Puppy (Bichon) gets “stud tail” like lesions on his tail, top of his head and along his spine area when he eats anything containing wheat or soy. He also has red tear stains under his eyes, which seem to be related to seasonal allergies.

Spanky (Yorkie/Bichon) had a severe urinary tract infection at the time of rescue, and crystals in his urine a year later. No stones. He has problems with anal gland secretions that we take him to the vet for every few weeks (this has not responded to pumpkin and ground flax seed added to his diet).

Daisy (Bichon) has idiopathic epilepsy that is not well controlled, even on state-of-the-art human antiepileptic drugs. She tends to get tracheo-bronchitis and since a UTI has struvite crystals in her urine. She loves to eat chicken jerky treats, which are most likely too much protein in regard to the crystals.

We have been feeding Nutro Natural Choice Weight Control for the past two years, mixing it with well-cooked turkey, chicken or white fish and canned pumpkin. This addresses the wheat/soy allergy and stool bulk issues, but not the struvite and oxatate crystals. Is there one diet that we can use that will address these different issues? Can we eliminate the kibble entirely with a brown rice-based home cooked diet? Thanks for whatever ideas you can offer.