For most dogs the idea of chasing the neighbourhood cat followed by a relaxing hour or three chewing on a bone is heaven.
But not for Joey, a five-year-old Alsatian-Collie who is allergic to almost everything - including cats.
Joey's allergies are so bad he can't even go bounding around in a grassy field or enjoy a dip in a river.
Dog's dinner: Joey survives on a diet of potatoes and porridge. He is allergic to virtually everything, including cats and bones
And there's no Pedigree Chum for poor Joey either - he's allergic to meat.
That means he has to survive on a diet of potatoes and porridge provided by his loving owners Lisa McCormack, 25, and Scott Muirhead, 36, from Hamilton, Lanarkshire.
Mr Muirhead said: 'Joey was consistently breaking out in boils and sores and we were scratching our heads over why.
'He can't even chase a cat or he'll break out in a rash. We couldn't believe it.
'After a year of trips to the vets we finally got a special blood test performed to see what was going on.
'The results said it all and our local vets were baffled. They had never seen anything like it in a dog before.
Lease of life: Joey is now taking a new type of antibiotic and specialised dog food
'There are two columns on the results sheet and you need a zero on both to show there is no allergy.
'Joey had this for practically nothing. Some of the only things he got zeros for food-wise was potatoes, barley and oats.'
His owners now hope a new type of antibiotic and specialised dog food will give Joey a new lease of life.
'He's looking much better,' said Miss McCormack, a nursery worker.
'He's coming around all right now and his skin condition is improving. We hope it continues and he can live life like a normal dog.'
Dog's dinner: Joey survives on a diet of potatoes and porridge. He is allergic to virtually everything, including cats and bones
And there's no Pedigree Chum for poor Joey either - he's allergic to meat.
That means he has to survive on a diet of potatoes and porridge provided by his loving owners Lisa McCormack, 25, and Scott Muirhead, 36, from Hamilton, Lanarkshire.
Mr Muirhead said: 'Joey was consistently breaking out in boils and sores and we were scratching our heads over why.
'He can't even chase a cat or he'll break out in a rash. We couldn't believe it.
'After a year of trips to the vets we finally got a special blood test performed to see what was going on.
'The results said it all and our local vets were baffled. They had never seen anything like it in a dog before.
Lease of life: Joey is now taking a new type of antibiotic and specialised dog food
'There are two columns on the results sheet and you need a zero on both to show there is no allergy.
'Joey had this for practically nothing. Some of the only things he got zeros for food-wise was potatoes, barley and oats.'
His owners now hope a new type of antibiotic and specialised dog food will give Joey a new lease of life.
'He's looking much better,' said Miss McCormack, a nursery worker.
'He's coming around all right now and his skin condition is improving. We hope it continues and he can live life like a normal dog.'
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