[Pet Foods C]

The best dog food for weight loss is a formula with high protein, low fat, and fiber-rich ingredients. Brands like Blue Buffalo Life Protection Healthy Weight and Wellness CORE Reduced Fat are top choices. https://www.petfoodscare.com/best-dog-food-for-weight-loss/

Choosing the right dog food for weight management is crucial for the health and longevity of your pet. Dogs, like humans, require a balanced diet to lose weight safely and effectively. A high-quality weight loss dog food not only helps with reducing and maintaining a healthy weight but also ensures that your pet gets all the necessary nutrients for overall health.

[aimee]

Hi Madelyn,

I agree beefcheek is white after cleaning just as it is before it is cleaned. If you do not want to offer hide as a chew, then do not chose a chew that lists beefcheek as an ingredient since beefcheek is hide.

AAFCO does not address the labeling of dog chews. Manufacturers can make whatever claims they want, it is only if the chew claims to be food that an AAFCO definition can be enforced by the state, but enforcement is virtually nonexistent.

I agree that transparency from a company is desired, unfortunately inquiries regarding processing are often unanswered. For example, Redbarn replied to my inquiry saying they use “proprietary manufacturing procedures” and a “proprietary process”. I did not find that helpful.

It is understandable that people are concerned about the processes used at the tannery.
Fearmongering is rampant. For example, lye (NaOH) is a compound a tannery may choose to dehair the skin. Understandably the knee jerk reaction to that is that AWK!. But did you know is that pretzel dough is dipped in lye before baking to get that nice brown carnalized crust. “Scary” processes can become less scary when put into context. Rarely do I see it discussed that the same material from the tannery that is used to make rawhide can be used for human food production if the tannery has USDA oversite.

Rawhide and beefcheek are untanned skin; leather is tanned skin. I suspect leather is less digestible than rawhide, because tanning crosslinks the collagen. Prior to tanning, the processes used make it easier for tanning compounds to penetrate the skin. I suspect this may also increase the ability of digestive enzymes to penetrate. Who knows, it could be that skin that has been prepared for tanning is more, not less digestible than skin that hasn’t undergone these processes.

If I wanted to get someone to buy a traditional rawhide over beefcheek I could capitalize on that point and spin it further by saying beefcheek is full thickness skin from an area on the cow that has the thickest and densest skin. The collagen fibers are tightly packed together limiting the penetration of digestive enzymes. Rawhide is not only thinner than beefcheek which makes digestion easier, but that dense top layer has been removed allowing for better penetration of digestive enzymes. Combing those attributes with the human food production process used to promote deep penetration of digestive enzymes is what makes rawhide digestibility much higher than that of beefcheek and makes it a far better and safer chew than beefcheek…. It is all marketing spin.

Reality is rawhide is digestible; Beefcheek is digestible. Taken as a group neither is more or less digestible than the other. If the statement that “skin[rawhide] is turned into something that our dogs’ digestive system isn’t capable of recognizing and digesting ” was true there wouldn’t be multiple published studies reporting digestibility of rawhide as high as 99%.

Both digest slowly which is why if a large piece of either product is swallowed an obstruction may occur. To state that one is more digestible or safer than the other is IMO without basis and can endanger dog’s lives. Heck some beefcheek chews state right on the label that the product can cause an obstruction.

I personally only use skin based chews that have been sourced from and produced in the Unted States where processes may be more stringent than other countries. And I only use large flat flexible sheets to minimize chance of tooth breakage and my dogs only have access under direct supervision.

I completely agree with your final paragraph.

[Dog H]

As PetsPaa, I understand your concerns about your 3-year-old male pointer’s sensitive digestion and history of severe starvation. It’s important to consider his unique dietary needs, especially after undergoing surgery to remove half of his intestines.

Given that commercial feeds have not worked well for him in the past, and considering his history of success with homemade cooked food, it may be worth considering a homemade diet again. However, it’s crucial to ensure that his diet is balanced and intestine-friendly to support his health and well-being.

Here are some general guidelines for feeding a homemade diet for your dog with reduced intestinal capacity:

High-quality protein: Choose easily digestible sources of protein such as boiled lean meats (e.g., chicken, turkey, or beef), eggs, and cottage cheese. These provide essential amino acids for muscle health and tissue repair.

Low-fiber carbohydrates: Opt for easily digestible carbohydrates such as well-cooked white rice, boiled potatoes, or pasta. Avoid high-fiber foods like legumes, as they can be difficult to digest and may cause gastrointestinal issues.

Healthy fats: Include a source of healthy fats in the diet, such as cooked and cooled boiled eggs, fish oil, or olive oil, to provide energy and support nutrient absorption.

Vitamins and minerals: Add a vitamin and mineral supplement or a complete and balanced canine multivitamin to ensure your dog gets all the necessary nutrients.

Avoidance of harmful ingredients: Avoid feeding your dog foods that are toxic to dogs, such as chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, and raisins, as they can cause severe health issues.

Feeding schedule: Consider dividing your dog’s meals into smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day to ease the workload on his reduced intestine.

Monitoring and consultation: Regularly monitor your Dog Health Care
viz. weight, body condition, and overall health, and consult with your veterinarian for ongoing guidance and adjustments to the diet as needed.

It’s important to work closely with your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist to create a balanced and intestine-friendly homemade diet that meets your dog’s specific needs. They can help you determine the right amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and fats for your dog’s condition and monitor his progress over time.

Remember, it’s crucial to introduce any dietary changes slowly to allow your dog’s digestive system to adjust, and to closely monitor his response to the new diet. If you notice any signs of digestive upset, weight loss, or other health concerns, consult with your veterinarian promptly for further evaluation and guidance.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Chandra-
Sorry to hear about your pup with chronic diarrhea. Can I assume you have done fecal tests to rule out parasites? Giardia can be cyclical and tough to get rid of.

High fiber food and Panacur helped my dogs get over chronic diarrhea.

However, one of my cats has presumed IBD and I tried several different foods. After going to an Internal Medicine Specialist, he is stable by feeding him a novel protein Rx food, added fiber to his wet food, Tylosin powder and probiotics. He also had a series of Vitamin B shots that really helped.

He eats Royal Canin rabbit or venison both dry and wet.

Think about going to an Internal Medicine Specialist if you feel your regular vet isn’t finding a solution. Good luck!

[Chandra H]

Hi! I have a 2.5 year old lab who has struggled with food issues her whole life. We have tried a lot of food and thought we were finally on some solid footing with Open farm kibble and stews. However, she recently started having bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and pain. Her doctor has ruled out obstructions, pancreatitis, parasites, etc. Everything comes back negative.

I will put her on a bland diet of white rice and turkey and she will do ok for that week but as soon as I introduce any dog food, the bloody diarrhea comes back. The vet had me try Purina Pro sensitive turkey and oatmeal (she has been on Purina Pro before) but the same issue keeps repeating itself. We are now on a bland diet again.

At this point we are thinking she has IBS. She has never had a solid poo in her life, but they used to at least not be water and bloody. She tends to be fine for a week, and then has an episode where she is miserable. I have noticed she seems to do better on canned/wet food than the dry kibble. I have put her on a probiotic daily as well but I am at a loss of what food to try. Has anyone had anything similar with their dog? Do you have a high fiber, canned food that has worked? I am really sad for my doggo. She’s miserable and I just want her to feel better. I have debated trying Ollie dog or another fresh food option but not sure if that would help? Or if I should stick with trying all canned food or do a small amount of kibble? I am too scared to cook my own dog food. I feel like I would miss an important vitamin or something. Right now my vet feels like we should just give her an anti diarrhea med and keep her on the Purina Pro but it just doesn’t feel like it is working at all. Thanks for any advice you have.

[Belle N]

I’ve been sourcing high and low but good ones with lesser worrying ingredients are so hard to obtain in my country…

But I happened to chance upon a newly formed local brand which the ingredients list looked good, other than the beet pulp.

Just want to check if anyone has feedback on the ingredient list.

They have 2 options:

1) Journey Premium Ingredients

Brown Rice, Fish (Salmon, Cod Fish, Mackerel, Sardine, Tuna), Beet Pulp, DHA/EPA from Cod and Salmon, Hydrolyzed Fish (Amino Acid and Collagen), Sweet Potato, Apple, Cabbage, Broccoli, Cranberry, Tomato, Yam Tuber, Burdock, Sesame, Glucosamine, Essential Minerals & Chelated Minerals, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, D3, E, H2), Flaxseed, Egg (Lecithin), Spirulina, FOS, MOS, Yucca Extract, Fruit Enzyme (Papaya/Pineapple Extract), Lactic Acid Bacteria, Bacillus Subtilis Natto, Natural Antioxidants, Calendula Extract (Lutein).

Guaranteed Analysis
• Crude Protein 22%
• Crude Fat 13%
• Crude Fiber 4%
• Omega 3 Fatty Acids 1.2%
• Omega 6 Fatty Acids 3.5%
• Moisture 9%
• Calcium 1%
• Phosphorus 0.8%

2) Dazzle Premium Ingredients:

Brown Rice, Fish (Salmon, Cod Fish, Mackerel, Sardine, Tuna), Beet Pulp, DHA/EPA from Cod and Salmon), Hydrolyzed Fish (Amino Acid and Collagen), Sweet Potato, Apple, Cabbage, Broccoli, Cranberry, Yam Tuber, Burdock, Essential Minerals & Chelated Minerals, Sea Kelp, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, D3, E, H2), Flaxseed, Egg (Lecithin), Spirulina, FOS, MOS, Yucca Extract, Fruit Enzyme (Papaya/Pineapple Extract), Lactic Acid Bacteria, Bacillus Subtilis Natto, Natural Antioxidants, Calendula Extract (Lutein).

Guaranteed Analysis
-Crude Protein 24%
-Crude Fat 14%
-Crude Fiber 4%
-Omega 3 Fatty Acids 1.2%
-Omega 6 Fatty Acids 3.5%
-Moisture 9%
-Calcium 1%
-Phosphorus 0

Thank you!!!! Really appreciate it. The limited kibbles option has been bothering me for many weeks.

[Patricia A]

Hi M & C,
I was able to have some time to read some of the posts between you and Aimee. I have to admit my brain is fried already . I couldn’t even chime in to discussion because I don’t even know what questions to ask anymore. I started simple with grain free vs grain inclusive.My three small Chis’ are not inherently at risk for DCM. But doing some research SOME say that even though taurine is added to the food, the legumes could stop the absorption . I also think, as I said in another post that because of the mold from grain that killed a lot of dogs years ago, the grain free craze was the solution. But then of course the ingredient splitting possibly causing some DCM cases. So playing it safe with that and still mixing the grain free with the grain inclusive to transition. Then looking at ingredient second is chicken meal. It is SAID that has more protein since after taking out the water content from first ingredient that being chicken it’s very little. But the chicken meal will stay on top of ingredient list since not a lot of water in that? I know a simplistic understanding for me but
with the grain free and all the different legumes individually it would be on top of list when added together by weight. So another reason I switched to grain inclusive. Then I researched which grain added would be the best. Stella and Chewy’s recipe uses pearled barley . I would have rather had unshelled or barley groats. Don’t know if correct but the latter is better for micronutrients and fiber. But hoping that is made up with the other ingredients such as oatmeal and quinoa? I did see this question on The Dog food and Canine nutrition forum “Which of these 3 would u choose? I’m looking for the best raw coated, grain free kibble.
I couldn’t edit it to add pics but
#1 Stella & chewy wild red raw coated grain & legume free red meat recipe
#2 merrick backcountry raw infused grain free great plains red recipe
#3 instinct original grain free rabbit recipe”
All the posters chose the first recipe she put up with ingredients which turned out to be the Stella and Chewy’s . Got to compare their Wholesome grains vs the Wild Red and see how ingredients differ. For what it’s worth the one I’m currently transitioning to is baked. But at LEAST many agree it’s a good brand.
My dilemma now is that recently couldn’t find their kibble at my local Pet Supply store. I ordered from online who did have it in stock. So I wrote on that forum and this was a posters reply. ” I work in the pet industry 😬 and unfortunately that’s just the first step for the entire line to go into big box. When a big company like that continues to grow that’s just the next step on the ladder to climb.
That’s why a large amount of their inventory went on sale for Black Friday to clean house for the move to petco. There was a supply chain issue because they focused on making ONLY the line going into petco because those are massive orders to fill and unfortunately that’s where the big money is and that’s where the focus goes.
My guess would be their quality and ingredients and company will start to not be as good as it used to be. Just the process of the crazy pet industry”
So just when I relaxed a little of course this is what happens. Uhhhh
I’m so sorry to hear about your pups health issues. What breed and age and what’s the problems’ M&C? Don’t think I can be of any help because I think you know far more then I do from nutritional aspect. But after having several dogs’ throughout my life maybe health issue is something I’ve experienced with one.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Patricia A.

[aimee]

Hi M& C,

I think you’ve got it! The best way to compare foods is on a caloric basis. This takes into account water, fiber, ash and energy density. You’ll note on this site there is a table for each diet and that the macronutrients are given in an as fed. dry matter, and caloric basis.

AAFCO requires that for any diet over 4000 kcals/kg DM a conversion factor be applied. If the diet you are feeding is 5000 kcals/kg that conversion factor is simply 5000/4000 X the number in the table. So many times, I’ve found that companies overlook this. Recently, I got a nutrient analysis table for a diet labeled for ALS. The Ca content was listed as 1.3% DM and AAFCO’s min is 1.2%, so that looks good right? Well, they also reported the kcals as 5400/kg for that diet. Calculating through 5400/4000 X 1.2 = 1.6. The diet needs to have 1.6 % Ca to meet AAFCO min and they are reporting 1.3%. Got ‘ghosted” after inquiring about the apparent discrepancy.

AAFCO writes a model food law which most states adopt in some form, but they do not do any type of regulation. There is no oversite by AAFCO. Oversite is done by your state feed control official and the FDA. IMO for all practical purposes, oversite is nonexistent in most areas. It seems to me that areas that effect humans, like pathogens in food, are monitored via spot check cultures of foods. Some foods may be tested to see if they meet their GA.’s, but overall, no one is checking to verify information on a label is correct.

In regards to high bone content in foods, it could just be a reflection of what sourcing the company has access to and an acceptance of high fat and mineral content in the products available to them.

I didn’t see calorie content listed for the diet to see what mineral content is on a caloric basis. But I found their marketing very oft putting and reckless. They write “Turkey meat is one of the leanest proteins available making it a great option for pets that are sensitive to fat content, such as those with pancreatitis.” which can be true esp turkey breast. BUT their turkey diet is a whopping 35% as fed fat diet! Using their information and doing some rough calculation that would mean ~63% of the calories are coming from fat! This appears to be a very high fat diet being marketed as being appropriate for dogs with fat intolerance. For me that makes me see red and would earn them a spot on my not recommended list.

Just as an aside.. did you mention your dog is having seizures? I’m asking because you mentioned a 5000kcal/kg diet and to reach that high of caloric density fat has to be significant component of the diet. I might get my details wrong on this because it is awhile since I read the literature. But as I recall some dogs have low levels of tissue lipase. This results in prolonged clearance of fat from their blood and the outcome is high triglycerides. High triglyceride can trigger seizures.

A friend’s dog was having horrible cluster seizures several times a month, was seeing a vet neurologist and on 3 different drugs. Her reg. vet noticed that on each blood panel gotten back from the neurologist, the triglycerides were high, and the sample was always reported as “lipemic,” meaning visible fat in the blood. The reg vet called the neurologist and the neurologist said paraphrased “yeah they are high, but not high enough to cause seizures.” The reg vet told her there is no downside to trying a lower fat diet. So, the diet was changed, triglycerides returned to normal, and the dog went from having multiple cluster seizures a month to never again having another seizure. Apparently, the dog didn’t read the medical book.

[Ana W]

After having half of his intestines removed, it’s important to be mindful of the types of foods you’re giving him in order to support his recovery and help him maintain a healthy weight.

One thing you can try is to work with a veterinary nutritionist who can help you create a diet plan that is tailored to your dog’s specific needs. They will be able to take into account the fact that your dog has had a surgical procedure and recommend a diet that is easy to digest, low in fiber and high in protein.

It may be helpful to include more easily digestible protein sources such as boiled chicken, fish, or eggs. Additionally, you can try adding small amounts of well-cooked white rice, which can help to bind the stools and provide a source of energy. You can also try adding small amounts of boiled sweet potatoes or white potatoes as a source of carbohydrates.

It is also important to avoid high-fiber foods such as legumes, raw fruits and vegetables, and grains. Also, be sure to avoid fatty foods and table scraps, as they can be difficult to digest and can cause diarrhea.

It’s important to note that you should introduce new foods slowly, to give your dog’s body time to adjust. Also, you should monitor his stools for any changes, and adjust his diet accordingly.

It’s also important to keep in mind that the recovery process after such surgery can take time and it’s important to be patient and consistent in providing the right diet and not to make sudden changes.

It’s also a good idea to keep in close contact with your vet during this time to make sure your dog is on the right track and to adjust his diet as needed.

[aimee]

Hi Patricia,
Taxonomically dogs are in the order carnivora. The taxonomic order is made up of carnivores, omnivores and herbivores. Dogs are classified as omnivores because of metabolic pathways like the one you mentioned, being able to synthesize taurine. But they have a carnivorous slant, they cannot synthesize Vit D.

Grain free, grain inclusive etc is all marketing to me. And while some ingredients are better sources of what dogs need than others, have better bioavailability etc. the bottom line is that dogs need specific nutrients not specific ingredients.

I can give you my thoughts based on the ingredient line up but cannot tell you if one diet is better than the other or if either diet is well formulated.

Diet one starts with” cage free chicken” why “cage free” chicken and not just “chicken” ?It puts me on alert that the company may be more of a marketing company and puts a bit more spin on their diets compared to another company. This to me is confirmed by all the list of” feel good” ingredients after salt. I tend to think of oatmeal and barley as high fiber carb sources but honestly, I’d have to look each up on a calorie basis to see if that is true and there can be a lot of variation depending on processing. Ditto for coconut flour.

Diet 2 Like diet 1, a lot of grain type ingredients that I don’t think have been as well researched in regard to dog food inclusion as more traditional grains. Cinnamon and Tumeric look to be fairy dust and the list of ingredients after natural flavor I suspect are also there more for consumer appeal

Bottom line. My impression is that both of these options appear to be diets made in response to the announcement of the possible association between diets high in legumes/potatoes and DCM. The concern I’d have is that these options seem to be formulated with ingredients whose dietary impact isn’t fully known

If the reason you are considering a move to grain inclusive is because of the association of certain diets with DCM I’d suggest that you move to a “traditional” diet known to reverse the condition. Consider options by Purina Royal Canin Hill’s Pet Food Iams/ Eukanuba.

[Gray P]

We all know how harmful any kind of food that is made in factories is for us. As people become more conscious about their health, they are more inclined towards homemade or natural food. Natural foods are just as important for dogs as natural foods are for humans. No other food is better than “Natural dog foods”.

Foods that are found in nature can meet all the needs of dogs. Dogs can easily digest such foods. However, some natural foods are harmful to dogs. You should avoid them. Otherwise, they can be dangerous for your dog.

Why choose natural food for dogs?
It is a universally accepted fact that all kinds of nutrients are present in natural foods. Those who prefer natural foods to other foods have benefited greatly from them. Such as increased energy, immunity, healthy hair and skin, etc. If you feed your natural dog food then naturally you will notice such positive changes in the dog too. Why?

Because just think about how an unnatural food is made. Various ingredients such as artificial colors, preservatives, added flavors, and fillers are used to enhance the taste of the food. But these unnatural ingredients are very dangerous to health and can cause the death of your dog.

Features a good meal
You will understand why natural food is best for dogs by considering the following factors. Those are the key factors that make food good.

Easily Digestible
Healthy and Longer Lifespan
Reduction in allergies
Reduction in skin ailments
Weight Control
So we know why to feed natural food to dogs. At this point, let us see which are the best natural foods for dogs.

Carrots
Not only for humans, but carrots are also very healthy for dogs. When a dog chews on a carrot, it helps to remove plaque from the dog’s teeth. It makes the dog’s teeth healthy.

Carrots can be a great source of vitamin A for dogs. Vitamin A helps in boosting immunity, skin, and digestion in dogs. In addition, the nutrients contained in carrots can be easily absorbed by dogs as they are digested quickly.

Blueberries

Despite their small size, the berries are very nutritious. Among the berries, blueberries are the most nutritious and one of the Natural dog foods. Blueberries have many positive properties for dogs. It contains high levels of antioxidants, which help your dog’s cells grow and prevent kidney damage. It helps in the growth of the dog’s brain cells which helps in increasing the dog’s physical strength.

Strawberries and berries are high in fiber and vitamins that help prevent your dog’s stomach issues and weight gain. So it can be said that blueberries are an ideal food for dogs.

Apples
Apples are a very tasty fruit and you will want to give your dog a portion of them. Dogs love to eat apples.

Apples have many nutrients. It contains vitamin A and C. Apples are also a good source of fiber and it helps in improving digestion in dogs.

More to checkout
White rice
Fish
Watermelon
Pumpkin
Chia Seeds
Green beans
Eggs
Ginger
Bananas
Cucumbers
Parsley
Bone broth
Turmeric

source: https://graypets.com/natural-dog-foods/

• This topic was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by Gray P.

[MARCIA H]

Patricia might be right, and a vet visit is a good idea in any case. The only Victor food I’ve ever studied and recommended is the Victor Ultra Pro 42. It’s the only Victor food that’s grain-free. The rest contain quite a bit of grains, which are just cheap fillers that dogs don’t need and don’t benefit from. Too much fiber from all these grains could be causing the constipation. You’re doing a great job with the extra water, etc.

I hope this helps and that your dog gets back to normal very soon!

[Dudley S]

Weight Management, high fiber, chicken excluded, except in one (chicken fat OK – no proteins),

multiple peas means the pea total could move it way up on ingrediants list, as #1 DCM concern, as of 2/2022

Blue Buffalo Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Healthy Weight Adult Red Meat Dog Food Grain Free
355 calories Protein Min 30.0 %, Fat Min 10.0 %, Fiber Max 10.0 %, chelate. taurine
DCM – peas 3 in top 6 ingredients, grain free but taurine inclusive

Avodarm ADVANCED HEALTHY WEIGHT, GRAIN FREE TURKEY MEAL FORMULA 380 calories, 10% fat, 10% max fiber, 28% protein, cheleate, taurin
DCM – peas 2 of top 4, Grain free but taurine inclusive

Blue Basic Healthy Weight Turkey & Potato Recipe , 329 calories, 9% min fat, 10% max fiber, 20% pro, taurine chelate
DCM warning – peas 3 of first 8 but Grain and taurine inclusive

Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Low Fat/Low Calorie with Fresh Caught Alaskan Pollock Adult Dry Dog Food
330, 10% max fiber, 8% fat, 25% pro taurine
DCM – 2 peas in top 6, but grain and taurine inclusive

NUTRO ADULT HEALTHY WEIGHT LAMB & BROWN RICE RECIPE – CHICKEN INCLUSIVE
240 calories 8.5% fat 11% fiber max, 24% pro,
DCM – peas not in top 6. grain and taurine inclusive

Diamond CARE Weight Management Formula Adult Dry Dog Food lamb, 7% fat, 304 cal, 10% max fiber, 22% min pro taurine
DCM , peas and lentils both in top 4, but grain and taurine

[crazy4cats]

Hi Corey-
My dogs had the same start as yours when we got them as puppies. I’m really glad you got it under control with Hill’s. Whatever you switch to, do it slowly! The Rx food you are feeding is high in fiber and probiotics. Tough to match that with an over the counter food. What does your vet recommend? Is there another Hill’s formula that is similar?

My dogs still to do better with a higher fiber food still at age 10. I would continue to give probiotics. I now feed them either Purina or Purina One and keep either FortiFlora, Pro Pectalin or Proviable by Mutramax.

Remember, ask your vet and transition slowly!

[Anthony A]

These are their other foods that they offer. Which would you guys recommend I switch my German shepherd to once he’s 12 months and no longer needs the puppy formula. From what I’ve read grain free is not a good thing so I’m skeptical of those.
Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food
Pet Wants Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for All Life Stages including growth of large breed dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, min – 25.0%
Crude Fat, min – 14.0%
Crude Fiber, max – 4.0%
Moisture, max – 10.0%
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* (min) – 2.85%
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* (min) – 0.62%
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.

Ingredients Panel:
Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Millet, Oat Groats, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Ground Grain Sorghum, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Menhaden Fish Meal, Egg Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Natural Flavor, Whole Ground Flaxseed, Chicken Cartilage (Source of Chondroitin Sulfate), Potassium Chloride, Menhaden Fish Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Salt, Lecithin, DL-Methionine, Calcium Carbonate, L-Lysine, Alfalfa Meal, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Fructooligosaccharide, Turmeric Powder, Dried Carrots, Dried Spinach, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Niacin Supplement, Dried Seaweed Meal, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate.

Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food
Pet Wants Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for All Life Stages except growth of large breed dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, min – 25.0%
Crude Fat, min – 14.0%
Crude Fiber, max – 4.0%
Moisture, max – 10.0%
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* (min) – 2.50%
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* (min) – 0.64%
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.

Ingredients Panel:
Lamb Meal, Brown Rice, Ground Grain Sorghum, Whitefish Meal, Oat Groats, Millet, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Potato Protein, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Whole Ground Flaxseed, Monosodium Phosphate, Dried Tomato Pomace, Lecithin, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, Choline Chloride, Dried Blueberries, Dried Cranberries, Fructooligosaccharide, Turmeric Powder, Dried Carrots, Dried Spinach, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl- 2-Polyphosphate, Mixed Tocopherols, Niacin Supplement, Kelp Meal, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product.

Salmon Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food
Pet Wants Salmon Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for All Life Stages including growth of large breed dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, min – 25.0%
Crude Fat, min – 14.0%
Crude Fiber, max – 3.5%
Moisture, max – 10.0%
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* (min) – 2.5%
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* (min) – 1.43%
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.

Ingredients Panel:
Salmon Meal, Brown Rice, Millet, Ground Grain Sorghum, Oat Groats, Whitefish Meal, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Lecithin, Monosodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Alfalfa Meal, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Dried Blueberries, Dried Cranberries, Turmeric Powder, Dried Carrots, Dried Spinach, Fructooligosaccharide, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Mixed Tocopherols, Niacin Supplement, Kelp Meal, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product.

Whitefish Meal & Duck Meal Recipe Grain Free Dog Food
Pet Wants Whitefish Meal and Duck Meal Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for All Life Stages including growth of large breed dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, min – 30.0%
Crude Fat, min – 16.0%
Crude Fiber, max – 4.5%
Moisture, max – 10.0%
Omega 6 Fatty Acid * (min) – 2.85%
Omega 3 Fatty Acid * (min) – 0.56%
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.

Ingredients Panel:
Whitefish Meal, Duck Meal, Field Peas, Chickpeas, Lentils, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tapioca Starch, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Whole Ground Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Dried Seaweed Meal, DL-Methionine, Salt, Monosodium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Turmeric Powder, Dried Carrots, Dried Spinach, Fructooligosaccharide, Calcium Carbonate Vitamin E Supplement, L- Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Mixed Tocopherols, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product

Chicken Meal & Turkey Meal Recipe Grain Free Dog Food
Pet Wants Chicken Meal & Turkey Meal Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for All Life Stages including growth of large breed dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, min – 29.0%
Crude Fat, min – 14.0%
Crude Fiber, max – 3.5%
Moisture, max – 10.0%
Omega 6 Fatty Acid * (min) – 2.60%
Omega 3 Fatty Acid * (min) – 0.71%
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.

Ingredient Panel:
Chicken Meal, Field Peas, Lentils, Chickpeas, Turkey Meal, Tapioca Starch, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Sweet Potato, Salmon Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Tomato Pomace, Chicken Cartilage (Source of Chondroitin Sulfate) Natural Flavor, Lecithin, Salt, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Taurine, Turmeric Powder, Dried Carrots, Dried Spinach, Fructooligosaccharide, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2- Polyphosphate, Mixed Tocopherols, Niacin Supplement, Kelp Meal, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Potassium Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product.

[Anthony A]

Hey I’ve been feeding my dog this food his whole life and I wanted to get some opinions on it. He’s a 11 month old working line german shepherd. It’s a freshly made slow cooked food that I get delivered to my home every 4 weeks. These are the ingredients, this is the puppy formula.

Puppy Formula Dog Food
Pet Wants Puppy Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for the Growth and Lactation/Gestation Stages including growth of large breed dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, min – 28.0%
Crude Fat, min – 17.0%
Crude Fiber, max – 3.5%
Moisture, max – 10.0%
Omega 6 Fatty Acid * (min) – 3.25%
Omega 3 Fatty Acid * (min) – 0.68%
* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles.

Ingredient Panel:
Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Ground Grain Sorghum, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Oat Groats, Whitefish Meal, Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Brewers Dried Yeast, Pea Protein, Menhaden Fish Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Whole Ground Flaxseed, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Lecithin, Chicken Cartilage (Source of Chondroitin Sulfate), Potassium Chloride, Salt, DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, Choline Chloride, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Fructooligosaccharide, Turmeric Powder, Dried Carrots, Dried Spinach, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl- 2-Polyphosphate, Mixed Tocopherols, Niacin Supplement, Kelp Meal, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product.

[crazy4cats]

I’m surprised that your vet recommended a grain free food as there is currently an investigation going on possibly linking grain free boutique foods to Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

I would do another fecal test. Giardia is common in puppies and can be intermittent. Have you tried adding a probiotic to his food? Sometimes after taking antibiotics, their tummy can get out of whack. I would try adding FortiFlora and maybe a little fiber to the diet to see if that works.

I’ve switched my dogs foods several times over the years. But, I finally saw the light and now feed either Purina ProPlan or Purina One and their “output” is consistently good.

Best of luck to you.

[Jennifer H]

Hello everyone,

I came here to ask for some feedback about the dog food I am feeding my 2 dobermans. It is a dog food brand from my country as I want to support my country’s economy. But I never really got any feedback if the ingredients are any good I was ignored whenever I asked someone as I’m not that knowledgable, I even tried to search a nutritionist but since I don’t know what they call it in my country I couldn’t find any.

The ingredient list was put into google translate since I was lazy translating it from Slovak to English. Also the dog food is for puppies.

Ingredients:
Dried beef 45% (percentage stated after processing, in the dried state), brown natural rice, fresh turkey meat 10% (percentage stated after processing, in the dried state), turkey and duck fat (natural tocopherols, source of vitamin E) , beetroot, carrots, spinach, parsley, borage oil, linseed oil, basil, echinacea, peppermint, motherwort, dandelion, beef collagen, glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, humic substances, hemp flour, oyster mushroom edible chestnut, St. John’s wort, psyllium, brewer’s yeast (source of MOS – mannooligosaccharides), chicory inulin (source of FOS – fructooligosaccharides), yucca schidigera extract.

Analytical components:
crude protein 30%, fat content 18%, crude ash 7.5%, crude fiber 3%, calcium 2%, phosphorus 1.2%, moisture 8%.

Nutritional supplements in 1kg:
Vit. A (3a672a) 11,200 m. j., Vit.D3 (3a671) 1100 m. j., Vit. E (alpha-tocopherol) (3a700) 250 m. j., Vit. B1 (3a821) 4mg, Vit. B2 (3a825i) 8mg, Choline chloride (3a890) 500mg, Niacinamide (3a315) 50mg, Calcium pantothenate (3a841) 15mg, Nicotinic acid (3a315) 50mg, Folic acid (3a316) 1mg

Trace elements:
Iron (ferrous sulphate, monohydrate) (3b103) 210mg, Zinc – Zn (zinc oxide) (3b603) 180mg, Manganese-Mn (manganese oxide) (3b502) 64mg, Copper-Cu (copper sulphate pentahydrate) (3b405) 10mg, Iodine-I (potassium iodide) (3b201) 3mg, Selenium-Se (sodium selenite) (3b801) 0.12mg, Glucosamine min. 350mg, Chondroitin 80mg

[pugmomsandy]

You could try introducing a small amount of homemade food to each meal to let her get used to it. Boiled meat doesn’t have any fiber like her dog food does. And if her dog food doesn’t have rice, then it’s a new ingredient to her as well. You can also offer some pumpkin puree (not pie filling) as it contains fiber.

[Susan]

Hi Ryan,
I feed Patch – “Canidae Pure Senior” its has 10.80%max- fat, high protein-30% & low/med carbs around 30%carbs, also the lower the fat% & lower the protein% kibbles are higher the carbs, same with HIGH fiber diets can also cause Acid reflux, too much Omega oils, NSAID, steriod medications, joint, Arthritis, skin supplements, can also cause acid reflux…

Look at Canidae Pure Weight Management kibble its 9%-fat, has same or very similar ingredients to the Canidae Pure Senior kibble & the fiber is 5% alot of Weight Management kibbles are low fat but high in fiber.
https://www.canidae.com/dogs/canidae-pure-grain-free-weight-management-dry-dog-food-chicken/

I try & stick with around 10-13%max- Fat, 30%-Protein & 30%-Carbs, fiber-5% & under & the kibble has to have Potato or Sweet Potato or both.
People don’t realise the dog also needs low/med carbs & try & avoid fermentable grains as they ferment in the gut causing acid reflux – wheat, barley, oats and rye, most vet diets contain these grains Patches acid reflux seems to get worse when eating grain Gastrointestinal vet diets .
What I’ve found over the years, dogs who suffer with Acid reflux seem to do better on a Grain Free Potato diets, when the dog is having a acid reflux attack- I boil Sweet potato in small pieces & I freeze – take out 1 piece sweet potato, put on plate in Microwave to thaw then I mash the sweet potato give to dog, the potato settles dog or human esophagus, throat & stomach…
For Lunch I buy Tin- Yellow Fin Tuna, Tuna is the lowest in fat & low in omega oils, Sardines & Salmon are too strong for Patch, he mouth licks, I add boiled mashed White & Sweet Potato also add the white of a boiled egg sometimes, the yellow egg yoke is high in fat.
For his Arthritis he’s 12yrs old now, I’ve been doing Physiotherapy twice a day as he cant take NSAID drugs, his vet said Physio will extend his life as alot of dogs get Put To Sleep cause they become so stiff & cant walk in the end, he takes Panadol Children Chewable 3+years 120mg when in pain, 10mg per kg..
I do the Sausage Roll Massage as your massaging & rolling dog skin you’ll feel dogs skin flinching stop & hold the twitching roll/skin for 5-10sec it will be a bit uncomfortable at first so offer the dog treats or his kibble after 1 week its not as painful & Patch rolls have stop twitching.

Have you joined F/B group called “Acid Reflux in Dogs” I cant believe how many poor dogs are suffering with Acid Reflux.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1635198406751056

[Jo J]

In addition to getting my dog off grain-free food and back on a limited grain food (but one that is also free of flaxseed), and still very skeptical about anything saving him, this product saved my dog’s life: PetAlive Cushex Drops-S. His weight normalized, scabby skin lesions went away, his panting and heavy drooling stopped, his energy increased, thirst normalized, and his anxiety levels fell. It took about 3 months to really improve things and as long as I keep him on it, he is fine. This, after I had nearly given up on him.

It’s a 100% herbal formula containing the following ingredients in therapeutic dosage:
Certified Organic Dandelion Leaf and Root, well-known as a supporter for the liver, kidneys, and adrenal glands and helps to support normal adrenal functioning. Dandelion also contains vitamins and minerals important for hair health and growth and has been studied for its antioxidant activities (Hu, C. and Kitts, D. D. “Antioxidant, prooxidant, and cytotoxic activities of solvent-fractionated dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) flower extracts in vitro.” J Agric. Food Chem. 1-1-2003; 51(1):301-310).
Certified Organic Burdock Root, cleansing and eliminating herb that cleanses tissues and supports waste removal from the body (Shimizu, J., Yamada, N., Nakamura, K., Takita, T., and Innami, S. “Effects of different types of dietary fiber preparations isolated from bamboo shoots, edible burdock, apple and corn on fecal steroid profiles of rats.” J Nutr Sci Vitaminol. (Tokyo) 1996; 42(6):527-539). Burdock is also traditionally recommended for maintaining blood sugar levels already within the normal range and has been investigated for its ability to support health.
Certified Organic Astragalus Root, an herb that has been used for many centuries as a revitalizing herb. Astragalus is known as an adaptogen and helps to support balance in the adrenal glands, maintain healthy adrenal cortical function, and supports blood pressure and blood sugar levels already within the normal range. Recent research confirms the positive effect of Astragalus in supporting the immune system.
Certified Organic Licorice Root has a long history of being used to help with cortisol levels and for its liver-protecting and immune balancing effects.
Certified Organic Eleuthero Root is commonly just referred to as ‘Eleuthero’ and is highly respected and prized as a natural energy tonic to support energy, circulation, and natural vitality and to act as an overall systemic supporter. Eleuthero is comparable to Ginseng and is an excellent supportive tonic for healthy adrenal hormones. It has also been shown to have anti-stress, anti-inflammatory and liver-protecting properties.
Inactive ingredients: Vegetable Glycerin, Deionized Water

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by Jo J.

[Laurence T]

Hello everyone,

Maybe I could help.

3 years ago, our dog got a huge mass around his small intestines and we almost lost him. To save him they removed 80% of his small instestines. They thought it was cancer. But after 2 years or different med treatments and ultrasounds, they found out he has a problem with his immune system, where his system is attacking the good bacterias in his stomach, creating masses.

So he has to take sterioids, prednisone, in extremely small dosage, enough to supress his immune system, and keep the masses from forming.

However, since his surgery, he is left with short bowel syndrom – aka. constant diarrhea. After 3 years, I can keep him a decent weight and have only two to three (soft stools a day).

Here’s how. Maybe it could work for you guys. After his surgery, he would go to the washroom 10 times a day, waking us up 4 times a night. We tried all kinds of specific vet foods with high fiber, etc. He would also be so skinny all the time because he would never have time to digest the food. He used to eat the Royal Canin Hypo diet bags and would go through 2 bags a week and it was horrible. And then when I looked in the ingredients the first one was cellulose and obviously it wasn’t working… The vets are sold on selling you Royal Canin because Royal Canin sponsors them…

So we switched him to raw food and it was life changing. We don’t make it, we buy it from the pet store in the fridges. I give him a lot more patties than what they prescribe a day for his weight, but since we switched him 2 years ago to raw, he’s gained back all of his weight, and he only goes to the washroom 3 times a day. Not asking for the door at night anymore. The reason is that the raw food takes a lot more time to digest than the pebbles, so he has time to take a bit of supplements.

Also, we give him probiotics in his water, and he takes a shot of B12 every week or two weeks – that helps alot with the diarrhea as well.

He is also on metronidazole every day, on prednisone every 2 days (to prevent the masses) and take two immodiums a day.

And he seems like he is doing well. 🙂

If any of you want to ask further questions, please let me know !

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by Laurence T.

[aimee]

Some new “rawhide alternatives” being marketed appear to me to simply be rawhide renamed

The chew traditionally called rawhide is a by -product of the leather industry. Hides are sourced at slaughter and sent to a tannery where they are dehaired and fleshed ( the fat layer under the skin is removed). What remains is the dermis. Another word for dermis is corium. The tanner splits the corium into upper and lower layers, The upper is used to make leather, the lower is used as a source of collagen for sausage casings, drug capsules, supplements, gelatin etc , to make rawhide chews, and now apparently some “rawhide alternative”. chews.

AAFCO doesn’t define the word “rawhide”, Merriam Webster defines it, in this context, as “untanned cattle skin”
I find the reasons given from the manufacturers of chews made of full thickness cattle skin or corium, as to why their product is not rawhide, interesting.

Company A appears to report that their untanned cattle skin product is not rawhide because it is sourced from the head of the cow and they seem to define hide as skin as coming from the trunk of the cow. Additionally, they seem to say that since their product is full thickness skin, and rawhide is the lower split.of the corium, their product is not rawhide. Finally, it looks like they are saying their product doesn’t use chemicals in processing. Not sure what is meant by this, since technically, water is a chemical

Company B seems to say their collagen chew isn’t rawhide because rawhide consists of all layers of the skin and their product is only the lower split of corium. Note that their definition of what is rawhide looks to be the opposite definition than that of company A

Company C’s collagen chew appears to me to be identical to company B in size , shape, color, and country of origin making me wonder if they are the same chew being imported by two different companies. When asked if their product was corium, customer service said the answer to my question would be emailed to me. The email stated that all information was proprietary. Under magnification their product appears to me to be a tangle of fibers which is how corium and traditionally labeled rawhide also appears to me.

Company D said the raw material they use in their “rawhide alternative” chews is corium which is also used for human food production, and that no hide is used in their products. I don’t know how they are defining “hide” but it seems they may be defining hide as the top split of the corium and then claiming that the bottom split is hide free. A tannery resides at the same address as this chew maker, who also appears to market beef hide chews under a different brand name , which look to me to be the same in appearance to their “hide free” chews .

Company E , unlike A-D, doesn’t seem to claim their collagen chew is a “rawhide alternative” or say it is not hide. It is labeled “collagen from beefhide”. This company also makes several brands of chews labeled as beefhide.

It seems to me, that what the above products have in common, is that they are all appear to be made from either full thickness or partial thickness untanned cattle skin

In my opinion it is very unethical when companies claim that that chews that they apparently making of full or partial thickness untanned cattle skin are rawhide alternatives. From discussions with distributors and shop owners , I’d consider some to be disingenuous . Even after passing along to them the information from the manufacturers that certain chews are made of the corium , the same material that traditional rawhides are formed from or full thickness cattle skin, I continue to see them market the product as a hide free rawhide alternative.

I wonder what will happen to companies that label their corium dog chews as rawhide, which is how chews made from corium have traditionally always been labeled. I see some shop owners say they will not sell chews labeled as rawhide, stating that rawhide is dangerous, yet they sell these “alternatives” and other stores stop selling rawhide because sales of the chews labeled as alternative outsell those labeled as rawhide, which I think is in part due to the “bad press” on rawhide.

Interesting to me, is that recently a class action was filed against a company alleging that the chews they market as an alternative to rawhide are actually hide ,and a paper was published in which two of the seven dog chews that were examined, labeled as”rawhide free” appeared to be mislabeled.

Unfortunately, it seems that I can not rely on product labeling to accurately describe what a product is, nor can I count on regulatory bodies to remove mislabeled products from the market.

Would love to hear others thoughts on the issue.

[Lauren O]

I’m going through a similar issue with my dog. Long story short, she started vomiting one day, I took her to the vet. The vet incorrectly diagnosed her with Irritable Bowel Disease and switched her food to Hill’s Prescription Diet Multi Benefit and put her on a high fiber diet. Almost immediately, she started itching everywhere, to the point of getting a little burn under her arm from scratching so much and losing hair on her leg from licking. I left her on that food for about a month and did as much internet research as I could. I found another food that most people said was a good food for dogs that need high fiber but have skin allergies. So she got switched to Earthborn Holistic Venture Alaskan Pollock Meal and Pumpkin. Two weeks later, she was still itching. I tried another food, that she ate a quarter cup of and vomited. I was ready to scream. The problem is there are SO MANY INGREDIENTS in dog food so trying to eliminate a common denominator is exhausting, not to mention, you have to wait several weeks in between switching. It’s all trial and error with a significant wait time in between the trial and the error. So I was overwhelmed. I wanted to find a food that had the smallest number of ingredients possible. Then I found Just Food for Dogs. They have several different flavors, and if you live in California, you can meet with one of their employees and custom make your dog’s food, however I live in Texas so I had to settle for a pre-made recipe, but the best part is: her current food has 6 ingredients and each of those ingredients-I know exactly what they are. No mixed tocopherols, choline chloride or Rosemary extracts; just cod, safflower oil, broccoli, green beans, russet potatoes and sweet potatoes. And amazingly, Lulu stopped scratching. BUT THEN, Lulu started having potty issues. There isn’t enough fiber in this food. Also, the 9oz bag is $25, so I’m paying roughly $125 a month for dog food, which is pretty expensive for me. I don’t really care about the money, if my dog isn’t scratching and miserable-I’ll pay for it, but with other digestive issues due to the lack of fiber, I had to start doing research again. After studying the list of ingredients of all of the foods that Lulu had problems with, I noticed the one thing that was in every food that wasn’t a vitamin was FLAXSEED.
Tonight I googled dog food allergies to flaxseed and ended up here. Any help, advice, comments, etc would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I keep hitting a wall. I’ve always tried to do the best for my pup and now I’m lost. I’ve always fed her grain free food because I assumed that was the best (I realize now how naive this was) and now I’m reading that grain free diets in dogs can lead to heart failure. Does anyone know anything dog food that I can feed my poor little dog that won’t make her itch like crazy and lick her paws bare?
Sorry for the length- part explanation/part venting.

[Susan]

Hi Andree,
What does your vet say about 8 to 9 bouts of diarrhea a day- Grade 7.
You need to work out does she do better on a lower fiber diet -2% under fiber or a higher fiber food -7%+ fiber,
What is the fiber % what she is eating now? Is it Royal Canin Hypoallergenic vet diet?? is it a low fiber diet-1% fiber??
Also if she is a Large Breed puppy then she needs a large breed puppy kibble so her bones don’t grow to quickly causing Osteoarthritis & joint problems.
Tell vet the vet diet he/she prescribed is NOT helping your dog, you can also call/email Hills, Royal Canin they have Vet Nutritionist who can advise on what is the best vet diet for double intestine recession and introplacation of the intestine?
A vet nutritionist will probably know a bit more about diet then your vet knows about nutrition.

My boy suffers IBD I found grain free – Potato kibbles work best for Patch- NO Lentils, Lentils can cause intestinal stress.
Wellness Core L/B Wellness Complete Health Large Breed kibbles
Canidae All Life Stages, Large Breed Turkey Meal & Brown Rice kibble.

Maybe a raw diet would be best if she cant handle Fiber, or those dog rolls sold in pet fridge section.
You never put up your F/B group name.

[Sheila V]

Feeding her the Multi-Protein formula-.246 kcal/cup
protein 14.5%
fat 10%
fiber 1.5%
On the Dog Food Calculator I entered her activity level as “overweight” Also, put in what she should weigh and the kcal/cup
That’s how I got the 1.14 cups a day.
Been giving her 1/2 cup twice daily. I try to watch the treats, too. I do give her cooked carrots, green beans, but not too much.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Sheila V.

[Tabby W]

My 7 year old staffy bulldog mix (Boss) needs to lose some weight. He had a torn ACL and has gained weight. He was chunky when we rescued him but I want him to be fit. He is recovered now and his goal weight is 55 lbs from 70 lbs.

He is going to be exercising a lot more, BUT I am also switching his kibble because I don’t think he loves nutro that much, and I think the new kibbles I’ve selected are of better quality.

I would like to feed a mix of Earthborn Unrefined Rabbit and Perfectus Chicken. I love both of these foods for different reasons and have decided to try to go with the best of both worlds. He loved the samples, and his stomach did well. I initially was just going to mix them evenly (they are both 25 lb bags) but someone told me that the calories would be too high evenly mixed because Perfectus has higher kcal/cup.

SO, the advice I’m seeking is: in cups or ounces, how much of each food should get in a day? I can feed him once or twice, but he often skips breakfast, and eats later at night only.

Perfectus – 407 kcal/cup
25% protein
14%fat
5% fiber
12% moisture

Earthborn- 370 kcal/cup
23% Protein
15% fat
8% fiber
10% moisture
.10% taurine
Plus other great stuff

Thanks in advance, and Boss says thanks too! Lol

[Susan]

Hi Michelle,
Yes Patch has tried most of the Vet Diets we get in Australia, most caused diarrhea (Hills),
Hills & Purina didn’t help made his skin itch & smell yeasty
Why vet diets work help skin problems as the are VERY high in Omega 3 whats needed for dogs skin.
Royal Canin seem to work best, R/C Sensitivity Control-Tapioca & Duck fat is 9% kibble
R/C Gastrointestinal Low Fat, Low fiber, fat is 7% but Patch smells a bit yeasty & still rolls on carpet but stops sloppy poos.

Have a look at “Wellness Simple”- Turkey & Potato it’s really good its for Skin Problems & the Potato is good for IBD symptoms & stomach problems firms up poos, we cant get it no more in Australia 🙁
The Omega 3% should be 1/2 the Omega 6%, Wellness Simple formula’s are balanced properly, give one of the G/F formula’s a go I prefer Turkey as its a cleaner meat & its white there’s also Salmon & Potato.

Wellness Core Large Breed Adult even thought Patch is a medium breed dog he still eats the Large Breed kibbles as they are good for Intestinal stress they’re made to prevent bloat in large breed dogs & the Kcals are lower under 340Kcals per cup, so kibble is easier to digest.
Canidae Pure Wild Boar Sweet Potato
Canidae Pure Sky Duck & Sweet Potato
Canidae Pure Healthy Weight would be really good fat is lower & its for weight gain,
Canidae & Wellness have a return if not satisfied money back.

Also Baths are best to wash off allergens. Bath twice a week when dog has really itchy paws & itchy skin in a medicated Shampoo – Malaseb medicated shampoo works best on Patches also relieves his itchy paws & itchy skin, then bath weekly thru hot months & keep a Diary you will start to see a Pattern as the season pass yr after yr with Seasonal Environment Allergies your dog will be better thru Winter months & bad thru Spring & Summer months.

Get some “Sudocrem” its an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial healing cream, I’ve been using it on Patch for 8yrs now, the Sudocrem protects dogs skin & paws from allergens, apply before bed, first get baby wipes & wipe dog down, wipe paws, body, head, stomach around mouth & chin if red & after dog eats also wipe dog down after being outside the days you haven’t bathed, then apply the Sudocrem its stops itchy skin, itchy red paws, I use cotton buds in between dogs toes & apply the Sudocrem not too much cream as it can become messy, if paws are red, by morning dogs paws aren’t red no more.. then start over again apply Sudcrem before going outside if paws are BAD get shoes booties when outside but let Paws breath when dog is sleeping & inside.
also get some local honey with 5km form your place give dog & yourself 1/2 teaspoon each twice a day Patch LOVES his honey we had the best Summer last yr since starting his local raw honey, the local bees eat the pollen from trees flowers etc in your area so when you give your dog some honey your slowly desensitizing him from certain allergens in your area.
Everything I’ve written I’ve learnt over 8yrs with Patch he’s nilly 12 yrs old now, a lot of vet visits, research, trial & error.
A lot of people think their dog has Food sensitivities but if its Spring or Summer chances are dog is suffering from Environment Allergies, so best to do elimination diets in the cooler months when allergens are low.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sudocrem-Antiseptic-Cream-125G/182504923

[Susan]

Hi Sienna,
May I ask what kibble did you try, what is the fiber % & what is the Kcals per cup, did you give any Slippery Elm Powder or Gastro Elm made into a slurry given 20mins before eating?
When she wants to keep eating , to me this is when Patch has his pain, he follows me into the kitchen, into lounge room, after he has eaten, I have to tell him Patch you have just eaten -Go away now, go to sleep or we go on a walk if its around 9.30am or 5pm, I have him in a strict routine it helped with his anxieties as he knew whats happening next & know the exact time he has his meals, the cat has to be in bed & quiet by 8.30pm or he starts stressing & shaking.
Sometimes I massage his stomach & bowel area while he’s sitting near me waiting while on the computer & sometimes he has wind/gas he farts. He’ll eat the same food & be fine in the morning but at night he’s whinging, he’s pacing, crying, talking, I keep the grass he likes in bowl of water in kitchen for about 5 days,I get tea towel & I dry a few pieces grass & I ask him do you want grassy, he often says yes & takes the grass blade side of his mouth, so he can chew the grass the grass settles whatever is wrong then he often goes to sleep, but since starting Eukanuba Senior he’s stop wanting his grass, so ingredients in the Eukanuba must be OK & aren’t making him feel sick. Our Eukanuba is made Australia now not US so our ingredients are a bit different but it still has corn.
If you’re in America vets don’t do Endoscope & Biopsies they send you to a specialist who cost a lot of money apparently- $2000-$3000, Australia $700-$900 Vets in Australia NZ & UK study longer to become vets, Patches vet is from America she had to do extra studying when she came to Australia to be a vet here.
Biopsies Patch has 2 biopsies 1 on stomach wall & 1 small bowel if the flap is open only cost $60 each biopsies, its the Endoscope that cost the money, this is why some people just ask their vet can they please try the triple therapy medications diet change & see if dog gets better, most vets say OK as nothing else has worked, the Metronidazole does help, has she ever been on medications? low dose Prednisone? this takes away pain makes them sleep. Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat, low fiber a low residue diet & it can take 1-2 weeks to see a change the meds are needed.

[Susan]

When a dog is suffering with pain & stress they can bite. nip, a few times Patches vet was pushing & prodding his stomach/pancreas area & he growled at her he’s never growled at anyone but this told her where he was sore she calls it his IBD Pain, she said she suffers with IBD so its good she understands what Patch is going thru
I started to know if Patch was lifting up his front paw, I use to think he wanted to shake hands but no he wants to have stomach area rub, I wait & see was it just 1 day his stomach was sore or more then 1 day & I’d rotate & change his kibble.
a low dose of Metronidazole helps with the pain & kills the Helicobacter, some dogs are kept on a low dose of Metronidazole. Also vet wanted to put him on Prednisone something I didn’t want him on, finally 2017 we tried a very low dose 5mg twice a day, the Pred took away his abdomen pain & he slept really good but he got diarrhea & vomited the first day I tried it, even when we went down to 5mg a day poos were very sloppy, vet said give him the Prednisone 2 days & then stop then as soon as he gets his pain give him low dose prednisone for 2 -3 days again then stop, this did stop his pain, but I learnt once his diet agree with him & Kcals were low he was good no pain.
Royal Canine Intestinal Low Fat low residue kibble vet diet is good, its low fat & low fiber, he doesn’t have any pain when he’s eating R/C Gastro-intestinal kibble, but he starts swallowing mouth suckling some days, so I add 1/2 the R/C gastro with 1/2 another kibble.
When I first rescued Patch my vet called the Animal Behaviourist into our room to teach me how to teach Patch the words “LEAVE IT” I was even told to muzzle him when he went outside & on walks so he couldn’t eat any foods or cat poo when I wasn’t watching it caused IBD flares -pain..
I’d deal with her pain (Meds) then her Behaviour will get better..

With Low fat kibbles just watch the fiber stay 5% & under & Kcals are low, under 350Kcals per cup, the higher the Kcals more dense are ingredients so harder to digest, stomach & pancreas works harder.

Large Breed Kibbles are best as they are formulated to not cause bloat in large breed dogs, Patch is a medium breed, he does good on Large Breed & Senior kibbles, Wellness Core Large Breed, Canidae Pure Senior G/F are really good. Diamond Naturals Senior & the Large Breed Adult looks good especially the Senior,
Protein is higher-25% Fat is low-11%, Fiber-3% & Kcals are low-318Kcals per cup

Diamond Naturals Senior Dog Chicken, Egg & Oatmeal Formula

[Susan]

I forgot Boiled White Potato helps firm poo, soothes stomach & bowel, Sweet Potato has more fiber Patch need less fiber that’s why I mix 1/2 white & 1/2 Sweet potato.
Change your vet, get all your dogs records & find a good vet who deals in IBD.
Start a kibble -“Wellness Simple Turkey & Potato kibble- not Wellness Simple wet cans as they’re too high in fat, fat in wet can, raw, dog rolls, freeze dried,air dried dog/cat foods hasn’t been converted to dry matter, so say 5%min fat is around 20%min-25%max fat when converted to dry mater fat, Times – X – the fat by 4 you will get a ruff idea what the fat% is??
You need the Triple Therapy medications, the Metronidazole is an anti-inflammatory & kills bad bacteria in stomach..

I just read a part of your last post your vet blaming Behavior – are you in USA??
Slippery Elm Powder & Mashmallow root made into a slurry will help firm poos, stop acid reflux, soothe stomach & help firm poo, given 20mins before meals,
Get 1/2 a teaspoon Slippery Elm Powder put in cup boil the jug slowly add the boiling water in cup & quickly stir & stir till you make a slurry, not too think or really thin, pull up 5mls in a syringe put the syringe side of mouth towards the back teeth, alot of dogs do REALLY well on Gastro Elm here’s the link, helps with sloppy/diarrhea & Acid reflux, Soothes stomach & esophagus start the Potato Kibble, Wellness Simple Turkey & Potato..
https://www.gastroelm.com/
Also look for the Pepto Bismol give 5ml in syringe 20mins before meals 2 times a day or try the Slipperly elm powder?Gastro Elm till you find a vet who can write script for the triple therapy meds, Im trying to write everything as I think of it, your poor girl, your vet is an idiot.. I know what poor Patch goes thru & I’ve been thru…some vets are just idiots, don’t talk with other vets when they have a hard case…their pride is too big.

[Susan]

Hi Sienna,
Your girl sounds just like my Patch, who I rescued November- 2012. He was weeing blood when I got him & Ultra Scan showed Urinary Crystals he was put on Royal Canine S/O Urinary Wet & dry kibble for 6 weeks to dissolve the crystals & he was desexed, I adopted him cause I didnt see any health problems probably cause he was on the R/C Vet Diet as soon as the vet said his crystals have dissolved feed him what he was eating before this is when my nightmare begun & he was always STARVING HUNGRY eating cat poo… I kept thinking Pancreatitis, but all times we checked his Pancreas its good, he cries whinges after he eats, wet food is the worst if comes back up cause it digests quicker & cause his lower sphincter flap isn’t closing properly the food comes up his esophagus & throat causing acid reflux, a Acid Blocker- Pantoprazole-20mg given in morning really helps Patch even stopped his vomiting finally in 2018 Patches stories are thru DFA Forum section how I nilly put him to sleep 2018 he was 10yrs old but we have really good vets in Australia who wouldn’t put Patch to sleep till they worked out what was happening now.
Vet changed his PPI to 20mg-Pantoprozole it works heaps better then Omeprazole , I take Pantoprazole for my GERDS & asked my vet can we please change his PPI as they all work different till you find the right one for yourself & dogs would be the same + my gastro specialist told me Pantoprazole is best when Lower Esophageal Flap isnt closing properly.

Have you done Endoscope & Biopsies yet? you need the Biopsies so vet can diagnose properly. Or ask vet can you please try the triple therapy meds for Helicobacter all dogs have Helicobacter BUT when a dogs immune system is compromised the Helicobacter takes over the dog stomach also Patch suffers with Environment Allergies in Summer causing his immune system to crash by Autunm cause its been working overtime fighting his allergies this causing bad acid reflux as well, Patch does best on an easy to digest kibble.
Canidae Pure Senior, Wellness Core Large breed adult but they changed their recipe & added Lentils Patch cant eat Lentils he gets Diarrhea, he does really well on Potato & Sweet Potato kibbles.
Patch suffers with IBD, LES =Lower Esophageal Sphincter Flap doesn’t close properly in between his stomach & esophagus causing BAD Acid reflux, 1 yr after I rescued Patch I was told my boy has IBD I didnt believe vet so I asked can we do Endoscope & Biopsies, the Biopsies came back IBD, Helicobacter Pylori he was put on Triple therapy medications for 21 days, Metronidazole & Amoxicillin given every 12 hours with a meal & a PPI -Pantoprazole or Omeprazole-20mg given in the morning before breakfast, a gluten free, low fat diet is best, no high fiber diets, 8 yrs on he still has Pain stomach area, doesn’t eat poo no more as soon as we fixed his Helicobacter & kept him on a PPI the poo eating all stopped , your girl has Pain in stomach & food relieves her stomach pain, the Helicobacter lives in their stomach walls, food stops the pain BUT 20-30mins later they’re starving again how I know is I suffered with Helicobacter when I was younger, get her on the Metronidazole, Amoxicillin & a PPI will help her you’ll see results 5-7 days..then when medications are finished after 21 days continue with teh PPI or you’ll have to do the triple therapy meds over & over again I did research & Drs found when humans stayed on their PPI medication their Helicobacter didnt have the right environment in the stomach.
There’s a few of Patches post thru DFA Forum back 2015-2018..
I havent had time yet to read your posts, I have to feed Patch now its 7pm he’s waiting, he eats 5 smaller kibble meals a day 7am,-1/2 a cup kibble, 9am-1/2 cup kibble, 12pm he either gets 1/3 cup kibble or 1/2 boiled Sweet potato, 1/2 boiled white potato with his lean Pork rissoles but he prefers his kibble some days, 5pm 1/2 cup kibble, 7pm-1/3 cup kibble 9am a dry piece of Milk Arrowroot Biscuit then at 10pm he gets 1/2 his Quick Eze Rapid Chew ant acid lollie every single night they have also found Pepto Bismol kills off the Helicobacter
Hes doing well on his Eukanuba Senior kibble we have just started 3-4 weeks ago, I have to rotate his kibbles as soon as he starts showing he has his stomach pain I change his kibble.. also the Kcals in the kibble need to be under 360Kcals per cup or he gets his pain right side..
are you on Face Book??
join “Acid reflux in Dogs” https://www.facebook.com/groups/1635198406751056
I’m on there you can msg me on f/b if you want…You’ll see Patches photo hes a English Staffy & my name is Susan B

[Lily H]

Hi all.
I’m a dog mom to a 2.5 year old golden retriever who lost 2/3rds of his intestines, including his ilium about six months ago. They aren’t entirely sure the underlying cause but his intestines strictured and we almost lost him. I’m so thankful to have found this forum because there is so little information out there.

Our poor guy is pretty consistent these days but he seems to still be losing weight. We tried a number of commercial prescription diets (hills, Royal canin, Purina em) but the dry food kibble just gave him extremely liquid diarrhea which led to some rapid weight loss. We’ve been doing chicken and rice but I can’t help but feel like he’s not getting enough nutrients so we are going to consult with the nutritionist again. (For those in the US the university of Tennessee has animal nutritionists and they do remote consultations and diet plans for between $100-300).

Baker is on about eight medications a day (I’d be happy to share if anyone would like the list). But the thing I’ve noticed makes the biggest difference in his stool is the fiber powder we give him with each meal. He pops about 3 times a day and because he’s eating 2000+ calories a day the bms are quite large. I’m hopeful that over time his diet can help firm things up and that he’ll start absorbing some of the calories.

I have a couple questions for the group of people are still active. First, when did people start noticing their dog gaining weight again? Was it a time frame or once related to another metric?

Second, Baker has recently started having a lot of pain/trouble with his hind end and possibly his spine. We saw a neurologist and she didn’t think it was a disc problem. Xrays said it could be possibly mild hip dysplasia. It’s just crazy to think he has another, unrelated problem. I’ve noticed he seems uncomfortable when he poops because the stance is hard on his back end and I wonder if any other chronic diarrhea dogs have had similar issues from the amount of time spent in that awkward position?
Thanks all!

[Patricia A]

There are different types of stones with different reasons for formations. However, hydration is a big key in all stones to prevent recurrence. Helpful article below for Calcium oxalate stones.
Nutritional management of Calcium Oxalate stones

While it can be difficult to completely prevent your dog developing calcium oxalate stones (particularly if they have a genetic predisposition to it), there are some things that you can do to decrease your dog’s chances of developing bladder stones, and to prevent them coming back in dogs who have previously had them.

Keeping your dog well hydrated is vital. This dilutes their urine, which in turn dilutes the levels of chemicals that promote stone formation, and so decreases the chance of your dog developing bladder stones.

You can help your dog drink more water by placing a few bowls of fresh water in different locations around the house. Always make sure the water is fresh and that you change it regularly.

In the ideal world we are aiming to maintain urine specific gravity <1.020. I always encourage my clients to buy a refractometer, which makes it very easy to measure your dog’s urine specific gravity.

The food your dog eats also impacts on the development of calcium oxalate stones.

To decrease the chances of your dog developing bladder stones, you should avoid feeding foods that contain high levels of oxalate such as spinach, sweet potatoes, organ meat and brown rice. Instead, include foods with lower oxalate levels like apples (peeled), wild rice and meats and fish in their diet. It’s also a good idea to boil vegetables and discharge the water before giving them to your dog – this helps to reduce the oxalate levels in them.

Restricting calcium is another strategy for reducing oxalate levels in the urine – a reduction in calcium should be accompanies by a similar reduction in oxalate levels. However calcium restriction should be done very carefully, as too much restriction can be damaging and may lead to health problems including osteoporosis.

Other dietary measures that can be taken to help prevent formation of calcium oxalate stones are reducing dietary sodium (salt) and avoiding excess vitamin D. This is because excess sodium and vitamin D promotes excessive urinary calcium excretion. Therefore moderately reduce dietary sodium, stay away from high sodium treats and do not supplement with vitamin D.

Vitamin C supplements are not recommended because when vitamin C is metabolised and broken down, it produces oxalate – therefore avoiding vitamin C supplements avoids an increase in oxalate levels.

Vitamin B supplements are water soluble and are excreted in the urine. Therefore in all cases of urinary tract stones it is prudent to give a vitamin B complex supplement.

There is still some debate surrounding magnesium and bladder stones. Some studies have shown that magnesium in the urine impairs formation of calcium oxalate stones. But other studies have shown that when given to healthy dogs, magnesium supplements resulted in an increase in urinary calcium levels. So because there is no definite consensus, restricting or supplementing magnesium is not recommended and so both should be avoided.

It’s important to note that not all of the oxalate in your dog’s body stems from their diet. Some is produced naturally by your dog’s body, mainly the liver. Nonetheless, avoiding incorporating foods with high levels of oxalate in your dog’s diet is an important preventative step against calcium oxalate stones.

Including fiber in the diet may reduce absorption of some minerals and so should be considered as part of any dietary changes being made. However, take care not to increase levels too much which can result in overfeeding.

Calcium oxalate stones cause the bladder to become inflamed by rubbing up against the bladder wall. To help reduce this inflammation, you can give your dog fish body oil supplements. However, avoid liver oil as this contains vitamin D which should be avoided (see above).

There are a few veterinary prescription diets designed to (theoretically) reduce the likelihood of calcium oxalate stone.

You can also prepare you dogs food at home using the same high quality ingredients that you eat. There are several health benefits of making your dogs food at home. By feeding your dog a home-prepared diet rather than a dry kibble diet, you can increase the amount of water they are drinking. And as mentioned above, increased water consumption makes urine more dilute and can help prevent stones forming.

A home-prepared diet is also the only way you can truly control what is going into your dog.

If you’d like to try cooking for your dog, the best way to ensure that the diet is meeting all of your dogs nutritional needs is to get your recipe from a qualified nutritionist. Dietary manipulation to address a health problem should be done by someone who will work with your dog.

[dean S]

I was asked to provide details, somewhere in this site, (but cannot remember where) – for ingredients of ERA pet foods.
CAnt dogfood advisor do a review for a european pet food?? So here are ingredients. IS THIS CONSIDERED NUTRITIONAL?

COMPOSITION: fresh chicken meat (20%), dehydrated turkey (18%), whole brown rice (16%), dehydrated pheasant (10%), chicken fat (5%, preserved with natural tocopherols, source of vitamin E), yellow peas, sweet potatoes, apple pulp, hydrolyzed chicken liver (3%), pea protein, dehydrated chicken (2%), salmon oil (2%), dried beet pulp, linseed (1.5%), dried spinach, pumpkin, dried carob, tomato pulp, sea algae (Ascophyllum nodosum, 0.4%), minerals, pomegranate (0.2%), blueberries (0.2%), cranberries (0.2%), glucosamine (0.026%), yeast (a source of mannan-oligosaccharides/MOS, 0.02%), citrus extract (0.02%), chondroitine sulphate (0.016%), chicory root (a source of fructo-oligosaccharides/FOS, 0.01%), yucca extract, marigold (Calendula officinalis, 0.01%), green lipped mussels (0.005%), milk thistle seed (Silybum marianum, 0.005%), coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, 0.005%), thyme (Thymus vulgaris, 0.005%), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, 0.005%

28% Crude Protein
15% Fat Content
3% Crude Fiber
6.5% Crude Ash
10% Moisture
1.4% Calcium
1% Phosphorus
Min 0.2% Sodium
0.25% Omega-3 fatty acids
1.7% Omega-6 fatty acids
3770 kcal/kg Energy Valu

[Patricia A]

Hi Rachelle,
So sorry you poor Walden are gong through all of this and not finding answers and a solution when trying so hard for him to get relief.
First off I’m curious if you got a very definitive diagnosis of HGE when all this started? A telltale sign is stool which contains blood and mucous but is very raspberry jam like. Also when you got him off all dog kibble did you give ONLY the white meat of boiled chicken with the rice, I’m saying this because my dogs are fine with some boiled white meat but have diarrhea with the dark meat. I imagine higher fat in dark meat
. If Walden truly again has what you describe as spots of blood in stool again then don’t believe the Science Diet ZD is not doing any good since (In some animals, dietary proteins can trigger an abnormal immune response. Hydrolysis uses water to chemically break proteins into pieces that are so small that the immune system no longer reacts to them. Veterinarians typically prescribe hydrolyzed protein dog foods to treat two diseases: food allergy and inflammatory bowel disease.) However, I’m thinking that stomach irritation usually comes with the diarrhea and you stated that her stools are fine as of now but just the drops of blood. So maybe bringing a stool sample to your vet would be helpful?
If a dog doesn’t have enough fiber this could cause strain and hence anal gland problems causing the drops of blood..
Originally Walden was regurgitating . I know at least in my two dogs this was from an empty stomach . So many small meals a day would be helpful once you find the best food for him.
I don’t want to sound like a commercial for a dog food. My one Chihuahua is sensitive to fat and will have diarrhea when I home cooked at times. So if I give a little steak, salmon or even low fat hamburger two days in a row she will have very loose stool. I found a food that they both tolerate which is Stella Chewy’s raw coated grain free chicken. A lot of people on their f/b page have had dogs with stomach issues and they said since feeding and they do very well with this kibble. I also give freeze dried topper in Primal but only give the 5* rating proteins since they are low in fat.
Remember too give VERY, VERY, VERY slowly if you do decide to try a different diet again if he’s not doing well again on the Science Diet food.
Hope Walden gets all better.

• This reply was modified 4 years ago by Patricia A.

[Donald M]

Nature’s Recipe Adult Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe will help your best friend thrive. This delicious dry dog food helps your dog maintain lean muscle mass with high quality protein from the #1 ingredient, premium chicken meal. Wholesome rice provides a lean source of carbohydrates that helps support your pet’s energy levels while barley and oatmeal round out the flavor and supply fiber for optimal digestion. Best of all, this recipe is free of corn and wheat, two ingredients that are commonly associated with food sensitivities.

Dog benefit…
Real chicken is the first ingredient, containing high-quality protein that helps support muscle development.
Rice provides a lean source of carbohydrates for sustained energy.

• This reply was modified 4 years ago by Donald M.

[Jim J]

Hello, we were in the process of creating a dog food for our local animal rescue. We’ve been working on the formula, but are admittedly not nutritional experts. We wanted to make sure it was safe and healthy before we had it manufactured. Any advice or opinions on the ingredients would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

28% 16%Protein Fat
RECIPE ANALYSIS:
Crude Protein, (Min) ……… 28.00%
Crude Fat, (Min) …………… 16.00%
Crude Fiber, (Max)………….4.00%
Moisture, (Max)………………10.00%
Calcium, (Min)………………..1.20%
Phosphorus, (Min) ………….1.00%
Omega 3 fatty acids,* (Min) …..1.00%
Omega 6 fatty acids,* (Min) ……3.00%

* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO
Dog Food Nutrient Profiles

RESPONSIBLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Grain Sorghum, Millet, Turkey Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols And Citric Acid), Whole Ground Flaxseed, Coconut Meal, Quinoa, Natural Flavors, Salmon Oil, Potassium Chloride, Chia Seed, Chicken Cartilage (source of natural chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine), Sea Salt, Apple Cider Vinegar, Cod Liver Oil, Kelp Meal, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Dried Beet, Dried Cranberries, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Spinach, Dried Tomatoes, Inulin, Dried Blueberries, Dried Chamomile, Dried Turmeric, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Manganous Oxide, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Rosemary Extract, Taurine, Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Lactobacillus lactis Fermentation Product, Lactobacillus pantarum Fermentation Product, Bacillus subtillis Fermentation Product, Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product

[kelly C]

First time here and thank you all for all your tips and advises. Really helpful. I have a little dog that is malipoo who will be turning 13 yrs this coming June. He is a really happy and playful dog full of love and joy always. He’s been on anti seizure med since he was 2 and was diagnosed diabetic Aug 2017 ( He was 10 ) I am planning on switching his food to a new food as recently switched food is not settling too well from stomach to his BG ( Blood Glucose ) fluctuations. Thinking of switching to Orijen Senior Dog Food.
I need to look out for 2 things in his food 1) Diabetes ( low carb, high fiber )
2) Seizures ( No rosemary and grain free which i have learnt )
My question/request now is can you tell me if the ingredients listed below is good ( safe for seizures )

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Orijen Senior Dog Food

85% QUALITY ANIMAL INGREDIENTS| 15% VEGETABLES & FRUIT
Fresh chicken meat (13%), fresh cage-free eggs (7%), fresh turkey meat (7%), fresh whole herring (7%), fresh chicken liver (6%), fresh whole flounder (4%), fresh turkey liver (4%), fresh chicken necks (4%), fresh chicken heart (4%), fresh turkey heart (4%), chicken (dehydrated, 4%), turkey (dehydrated, 4%), whole mackerel (dehydrated, 4%), whole sardine (dehydrated, 4%), whole herring (dehydrated, 4%), whole red lentils, whole green lentils, fresh whole green peas, lentil fibre, fresh whole chickpeas, fresh whole yellow peas, whole pinto beans, fresh chicken cartilage (1%), whole navy beans, herring oil (1%), chicken fat (1%), fresh turkey cartilage (1%), chicken liver (freeze-dried), turkey liver (freeze-dried), fresh whole pumpkin, fresh whole butternut squash, fresh whole zucchini, fresh whole parsnips, fresh carrots, fresh whole Red Delicious apples, fresh whole Bartlett pears, fresh kale, fresh spinach, fresh beet greens, fresh turnip greens, brown kelp, whole cranberries, whole blueberries, whole Saskatoon berries, chicory root, turmeric root, milk thistle, burdock root, lavender, marshmallow root, rosehips, Enterococcus faecium. ADDITIVES (per kg): Nutritional additives: Zinc chelate: 100 mg.

Thank you all. 🙏🏼🐶❤️

[anonymous]

Fromm, yes. This is a good food. It tends to be a little bit higher in fiber, so you may see softer stools at first.

But this should go away as the dog gets used to the new food after a week or two.

Weigh once a week, you will see a difference soon.

[haleycookie]

Hund and flocken is a grain in food. Did your vet explain how more grains would help her anal gland issues? I’ve never heard of such a thing. Sometimes dogs just need help expressing their glans. A groomer or a vet can do this.

My friend has a shepherd whom has the same issue. She’s been giving her dog a table spoon of pumpkin at each mean for a few months now and she says the dogs anal gland issues have all but dissipated. So maybe try upping her fiber intake with some plain canned pumpkin.

[Kathryn D]

Does your dog have soft stools or are they firm? I know you said your Vet suggested you feed her a grain inclusive food, but I believe Solid Gold Hund-n-Flocken dry food which you said you were feeding her, is grain inclusive. You also mentioned you were feeding wet food, which I know if I give any of my dogs just a small amount on their kibbles, my Pug who had anal gland problems in the past would have soft stools. I know longer let him have any.
Anyways, usually it is high fiber diet that you want when a dog is suffering from anal gland issues. Earthborn has a grain inclusive food with 8.5% to 10% fiber depending what protein source you choose. It is their Unrefined Ancient Grains and Superfood line. I personally have not tried this dog food, but a friend has and her dog is doing well on it. It comes in turkey, rabbit, salmon, and I think they recently came out with lamb. If you do switch to any dog food, it must be done slowly to avoid any gastric upset. Maybe call your Vet and ask him/her about the fiber.

[Mikkel J]

Hi

Looking to change from Hill’s J/D joint care, to a grain free product. My dog was very ill for a month probably do to lyme borreliosis . We’re of the meds (antibiotics and adrenocortical hormone) and recovered, however with stiff joints especially in hear rear legs after laying down, and not quite the same motivation to play and run with her son (7y), and inability to jump as before.
However things are doing somewhat better than just after the recovery, we’re doing an hour walk/run in her pace only on soft soil like in the forest. We supplement Hills with joint supplement powder containing (Glycosaminoglycans, Proteoglycans, Organic sulfur, Green-lipped mussel, Collagen II), turmeric with bioperine, Omega 3 (EPA/DHA) and the popular CBD oil 30 mg pr. day, dogs weight 30 kg/66 lbs.

I’m not certain that I’m on the right path her, and looking at first to find another base food instead of hills full of grain.
I’ve found Wolfsblut as the best substitute and like another pair of eyes on it.

https://www.wolfsblut.com/vetline/trockenfutter-hunde/vetline-joint-care/

Fresh wild poultry meat 41% (partridge, pigeon, wild duck, ostrich), sweet potato (17%), potato, banana, ostrich oil (5%), pumpkin, alfalfa, salmon oil, Jerusalem artichoke, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, elderberries, black currants, parsley , Spinach, minerals, carrot, chickpeas, green-lipped mussel, oregano, thyme, sage, marjoram, glucosamine (3,900 mg / kg), methylsulfonylmethane (3,900 mg / kg), chondroitin sulfate (2,750 mg / kg), cetyl myristoleate (500 mg / kg ), Ginger, licorice, garlic, turmeric

Vitamins: vitamin A (as retinyl acetate) 14,400 IU, vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol) 2,000 IU, vitamin E (as alpha tocopherol acetate) 100 IU; Trace elements: iodine (as anhydrous calcium iodate) 0.96 mg, iron (as ferrous sulfate) 48 mg, zinc (as zinc sulfate) 48 mg, manganese (as manganese sulfate) 33 mg, copper (as copper sulfate) 14 mg, selenium (as sodium selenite) 0.29 mg

Crude protein 20%
Crude fat 13%
Crude fiber 3.5%
Crude ash 9.5%
Humidity 8%
Omega-6 2.98%
Omega-3 0.75%

What are your thoughts about this product?
Also, i’d like some advice on the following
– The need if any, to supplement this kind of food with additionally or other nutrition.
– Exercise, I know shorter and more frequent walk is advisable, however she is responding rather well on 1 hour long walk a day.
– If you know about another joint care dry food or any other advice, whom you have good experience with, I’m all ears, however needs to be sold in Europe.

Thanks for your time
Mikkel

[dean S]

DOES ANYONE HAVE A COMMENT REGARDING THE FOLLOWING; Recommended to me for 6 year old dog.
produced by ERAPETFOOD- (from the label)

COMPOSITION: fresh chicken meat (20%), dehydrated turkey (18%), whole brown rice (16%), dehydrated pheasant (10%), chicken fat (5%, preserved with natural tocopherols, source of vitamin E), yellow peas, sweet potatoes, apple pulp, hydrolyzed chicken liver (3%), pea protein, dehydrated chicken (2%), salmon oil (2%), dried beet pulp, linseed (1.5%), dried spinach, pumpkin, dried carob, tomato pulp, sea algae (Ascophyllum nodosum, 0.4%), minerals, pomegranate (0.2%), blueberries (0.2%), cranberries (0.2%), glucosamine (0.026%), yeast (a source of mannan-oligosaccharides/MOS, 0.02%), citrus extract (0.02%), chondroitine sulphate (0.016%), chicory root (a source of fructo-oligosaccharides/FOS, 0.01%), yucca extract, marigold (Calendula officinalis, 0.01%), green lipped mussels (0.005%), milk thistle seed (Silybum marianum, 0.005%), coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, 0.005%), thyme (Thymus vulgaris, 0.005%), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, 0.005%)

ANALYTICAL CONSTITUENTS
28% Crude Protein
15% Fat Content
3% Crude Fiber
6.5% Crude Ash
10% Moisture
1.4% Calcium
1% Phosphorus
Min 0.2% Sodium
0.25% Omega-3 fatty acids
1.7% Omega-6 fatty acids
3770 kcal/kg Energy Value

NUTRITIONAL ADDITIVES / KG
17000 IU Vitamin A
1400 IU Vitamin D3
450 mg Vitamin E
15 mg Cooper (E4)
0.6 mg Iodine (3b201)
75 mg Iron (E1)
35 mg Manganese (E5)
0.2 mg Selenium (3b8.10)
90 mg Zinc (3b603)
GUT FLORA STABILIZERS / KG
Enterococcus faecium
DSM10663/NCIMB 10415
1×108 C.F.U.

[ljfoote]

Can you please evaluate the new Merrick formula for Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains Adult Dry Dog Food. They have taken the peas and pea fiber out of the formula and replaced with some ancient grains.

[Walter P]

When it comes to flea treatments, Some people prefer effective topical solutions, while others prefer natural ones. With that been said, please keep in mind that both ways can be equally effective if applied correctly.

If your dog is suffering from a flea infestation, chances are you home and yard are also infested, so make sure to treat your house and yard also to prevent flea re-infestation.

Here are some of the best ways to get rid of fleas:

DRYNESS
Fleas hate very dry areas (so install a dehumidifier and a fan).

CARPET
Keep carpeted areas to a minimum. Most flea larvae coil themselves around carpet fibers and are not easily removed. Carpet is the perfect flea environment! If you do have carpeting, vacuum frequently.

CLEANING
Wash wood or stone floors frequently. Flea eggs, larvae, and pupae are attracted to cracks and joints in floors and will die when they are hit by simple soap and water or steam.

BAKING SODA AND SALT
Sprinkle baking soda and/or salt all over your floor and furniture. Work it into the fabric with a stiff brush or broom. Leave it for several hours. Keep your pets out of the room(s) while treating for fleas.

BATHING
Bathe your pet in salt water or plain old soap and water. Fleas can’t live in salt water, so periodic dips in the ocean (or a salt water rinse) can also help keep fleas under control.

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH
Apply food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in places where fleas seem most prevalent: a light dusting on the pet’s bedding and the carpet or couch, under the baseboard heater, refrigerator and stove, near the sink, garbage or wherever you suspect fleas.

Vacuum
Vacuuming removes up to 30 percent of the larvae and up to 60 percent of flea eggs from a carpet, as well as the larvae’s food supply of dried blood. Vacuum under furniture, cushions, chairs, beds, and along walls. Discard vacuum cleaner bags at least once a week.

Source: The Complete Guide to Flea Treatment For Dogs In 2020

[GSDsForever]

Re-Post (Disappeared – System Glitch)

Comparing the 2 foods, the Farmina Light seems to fit all of your requirements and parameters much better.

Hill’s W/D Dry, Actual/Typical Analysis
Meat: Chicken Meal
Grain-Inclusive: Whole Wheat, Cornmeal, & Oats + Corn Gluten, Cracked Pearled Barley
+Cellulose, Beet Pulp for Fiber
Protein: 20.7%
Fat: 13%
Fiber: 16%
Carbs NFE: 45.1%
Heart Health: Adds Taurine, L-Carnitine
255 cal/C
https://www.hillspet.com/dog-food/pd-wd-canine-dry

Hill’s also helpfully provides this formula’s total dietary fiber and a breakdown of type: 27.6% total, most of which is insoluble at 25.5% (soluble: 1.9%).

Farmina Light Chicken & Pomegranate w/Ancestral Grains, GA Analysis
Meat/Animal Protein: Chicken & Herring (both fresh & dehydrated) + Whole Eggs
Grain-Inclusive: Whole Spelt & Oats
+Beet Pulp, Psyllium Seed Husks for Fiber
Protein: 37.4%
Fat: 12%
Fiber: 7% (Max)*
Carbs NFE: 30.9%
Heart Health: Adds Taurine, L-Carnitine, DL-Methionine (precursor)
338 cal/C
https://www.farmina.com/us/dog-food/n&d-ancestral-grain-canine/113-chicken-&-pomegranate-light-medium-&-maxi.html

*Veterinary standard of care for diets for EPI dogs is low fiber, low insoluble fiber. Usually when looking bag GAs for comparison, you are looking for <4% Crude Fiber. Here it is 6.4% Max, still higher than ideal for EPI, but much lower than Hill’s W/D. (For the actual/typical fiber & fat, you would need to ask Farmina.)

*Adding a bit of fresh, homemade should bring down that fiber.

[GSDsForever]

Hi Victoria.

First (so I don’t forget it!), no, you cannot use cooked pancreas for EPI. It *must* be raw for the active enzymes needed. Vets know this — it’s a special exception recommended in otherwise normal, healthy dogs with EPI.

In your dog’s case, an older dog with cancer, I wouldn’t worry about trying to use pancreas. Just stick with the Enzyme Diane/other prepared enzymes as they are highly effective. For B12, a lot of dogs use WonderLab pills vs the injections.

I share your vet’s concerns about DCM and the connection to many current grain-free/high legume formulas, your dog’s heart murmur, as well as raw for your dog, and agree with his guidance. (Also, while I am respectful of raw feeding, I prefer gently cooked homemade food as ideal anyway and don’t find a benefit for my dogs in raw.)

It’s just hard to capture all those criteria — along with low fiber, low insoluble fiber necessary in particular for EPI dogs — in commercial kibbles, especially here in the U.S. at this time.

Aside from what HaleyCookie pointed out well (Thank you, HaleyCookie!), the starch binding in kibbles, I think companies add to the problem. They just don’t want to spend the money, chance cutting into their profits by including more quality animal protein, which is expensive. Or they don’t think that the public will buy the products at a necessarily higher price — and, here, they might be right.

I mentioned those particular GF formulas ONLY as something you could potentially do part homemade with, and that other EPI dogs are using with success.

Another formula currently being re-released and available again, which *might* work for you with some tweaks (you’ll need lower % fiber in an EPI dog; perhaps you can accomplish this diluting it with what you add homemade?):

Farmina LIGHT Chicken & Pomegranate with Ancestral Grains
34% Protein/11% Fat (6.4% Fiber)
https://www.farmina.com/us/dog-food/n&d-ancestral-grain-canine/113-chicken-&-pomegranate-light-medium-&-maxi.html

I really like Farmina and my German Shepherd is doing very well on their food. I use a different formula, higher in fat and low in fiber (typical of most Farmina formulas).

A board certified veterinary nutritionist I would recommend is Lisa Weeth, DVM DACVN.
http://www.weethnutrition.com/about-us.html
https://weethnutrition.wordpress.com/

You can work with her long distance, through your vet. She is very supportive of homemade diets and experienced with them, and is also more open minded, fair, unbiased across a variety of commercial diets and brands imo. I think you would get a better diet from her for the money than from some other prominent services/DACVNs.

You can get a good feel for what she’s like from her nutrition blog, both her blog and Q&A section (click on “comments” at the top), in that 2nd link. You might ask her some questions there, about a commercial kibble or your current homemade additions; she’s pretty gracious and generous in her answers. (Your questions would tie in to her recent blog entries on DCM & diet, also one on grains.)

I like Susan Wynn, DVM DACVN, also but she left private practice in nutrition in January 2019 to work for Nature’s Variety.

I think the expensiveness comes from the pre-diet formulation blood tests & work up you’ll need to submit (costs dependent upon your own vet), but I think they need that to ensure that a major health issue is not present so that when they formulate a custom diet for your dog it is safe and appropriate, does not make an underlying health problem worse. And, as you’ve already seen for yourself, multiple health conditions & diet parameters, not only require review of all your medical file, but presents a diet more challenging, complicated to formulate. In your case, if you have any of those blood panels, etc. already done recently, then you’ve already spent that money. Talk to her assistant & ask about costs, what is included, your concerns. (They were very helpful with me.)

With Just Food For Dogs, the cheapest by far is doing their DIY — where you buy their recipe + balancing supplement. I just don’t know whether any of those would be appropriate for your dog, with her conditions and the diet parameters. They have good customer service (and knowledgeable veterinary staff) if you want to ask them.

I was encouraged by — and have considered using a couple of their diets myself — an independent review I read from a guy who broke down his total costs for a large breed dog about mine’s weight, showed the receipts and shopped at Whole Foods no less(!), to feed one of the formulas the DIY route. With this diet, you do feed lower total calories because it is fresh whole foods gently cooked, using highest quality ingredients, and is therefore highly digestible. So, his cost was lower than what I would have assumed for a large dog.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by GSDsForever.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by GSDsForever.

[GSDsForever]

These are couple diets some EPI dogs recently have done well on:

Forza10 Legend Digestion (Actual Fiber ~1.5%)
https://www.chewy.com/forza10-nutraceutic-legend-digestion/dp/209890

Sport Dog Herding Dog Elite
https://www.sportdogfood.com/products/herding-dog#ingredients

Both are grain-free. You might try adding both lean protein + low fiber veggies (e.g. zucchini, squash, asparagus tips) and a very very small portion of a carefully chosen whole grain, to lower the percentage fat + carbs (while keeping protein high) AND be grain-inclusive. Mushrooms, are also low fiber, high protein per calories, and varieties like Maitake, Shiitake, Reishi, Enoki, and Turkey Tail/Trametes Versicolor are very good for cancer and the immune system.

[GSDsForever]

Victoria,

You poor thing and your poor dog! That is certainly a lot to be trying to treat at once & in selecting a food.

Have you thought about feeding a therapeutic homemade diet, via your vet & you doing a consult with a board certified veterinary nutritionist (DACVN)? I wouldn’t recommend them all equally, but there are some good ones.

Those are some tough dietary parameters to meet all at once, particularly through a commercial kibble/can and from a quality reputable company, and you might have better luck with feeding homemade.

You might also look into the Vet Support Diets or a custom therapeutic diet from Just Food For Dogs, via their board certified veterinary nutritionists and other vet specialists.

Bear in mind that with EPI, the diet should also be low fiber, especially insoluble fiber — per veterinary guidelines. The main keys for the EPI part, are the pancreatic enzymes on the food + B 12 supplementing.

I would strongly encourage you to reach out to EPI4Dogs. Olessia, the lovely owner of that foundation & moderator, in fact has an EPI dog with diabetes that has been well managed on a combination homemade/fresh and Annamaet’s Lean. Dogs with EPI are no longer recommended to to have low fat, but as Olessia’s dog has needed low fat due to the diabetes, she will be able to help. The enzyme preparation that many use there is called Enzyme Diane, which is less costly. Many of the dogs in that group have done very well, and there is a wealth of knowledge and encouragement, hope there.

I believe most of the EPI dog owners there are feeding grain-free. The issue is with fiber though, as many whole grains found in commercial dog foods are high fiber and much of that fiber is insoluble, which EPI dogs cannot handle. The dogs also notably do not do well with peas, which also happen to be nearly all insoluble fiber. (Ditto for lentils.)

Among whole grains, a very very small amount of oats (higher in soluble, at ~50%), amaranth, or sorghum would be lowest in both fiber and % insoluble fiber; otherwise, white rice (refined). Lowest fiber grains like brown rice and corn contain almost entirely insoluble fiber. Cassava, white potato, and sweet potato are more balanced in soluble/insoluble fiber than most grains — and the fiber in sweet potatoes reduces to half in canned, vaccuum packed.

Elizabeth Hershey DVM, DACVIM is an outstanding, nationally known board certified oncologist you might wish to have your local vet reach out to. She is integrative and evidence based, as she is trained in both traditional western medicine and eastern/Traditional Chinese Medicine, includes diet, and typically combines her approaches. She does have success where other oncologists have not.

If I think of a suitable grain inclusive commercial food from a company that I personally would recommend, I will post it.