most appropriate food for your dog. Do you know of any specific allergies? Is your vet aware of what you were feeding before? Duck is a less common protein source so the vet may be recommending one thinking it will be new to your dog. From the little I do understand about IBD, The hypoallergenic diet would have been to establish the diagnosis and then the process of finding a diet that suits begins. It will probably be some trial and error but starting with carbohydrate and protein sources that are new to your dog and I am guessing the less ingredients the better. It sounds like anything that isn’t duck or rice based would be the place to start. There are some foods with sweet potato or potato as a carb source. Have you tried using the dogfood directory to have a search. You could add grain free to the filter and see what comes up. Let us know if you need help using the directory. Good luck.
1 Like
Thank you. No I do not know the specific allergen, she is also a nightmare as she eats not very nice stuff out walking. I was thinking about trying a grain free diet for her, so that might be the first place to start. Yes the vet is aware of what I was feeding her before. Thank you for your advice.
1 Like
Hello MadDogs89 and welcome to the forum!
Regarding a comparison between the food she was eating, namely Skinner’s Field and Trial Duck and Rice (SKINNERS), and the alternative foods of James Wellbeloved adult Duck (JWB), and Arden Grange adult lamb (AG), it sounds as though your vet may be suggesting to continue feeding a food with only 1 named meat protein, be that either lamb or duck, which makes sense as this gives a lesser possibility of a further inflammatory reaction; rather this than ‘risking’ at this stage a food with multiple meats, and moreso in particular avoiding any unnamed meats.
All of those foods mentioned are reviewed in the allaboutdogfood Dog Food Directory together with their nutrient profiles which makes it easier to compare the nutrients of each of the foods. SKINNERS nutrients of protein are in the lower average range of protein with a level of 23.9, with a low average fat 11.4, mid high average fibre 3.3, high average ash 9.6, and high above average carbohydrate 54.
Comparatively JWB nutrients are borderline average protein of 21.7, low average fat 12, high average fibre 3.8, below average ash 5.4, high above average carbohydrate 54.9.
AG nutrients are mid average protein of 27.2, high average fat 16.3, borderline average fibre 2.7, borderline average ash 7.6, and high above average carbohydrate 46.2.
Of these 3 foods there is a difference in the levels of the nutrients between SKINNERS and JWB and AG and though the numbers themselves don’t seem to be that different, when worked out as a percentage there are some nutrients which differ greatly as shown in the following table:
[tr][td]Nutrient differences[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]
Nutrient
[/td][td]
SKINNERS
[/td][td]
JWB
[/td][td]
[center]AG
[/td][td]
%difference between
SKINNERS & JWB
[/td][td]
%difference between
SKINNERS & AG
[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Protein[/td][td]23.9[/td][td]21.7[/td][td]27.2[/td][td]9% less[/td][td]14% more[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Fat[/td][td]11.4[/td][td]12[/td][td]16.3[/td][td]5% more[/td][td]43% more[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Fibre[/td][td]3.3[/td][td]3.8[/td][td]2.7[/td][td]15% more[/td][td]18% less[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Ash[/td][td]9.6[/td][td]5.4[/td][td]7.6[/td][td]43% less[/td][td]21% less[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Carbs[/td][td]54[/td][td]54.9[/td][td]46.2[/td][td]1% more[/td][td]14% less[/td][/tr]
For dogs with IBD, as David writes here in another of his excellent articles** Prescription Veterinary Diets**,
you’d want to be feeding a diet of low fat, which is highly digestible, hypoallergenic, high fibre and if the IBD was caused by eating gluten then it’s best to avoid gluten.
1 Like