[JeffreyT]

Hi Jakes Mom, the current companies in my rotation I trust are Mercola, Animal Essentials, Dr. Peter Tobias, Wholistic Pet Organics and Nature’s Farmacy. Mercola, Animal Essentials and Wholistic Pet Organics do 3rd party testing. Dr. Peter Tobias offers certified organic products and sells other companies products that do 3rd party testing. And Nature’s Farmacy has a Guaranteed Analysis label. All these companies focus on whole food supplements, use a lot of certified organic ingredients and limit gmo’s.

Nature’s Farmacy was started years ago by serious show people. They have an all in one product that combines joint support, multi vitamin, omegas, digestive enzymes and probioitcs for those who want easy. I also love their Cornucopia powder blend of organic veggies and fruits….great stuff for anti-cancer prevention, and can be given as part of the ground veggies in homemade diets or added to any pet food to increase nutrition.

I keep up with the peer reviewed studies in Mercola and Dr. Karen Becker’s newsletters..so I believe the supplements I give help prevent disease and increase vitality and energy. I think two of the most important ones are digestive enzymes and probiotics, given in most meals. Every day they get Mercola’s Ubiquinol for heart disease prevention and healthy gums and also fish oil every day..rotating bottles between Mercola Krill, Nordic Naturals Pet, Animal Essentials capsules and New Chapter.

They get a multi vitamin/mineral every other day, and on alternate days, light joint support, rotating brands.

My 5 year old maltese gets bladder support every other day because she is prone to stones.

As they get older I will add more of Mercola’s products like eye support, mushrooms and liver/kidney support, and Animal Essentials herbs like Cardiovascular support,etc….rotating them probably. I also wouldn’t hesitate to use Standard Process, Thorne or Orthomolecular Specialtes to target specific issues as they age.

I recently learned about a cleanse recommended on Dr. Peter Tobias’ website using Livton Medi-Herb…he suggests twice a year for two months…makes sense to me. His site is awesome. I learned about it on DFA…another awesome place for info.

[DogFoodie]

My dog that is intolerant of fish has always turned up his nose at fish foods as well, even long before I confirmed his sensitivity. You’re better off adding delicate Omega 3 oils to your dog’s food just before serving. The fats in fish based kibbles oxidize and go rancid more quickly anyway.

[Ellen D]

Hi all –

I made 2 huge batches of dog food this weekend, and I wanted to consult with the experienced folk to be sure everything is balanced and I’m adding the right things.

First recipe:
-Meat mix – 50% chicken 50% beef. I bought whole chickens and cut them up. I ground the breasts without bones and then half of the wings, legs and necks bones and all, and I saved the backs and the rest of the wings and legs for RMBs which I feed 2-3 times a week. The beef was lean stew meat and some freezer burned steaks.
-Organ mix – Goat liver and kidneys. I couldn’t find any other organ meats aside from liver and kidney, so I’ll have to order some for the next batch.
-I did some maths and made sure I was using 10% bone, 5% liver, 5% kidney.
-Fruit/veg (makes up about 15-20% of the entire recipe) – banana, blueberry, pumpkin, carrots, zucchini, mango, and a handful of collard greens – all steamed and pureed.
-Herbs – turmeric, fennel, parsley, and mint.

The second recipe was exactly the same as the first except in place of the chicken and beef I used fish – whiting and mackeral with 2 cans of pink salmon with bones. I also added spinach to this one because I was making some for myself 🙂

Daily supplements – At breakfast, I mix in Dr. Harvey’s Formative Years supplement and a bit of coconut oil and at dinner I do the Grizzly salmon oil and Healthy Dogma Flee Flea Flee.

He also gets a can of sardines here and there and RMBs alternate between chicken backs, turkey necks when I can find them, goat chops sometimes. Just a couple times a week for chewing/teeth. I’d love to do more RMBs, but I don’t often have the time to give him completely undivided attention.

Am I missing anything?

[Anonymous]

I give the fish oil routinely, glucosamine, if I see any stiffness, maybe routinely if the dog is over 7, but it may be best to check with your vet, some of these supplements can have side effects and can interact with prescribed medication. I never tried coconut oil. If you think it helps and you can afford it, keep it up.

[DogFoodie]

Hi Susan,

It could be a reaction to an ingredient in the food she’s eating. Probiotics and reducing carbs are a good start. I’d do everyone I could to avoid the oral steroids, which in addition to masking symptoms, can cause problems of their own. I have a dog with both food and seasonal sensitivities – no true allergies, that’s entirely different. I’m getting ready to start my dog on quercetin with papain and bromelian. Quercetin is a natural antihistamine which works synergistically with the enzymes. Something else I wonder about with your dog is thyroid. Has he had blood work and a complete thyroid panel? Fish oil can also help calm the itch. My dog is sensitive to fish and fish oil, so unfortunately for me, that’s not an option.

Sorry for the sketchy post, I’m running out the door!

[Anonymous]

It depends on the specific problems of the individual dog. Remember supplements and food are not medication, so at best, it’s hit or miss. They don’t have to be regulated by the FDA

I like to add fish oil and glucosamine to my old guy’s water soaked kibble because he shows signs of arthritis and has dry skin, potassium citrate, because he has a history of bladder stones.

To get specific advice and dose recommendations, I would consult a homeopathic vet.
Otherwise, it’s just a guessing game, or see a veterinarian that specializes in geriatric issues, there may be prescription medication that can keep your seniors comfortable.

PS: I have never given milk thistle to my pets, I took it myself once years ago, I forget why…but I think it made me sick…

[jakes mom]

Could someone just speak generally about supplements, what they give their dog (or cats, I have both) and why? There’s so much info out there! If you’re not giving a medicine, supplement, etc for a specific problem ( and see an improvement) how do you know it’s helping and worth giving? Just believe the literature and hope it’s helping? Heartworm season is upon us, and I’ve been hearing about milk thistle after hw meds. I hear about supergreen capsules, coconut oil, fish oil, on and on. With no FDA oversight, how do I even know if it’s got what the company says it has and I’m not wasting money? I’d like to hear from people who regularly give their pets supplements, what kind and how much (per # of animal), and what companies you trust. Right now dog gets joint supplement and also RMBs and dog and cats all enjoy some coconut oil. They’re all seniors. What would you be giving them if you were me? Thanks in advance!

[Cathy M]

Thanks for all the info! I am going to read the info on the FB allergy page and definitely read about rotation diet. Harper Lee doesn’t seem bothered by the dandruff, she is not itchy. I think I will try the Aroma Paws!
After we get acclimated to the new food I will see if she needs the additional fish oil.

This is a very useful website. I’m glad my vet recommended it!

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I add the fish oil capsule because no matter how high quality the kibble, the fish oils start to dissipate the minute the bag is opened. That’s why I like capsules the best
.
He also told me that most kibble tends to contain storage dust mites (a common allergen) regardless of how well you store it, they get in during the processing.

Weekly baths (sometimes twice a week) with Malaseb shampoo (leave lather on for 10 minutes), were recommended and do help. Of course, this was all in conjunction with ASIT, which is not a medication.

[Anonymous]

I have been giving fish oil to my dogs for many years now, the only time I noticed an occasional loose stool was when I was using salmon oil and didn’t measure it properly, probably gave a little too much.
The dermatologist said my dog’s skin looks beautiful 🙂

[Anonymous]

“I believe she is drinking plenty. How do I know how much she needs”?

I thought you were asking about the fish oil. As long as you observe the dog going to the water dish occasionally, and there is some moisture in the food, it’s probably okay.
I have a dog that never went to the water dish and he developed bladder stones, so I add water to his food.
I add a little water to my other dogs meals now too, maybe a splash or 1/4 cup….just to be sure.
Of course, they may need more bathroom breaks, what goes in must come out.

[Susan]

Hi Cathy sounds like ur girl has food Sensitivitives/Intolerances. You write she always has lose stools, I wouldn’t be giving any fish oil at the moment not until you have her stomach & bowel working properly, fish oil is very hard to digest, you need to find what foods your girl is reacting too, Join this face Book group “Dog Allergy International Group” look in the Files, there’s limited ingredient foods & Hair & salvia testing kits, other wise you are just spinning your wheels trying to work out what she is re acting too…look up Jean Dodds on dog food sensitivities Vs dog food allergies all this info is in groups the files
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/

[Anonymous]

The most cost effective way is to just get the human fish oil capsules at the drugstore, at present I am using Sundown Naturals 1200mg, I put 1 capsule a day in their morning meal and they chew/gulp it down. They are small dogs.
If you want to be more careful, look into salmon oil or fish oil supplements specific for dogs from pet supply places and go by the directions on the jar.

The only side effects I know of are, fish breath or loose stools, I have not observed either with my guys.

[Cathy M]

LM-I have read things about fish oil supplements. I think I will try that first as it is the easiest. If that doesn’t help, on to the allergy dr! I believe she is drinking plenty. How do I know how much she needs?

Crazy4cats-She is still getting the Wilderness puppy while I am figuring out what to feed her next. I had not ever been told about rotation diet, so I am interested to read more.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried a fish oil supplement once a day? Might help with the dry skin. Is she drinking enough water? Maybe add a little to her kibble.
As far as the dog urine goes, that’s how it is, urine burns the grass.
It usually grows back, kind of. You can’t have a perfect yard if your dog voids on it 🙂
And I don’t trust those supplements that are supposed to save your lawn, chemical junk, imo

Check Wysong for food, my dog with food sensitivities does best on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea with a little lean meat or cooked chicken added.

[Lila S]

Thanks for the recommendation about fish oil, he does tend to be itchy. When he was younger we tried a couple different types of Blue Buffalo puppy formulas and that seemed to make him itchier and he would nibble at his legs, so I haven’t tried Blue Buffalo again.

[Anonymous]

If you decide to do allergy testing, it’s best to make an appointment with a specialist/dermatologist. I think your vet will agree, that will give you the most accurate results.
I am vegetarian too, I find stuff like chicken tenders, chicken breasts, sandwich steak in the reduced price section of my market. Cost effective, and it will keep in the fridg for a few days or you can freeze it.
I just chop it up a little, put it in a casserole dish add a little water and stick it in the oven at 350-400 for about 40 minutes to an hour. Or, just stir fry (medium heat) with a little water in a skillet. You can freeze individual portions.
But, don’t refreeze raw after it’s been thawed unless it’s cooked first.
Then I just add a tablespoon to their kibble mix and add a little water. I add a fish oil capsule too, good for itchy dogs.

[Kandi S]

I did a search about prenatal vitamins and if men can take one as a daily multivitamin or not. I was surprised to read what types of vitamins a male vs a female human should and shouldn’t take, the differences in their amounts as well as their bad side affects according to gender and the importance of where our vitamins, minerals, etc… are derived from according to our gender. Then it struck me what about a male dog vs a female dog or any pet and should they be given a different intake of vitamins according to their gender? In male humans for example; some levels of vitamins and minerals as well as where they are derived from can cause everything from a higher risk of getting prostrate cancer to heart disease. The same for females that can suffer from weak bones to fetal birth defects if they don’t get enough Calcium or Foliate Acid. I was just wondering if anyone has considered this when reading their pet food labels and if they purchase different foods according to the sexes of their dog’s and other pets? Below is just an example of one of the articles I read about that states when choosing Omega 3’s in a human male diet to make sure it’s derived from fish oil and not flax seed oil because it has been shown to increase the risk of prostate cancer in men. So, if you own a male dog vs a female dog you might want to consider these facts even though this articles facts are according to human diets. Thanks!

Increased Risk of Prostate Cancer:
While most prenatal vitamins include only vitamins and essential minerals, some include omega supplements as well. Omega 3 is derived from flax oil and has been shown to increase the risk of prostate cancer in men. Omega 3 derived from fish oil, on the other hand, has been shown to inhibit prostate cancer, so it is important to determine what type of Omega 3 (if any) is in prenatal vitamins before taking them.
Read more : http://www.ehow.com/about_5042316_prenatal-vitamins-effects-men.html

[Annette R]

Hello,
I had purchased Dinovite to give to my 3 y/o female American Bulldog in order to help her with her constant scratching and paw licking but after seeing a few reviews I am a little scared in giving this to her. I researched and noticed a common ingredient in the dinovite and in the lick o chops is Omega 3 Fish Oil.
I’m inclined at this time to just buy Omega 3 Fish Oil and feed her that in her food VS using the Divovite, my pup is sensitive and i’m scared I may cause more harm than good.
Do you guys agree?? Just a motherly gut instinct I have to not give her the Dinovite LOL.
Thanks for your comments in advance.
Annette

[E L]

Bravo sells different combinations. As C4D said above, the Bravo “Balance” on the label is a “complete and balanced” variety as recommended by the AAFCO. The blends are combination of ingredients for those who prefer to mix their own particulars. That is why that version says “supplemental.” They also have a veggie mix in the chub that some will mix with the meat blend. All their packaging looks similar so be sure to look for the AAFCO on the label if you’re looking for a complete diet.
As for your other question, No, we raw feeders do not always go only raw meat. Think of it this way, if you ate only hamburger everyday and nothing else, you would eventually have a deficiency in something. It is on those products that Bravo has the disclaimer “supplemental.” As with other species, human included, dogs do need vitamins and minerals. This is usually drawn from the fruits and vegetables you will see on the label. Or we add them as C4D had mentioned above. What we usually avoid are “grains.” In the very least, minimize them. I myself rotate the top raw (frozen) brands, supplement with a digestive enzyme, pro-biotic, and fish oils. Sometimes I make my own “stews” and throw them into the food processor (although I do not recommend that to the novice, my ingredients are carefully selected). If I have to supplement with a kibble, it would be Orijen. It all depends on how in depth you want to go.
I realize how nuts this may come off. A few years ago I would have thought the same. Then I read some horrific things about the pet food industry and went on a quest.
Good Luck.

[C4D]

Aj K, I used Derramax years ago because I had a lab mix and knew the issues with labs and Rimadyl. Even though I used small occaisonal doses and was careful, it did a number on his liver and ultimately his kidneys. The adequan is a very good choice and I realize the dog is senior, but Tramadol (more of a morphine like based pain killer but no damage to liver or kidneys) might be a better choice. We switched to that when the kidney failure set it. Fish oil supplements would be helpful and Dori offered some supplement suggestions that could be useful. Good luck with your baby!

[Ellen D]

I think I have decided what I would like to do in terms of feeding my puppy. Background: he’s about 25 lbs, labradoodle, 14 weeks, should be around 65 lbs full grown. He is a picky and light eater, so I’ve been trying to do 4 meals per day but he just isn’t that interested in food so now it’s 3 meals.

This is what I’d like to do in my perfect world. Can anyone tell me if this would work or help tweak it?

–AM meal – either homemade or pre-made raw. I have a trusted recipe for homemade when I have the time to make some. Pre-made would either be Darwin’s or Allprovide, depending on which he prefers.
–Lunch – this is where it gets trick. He goes to day care 3 days per week, and they will only feed kibble. They will not mix anything with water, open cans, etc. Has to be non-perishable something. And if he doesn’t eat lunch, he will sometimes vomit, not to mention he is already bordering on underweight. So he needs something. The other 2 days my sister in law serves as our dog walker and can feed him anything I ask her.
–PM meal – I would like this to typically be RMBs, such as chicken backs/necks/wings to begin with and progressing from there. He already gets a raw chicken wing a couple times a week and loves it.

In order to figure out portions, would I just take each meal separately and divide it in 1/3? So give 1/3 of what would be a total day’s worth of food of each the pre-made/homemade, kibble, and RMBs? I would add his supplemental items either at breakfast or dinner – organ meats, probiotics, and sardines/fish oil/yogurt, etc.

I have looked into things like a “better” kibble – ziwipeak was the only thing I could find that seemed to fit the bill. However, their maximum calcium level in their “kibble” is like 2% which is way too high for a largeish breed puppy. Do you think I could get away with giving this at lunch and then having dinner on those days be meat without bones? Does it balance out like that, or is the calcium ratio a per meal type of deal?

[DogFoodie]

Starting them on the Blue Buffalo (while I would personally never use Blue Buffalo products) actually helped to give you more information. What you need to do is compare the ingredients in all of the foods they’ve eaten and reacted to see what common ingredient they might have. Through trial and error, and many, many different foods, I’ve determined that my dog reacts to all fish (including fish oil), chickpeas, lentils, flax, probably garlic and likely tomato. Keep in mind that what might be a problem for one dog might not be the problem for the other and dogs that have food intolerances frequently have more than one. Randomly choosing a brand’s food labelled ” hypoallergenic,” will do nothing to help your dog if he’s intolerant of the ingredients in it.

I would look for a truly limited ingredient food with a meat protein and a starch that your dogs haven’t eaten before and see how they do on that for a while. Nature’s Variety Instinct LID is one of the foods I’ve found that my dog does very well on. Keep in mind anything you offer them could be a problem; ie: treats and edible chews.

[Tim J]

Hi everyone,
My question is about fish in homemade food. I know fish oils are really good for dogs but my question is, what all of the fish can you use? I know you gut them but can you use the head, tail, scales?
I grind all my food down to mush and make my mixture so can I just throw the gutted fish in the grinder or do I need to take more out of it?

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I use the human kind, or the pet kind when I find a good deal, omega-3 1000mg-1500mg?.
I have been taking krill oil every day myself, 500mg or 1000mg/depends on the brand….anyway I have been thinking about giving my dogs 1 tab a day instead of the other stuff. I have heard good things.
It is supposed to help with a multitude of things, including dry skin, pruritis. I think it helps my dog with allergies.
Two meals a day is fine. Always have fresh water available. I add water because my old guy was not drinking enough and developed bladder stones. I load him up with water and the stones have not come back. But, you are right, I have to take him out for bathroom breaks every 2 hours.

PS: She’s a beauty! Doesn’t look her age, at all.
At present my dogs are all on Sundown Naturals fish oil 1200mg that I picked up at the drugstore on sale.

[Tal R]

Thanks LM

Adding water to the food sounds interesting, I’ll try that… can’t give her more than 2 meals a day though because I live alone and work during the day… 🙁 she seems to be ok with it for now though.

Regarding the fish oil – what exactly should I look for? Omega-3?

• This reply was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by Tal R.

[Anonymous]

How about adding some fish oil once a day? My 14 almost 15 yr old peke has shown improvement on Wysong Senior, he even lost a couple of pounds (gradually over a few months) He gets a little chicken or meat mixed in too, I feed him 4 small meals a day and soak his kibble, I also add water to his meals (hx of bladder stones)

PS: Nutrisca salmon and chickpea is potato and grain free, my other dogs like this and I was going to put my old guy on it, but he is doing so well on the Wysong, I think I’ll keep him on it.
I don’t analyze the ingredients and information on the packages, because I figure just like with people food, they lie, use different names for similar ingredients. I do pay attention to the reputation of the company and reviews and what veterinarians have to say, and of course how well my dogs do on the food.

[Anonymous]

@C4D, I agree with your comments, the homeopathic vet does address early spay/neuter in another blog, but as you know, it is complicated.
My cairn was a pet shop rescue, neutered at the age of 10 weeks due to a inguinal hernia, almost a year old and he was stiff, hind leg weakness….in fact the vet ruled out myasthenia gravis.
I took him home and put him on fish oil and glucosamine, walk him for at least an hour a day. He is 2 years old now and his gait is normal.
I avoid vaccinations for this dog and keep pesticides to a minimum.

[C4D]

Interesting article L M. Having 2 dogs with ACL/Meniscus tears in both knees, I’ve done a ton of research on this for many years. I do agree with most of the article, but find they’ve missed what seems to be a big problem that is only now becoming mainstream knowledge. Early spay/neuter is a HUGE reason for this. Here’s a UCDavis link:
http://news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=10498

There are many more, but this just gives you some insight. My first early neuter boy was very young, healthy and athletic, but was an adopted dog and was pediatric neutered @ 8 weeks. My chocolate was rescued @ about 8 months and was already spayed. We found out when the vets (not my normal one) opened her up to spay. He did have surgery (fishing line) and it was successful, but he slowly became forever stiff as we were not as familiar with supplements and therapy back then. Our chocolate went through rehab therapy prior to surgery per my vets recommendation and did so well, she did not require surgery. We have kept her on fish oil and glucosamine supplements for over 5 years and kept her on the slim side. While she has diagnosed arthritis in both knees, she is still very active (walks up to 2 miles almost daily) and we continually do strength exercises on her. She is 10 and with the exception of a sloppy sit (which she’s always had since we found her) you would not be able to tell.
So, I really feel that the most important part of recovery is therapy along with continual supplementation of fish oil and glucosamin/chondroitin. I use human supplements.

[mswaynay]

Hey guys, I have been watching/stalking this forum for awhile and it has helped me a lot transitioning my dogs to a full raw diet. One of my dogs completely ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and is in TPLO surgery right now, he should be coming home tomorrow, fingers crossed!

My dogs are fed half commercial raw grinds/nuggets, mainly Northwest Naturals and Columbia River Naturals, switching between meats such as lamb, beef, quail. The other half of their diet RMB that I find good deals on at the grocery store or local farmers (mainly chicken and turkey). We live in a small house so sadly don’t have room for a massive freezer yet! As far as supplements, they are already being given fish oil, green lipped mussel and K9 Level 5000. They also get sardines and local duck eggs several times a week. Thankfully he will not be put on antibiotics so thats one less thing to worry about. I did buy a exercise pen for him to be in for the next several weeks and was thinking for some of his meals I could use a Kong stuffed with grinds, frozen it would provide a pretty stimulating meal.

So any advice on what supplements, types of raw food may help his recovery, tips to keep him entertained, etc would be much appreciated! I’m sitting at home with all my other animals bored our of our minds waiting to hear from the vet!!

[Patty S]

I’m wondering if you live in an area where your dog has to be on Frontline, Advantage etc.
for fleas. When my Lab/Chow mix was about 2 years old (living in Florida) she started
scratching & biting her hind end till most of the hair was missing. Turns out she was allergic to flea bites.
She was on a preventative but they still get bitten though the fleas die. First Vet
prescribed similar to yours. Although I did not use the shampoo as it said I had to wear
gloves and to wash it off immediately if there was any contact with my skin. So why would
I put that on my dog? Second Vet, more on the holistic side, prescribed daily Omega-3
Fish oil and the problem stopped in a week or so. My dog is now 12 and has never had
this issue again.

[C4D]

I hope everything works out well for your senior girl. It’s always tough when they get to the geriatric stage. We had a 15 year old Husky mix that started urinating at night. Have you thought of putting a doggie diaper on her just to keep her dry and clean? Also I think you mentioned that she had arthritis. Have you tried adding just a bit of fish oil to her diet or some of the commercially available arthritis dog meds like cosequin? Adequin is a vet prescribed injection that you can be taught to use by the vet. There is always turmeric (my own preference) if you want to try a more natural approach. Easing the arthritis pain has helped my older dogs and while it might not help with the incontinence it could make her more comfortable. The only thing I never recommed are any of the NSAIDS. We used them in very small and occaisional doses and ended up with liver issues and quite possibly the kidney failure that occurred. Good Luck with your girl!

[Susan]

Hi Keith, that appetite stimulant is called Periactin a vet has to prescribe it, so if you do see a vet, you can ask about Periactin if the vet can’t find anything wrong but normally at that young age dogs love food, some may be fussy but they normally do eat home cook foods.. open a can of tuna or salmon in spring water, drain the water & does she eat boiled potatoes or sweet potatoes, mash some thru the fish but make out its for you & ask her do you want some….even scrambled eggs, dogs love scrambled eggs. How is she if you share your food?? some dogs want what you’re eating & look that their food bowls & think, what’s this crap, I want what you’re eating lol

[Sam Koch]

Makes sense. The licking started not too long ago too. I’ve been thinking about fish oil not just for Honey, but for my Chis at home with my parents. Thanks for the suggestions! I really appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

And, the allergies may be seasonal. The specialist I saw said he didn’t recommend skin testing unless the symptoms had been going on for 4 seasons without any significant periods of relief. Despite diet changes, etc.
Bathing once or twice a week with Malaseb helps my dog, daily fish oil supplements are good for dry itchy skin too.

[Anonymous]

Some dogs shed a lot, you could try a daily fish oil supplement…in case the shedding is related to dry skin.

She may have environmental allergies, if so, and it is causing her discomfort for 4 seasons, I would consider getting her tested. http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283

Have you considered a home made diet? You could still use kibble as a base
http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

Is she getting enough exercise? A 20 minute brisk walk 2 or 3 times a day will aid with weight loss.

[constant_lurker]

Hi all,
I’ve hit kind of a roadblock and I’m hoping someone here may have a suggestion.
My dog has a mix of environmental allergies and food sensitivities (or possible sensitivities I’m still trying to figure out). Since the summer, I’ve fed her a combination of a raw diet and The Honest Kitchen foods. Her allergies have improved greatly and I’ve been able to figure out some of the meats that set her off. Chicken (and chicken eggs) and beef are out, and unfortunately, so is fish and fish oils.
I’ve been trying to add in variety and am making headway. But I want to find a good source of useable omega 3s for her. She does very well with rabbit, which has a decent omega 3 to omega 6 ratio. We’re still iffy on lamb, though lamb heart has a decent omega3:omega 6 profile from what I can tell.
Are there other meats I can/should look at? I know (or think I know) that flax oil has lots of omega 3s, but that it doesn’t convert into the important kinds well. Are there other oils worth looking at?
Anyone have a dog with fish sensitivities who’s had good luck with krill oil?

Thanks for taking the time to read through this, and for any suggestions.

[Lori]

You could try Fromm Gold Weight Management. $48.76 for a 33-pound bag from Chewy’s.
http://www.chewy.com/dog/fromm-gold-weight-management-dry-dog/dp/41590

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein 25% MIN
Crude Fat 10% MIN
Crude Fiber 7% MAX
Moisture 10% MAX
Omega 3 Fatty Acids 0.4% MIN
Omega 6 Fatty Acids 2.4% MIN

Caloric Content

3,484kcal/kg
1,584 kcal/lb
341 kcal/cup

Ingredients:
Turkey Liver, Chicken Meal, Pearled Barley, Oatmeal, Dried Tomato Pomace, Duck, Menhaden Fish Meal, Brown Rice, White Rice, Millet, Chicken, Flaxseed, Pea Fiber, Potatoes, Dried Whole Egg, Salmon Oil, Chicken Fat, Lamb, Cheese, Brewers Dried Yeast, Alfalfa Meal, Carrots, Lettuce, Celery, Chicken Cartilage, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Taurine, Chicory Root Extract, Calcium Sulfate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, L-Carnitine, DL-Methionine, L-Tryptophan, Sodium Selenite, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Vitamins, Minerals, Probiotics.

• This reply was modified 11 years ago by Lori.

[Anonymous]

Nutrisca dry (salmon) is potato and grain free (ingredients copied from chewy.com)

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

[Jennifer H]

Sooo…this is the menu I’ve drawn up for next month for Toby’s raw diet. Would anyone care to check it over and see if I’m good for calcium/phos, vits/mins? I try to stick to the meat being in the PMR range, but I add veggies and supplements as well to balance everything out.
Toby weighs 13lbs, although I think he should weigh a bit less. The morning mixes consist of ground whole prey (Hare Today), with added cooked/pureed veggies (varies according to season availability, but usually consists of a base of pumpkin, spinach, parsley, sweet potato, berries and I add an 8oz can of Oyster for manganese) and added egg. I mix up as much meat as I would need for all 4 weeks, then add half that amount in veggies, and then 2 eggs w/ shells from my backyard flock.
He also gets .5oz of veggies in the evening. (I make a big batch and then portion into ice cube trays.)

His organs consist of 2lb beef liver, 1lb chicken liver, 2lb beef kidney, and 1lb beef pancreas that were ground and mixed together and then portioned into ice cube trays for ease of use.

AM
Monday – 2.5 oz Tripe Mix
Tuesday – 2.5oz Llama Mix
Wednesday – 2.5oz Rabbit Mix
Thursday – 2.5oz Tripe Mix
Friday – 2.5oz Llama Mix
Saturday – 2.5oz Rabbit Mix
Sunday – 2.5oz Mutton Mix
PM
(Meals total roughly 3oz)
Monday – Skinless Chicken Neck, Chicken Gizzard, .5oz Organ
Tuesday – Chicken Foot, Beef Heart
Wednesday – Goat, Sardine, Beef Gullet
Thursday – Duck Neck, Turkey Gizzard, .5oz Organ
Friday – Chicken Back Piece, 1oz Organ
Saturday – Cornish Hen Wing, Goat, .5oz Organ
Sunday – Goat, Sardine, Beef Gullet

His supplements are as follows –

MORNING – 1/2 TSP Missing Link Skin and Coat – Daily
15 IU Vit E – Daily
Carlson Low A Cod Liver Oil – Daily
2tsp Kefir – Daily
Fish Oil – Mon, Wed, Fri
Coconut Oil – Tues, Thurs

EVENING – 1/2 TSP ONP Daily Greens – Daily
15 IU Vitamin E – Daily
2tsp Kefir – Daily

I’m also looking at adding k9 Natural Health Skin and Coat to his evening meal as well….but only at half dose or less (their doses seem extremely high).

Does this look okay? I’m learning all the time, and hoping to create a nice varied but balanced diet for Toby. He loves his raw, and he’s done so well on it.

• This reply was modified 11 years ago by Jennifer H.
• This reply was modified 11 years ago by Jennifer H.

[AJ A]

Thanks for all your opinions and experiences, I am glad I received replies.
I won’t ever go back to kibble EVER.
And I don’t run to the Vet all the time. I am organic myself since 15 yrs and haven’t seen a doctor since. Not even once!
I use common sense and needed to see if my case was only happening to my pup. As I can see it is definitely the water in the meat. Thats why they dont need to drink as much water as they do with kibble. Today I controlled a little the water intake and he pees less often, but still bigger spots than before and specially after feeding the chicken. He is doing just fine and has top energy, his coat started shining and it is growing faster than it was 1 month ago.
Before I switched to raw I did a deep education to be prepared, asking raw feeding breeders all over from Australia to Germany, checked everything online and started to understand that raw diet should not contain veggies neither grains like the BARF diet.. Wolves dont get a complete balanced diet everyday, neither do we and certainly they wont be searching for carrots, spinach and grains in their habitat. They receive the fermented enzymes from the digested food of their prey’s tripe, thats the good stuff, thats what they will eat first, thats where lots of balanced nutrients are.
When starting a raw diet with puppies (especially small breed) you best start with chicken, because low fat and easier digested than ground beef. Because I tried both, beef (grass fed 95%lean) and chicken. He regurgitated the whole ground beef everytime he ate it. He never did with the chicken. The wing helps cleaning his teeth and he gets supplements from the core of the bone and calcium.1 egg a week for breakfast. I give bone meal since he does not yet get enough bones in his food yet. Once he is used to the chicken and wings/necks I will start to join some liver and heart and green tripe little by little to not upset his digestion. Than we will do the same with duck, lamb and rabbit including organ and muscle meat as well. Of course a meaty bone everyday or 3 times a week.
Once established his likes than we can start feeding 1 day chicken, next duck and so on. I forgot the fish. Some fresh fish once a week is important as well.
I think probiotics , enzymes and clay are a must have in the kitchen. So is ionic silver and therapeutic grade essential oils like geranium, peppermint, frankincense and lemon. When they get lose stool some clay with enzymes/probiotics and diarrhea is cleared.
I use ionic silver to disinfect drinking water, once in a while internal against parasites and to clear my Shih Tzu’s eyes (14yrs). He suffers dry eyes and since he is on raw diet as well since 2 weeks his dry eye symptoms are already totally gone!! Yeahhhh! Now I hope to see changes in his coat like color and softness. His constant fear should disappear as well and his appetite should get better and better. I really hope to gain some more years of his company. I love him so much and hope we can gain back as much health as he has lost due to those bad kibble diet. He lost some of his hair on his back and I truly hope the high protein intake will fix most of his problems.
I stopped using vaccines on my Shih Tzu since 10yrs, neither I believe in spaying/neuter dogs. My pup received vaccines from her Vet, he won’t ever receive any other vaccines in his life. I dont believe it does any good, not for pets and neither for humans. Build up a healthy immune system and eat organic food and you will be fine!!! Same for dogs. THEY ARE DOGS NOT HUMANS!!! THEY DESERVE TO EAT HOW NATURE DESIGNED THEM TO.

[Anonymous]

Plenty information at these websites.
http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

http://www.allergydogcentral.com/

Environmental allergies are more common than food allergies, often food sensitivities are referred to as allergies.
If the symptoms have been going on for more than a year, 4 seasons without significant relief I would consider seeing a specialist and having the skin testing done (if you haven’t done so already).

Have you considered consulting with a homeopathic veterinarian?
http://www.vitalanimal.com
for a list of homeopathic vets in your area http://theavh.org/ Make sure the vet has at least 75% homeopathic cases in their practice, or you might just get the same old same old.

My dog with allergies receives immunotherapy and seems to do best with Nutrisca dry (fish) as a base food. A daily fish oil capsule. Frequent baths with Malaseb.

[Anonymous]

My dog with allergies is doing very well, she only needs the injection every 3 weeks now.
We see the specialist once a year and pick up the solution every 6 months, he is available for questions by phone.
Haven’t been to the regular vet in 3 years, no need, this dog will not be receiving any more vaccinations.
Initially the testing is expensive but the maintenance isn’t bad at all. It is what it is.

Not all dogs need immunotherapy, the allergies may only be seasonal, or related to food sensitivities.
But seeing a specialist and trying simple foods should help, for some reason my allergy girl does well on Nutrisca (fish), or Wysong. I tried eliminating this and that, no chicken, no potato……. she has a delicate stomach, but now I give her a little chicken or lean meat (cooked) with her dry, a fish oil capsule every day, it’s supposed to help pruritis.
Good luck.

[Anonymous]

My poodle with allergies receives immunotherapy and does well on Nutrisca dry (fish) as a base combined with a homemade diet (see the link I provided in the Homemade Dog Food thread). She gets a fish oil capsule daily, too.
Her allergies are environmental (as most are) but she does have a sensitive stomach.
Often food sensitivities are referred to as allergies when they are not.
Allergies often show up around this age and tend to get worse with age.
I found helpful information here. http://www.allergydogcentral.com/

[Anonymous]

The fish oils and vitamin E begin to dissipate immediately once the bag is opened. I store 1/2 the contents of a bag in a tightly closed container and store it in a cool place, put what I am using in a large coffee container in the fridg, refill every few days.

[Anonymous]

I have been using GNC dog multivitamins and a glucosamine supplement for my pets, so far so good.
I use some of their supplements (human) for myself.
Sometimes I buy drugstore stuff because it is cheaper, such as fish oil….but who knows? They are all considered food supplements and don’t have to be checked by the FDA.
I like Endurance products too and they have a dog multivitamin I have used and may go back to.

[Anonymous]

A lot of small breeds have a heart murmur, as long as it is asymptomatic I wouldn’t worry too much. There are a lot of high quality dog foods out there, try them out. Some of my favorites are Wysong, Nutrisca, Wellness…..and I recently discovered Evangers.
Fish oil is a good supplement for any dog, imo. I use a drugstore brand for humans, one capsule a day, check with your vet.

[Chris S]

Oh yes, the Cavalier is about top of the list of breeds that get this heart problem. My dog, Archie, has held off any problems for about 7 years. So I am thankful for that.

I have read that both fish oil & Coq10 were both good for this, but can’t seem to find out dosages. And what brands of supplements are reliable & consistent.

I am looking for what foods would be helpful as well.

One question I have had for a long time is…why don’t the manufacturers make their food taste good to the dog. I have tried numerous 5 star dog foods & none seem to make an impression on Archie. This is just a short rant. Sorry.

Thanks for your response. It verifies what I have been reading.

[Anonymous]

http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

I use this as a guide, for supplements I add a dog multi vitamin, fish oil supplement, and other things depending on the dogs individual needs
I also use a quality dry food as a base, tried to get away from it, but they seem to like a little kibble here and there.

• This reply was modified 11 years ago by Anonymous.

[Melissaandcrew]

Any breed can have a heart murmur. What grade is the murmur, and did the vet say it was indicative of a specific disease? Fish oil is one of the best supplements you can use. Coq10 is said to be effective for certain types of heart disease as well.