[Pitlove]

As long as you follow the feeding guidelines for the canned food she wouldn’t become overweight. Same as with dry food. A dog can become overweight on any diet if overfed. You can find good quality canned foods that are low fat and high protein to help keep her trim. I wouldn’t totally throw out the idea of canned food IMO. It adds moisture to their diet and keeps them more hydrated, plus is a lot healthier than dry because of it being less processed. Whichever you choose, best of luck in finding something that she can eat!

[suztzu]

Hello, I am trying to figure out what to feed my 11yr old Cushings shih tzu 18 lbs hes a big shih tzu lol hes not overweight. I was trying Honest kitchen Force and he was loving it but started throwing up all the small food chunks and I found that even though I was rehydrating per the box instructions I was having to add much more water which made the food even bulkier and I think it was just too much food for his little belly. He was on Natures Variety Prarie dry mixed with canned instinct but I am really look to switch him to high moisture content food. Hes on Trilostan 30 mgs a day has elevated liver counts and his kidneys are deteriorating but not compromised yet hes very stable for now but ravenous for food all the time. So looking for any advice in feeding this type of dog would be very welcome Thanks in advance

[Angela B]

She doesn’t appear to have any pain or discomfort associated with her dry food. It is more of an observation that if given a hard treat (milk bones) etc, I have to break hers up into really small pieces. If I get the wrong bag of dog food (small bites vs small breed) the food is slightly bigger and she seems to have trouble eating it. I don’t really know if it has anything to do with the teeth or if maybe it’s just the size of her mouth. Again she is very petite. I do appreciate your feedback. If I were to switch her to a wet food she would likely become obese quickly simply because she would view it as a treat. I have thought of blending wet into her food but again the little heifer will eat the wet and leave the dry. She is such a ham. Lol

[Pitlove]

Only reason I ask is because canned food would be an excellent solution to your Doxie’s problem. It seems as though something is causing discomfort when chewing dry food. That can create a negative association with eating that food.

[Angela B]

Every dog I have ever fed wet food to has loose stool and awful gas. Plus the food itself smells rancid. I feed my dogs the better quality dog foods because they have less fillers and numerous other benefits. It’s just a preference. I do know, my husband likes to give them gainsburgers occasionally. My female will eat until every bit of it is gone even going so far as to pick it out of her dog food. She maintains a healthy weight on dry food, but if allowed what I consider junk food, she pigs out. She would become obese in no time.

[A K]

I have a 10 month old female lab about 60 pounds. She has had some significant issues with loose stools in the past. I tried a few dry kibbles and she kept having loose stools until I added Prebiotics and Probiotics to each meal. Right now, she is on Flint River Ranch – Lamb Meal, Millet, and Rice. If I don’t add a capsule of MicroFlora Plus (Prebiotics, Probiotics, Enzymes, and Herbs) to each meal, she’ll start having loose stools within a few days. I’ve been considering improving the quality of her food so I wanted to get some input on what type of food i should look into. I’m looking for the right balance of cost, convenience, and quality.

I’m afraid a homemade raw diet would be too time consuming, unless it was something easy such as Volhard Dog Nutrition – Natural Diet Food 2 (NDF2) which appears to be very easy and quick (just add protein to the premixed nutrients). The concern with NDF2 is that it would be too costly. It’s $75 for 10 pounds (good for about a month of meals from what I can tell) and I’m not sure how much the fresh protein I would need to purchase would cost.

There are also frozen premade raw diet options available. I assume this option would be very convenient, but I’m not sure how good they are or how much they would cost.

I’ve also heard of some people just adding some fresh raw proteins (ground beef for example) to their current dry kibble.

I’m also open to just a better quality dry kibble as well.

Out of the above options, which would you suggest for a good balance of quality, convenience, and cost? I’d like to stay under $75 a month, but could go up to $100 if necessary.

Thanks so much for any help!!!

• This topic was modified 9 years, 11 months ago by A K.

[anonymously]

Corgis tend to put on weight easily, they are herding dogs and need to be active. I had to walk the one I had for 3 to 5 miles a day to keep her trim.
Feed measured amounts twice a day, I would not free feed. See tips in General Guidelines http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

Make sure he is drinking adequate water, maybe add a splash to her food. I like Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea dry food as a base, but there are other good brands. Check Chewy.com for prices and delivery.
If they have an adequate diet, they don’t need supplements, unless your vet advises differently. I do add a fish oil capsule for dry skin.

I have found this site to be informative. http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

[anonymously]

I like Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea (canned and dry), I use the canned as a topper and add a splash of water. I have switched dog foods without problems, but you could half and half (new and old) it for a few days to avoid GI upset. They like the canned turkey stew too. Newman Organics has a nice canned turkey (95%).
See Chewy.com for prices and delivery options.

[JeffreyT]

I use this toothbrush for our maltese but haven’t found a natural toothpaste I like so I use it with Mercola’s tooth gel.

I use a baby finger toothbrush for my younger maltese b/c she fights me less than when I use the above brush.

Sea Dent can be sprinkled on food, it’s natural and I’ve heard it works well.
http://animalessentials.com/#products:74

I read it’s a myth that dry food cleans the teeth. What is the water additive your vet recommends?

• This reply was modified 9 years, 11 months ago by JeffreyT.

[Anonymous]

We have recently adopted a two year old australian cattle dog (blue heeler) she will not eat dry dog food. we have tried a couple of good brands she turns her nose up. If I blend carrots and green beans and put on top or put a little chicken broth on it she gobbles it up. She even likes coconut oil on her food.

Any suggestions. Either she is a vegeterian or she was raised on canned dog food.

[aimee]

Hi Tabby,

In case this is directed to me as I have posted in this thread i want to clarify that I didn’t say that an anti yeast dog diet should be low fat. I did say that the yeast on a dog’s skin are “fat loving” but this doesn’t mean a high fat diet “feeds the yeast” and a low fat diet is recommended.

The yeast feed off of skin oils at the surface.. far removed from dietary fat. The “diet is very rarely involved in the causation or treatment of yeast infection of the skin”. Diet only factors into a yeasty dog if it is grossly unbalanced or if the dog reacts to an ingredient in the diet resulting in an adverse food reaction that changes the skin.

As to what constitutes a high fat in diets it is kind of relative to the animal and it’s needs. But in general for myself I consider anything at or above 40% of calories fed as fat to be high fat for a dog. This is equivalent to ~ 20% fat on a Dry Matter basis

[Judith M]

Hello,
My dogs are all sick and I believe it’s the dry food. Several days ago, I noticed that a couple of my dogs had diarrhea. At the time, I didn’t think too much about it because they are quite old and sometimes things just upset their stomachs. Over the next couple of days the diarrhea got worse and other dogs started having problems. Don’t think any of them are Then some of them started vomiting. At first, I attributed to something they got into in the yard, but after thinking about it, I realized that two of the dogs who were sick had not been outside. Yesterday and today the diarrhea has continued. A couple of the dogs seem to be stabilized, but the two older dogs are worse. I haven’t detected a fever in any of them. Since the dry food is the only thing they all have in common as far as diet, I have to believe that is the problem. I have searched online for recalls of the food, but see none. I have put them on a special diet of boiled chicken breast, white rice and yogurt. I have antibiotics and steroids to use if necessary, Any suggestions on how to research the dog food to find out if it’s contaminated?

[Tabby R]

Hi Aimee, you said anti-yeast dog diets should consist of a low fat diet. I feed my dogs blue basics lid lamb and potato http://bluebuffalo.com/natural-dog-food/limited-ingredient-basics/dry-food/basics-adult-grain-free-lamb-and-potato-recipe/
One of my chis is allergic poultry and the other one has yeast problems on his skin. They are both picky eaters and they love this food. What is cosidered high fat in diets?

[Susan]

Hi Misha, I also live Australia, so you must shop at “Pet Barn” they are the only ones that carry the Wellpet brand Wellness, Holistic Select & Eagle Pack..

Have you looked at K-9 Natural freeze dried you just add water, Pet Barn sells K-9 Natural its in a packet… http://www.k9natural.com/product-information/dog-food-range-au.html scroll down to Freeze Dried then click on Lamb, Beef, Venison, Tripe, what ever one you want to see ingredients, K-9 Natural is fresh & your dog will love it, all natural & works out cheaper then wet tin foods also if you have a cat there’s Feline Natural excellent for cats…

Another one is Ziwi Peak, Pet Barn does not carry Ziwi Peak no more, it’s expensive but you can still buy online contact Ziwi Peak & ask for some of their air dried samples, Venison & Fish, Venison, Lamb or Beef & use their samples as treats…. http://www.ziwipeak.com/moist-dog-food-ziwipeak-daily-dog-moist-cuisine/

There’s Black Hawk wet tin food….Pet Barn carry the kibble but not their wet tin food yet, Pet Stock carries the whole Black Hawk range Wet & Dry…
http://www.blackhawkpetcare.com.au/grain-free-dog

At the Supermarket Woolworths & Coles have “V.I.P Natures Goodness” all natural grain free wet tin foods & dry…have a look at all their flavours,…. Chicken, Duck with garden veggies….. Kangaroo, Sweet potatoes & green beans……Beef stew, carrots & potatoes

If you feed kibble “Meals For Mutts” is for dogs with skin & food Sensitivities, its gluten, dairy & sugar free, Meals For Mutts has a few natural treats, their kangaroo Disc, Lamb Tripe & Carnavore, a few people have asked Meals For Mutts are they bringing out a natural gluten, dairy, sugar free wet tin food & they have said yes…

Visit this site “Pet Food Reviews” & you’ll get an idea of all the pet food names we have in Australia, then you can google them & look at their ingredients…. http://www.petfoodreviews.com.au/dry-dog-food/

I hope this helps, after I looked & looked for a good natural wet tin food & some of the prices… $4.30 for a tin of Wellness Core, Patch would need 3 tins a day & it didn’t smell that great, just looked like swollen kibble in a can with gravy….. I cook now & freeze meals, its cheaper & I know it’s FRESH…. the only wet tin foods that were really worth the money & smelt fresh was the K-9 Natural freeze dry, the V.I.P Natural Goodness grain free wet tin that was OK smelt & looked just like the Black Hawk grain free wet tin food…. I have never bought the Ziwi Peak wet tin, $6 a tin… I have gotten all their samples of their freeze dried & Patch just inhaled them, he didn’t even chew them 🙂

[zcRiley]

KEY NOTES: Not enough liquids consumed during the day is “probably” the most common cause for those benign struvite crystals being observed in your dog’s urine. A basic pH urine encourages struvite crystal formation, urine with a pH greater than 7. It might also be possible for pets forced to eat a bizarre vegan-type diet that supplied only plant proteins to produce basic urine that was more likely to precipitate struvite crystals. Example: diets that rely primarily on soy protein and beans rather than MEAT to meet the pet’s protein requirements – never a good idea.

ZiwiPeak is better than puppy food; I’m sure Cookie loves that you keep it around as treats or sprinkled on top of her meals! Buy it in small bags so it doesn’t dry out or go stale/mold on you. The word “puppy” in front of the word “food” is a whole marketing issue I won’t go into.

Royal Canin, Iams and Hills all have by-products and/or bad grains. If this was all that was left on Earth as dog food, I’d switch to human food. Of course, my opinion only. Chewy’s will refund your money on everything, just press the “Chat Live” button.

I forgot if I suggested ZIGNATURE ZSSENTIALS to you, also for your perusal on Chewy.com. It’s affordable ($9.99/4 lb bag) and:
-Grain-free and multi-protein formula
-Gluten-free diet
-No potato, chicken or eggs
-No guar gum or carrageenan
-Complete and balanced diet for all life stages.
My pups have been on it for over a year after becoming diarrhetic to Orijens Adult. They are now 75 lbs of lean, mean, loving machines LOL. And yes, they get urine tests done twice a year.

Also to add more moisture to Cookie’s diet (put on top or to the side of dry, the case of 12 will last a looong time, refrigerate an opened can):
Canine Caviar 95% Venison Grain-Free Canned Dog Food OR
ZiwiPeak Daily-Dog Cuisine Lamb Or Beef Canned Dog Food

Affordability, long term health issues, ingredients plus either “striving on” or merely “surviving on” certain foods are all controversial topics that these forums help further our insight.

[Pitlove]

Hi Juanita- “The only thing I do not like about Zignature is although it stops the itching and there are no synthetic vitamins it appears it doesn’t have all the necessary nutrients in it but I might be wrong.”

Zignature does use a premade synthetic vitamin pack. There are only 2 food brands (dry kibble) on the market that don’t- one is Nature’s Logic and the other is Carna4. Also Zignature is a complete and balanced food, so it does have the necessary nutrients.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 11 months ago by Pitlove.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 11 months ago by Pitlove.

[Juanita B]

Go to AllergicPet.com A lot of positive results for all types of issues. I use the oil and spray on my dog and it helps but I just use it on his paws. There is also a powder to put in the food. Review. You might like it. All natural ingredients.

The allergies are not the food but the protein in the food. The brand also makes a difference. A dog may be allergic to one protein and not allergic to another protein in another brand depending on the combination of ingredients and other proteins interacting with each other. A neighbor of mine uses Zignature for her dog. The only thing I do not like about Zignature is although it stops the itching and there are no synthetic vitamins it appears it doesn’t have all the necessary nutrients in it but I might be wrong. The allergies could be environmental too. My dog is itching a lot this time because he keeps laying by the heater and maybe he has dry skin. I purchased Furminator itch relief shampoo; other than mild surfactants it has all natural ingredients. I also put a Furminator (all natural) conditioner on it afterward. It is not a cure but it helps. There is also tearless puppy shampoo. There are no parabens and no chemical dyes and is made in the United States. Go to furminator.com or amazon.com. Maybe chewy.com sells it too. I get mine from PetSmart.

[Juanita B]

My American Pit Bull Terrier has allergies too.

I have head wonders on Zignature (go to chewy.com and read the reviews) but it has peas in it and my dog quit itching but there is a lot of alfala for my dog. He is 2 1/2 now and has allegories since he was a puppy so I know what you are going through. I was just advised by a nutritionist to try Origen Tundra and all food must have absolutely no chicken of any type and no eggs. She also mentioned Acana Lamb and Apple but that has canola oil in it and that is made from a toxic plant. http://breathing.com/articles/canola-oil.htm

Go to http://www.orijen.ca/products/dog-food/dry-dog-food/tundra/ Don’t just go by the ingredients below; look at everything such an amino acids and other ingredients. I do not see anything your dog is allegeric to except peas but that is not on the top five ingredients. My dog is very sensitive and picky and he loves this especially with the freeze dry crumbled on it. I also add Answer’s raw goat’s milk which is supposed to help allegories. I don’t know the results yet. It has only been one week. I have noticed that his stool is better.

INGREDIENTS
Goat*, venison*, mutton*, bison*, whole arctic char*, rabbit*, duck*, whole steelhead trout*, whole pilchard*, whole alaskan cod*, goat meal, venison meal, alaskan cod meal, mutton meal, blue whiting meal, red lentils, green peas, duck fat, herring meal, pollock meal, garbanzo beans, yellow peas, alfalfa, dried kelp, pumpkin*, squash*, cod liver*, goat tripe*, goat liver*, mutton liver*, mutton tripe*, venison liver*, venison tripe*, carrots*, spinach*, apples*, pears*, cranberries*, freeze-dried elk liver, freeze-dried venison liver, freeze-dried bison liver, freeze-dried goat liver, zinc proteinate, mixed tocopherols (preservative), juniper berries, rose fruit, dandelion root, elder flowers, marigold, dried chicory root, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product.

[LOREN L]

DRY DOG FOOD – ADD WATER
By Loren D. Lasher

For the past 5 years I have been adding water to my dog’s dry kibble. Letting it soak for 12-15 minutes before serving; I have found many benefits. For my older dog, who had been plagued with digestive problems, they have all been resolved. In my research, I have gotten some support and some conflicting ideas but I believe if you read on, you can make up your own mind. There are many, many benefits of soaking dry food. I share this information, not as an expert, but as a person with some experience wanting to add to your ‘perspective’ and the health of your dog and/or cat. Read this article, check with your Vet and make up your own mind.

First, dogs, cats and many animals were designed to eat foods which were 70%-90% moisture. Dry kibble is dehydrated to about 10% moisture. When a dog eats the dry food, the food is seeking moisture and robs the animal of important vital fluids and creates a situation of the dog being dehydrated and needing to rehydrate. With dry food both the stomach and intestines are upset. Important digestive fluids are taken up by the dry food in the stomach and in the intestines. Intestines are designed to get nutrition from moisture. Dry food prevents much absorption of nutriments in the intestine. When an animal eats the dry food and fills their stomach and afterward water is added, from drinking after eating, the stomach swells and may contribute to bloat. The dry food swells in size and robs the dog of important digestive fluids.

Do an experiment and decide for yourself. Take two cups and put about 1/3 cup of dry food in each cup. Keep one cup dry and to the other cup, add half of cup of warm water and let it set for 15 minutes. Compare and think about what is happening to your dog’s stomach.

There are many benefits to adding water and soaking. First, the dog becomes and stays hydrated. Second, it reduces bloating. Third, it is easier to chew and digest. Fourth, with a bit of ‘gravy’, it tastes better. Fifth, with warm water the ‘aroma’ is inviting. Dogs like good smells. Sixth, the dog will eat less food and be full. You can reduce the amount of dry food served. I feed my 90 pound lab 2 cups of kibble soaked; 1 cup morning and 1 cup night. Finally, with wet food, the dog will eat slower.

Some people might argue that eating dry food cleans the dog’s teeth. Not so! Most dogs do not chew enough with the dry food. If you want cleaner teeth, you have to clean their teeth. Some chew bones may help, but not kibble.

Bottom Line: Bringing dry food to higher moisture content will benefit the animal in many ways. They will be healthy and hydrated. Add equal or more water per kibble. One cup kibble, one and one half cup water (minimum), soak 12-15 minutes. For a little extra, you might add a bit of low salt broth.

[Debbie W]

Our 6 month German Shepard scratches frequently around the chest and neck area, yet we can’t find any sores or rashes. She also nibbles on her legs and rump areas. What are some common reasons for frequent scratching? Is there a puppy food that addresses dry, itchy skin, which is our first idea for her ailment?

[anonymously]

Smaller bags, empty plastic coffee containers, in the freezer or fridg if you have room.
Divide the dry dog food up, use a 1 week supply at a time.

Yes, fish oil can go bad, keep in a cool dry place, but do not freeze. I just use a fish oil capsule per day for each dog, I nip the capsule with scissors and add it to the meal. I take the same stuff myself.

I don’t go near coconut oil, too fatty (imo). You might find some helpful information here: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2015/04/coconut-oil-for-pets/

[Oceans11]

I purchased a 25 lb. bag of Orijen Adult dry kibble and there is no way we will use in a reasonable amount of time. The bag has not been opened. Is there anyway I can preserve it, i.e., freeze or use a food sealer and put in smaller bags? I know I can donate it but am trying to recoup the cost.
Also, how much coconut oil would you add for 17-20 lb. dog. And, how much salmon oil to give?
Lastly, can the salmon oil become rancid?
Thank you for your advice!

[nick r]

Hmm, I have always thought it was chicken as the main ingredient. Is turkey any good? I mix this with the Simple Salmon/Potato dry food as well. What food are you using nowadays that you cut this one out?

Appreciate the reply!

[nick r]

Has anyone else noticed this? They now use turkey as the main ingredient from chicken. Do you still use this food, or have you transitioned to something else? Thank you

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/product-details.aspx?pet=dog&pid=68

[JeffreyT]

Hi Nina,

We have two very picky maltese (not unusual for the breed) and found the freeze dried and dehydrated foods to be the most palatable for them, and also healthier than dry and canned. It’s also a joy for me to see their anticipation as I prepare their favorite foods, then watch them enjoy every bite. My pups bring so much love and laughter to our home, giving them healthy, delicious foods is the least I can do for them!

Here is my reply to another dog owner with a picky pup. I think I left out Dogs for the Earth, one of their favorites….expensive but worth every penny. And occasionally I buy Wellness Core Air Dried or Wellness Tru Food because they are very palatable and easy to serve when pressed for time. Both come in puppy formulas. I try to keep dry food under 25% of their diet.
/forums/topic/very-picky-eater/

I hope you find some foods your pup loves!

• This reply was modified 9 years, 11 months ago by JeffreyT.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 11 months ago by JeffreyT.

[Ksenia M]

Hi

I just recently emailed Taste of the Wild to ask them about certain ingredients listed in their dog food. I also have a large breed dog and inquired about their Calcium and phosphorus levels in their foods. They have the Kcal/Kg of each type of food on their website. You can use the calculator found on this website to calculate the ratios. See the email reply below.

Thank you for your inquiry.

Our bison, beef, roasted venison and buffalo originate or are sourced from suppliers in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming and Australia. Our lamb and lamb meal come from New Zealand and Australia.

Lamb meal is lamb that is cooked and ground to a fine consistency. We receive it as a dry ingredient. Egg product is cooked and dried whole eggs. Natural flavor is an ingredient that is applied to the outside of the kibble to enhance the flavor and acceptance of the dry pet food. It can be from vegetable or chicken sources (it does not contain MSG). Examples are parsley or other herbs and hydrolyzed proteins (processed so the average molecular weight of the protein is too small to be detected by the immune system which helps avoid adverse reactions in allergic pets, there is no intact protein from the chicken).

We also received your second email. The levels below are based on an as fed basis of a typical analysis of the formula.

Phosphorus Calcium
High Prairie Dog with Roasted Venison and Roasted Bison 0.9% 2.1%
Pacific Stream Dog with Smoked Salmon 1.5% 1.9%
Sierra Mountain Dog with Roasted Lamb 1.1% 1.6%
Wetlands Dog with Roasted Wild Fowl 1.1% 1.4%
Southwest Canyon Dog with Wild Boar 1.1% 1.9%
Pine Forest Dog with Venison and Legume 0.9% 1.4%
Appalachian Valley Dog with Venison and Garbanzo Beans 0.9% 1.8%

Sincerely,

Ivie
Product Specialist

I hope this helps anyone who feeds their dogs Taste of the Wild dog food. Not sure about the formatting, but the first percentage is phosphorus and the second percentage is calcium. Based on the calculator found on this website, the Roasted Wild Fowl has the optimal ratio.

[Susan]

Hi, have you looked at the Royal Canine S/O Urinary? When I rescued my boy he was weeing blood, while he was being desexed he had an ultra scan & he had Crystals stones, he was put on the Royal Canine S/O Urinary wet & dry for 6 weeks, after 6 weeks he had another ultra scan to see if the crystal had dissolved & they had all dissolved, the Royal Canine worked, vet said he must of been used for breeding… Patch also has skin problems when he eats any Hills vet diets, he itches real bad, but while he was eating the Royal Canine S/O he never scratched…

I went thru a Animal Naturopath cause Patch has IBD & Skin problems, Jacqueline Rudan put Patch on a Raw maintenance Diet, that I cook now, minus the bones, here’s the Diet but scroll down & click on the “Acidifying Urinary Crystals Diet” & see what foods Jacqueline recommends you feed for your dogs health problem….
http://www.naturalanimalsolutions.com.au/natural-diet.html

[Lane M]

I have a 15 month Great Dane Mastiff mix puppy. She is about 135lbs and has a sensitive tummy. Can anyone suggest a dry food?

[JeffreyT]

Congratulations!

We have maltese and rotate between the freeze dried and dehydrated 5 star foods. Good rule of thumb is to add 1-2 tablespoons of water to each patty or brick. These foods are easy to break into smaller pieces, nutrient dense, species appropriate and healthier than canned.
The following are in our rotation.
Primal
Stella and Chewy (and their treats)
Dogs for the Earth (one of their favorites)
Orijen (and treats)
Stewarts Bison
Dr. Harveys
Honest Kitchen (we purchase their sample packets and use in their rotation)
Nutrisca
Northwest Naturals
Chewy.com has a lot of these foods

We also feed Tru Dog, Vital Essentials and Only Natural Niblets but I would avoid feeding to a tiny puppy.

I don’t like regular kibble because it’s so overly processed… plus mine don’t like it. The only dry type food they get is air dried from Real Meat Food Co, Only Natural Max Air Dried or Ziwi Peak. Meats are grass fed, free range, gmo/anti bitotic/hormone free. I keep this under 25% of their diet due to lack of moisture. They love air dried.
http://shop.realmeatpet.com/Introduction-Dog-Cat-Food-Trial-3-Pack-FD3PACK.htm

We also do some home cooking and use Dr. Harveys finely ground premix.

I highly recommend reading Scared Poopless which is specifically for small dogs…excellent info on how to avoid cancer and other diseases.

Also, Dr. Karen Becker’s newsletter is very informative. She offers great nutrition info and I use many of the supplements she suggests. I would definitely think about adding probiotics and enzymes to meals for optimum digestion and immune support, and to avoid stomach upset as you transition and rotate new foods.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/

Good luck.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 11 months ago by JeffreyT.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 11 months ago by JeffreyT.

[Katie B]

My dog just went into CHF. She is on Dr. Gary’s Best Breed “All Breed” dry dog food. I just talked with the rep and this is the info I got.

Dr. Gary’s Best Breed Recipe / Sodium %
All Breed .38%
Large Breed Salmon & Veggie .28%
Large Breed Chicken & Veggie .28%

/dog-food-reviews/best-breed-dog-food/

[Nicole R]

Hi…my dog is 6 years old..a Jack Russell..we just had his teeth cleaned (so that is not the issue)…he has horrible FISHY breath..and I think it is his wellness dry dog food. He has been on wellness for about 4 years…and does fine..however his breath is fishy…someone told us that it could be because the Omega 3’s they use are sourced from fish…they do not say they are from fish on the label…however…they must be. The flavor food he eats is Chicken and Oatmeal. This is the food:

https://www.chewy.com/dog/wellness-complete-health-adult/dp/34360?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=f&utm_content=Wellness&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KEQiAq920BRC8-efn57XrotYBEiQAlVlMQ8MlETUZjD_0Us8U0rGTso7fsNNiO9G-IVPVTDDdaIkaAhCj8P8HAQ

so if anyone knows of a food that does not have fish or Omega’s from fish oil please let me know..OH I do not want BLUE BUFFALO…
thanks

Nicole

[Kimberly R]

My dog has developed an allergy to peas. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good dry dog food that does not contain pea flour/pea fiber/pea protein? This ingredient is now being sourced from China.

[Kimberly R]

Do not discount the possible link to Peas as a source to a dog’s allergies. Peas, pea flour, pea protein, pea fiber is now in almost all dry dog foods to get the protein numbers up. My dog started to develop allergies, or what appeared to be allergies, 6 months ago, while on a very good grain-free dog food. It started with an itchy tail head, then itchy back, then some hives on the face to full blown facial, neck and spine swelling, with difficulty swallowing. After 6 weeks of allergy testing and food “trials”, every food, including treats, that contained a form of “pea” created the same allergy symptoms within a half hour.

A recent finding by truthaboutpetfood.com shows that pea flour/pea fiber/pea protein is an ingredient from China. It is very likely that the allergy is actually a response to a toxin or poison. This scenario is all too familiar. The problem is that now that this cheap protein is available, it is difficult to find a dry dog food without it.

[Jenn H]

I heard from Solid Gold yesterday. They were so prompt and forthcoming in their answers. That’s huge to me.
Before I share where everything is made, I think it’s important to let you know that they test samples from every batch prior to distribution. The tests are done by an independent third party.
I just asked how long they have had this practice in place.
When Diamond has had recalls I discovered Solid Gold has also voluntarily recalled their foods despite testing negative for salmonella. Again I think that’s huge. They are willing to err on the side of caution even though it’s monetarily costly.
I cannot believe how much research I have to do these days go avoid feeding my dogs something that may harm them.
Onto the answers…
Solid Gold Manufacturers:
dry dog food distributed from Diamond in Missouri
-Wolf King
-Wolf Cub
-Hund-N-Flocken
-Wee Bits
-Buck Wild
-Lil Boss
-Star Chased
-Sunday Sunrise
**all other dry dog foods and their dry cat foods are distributed from Crosswind in Kansas**
all canned foods are distributed by Simmons in NJ
treats from Mountain Country in OK
-Cinna-bones
-Cinna-bits
treats from Mountain County in Utah
-all jerky treats
****I think it’s important to mention that most of the recalls were from the South Carolina plant.****
I am awaiting a reply as to when they began implementing their independent testing and where the supplements are manufactured/distributed.

I am as convinced as I can be that Solid Gold is proactive in preventing illness from their foods. I’d feel loads better if they stopped using Diamond all together.

[abraham m]

hey good evening kaitlyn.

i have a chow chow either and i think your fur buddy is a bit bored with his/her food. just a few tips.

1. aside from the dry food that you are giving why not try to have a boiled chicken liver with it at the same time the broth of it and make it atleast thrice a week. It will serve as a treat.

2. try also boiled chicken liver with the same procedure.

3. try to mix some steamed rice on his dry food .

these are just some tips that i am doing and my chow buddy realy loves it.

[Ashley M]

Hi I was wondering if anyone has tried the Naked Dry Kibble from Protein for pets? I wanted some feedback since it seems to be sourced from California and is suppose to be all natural. I asked for more information from them for there ingredients because their website does not show it and it would be a great price food if it is of high quality.

[Sarah H]

Thank you every one for all your advice about the puppy eating the cat food. It is a daily struggle but we are managing. She is still much more interested in the cat food than her own food and sniffs around the empty placemat looking for it after we have put it up on the counter. I have been reading about rotation feeding and I am curious as to people’s opinions. We got our puppy 2 weeks ago and weaned her gradually from the crappy food she had been used to by mixing a little bit more every day. Her poops were a bit soft and yellow at first but now they are firm and brown, so she is used to the new food. She is currently eating Wellness Puppy wet food and Wellness Small Breed Puppy dry food. I mix a little of the dry kibble into the wet food as well as providing a bowl of dry food to munch on. She eats three times a day, with sometimes a late night snack of a few bites of dry food if she is hungry. She likes it but it seems so boring to have the same food day in and day out. I have always fed my cat (formerly two cats) the “rotation” diet without actually knowing that was what it was called. My cat eats several brands and flavors and is very finicky and would stop eating if I gave her the same thing at every meal. Is it OK to mix up the foods for the puppy as well? If so, do I need to mix them gradually again? Thanks in advance.

• This topic was modified 9 years, 11 months ago by Sarah H.

[Jeff A]

Hello,

I’m looking for opinions on how to proceed. Sorry for the long post!

History :

For a couple years my Great Danes have been on a diet of Blue Buffalo Wilderness kibble. They get fed twice a day with each meal consisting of two cups of dry kibble and about 1/4 can of Blue Buffalo basics canned food mixed in. I’ve had zero issues with them on this food. Recently, I decided to transition them over to Fromm. I bought a bag of Fromm Gold kibble, and a case of Fromm gold chicken and duck pate soft food.

I’ve been mixing kibble for quite awhile, and they went through a case of the Fromm soft food with no issues.

Then..

1/4 – Ella went in for a dental at the vet. Pretty groggy from anesthesia.
1/5 – Ella getting back to normal. Received new case of Fromm soft food. Ella and Sydnee have food from new case in evening.
1/6 – Ella back to hungry self. For breakfast they have food from second can in the new case for breakfast. All appears normal. 3 pm in the afternoon my wife comes home to a house full of vomit. Ella wants no food, but Sydnee eats dinner. We assume Ella still isn’t feeling right from anesthesia. 6 pm Sydnee vomits all her dinner.

The next six days are spent dealing with pretty sick girls. They were lethargic, occasional vomiting, bloody diarrhea. Both visited the vet twice over that period of time. Fecal test was negative, blood test showed normal, and temperatures were in the normal (101-103) range. They were both put on antibiotics. After doing some reading this sounds a lot like hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. It usually hits small dogs and requires IV fluids, but I think because my girls are so large (140lb each) they didn’t become overly dehydrated.

I’ve been feeding them boiled hamburger and rice for a few days now, but I’m getting to the point where I need to think about transitioning them back to normal food. I’m very worried at this point.

I will not feed them the remaining cans of the Fromm soft food. I’ve also thrown out all the open bags of dry kibble. I have no idea what caused the issue, but two dogs sick in the exact same manner at the exact same time leads me to believe the the new case of food was a trigger. I called Mr Chewy who contacted Fromm and there have been no reports of issues with the food.

My gut tells me to transition them from the hamburger and rice back to Blue Buffalo and leave well enough alone. Thoughts?

[aimee]

Hi Peggy,

If the dogs are gaining weight than they need to take in fewer calories or exercise more.

I’ll run a few calculations.

For weight loss for Ladybug I calculate about 700 kcals/day. That means any individual dog may need 350-1050 kcals / day to achieve about 1 % body weight loss a week.

The variety pets food canned has on average 450 kcals/can so you are feeding 225-335 kcals in the am meal from that and the 1/2 cup kibble I’m guessing is adding about 200 kcals I can’t find calorie info on that. Together 425-535 kcals. in the am meal.

At night another 200 kcals from the kibble and again I can’t find caloric info on the tubs but I’m going to guess 70 kcals if 1 tub fed so ~270 kcals if feeding 1 tub with the 1/2 cup kibble.

Total kcals/day 695-805 kcals. Some dogs may lose on that amount but for others that is about double the amount needed for them to lose weight. So it could be that Ladybug is in that group in which case you really need to move to a food formulated for weight loss.

You can either cut calories or increase exercise. Since it is hard for you to increase exercise you’ll need to cut calories. Using the current food though will be even a smaller volume and already your dog is having satiety issues. So in order to feed more volume you need to cut back on the fat content in the foods you are feeding.

For example if you wanted to feed ~600 kcals a day and used lower fat foods you could feed 3/4 cup dry am and pm with 1/4 can am and pm. (12 oz can) Soaking the kibble prior to feeding adds filler…. volume without calories.

Additionally, I recommend that you weigh the foods instead of estimating and measuring volume.

Once on the new diet foods weigh your pets every week and if they are not losing then you need to drop calories by another 20 % and reevaluate again.

Good Luck!

[Jenn H]

Sometimes giving them a “snack” between meals helps. Something like a little pumpkin or green beans. Always wet the dry w/ warm water and let soak for a few min. The kibble gets bigger.
My pup was the same way until I changed his food. He now eats 1/2 as much as the other food, is more satisfied and has saved me a lot of money.
My Lab mix acts like she never had a meal in her life every time someone opens the door their food is in. She literally goes right for the empty bag like she’s attacking a bad guy or something. She’d eat past exploding if possible. Apparently Labs are just that way. (I’ve only had GSDs and they aren’t like this.) They inhale their food and don’t know when to stop eating. It’s a crazy thing about them. I drown her food in warm water and use the slowest slow feeder I can find.
What I have noticed is every 10 yr old Lab I have ever seen is overweight and/or lumpy. She is not!!!!! She’s svelt, lean and muscular!!!
In winter I add whole grain oatmeal after it’s been cooked & cooled. This helps tremendously with keeping her from freezing on cold days. It’s fat free so she doesn’t get fat from it. I think it acts like hay or beet pulp does for horses. Just cold calories.
Very often a high protein, low carb diet works well. A small dog I would feed at least 3 times/day anyway as everything moves through them faster. I know that isn’t always possible for everyone.
You can also try mixing water and a little fat free chicken broth and freezing it. They’ll think they are getting a treat and it may take a while for them to eat it. Fat free frozen FAGE yogurt (it has nothing artificial or added sugar) works well too.

[Jamie08]

Thank you Susan! So far, so good. She did great post-surgery and is now back on “normal” food. I bought some cans of wet Whole Earth Farms food, as I had tried them with her in the past and she did well. I’ve also been giving her a little dry food (Canidae) when I give it to my other dog, as she seems to love it, too… She has gained a pound since surgery (was down to 13lbs after tumor removal) and is full of energy. I hate to think about the tumor coming back in the future but I’m glad she seems to be enjoying her life now!

[Kelly K]

Did anyone get the coupons in the Classic dry dog food bags for $3 off because they’re changing their look & ingredients? I just checked their website and they still claim to source locally and do not use ingredients from China. I don’t see where the recipe has changed yet but I haven’t purchased any since December

[Todd G]

Thanks for the fast response Elaine! Harvey has been on metronidazole before (and possibly amoxicillin, can’t remember for sure), when he had some more severe digestive issues and was having difficulty keeping any food down at all. Those haven’t recurred for a year or so, and he’s eating normally. (He and his iron-stomached one-year-old full brother both eat a mix of two DFA-recommended dry foods, one 4-star and one 5-star.) But the morning water regurgitation seems to have increased a bit lately.

Luckily, he is otherwise healthy and not losing weight, so I don’t think it’s an urgent problem, but it seems like the sort of thing that could run the risk of long-term damage if left untreated, so I have a call in to our vet.

Thanks so much for for the feedback and for writing your original post. It was a relief to see someone else describing the same symptoms our little buddy is having.

[Susan]

Hi Janet, sounds like acid reflux, my boy also a rescue that I rescued 3 years ago, started doing the licking & swallowing around 11pm at night, he was on Royal Canine vet diet Hypoallergenic for his skin, he came to me in very bad condition, the fat was too high at 19%, so vet changed his kibble too a lower fat kibble 10% this did heap but it was a vet diet with corn etc no good, he still would have these licking & swallowing episodes, lick my sheets, lick & lick his front paw, the vet said when they lick & lick they can be in pain & the licking sets off their Endorphins, he’d eat grass, feel sick, vomit, he’d grind his teeth, in the end I had an Endoscope & Biopsies done & he had the Helicobacter-Pylori & IBD, he’s also a stress head & causes his acid reflux sometimes. We went away for Xmas a 2 hour drive, I had started him on a new kibble a month before just Fish & Rice, no other ingredients & the fat % is 12%, he was doing real well, no acid reflux, I cook as well, then I brought out my suit case a week before we were going away & I started putting things in so I didn’t forget them, I even got him his own bag & put it next to mine & put his toys, an old bowl he doesn’t use no more, then he started following me everywhere in the house, he became my shadow again like when I first rescued him, he wouldn’t let me out of his sight, then he started getting his acid reflux again, he grinds his teeth & swallows, so out came the liquid Mylanta, I keep in the fridge, keeps it cool, so when I give it to him, it soothes his throat, the acid comes up into his throat, sometimes he has had a real sore throat, I give 4 mls in a syringe of the liquid Mylanta & it works the best with him, Zantac works OK but the liquid Mylanta settles the acid straight away, vet did not want him on a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) Prilosec-Omeprazole, Somac-Pantoprazole etc you can’t not just stop taken a PPI after you’ve taken it for 15 days need to be reduce…..

Can you buy chicken breast or lean Turkey breast mince & just bring to the boil & take off stove as soon as its cooked, with the chicken breast, I cut up into chunks & remove any fat & as soon as it’s about to boil, I remove from stove & empty out all the water, all the white frothy fat comes to the top, I boil the jug & rinse the chicken breast pieces with the boiled water, let it cool or run cold water over chicken pieces, then I make up 1 cup sections in freezer bags & freeze I put 2 bags in the fridge, I also boil, 1 potato, 1 zucchini, some broccoli, sometimes a bit of pumkin, I put in container in fridge, then I put in a blender a 4-5 pieces of boiled potato, some of the broccoli & 1/2 a cooked zucchini….
The fat in the wet tin foods is high if it says 5%-fat when you converted to dry matter (Kibble) 5%fat is around 22%-25% fat if it was a kibble, so you need to look for wet tin foods that are around 1-3 % fat only & limited ingredients no corn, no wheat, no by-products etc…… when you cook, you know what they’re eating, you can control the fat & it works out cheaper then wet tin foods also the kibble made Patches acid reflux worse, so I started to I feed just the cooked chicken & potatoes etc for 1-2 months & let the stomach rest. I do add cooked kangaroo rissole sometimes that I bake or 1/2 tin of salmon in spring water & drain all the spring water, I also add 1/2 teaspoon DigestaVite plus-100 powder it’s vitamins/minerals, prebiotics for the stomach skin etc but at first I only feed Chicken Breast & some sweet potatoes then I slowly started adding 1 new ingredient each week & watched it didn’t give his acid reflux, find a limited ingredient kibble that’s just Fish & Rice no peas, no lentils, nothing that can upset her stomach, or Fish & Potatoes but the grain free kibbles normally have peas tapioca, lentils etc change her diet to a lower fat diet 10-12% fat, I also feed 4 small meals a day, 7am, 12pm, 5pm & 8pm…at 7am & 5pm is the cooked meal & 12pm & 8pm is his 1/2 cup kibble… you will find what works for your girl, if you do have the Endoscope make sure you get the Biopsies as well, when the vet looked down Patches throat into his stomach everything look excellent, I was waiting to pick Patch up & I can still hear 1 of Patches vet saying, everything looked good, see I told you, we need to cut him open & look at his small bowel, I said we still have to wait for the results from the biopsies & I kept saying it’s Helicobacter cause I’ve had the Helicobacter twice when I was younger & it makes you feel awful & you have stomach pain, bad acid reflux, it’s awful…. I feed kibble that have prebiotics, no Probiotics, Probiotics made Patch worse I don’t know why…. vet said prebiotics are better for the stomach & small bowel….

[Janet Q]

Hello, I am new to the group here. Thank you everyone for all this info. I am taking notes now as my rescue dog SASHA from Mississippi has this problem. We got her 7 months ago. She is an English Shepherd/Great Pyrenese mix supposedly. She is 7 yrs old. She looked perfectly healthy when we adopted her other than a lick granuloma on a paw. She did have a lot of fears we were told. She is very afraid of people and cars and noises. She walks in the woods fine. She seems to scratch quite a bit so we started her on Benadryl , then cetrizine, now Chlorpheneramine.

Her first Licky/Gulpy Episode was in September. She just had her 8th one tonight. I give her Acepromazine immediately now and it seems to help her. The last 2 episodes only lasted an hour or 2 and she wasn’t totally frantic. The other episodes lasted 3-4 hours and she would vomit halfway through.

She went 3 months without an episode and started up again on Dec 17.

When she starts the episodes she just suddenly starts licking anything like the floor, comforters, carpets. Then starts gulping and gagging. I have slept in bed with her with her leash in my hand so I would know if she jumped off the bed to lick the floor or started licking the comforter again.

She really seems to be even more afraid of noises when she is going through these episodes. Any creak in the house, or noise from a cat jumping off furniture down the hall etc. She will just have a horrified look on her face.

I have read about gastritis and that it can be caused from ingesting fur. She licks quite a bit like OCD and she did have that lick granuloma when we got her. She tore up 3 sets of King sheets when I first got her also and recently shredded a pillowcase while I was home doing dishes.

So I am thinking of finding a specialist near me to have the scope procedure done to check out her esophagus for damage.

I also have her on sucralfate, benadryl, chlropheniramine, composure treats, Lean Treats by Purina, Dasaquin.

She was on a probiotic for a few months and I didn’t refill it.

Her food is Taste of The Wild Salmon, mixed with a little JM by purina and a few spoons of canned Purina Adult Chicken and Rice.

I try to walk her each day on a 20 foot leash so she can run a bit.

Thankyou again for all these posts as I a have never had this problem with a dog before.
I will let you know what I find that works.

[Darrell M]

C4D

Thanks for the followup. We are taking your advice and staying away from junk treats. As a mater of fact , for a main meal (2), we now find that buying a whole chicken, when they are on sale, and cooking it in a crock pot is now our dogs favorite meal. Of course we strip the chicken, skim off the fat and add the juice back to the chicken with a can of peas, some corn and some strings beans along with rice and cook till the rice is done. Freeze that in separate tubs and give about 4 table spoons to a cup of good dry food. He cleans the bowl spotless. We’re using this in place of the two or three table spoons of caned dog food we used to put with the dry food. There were some can foods he would not touch. Calvin is a 12 year old retired Labbradoodle that was a Guide Dog for the Blind for 10 years until he went blind in the right eye and blew out both rear knees. He weights in at around 80 lbs. and this amount of food maintains that weight as he is not that active anymore. The Vet says he is in good health otherwise.

[anonymously]

I have been using this product (dry and canned) for 4 years now for 3 dogs (2 with issues)
with good results.

Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea http://www.chewy.com/dog/dogswell-nutrisca-grain-free-salmon/dp/35033

Salmon, Menhaden Fish Meal, Peas, Chickpeas, Salmon Meal, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Sunflower Oil, Pea Fiber, Flaxseed, Calcium Carbonate, Salmon Oil (a source of DHA), Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Dried Eggs, Natural Flavor, Tomato Pomace, Carrots, Cranberries, Apricots, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Iron Proteinate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Proteinate, Biotin, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Rosemary Extract

PS: It looks like chewy carries the dog food you mentioned http://www.chewy.com/dog/victor-yukon-river-salmon-sweet/dp/120706

[T H]

I have been feeding my dogs Victor Yukon River for the past 2 years and everything has been great aside from the fact we relocated to a new area and the nearest supplier is 40 miles away and they charge $24 more than anyone for a 30lb bag. Are any of you using, and able to give a recommendation for a fish based dry food with absolutely zero poultry products? Thanks in advance.

[Bobby dog]

Hi Chad:
Here’s a link to some info on low sodium diets from Tuft’s you may find helpful:
http://vet.tufts.edu/heartsmart/diet/reduced-sodium-diet-and-treat-lists-for-pets-with-heart-disease/

and here’s a link to another forum thread about reduced sodium kibble. Even though it’s about kibble you may find some helpful info there too:
/forums/topic/dry-dog-food-with-low-salt-and-low-fat/#post-46587

[Brian L]

My dog recently had Pancreatitis and was in hospital for 4 day. He’s an 11 year old Yorkie. We think it was brought on from him eating puppy food we were giving our 6 month old yorkie.
We now feed him only Royal Canin Low Fat prescription food, wet and dry. We leave the dry food out all the time, as he’s always been good at not over eating dry food. We started giving him maybe 1/8 of a can of the Wet RC food in the morning, noon and evening. We now sometimes give him a little wet food in the AM, but feed him no more than 1/2 a can a day (he’s around 10 lbs). For snacks, he gets boiled chicken, and so does the puppy. We have to feed them apart, which isn’t easy. We also give both of them organic low fat cottage cheese occasionally for snacks.
Many people on this forum suggested i join the Canine Pancreatits group on Facebook, which has been an excellent resource.