Is it possible for a dog to be alergic to chicken?

[Jerry_NJ]

We continue to struggle with identification of what our Westie is allergic to in foods.  We no longer buy dog food containing chicken, just to eliminate that from the list of possibilities.  However, we often eat chicken, usually the store roasted and that sometimes used it in a baked carousel.  I have always given him by hand a few small pieces of such chicken, always just the meat, not the skin.

But, I still struggle to put a stop to itchy ears. This is demonstrated in several ways:  

1) He often rubs the side of his head/ears on the carpet and even outdoors on the grass.  
2) His ears sometimes feel rough on the inside of the pointed (Westie ears) flap, and sometimes greasy at the inside base
3) The skin behind the ears at the whole base around to below his ears is dark and has no hair.  This is not obvious when looking at him as the long hair on his head covers that area well.  

When I use ear cleaner,and also a wash cloth with the medicated shampoo on it to wash his ears and behind his ears, use cotton balls to scrub at the base of the ear where it enters his head, the ears soften up, no roughness or greasy feel, but he still rubs them on the floor. Also, there is never any new hair at the back base of his ears...it may be Westies don't have hair there, I don't know .   His skin on his lower belly is mostly hairless and it is splotchy black and pink, but not rough.  

I post mostly as the subject suggests, should I not give him any chicken, even "people food" chicken?  And in small amounts, not a meal's worth.

I like to make his food more interesting when I can, he is a somewhat picky eater, his weight would belie that statement.  I also use some tuna and when I get canned tuna in water I have used the water to wet his kibble, he likes that very much.  But as his main dish is sweet potato and fish no grain I assume the tuna packing water doesn't add any additional factors beyond the fact he is already eating fish.

[Jerry_NJ]

Thanks, I was looking last night on Westiemed and found a recommendation for an ear treatment using : Zymox Otic Pet Ear Treatment with Hydrocortisone  

It specifically mentions treatment for Yeast infection, something not mentioned in any other ear cleaner I've used, including some purchased at about $15 for 4 oz.  The Zymox is about twice the cost per oz,  $31.25 for three bottles of 1.25 oz each.  I don't know why they don't just sell a larger bottle. I has over 1,000 customer reviews on Amazon with a cumulative score of 4.8 out of 5.0, given the number of respondents that is statistically solid.  When there is less than 10 the reviews are basically useless in my opinion.  I ordered from Amazon.

The Westimed website has the rescue story of our dog Wilson on its web site for dog rescues it helped fun, Wilson was in 2011.

[Margot49]

Hi Jerry,
Been doing a little research and this sure sounds like what you are dealing with and can be a problem in the Westie, atopic dermatitis.  I am on the iPad so let me see if I can paste a site here
http://www.mydogbreed.com/west-highland-white-terrier/westie-health.php

Hope that works.  Do a search of Westie health problems, etc and you will come up with other links.  

[Jerry_NJ]

Thanks, he has been the vet route and had an ear infection treated with an antibiotic (I think) and ear wash solutions.  Followup showed the infection to be cured.  The vet recommended and sold us a venison/potato Science Diet (vets seem to like this stuff - including the vet-only formulations).  Our dog Wilson, ate that for a couple of weeks then went on hunger strike.  A Westie show person recommended the Natural Balance sweet potato/fish and he has been eating that for three weeks or so.  The problem here is me, I have a had time not giving him hand feed treats - especially something from my plate.  I will stop.

Looking on the WestieMed web site I see recommendations to use Zymox Otic ear solution and I have an order sitting on Amazon to order.  I also plan to order Four Paws Bitter Lime to try to stop the feet licking/chewing.  That was the subject of another post by me.  From reading testimonials on Amazon the Bitter Lime is higher rated than the Bitter Apple. The Zymox (3 bottles 1.25 oz each) is a bit expensive, but less than one vet visit without the hand full of prescriptions I always leave with.  I don't mean to be negative about my vet, there are others in the area (but his one is less than 2 miles, a plus) but I understand they all have a business to run: building, insurance, staff, and then take home a reasonable salary to live in themselves.  Still, I try to limit vet visits to an exam once a year and emergency situations, I believe I should be able to work out the more routine stuff.  I'm sure I can resist giving Wilson samples of what I'm eating as it finally soaks in he isn't like my past dogs that could eat anything.  The last two a large Golden Retriever and before that a medium size Coon Hound mix that was tough as "nails".  

[deadgamegrrl]

Yeah, as everyone said above, you have to eliminate all the chicken. If there is still no change you may want to try switching from the fish to another rare protein source like venison. I think Cal. Natural even makes a kangaroo formula.

I know you have been struggling with this for a while and I wish you luck. It is one of the most frustrating things to deal with!

[tonyb286]

Hi. As Margot has said, dogs can be allergic to chicken or, more accurately, the protein content of chicken and treats that might contain chicken protein. Allergies are invariably difficult to identify and eliminate from a dog's diet or environment. In addition to what Margot has said, it is also common for dogs to get a yeast infection in the ears, so this is another thing to check out with your vet. Good luck and do let us know how you get on. Tony

[Margot49]

Hi Jerry,
Yes, they can have a chicken allergy.  Skin stuff is so hard to deal with.  If it allergy related you have to do a illimination diet and stick to it for at least 4-6 weeks.  Could be contact dermatitis.  You sure there are no ear mites, etc?
Could be thyroid.  Could be Seborrhea, which Westies can get.  Might want to look that up.
First place to start us food and you have got to be strict about what you feed.