[Bobby dog]

Tindaisy:
They sound like lucky stray kitties to get food like Nutrisource and TOTW (even if they didn’t like it). On behalf of this cat lover (well all pets, stray or not) thanks for taking care of them! 🙂

C4c:
I feed Purina Pro Plan Finesse Chicken & Liver Entrée Classic because it does not have fish or added colors in its recipe. The carbs are about 4%. All of my cats eat this recipe. I tried the Savor Beef & Carrots before because my pet store didn’t have my usual flavor and my cats picked through it, but ate it. They really don’t like chunks of vegetables in their food.

Here is a list of the flavors I would feed (including the recipe I currently feed of the Finesse line) and some of the undesirable ingredients they contain to help you choose:
~Finesse – K3, artificial flavors, meat by-products:
Chic & Liver Entree Classic
~Savor – K3, artificial flavors, meat by-products, fish:
Beef & Carrots Entrée Classic
Chic & Spinach Entrée Classic
Turkey & Veg Entrée Classic
Salmon & Wild Rice Entrée Classic
~Focus – K3, artificial flavor, meat by-products, fish, added color:
Chic & Beef Entrée Classic
Kitten Chic & Liver Entrée Classic

As Tindaisy mentioned, Nutrisource has canned food and my pet store just started carrying it. I am going to try some out. Also, if you need to add something else into the rotation the Purina Beyond GF chicken canned food was a hit with all my cats. Not particularly budget friendly, $1/3 oz can at Wal-Mart, but they liked it and the recipe is not bad.

[Bobby dog]

That snake story still gives me the chills. Most of the time Bobby stays with me when I am in the garden which is near my barn. It was hot so he went up to the house to lay on the porch. The birds were flying in and out of the barn and I just thought they were fighting with each other and didn’t pay it any mind. Walking up to the house they were really flying low like they were trying to attack me so they got my attention. Poor things were just trying to chase the snake away. Snakes and bats make me scream like I am in a b-rated horror movie. lol I actually found the courage to get a pitchfork and knock the snake down. I just didn’t think about what to do after it was on the ground chasing me though. And where was Bobby, on the porch relaxing! Yuck!!!!!!!!!!!!

I tried the Freshpet that is shaped like kibble. I would definately recommend trying any variety of Freshpet for any kitty. Although it doesn’t seem to be a fan favorite at my house I think it is a quality food. I still am going to try the chub, they just didn’t have it at my Wal-Mart. I think my grocery store carries Freshpet. I am also going to try another protein when I try it next.

[Bobby dog]

How is everyone’s summer going? The rabbit moved out a few weeks ago. There is a small bunny that I see sometimes when I am mowing. I like to think it’s him/her. Lol Now I have a nest of baby swallows in my barn. I have a family move in each year. The first nest was attacked by a black snake earlier last month. Needless to say I now look up before I walk into the barn now. Yuck, that was creepy to see that snake hanging from the rafters eating those eggs.

Sharon: I hope you are having a better time with flea meds.

So I did a little shopping this week. Stopped at the pet store and Bobby got many sample bags of Stella & Chewy’s “Carnivore Crunch” beef treats. Huge hit with him. They are about 1 x ½” long and are tube shaped. He also got samples of Precise Naturals GF Lamb, which he loved, and samples of PMI Exclusive Lamb & Rice and Chic & Rice recipes.

I found one new dry kibble for the kitties, Simply Nourish Source GF Chic & Turkey, they all love it. I like the shape; it is a small “T” shape, not too thick. I also got samples of Fromm’s Salmon ala Veg and Beef Livattini. They hated Salmon ala Veg, haven’t tried the other. It is half the size of Wellness kibble, round with two flat sides. Still searching for a third kibble for rotation. KLN’s Pure Vita might be a posssibility and the store is also selling Natural Planet Organics (both from Nutrisource’s parent company). Even though Organics is not GF I still might give it a try.

I tried the Freshpet Roasted Chicken too. Only two cats would eat it and they never cleaned their bowls. I mixed it with their usual canned and tried feeding it on its own. Archie ate a little then begged me for other food. Still trying to introduce it to them, but I don’t think they are going to warm up to it.

They had by Nature Organics Chic & Mackeral on sale so I thought I would give it a try. All the cats loved it. I am going to try the plain chicken flavor next. It didn’t have a bad regular price $1.39/6 oz. I don’t think it comes in this size anymore though.

The last food I tried was Purina’s new Beyond canned. Found it at my Wal-Mart for $1.07/can. Can anyone say overpriced? I picked up the GF chic pate’ and the GF turkey with gravy by mistake. I didn’t read the label properly because I don’t like to feed food with gravy. I fed both flavors, they loved them. The turkey with gravy is a small chunk style food with not too heavy gravy. I’ll feed the GF chic pate’ again, not the turkey because of the gravy; another food for the rotation.

[DogFoodie]

We live and learn. Maybe it was the food, maybe not. I’m so sorry for the loss of your pup. It’s very painful when we have to say good bye.

First, check this: http://victordogfood.com/

In the black bar near the top of the page, it says something like find a dealer. I put in Los Angeles and found several local retailers. Victor makes some great foods and locally for me, the grain inclusive varieties run about $40 for 40 pounds and the same for 30 pounds of grain free. Very quality products, reputable manufacturer, good customer service from the company.

If you can’t buy it locally, check out Dr. Tim’s, Eagle Pack, Horizon Legacy, Earthborn, Infinia and NutriSource. Pure Balance from Wal-Mart is also a good choice.

The only thing that bothers me about Kirkland and Natures Domain dry dog foods, is that they’re made by Diamond. However, on the West Coast, your food “should” come from the Diamond plant with a much better reputation than that in the Southern US.

[kvee]

I give Susie Bragg’s ACV and no problem with mosquitoes. Also, we live in L.A. so there is not a whole lot of mosquitoes and she spends most of her time indoors or at the park.

I have come across essential oils DIY sprays to repel them. Oils like Citronella, Geranium, Eucalyptus. In my personal experience, I have easier (and cheaper) access to Eucalyptus oil at my local Target and/or Wal-Mart.

I hope this helps and good luck!

Karla

[Bobby dog]

I have some prices from my Wal-Mart on FreshPet Select rolls for dogs, $3.16, $4.86 & $12.86. I haven’t checked out the prices recently though, not sure how accurate they are.

It is a cooked product that must be kept refrigerated, as C4c wrote t comes in a roll form and also small nugget bites, tubs, and shreds for cats now. They have their own facility for making the food. They’ve added a few different foods and treats since I have looked at the website last. They have a line that is made from anitbiotic and hormone free poultry, grain free, and limited ingredient slections.

Bobby loved the FreshPet Select. I fed it as a topper once before I came to DFA. I will feed it again it’s just that I am all stocked up on dry, kibble, and raw for Bobby right now.

I am definately going to try it out for the kitties. Hopefully it will be something to add to the rotation. They have some shredded meat & gravy recipes for kitties that are only available in California; that’s okay since my cats don’t like shreds. lol

http://freshpet.com/

[Bobby dog]

jakes mom:
Thanks for the review! As much as I am in Wal-Mart buying canned for Bobby I always forget about FreshPet. I do want to try it for the kitties and I am putting it on my phone now so I don’t forget next time. I am now to the point of trying my best to keep fish at a two to three times a week feeding. They just revolt other wise. lol

The baby bunny is still living under my pumpkin plant. At least I think there is only one. I peeked on him yesterday morning when I was watering the garden. As soon as I saw the one moving I put the grass back in place. I would love to see more than one baby, they are so cute.

Only one of my cats visits the garden on a rare occasion. He only comes down to eat catnip and it’s in the other garden. Bobby hasn’t found the nest and I distract him when he heads for the pumpkin patch. I hope he doesn’t eat much from the garden when he’s out and about. lol

[Bobby dog]

Selenium yeast is the natural form of sodium selenite. I assume pet food companies use ss as opposed to sy because it is cheaper; the natural form is best. It looks like a nice choice.

Akari, ever think about probiotics for Bentley? An affordable way to add probiotics is to buy plain kefir. Since he has responded to the his new feed and bathing routine, I would bet (and I only bet on sure things!) probiotics would really send him on his way to better health. I use Lifeway from Wal-Mart; they have coupons on their website too.

http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.com/2012/05/foods-rich-in-probiotics-beneficial-for.html

http://www.drharveys.com/blog/tag/148

Bobby loves it, but I can only get one of my cats to eat it by mixing it in his food. Luckily it’s the kitty who needs it the most, the hyperthyroid kitty. I give it to Bobby a few times a week. I give it to my cat daily, it has made such a huge difference in his skin and fur. I do plan to buy probiotics to mix in food for the rest of my cats, just haven’t decided on which one yet. Since I am only feeding two animals I freeze it in icecube trays and put a cube in the refridgerator to thaw for the morning.

[Bobby dog]

Hi Anita:
Thanks for the link!

I get the ACV thing. I am bizarre, love the taste. Anyway, I only posted the information because it’s what helped Bobby through his yeasty skin issues. Every dog is different so what worked for us may or may not work for others. 😉 Did you happen to see the ACV foot bath suggestion for itchy paws? I think it is under the WDJ skin condition link.

For organic coco oil you want unrefined rather than refined. I have seen many descriptions on line, virgin, extra virgin, unrefined, cold pressed. These descriptions are referring to the process used to make the oil that keeps the most healthy benefits.

As far as using a canned topper, your pups would benefit most from a GF or 95% canned food. The most budget friendly 5 star 95% is Pure Balance from Wal-Mart ($1.25/can). I will check out my dog food spread sheet to see what I have used in the past for GF or 95% and I am sure other posters will have some suggestions for you too. Some 95% foods are only for supplemental feeding because they don’t have any added vitamins. I don’t think that it is a worry unless you decide to only feed something like this as a topper, then you would want to make sure you feed enough kibble to ensure they get their vitamins. Wal-Mart’s 95% is a balanced food.

I would also like to mention since Bobby’s skin issues have cleared I have been able to feed him GF and grain inclusive kibble, foods with potatoes, veggies, and fruits. I feed a rotational diet, I buy small bags and switch proteins and carbs with each new bag. I haven’t had any issues with yeast since I have been paying attention to the ingredients they contain. You may find you will not have to completely eliminate certain ingredients when they are healthy again; but then again you may find you might have to avoid certain ingredients, you never know. 🙂

You would refer to your kibble and canned feeding directions for the amounts to add to kibble. I add about 4 T of water to the canned food to make a gravy and extra moisture never hurts. Bobby weighs 44 lbs, on pate’ style foods I usually get four feedings and stew styles about 3-4 feedings. Some other posters will probably have some suggestions for using canned as toppers as well. Most importantly you want to observe your dogs body conditions and adjust accordingly.

[Bobby dog]

Hi Sue:
I have no experience feeding fresh coconut to dogs, but I have read about it and it sounds interesting, might try it in the future.

Cold pressed is what you are looking for, that is the best process of making the oil so it retains all of the healthy benefits. So you might see, cold pressed, unrefined, or virgin on a label.

As far as brands, I only use organic and I have bounced around many different brands such as Nutiva and Spectrum. I have just settled on the brand sold at BJ’s (my price club) because it is so much cheaper than Wal-Marts price. Basically look for organic and a label stating it is unrefined, virgin, or cold pressed and you should be good to go.

Anita:
A few things about the info I posted. The treat recipes I posted by Dr. Becker are fine except I would only make the whole meat treats, not the recipes with potato flakes, veggies, or fruits. Or you could probably make those recipes minus the potatoes, veggies, or fruits. For now focus on feeding protein not carbs. The same for the ABC diet; If you decide to add healthy foods to the kibble your feeding, I would skip the veggie and fruit additions for now so you don’t keep feeding the yeast.

By the way, Steve Brown, author of the ABC diet, is very popular around DFA and you may want to check out his other books along with his website. I have not fed any of his products or read anything other than info from his website and the ABC download so I cannot recommend anything other than to check him out.

I don’t know what Detol Antiseptic lotion is. If I were in your shoes I would make a pov/io foot bath for them, easy enough since you already have it! Nothing to loose if it doesn’t help.

As far as canned food goes, I highly recommend it over kibble as most do on this site, but it just isn’t in my budget to feed my dog only canned. Canned food is more species appropriate as well as provides extra moisture. If budget isn’t an issue with you I also have many other 5 star brands I have fed if you want to give it a try.

Here is a link to the GF Potato free kibble thread on DFA for some kibble ideas. I believe if you keep reading other posters have mentioned some more brands in addition to the initial list.
/forums/topic/grain-and-potato-free-dog-foods/

I add a 1/4 t of organic ACV with the mother to each meal for Bobby. I did not start this because of his skin issues, but for his acid indigestion issues; it worked wonders for it. I also use it for my acid indigestion. After researching it I also found it has benefits for the skin as well.

I also have used a vinegar rinse on Bobby to help relieve his itchy skin, he seemed fine with it and it helped. I did it once or twice in the beginning and kind of forgot about it because his health improved pretty quickly with the routine I had established.

Here’s some info I saved about ACV:
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/2_6/features/5220-1.html
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_01/features/Pet-Uses-Of-Apple-Cider-Vinegar_20435-1.html
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_01/features/Pet-Uses-Of-Apple-Cider-Vinegar_20435-1.html?pg=2
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_01/features/Pet-Uses-Of-Apple-Cider-Vinegar_20435-1.html?pg=3
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_01/features/Pet-Uses-Of-Apple-Cider-Vinegar_20435-1.html?pg=1

Come on over to the other thread us cat lovers hang out on “cat food recommendations.”
/forums/topic/cat-food-recommendations/page/36/

Akari started the cat thread too! It is a pretty big thread so you may just want to jump in and ask questions. It would take a while to read everything. Also, we all recommend catinfo.org and littlebigcat.com for cat sites. catinfo.org is my bible for cat care. You will learn alot about food on that site.

[Bobby dog]

Hi Anita:
Here are the supplements, foods, and products I used (and still do along with some new additions) to get rid of Bobby’s flea dermatitis and yeasty skin. Olive oil flea dip, Nolvasan shampoo, raw eggs, bone broth, unrefined organic coconut oil, sardines/fish oil, MSM, and DE. Not too complicated or costly! This along with a new diet plan that I began last September helped to restore his health.

Dogs with severe yeast issues more than likely need a carb free diet to starve the yeast; carbs feed yeast and bad bacteria. All kibble has carbs because they require starch to bind the food into a kibble form. Your dogs would probably benefit from a grain free and low carb food preferably with no potato. Bobby’s yeast issues were bad, but it was not necessary to eliminate kibble from his diet. I did feed kibble that had low carbs and I only feed kibble that has average to low carbs now.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/05/03/eating-these-foods-can-make-your-dog-itch-like-crazy.aspx

Since September I have fed DFA rated 3-5 star kibble along with DFA rated 3-5 star canned food. After a few months on the new diet, I started alternating canned with fresh foods, dehydrated/freeze dried foods, or frozen commercial raw. By continuing with the supplements, feeding quality food and treats I went into this flea season with a healthy and fresh smelling dog. Fingers crossed no fleas on Bobby and it is rainy and very humid where I live, fleas are in full force.

It is very important not to make too many changes at once; this includes new foods! Start supplements in low doses slowly working towards the desired dose. If everything is okay, add another supplement. As far as shampoos, olive oil flea dip, and applying coco oil topically I used them right away and regularly without any worries because they provided immediate relief and were important for treating the yeast.

For a flea dip I used olive oil (from the grocery store) which has no long lasting effects, just immediate relief for the skin and to kill the fleas without chemicals. I did this outside so I did not have to worry about being tidy. Start under the chin and in the collar area working your way to the back, belly, and leg areas all the way to the tail. With Bobby I would just pour it on then massage it in to be sure his skin and between his toes were coated. His fur is not too thick or long. He loved the massage that came with it not to mention he was not itchy and uncomfortable while it was on him. The fleas pretty much disintegrate. Your dogs’ coats may be heavier than Bobby’s if you decide to try this, be sure to separate the fur, pour a little, and then work it in. I always left it on for an hour letting him run around and play, but you will definitely see their lifeless bodies after a short time so an hour is not necessary. Then I shampooed it off, it is easy to shampoo out; I even use olive oil as a conditioner for my hair.

I bathed Bobby once a week using Nolvalsan shampoo mostly. I always shampooed twice leaving the first application on for at least 10 minutes. I can’t find Nolvasan on-line so they may not make it anymore. Hibiclens or the drug store equivalent has the same ingredients as Nolvalsan. Malasab shampoo is a popular choice and highly recommended by many posters on DFA. I also used EQyss Micro-Tek medicated shampoo when the condition became less severe. You can find Micro-Tek on-line and in some pet stores. With your size of dogs I would look into a large bottle of Malasab shampoo, but in a pinch you could always purchase the Hibiclens or generic equivalent at a drug store.
http://www.drugs.com/vet/malaseb-shampoo.html
http://www.eqyss.com/pet_microtek_shampoo.asp
http://www.vetstreet.com/nolvasan-shampoo

The biotin in eggs is great for the skin and hair. I fed Bobby one raw egg a week. However, he recently decided he no longer likes raw eggs so we have poached eggs on Sundays. He gets a one minute egg and I get a two minute egg. lol
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/feeding-your-dog-raw-eggs-good-or-bad/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/02/09/raw-eggs.aspx

I made bone broth and fed it once a week. I still feed him bone broth weekly; Bobby weighs 44 lbs and I feed him ¼ – ½ C of broth.
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/reasons-your-dog-love-bone-broth/
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/12/02/pet-bone-broth.aspx

The coconut oil must be organic and unrefined for all the benefits. I fed it 3x/wk as well as used it topically when needed as a soothing and healing salve; I tried feeding it 2x/wk after his skin healed, but found he benefits most eating it 3x/wk. Previously I bought Spectrum brand from Wal-Mart, 14 oz. for $8.99; they were cheaper than my health food store. I recently found organic unrefined coco oil at my BJ’s, 36 oz. for about $10. So if you belong to a price club, look for it there.
http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.com/2012/02/coconut-oil-is-good-for-your-dogs.html
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/16_11/features/alternative-treatments-updated_20861-1.html?pg=3
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/
http://www.greenpasture.org/public/Products/InfusedCoconutOil/index.cfm

I started out feeding tinned sardines packed in water once a week, but I failed to keep it in my pantry on a regular basis. So I switched to a fish oil supplement. You can find many good fish oil supplements for dogs on-line and in pet stores. I used CVS 1000 mg fish oil tabs 3x/wk and I still supplement his diet with it. Tinned sardines packed in water would be the healthiest choice. I tried cutting back to 2x/week, but he developed a little dandruff so I am now back to 3x/week.
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_12/features/Fats-Chance_20658-1.html
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_9/features/Fish-Oil-Supplements-For-Dogs_20600-1.html
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2009/06/13/the-frequently-missing-ingredient-in-your-pet-s-diet-that-could-devastate-their-health.aspx

MSM helped to relieve and heal his itchy skin. MSM has other benefits that may be helpful for your dogs as well. I use only100% pure MSM powder with no fillers or flavorings. You can find pure MSM marketed for dogs on-line and in pet shops.
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/msm-raw-fed-dogs/
http://www.vetinfo.com/msm-for-dogs.html
http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/msm-for-dogs.html
http://essentials4all.org/100__Pure_MSM.html
http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/naturvet_msm.html

I also used DE as a flea powder and for treating his environment. Some posters use garlic to repel fleas. Here’s some info:
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/garlic-for-dogs-poison-or-medicine/
http://www.springtimeinc.com/product/bug-off-garlic-dogs/All-Natural-Dog-Supplements
http://www.enonvalleygarlic.com/About_Garlic.html

Homepage

I was not fully aware of the important benefits of probiotics for our pets. I now feed kefir twice a week to Bobby for the probiotics. This would have made a tremendous difference with the healing process if I had used it during his skin/flea issues; if I only knew!
Probiotic info:
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/10/26/advantages-of-using-pet-probiotics.aspx
http://probiotics.mercola.com/probiotics-for-pets.html
http://www.medicine4animals.com/23/Does-Your-Cat-or-Dog-Suffer-with-Digestive-Problems,-Skin-Problems-or-Poor-Immunity.html
http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.com/2012/05/foods-rich-in-probiotics-beneficial-for.html

ABC diet:
This is a download I highly recommend; it is $2.95 and worth every penny! I feed the ABC diet now throughout the week rather than in one meal. This is an easy way to enhance any kibble diet with fresh foods. I found this download after Bobby’s issues were cleared up, but I definitely would have followed it during that time. I believe it would have helped with the healing process.
http://www.seespotlivelonger.com/home/sll/page_41/see_spot_live_longer_the_abc_way___electronic_down.html

I recently started giving Bobby unflavored beef tendon and beef trachea chews. Here’s some healthy treat suggestions:
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/02/10/easy-to-make-pet-treats.aspx

[Bobby dog]

Hi Anita:
I will sort through your questions and add some links to the over the counter remedies that I used to completely heal Bobby! Remember, all dogs are different. Bobby had no health issues other than flea dermatitis, flea infestation, bad diet (please remember, anything they eat must be quality ingredients, it really makes a difference), and yeasty skin.

It sounds like you already have been to the Vet and there are no other health issues?

Did the Vet give him a steroid shot for the itching?

I really suggest feeding canned with kibble. Moisture is really important for healthy dogs and especially important for dogs that have some health issues. I always feed kibble with canned or fresh meat lightly cooked, or dehydrated, freeze dried or frozen raw for every meal. If you are going to TSC for DE, check out the 4Health canned dog food. It’s 99 cents/can and DFA rated 4.5 stars. I feed 4Health, Pure Balance from Wal-Mart ($1/can for stews and $1.25/can for 95%), and Earth’s Pride ($8.99/6 pack) from BJ’s as my main canned rotation.

4H DFA review:
/dog-food-reviews/4health-dog-food-canned/

4H TSC link:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&pageSize=&beginIndex=0&searchSource=Q&sType=SimpleSearch&resultCatEntryType=2&showResultsPage=true&pageView=image&searchType=1002&autoSuggestURL=AutoSuggestView%3FcoreName%3DMC_10001_CatalogEntry_en_US%26serverURL%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252ftsc-prod-lb01.crossview.inc%253a3737%252fsolr%252fMC_10001_CatalogEntry_en_US&searchTerm=4health+wet+dog+food

I was wrong; you can buy 20 lbs of food grade DE for $12.99 at TSC. They carry it in the livestock feed section.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/product__10151_-1_10051_2789

Check out the Activyl site to see what they say about bathing your dog. Most products are waterproof, but you never know. The Vet Tech at my Vet’s office gave me info on it, but I never checked it out after I settled on Sentinel because it already had the flea egg killer in it and I want to use as little chemicals as possible.

For treats, stay away from carbs or anything sugary, it will only feed the yeast. I have never fed them, but posters here recommend The Honest Kitchen Beams. I haven’t fed treats from the pet store recently and find many have carbs and starches so I just make very, very small meatballs for Bobby (I freeze them) using 2 lbs of ground beef, an egg or two, fresh garlic, tumeric, and I add fresh basil, cilantro, or parsley if I have it. I also throw in any veggies I have, but if you decided to make something like this I would leave the veggies out for now. You can also slice meat as thin as you can and place the slices in the oven on the lowest temp and cook until they are like a jerky consistency.

It is not unusual for them to try and lick off the coco oil if they like it. It is a wonderful product and is good to feed and apply to skin irritations due to its antiseptic properties. Just try to supervise your pups so it can soak in, it really will make them more comfortable and the fleas don’t like the oil.

Probiotics is an important step to get their immune systems back on track too! Probiotics has helped my cat tremendously. I use plain Kefir or plain greek yogurt right now for him. He has grown hair in places that I thought would never come back! That is another story. I think you will see a tremendous improvement within a week of using probiotics with their coats and skin.

Everything that I used on Bobby you will find at Wal-Mart, drug stores, health food stores, on-line, or pet stores very easily. I will post tomorrow what I used to help Bobby and hopefully something or several things can help your guys as well.

[Bobby dog]

Hey Akari:
I am very jealous of your Wal-Mart experience. I just spent the afternoon there today, lol. First I stopped at my local pet shops for sales and to use my Wellness & Holistic coupons. My fav pet store gave me 10 lbs of samples, yeahhhh! By the time I made it to Wal-Mart I was pretty well stocked up. I did find they had the Beef stew and the Turkey & Chic 95%, which mine normally does not stock; they always have all the chicken recipes. I went through self checkout and forgot to scan my coupons. I had to go to customer service. There was only one employee taking care of a line of five people. Finally she called for help. So I had my fill of Wal-Mart, but I am going to ask someone again next time I go! 🙂

Then I went to TSC to stock up on horse feed, dog and cat food. They sent through a 10% off everything coupon. They were completly wiped out of 4Health for cats, ugggggggh!

Tomorrow I am heading to Pets Supply Plus to use my $5 off $20 coupon. They sent through an e-mail coupon for 1/2 off Cali Nat’l, Evo, or Innova dry dog or cat food. After these shopping trips, if they don’t eat what I have, they will starve for the next month. lol

I am glad you saw the post! Every now and then I come across something that I find interesting and I think might help (I hope it’s not too annoying! lol). Anyway, I also stumbled across some flea prevention info that might interest you as well. I believe it would be a less costly way to administer the same products you have chosen for your dogs recently for flea meds, but it will also include HW preventative.

[Bobby dog]

The only other suggestion I have for you is to see if there is a store that they buy supplies from that you could purchase a gift card for. For instance, I know shelters always need towels and cleaning supplies, if there was a chain store such as Wal-Mart in the area a gift card might be appreciated and useful as well. Or find out where they purchase food and see if you can credit their account with your gift.

I have purchased Visa gift cards before for family and friends in need that were not necessarily good with money. I needed to make sure the money went to groceries or the dentist not cashed in and spent else where.

[Bobby dog]

Hi weezerweeks:
I use both the stews and 95% recipes in my rotation. They are canned by Simmons. My dog does well on them and also enjoys eating them. I have fed them for nearly a year and I am very happy with them.

I imagine Wal-Mart associated this brand with Ol’ Roy for marketing purposes, maybe loyal Ol’ Roy customers would consider buying Pure Balance. I have noticed on the 95% canned food they don’t print “Premium Dog Food by Ol’ Roy” on the label. Hope it works out for you!

[Bobby dog]

I thought I read some comments about Merrick GF kibbles as well, but it appears my mind is playing tricks on me. All the recent comments that C4c and I were writing about was from the WEF GF thread; possible quality control issues with this kibble line. Also seems they have had quality control issues in the past.

/dog-food-reviews/whole-earth-farms-grain-free/
http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm217086.htm

Maybe try a grooming glove for Alec. I know what you mean; sometimes those ornery kitties won’t sit still for a brushing or they start attacking you or the brush. I use a glove for my female kitty. She is fine being petted, for some reason does not like to be brushed too much. I actually use an old pair of riding gloves that have the rubber pebble grip coating on the palms. Wal-Mart carries Pet Head Massaging Bath Mitt for $5.44. They also had some grooming gloves on sale for $1.97 last month, don’t know if they still do or if that was just at my Wal-Mart.

Maybe Alec does not like the taste of supplements mixed in his food. Sometimes cats will eat supplements, like coco oil or honey, better without mixing them in their food. Archie, who eats almost anything, will not eat his food if I mix in anything. Supplements have to be hidden in little globs throughout his food, or fed on separately. Coco oil dosage for cats is ¼ teaspoon 2x daily to ½ teaspoon 1x daily per 10 lbs.

http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.com/2012/02/coconut-oil-is-good-for-your-dogs.html

[Bobby dog]

C4c:
I do use the Merrick GF chic in my cat rotation. I don’t have any at this time and I have not had any issues with the cat kibble. I have been keeping up with the threads over the past several months about Merrick and Whole Earth Farms. I was interested in WEF for Bobby because my local pet store started carrying it.

Since I am looking for a replacement for Innova (since P&G sold them), I probably will find a replacement for Merrick as well. It never ends.

Right now I am finishing up Wellness Core Duck and I have a bag of Innova and EVO. Pet Supplies Plus has EVO and Cali Nat’l for 50% off this month, so I will pick up a bag of each of those next time out. That will give me time to decide what to try next, maybe Pure Vita.

As Shawna posted today about the 4D animals and the dog food Merrick makes for Wal-Mart, I read the comment she referred to months and months ago it. She couldn’t remember the name of the Wal-Mart food in her original comment so of course I went on a search for the name. I found they had discontinued making it.

The article in the Truthaboutpetfood is from 2008 so the latest info about Merrick is from the FDA which Losul posted. I haven’t looked further on the FDA site to see what the follow-up is from those inspections and recalls that were handled badly. They usually post follow-up info as well.

So that’s probably what I’ll do, find some more cat food those brats will eat. lol 😉

[Bobby dog]

I think I will try them out for the hell of it. It’s a buy four get two free deal. I know at least Bobby will eat it if know one else does. lol Is the kitty food on the website? Maybe you can do a site to store for the next time you stop by Wal-Mart.

[Bobby dog]

AKari:
Did you happen to check out the Mercola link I sent you in my last reply? I know finances are an issue, but what they talk about in the video might provide some treatment (if it is an infection) as well as relief for a very affordable price! You can pick up a bottle of povidone/iodine solution at Wal-Mart for $6.24 and it will last you forever. The other benefit for you is that it does not require bathing! From the video, according to Dr. Becker “The solution I’m about to use will take care of staph, yeast, and pretty much any common bacteria, but doesn’t sting or irritate the dog’s skin at all. And it’s safe if dogs lick the area after cleaning.”

I inquired about ordering it a while ago and got the run around about if it wasn’t on the website you couldn’t order large quantities. I never followed up with customer service, so you never know. I would love to do that though.

[Bobby dog]

Akari:
There is oatmeal in this shampoo, not sure if it matters or not since you don’t know what his health issues are.

I can never find the chicken either, they always the beef & chicken. No matter what Wal-Mart I shop at, they never seem to stock it.

[Bobby dog]

Hey Akari:
Hopefully getting his thyroid checked will give you some answers either way too. I think the shampoos and quality canned foods are a step in the right direction! 🙂

I only use two different medicated shampoos EQyss Mega Tech and Nolvasan; they are medicated shampoos not prescription. I used both for Bobby when he had skin issues. Mega Tech works great, but if the issues are a little more out of hand Nolvasan is one shampoo that always relieved and cleared up both my horses and Bobby’s skin issues. But, I only had complete success with Bobby’s skin and coat issues when I sorted out his diet.

Here’s some info on Nolvasan shampoo:
http://www.vetstreet.com/nolvasan-shampoo

You might even be able to request a sample from EQyss for the Mega Tech shampoo. Here’s EQyss’s website:
http://www.eqyss.com/index.asp

The other products I use for skin conditions or wounds for all my pets (cats included) with great success are Vetericyn and Banixx. These products are wonderful; I can’t say enough about them and would never be without them:
http://vetericyn.com/benefits/canine.php
http://banixx.com/for-dogs

Try to see if your grandma could get some KC&G or ND turkey stew for you (if they have any in stock). They are definitely the most affordable of the 5 star budget canned foods. Here’s a link to Kirkland pet food:
http://www.great-pet-supplies.com/

Next affordable would be Tractor Supply 4Health (.99) or Wal-Mart’s Pure Balance stews ($1.00). I know TSC is 30 mins in the opposite direction you travel, but if you can find time to get there it would probably be worth the benefits for Bentley. After that it is Pure Balance 95% for $1.25. Unfortunately, these budget foods don’t seem to go on sale or have coupons lol. Of course, you can always use some of those Wellness coupons for Bentley too.

I have checked out commercial raws before and found they are all similarly priced with Nature’s Variety being the average price. Some a little lower, some higher. But, since you are a couponer, probably feeding Nature’s Variety intermittently would be feasible.

[Bobby dog]

Hi michele b:
The brands Mom2Cavs recommended are very budget friendly. I feed most of those foods regularly. I have a strict budget for pet food also so I understand your issue. I buy most of my food on sale or with coupons.

Tractor Supply Co.’s 4Health and Wal-Mart’s Pure Balance both make kibble and canned foods that are affordable; my dog loves and does well on both brands. I have not fed any Pure Balance kibbles, but they are well rated here. I use Wal-Mart’s Pure Balance stews ($1/can), Pure Balance 95% canned ($1.25/can), and all recipes of 4Health canned (99 cents/can) weekly. I also feed 4Health grain free Turkey or Beef kibbles in my rotation.

I also feed Rachael Ray zero grain kibbles and wet food tubs which are rated well. Wal-Mart and some grocery stores carry RR. A lot of times there are coupons on her website. There is a $4.00 off coupon posted now for any size Zero Grain kibble and one for B2G1 free of the wet foods. I believe you can print each coupon up to two times. You can also sign up for her pet food e-mail promotions.

Here’s a link to Rachael Ray’s site:
http://nutrish.rachaelray.com/switchto

Here’s a link to Pure Balance products:
http://www.walmart.com/cp/Pure-Balance-Natural-Dog-Food/1097490

And here’s a link to 4Health products:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/content_landing-page_4health

Victor is probably one of the most affordable brands of the DFA 4 and 5 star rated foods. Victor’s grain inclusive kibbles are very budget friendly. If you are able to order Victor on line, the website Mom2Cavs posted in her reply is great to order from. If you can find a Victor dealer in your area it would be much cheaper than buying on-line. Here is a link to Victor’s website, check out the “find a dealer” option to see if there is a store near you:
http://www.midamericapetfood.com/victordogfood/index.html

Other places to find affordable pet food are large animal feed stores, lawn and garden supply stores, and hardware stores. These stores are also likely to have frequent buyer programs you can sign up for. If you buy any pet food from a pet store check to see if they have any frequent buyer programs or e-mail promotions you can sign up for as well. Good luck!

[Bobby dog]

Hi camano:
Welcome to Akari’s cat food recommendations thread that we hijacked from her! lol I second everything that Akari and C4c wrote! If you get tired of reading through this thread or just don’t have the time, just post a question, we all pop in at one time or another to comment. I have fed brands from grocery stores, Wal-Mart, pet store chains, feed stores, and specialty stores. I keep a list of them; mostly so I don’t waste money buying something they don’t like again. So if you are thinking about trying out a food and want to know if anyone has used it before, just ask, one of us has probably fed it before.

Here’s some links to the pages I reference mostly on the catinfo.org site that C4c mentioned:
Home page: http://www.catinfo.org/
Commercial Foods: http://www.catinfo.org/?link=cannedfoods
Cat Food Nutritional Composition Charts: http://www.catinfo.org/docs/SortableCatFoodChartCatinfo.org2-22-13.htm

If you have a budget to keep in mind, check out Akari’s “Coupons!” thread under off topic forums. You’ll find info on sales, coupons, and deals on pet foods there. If you have any coupon questions, Akari is the person to talk to. We discuss our pet food scores on this thread too though:

/forums/topic/coupons/

My five cats’ ages are between 6 -15 years; one has a hyperthyroid. I feed grain free kibble and canned food; I also rotate both foods. I feed mostly low carb foods and try to stay away from gravys, sauces, starches, glutens, grains, fish, and artificial ingredients. They are addicted to fish so I feed it a few times a week.

For kibble I feed Wellness Core Turkey & Duck, Innova Nature’s Table, and Merrick Chic. I am currently feeding EVO kitten & cat food that I got a B1G1 free deal on. Looking for something to replace Innova since Mars bought the P & G pet division.

Right now for canned I am feeding Wellness Complete Health Chic or Beef & Chic, Tiki Cat Sardine, Natural Balance Turkey & Giblets, Innova, Triumph Trout or Turkey, Pro Plan Select Chic & Liver, and Sheba pate’s without fish. I always have Friskies Poultry Platter, Fancy Feast Turkey & Giblets, Chic & Liver, Tender Beef Feast, and Fish & Shrimp Feast Flaked on hand and sometimes Purina One Turkey Pate if I have coupons.

I am trying out Grandma Mae’s canned and all my cats like it. It’s GF but there is fish in all the recipes. The flavors all have similar ingredients just switched around. It went over well so I will probably buy it again. I have to rotate the better canned foods because they get tired of them, so next month I will feed other brands; but, they always eat their Purina. lol

If you are comfortable ordering on-line, check out the on-line retailers mentioned on this site and sign up for their e-mail updates. Chewy, Wag, Petflow, Petco, Petsmart, I know I am forgetting some. Those sites sometimes send through sale info and free shipping deals. A lot of them give discounts for first time customers and discounts for auto ship orders. I tend to only order on line when I definitely know it is a food my guys will eat and of course it has to be a better price than what I can get it for at a local pet store. I have ordered from Petco and Petflow without any issues. Petco.com has great deals about every other month. They will do no minimum purchase deals with free shipping and handling. They also sell smaller bags of kibble for half off during these sales. Another deal Petco does sometimes is buy $100 of products and you get $30 off your order with free S & H.

[Bobby dog]

No coco oil at your Wal-Mart? That’s where I have bought my last couple of jars. Mine carries Spectrum Organic unrefined for $8.99, much cheaper than my local healthfood or grocery store. I forgot to look for it at BJ’s the last time I was there. Seems like most posters here found good deals on it at whole sale clubs, maybe Sam’s Club has it? There are a couple of websites I found with large containers at a good price with free s&h too and sometimes Amazon has deals on it. You gotta try it, I love it on my toast in the morning.

[Bobby dog]

You can find it at health food stores, grocery stores, wholesale clubs (usually the best price), and I have picked up my last couple of jars at Wal-Mart. They have Spectrum organic unrefined for $8.99. I believe it’s on their website also.

[DogFoodie]

Hi Ally,

You’re right, Omega 3’s are a great way to help with your dog’s coat and dander issues. Another great way to add Omega 3’s is with a sardine every few days. I’m talking about sardines in water that are packed in a small tin with a pull back top. You can usually pick them up at Wal-Mart for about a buck. Fresh whole food ingredients are perfect to add to your pups diet.

Also, a great way to fill up your pups tummy without adding extra calories is with frozen green beans. Because your dog’s first tract is so short, your pup will mostly eliminate the beans (poop), but the beans will create the feeling of fullness.

Here is a really great little download a friend shared with me about adding fresh whole food ingredients to your dog’s diet. It’s written by Steve Brown, a man who many feel is an expert in animal nutrition and raw feeding. The download costs $2.95, so you’ll need to ask a parent about it first. http://www.seespotlivelonger.com/home/sll/page_41/see_spot_live_longer_the_abc_way___electronic_down.html

Good luck with feeding your pup! You’re obviously a very loving and attentive pet owner!

[Susan]

I just read & found the premium & cheaper kibbles they are sold at Wal-Mart, one was called Pure Balance, which is on special at the moment & works out cheaper then pedigree kibble & is more healthy, Pure Balance got 4 stars on the reviews, where pedigree dry only got 1 star rating, I hope this helps you & helps ur girls bowel problems, just make sure you buy a low fat % & see if the bleeding stops..

[Bobby dog]

Hi C4c:
Haven’t been on here all day. I was outside working then wouldn’t you know it the electricity went out for two hours just as it was turning dark. When it came back on there was no water in the barn. I am not a handyman by any means. After checking all the circuit breakers and having no luck I finally had an ah ha moment, reset the breakers in the barn, duh!

I have just been shopping at Wal-Mart, but it looks like I might have to check the grocery store for beef hearts. The Wal-Mart I shop at has a variety of fowl but I haven’t been able to find beef hearts the two times I looked. I will ask someone next time I am there to make sure they don’t have something in the back that maybe they don’t normally put on display.

I really have no recommendations for you as far as which meat; you can’t go by my brats! lol The chicken gizzards and hearts didn’t go over well in my house. I lightly boiled them, Bobby woofed them down, the cats still turned their noses up at them, sigh. Akari and Jakes mom seem to be having better luck introducing chicken to their crew than I have been! And it looks like Jake likes beef heart as well. I am going to try beef heart next. Who knows, Bobby and the cats may not like the meat raw so I may have to lightly cook it. We shall see, I will make adjustments as necessary.

I have not done a complete ABC day yet. The last item I need to introduce Bobby to is a heart or I guess liver. When I do introduce him to it I was just going to follow the 20% rule of thumb and just feed the usual amount of kibble. As soon as I find a heart meat (or some kind of meat) that Bobby likes then I will do a complete ABC day.

It looks like Jakes mom found the website that we needed so I think we will have all bases covered.

Jakes mom:
Good idea checking out that website. I will check it out tomorrow! Thanks 😉

[Bobby dog]

Wow, I wish my cats hated Whitefish!!! If he never eats it, he won’t like it! lol

I don’t know anything about the flea med you found. My suggestion is to look up the active ingredients and research them to see if they are effective or have any reported side effects you need to be aware of.

I hope your mom listens to you about Bentley’s HW/flea med. She may need to get him a blood test to check for HW since he hasn’t had any protection for three months. Keep putting the bug in her ear. Maybe she/you can pick up the Frontline Plus or PetArmor from Wal-Mart to at least keep the fleas at bay in the mean time. 🙂

[Bobby dog]

Actually, I was at Wal-Mart looking to see if they had beef tongue or turkey necks, which they didn’t, so I saw a large package of gizzards and hearts for $1.33. I haven’t ventured to a butcher shop yet. There is only one in my area and it is a very trendy butcher shop. They have wine tasting and cheese making demonstrations so I am not sure what their prices are like.

I am going to take a walk down to a sheep farm by my house. They sell meat, eggs, honey, wool, and some other things I can’t remember. I’ll see what they have to offer (if anything) that I could try feeding my fur babies.

No big deal, I am going to lightly boil some and make who knows what else I can out of the gizzards and hearts. I am sure Bobby will eat them in a treat form. lol Three things he doesn’t eat raw carrots, gizzards, and hearts; I can’t complain about that!! 🙂

[Bobby dog]

As far as the concentration goes, how long it should sit, I think it will depend on Roger’s taste. You could always separate the meat into smaller bowls and let it sit for different times and play around with how much H2O you add.

I do think you will be able to ween him off of it.

I would not use liver just because of the info below from catinfo.org:
“I like to see liver in the diet but not as the first ingredient. Liver is high in vitamin A and D which can be overdosed. Liver only represents ~5% of a cat’s natural diet. Liver is cheap which is why it often appears first on the list in some diets.”

Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition

Here’s the tuna H2O recipe from catinfo:
Tricks used to increase water consumption:

water fountain

flavored waters such as tuna water, chicken or beef broth, clam juice, lactose-free cat milk (CatSip), etc. – can be kept in covered (to prolong fresh smell and taste) ice cube trays

add plain water to canned food – ~1 TBS per meal – or whatever amount your cat likes

You can make your own tuna water by taking a can of tuna and adding 3 cups of water. Break up the tuna and let it sit for awhile (~15 minutes, give or take) and then pour the tuna water into covered ice cube trays.

3 cups of water fills two 16-cube trays.

After warming the flavored ice cubes to ‘mouse body’ temperature you can:

add to canned food

set out as a separate drink of water

Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition

I forgot about clam juice, thats another easy option.

In case your interested, have a crock pot laying around, and can be home while it’s cooking, here’s a bone broth recipe for dogs you might be interested in. I make mine plain because most of my cats are finicky. I only add organic ACV with the mother, (you can buy it at Wal-Mart, some grocery stores, and of course healthfood stores) to it and a little, very little, salt.
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/reasons-your-dog-love-bone-broth/

[Bobby dog]

Walmart has these listed as packages of four and possibly sold individually at your “local Wal-Mart” on their site:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-45-Gallon-Wheeled-Latch-Tote/17270361

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-45-Gallon-180-Quart-Wheeled-Latch-Storage-Box-Set-of-4/20699659

Sterilite 45 gal. Wheeled Latch Tote – @ Home Depot, (couldn’t paste the url for some reason) copy and paste this into their search bar and it will come up. This one supposedly has four wheels but it looks just like the one I have.

Sterilite’s website also has it but I couldn’t copy & paste the url for some reason either. Google “sterilite 45 gallon tote with wheels.”

Anyway, at least you can see what it looks like. Cheers

[Bobby dog]

Yeah, I was just thinking about that, is it possible he likes my dog more than he likes me? lol. What about leftovers for me? He does adore Bobby and he’s one of Bobby’s favorite people; he has four favorites. Every morning he trots over to his house and returns with a bisquit. I am lucky to live next door to a neighbor that loves Bobby probably almost as much as I do. My mother was ill and hospitalized for five days just before New Year’s eve this year. I called him from the hospital late in the evening to ask if he could feed and let Bobby out because I didn’t know when or if I would be getting home. He didn’t hesitate to say yes and even kept him at his house until I got home.

I like his litter box designs. Some of the openings looked narrow and long to me, but I understand his thought behind the opening shapes. I think I like the size of the opening on catinfo’s better (it’s worked well for my cats). But, his are good to keep in mind because you never know when a design might need to be tweeked for some reason. I also like leaving the top rim of the box intact (catinfos design). My thought would be for better support to keep the box square. Idk Also, I know on catinfo she mentions different theories on where you might want to put an opening (long or short side). I put the opening on the short side of the first box because of where I was putting it and it hasn’t caused any problems, such as litter getting scattered. On the second one I put the opening on the long side. My cats don’t seem to have a preference. I really feel they are just in awe of all the space they have inside. They actually look more interested in using the litter box. lol It’s funny to watch them the first few times because they almost seem overwhelmed by all the possibilities of where they can dig their hole.

I am going to look into the mats he suggested. I just put an old car mat outside of the one in the basement.

I also checked out the prices of the litter he suggested, the chicken layer feed, very interesting. I can still get clumping unscented TSC litter a few pennies cheaper/lbs, but I might give it a try this summer on the porch just to see how it works. I already planned on trying corn pellets from TSC as litter; it is 40 lbs/$7.00. I started using corn pellets for my horses this winter. I don’t use stalls but during inclimate weather they do urinate in a specific spot in their run-in. I previously used wood shavings which was a pain because I couldn’t put it in the regular manure pile. The people that pick up my manure for composting won’t take it if there is anything other than straw, hay, or manure in it.

Later on tonight I am going to look at the website again to see what other info I can find. It looks like a handy site. Thanks again. Oh, and the tote box from Wal-Mart is a Sterilite and was $20, maybe a little more. So, if your Wal-Mart doesn’t have it, maybe you can track one down from their website.

[Bobby dog]

Hello C4c:
I have not seen that website so thanks for sharing, I always love when people let me know about websites they found! I am going there after I send this message.

So, I guess I am not as brilliant as I think I am for coming up with the soldering iron idea!!! lol I had to make a little adjustment to my box (make the entrance a little lower so my older kitty can step in easier) and found the sticker with the info about the tote still on the bottom. It is a 45 gallon tote, blue, with two wheels, and it was the only tote at my Wal-Marts with wheels; I would think all Wal-Marts carry the same totes. For the new box I just made, since it is for my porch, I will be using a lid so I melted some holes in the lid for ventilation.

I still love the convenience of the litter box being on wheels. I do have to warn you, I used a 40 lb box of litter initially to fill it.

My neighbor just stopped by with about 20 tiny burgers he made out of left over filet mignon for Bobby; he is a caterer. I think Bobby just lost his mind. He smelled them and I don’t think he appreciated me putting the bag in the freezer. I did leave one out for him for later! Thanks again for the website.

[Bobby dog]

Hey Akari:
I missed reading your mom paid for the food but you shopped for it. lol

Anyway, I would give Pet Botanics a try especially since the other dogs could eat it if he didn’t do well on it. It looks comparible to PB.

Since Bentley might or might not have intolerances to some food I would always try a new food as long as it met your criteria for pet food regardless if it were similar to another food’s recipe or not. Another brand will at least have a different vitamin mix, protein/fat ratios, and may or may not have a different carb if nothing else providing more variety for him. That’s the only way you will find more options for him. At least you have two other dogs to give food to if it doesn’t work out. You already have a few to fall back on so whenever you have an opportunity for a new food I say go for it. 🙂

I checked out the PB Bison when I was at Wal-Mart this past week; it’s DFA rated 4.5. I will give it a try within the next few months. I picked up RR’s new zero grain flavor; the coupon was about to expire so I will save the PB Bison for another month!

I just finished up Avoderm Trout & Pea GF and Bobby did really well on it. His head and the black spots on his body were very shiny. Check that out for Bentley if your store carries it.

Just started 4Health Beef GF (he’s had that before so it is part of his regular rotation) and after that it will be Nutrisource’s Chic & Rice or GF Lamb Meal to start the summer with (two of my many coupon/sale deals from this weeks couponing!)

[Bobby dog]

I think you will find success with that approach! That’s what worked for me when I was crazy enough to have the JRT pup and two kittens. When I started keeping them active when I was home, they eventually started seeking out my attention. Then it was just a matter of tiring them out until I was ready to sleep.

I agree about the animal digest too that’s why IMO I think the Beyond One is a simpler and better recipe. I think they will buy the Beyond One. They either belong to Costco or BJ’s but I didn’t even think to tell them to look at those places for it; I will next time I talk to them. At least they can get a small bag from the grocery store or Wal-Mart start.

I fed the PB GF and had great results. At some point I will feed it again but I will probably try their new GF flavor. I don’t worry too much with calories, Bobby has endless energy on everything I have fed him so far. But, in the future if I need to consider calories, I will keep that in mind about the lamb.

[Bobby dog]

Yes, $4 good til Dec though. Sorry, I misread what you wrote, thought you were asking where the sample offer was posted. Are you able to over-ride their print limit of two?

I think I’ll print one for the Zero Grain to use when I go to Wal-Mart in the next few weeks and get a bag regardless of the flavor for a back-up. Fingers crossed for the new flavor.

Someone just posted a picture of the new Pure Balance single serve wet dog food. I’ll see if they have any of those too.

[Bobby dog]

I just got my second RR zero grain sample in the mail yesterday. I have two $4.00 off zero grain coupons now. When I pick up horse feed I will check out Wal-Mart (across the street) to see if that one is carrying the new flavor. If they don’t, I’ll hang on to them until they do; they’re both good until December.

My local pet store chain gives away free calendars for the new year and of course each month has two coupons good at their stores for various foods. This year though it seems the calendar was sponsored by Science Diet. But next month they have $5.00 off any Nutrisource product, any size. So that will probably be Bobby’s dinner for next month. A small bag normally lasts a month or close to it. Either way, I have a coupon for next month. Now I just need more cat coupons! If I find any, I’ll post on this thread.

[Bobby dog]

Hi C4c:
I love my tote litter box on wheels. It really makes cleaning around it easy. I think it is a 45 gallon, it might be a little bigger, maybe a little smaller. Anyway, it’s the tote at Wal-Mart that has two wheels on the bottom. Because of where I put it, I made my opening on the short end and I put an old rubber car mat outside of the opening for a mat. As recommended on the site, I do not place the lid on the tote. I also have another regular litter box in the basement but they hardly use it, they like the tote. I still have regular litter boxes on my porch too, keeps them from using the flower bed for a bathroom. I will be replacing them with totes as well. Love the tote!!!!

[Bobby dog]

Hi weezerweeks:
I feed the canned 12.5 ounce Pure Balance stews and 95% meat varieties to my dog. I do not think their is a DFA rating for the 95% meat Pure Balance, but I believe it is the same quality as the stew and would rate as well.

I have been feeding the Pure Balance canned for a while my dog loves them, does well on them, and I of course love the price.

I haven’t seen the tubs that you mention yet. Next time I am at Wal-Mart I am going to see if they have them at my store. I know they just added a bison flavor to the Pure Balance GF kibble line.

Wal-Mart and TSC drive me crazy because it takes them so long to update their websites with new products and not every Wal-Mart carries the same products.

[Bobby dog]

Hi Sheltie Pom:
Glad you found what you needed for your pup! I have three Wal-Marts in my area and it never fails that the one I happen to be shopping at is always out of one of the Pure Balance varieties I am looking for. And to make it more frustrating for me they don’t offer the site to store ordering option for the Pure Balance canned food. My dog really likes it though, does well on it, and I don’t think he really cares which flavor/variety I am giving him, he just wants his food.

[Bobby dog]

Oh my goodness! Puppies always manage to get their selves in trouble don’t they? Wal-Mart is stocking alot more healthy foods for pets now so you have a pretty good list to look into that are 3.5 – 5 star foods at affordable prices. PB is $1.00 for stews and $1.25 for 95% meat and I believe all others mentioned are between $1.30 – $1.80 each. I am not sure on their price for Freshpet, but that is a 5 star rated food and Wal-Mart’s price was comparible to the price I pay for it at BJ’s. Goodluck!!!!

[Bobby dog]

Hi Sheltie Pom:
I recommend you check out DFA’s canned food list for 3.5 – 5 star canned foods to start with and for the DFA ratings of the brands I have listed below to help with your decision. If you are looking to purchase food from Wal-Mart I suggest you look at Pure Balance stews & 95% canned selections, Rachael Ray Nutrish tubs, Freshpet, Newman’s, Variety, Natural Life, and Evolve. Not all Wal-Marts carry all of these brands.

If you are looking for budget friendly canned foods also look into Kirkland Cuts and Gravy from Costco (you have to buy a case, they are about 75 cents/can) or 4Health from Tractor Supply $1.00/can.

Since you are feeding a puppy, look for puppy or all life stages to be listed on any brand you decide to feed; not adult only food. I am not sure which brands meet the puppy/all life stages criteria out of the brands I have listed.

I also recommend you look into rotational feeding for your pup. Here’s a link to a DFA article about rotational feeding:
/frequently-asked-questions/diet-rotation-for-dogs/

I feed Pure Balance along with some of the brands I listed above to my dog; he loves the taste, and does well on both Pure Balance varieties and all flavors.

[Bobby dog]

Hi Alexsandra:
I am glad your friends dog is doing well. I completely get being on a pet food budget. I shop with coupons and look for sales online and in pet stores/Wal-Mart/grocery stores. As I wrote, I bought that bag of kibble that was close to the expiration date (and would consider doing it again) but maybe I wouldn’t have even thought about buying it if I didn’t have a budget to worry about.

At least you know the business practices of the one boutique and can shop with caution or not give them your business at all. You gave your friend great advice as far as watching out for the health of her beloved friend!

You have an adorable fella! I have a soft spot for JRT’s full bred or part. And he has a very loving family to boot, lucky guy!

[Bobby dog]

Hi Akari 32:
If I were you, I would take C4c’s recommendation and invest in just wet food at this time at least until you know a little more about your kitty’s condition. Look into the Friskies poultry platter flavor she recommended and the Petsmart’s Authority brand; Petsmart carries the poultry platter flavor (49 cents). The convenient thing about Friskees is it is available in grocery stores and Wal-Mart not just pet stores and both brands are budget friendly.

Try adding a little water to the wet food you are feeding also. It wouldn’t hurt a thing to feed only wet (it’s a good thing to do) and you would be getting more moisture into him which is very important for any cat especially if a UTI is suspected.

Just a thought about getting him to drink more water, I had a cat that was obsessed with drinking water from the faucet. If you are comfortable doing this, what I would do is leave the bathroom sink or tub faucet on so just a small stream of water was running and he would play and drink out of it for five minutes or so. I did this at various times during the day when I was home. It’s funny to watch too!

From catinfo.org:
Tricks used to increase water consumption:
1. water fountain
2. flavored waters such as tuna water, chicken or beef broth, clam juice, lactose-free cat milk (CatSip), etc. – can be kept in covered (to prolong fresh smell and taste) ice cube trays
3. add plain water to canned food – ~1 TBS per meal – or whatever amount your cat likes

You can make your own tuna water by taking a can of tuna and adding 3 cups of water. Break up the tuna and let it sit for awhile (~15 minutes, give or take) and then pour the tuna water into covered ice cube trays.
3 cups of water fills two 16-cube trays.
After warming the flavored ice cubes to ‘mouse body’ temperature you can:
• add to canned food
• set out as a separate drink of water

Keeping my fingers crossed for both of you!

[DogFoodie]

HDM’s list is really meant for large breed puppies, for whom you need to control the Calcium.

The great thing is, you’ve have lots more options now that your pups are older. : )

A couple of brands I’d suggest you also check into would be NutriSource and Earthborn Holistics. They both go just outside of your price range though. I use and like them both, a lot. A brand I’ve never used, but continue to hear great things about and it’s know to be a very budget friendly food is Victor. Oh, and actually, there’s also Rachael Ray Zero Grain Nutrish that you can pick up at Wal-Mart that’s also a good budget friendly choice along with Wal-Mart’s new Ol’ Roy Pure Balance products.

[Anonymous]

Rosemary is used to prevent the fat in the treats from going south as quickly hence it’s use in MANY foods and kibbles. That said, supposedly large amounts of it act as a neurotoxin. Example link: http://www.thedogpress.com/DOGFOOD/Rosemary-Neurotoxin-10032_Liquorman.asp

Small amounts don’t seem to be a great issue but if you’re already feeding them a food with Rosemary it may be upping the dosage to the point of bothering their stomach. Rosemary is a very strong and piney herb after all. If your dog is suffering ill effects I would definitely discontinue use. I’d wager it’s likely the rosemary or the green tea extract (used in several of them) if you’re having issues.

Contrary to some of the sky is falling posts I’ve read, Full Moon Freeze Dried Treats are produced with chicken in the USA provided by Perdue (Perdue also publically confirms this if asked) and all the ingredients, as mentioned above, are sourced in the USA. I didn’t get mine from Wal-Mart but I’ve seen them there since I bought my prior bag. We’ve never had issue with ours but when we got her she was on garbage food (Purina) so I’d bet her constitution is a little stronger then some sheltered pups. 🙂