Sensitive Collie with Allergies

by Tara
(St.Albert, AB, Canada)

Our 1.5 year old rough collie has symptoms of the occasional runny nose (clear), face looks puffy or distressed, eyes occasionally have discharge which I end up using a drop from the vet to clear up.

He wanders around seeming like an adult with allergies.

I switched him from kibble to a raw beef frozen duck diet, but I have been exploring the idea of cooking him meals the way we do for ourselves through batch cooking and freezing.

I have a sense that he is not getting what he needs from the frozen raw and I find it difficult for travel.

We are flexitarian and I find it odd to be buying all of this meat for my dog when I am basically vegan except for the odd fish here and there.

I don't think our dog drinks enough water. I can't figure it out, and am unsure how much a dog should consume. I just don't see him drink very often.

He is 53.6 pounds.

His coat is always matted, even if I spend hours a week grooming him. He just looks like he feels yuck, and I am determined to help him.

He was raised on raw from a pup and his sister has sensitivities to chicken.

Do I need to give him a supplement?

It all seems so strange that a dog cannot be fed the way I feed myself. I am so confused. Most information and vets that I come across all seem to say to buy some processed, outsourced item and that then and only then, the dog might be okay.

If people can be trusted to feed themselves, why can't we be trusted to feed dogs a whole food diet?

Please help!