[pugmomsandy]

Sardines packed in water or olive oil (if that exists), and no added salt. There are many brands to chose from. It depends on if you want wild caught, or fair trade or something special like that. I bought a special one before and it was $3 or more for one package! Now I just get wild caught sardines whole at the Mexican market for less than $1.50/lb. I caught a sale and they were $1.19/lb. There is also canned fish in big cans (like soup cans). I’ve seen mackerel and salmon and some other kinds of fish in 15 oz (approx) cans.

[theBCnut]

I only use small amounts so no, they won’t mess up the balance. And you have a couple choices on how to incorporate fish. If you feed 2 meals a day, feed one or two meals a week of oily fish, most of what I’ve read said one, but one source was talking about dogs that seemed to need more oils and it suggested twice a week. The other way is to divide that amount up and feed some every day.

[theBCnut]

I add in some antioxidant rich fruit, like berries and for omega 3s it’s oily fish like sardines, salmon, and herring, or some canned oysters.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 6 months ago by theBCnut.

[Hound Dog Mom]

It’s really not that bad once you get used to it – it can be intimidating at first though. Sandy had a good suggestion with gradually incorporating a little raw until you get more comfortable. Also keep in mind my recipes are bit more complex because I choose to balance the nutrients without the addition of synthetic vitamins and minerals – you certainly could simplify a recipe with a multi-vitamin. i.e.) 1 lb. boneless meat + 1/4 lb. cooked veggies + 1 multi-vitamin + 800 mg. calcium + fish oil – using this general recipe you could provide variety by rotating between different protein sources (turkey, beef, chicken, etc.) and adding “extras” such as yogurt or eggs on occasion.

[muddy little mutt]

Okay thanks :)..I really think it’s environmental because she had a flare up after playing around outside. She has dry skin in the winter but no itching. I’ve been changing up her food so I don’t think it’s a food allergy.

[theBCnut]

Probably good enough. I usually feed one meal a week of oily fish. I don’t really know how that compares to the amount you are giving yours divided up. If mine aren’t getting a fish meal a week, I add krill or fish oil every day. And that is with feeding kibble with omega 3s too. I just try to add the amount of fish, fish oil, krill oil for the amount of raw that I’m feeding.

[theBCnut]

Are you giving them any fish oil or fish? If not then some fish or krill could definitely be in order.

[pugmomsandy]

Does she itch all year? Can it also be in part to a food intolerance? You can try Herbsmith’s AllerQi, a tablet with stinging nettle (sometimes it’s with quercetin) and also feeding a food with a “cool” meat like duck. A paw rinse (water and vinegar) before coming inside the house. Also coconut oil – 1 teaspoon a day – may help with allergies.

[muddy little mutt]

My vet believes that my dog has seasonal allergies. She scratches her neck and ears. And chews on her rear paws. He said 1000 mg for my 20 lb dog, since that’Can is the standard human dosage. What else can I do to help her with the itchiness?

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi weimlove –

You’ll have to check to see the concentration of the vitamin e supplement you have – different liquid supplements have different concentrations. It should tell you how many IUs per drop. I’d say 100 IU per lb. would be fine.

As long as you’re feeding a fatty fish (like sardine or salmon) a few times a week you shouldn’t need to worry about Omega 3’s or Vitamin D. I would just suggest kelp and alfalfa (like I did with the raw) – or some other “superfoods” (wheat grass, spirulina, etc.). I would feed at least one egg per one. I would also suggest occasionally adding items like tinned oysters, nuts and seeds to provide important trace nutrients (this doesn’t need to be done daily, but once in awhile). As long as you’re balancing the c:p ratio, feeding a variety of protein sources, feeding 10% organ meat, adding vitamin e, omega 3’s (fatty fish, cage free eggs or fish oil) and adding a whole food supplement everything should balance over time. Variety is key.

Congrats on the new pup! I would certainly say it would be fine to start the new pup on homemade. I started Mabel right up on homemade raw when she came home.

[pugmomsandy]

Are you using his goal weight in the calculator? You can add some high calorie additions like oils – fish oil, coconut oil. Have you looked up “satin balls”? It is a high calorie food to help with weight gain. There is also a commercial product called Abady Granular which has over 800 calories per cup that you could add to his kibble. I was feeding 2 cups a day of kibble to one of my emaciated fosters and he is at a good weight now after 6 weeks. He might have started at 16 lbs, can’t remember.

[theBCnut]

I use fish, salmon, or krill oil every day, and I use coconut about every other day, when I’m feeding a lower fat meat.

[SandyandMila]

Hi again, thanks for all the help! Do you use both coconut oil and fish oil or alternate the 2? Do you use krill oil? I had read and watched a video of Dr Becker educating about krill oil.

[Saireah]

Starbright:

My Quinn (lab/vizsla) was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at 1 year old. I switched her food to grain-free after discovering that, along with a higher protein. She needed to build muscle as she was favoring one side. She has hip dysplasia in both hips.

In terms of supplements, I can tell you what we’ve done that has made a phenomenal difference. She just turned two and there’s no way in the world I’d have thought she would be at this point. We were pretty certain she was going to need surgery (her range of motion was OK — but we just thought surgery would be more immediate than in the distant future).

As HDM suggests, a great diet with anti-inflammatory supplements was suggested to us by Iowa State University. Since being recommended, we’ve had her on Nutramax Cosequin DS Double-Strength Chewable Tablets. According to Iowa State, this is the only brand to be clinically proven. You will give her two a day for a month and one a day from then on (directions are on the bottle). Coupled with this, we also immediately started her on one tablet of fish oil per day — 1,000MG (but you may have to feed less/more — consult vet).

The diet change and supplements helped, but targeted exercise has made the difference, as well. Take your dog swimming. If she doesn’t like to swim, teach her to love it by way of rewards/playing. Swimming is the best for joint issues. Other options provided to us were walking in tall grass (makes her lift her legs all the way as opposed to close together/hopping), walking on a blown up air mattress (good for winter exercise), and frequent walks (as opposed to a long walk — more frequent is better).

Also — obviously weight. She’s a slim 43 pounds at the moment, but she did get to 50 pounds in the winter and my vet noticed it. Slim is always, always better — and I’ve had people say she’s too thin (mostly because I don’t think most people are accustomed to seeing healthy dogs — harsh, but true… I think a lot of dogs are overweight).

If you have any questions, let me know. I really enjoy talking about this subject because I couldn’t find enough information when this happened to us. It’s our personal experience, but Quinn is now running full-speed and playing for hours and hours daily. A definite turnaround.

Good luck. 🙂

[pugmomsandy]

SanDnMila,

The necks I buy are skinless and my small dogs did not have any problems with them from the start. Neither did they with marrow bones. I normally don’t feed them low fat foods so they are used to eating normal fat and canned food seems to have more fat too. Mine started eating raw with commercial products so it was even higher in fat than the kibble. Then I introduced RMB after about a year of commercial frozen patties. I would start out with small marrow bones though maybe 1 – 2 inches versus the 4 inch ones to start but I don’t think skinless necks would hurt. Are you already adding some fat to her diet with oils like fish or coconut?

Here’s the thread with pictures:

/forums/topic/pictures-of-dogs-eating-raw-raw-meals/page/3/#post-19529

http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u651/pugmomsandy/pictures%20for%20posting/ducky1_zps2c6ec569.jpg

[pugmomsandy]

I think he’s holding out for all the treats!! LOL! You can add a little something to his kibble to make it more appealing. Like a little canned food or yogurt, or even coconut oil, maybe salmon oil if he likes the fishy smell. You can also use the kibble for treats. That way he’s actually getting something with nutritional value. I use Vital Essentials freeze dried nibblets for food and treats. And also freeze dried liver.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi jynxxbaby –

For short term balancing I’d recommend adding 1 low calcium (less than 5% dv) or calcium free human multi vitamin, 800-1,000 mg. calcium, 1 tsp. fish oil and 1 tsp. flax oil per pound of chicken. For the long term try to diversify her diet an research balanced recipes – dogaware.com is a great resource and there are many wonderful books on Amazon.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi Alexandra –

Glad to hear your boys like the food 🙂

Freezing won’t have a significant effect on the quality of most of the ingredients – although you may want to wait on adding any vitamin e or fish oil until just prior to feeding (to ensure maximum potency and decrease the risk of oxidation). Also keep in mind that if you use yogurt or kefir some of the probiotics will be killed off during freezing so if you want the maximum benefit from either of these ingredients you may want to wait on these as well. But you could definitely mix up all the meat, whole food supplements and other “extras” ahead of time and freeze.

[Mylo]

http://www.congoraw.com/products.html
Complete Dinners consisting of Meat, Bone, Organ and a Vegetable/Fruit Blend which is comprised of organic celery, blueberries, romaine lettuce, radicchio, banana and parsley.

He doesn’t stay outside a lot and he’s brushed everyday, the problems are in his inner back legs, not much hair there, it’s very fine.
I wonder if adding fish oil will help.
He’s getting heartworm/flea pills.

thanks for your comments, appreciate them

[theBCnut]

It could be due to an imbalance in the raw. It might need fish oil added to it and if you aren’t feeding some tripe, I would add probiotics too. You’re dog could be sensitive to one of those protein sources. Chicken is a commonly allergenic food. Try putting him on just one protein source for a month and see how he does, then switch him to another and so on until you know if it is a particular one he is having a problem with.

[Codex]

So I’ve been noticing my dog scratching her neck and ears. More recently (past couple days), she’s been chewing on one of her rear paws. It’s not really intense scratching but it’s out of the norm.

I noticed the scratching after she was playing with another dog that she lives with. She kept in going into a patch of tall grass-like plants near a rose bush. (Several weeks ago)

I did give her a bath and I know the vet saying before that Codex has dry skin. But with the warm weather I’m suspecting something else.

She isn’t on flea prevention because I didn’t want to use the stuff you put on the dog’s back. I read they contain very strong pesticides. I finally got around to ordering Sentinel but I know I’ll need to supplement that with a flea repellent or something.

I took her to the vet on Tuesday for her 1 year checkup. I had to drop her off because the receptionist told me the whole thing would take about four hours…I didn’t feed or give her water that morning because I wasn’t anticipating her staying at the vet so long. Anyway, when I picked her up (5+ hours later) she was panting pretty heavily–with the air conditioning. I assumed it was because she was thirsty because Codex loves the vet. I found out they gave her rabies, lepto, Dapp, dewormer, blood test. She seemed pretty sore and tired. But she still had the energy to scratch.

Vet said everything looked normal and she probably has allergies–no fleas. He said I could give her fish oil and Benadryl (for vaccine reactions).
She’s been eating Earthborn Holistic Primitive natural with a little bit of instinct raw. I recently switched the instinct raw to duck. I introduced the duck after the scratching started.

[Annette]

My dogs started out with same problems you mention. I got them when they were about 3 months and everything was fine. When about a year old they began having problems with loose stools/diarrhea. Switched their food a few times over next 1/2 year. Vet thought allergies and through process of elimination found my dog Gracie had allergies to things like artificial flavors and grains. George improved a little but then began to have frequent ear infections. Ended up using a limited ingredient diet but George just kept getting loose stools/ear infections, then began having yeast and bacterial skin infections. Turns out George has allergies to artificial ingredients, certain proteins (lamb & chicken for sure), grains, potatoes, peanut butter, and unknown outdoor allergies. After blowing up my brain with all kinds of research and having an extensive talk with the vet, I put both dogs on a low glycemic, organic, grain free diet (Nutrisca Salmon & Chickpea dog food). George began improving within 4-6 weeks but, I did have stay on top of things by keeping him bathed, daily ear cleanings, etc. At that point I began to add organic coconut oil into his diet. It is 1/2 tsp per 10 lbs but you must do it gradually or they will get gas and greasy loose stools. I have mastiff mixed breeds (110 lbs) so I started with a teaspoon and gradually increased about every 3 days or so. George’s skin and ears have improved greatly and no more diarrhea! This is the first time ever in 2 yrs I have gotten to a 3 month point without seeing the vet! (I should mention that they get a little fish oil and the treats I give them are organic, grain & potato free – made with pumpkin and turkey and they like them.) I will be adding some probiotics into their diet this month but haven’t decided exactly what brand yet, I’ll talk to the vet about it when he goes in for his shots. These things may or may not work for you but worth a shot.
Anyway, the site I found most helpful (besides Dog Food Advisor) was the Whole Dog Journal. I could have saved my brain a lot of damage by looking at them first. They had a canine allergy download that explained canine allergy issues thoroughly and in a way I could understand so that I could have meaningful discussions with my vet. I am less frazzled now and feel I have a better handle on helping my dog live a healthier life. Lol, did that just sound like an ad for them? If, knock on wood, we have George’s food issues pretty well cleared up then we’ll be tackling the outdoor allergen issues next. Keeping my fingers crossed!

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi harpersmom –

I found this concerning CoQ10 and recovery after surgery:

“CoQ10 is found in virtually all cells of the human body as a molecular compound in the mitochondria; a long, oval-shaped part of cells that convert nutrients into energy, including in the heart, liver and skeletal muscles. CoQ10 promotes energy after surgery by functioning as a carrier to transfer electrons across the membrane of mitochondria, which are the energy generators in the body’s cells.”
[nsc24.com/surgery]

Supplementing with CoQ10 definitely wouldn’t hurt anything, although concerning TPLO surgery I’m sure some of the other supplements mentioned would provide more benefit. Oily fish (like sardines), ruminant organ meat (heart, liver and kidneys) and eggs are all rich in CoQ10.

[pugmomsandy]

Here’s some good info with dosing:

http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.com/2012/11/turmeric-and-curcumin-good-for-your.html

Omega-3’s (fish oils) are good anti-inflammatories too. Also products like Medizym-Fido (wobenzym-N is the human version), and Actiflex 4000.

http://www.medizym.com/shop/index.php?p=product&id=10&parent=1#

http://www.coxvetlab.com/products.asp

[harpersmom]

Can anyone suggest great supplements for a 4.5 year old, Otherwise Very Healthy ,Female Akita who just had TPLO surgery, and will go back in in 8 weeks for the other leg? She’s no dummy, naturally cutting back her own calories when free feeding kibble- due to the reduction in energies spent. I feed Wellness kibble along with a Multitude of Fresh proteins & whole foods. I rotate, advocating variety: chicken, buffalo, salmon, mackerel, fresh caught river trout , a bit of seaweed for iodine, raw farm fresh eggs, some cooked whole grains (everything from barley to quinoa to oatmeal, i rotate), some greens, some fruit & veggies (avocado yesterday). I give a Fish Sourced Omega Oil supplement w/dha (extra now, for inflammation), glucosamine/chondroitin MSM, I’m making fresh chicken broth to give her collagen, and mixing the broth with gelatin for chicken blox treats. Extra protein right now for healing skin, ligaments, muscle. Normal supplements include daily and rotated treats, too: brewer’s yeast, marrow bones, cultured dairy (she LOVES my homemade creme fraiche and yoghurt), probiotics (daily, especially since she’s on antibiotics right now…wellness kibble has prebiotics in it, too), seasonally: fresh raw local honey w/pollen for allergies. Perhaps i’m leaving some basic vit/min supplements off this list, but are there any supplements that will specifically aid in healing, recover, address inflammation, or help reduce pain that i’m missing? The vet has her on Rimadyl, antibiotics, tramadol. Thank you… And if you’ve personally gone through a TPLO with a Big, Young, Active dog, i’d LOVE to ask you some very specific questions, if anyone has the time… I appreciate your help.

[LckyNmbr12]

Hello, I recently rescued an american bullador pup (american bulldog/lab mix) who has demodectic mange. He is currently taking ivermectin (I know this can be dangerous but he doesn’t appear to be having any issues or reactions from it), and because he is young, my vet doesn’t think he will have any issues overcoming it with the medication and itch-relief shampoo. However, I want to ensure he gets better as soon as possible, and I hope to prevent further immune system issues. Has anyone had experience with this? Can anyone recommend any supplements or home remedies that will help get him and keep him healthy? I’ve seen there are various multivitamins aimed at immune-boosting, as well as other supplements such as colostrum. I’ve also seen that fish oil, specifically salmon oil, can be extremely helpful in mending and maintaining his skin and coat. Any advice? Thanks!!

[Hound Dog Mom]

As long as the homemade portion is 20% or less of the meal you don’t need to worry about balancing it. If you plan on feeding more than 20% of his diet as homemade food you’ll need to balance the recipe. Add a variety of fresh cooked and pureed vegetables , pureed fruit (don’t go overboard, fruit is high in carbohydrates) and fresh minced herbs (parsley, cilantro, etc.). To balance the fats in the turkey add 1 tsp. flax or chia oil or 1 tbs. ground flax or chia seeds (provides essential fatty acids without contributing to the level of linoleic acid which is already high in poultry) per pound of turkey. For dogs with cancer the recommended dosage of fish oil is the amount that provides 300 mg. combined EPA and DHA per 10 lbs. of body weight – so for your dog you’d be aiming for around 1,200 mg. combined EPA and DHA daily (most fish oil capsules have around 300 mg. combined EPA and DHA). If you’re feeding predominantly homemade, I would recommend making one of the capsules a vitamin a and d rich quality cod liver oil (I like Carlson’s brand). I would definitely feed eggs once or twice a week – cage free are best as they’re higher in omega 3’s and vitamins such as d and e. I would supplement with around 100 IU vitamin e daily (could give a higher dosage 2 – 3 times a week). You want to add 1 ground eggshell per pound of meat to balance the calcium to phosphorus ratio. I’d also add a whole food supplement comprised of nutrient rich “superfoods” – you can buy pre-made supplement’s (such as Nature’s Logic All-Food Fortifier, Dr. Harvey’s E-mune Boost, Wysong’s Wild Things, etc.) or make your own. I make my own, I buy bulk ingredients from human supplement stores – the current blend I’m feeding is 1 part kelp, 1 part spirulina, 1 part alfalfa, 1 part wheatgrass and 1 part bee pollen. Whole food supplements will help supply vital trace nutrients. Lastly, I would recommend switching up protein sources often. Is there a reason you’re looking at feeding only turkey? If your dog doesn’t have any sensitivities it’s best to feed a variety of poultry and red meats (if you’re feeding red meat use hemp seeds/oil instead of flax or chia).

[beagleowner]

I am going to include the egg shekels. We have a food processor and so it makes it quite easy. The eggs are commercial eggs. I can add fish oil. How much would you suggest? We use store bought green string beans. Henry weighs 48 lbs but I need to feed him so he can lose at least a pound a week. I need to get him to around 42 lbs. however his lipomas are large and probably add 3 lbs to his weight. We are giving him Chinese herbs that are to help dissolve the lipomas. The very good news is that we joined an organic farm program and will be getting produce, herbs, fruits soon. I can include those in his diet as well as our own. We want to do the best for Henry. There are so many recipes out there it is hard to determine what to make for him. The Nature Variety Instinct is rated 5 stars on Food Advisor so I had hoped I could use the kibble as a base and add the turkey, vegetables, eggs to it.

[theBCnut]

HDM is really great at looking at what your feeding and seeing what is missing. Do you feed the egg shells too? Do you mean green beans or real beans? Are the eggs regular commercial eggs or organic free range eggs? I would definitely add fish oil, high antioxidant foods, and some kind of green super food. I would make the animal based foods 80% of the meal and the fruits and veggies only 20%. Getting the amount of calcium right is important too.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 7 months ago by theBCnut.

[GSDsForever]

Ocean Blue Classic version *might* be okay too. I’d ask — because I know in the past, the “potatoes” the owner has used he stated are sweet potatoes, not white potatoes. It’s easiest to reach them via online chat (pops up on their website).

Classic is their lower priced, more moderate protein line, which may or may not by formula include grains. Here are the Classic version ingredients:

1st 5 ingredients: White Fish Meal, Herring, Salmon Meal, Salmon Oil, Blueberries

*Fish is wild caught Alaskan, no Ethoxyquin. Salmon oil is from wild caught Alaskan also.

White Fish Meal, Herring, Potatoes, Salmon Meal, Salmon Oil, Blueberries, Figs, Basil, Dill, Anise Seed, Caraway Seed, Watercress, Spinach, Celery, Parsley, Marigold Flowers, Sesame Seeds, Almonds, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Thermophilum Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Choline Chloride, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Cobalt Proteinate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite, Mixed Tocopherols, Citric Acid, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary Extract

As you can see, there are no grains in this lower priced formula either. I’d inquire whether the potatoes are white or sweet potatoes.

[GSDsForever]

Here are the ingredients for the Timberwolf Ocean Blue Platinum I recommended:

1st 5 Ingredients: Herring, Salmon, Dried Salmon, Chickpeas, Ocean Fish

*Fish are wild caught Alaskan, no Ethoxyquin.
**Food is low temperature steam/pressure cooked at 200-225 Degrees, max 10-15 minutes.

Herring, Salmon, Spray Dried Salmon, Chick Peas, Ocean Fish, Spray Dried Whitefish, Sweet Potatoes, Olive Oil, Salmon Oil, Dried Organic Kelp, Dried Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Herring Oil, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Thyme, Anise Seed, Fenugreek, Garlic, Ginger, Mango, Blueberries, Cranberries, Whole Carrots, Dried Celery, Dried Parsley, Dried Lettuce, Dried Watercress, Dried Spinach, Lecithin, Choline Chloride, Minerals: [Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Calcium Pantothenate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Vitamins: [Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin (A Source Of Vitamin B3), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin (A Source Of Vitamin B2), Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (A Source Of Vitamin B6), Thiamine Hydrochloride (A Source Of Vitamin B1), Biotin (A Source Of Vitamin B7), Citric Acid (A Source Of Vitamin C), Mixed Tocopherols (A Source Of Vitamin E and A Natural Preservative)], Prebiotics: [Chicory Root (Inulin)], Probiotics: [Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Lactis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtillus Fermentation Product], Papain, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Beta-Carotene, Fructooligosaccharides, Taurine, L-Carnitine, DL-Methionine, Lemon Juice, Rosemary Extract (A Natural Preservative).

[GSDsForever]

More cancer fighting foods to make liberal use of:

Herbs & Spices:
Turmeric
Ginger
Raw Garlic
Basil
Oregano
Thyme
Sage
Mints
Marjoram
Italian Flat Leaf Parsley
Rosemary
Tarragon
Fenugreek
Fennel
Chili Pepper (in small amounts!)

Greens (Organic):
Kale
Mustard Greens
Turnip Greens

Veggies:
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Asparagus
Cauliflower
Carrots (preferably organic)
Celery (organic)
Eggplant
Mushrooms, all: especially Enoki, Shiitake, Maitake (also cordyceps)
Bell Peppers (organic)
Winter Squash
Rutabagas
Turnips
Tomatoes
Cucumber
Daikon
Fennel
Sweet Potatoes

Fruits:
Berries (organic)
Citrus (organic)
Papaya
Cantaloupe

Seafood (Uncontaminated)

Legumes:
Lentils
Miso
Organic Non-GMO Tofu

Whole Grains (IF using in homemade or choosing among in a food):
Barley
Steel Cut Oats (slow kind)
Brown Rice
Whole Wheat (organic)

Oils:
Organic Virgin Coconut
Extra Virgin Olive
Fish Oil (Clean Source)

Other: Flaxseed (fresh ground), Licorice Root, Decaff Green/Oolong/Black Tea

Source: USDA NAPR ALERT/Natural Products Alert/database of 100, 000 studies from University of Illinois @ Chicago; and Nutritional Almanac (Lavonne J Dunne)

[GSDsForever]

angels,

What about Stella & Chewy’s? Excellent food. They make raw dehydrated medallions that are meat & bone based, with organic fruits, veggies, seeds and do not contain any of those ingredients you listed. In fact they don’t include any starches or grains period. This is great brand and dogs seem to really love the stuff. With a maltese it would be pretty affordable to feed, vs a medium or large breed dog. They’re easy to feed too, can be fed either with water or dry, shredded/broken into quarters/whole. Try the DuckDuckGoose — has duck, turkey, goose. No chicken.

Also, I highly recommend Timberwolf, have fed it for years. The Platinum Ocean Blue (fish based) has sweet potatoes (which you said are fine), but no peas, white potatoes, or grains. It has sweet potatoes and garbanzo beans (chickpeas). It’s nutrient dense, very high calorie; so you would be feeding very little especially to a tiny dog. I’d recommend introducing this food slowly over 1-2 weeks to ensure tolerance, as it is very rich and contains ingredients not commonly found in other foods and all at once.

Aside from these, rather than trying a whole bunch of commercial foods, I’d try first pinpointing what your dog CAN handle by feeding ONE protein and ONE carb. And I’d try to make sure that something is an actual allergy vs an intolerance or upset, since they are different. I’d try boiled turkey or cottage cheese and sweet potato OR oats (since you know your dog is okay with either). (By the way, many dogs are intolerant of lactose & milk, but fine with yogurt or cottage cheese.)

[GSDsForever]

Suresh,

The highest quality dog foods and best companies take great care not to include those nasty ingredients. The key is finding a company/brand you believe in and can trust.

Looking at a company’s history, verifying the quality of main ingredients/sourcing on the the label, quality control checks, etc. will help reassure you about the food you select. If they aren’t forthcoming with answers and sympathetic, eager to help (although with the really small companies this can take time to get back to you with answers), or are evasive & vague or deceptive, or you don’t like the answers, walk away & find another brand.

Re vegetarian diets, if they are *vegetarian* as opposed to vegan, it is possible for them to be every bit as high quality, digestible, nutrient rich and health promoting as meat based. Organic free range natural vegetarian fed eggs, organic yogurt with live cultures, cottage cheese are all very good primary protein sources for dogs. You can do this with homemade. I’ve not been very impressed with commercially prepared, generally vegan (not merely vegetarian), kibbles and canned foods and I am pretty familiar with the options out there. Other new ones are insanely expensive. So while it is theoretically possible to make a very good vegetarian commercial kibble, it doesn’t seem to be readily available.

Not vegetarian, but more acceptable to many vegetarians, in that it is not cruelly factory farmed, fed unnatural weird things, and one of the least contaminated flesh foods out there is sardines. All are wild, live near the bottom of the food chain and so are not contaminated like other larger & longer lived predator fish, super high Omega 3 brain food also great for skin & coat, perfectly balanced calcium-phosphorous & soft easily digestible bones. Sardines are probably one of the very best non-vegetarian foods a dog could eat, and, to my mind, waaaay superior to the more popular-with-humans chicken based food.

Vegan is doable in dogs but riskier and harder, needs a good supplement including things like B12, l-carnitine, taurine, Omega 3. The easy part is supplying the amino acids through an array of foods, as the body does not distinguish between the same amino acid from one food versus another. In terms of nutrients (not natural preferences or digestive system), dogs are more omnivorous vs obligate carnivores, cats. The hard part is that many plant foods are not easily digested by dogs, whose systems are not designed for them. Many beans and whole grains (non whole grains, like white rice, are easily digested but high sugar) are next to impossible for dogs to digest, no matter how well cooked & prepared. Some breeds, like GSDs, are even less capable as a group of digesting than other breeds. Unlike whole soybeans, tofu IS very digestible; many dogs like it; it’s very versatile in how it can be prepared; and it offers various health benefits. It is healing to the stomach lining, for example. On the other hand, a prominent very balanced study of vegetarian fed pets showed that pets fed vegetarian diets without soy had much better health and longevity. From personal experience and knowledge of dogs eating vegetarian diets, lentils and black eyed peas seem to be more easily digested. It can be hard to supply enough calories and avoid too much fiber. Dogs can consume up to 50% fat in their diets in good health though, and vegetarian fats like organic virgin coconut oil are good for them & easily digested. Vegetarian diets, in humans and dogs, tend to be excessively high in Omega 6 fats which are pro-inflammatory and deficient in Omega 3.

Certain breeds like boxers and dobermans are at much greater health risk on a vegetarian or vegan diet, due to high breed susceptibility to deadly cardiomyopathy.

[Anonymous]

Our 1 yr old Bernese Mtn Dog has been eating Turkey, Duck, Chicken, Beef & Lamb version of Primal complete formula for 6 months. We rotate after each bag to a different protein source – over the last 2 months, he has stopped eating each version. He is hungry but passes his bowl as if it has poison. Started avoiding fowl, now beef and finally lamb. We were adding fish oil to help with his coat but stopped doing that thinking it may have something to do with it. Currently back on cooked chicken and rice since that is all he will eat. Is it the raw food or the Primal? Should we try a different brand or try kibble? He is plenty active and behaving normal in every other way.

[Dustin-R]

Hello All,
I just found this site. It has a great wealth if information. I still am wondering about food for my 12 week Rottweiler. The breeder was feeding Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy , and I have continued feeding this since I picked him up at 8 weeks. I was wondering what would be recommended as a better food for him? It is stated as 36% protein, 16% fat, 6% max crude fiber, 10% moisture max, 1% calcium max , .9% phosphorus, .1% DHA, .9% omega 3 fatty acids. 3% omega 6 fatty acids. I have a TSC, PETCO, and Petsmart that are local. I would prefer local as to online. I would buy online if that was my only means to get what I needed for Him. I would also like to know what would be recommended when he is older.
Thanks
Dustin R

Ingredients:
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Tapioca Starch,Peas,Tomato Pomace (source of Lycopene),Dried Egg, Natural Chicken Flavor, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Fish Oil (source of DHA-Docosahexaenoic Acid), Potatoes, Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids),Alfalfa Meal, Potato Starch, Whole Carrots,Whole Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Cranberries, Barley Grass,Dried Parsley,Dried Kelp,Taurine,Yucca Schidigera Extract,L-Carnitine, L-Lysine,Turmeric,Oil of Rosemary, Beta Carotene,Vitamin A Supplement,Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1),Riboflavin (Vitamin B2),Niacin (Vitamin B3),d-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6),Biotin (Vitamin B7),Folic Acid (Vitamin B9),Vitamin B12 Supplement,Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C),Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement,Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate,Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate,Choline Chloride,Sodium Selenite,Calcium Iodate,Salt,Caramel,Potassium Chloride,Dried Yeast (source of Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product,Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product,Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product

[rossnmia]

Hi All,
My Jack Russell has a skin allergy disorder and I find coconut oil to be very relieving and soothing, he scratches less, has a better skintone, and is generally more comfortable. I’ve tried vet recommended products that have had no noticeable effect, apart from steroids, and I’m not keen on the long term use of those..

Mia
Other Coconut Oil Uses

[pugmomsandy]

Vigilent,

You can give additional fish oil and/or coconut oil to help her skin.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for sharing information and some useful websites. I wish I had known about coconut oil with my last Akita who had GI problems off and on for his entire life with me. He was a rescue and had been fed Ole Roy for the first 2 years of his life and I swear it ruined him. 🙁

[puppylove]

coconut oil really improved my shihpoos coat. I can’t remember the brand we use, but I’m assuming that coconut oil, if its pure is all the same, am I right? I’m thinking about adding fish oil too for the cardiovascular benefits.

[Hound Dog Mom]

When it comes to fish oil and coconut oil you can’t really say one is better than the other because they both contain different types of fat. I use both and would recommend using both.

Fish oil is rich in omega 3’s in the form of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Omega 3’s are an essential fatty acid for dogs and it’s important they dogs obtain at least a portion of their omega 3’s from animal sources (fish, fish oil, eggs) as omega 3’s derived from animal sources contain the usable long chain form of omega 3s (EPA and DHA). There are many plant sources of omega 3 (such as flax) but omega 3 fatty acids derived from plant sources (algae being the exception) are in the short chain form of alpha linolenic acid (ALA). ALA must be converted to EPA and DHA to be utilized and dogs are very inefficient at making this conversion – their ability to convert short chain omega 3s to long chain omega 3s continues to decline as they age. Omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and thus are beneficial for dogs with arthritis, it’s also speculated that consumption of a diet rich in omega 3’s can help lower the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. The proper balance of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids in the diet also helps the skin and coat.

Coconut oil consists predominantly of saturated fats, the reason coconut oil doesn’t get the bad rap that some other forms of saturated fat get is because the saturated fats present in coconut oil are in the form of medium-chain triglycerides which are easier to digest than the long chain saturated fatty acids present in foods such as butter. The medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil consist mainly of lauric acid. The lauric acid helps to give coconut oil its natural antibacteral and antifungal properties. Coconut oil is also beneficial to the immune system, for digestion and for the skin and coat.

I give my dogs cod liver oil (Carlson’s brand only) and coconut oil daily. Lately I’ve been adding sardines, oysters and cage-free eggs to their food for their omega 3’s, but when they aren’t getting whole food sources of omega 3 I supplement with sardine or anchovy oil. I use cod liver oil because it’s a rich source of naturally occurring vitamin d and it does contain some omega 3’s in the form of EPA and DHA. Coconut oil mainly for the immune-boosting and anti-bacterial properties and fish/seafood/eggs/fish oil for the EPA and DHA.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 7 months ago by Hound Dog Mom.

[pugmomsandy]

I use krill oil, emu oil, Udo’s oil and sometimes coconut oil. Not all together. Sometimes 2 of them together.

http://www.uniquelyemu.com/AB15001/Animal-Basics-AniMend-EFA-Pet-Capsules.htm

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/2_6/features/5220-1.html

[InkedMarie]

I use salmon oil….the one I buy is just salmon oil, nothing else. It’s good for so many things! Every other day I use extra virgin coconut oil, in a glass jar

[Anonymous]

Fish Oil and Coconut Oil
Who uses what and why? I notice there is fish oil and salmon oil so which is better? Coconut oil is said to regulate the thyroid and help with arthritis but what if the dog is already on thyroid meds and supplemental Cosequin plus? From what I’ve read, fish oil is for the coat but so is coconut oil so should only one be used?

[pugmomsandy]

You can try a small amount like a teaspoon of local raw honey daily, and/or stinging nettles with quercetin, and a supplement for the immune system, an allergy herbal, coconut oil, and even omega 3 oil (fish oil, krill, sardine, other fish) to help with environmental allergies.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi weimlove –

Sorry to hear Shadow’s having a bout of pancreatitis. 🙁

As Nectarmom stated, pancreatitis is brought on by fat – it wouldn’t have to do with whether or not the food is raw, although raw diets do tend to be higher in fat than kibble. Some dogs can handle very high levels of fat with no issues (i.e. my dogs) and others are very sensitive to fat. Some breeds are also predisposed to pancreatitis and don’t tolerate high levels of fat in their diet. Rancid fats can also cause pancreatitis – this wouldn’t be an issue with the fat on fresh meat but kibbles can go rancid as can fish oil (if you’re supplementing with fish oil it should be refrigerated and used within a couple months of opening). As Patty stated, raw diets are only required to state a minimum level of fat – often the actual level is much higher. So be careful if you go with pre-made. The best way to determine the true fat level is to look at the calorie content (foods with over 50 calories per oz. are likely higher in fat) and/or ask the company for a batch analysis in which they provide you with an actual nutrient analysis run on a batch of food (this can give you a good idea of what the fat levels are actually in the food but can also be inaccurate given that it’s possible to have great variance between batches). Personally, I think your best bet (if you want to continue with raw) would be to use a pre-mix and add lean meat from the grocery store. Human foods are required to list the actual fat levels (not a minimum) so you know what you’re getting. I’d stick with at least 95% lean and supplement with minimal levels of omega 3’s (he’ll still need EFA’s, but don’t over supplement).

[NectarMom]

Patty is right Weimlove and we were using Darwin’s and my baby is now in intensive care and staying at the Vet for who knows how long. My bill is already $1300 but if they can make her well and then money is no object. I plan to probably put her back on Brothers Allergy since they changed the ingredients back to where they were the first go round. She did fine on it until they added that fish oil so we will give it a shot. Sometimes things do not work out and you have to do what is best for your furry babies health. As far as my research Darwin’s was lower in fat than most pre-made Raw and Darwin’s came highly recommended. Yes I am aware that licking in the air is Nausea but this was not that type of lick, she was trying to get in the others bowls to eat and licking. She will also lick in the air with acid reflux.

Thanks for the well wishes everyone. Weimlove Best of luck to you with your baby.

[Hound Dog Mom]

NectarMom –

I think Sandy had a good suggestion. You may want to forget the Darwin’s and possibly even the MPC and just use a pre-mix and mix in very lean meat (if you want to continue with raw). I would go with meat from the grocery store so you know exactly the level of fat you’re feeding – 95% lean ground beef, 97% lean ground turkey, chicken breast, etc. As for adding EFA’s – I’d just add a sardine or a fish oil capsule and maybe a very small amount of coconut oil a few days a week. I’m so sorry to hear that your dogs are having these issues. Some dogs just can’t tolerate high levels of fat and some breeds are pre-disposed pancreatitis. All of my dogs tolerate very high levels of fat (I sometimes feed up to 40%) – thank god, they eat so much the higher fat levels help me keep their food more calorie-dense.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi Honeybeesmom –

I would read to deeply into the posts from “texasmom” or “smitty.” Neither have every posted on the forum before. The above poster has attacked numerous other products on DFA and whenever he does several posters that have never posted on DFA before come out of the blue and agree with him. Coincidence? Possibly, but I doubt it. It’s quite humorous to me actually.

If you still no longer want to try Spot’s Dinner Mix there are lots of other options. I’ve never tried U-Stew. I tried Dr. Harvey’s Veg-to-Bowl once and all the vegetables came out the same way they went in. Dr. Harvey’s has since come out with a new Veg-to-Bowl Fine Ground in which the vegetables are granulated instead of in chunks – I’ve ordered a small bag to try, I’m assuming it will digest better but I haven’t had a chance to try it yet. I like THK’s Preference. My all time favorite pre-mix though is Urban Wolf. It’s whole-food based and powdered. It’s not too attractive looking but I find that the powdered formula digests better than other pre-mixes (such as THK, Sojo’s and Dr. Harvey’s). You have to add liver, eggs and oil to Urban Wolf. The only suggestion I would have if you do decide to try it is don’t add as much oil as the recipe calls for – just add the fish oil and omit the sunflower/canola oil it calls for. If you’re feeding predominantly poultry, add 2 tsp. flax oil to each recipe and if you’re using predominantly red meat add 2 tsp. hempseed or walnut oil to each recipe (you don’t need to add these if you rotate between poultry and red meats).

[Hound Dog Mom]

I agree with Patty – you need some source of fiber. Whether it’s fur, feathers, bone, vegetables or a fiber supplement (like psyllium). And if you’re only feeding boneless make sure you’re supplementing with calcium (800 – 1,000 mg. per lb. of meat). If you’re already feeding fish oil there’s no reason you can’t give the olive oil in addition to that if it’s helping. Olive oil won’t supply the EFA’s a dog needs (why they need fish or fish oil) but it won’t hurt anything and if it’s helping her poop I’d keep doing it. I do agree with Tracy that it may just be normal for Gemma to only poop every other day. I can say that I’ve never had a dog that only pooped every other day and I don’t know of any other dogs like that – but if her stools look normal and she doesn’t seem constipated I wouldn’t worry too much about it.