Blog Post: Hannah's Health Journey: Finding Balance for Our Sensitive Sheepdog

Hannah's Birthday

As parents to Watson & Wallie, our furry muses and namesakes, we know that every dog's journey is unique. Often, the treats we lovingly craft right here at Watson & Wallie Dog Treats are born from our own experiences navigating the ups and downs of our dogs' health.

For instance, our low-phosphorus treats came to life when our beloved Sydney faced kidney disease. When Watson was diagnosed with diabetes, our focus turned to low-sugar options. And then there's Hannah, our sweet Old English Sheepdog, whose ongoing health journey led us to understand deeply how sugar feeds yeast, inspiring our current low-sugar line.

Today, we want to share a little more about Hannah. She and her sister, Mackenzie, are both 3-and-a-half-year-old Old English Sheepdogs, though they came from different breeders. It's been quite a journey with Hannah, health-wise. She's a "scooter" and prone to frustrating yeast breakouts in her ears and paws, often accompanied by incessant scratching. For a long time, we tried to pinpoint the root causes of these persistent issues.

Our first big learning curve? Not all dogs can tolerate beef. Hannah, for instance, isn't necessarily "allergic" to beef, but for some reason, it just doesn't agree with her system. The minute we completely removed all beef products from her diet, we started to see small, yet undeniable, positive changes in her overall balance.

Next, we dove into research and quickly learned a crucial fact: sugar feeds yeast. And, importantly, that carbohydrates break down into sugar, which, in turn, feeds that pesky yeast. Armed with this knowledge, we drastically cut down on her carbohydrate intake and began giving her only our low-sugar treats. I can honestly say, the change was remarkable. Her notorious "corn chip" odor – a classic sign of yeast – began to fade, and then, completely disappeared!

But Hannah's scooting? That was another battle! It truly drove me nuts. We'd take her to the vet, they'd express her anal glands, but the conversation never really moved beyond that – no mention of dietary changes. We decided to do our own research. We learned that a little more fiber in her diet could help her anal glands fill and express more effectively, potentially putting an end to the scooting.

So, in addition to her daily probiotic, we started adding a teaspoon of pure pumpkin puree to her food. And I have to say, the transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. Previously, her routine was to wake up and scoot first thing in the morning. Today? Nothing! Even the constant licking of her privates has stopped.

The moral of Hannah's story is clear: a body out of balance can trigger a host of seemingly unrelated issues. But by tackling one problem at a time, with patience and a little bit of luck, you can help your dog regain their equilibrium. Finding balance isn't just about comfort in the short term; an imbalanced system can also have long-term effects on a dog's immune system.

A Note on Our Approach

Please remember, I am not a veterinarian, and it's incredibly important to always consult with your own vet. Our journey with Hannah, and all our dogs, involves close collaboration with our trusted veterinarian. We believe that while medications like Apoquel can offer crucial short-term relief, true, lasting solutions often come from getting to the root of the problem. You can't just treat the symptoms; you have to find the underlying cause for true balance. Our experiences simply inspire the wholesome, beneficial treats we create for your furry family members, supporting overall wellness.