[mandy d]

I’m not sure if this actually exists…

My five year old mini schnauzer has periodic bouts of colitis after having an intestinal blockage&surgery a few years ago and a low fat, high fiber food helps. However she also has a poultry allergy and basically all the foods that are significantly lower in fat and higher in fiber than her current food have chicken or turkey as the protein source. We currently feed her Wellness Core, alternating between the ocean and lamb flavors, but she still has the occasional bouts and just had the worst one yet. At one point we tried the Wellness Core reduced fat version, and the fat/fiber content worked really well for her but it is turkey based and this confirmed that it was poultry in general that she was allergic too, not just chicken. I’ve done A LOT of searching in the last year here and on other websites, but I’m hoping maybe I’m just missing something and the perfect food is actually out there. I was originally looking for a kibble, but at this point I am totally open to canned or raw food, it would just be best if I did not have to prepare her food myself. Any suggestions?

Right now I’m leaning towards trying her on Addiction canned foods or the OC Raw dog goat&produce formula. Although I am a little hesitant to try her on raw food when she is so sensitive.

I also think it would also be nice for it to have things like omega 3s or other healthy oils, added nutrients for joint health (she has early signs of degenerative disc disease), and maybe something low-carb to prevent any other future health problems. But of course, I can always supplement the omegas and joint health. I can also always add more fiber too, so a low-fat, low-carb food with average fiber would be ok.

[Akari_32]

Yeah, I’ve been ignoring her crying. So far, I’ve only had to squirt her for barking that one time, as well. She whines, and it builds and builds and builds, and she’ll get really close to barking, then she gets quiet and starts all over again LOL

I don’t know how old she is. 12, I think, I heard the lady say. She probably does have arthritis. Her back legs seems very stiff at the hip joints, and she waddles with them spread way out lol

She’s been very quiet all night, which is great. She had been barking at 4 in the morning, and the lady said the only way she’d stop is if she got up and moved to couch and watched tv with her. She was awake at 4 this morning, but she was quiet. She keeps shaking her head, so I hope she doesn’t have eat problems. They don’t look gross (they flip open all the time), so maybe that’s just how she is. They’re so heavy for how small she is. But I suppose that’s so they droop down and funnel smellies to the nose.

The vet opens at 8 and starts taking appointments at 9. Since I’m up this early (god only knows why!), I think I’ll take her on a walk down there before it starts getting busy, let him see her and tell him how she’s doing.

Even if I don’t get to keep her, it’s a good learning experience for Bentley. He’s gotta learn that he doesn’t always have to be in other dogs faces all the time, and they don’t all have to play with him. Poor guy just doesn’t understand that not all dogs want his all his love forced on th (and trust me– off all the dogs he’s met, not including this one, only two tolerate him, and one of them is my Haley, and only because she knows she has to LOL).

Alright, fine. Her name is Ginger. Not that she responds to it, though. Typical old dog lol *rolls eyes*

[Susan]

Hi Akari, it sounds like her owner may of abused her & the poor dog had had enough & proabably re-acted to her owner. When I first got my boy he’d whinge & cry, that’s their way of getting what they want, just don’t respond to her cries & it goes away after ignoring her, respond to her when she is quiet only, it took me 2 weeks & my boy has stopped his whinging now. You say that she is a little dachshund, Dachshunds suffer from arthritis in their little legs, she may have arthrits in her joints…do you know how old is she? & what is her name…

[crazy4cats]

Hi Weimdad-
One of my cats urine samples recently showed some Struvite crystals. The vet recommended that I give him some cosequin for cats. This is a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin. She explained why it helped, but I can’t remember exactly how. Something about it protecting the lining of the bladder. I bought some, but it is difficult giving cats any kind of medicine or supplement. Do some research and see what you think. It probably would help with your guys joints as well! Take care. 🙂

[crazy4cats]

Hi Karen-
This is another area with conflicting opinions. Most regular vets want to neuter at 5 to 6 months because it is easier on the dog. Others say to wait until they are full grown. I am absolutely no expert. Just a fellow dog owner with two 3 year old golden labs trying to learn as much as possible. But I tend to agree with many on this site that it would be best not to shut off their hormones (testosterone) until their joints are fully developed. Otherwise it tends to interfere with the closing of the growth plates. Which in the opinion of many, may increase chances of hip dysplasia. I was needlessly worrying about my dogs fighting because I have two males. They don’t fight and I don’t think they would have even if I waited longer. I think I’d rather have a more expensive and difficult surgery than a big dog with joint issues. You could start a topic on this subject and get some ideas from others as well. I wish you well.

[InkedMarie]

Hi Tom,
First, thanks for adopting this senior gal! I would not feed that food. No offense to your vet but they get very little nutrition education.
Years back, we adopted a senior dog who was obese. She should have weighed about 25lbs but was 43.7. We used Wellness Core reduced fat & she lost the weight. For snacks, you can use some of her kibble from her daily ration, fresh green beans, we use The Honest kitchen quickies but they’re costly.ni think Buddy biscuit itty Bitties and Charlee Bear treats are low calorie.
What supplements are you using? I’ve used Joint Mobility Plus (from SwansonVitamins.com), green lipped mussel, salmon oil, Liquid Gold K9 and salmon oil for ours with bad joints.

[Tom L]

We recently acquired an overweight (78#) 12 year old Labrador with severe joint disease who can have limited walks and exercise due to bones rubbing on bones. This is a loving female who loves to eat and likes snacks and treats. Our vet recommended feeding her Science Diet Senior Food 1 cup in the morning and 1 cup at night along with supplements.
She hasn’t lost any weight and is always looking for snacks. We are concerned that this is the correct food for our overweight dog. Ideally, we would like to give her 3 small servings a day. Tom L.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Brenda E-
Well, sounds like a stressful situation. Have you tried feeding small meals of boiled chicken or burger with rice and pumpkin to rest and calm down his intestines? Then slowly start adding kibble back in. My pups had diarrhea when we got them, but they did have parasites. Both Giardia and Coccidia. Hopefully your vet sent a fecal to the lab to test specifically for these. Yes, a probiotic would be good to try. I use Vetri-pro BD by Vetri-Science. I order it from either Amazon.com or healthy pets.com. It contains probiotics, digestive enzymes and some supplements that help soothe the intestines.
Your large breed pup needs a puppy or all life stages food that is appropriate for his size. It is recommended to keep the calcium levels down for the growing stage for large breeds. There is more information and a spreadsheet of recommended foods created by Hound Dog Mom on the large breed thread of this forum.
You will need to keep his growth slow and steady to avoid joint issues. Also limited exercise is important.
Check out http://www.dogaware.com for a lot of information on digestive orders. Good luck!

[Lee N]

Hi Everyone!

Dogs Naturally Magazine is a great place to fine info on vaccine for pets! Here a article I came across:

In a study performed by Vanguard, it was found that a combination vaccine (which typically contains parvovirus, distemper and one to five other antigens), given to six week old puppies had only a 52% chance of protecting them against parvo. This means that the puppy has all of the risk of the vaccine but only half the potential benefit. At nine weeks of age, 88% of the puppies in the study showed a response to the vaccine. At 12 weeks, 100% of the puppies were protected. Some vaccines will provide protection earlier or later.
Only one dose of the modified-live canine ‘core’ vaccine, when administered at 16 weeks or older, will provide long lasting (many years to a lifetime) immunity in a very high percentage of animals.
Vaccinating puppies under 12 weeks of age, and cer- tainly under nine weeks of age, for parvovirus is a high risk, low reward approach. Not only is the parvovirus component of the combination vaccine not all that likely to be effective at that age, it can actually work to block the effectiveness of the distemper component. It also makes the vaccine more dangerous, because the more antigens contained in the vaccine, the greater the risk of autoimmune disease (including allergies, joint disease and cancer). Moreover, most vets haven’t seen a case
of distemper in years which begs the question: what is the big push to start vaccinating puppies at six to eight weeks of age when the parvovirus component is unlikely to work and it is very unlikely the puppy will come into contact with distemper?

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi Barbara –

Strictly in terms of ingredients the Dogswell jerky treats appear to be a great treat. Unfortunately, Dogswell’s jerky treats are manufactured in China. Just in case you weren’t aware, there have been major issues with jerky-type treats that are manufactured in China over the past few years. Many dogs have died and many more have gotten seriously ill. Here’s some information on the situation. Dogswell was actually one of the companies that had to recall treats because they tested positive for an antibiotic that is illegal for use in food animals in the United States – more information on the recall here. If you’re looking for safe jerky treat with joint support I’d recommend checking out Bixbi or Earth Animal.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 3 months ago by Hound Dog Mom.

[milly w]

Daily supplements for human beings are commonplace, but what about dog dietary supplements? Just as human beings require food and supplements to be strong and healthy, dogs also require good nutrition. Veterinarians, to complement the diet and maintain good health of your pet, prescribe dog nutritional supplements.

Most commercial dog foods claim to be nutritionally complete but they all provide a one-size-fits-all approach that might not necessarily suit your dog. Different things such as age, illness, pregnancy, energy levels etc can have an effect on the nutritional needs of your pet. Here are some important supplements that your dog can use.

Brewer’s Yeast – The supplement comprises of B vitamins that take care of some of the most important functions of your dog. The most well known benefit of the supplement is its ability to repel fleas. B vitamins can help metabolize carbs, proteins and fats, which in turn can help in weight loss. It also comprises chromium that can help decrease blood cholesterol levels.

MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) – MSM supplement is helpful in ensuring healthy skin, connective tissues and coat of your dog. It is also known to reduce swelling and pain caused by sprains, strains, arthritis and bursitis.

Calcium, Zinc & Iron – Calcium is good for the blood, nerves and bones of the dogs. Zinc helps promote healthy skin and coat. Iron supplements help promote healthy blood cells. Iron supplements especially formulated for dogs must be administered to pets, as human iron supplements can be poisonous for them.

Probiotic and Prebiotic Supplements – These are required to bring balance in pets when dietary changes, stress, age or prescription medicine causes an imbalance of bacteria in their intestinal tract. To get maximum digestive and health benefits, both the kinds of supplements can be used together.

Sure grow 100 – The product packs in several beneficial nutrients including vitamin A, calcium, vitamin D, phosphorous and is excellent for puppies when they are growing. It is also known to enhance growth of the teeth, muscles and bones in puppies.

Hip and Joint Supplements – Dogs are generally very active and this can take a toll on their joints, hips and other connective tissues. Incorporating these supplements in the diet of your pet can help prevent these disorders. They comprise ingredients that work to repair and protect your dog’s joints and other connective tissues.

Canine nutritional supplements are generally available in solid form and can be included in dog food. Be sure to check with your veterinarian before you pick any nutritional supplement for your pet. While pets suffering from any of the conditions mentioned above might benefit from these supplements, there may be some underlying issues too that need medical attention. While buying supplements, go for trusted brands and take care to follow the dosage instructions as mentioned on the label.

Today, dog owners are increasingly turning to nutritional supplements realizing that most dog foods do not fully meet the energy requirements of their pet. A high quality supplement can do wonders to a dog’s overall health and performance.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Lance-
Congratulations on the new pup. How exciting, a Great Dane! I don’t know if a probiotic for a puppy is really necessary. But, maybe others will chime in with their opinions. My pups have had digestive issues due to various reasons. So, I have used Vetri-Science soft chews, Total Zymes, and Natur Vet probiotics. Right now I am using Swanson’s Ultra Soil-Based probiotics. Swanson Vitamins is a very reasonably priced web site with many options to check out. The main thing is to buy a probiotic with as many strains as possible. In addition, check out http://www.dogaware.com. It’s a great website with information on many dog related issues, including probiotics.
Have you checked out the large breed puppy thread on this forum. It contains a spreadsheet of food that is appropriate for large breed pups due to needing restricted calcium levels.
Keep his weight down, his growth slow and controlled and limited running and jumping to help his joints healthy. Have fun and good luck!

[Susan B]

I use DasquinMSM, which is made for dogs over 60 pounds. My dog is a large breed and old, so hard to tell how well the supplement works, but she has no issues with it, so I hope it helps with her joint and old age issues.

[Stephanie S]

I’m trying to find a good food for my 11 week old male rough collie. He is currently eating Blue Wilderness Large Breed Puppy but I’m concerned that it might have too much calcium in it which I know isn’t good for large breed puppies. Also, he doesn’t seem to really like it. I have read many articles on the internet and I am more confused than ever because they all seem to have conflicting information. Some say to feed grain free and some say that grain free isn’t good for large breed puppies. Some say that a large breed puppy needs to be on large breed food, which is what I was always told, and some say that they don’t. I just really want to find a food that will be good for his joints and bones and also good for his skin because collies sometimes have sensitive skin. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[WestCoastGSD]

Mike, Well it’s disappointing you are unable to put Common Sense Dog Food on your list due to the missing AAFCO labeling, but I do understand you have your rules. It is truly a great food and if you speak to the developer of the food she can probably tell you why she hasn’t done the AAFCO labeling. I know she does not really market the food at all beyond her website and her own personal clients. As the Southern California distributor now for this food I truly hope it gets to be more well known for how great it is for all life stages as it is a complete and balanced diet and has been proven over many years of feeding trials with multiple generations of dogs and over 350 litters of puppies, x-raying for joint development issues etc in the dogs that were raised on it, which is more than can be said for most “complete” raw diets out there, commercial pet foods, and for those that haphazardly try to come up with their own raw food formulation for their dogs. For years I steered my clients away from a raw diet for their growing puppies because I did not know of a good complete and correctly balanced raw diet until I found Common Sense. I didn’t want them running into developmental issues with their puppies because they were lacking in something essential, or overdoing it as both can cause harm. All this being said I understand your site has it’s rules, but if the day ever comes I would love to see Common Sense Raw Dog Food added to your list of Editor’s Choice foods. Thanks for your time. ~ Barbara DiBernardo

[WestCoastGSD]

First I think your puppy is chewing carpet because he’s a puppy, that’s just what they do, they eat carpet, dirt, pretty much anything they can get to like a toddler, everything gets tested in their mouth. That being said, I am a breeder, I do recommend NuVet to my clients, however unlike a lot of breeders that force clients to buy it, I actually feed it to all of my dogs, whereas a lot of them don’t even feed it to their own dogs. I only recommend my clients buy it, I don’t require them too, I think it’s crazy to force someone to feed something you choose for their dogs. However I have seen it benefit my dogs, some others I couldn’t tell you if it’s done anything, but it hasn’t harmed, and I have seen it help one dog that arrived from Germany and got hot spots, started her on the NuVet and she has never gotten another four years later. My son’s older dog with severe arthritis has also benefited greatly from the NuJoint Plus. For the cost of a couple of fast food trips a month, for one dog at $15-$20 a month, and knowing you’ll probably buy a vitamin from the pet store for the same price of I don’t think you can go wrong with the NuVet, it’s produced in a USDA approved facility with human grade ingredients and there are a lot of good testimonials out there about it. Just because something is part of a network marketing plan doesn’t mean it’s a bad product or a scam, Mary Kay Cosmetics works the same way, and Mary Kay Cosmetics has a wonderful and very old reputation, same with Avon. What it is, is a great way to market your product through word of mouth on a much more personal level than television ads. Tell me have you ever seen a TV ad for Mary Kay Cosmetics, or an ad in Vogue or Cosmopolitan magazine for Mary Kay? No, because they put their money into their employees and sales reps instead of into the pockets of the big guys at network television and the magazines.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Omega 3’s are great for inflammation. I definitely don’t think it would be too much to use a joint supplement, fish oil, probiotics and enzymes. All of those supplements are generally well tolerated and have minimal side effects.

[Alina S]

Thanks, HDM. 🙂 I’ll ask about that on our next trip to the vet.

Also, I’ve been doing a lot of research and it seems that Omega 3’s are really good for dogs with arthritis. Would it be too much to have him on the joint supplement and salmon oil or krill oil or whatever? And, in addition to that, would it be too much to add a pro biotic and digestive enzyme to his food?

I’ve heard great benefits for all of those things, but I don’t want to pile all that in his food and overload his system.

[Alina S]

Hey, all! I’m sorry to keep making so many posts, I hope I’m not clogging up the boards! 🙁

Anywho, I just talked to the vet today. My dog has been limping on his leg after a bad trip to the groomers. First, we thought it was soft tissue damage, then we thought it was a bone cyst and that he would require surgery. Luckily, no surgery, yay!

The vet and two other radiologists all agree that his foot was probably broken a long time ago, never treated, and then healed improperly. And because of that, he’s been using his leg weird, and then developed arthritis in his knee. (This is his hind right leg.) They say the trip to the groomers probably aggravated this problem.

I have Rimadyl to give him whenever he’s in pain.

I just bought a joint supplement for him today. I bought Pet Naturals Hip + Joint.

These are the only recommendations the vet made. Does anyone else have any suggestions to help him? Food wise, supplement wise, even cold/hot wrap wise? Anything?

He’s only a year old, and it sucks that he already developed arthritis! I would like to prevent it from getting worse as he gets older.

Thanks!

[Barbara O]

If you’ll read, I believe they have a digestive enzyme…I feed twice a day also…but I either add in the AM or the PM….He gets his salmon oil in the mornings…I usually give him his glucosamine in the evening…I was giving him Costco pills but he would spit them out so I ordered the dog liquid from Vita Cost…then I discovered I could put the two pills in a jigger of water and they would be completely dissolved by the time I fed…

I rotate my brands….but I always feed grain free to all my animals…including my cats…I have a Maine coon cat and a Savannah…which is a cross between an African cat and a domestic cat…They also get canned food and some Primal..I don’t feed Primal to Roger all the time…because he gets raw bones…If he didn’t get these, he would get some Primal every day…remember, his cousin, the wolf, eats raw meat every day…I’m at work right now but I’ll look at the digestive enzyme I have at home…Toby, my genet, had a case of pancreatitis at Christmas, and I started him on the enzymes after he recovered…I’ll get the name…

I feed the canned Costco no grain dog food mixed in with the kibble, also. It gets a 5…Natural Instinct is wonderful…I fed the grain free by Merrick…can’t think of the name, and he really liked it. I’m feeding a grain free now and I won’t buy it again, but I bought it in a pinch…maybe called Natural Balance…really having to boost it with meat. Tomorrow I will pick up a bag of Costco Grain free salmon….To this I add an egg at each feeding…the perfect protein for both man and beast….I haven’t fed this…my vet said to be careful feeding chicken…you will need to add fat to it…So if I buy Costco, I’ll just buy the salmon or beef grain free and add more protein…since it is a plant based feed…The vet said it is a good feed, though…better than most and very budget friendly…of course, I spend the difference on the things I add…I like Taste of the Wild….it is a 4 and is plant based, though many of the vets here love it…and Danes need to keep watch on the protein due to their size and joints…they grow awfully fast, and Roger is about a year old. He has never had a problem with me just switching brands..no stomach upsets, etc…Just use common sense and ask yourself, would I want someone to switch my diet around all the time? I’ve been taking in orphan animals, raising wildlife, doing wildlife rehab work since I was about 16 or 17, and that’s a long, long time. If I ever learn how to post pictures on this site, will send some before and after pics of the Danes I’ve rescued…and will send a pic of the fennecs and our little Tasmanian monster, Toby the genet.

[GSDMom]

So glad I found this post. I’d like to start my GSD boy on a joint supplement. The Swanson brand sounds very good. So for an 85 lb. dog what dose would be right? Thanks!

[Holly C]

I guess I phrased that odd. By “fish flavoured” I meant one that tastes more like fish, like Salmon, Krill, Cod oil, etc. I also take the fish oil I give my dog, and I have to say, it doesn’t taste very pleasant, and he doesn’t like it much either. I used to give Salmon Oil but with some budgeting I just buy 1000mg capsules of fish oil. I’ll have to try sardines sometime- my dog would love that!

I also give 600 iu of vitamin e, and a joint supplement. My dog has joint and hip issues, and he has a completely torn ACL. He’s due for surgery soon >:

[dogspotindia]

I use salmon oil. Beaphar’s Salmon Oil is specially formulated for canines, to improve heart and joint health as well as boosting energy for working dogs.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Dori –

When dogs have arthritis they don’t exercise as much due to the pain and for this reason will often experience muscular atrophy. Getting the joints to feel better, leads to less pain, which will lead to more activity which, ultimately, will aid in strengthening the muscles.

[Barbara]

I want to nominate Victor dog food especially grain free! I see that others have asked for it to be nominated as well and don’t understand why it is not on the Editors Choice list?? There are no recalls and Victor Grain Free has 5 stars which is more than some other brands on the list? Also the regular Victor still has 4 stars. I have been using Victor Grain Free Joint Health. My dogs had been on TOTW Wetlands. They are doing great on Victor the 2 that I feed it to are over 75lbs. I am glad that it has the added Glucosamine and Chondroitin! It is hard to find on-line except at Sportdogfood and Amazon but you can check the Victor website to fine a local feed store for even better prices…. I would like to see it on the list! Thanks

[tapiskootskiyas t]

Aw.
Your love for your dog is so beautiful. I see commitment.
I know some vegetarians that wouldn’t feed their dogs any kind of real meat or dogfood with meat and/or meat bi products in it.
In most cases these people did more harm to their dogs to the point that some actually died of malnutrition.
My dogs are all fed meat and meat bi products.
Actually the whole animal. I feed my dogs the same diet as wild wolves.
Omnivore that is 90% carnivore.
I made a mistake this spring and bought 2 pallets of commercial dogfood.
Thought I would save some time and energy.
Wrong!
Back to feeding animals to them.
I utilize everything, bones, hide, head, hair/fur, the whole works.
I don’t worry about the bones too much. I break the leg bones and the dogs eat the marrow(avtually, so do I).
The joints are a good gnawing tool to keep them kinda preoccupied.
I just make sure that they don’t that piece of pliable bone from a chicken’s leg or the ones from a turkeys leg. Them bones are like baleen that was used by some hunters to kill their carnivorous and/or omnivorous prey such as bears and wolves. It’s rolled up in fat and cooled. When ingested it warms and the bone springs open in the stomach and guts and pierces the walls causing great pain and.. well.. I think you get it. Well in a chicken’s leg, them little springy bones that look like a toothpick with a knob on the end do the same thing.
The only thing my dogs don’t eat from the larger animals(& rabbits,& fowl)is the contents of the last three feet or so of the large intestine(just before the anus).
Wolves are the same. Their is a good reason for this behaviour but I think thisost is blossoming into a novel… again.
I like fish because they can be frozen and fed whole. Complete diet in a neat totally biodegradable package.
That all being said, my dogs are all huskies. Amazing teeth and stomachs. Not unlike wolves.
I hope this helps clear some of the confusion about bones.
TTFN HAGD

[Naturella]

Hey, all!

Well, Photobucket seems to hate me tonight so I will have to just write out the picture of Bruno’s 2014-2015 Menu, all gotten through coupons!

Starting Point – Mid-July, 2014.

1. Earthborn Holistic (EBH) Primitive Natural (Grain-Free, Chicken) – 14 lbs – 3 mths – till mid-Oct, 2014 – got for $20 with Petland coupon for $10 off $25+.
2. Back to Basics (B2B) Open Range (Grain-Free, Red Meat) + 3 samples of Victor Joint Health (Grain-Free, Beef) + 3 samples of Victor High Pro (Grain Free, Beef) – 5 lbs – 1.5 mths – till end of Nov, 2014 – got for $13 with manufacturer coupon for $7 off.
3. Holistic Health Extension (HHE) Lamb and Brown Rice (Grain-Inclusive, Lamb) – 4 lbs – 1 mth – till end of Dec, 2014 – got for FREE with Petland coupon for a free small bag of that brand.
4. Dogswell LiveFree Salmon (Grain-Free, Salmon/Fish) – 4 lbs – 1 mth – till end of Jan, 2015 – got for $4 on Petflow sale.
5. HHE Allergix (Grain-Free, Chicken) – 4 lbs – 1 mth – till end of Feb, 2015 – got for FREE with Petland coupon for a free small bag of that brand.
6. EBH Great Plains Feast (Grain-Free, Buffalo+Lamb) – 14 lbs – 3 mths – till end of May, 2015 – got for $20 with Petland coupon for $10 off $25+.
7. Wysong Nurture with Quail (Grain-Free, Quail) – 5 lbs – 1 mth – till end of June, 2015 – got for $5 on Petflow sale.
8. Nature’s Variety Instinct (NVI) Rabbit+Raw Bites (Grain-Free, Rabbit) + 1.5 lbs of Victor Ultra Pro (Grain-Free, Chicken) – 6.5 lbs – 1.5 mths – till mid-July, 2015 – NVI for FREE with manufacturer one-time coupon; Victor Ultra Pro is from samples and 1lb from a friend – all FREE.

PLUS: The Honest Kitchen (THK) Force (Grain-Free, Chicken); Keen (Grain-Inclusive, Turkey), Love (Grain-Free, Beef), and Embark (Grain-Free, Turkey) as toppers – 2-lb boxes of each for $4 each on sale from Petflow – should last till mid-July, 2015 too BECAUSE one box makes 6-8 lbs of wet food and dilute it lots so I will say that THK’s 8 lbs of dehydrated food will make 32 lbs of wet food. That’s $16 ($20 with shipping) for 32 lbs of food!

Total food weight: Kibble – 56.5 lbs. THK – 32 lbs. Total – 88.5lbs.
Total spending (with $5 shipping from Petflow for the THK): $82.00.

This makes all the foods an average of $0.93/lb. I’m quite happy with it cause for less than $100, it is all pretty good foods, and Bruno is set for a YEAR. 🙂

Not to mention the multitude of free samples he has that we use as treats and the $60 box from Best Bully Sticks that is full of dehydrated goods that should last him quite a while too, maybe a year if I’m lucky. So yeah. $142. Great local stores that give coupons and free samples. Great friends and good manufacturer deals – I think $142 for a year’s worth of food, chews, and treats for a small dog is pretty good. 🙂

Good luck to all with your couponing endeavors! 🙂

[crazy4cats]

Hi Dawn-
I feed my dogs Victor grain free with joint mantenance. It is basically the same as the all life stages grain free except it has added glucosamine and chondroitin. The one I feed has tiny kibble so I’m assuming the all life stages one would be small as well. I think it is one of the most affordable 5 star grain free foods you can buy. Have fun at the pet supply!

[Mom2Cavs]

I second the Springtime, Inc. Joint health chews. Have used them many, many years with success for a Poodle mix with both rear luxating patellas. The vet always said he may need surgery one day, but he never had to have it before he went to the bridge.

[RescueDaneMom]

Hi Kelly,

The only good food I know of for joint care is Victor GF Joint Health / Adult Canine Formula
with Glucosamine. Here is the website: http://www.victordogfood.com/

However, the amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin in dog food are usually not enough to be therapeutic. There is 750mg/kg of glucosamine and 250mg/kg of chondroitin in this food. I have a senior Great Dane (8 yrs old) that needs joint support. I am giving him glucosamine and chondroitin from Springtime Inc. I use their equine line because my dog is so large but they have a canine line as well. I would check out the Supplement forum and look for threads on joint health. I know there are a few of them. It would probably be most beneficial to get your dog on a high quality joint supplement in addition to a high quality food.

Best of luck!

[Kelly F]

Recently, my 2 1/2 yr old blue heeler has begun to limp. Just over a month ago, we were both attacked by 2 american bulldogs. I thought maybe this was the reason, but after having x-rays & sedated palpitation done, our vet believes she has loose kneecaps and recommended science diet j/d formula. However, I have not had good experiences with this kind and the reviews do not seem great either, not to mention the price.

I was looking at Blue Buffalo life protection because it seems to have lots of omega-3 benefits, but after further research, I found that many consumers are not happy with the dog food because it makes their dog sick. There are so many mixed reviews, and I am now no closer to finding a food for my dog than I was in the beginning.

Any advice for a food aimed at joint health that won’t break the bank and is a good quality? She is also currently on a prescription anti-inflammatory, but she is still limping when she walks a while or runs.

[Debbie L]

Actually I have tried some chemical topical flea and tic treatments but these did not seem to be too effective. I applied them as per instructions, but I think fleas and perhaps tics too have become immune to a lot of this stuff. So far I’ve not noticed any definite signs and symptoms of tapeworms. I remember years ago when our family had some property in the deep Texas Hill Country region my dad said he picked six tics off himself in one day. He said he began taking garlic tablets and soon thereafter never got another tic. I’ve read people say they give their dog garlic (not every day) in small quantities and the dog does not have fleas. I’m a firm believer in treating from the inside out.

Back in ’09 my female Collie was aging and her immune system was down, thereby making her more susceptible to fleas. Plus, we had a lot of rain that summer and the vet said that was a factor in the heavy flea load also. I began feeding her Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul and within about a month the fleas all but disappeared and she pretty much quit scratching. I didn’t want to use harsh chemicals due to her advanced age. As long as she ate that she was fine, but it doesn’t have the hip/joint stuff in it she needed so I had to add that. She passed in February of 2011 at the age of 14 years and 2 months. I’d try Chicken Soup for the dogs I now have but they have reduced their quantity but gone up in price.

I’ve noticed some places where the dogs have lost hair it is growing back some, so something is working. I’m always looking for ways to keep my dogs healthy and so far these two males, one given to me as a stray when he was a puppy (large mixed breed), and the other a give-a-way no one wanted (Peke-a-Chon), are doing well. Barney is the large dog and Buster the small one.

[Kelsey K]

Also, any suggestions on supplements to start from the beginning? I know glucosamine/joint supplements are popular, as are Omega supplements. Any recommendations?

[weezerweeks]

I need to try another joint supplement for my yorkie. He has grade 1 luxating petalla. I have used Mercola and springtime. I like the Mercola the best but they are out of stock. I like to rotate so I thought I would try Dasquin but which one the Dasquin or the Dasquin msm? Does anyone have any other suggestions. His legs aren’t bad now but sometimes he limps a little. Thanks

[crazy4cats]

Hi Travis-
Have you checked out Victor’s retail locater? If you can buy it locally, I don’t think you can find a better price for a five star grain free food. Otherwise, Amazon, Sport Dog, or RocketPetz sells it online at a higher price. I can’t get it as cheap as others as we have only one dealer in our area. I have to drive a ways, but I can get a 50lb bag of the grain free joint formula for $74. Not near as good as the Zach’s that you are currently feeding. Also Earthborn, Nutrisource and By Nature have decent prices. Good luck!

[aquariangt]

Definitely go with something on the list, as they have the appropriate calcium levels.

It won’t hurt the lab to go large breed even if they end up small, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. They can still get the same bone/joint/hip issues that effect the giants

[Jenn F]

Her weight is good, she is about 80lbs. She was a bit more when we got her, but she did need to loose a few! The “gravy” is hip & joint health with fish oil, since she wont just eat the hip & joint pills like the other 2. But we stopped giving it to her since she apparently doesn’t like it. Her foster had 2 other dogs & she ate with them, no probs & foster mom feed her yogurt & coconut oil (that’s why we tried to feed it to her)! But she does eat a little better when she eats by herself in the kitchen, but she still never finishes it all & its still a struggle to get her to eat.

[Holly C]

My dog, Rumsfeld, a mixed breed 10 year old, had joint troubles and was just diagnosed with hip dysplaysia. I just put him on a new joint supplement a month ago- Missing Link Hip and Joint. It’s a miraculous difference! It comes in a powder form, and my dog will eat it when sprinkled on his ToTW. He moves much better, and it’s getting better every day. I’ve also had my horse on Missing Link Equine. It truly is a great product for a great value. Heres the site- https://www.smartpakequine.com/dog-supplements-232pc

If you are an equestrian, you probably know about SmartPak. They sell horse supplements in custom made doses, shipped automatically to you for cheap. They just started selling canine supplements this year, and it’s the best program ever! You also get a organizing system for free. I pay 12.25/mo for his supplements. I’m thinking about buying their pet food, as well. Like the supplements, it also comes in pre-packaged baggies with your dog food. Seems like a good idea.

Pst- I promise I don’t advertise or anything, but I do tend to get really excited when I find something that works!

[Michele N]

I have a 5 year old German Shepherd who has had allergies since he was just a pup. We have tried just about everything out on the market to relieve his itching. He has itched his fur off at times, and it is black underneath. He has a yeasty smell to him. He had to be on steroid shots when he was younger due to his terrible outbreaks and skin infections. He gets worse in the summer, but his problem went year round. Until I got sick of having him on high doses of Benadryll and taking him to the vet for the allergy medicine, which really didn’t help the problem, just gave him a little relief. After a year of me spending hours of researching nutrition , and yeast problems in dogs, I stumbled upon a dog food, that pretty much saved my dogs life. It is Dr. E’s Limited Ingredient Grain and Potato Free Food. It only contains 5 ingredients. For the first time in his life, my dogs fur grew back and he stopped itching and he didn’t smell anymore. I also have him on supplements, probiotics, digestive enzymes by Mercola, Jointsaver, & Lysine. This spring came all the pollens and grass which he is also allergic to, and he started itching again. Although this time he didn’t scratch off his fur. He just had some hot spots, and so I had a friend suggest trying Dinovite, because he said it was helping his dog. I can say that since I put him on this supplement, about a week and a half, he has been itching himself until he bleeds. I emailed the company and they said that was not enough time for the product to work. So I continued a couple more days, and now I am ready to toss this stuff in the garbage. I am so steaming furious, that this company would put out a product that contains yeast as an ingredient, and a ground grain sorghum, and then tell you to put your dog on a yeast and grain free diet, makes no sense to me. I don’t know where they source their ingredients, maybe China, I don’t know, but what I do know is that my dog hasn’t been this bad off in years. He has red bumps all over his legs, back, stomach, groin, even his tail. He is so miserable, that now I may have to have him go back on the terrible medicine I wanted him off of. He has bad hips and elbows and arthritis, so the last thing he needs to be on are steroids. But now it seems as if he has a horrible skin infection after being on this product. We haven’t changed anything else in his diet , so I know for sure, that this reaction is caused from the Dinovite. I absolutely DO NOT recommend giving ANY dog this product that has allergies, immune disorders, pancreatic disorders, or skin problems. He was doing oK, with his allergies, he was itchy, but he didn’t have these red bumps all over his body, and he wasn’t scratching himself bloody. Now I am going to have a huge vet bill, on top of a very miserable dog. I am One very UNHAPPY customer. I should have known better. The less ingredients he has in his diet , the better. There is no miracle cure for allergies, and any product that claims to be, is lying. The only thing you can really do, is limit your dogs ingredients, find a food that has limited ingredients or feed a raw diet so that you know exactly what your dog is eating. Use human grade supplements recommended by a holistic vet, and research dog nutritionists and find one and talk to one if you can. And if you dog is allergic to pollen and grass like mine is, give them baths frequently after they’ve been outside. I use Zymox enzymatic shampoo and rinse. I also have used Dermagic and all of their products are fantastic, especially the hot spot salve. It doesn’t just sooth the itchy skin, it takes the hot spots away. I am mad that I got sucked in to this SCAM at my dogs expense!

[aquariangt]

I meant sometimes FDA doesn’t rate foods that are specifically for something (weight loss, joint health, etc) because they are made for normal dog maintenance, and may need to have certain parameters, dr mike doesn’t always review them.

What stores do you have to shop at? Can you order online?

[Bobby dog]

C4c:
I know this is not an issue for your dogs now, but did you happen to read any of the MSM links I posted? What I found interesting is the mention of MSM being used for it’s anti-parasitic properties against roundworms, giardia, and some other worms. Here’s one link with a mention of it:

http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/msm-for-dogs.html

I love MSM and first used it regularily for my horses as a joint supplement and for their skin and coats. One of my horses is in his mid 30’s so every now and then I need to up the dosage to to relieve pain/inflamation for the “old man.” Now Bobby and the cats get it too.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Justine-
I have had similar issues with my dogs, however, they did have parasites. I’ve tried several supplements as well. Currently, I feed Victor grain free joint and health kibble. I use various toppers such as canned, raw, dehydrated and fresh mixed in. I almost always use a digestive enzyme and an occasional probiotic. They are doing much better now. I strongly suggest checking out dogaware.com website as they have so much information on digestive issues. If you are looking to change dry food, give Victor a try. Many on this site have done well with it. Also, plain pure pumpkin might be a great addition to your dog’s food. It is very healthy and adds fiber that is both helpful for constipation and loose stools. The supplements that I have used with success that I discovered from dogaware are: Gastriplex, Vetri Pro BD, Perfect Form and Phytomucil. I hope you find a winning combination because I know how frustrating your situation is. Cleaning up runny poop is not a good thing! Good luck.

[theBCnut]

Don’t feel bad. We all start where we are and move on from there. I don’t think there is a single person here that didn’t feed something to their dog at some point that they wish they hadn’t.

For your dog with seizures, I would suggest Nature’s Logic, at least to start with. Many of us have come to the realization that we don’t believe that there is any such thing as a perfect dog food, so we rotate through several different ones. For a dog with seizures, you want your food to be as natural as possible.

For your BC, I would just feed it whatever you feed the first one and add a joint supplement. None of the foods that claim to be joint foods actually have a therapeutic dose in them, so don’t bother with those. Swanson’s has supplements at good prices.

[Tina]

Anyone own a Golden Retriever? If so what do you feed yours?
My Golden Retriever Angel is 8 years old and has these problems;
*dry skin
*itchy skin
*red skin
*scabs all over back, chest and tail
*weak hip and joints
*Gains weight really quick
*eats very fast
*Very gassy
She is on Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Senior along with Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Adult and Wellness Simple Salmon and Potato mixed in. She has only had chicken her entire life. These are the brands that she has tried as a puppy and a adult;
*Eukanuba Puppy
*Purina Pro Plan Puppy
*Purina One Adult
*Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Adult
*Royal Canine Golden Retriever
*Blue Buffalo Large Breed Senior
*Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Senior
*Wellness Simple Salmon and Potato
None of these I was happy with and none of them did the trick except for Royal Canine (kinda). What can you suggest? I’m open to ANY suggestions, including all life stages dog food. She will eat anything and I mean anything at all. My only stipulation is that I can find the brand in multiple stores. She never gets bored of the same brand or flavor.

Thank You All

[theBCnut]

There is no commercially available food that has a therapeutic dose of joint supplements in a serving size, so you would do best to find a food that otherwise your dog does great on and then add in a joint supplement.

[Ann Marie M]

I am in search for the best food for my year old mixed bread baby who has a 3 year old Westie sister.

[Susan]

When I first rescued Patch he was having the rumbling bowel & blood in his stools vet said he had Colitis & I had to cut back on the fat % Patch was put on the Eukanuba Intestinal it has only 10% fat & 1.75% fiber the Eukanuba has helped, we’ve had no more rumbling bowel only when I tried mince meat he was up early hours of the morning & I could hear him coming he sounded like a car engine rumbling & grumbling.. so now I boil chicken breast & add some pumkin for breakfast, I put the cooked chicken & pumkin in a blender & munch up as Patch gulps his food this way Ive digested the chicken a bit for him. I also cant give any treats that are liver jerky treats this gives him diarrhea & the rumbling tummy… Ive been slowly trying Holistic Select Senior Chicken meal this kibble has oatmeal rice & pumkin so far so good.. I add water just to soften the kibble a bit so if he gulps & swollows the kibble whole its softer, just make sure u look at the fat% & the least ingredients the better, pumkin & oatmeal are really good on the stomach & bowel also the Eukanuba is a Low residue kibble that breaks up easy so is the Holistic Select kibbles easier on their digestion…..Chocolate would be high in fat hard fats….Also the Holistic Select Senior is high in Gluosamine supports healthy hips & joints. http://www.holisticselect.com/senior-dry-dog-food-chicken-meal-and-rice

[Kay G]

I am currently feeding Fromm GF dry & rotate the proteins. I also had in raw toppers once or twice a day. I have 3 Springers and 1 Cavalier. My oldest Springer (7) has numerous health issues which I have been told are immune related, one being bad allergies/yeast. He has had double ACL surgery, sees a chiropractor regularly and on supplements for his joints, immune system etc. but he just doesn’t seem “right”. After doing research, Nature’s Logic was suggested to me because it does not have the starchy carbs that feeds the yeast (potatoes, peas etc.) that is in the Fromm food. My only concern is the millet in the Nature’s Logic. I bought a bag of Chicken to try, so we will see how he handles it. I am also leaning toward switching the other three dogs over to Nature’s Logic mainly because it is easier for me to feed all four dogs the same thing….. does anyone have feed back on this they could share with me?

[Tina]

My Cocker Spaniel has colitis so any food that she goes on must be easy on a dog’s stomach and good for digestion. She does well on chicken but definitely no beef. She is 9 years old with hip and joint issues along with cataracts in each eye and the kibble must be small because she had bad teeth. She also has had to go on Prescription Diet Dog Food and has previously been on Pro Plan, Hill’s Science Diet, Hill’s Ideal Balance and is mow on Nutro Natural Choice.

[Tina]

Anyone own a Golden Retriever? If so what do you feed yours? My Golden Retriever Angel is 8 years old and has these problems;
*dry skin
*itchy skin
*red skin
*weak hip and joints (she is on cohesion for this)
*sometimes over weight
*eats very fast
She is on Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Senior along with other small bags of stuff mixed in. She has only had chicken her entire life and as a younger puppy/adult was on;
*Eukanuba Puppy
*Purina Pro Plan Puppy
*Purina One Adult
*Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Adult
*Royal Canine Golden Retriever
*Blue Buffalo Large Breed Senior
*Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Senior
None of these I was happy with and none of them did the trick except for Royal Canine (kinda). What can you suggest? I’m open to ANY suggestions, including all life stages dog food. My only thing is that I need it to be inexpensive, not cheap but not like $80 for a 24lb bag.