[Bobby dog]

Yes, hopefully Akari will be proud of her protégé! lol

I wonder what those kitties think while they are up there looking down at us when they tree their selves.

Yeah for your sister and if she would have consulted with you she would have at least got info on how to firm up his stool easily. I don’t think Merrick was a good choice either. Maybe give her some info on how to judge the fat content of canned food if she tries again too, and hopefully she will.

Lately, even though I had to purchase a new supply of low carb and no potato canned, I have been paying close attention to fat content. I have a pretty decent list of foods that fit the low fat/carb and no potato criterion that are available at my pet stores. Feeding the lower fat varieties is due in part because of his summer time sedentary behavior. With the upcoming colder seasons it will not be an issue because his activity level increases.

I don’t blame you for having some paranoia about visiting the dog park, have fun! 😉

[Susan]

Hi Chris, have you ever done an elimination diet to see what foods he can’t tolarate make him itchy..My vet said that Elimination diet is the only way that you will really know what foods he’s allergic to..If he can eat raw or cooked that would be the best, start with 1 protein only then slowely add a new food weekly & see what foods makes him itch or gives diarrhea..you know within 2 days if they have a reaction.. I found my boy cant have Potatos, they give him diarrhea & rash all over chest, sweet potatos, he gets itchy ears & keeps shaking his head, wheat, his paws go red & itchy he starts licking them & now chicken cause everytime he has chicken he gets his hive like lumps all over his body..it does take time an elimination diet but you will know 100% what foods he can & cant eat…I have Patch on the ‘Wellness Simple’ Limited Ingredient… He was on the Royal Canin Hypoallergenic kibble but the fat was too high 19% he got Pancreatitis…Eukanuba FP has limited ingredients, its another kibble for skin allergies but its Fish & Potato & Patch got real bad diarrhea, I didnt know back then that it was the Potatos giving him diarrhea until I did the elimination diet, now I know he cant have any kibbles with Potato or Sweet potato & alot of the grainfree kibbles have Potato…. I dont know why they put Potato as potatos are high in carbs & carbs aren’t good for yeasty itchy skin…

[Kathleen C]

I checked the Wellness site and with the list of carbs I was able to figure out that the Core Reduced is actually the best idea. Fat of 11%, protein 33% and carbs as fed about 34%. That’s about as low as they have with the low fat. The frozen beans idea is good, thank you. He usually only gets about half a dozen big canned beans broken in half so it looks like more. I’ve never been sure how much to give, but 1/2 cup only has 20 calories. I can eat the frozen too though.

With it being so dry here during the summers I’d trade the desert for your wet Florida.

[Kathleen C]

Akari32, I’m trying to get him to lose weight so I’m afraid to get anything with more fat. I checked the online Wellness site and going by your report the Core Reduced has lower fat and carbs with 33% protein. I’m going to try getting him more exercise and some different lower fat treats. So far I think joining the Adviser’s site has already been worth the money. Thank you.

[theBCnut]

For a kibble, no, that’s not high carbs. Get frozen green beans and you will be cutting out some sodium and they are less digestable. Even 5 minutes of play in the house several times a day would be a great benefit to him. I know what you mean about the weather. We’re in Florida, so we go out first thing in the morning and in the evening, otherwise it’s just too hot.

I’m somewhat envious, I love the desert. Where I grew up, we went camping in both the high desert and the low desert, depending on the time of year. I always though it had its own beauty. I miss it a lot.

[Kathleen C]

Thank you. Do you know if the carb amount in the Wellness Core Reduced Fat is OK or should I look for something with lower amount? Getting that list from Wellness was a fantastic help, thanks for your work on it.

[Susan]

Hi Victoria, is there anyway you ask the owners can you buy her food instead & change her food to something else, Sardines in spring water are cheap, the fish oil in the sardines should help mix a couple of the sardines thru her Ol’Roy feed, also a good medicated shampoo, I use Malaseb medicated shampoo this kills any bacteria on the skin but doesnt strip the good oils, there might be another shampoo that is like the Malaseb that kills bacteria, you can buy at the pet shop, she should be bath weekly in the Malaseb shampoo, that will releave her itch & start to heal all the sore, the Predisone is just a bandaid it doesnt fix the problem, her feed needs changing ASAP. Also she’d need a good dog probiotic for her tummy after being on Antibiotics..Can you cook her meals if so, she needs a low carb diet, something fishy for the higher omega 3 & 6 for her skin..they’d save money from the vets if they just changed her diet…I hate pills I always asked my vet for creams & other things instead of tablets like Steriods & Antibiotic, Good-Luck,

[theBCnut]

It should be apparent that your dog is improving within the first week or so, but it can take 10 or so weeks for all symptoms to clear. With recurrant yeast infections, you should definitely suspect food allergies and you should also definitely add probiotics and digestive enzymes to each meal for a while. For many dogs with yeast, going as low carb as possible is beneficial, because one of the types of yeast that cause these problems feed off starch in the diet. Good luck. This is a beast of an issue.

[Susan]

Hi Laurie, my vet said the same thing Patch has seasonal allergies when I first got him, I kept saying maybe its his food, he gets itchy ears, red inbetween his toes & a rash on his chest when I feed him potatos. Patch cant eat Potatos, sweet potatos & now I think chicken as he starts to get hive like lumps under his skin after eating chicken I kept thinking it was from our walks the hive like lumps but this winter he has had his lumps so I started an elimination diet thats when I found he cant have potatos, sweet potatos, you need a low carb diet, yeast loves carbs….Karen Becker has a video how you have to starve the yeast, also I soak his paws in betadine antiseptic or the Detol antiseptic lotion its cheaper & does the same thing kills the yeast inbetween his toes, they smell like corn or a yeasty bread shop.. You dont say which Hills Angel is on, if its the Z/d….

When you change their food if ur slowly introducing the new food it takes maybe 2-3 weeks to start seeing results, with Patch if I stop a food thats making him itch I see results 1-2 days, they stop scratching, their paws aren’t red & Patch stops scratching his ears & shaking his head..thats when I know when he starts shaking his head & shaking his ears something that he has eatin isnt agreeing with him..
The Holistic Select Anchovy, sardines & salmon meal is suppose to be good & it has no potatos like alot of the grainfree kibbles have..Patch is on the Wellness Simple Lamb & Oatmeal limited ingredients, he’s going OK so far but when I started him on the Wellness Simple Duck & oatmeal after 3 weeks he started shaking his ears & head I looked at the ingredients again & I saw Potato Protein as soon as I stopped the Duck & Oatmeal he stopped shaking his ears then I started the Lamb & Oatmeal & he’s not shaking his ears…
I forgot is Angel on a good dog Probiotic for her stoamch & bowel?

[Dori]

Hi Chabs. I feed all three of my dogs (they are the three in my avatar) commercial raw foods. I also feed rotation with the different brands and also with the different proteins within the brands. All with the exception of anything fowl or fowl in the ingredient list. One of my girls, Katie, is highly allergic and intolerant. The brands that I rotate within are Primal Formulas, Vital Essentials Raw, Answers Detailed, Stella & Chew Raw, Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw, OC Raw. I used to feed Darwin’s also but they have upped their fat content and raised their prices so though all commercial raw foods are pretty expensive, I don’t appreciate a company raising their prices due to a fat increase. More nutritious ingredients I would have been fine with but not fat. I feed my girls pretty high fat foods as it is. I feed high protein, moderate to higher fat and low carbs. As for dehydrated foods (not strictly raw in the truest sense) I use The Honest Kitchen (now that they have removed alfalfa from Zeal), and Big Dog Natural. Once in a blue moon I would use freeze dried but freeze dried is the most expensive way to go. I used to need freeze dried when traveling with the dogs. I’m not one to drive around with frozen foods in coolers. Now that The Honest Kitchen has removed alfalfa from their Zeal formula (the only one that Katie could eat until she developed an intolerance to large amounts of alfalfa) I’m using THK and Big Dog Natural for traveling with the dogs. Yes, the commercial raws are expensive but not as expensive as having to spend a lot of money at the vet with issues that now no longer exist so it all paid off for me and my girls. 🙂

By the way, though your vet may have meant well, tear staining is not necessarily from the water but more an issue with foods being fed. Somewhat of a grain intolerance or allergy. There is not a type of water that I have not tried throughout the years. Tap, filtered, bottled, distilled, reverse osmosis. I even went so far as to put in a whole house water filtration system. I have an additional filter in the fridge. None of that worked. Changing them to grain free and then raw is what did the trick.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 2 months ago by Dori.
• This reply was modified 11 years, 2 months ago by Dori.

[Akari_32]

Yeah, he doesn’t do straight water still lol He doesn’t mind his food watered down, though, so I do that.

Oh, I know. I was just saying, I don’t typically buy all-fish foods, so this bone business is very strange to me! He has had all-fish Wellness in the past, but it’s been those purple grain free cans, and they weren’t pate, they were chuncks. He ate those just fine. Seems to me, all Wellness canned foods are pate unless otherwise stated.

I’ve not tried him on the Signature Selects yet because it’s so low calorie, and very high carb. He’d need like 3-4 of the big cans a day! Rotating between other brands, I could probably get away with just 2 cans, cans though. How do they expect a cat to eat that much, though?? LOL

[theBCnut]

Some dogs have trouble loosing weight on a diet high in carbs, so decreasing kibble and increasing canned food helps. Also, canned food is higher volume for the amount of calories, so if you feed the same volume, you will be feeding less calories, but in a more physically satisfying form.

Do you measure your dog’s food? Eyeballing is a classic overfeeding issue.

Unless there is an underlying medical problem like thyroid disease, weight control is a matter of calories in, calories out. So even though you think you aren’t overfeeding, your dog has a slower metabolism and requires even less food than you are currently feeding. You can handle this two ways, feed less calories and/or exercise more. Intervals of high intensity exercise burn calories best, so going for a walk, then throwing in a quick game of fetch in the middle, before completing the walk is a great way to loose calories. Anywhere you can build more activity into your dog’s day is a good thing.

[Susan]

Hi Kellye, I’m having the same problem with Patch keeping on his weight he doesnt have Diabetes, he has Pancreatitis & IBD, I want to have him tested for diabetes Ive read that some dogs that have pancreatitis will get diabetes, I was going to have him tested for diabetes….what I do is I look for kibbles with high calories, low fat%. I found the Wellness Simple Duck & Oatmeal has 450 kcal per cup ME but then Patch started scratching his ear I looked at the ingredients again & released it has potato protein Patch cant eat Pototes so now I feed have him the Wellness Simple Lamb & Oatmeal it has 406 kcal per cup ME its less then the Duck but its higher then most kibbles that Ive found, I also feed Patch 4 meals a day, you have to work out how many calories ur boy should be getting a day & feed him a bit more, well thats what Ive been doing with Patch & he’s gain 1/2 a kilo in weight but its only been 2 weeks since I started increasing his food… I know with raw they lose weight when you first start, does he need the digestive enzymes..
I know when Patch was eating 1 cup of boiled chicken breast, boiled pumkin & 1/2 a boiled egg mixed altogether he gained all his weight back but then I found out he can’t have chicken so I changed it to tuna in spring water drained & he lost weight again, so boiled chicken breast must have more calories then Tuna does, I know pasta would put on some weight but with diabetes you have to watch their carbs but they are allowed a little bit per day…Have you tried a dog nutritionist for some recipes what he can eat with his diabetes & gain weight awell….on yahoo there’s a group call “K9Kitchen” run by Monica Segal she does recipes for illness..

[Akari_32]

The only thing I don’t like about the cat Authority is that all the formulas appear to have fish in them. Fish over a period of time can cause thyroid issues. I used to use the Authority Flaked Turkey, but they just changed the recipe to have have less protein, and more carbs, which I avoid for my cat because he is prone to UTIs. For normal cats, that drink water (mine doesn’t), the little extra carbs they added shouldn’t matter. The Flaked Turkey is the only canned recipe that does not have fish, and I’m fairly sure all the dry ones have fish. Wouldn’t be bad for a rotation, but it’s not something I’d personally use all the time.

I also like the looks of the Simply Nourish dry, and used it some when I didn’t know about my cats UTI problems. They also have fish, but much lower down. Just check the ingredients, and decide for your self. That far doesn’t shouldn’t cause any problems, but if you’re like me, I’d rather not use it on a regular basis. I’ll admit to being a crazy person LOL

Also, here’s a coupon 🙂 save the link, as it’s good forever 😉 The expiration date changes every day. It’s good for Authority and Simply Nourish dry foods, as well as other brands, and is for cat and dog food.

http://pages.email-petsmart.com/coupons2014?g=6e33a451-2f8c-401b-b420-888b86bf1199&ab=foodcenter_coupon_dog

[Bobby dog]

LOL, Diamond foods look great IMO, and they are everywhere, but I just can’t bring myself to feed it after being caught up in an earlier re-call of theirs.

I happen to be on-line looking for some low carb, GF, and potato free canned food options for my dog who is a little itchy for some reason right now. I am having flash-backs to his terrible time with yeasty/flea dermatitis skin. Don’t know if it’s yeast making a come back, but I am not taking any chances for his sake! 🙂

[Susan]

Hi Mandy, have you had a look at the Wellness Simple Healthy Weight Salmon & Peas grain free there’s no chicken or turkey the fat is min-8% the fiber is 6%, Omega 6 is 1.80% Omega 3 is 90% Glucosamine is 3.75mg /kg…I just looked at the Wellness Core Ocean & the Fat min-16% fat thats high & that was min-16% fat so I add around another 1.5%-2% max fat on top of that, thats making it nilly 18% fat…. if u email Wellness they will email back max % on fat & the Carb %…..Holistic Select also made by Wellpet has their Grain Free Salmon, Anchovy & Sardine meal fat-min-13% Fiber-6% Omega 6 is 2.00% Omega 3 is 1.50% has no chicken or turkey….
Have you ever tried raw?? maybe cooked would be better to start with then you slowly cook the meat less then get to raw & slowly introducing from cooked to raw over 3-4 weeks, Karen Becker she says take 3 months introducing raw with dogs with GI problems in her book…I’d be to scared to try raw with Colitis..
Dogs with Colitis normally have IBD awell, I belong to the Yahoo group IBDogs & alot of the IBD dogs have Colitis so u’ll need to be careful when introducing new foods, so you dont have another flare….Good-Luck, its hard..

[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.

[Bobby dog]

Very nice stash!! Now you know how it feels to have a picky kitty. You’re still lucky it’s only one food though, so really you don’t have a picky kitty in my book! ;P

Since Bobby has been itching and licking his paws a little I went through his food today. For toppers I only have four cans that are low carb, GF, and no potato out of 20 cans and 3 boxes of THK, go figure. My pet store has Primal FD for half off this month so that will be most of his topper for the up-coming month along with a bag of NV medallions I have in the freezer. I’ll check out their canned selections when I get there too.

I have three small bags of kibble on hand, but they have potato in the recipes. So I went through my stash of samples and found I have over 12 lbs of different samples that fit the bill. I didn’t realize I had such a stash; there were so many I had to weigh them just to see how much there was. lol At least I don’t have to worry about buying more kibble.

[DogFoodie]

Look how far down in the list of ingredients chocolate actually is in Milk Duds:

Ingredients : Corn Syrup; Sugar; Vegetable Oil Cocoa Butter, Palm, Shea, Sunflower and/or Safflower Oil); Nonfat Milk; Dextrose; Chocolate; contains 2% or less of: Brown Sugar; Whey (Milk); Mono- and Diglycerides; Sodium Bicarbonate; Milk Fat; Salt; Resinous Glaze; Soy Lecithin; Tapioca Dextrin; Vanillin, Artificial Flavor.

I don’t mean to sound as though I’m minimizing the situation. I’m certainly not. I’d be watching her like a hawk if she were mine. If getting her to the vet right now was an option I’d take her. One of the links I shared included the phone number for the petty poison control center. I’d call and talk to them right away.

Is she having any symptoms currently?

[Susan]

Hi Jennifer, a grain free would be better then Purina One but I found alot of grain free kibbles have potatos & you need a low carb diet, yeast loves carbs, I few people I know feed the “Holistic Select” Anchovy, Sardines & Salmon meal, for their dogs with bad skin problems & they say its excellent the vet diets never helped their dogs, the Holistic Select also has 2 grain free kibbles Deboned Turkey & Lentils has no potatos & their Salmon Anchovy & Sardine grain free…or you can do an elimination diet to see what foods make him itch, but an elimation diet takes time…Wellness has their Simple limited ingredients range, that way he’s having limited ingredients, less ingredients to make him itch, also sardines in spring water are excellent for itchy skin, I give a couple sardines as a treat…I’m using the Wellness Simple Lamb & Oatmeal as my boy cant have potatos or sweet potatos, he’ll break out in a rash all over his stomach & chest, then his ear starts to itch, then his paws go all red & itchy, its awful.. I wouldnt believe it if I didnt see how a little bit of potato can do all this, I found this out buy doing an elimination diet…maybe try raw thats the best for skin problems, cooking or raw works out cheaper then kibbles, ..

[Bobby dog]

Fingers crossed your kitties like it and for you because the price is right. And if they do like it, it will be one more reason to add to the list of things that make me jealous…lol

If your boys are anything like Bobby, they will like it. I think their pate’ is the kind that stays fairly soft after refrigeration. I kinda forget because Bobby had some yeasty skin symptoms and he’s on a low carb, no potato diet for the time being just in case so I haven’t fed it in a while.

I haven’t fed the Sr chic & rice, but I am adding it to “my list” of approved 4H recipes since it looks like my store is stocking it now. I will have to check the puppy chic & rice label out when I am shopping there; they have carrageenan listed twice on the website recipe list for some reason. Maybe it’s wrong, IDK.

FWIW I don’t feed the chic stew because it contains titanium dioxide or the beef stew due to the caramel. Feeding a food with caramel in a rotation really isn’t that much of a deal breaker for me, but they have so many recipes to chose from and with the others I have in his base rotation I would only buy it if necessary.

[Akari_32]

I’m fostering a 16 year old Mini Dachshund right now and am using the Wellness Toy Breed formulas. I love the looks of them, and she eats them as well. Wellness also has a Small Breed CORE (grain free) recipe out now that looks fantastic I just bought to use for treats for my 2 year old Jack Russell mix that eats raw and needs a low carb diet, but loves his treats. Not Chihuahuas, but they are similar in size 🙂

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi Louis –

It’s great that you’re being proactive about your dog’s dental health! 🙂

Unfortunately, the Milk Bone brand dental chews contain very unhealthy ingredients (kind of the canine equivalent of a candy bar for us humans!). The good news is there are a lot of healthy chews available that I’m sure your dog will love just as much.

My number one recommendation for a healthy and effective dental chew is raw meaty bones. My dogs are fed an entirely raw diet and their dinner every night consists of raw meaty bones, but raw meaty bones can be fed to dogs that don’t eat raw as well. The best options for small dogs are things like chicken necks, wings and feet. Larger dogs do well with items like chicken backs, chicken quarters, pork necks and turkey necks.

If you’re not comfortable with feeding raw (which is completely understandable, many aren’t) the next best option would be a natural chew – things like bully sticks, dried trachea, pig ears, etc. These treats are high in protein and low in carbohydrates making them species-appropriate and healthy – plus dogs go nuts for them! Just be sure to get these types of treats from a reputable supplier (avoid treats imported from China!). A great site to order chews from is BestBullySticks.com – they have a wide selection and their chews are sourced from free-range Brazilian cattle.

While I do feel that RMBs and natural chews are a much better option than commercial dental treats, if you do choose to go with a commercial dental treat there are some things to look out for. The vast majority of commercial dental treats are loaded with unhealthy ingredients (like the Milk Bone dental chews) but there are a few out there that aren’t so bad. You just have to be sure to always read the ingredient list – avoid items like propylene glycol, artificial colorings, corn, wheat, soy, by-products, digests, etc. The downside to commercial dental chews is that, for the most part, they’re all fairly carb-heavy (even the healthier options) and they’re typically very expensive (RMBs are cheap!). A few commercial dental chews that I would feel comfortable recommending: Zuke’s Z-Bones, Cloud Star Dynamo Dog Dental Bones, Halo Spot’s Chew, Get Naked Dental Chew Sticks, Newman’s Own Organics Dental Bones and Nature’s Recipe Pure Essentials Dental Chews.

Also, be sure that you’re brushing your dogs teeth regularly (at least three times per week) – while dental chews are certainly a valuable tool for dental health, the only way to ensure optimal dental health is through brushing.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 2 months ago by Hound Dog Mom.
• This reply was modified 11 years, 2 months ago by Hound Dog Mom.
• This reply was modified 11 years, 2 months ago by Hound Dog Mom.
• This reply was modified 11 years, 2 months ago by Hound Dog Mom.

[Bobby dog]

C4c:
You’re are welcome, I value your help and input as well!!!! 🙂

I think the Friskies SD’s that I picked might have been the only pates’; can’t remember. I really have no choice, no matter what Friskies flavor I choose, it really can’t be a gravy or sauce, they vomit after eating those recipes for more than a few days. Before I even changed their diets, I avoided Friskies with gravies and sauces because of their reactions.

I did review all pates’ from every variety and these were the ones that included less of the undesirables for me at least. She always loved the regular turkey & giblets anyway and the SD version is at least a better recipe IMO than the regular; lower carbs and no fish. Give another recipe from Friskies a whirl, ingredients aside (other than ones that make her sick), she just needs to eat it, that’s what matters right now. 😉

[RescueDaneMom]

Hi Zanes Mom! I live in Central Florida and have a Great Dane. He is 8.5 years old and 145 lbs. He gets walks in the early morning and evening and lays around and sleeps the rest of the time. I am currently feeding half kibble (Brother*s Complete) and half raw. I have fed him some high fat raw for a month or two and his weight kept consistent. He seems to put on weight if eating a high carb food not high fat. He maintains weight well on low carb foods. I am personally not worried about fat content unless it is absurdly high. I would look at some low carb kibbles for more variety. Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural is one I can think of off the top of my head. Max also liked Annamaet Grain-Free and Petcurean’s Go! Fit and Free.

[Cheryl C]

My 13 year old dog does not have symptoms of pancreatic insulinoma but blood tests show a wide variation in glucose. One vet suggests a diabetic diet, another a diet of complex carbohydrates. Is there a healthy dry/canned dog food with protein, complex carbs, low fat that I can use as a base and add real food that are complex carbs?

[Bobby dog]

Thanks for posting Akari:
Perfect timing! I think Bobby is having a little relapse with yeasty skin. I suppose my line-up had a little too much food with potato as the carb in my line-up. He is shaking his head a little, scratching, and every now and then spending a little too much time biting his front paws. I already had a kibble in storage that is GF, potato free, and low carb, but need another option for his next bag! I am pretty sure I am stocked up on canned food that fits this criteria, I am going to check it out later on today. 😉

[Akari_32]

Sure thing! I was surprised to see how low the CORE recipes are, and how high the Simple and some of the Complete Health recipes are. Looks like I’ll me using the small breed CORE for his treats. They’re just what I wanted! A little high calorie, but they’re small, low carb, and grain free. Best of all, they aren’t smelly, so I’ll go for it lol Coupon time!

[Akari_32]

I emailed Wellness the other day looking for a low carb kibble to use as treats for Bentley, and they, awesomely, sent me the as fed and dry matter carb values of their entire dog line! Decided I’d post it here, and possibly help someone out in the future 🙂

Wellness® Dry Dog Foods: Carbohydrates

Wellness® Dry Dog
Complete Health Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe:
As Fed: 49.58%
Dry Matter: 53.89%

Complete Health Whitefish & Sweet Potato Recipe:
As Fed: 45.89%
Dry Matter: 49.84%

Complete Health Lamb & Barley Recipe:
As Fed: 48.15%
Dry Matter: 52.34%

Complete Health Healthy Weight Deboned Chicken & Peas Recipe:
As Fed: 53.11%
Dry Matter: 57.73%

Complete Health Senior Deboned Chicken & Barley Recipe:
As Fed: 52.42%
Dry Matter: 56.98%

Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Oatmeal & Salmon Meal Recipe:
As Fed: 36.72%
Dry Matter: 39.91%

Large Breed Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe:
As Fed: 44.58%
Dry Matter: 48.46%

Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice & Salmon Meal Recipe:
As Fed: 43.56%
Dry Matter: 47.35%

Small Breed Complete Health Adult Turkey & Oatmeal Recipe:
As Fed: 37.67%
Dry Matter: 40.94%

Small Breed Complete Health Adult Whitefish, Salmon Meal, & Peas Recipe:
As Fed: 35.43%
Dry Matter: 38.51%

Small Breed Complete Health Puppy Turkey, Oatmeal & Salmon Meal Recipe:
As Fed: 36.36%
Dry Matter: 39.52%

Small Breed Complete Health Senior:
As Fed: 44.16%
Dry Matter: 48.00%

Small Breed Complete Health Healthy Weight Turkey & Brown Rice Recipe:
As Fed: 43.38%
Dry Matter: 47.16%

Toy Breed Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice & Peas Recipe:
As Fed: 32.48%
Dry Matter: 35.30%

Toy Breed Complete Health Healthy Weight Deboned Chicken & Barley Recipe:
As Fed: 41.71%
Dry Matter: 45.34%

Toy Breed Complete Health Senior Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe:
As Fed: 42.43%
Dry Matter: 46.12%

Wellness® CORE® Dry Dog
CORE® Grain-Free Original:
As Fed: 29.47%
Dry Matter: 32.03%

CORE® Grain-Free Ocean:
As Fed: 28.52%
Dry Matter: 31.00%

CORE® Grain-Free Reduced Fat:
As Fed: 34.19%
Dry Matter: 37.16%

CORE® Grain-Free Puppy:
As Fed: 23.58%
Dry Matter: 25.63%

CORE® Grain-Free Small Breed:
As Fed: 23.79%
Dry Matter: 25.86%

CORE® Grain-Free Large Breed:
As Fed: 31.29%
Dry Matter: 34.01%

CORE® Grain-Free Wild Game:
As Fed: 28.18%
Dry Matter: 30.63%

Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Recipes:
Simple Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Formula:
As Fed: 43.20%
Dry Matter: 46.96%

Simple Grain-Free Turkey & Potato Formula:
As Fed: 41.99%
Dry Matter: 45.64%

Simple Lamb & Oatmeal Formula:
As Fed: 48.11%
Dry Matter: 52.59%

Simple Duck & Oatmeal Formula:
As Fed: 49.26%
Dry Matter: 53.54%

Simple Grain -Free Small Breed Salmon & Potato Formula:
As Fed: 35.13%
Dry Matter: 38.18%

Simple Grain – Free Healthy Weight Salmon & Peas Formula:
As Fed: 42.76%
Dry Matter: 46.48%

[Cindy L]

I have a 7 month old Lab that has loose stools and just had his 2nd UTI which was found when I took him in to be fixed (very early). First one was at 8 weeks old! Switched him over 10 days to Wellness core puppy, green mucus and smell to high heaven loose stools. Went to Nature Variety Instinct Rabbit, better but not good. Both have a Probiotic called Enterococcus Faecium which I have found others have a problem with! Found out Nature’s variety has removed it from new formula’s! Went to Annamaet Aqualuk which was good but still loose. Vet found in bloodwork he has the start of kidney disease which he hopes my puppy might grow out of but wants him on a under 30 protein, low phosphorus, around .7, low ash, low magnesium, grainfree, potato free, lower carb, 6-7 ph, diet. Only one I found is Zignature grainfree Duck w/ no Probiotics. 2nd choice Canine Caviar(much higher priced) Open sky or wilderness(vet doesnt’t want red meats right now though) or new formula Nature’s variety instinct LID Rabbit but the ash is higher. Just a thought for you…seems Probiotics can cause problems in some dogs! I am at my wits end over this and have spend alot of time researching foods and calling companies….will be starting him on Zignature this week.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 3 months ago by Cindy L.

[Stephanie S]

Can anyone suggest some low carb treats (homemade or store bought)? My dog Charlie was recently diagnosed with lymphoma and I have put him on a low-carb diet, but he has been missing his treats. I bought a bag of lamb lung and he loves it, but I’m looking for a bigger variety. I don’t mind making or dehydrating various things, but it would be nice to go out and buy something as well.

[weezerweeks]

My little yorkie is on all canned foods. I try to find the kinds that are above or near average protein,near or below average fats and carbs. My favorites are wellness stews, go fit, fromn gold,merrick. I want to try freeze-dried raw. I was thinking about Stella and cheweys but all of the freeze dried raw are above average in fat. Does anyone have any suggestions? If I try Stella and cheweys how much should I feed him. He gets 1/4 cup of canned in morning and at night so how much freeze-dried would this be?any suggestions would be appreciated.I tried THK and he did not like it. I was also thinking about dr. Harveys oracle but it is so high in protein. Thanks

[Jennifer H]

Soooo….I know there are some commercial foods out there targeting specific diets.

Annnnd…I know I just looked through William D. Cusick’s website and raised my eyebrows rather skeptically – more than once. Anybody heard of him?

Buuuut…I have a weird thing going on over here at the Crazy 88 Whippets ranch that might actually support the idea of breed- or group- specific diets. Let me tell you my story, and I’d love to hear input. 🙂

In the spirit of high protein, low carbs, moderate fat, moderate calories = weight loss, I’ve had my chubbiest whippet dieting on Premium Edge WL 1 formula (49% protein, 13% fat, 30% carbs, 347 kcals/cup) for about 2 months. I am feeding 367 cals per day – target weight of 20lbs (per the dog food calculator for overweight dogs) and measuring food like a tyrant. Minimal change. Even w/ increased exercise.

So…Last week I went back to Nutro Nat. Choice Lite Lamb & Rice (23% protein, 7%fat, 52% carbs – ugh! that’s a lot of carbs, right?!!!, and 244 kcals/cup). I am still feeding 367 cals per day, per the dog food calculator & exercise (at least 2x a week on carpet mill with resistance, in addition to tug & retrieve training, walks, and yard exercise) is the same.

In just one week, we’ve got NOTICEABLE weight loss. So….that got my whippet & canine diet obsessed brain wondering. Could it be that because she’s a ‘sprinting’ breed, she processes carbs differently?

That’s what sent me on my online quest in regards to whippets and carbs, which brought me to WD Cusick’s site on breed-specific diets.

And still, it seems a bit OUT THERE. But, one of my whippets is prone to tying up on too much protein in his diet, and he’ll especially do it if we don’t carb-load during racing. I wonder if in general the sprinters can/should have more carbs in their diets – simply having different metabolisms, whether they are actively training for racing/coursing or not????

This, of course means the one non-whippet in the household gets to stay on the high-pro/low carb/mod fat, as she is losing weight appropriately for the first time ever (can’t get her to lose it on high carb diets!) Which again, sort of makes sense, if she’s a working/herding breed w/ diff. use of energy in long-trot activities as opposed to sprint/rest like the whippets.

Thoughts?

Jennifer & the Crazy 88 Whippets

• This topic was modified 11 years, 3 months ago by Jennifer H.

[Cyndi]

Here is the ingredient list for Good Friends dog food:
Wheat middlings, ground yellow corn, soybean meal, meat and bone meal, animal fat, salt, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, niacin, copper sulfate, vitamin A supplement, biotin, managanous oxide, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfate coplex, riboflavin supplement, sodium selenite, calcium lodate, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement, cobalt carbonate.

Crude protein: %18 Crude fat: %6 Crude Fiber: %6 Moisture: %12

Definitely NOT a good dog food!!

[Genevieve K]

After wandering around for a few hours, comparing infredients/nutrition info, I grabbed a bag of the Instinct Grain Free Rabbit. It has an extremely high fat content of 20% so it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s why some dogs experience loose stool. The protein and calcium content were in line and carbs were low. I’ll add pumpkin if he poops out soft-serve.

He had the rabbit kibble for dinner tonight with no toppers. (I do add water to any kibble I feed.) This food has enough fat without coconut oil. I’m probably imagining this but, since dinner, he hasn’t been scratching – at all. He chewed at his front legs for a few minutes but…no frenzied scratching.

I refuse to believe this is actually the solution because it’s (1) the first test run and (2) it’d be too good to be true. However, he’s not scratching and is now sleeping belly up – a position dogs sleep in only when they feel comfortable and safe. I’ve never seen him sleep like this.

I look forward to seeing the changes over the next few days. Thanks so much for your input!!

[weezerweeks]

My yorkie had sturvites. I switched him to canned food that was low in carbs and added extra water. The water flushes them out. My vet said low carbs and canned food and lots of water. So far no sturvites!

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi 2nd2none –

The idea that only active dogs require more protein is a myth. In fact, strenuous activity has only a marginal impact on dietary protein requirements.

From “Basic Animal Nutrition and Feeding” 5th Ed.:

“Rennie and Tipton (2000), in a review of this subject [the effect of strenuous exercise on protein and amino acid metabolism], reported that sustained exercise stimulates amino acid oxidation (chiefly branched chain) for gluconeogenesis and possibly affects regulation of acid-base balance, resulting in a short-term net loss of tissue protein due to decreased synthesis and increased degradation. Protein synthesis rebounds quickly following rest. The data indicate that exercise does not increase the dietary protein requirement; in fact, efficiency of protein metabolism may be improved as a result of exercise.”

Higher protein does not equate to more calories when in fact the opposite is true. Protein contains 4 kcal. per gram, carbohydrates contain 4 kcal. per gram and fat contains 9 kcal. per gram. Exchanging carbohydrate for protein does not change the caloric density of the food and exchanging fat with protein would actually decrease the caloric density of the food.

From “Focusing on Protein in the Diet” by T.J. Dunn Jr. DVM:

“Extra carbohydrate intake, above the immediate needs of the dog (which occurs often with grain-based diets) prompts internal enzyme factors to store that extra carbohydrate (sugar) as fat. Give that same dog extra protein and it is excreted through the kidneys and NOT stored as fat. Knowing this, what do you think would make a better “weight loss diet” for a dog … one with grain as the main ingredient or one with a protein-rich meat source as the main ingredient?”

It’s also a myth that excess protein (beyond what is necessary to meet the dog’s amino acid requirements) harms the kidneys. It is the job of the kidneys to excrete wastes and in a healthy animal, the kidneys are fully able to do this.

From “Small Animal Clinical Nutrition” 4th ed.:

“Feeding protein above requirements or recommendations for healthy dogs and cats does not result in toxicity because the excess amino acids from the protein are catabolized and the waste nitrogen is excreted.”

From “Focusing on Protein in the Diet” by T.J. Dunn Jr. DVM:

“The very early research that pointed a finger at protein as being a cause of kidney failure in dogs wasn’t even done on dogs! It was done on rats fed unnatural diets for a rodent — diets high in protein. (Were we tinkering with Nature during these “tests”?) Rats have difficulty excreting excess protein in their diets because they are essentially plant eaters, not meat eaters. Dogs are quite able to tolerate diets with protein levels higher than 30 percent on a dry weight basis. Dogs are meat eaters; that’s how Nature made them!”

From “Kirk’s Veterinary Therapy XIII, Small Animal Practice” p. 861:

“…restriction of protein intake does not alter the development of renal lesions nor does it preserve renal function. Considering these (research) findings, the authors do not recommend reduction of dietary protein in dogs with renal disease or reduced renal function in order to achieve renoprotective effects.”

[T]

The tough thing about phosphorous is that higher protein usually comes with higher phosphorus. A lot of the premium diets these days have high protein, high fat, and lower carbohydrate levels. This brings a higher phosphorus level. Whether a low protein diet is beneficial for dogs with renal insufficiency is controversial but many of the veterinary specialists now say protein should not be severely restricted until the animal is in a more advanced stage of renal disease.

You could ask your vet to hook you up with a veterinary nutritionist– maybe a homemade diet would be an option? Another good quality food that can be custom made (but at a significant investment price) can be had from Just Food for Dogs. You can Google their web site.

If your dog starts feeling worse, getting him to eat will likely be one of your challenges. Be prepared to use bits of different foods and recipes to keep it interesting!

Tabitha
http://naturalalternativesvet.com

[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.

[Akari_32]

As some of you guys may know, my moms dog Bentley, a 7 pound jack russell/maltese mix, has a terrible time with yeast infections on his skin, mainly his back half, and all four paws. I finally decided it wasn’t a food allergy, but a seasonal allergy (and every season in FL is allergy season) after trying nearly every dry food on the shelf here, and put him on By Nature 95% canned, which we have to order online every three weeks. And even then, he needs a whole can (he is extremely active and has a high metabolism), but we manage to get by with 3/4 of a can one day, and then 1/4 of a can the next with 1/4 cup (dry measured) of a THK grain free complete mix, and that keeps his weight up well enough. If I didn’t happen to have a couple sample boxes of THK, I don’t know what I’d do! Anyway, his fur is growing back, he’s overall much better, but I still feel like he needs a bit more of a better diet to push his recovery into the right direction.

I’m wanting to do a pre-mix, and have it narrowed down to Urban Wolf and See Spot Live Longer. But I have issues with both. My only issue with UW is the price! I coupon for my dog food, and there is definitely some major sticker shock going on there. I need to know how much food the whole bag would make, and about how long it would last him before I can really pick this one or not. Then theres SSLL. The price is great, as just $17 a 1lb bag. Each bag claims to make 26lb of food, but there are no feeding guidelines or preparation instructions on the website! And the owner of the site doesn’t seem to have all his ducks in a row, either, from what I hear. But the priiiiiice! Its so affordable sounding! I’d love to hear your all’s thoughts on these mixes, and I’d also like to know of any other low carb, and no/minimal sweet potato and carrot mixes out there (Grandma Lucy’s and Sojo’s are out– not high enough calories).

I was also wondering, at his size, how often, and how much, should I offer eggs and sardines? And what brand of sardines do you guys use?

As for proteins, pork and chicken are very high up on the contenders list. Ground pork is just $2.49 a pound, and most pieces of chicken are $1.99 a pound and less. What are your guy’s thoughts on pork as a decent chunk of the dogs diet? I hear such mixed things about pork in general for dogs, but he sure does love a good country rib! And about the chicken, I hear many people like to use dark meat chicken because of the fat content. This sounds great to me because its *cheap*, thighs in particular being just $1.49 a pound. Is this correct? He can certainly use any extra fat he can get (him and cat are running around the house like lunatics right now, even!).

I also want you guys to ok my “staple” meat choices:
Chicken Thighs
Chicken Gizzards
Chicken Livers
Chicken Necks
Chicken Backs
Chicken Wings
Turkey Livers
Turkey Gizzards
Turkey Necks
Turkey Backs
Turkey Wings
Beef Heart
Beef Liver
Country Ribs
Ground Pork

There are more, but I can’t think of them. And then I will also throw in whatever’s on a good sale at the time. Beef is expensive, so it’ll be mostly turkey, chicken, pork (given what ever you guys say about the pork) and beef parts. He doesn’t like fish, so thats not going to be anything I’ll force on him, other than the occasional sardine for his skin and coat. And I know liver shouldn’t be a very large part of the diet. They aren’t sold in very big packages, anyways lol (and some pre-mixes call for them?)

My last question for now, when I want to offer a protein with bone in it (RMB), could I feed him the pre-mix prepared with no meat (separated out during prep before meat is added), and then give him the RMB? Or could I just give the RMB as the meal and forget the pre-mix (but how often can I do that?)? Or I could remove all the meat from the bone, and give him just the bone as a munchy treat. Given his mushy diet, I would really like to make sure he gets enough to chew on. My plan is to make his meals for one to two weeks ahead on a weekend, and then freeze them all in a planned out sort of manner, and mark out his meals by day. That way I can make sure he gets the right amount of sardines and egg, and gets a good rotation of meat.

That’ll do for now, i think. I’m just in the planning stages, so I’m open to any suggestions, change in plans, tips, whatever. Thanks! 🙂

[Melissaandcrew]

Eric-yes, its not just a result of increased appetite. Gina eats the same amount of food as before, and yet has gained. We will not cut here food back any further as she seriously eats a very small amount. Oh, and she eats low carb foods and raw, and it still occurred. Interesting enough, after the small weight gain, she has not gained anything additional..

[Eric H]

Hi USA_Dog_Treats – thank you for your concern; as we know owning a pet is rarely all Sweetness and Light, right? 🙂

Otis has always struggled a little with his weight – we had another, his older companion, and she was always quite svelte, but our poor little pork-chop Otis, he’s a bit of a victim to his food-motivated personality it seems. I agree with your approach – we will be sticking with the food level and managing the treat level for now, see if that helps. For the treats we DO give, we have made changes to low-carb low-sugar veggie options like turnip instead of sweet potato as well.

The phenobarb – yes, it sucks I know. Regrettably we are in Canada and apparently we don’t have the same options as south of the border. The epilepsy and pancreas occurred almost simultaneously, if you can imagine – seizure one week, pancreas the next. It was a tough month for everyone!! So we are satisfied the pheno didn’t trigger the pancreas, although may now make it a little more sensitive. Regrettably Otis doesn’t have the benefit of a spectacular gene pool as his older companion did when she was around! Our Vet is quite fantastic, we went through a couple before finding her, and she is simply amazing, so we trust her and she seems committed to Otis’ health. She did mention that phenobarb isn’t her favourite but we didn’t have a lot of options and is monitoring his liver as a result.

Many happy days indeed – let’s hope!
🙂

[Eric H]

Wow! Vigorous conversation!
I must say, I am never surprised by how passionate pet lovers are about their information and beliefs; I know we ALL strive to do the best we can for our beloved animals and any suggestion by anyone that we might not be doing it “perfectly” can be difficult to digest (pun-in-context intended…) I am confident we are all doing the best we can, which should always include being receptive to the input of others – not as insult or criticism, but as another option we may choose to consider and discard or adopt as we feel appropriate.

So having said that, thank you for the raft of input!!
LabsRawesome – Dehydrated fat free meats – I will look into that some more. You prompted some pretty animated discussion on that topic, I will check it out and see if it could apply to Otis.
somebodysme – Otis gets the following exercise: 1h walk/day, plus combination of some or all of: extended backyard ball chasing (loves chasing/returning a ball), repeated toy chasing inside including up/down stairs at times. He always seems satisfied and tired at the end of any of these, so we are hopeful he is getting enough of a total workout on a daily/weekly basis. Smaller treats is another option – at the moment he gets enough to let him chew for a few minutes (iei 1 baby carrot, 1 small flower stalk of cauliflower). Very food motivated, and would eat treats continuously until he passed out I think, regardless of size! ha.
Dori – High Carbs, yes we had no idea of the sugar/carb contents of *veggies* (foreign concept, thinking veggies were harmless as many human diet plans allow “unlimited fruits / veggies”. “oosp.” We got a USDA list of some 1,000 different foods, catalogued them by Sugar, Cal, and Fat and found a new short-list of options which include many of what you suggested, thanks! We will start by substituting his sweet potato with turnip for example and cutting back on carrots (still good for teeth…just less of them). Otis gets strictly 2 small formal meals per day, total 1cup per day + treats.
sue66b – Pancreatitis, IBD, and skin issues? Ouch! Poor guy. Our Otis had significant skin issues also (like crutsy awful human eczema patches) but disappeared when we switched foods! Very rare small flare-ups (likely from external contact sources) are treated with some polysporin ointment for 1 or 2 days and it goes away. Banana and rice cakes! Bananas might work but sugar is higher than the short-list I will be trying for now (12.2g/100g USDA), might try use banana as an occasional option. Tuna might be another option – I only scanned veggies and fruit, so I don’t have the tuna numbers, I will look that up, thanks!
aimee – Yes, we really thought we’d lose him before we found a safe diet…it was a pretty stressful time back then!! Your history suggestion is good, I think we’ll try to take note of just how many “treats” he is getting compared to 10% intake – when they are small bites you forget what they add up to over the day.

Thanks everyone for their contributions and continued pet-passion!
-e

[Dori]

Unfortunately the two treats that it seems your giving him the most are carrots and sweet potatoes. Both high in sugar and carbs. How many meals a day are you feeding and are you feeding too much. Don’t go buy the bag or canned directions, that’s just a starting point.

Is she getting enough exercise? Are you giving too many treats during the day? How large are the treats you’re giving her at a time or throughout the day? As you know already I’m sure, the only real diet is less food (portion control) and more movement. It works for us and it works for them. Eat Less, Move More. It’s truly the only thing that consistently works.

Some lower carb/sugar fruits and veggies include: watermelon, cucumbers, arugula, cantaloupe, broccoli rage, string beans, celery, green,red and yellow peppers, radishes. That’s just a small list. Have you gone on google and typed in fruits and veggies low in sugars and carbs? You’ll get more to add to her treat list.

[Eric H]

Hello – Long time lurker to this fantastic site and forum members, finally time to post and ask for input!

Our 10 second intros:
The Pooch: “Otis,” 25+lb, 7yr old happy active male neutered mini-Schnoodle (14.5″ withers) unfortunately with severe pancreas issues and epilepsy (controlled by daily phenobarbital).

The current food: 1/2c x 2 per day = 1 cup / day of Hills I/D GI Restore – the ONLY food we have found, after trying MANY options including raw and alternative pancreas-safe home-brews, which doesn’t send him to the hospital for 24-48hrs at $500+ a crack. Ouch. We actually thought he would die before we found something he could eat. This is the *only* food so far which has kept him out of the hospital >1yr and counting! [knock on wood]. Note this is about HALF his recommended amount, as we were previously already trying to keep his weight down – it isn’t working!

The current treats: Carrots and Cauliflower (can’t eat fat, remember?), Watermelon, dried sweet-potato/yam slices. He gets his pill (twice a day) in a small cube of cooked sweet potato which works out to 1 full sweet potato per week. That’s about it.

Ok. So.
The reason for interrupting you all!
He is currently a little pork-chop pushing 26 lbs and should be closer to 20-25ish despite eating the above “low fat” diet (so he doesn’t die from pancreatitis) and ZERO extras other than a large contingent of veggies and his beloved sweet-potato. Then I lurk on this site to try to figure out why he is still gaining so much weight… CARBS + SUGARS!? Oh fer cryin out loud! Carrots, one of his favourites, high in carbs. Who knew.

So the question is: What the heck do I feed the poor guy so he doesn’t die from either pancreatitis or complications of being overweight!

The current plan: Get a list of low-carb low-sugar veggies and try to stay low on both for his “treats,” as the food itself “ain’t broke so don’t touch it,” as any guesswork in that department could have serious complications.

Thoughts?
Thanks!
-e

[Akari_32]

Ok, never mind on the Grandma Lucy’s. He’d have to eat 3/4 of a cup of the mix PLUS 3/4+ of a cup of a protein. Yikes! Urban Wolf might not be too bad, then.

I’m going to email them and ask:

How many cups of prepared (including protein sources) food does a 3lb bag make?
How would you recommend the pre-mix be made for a dog that needs a low carb diet?

What else? I feel like I’m forgetting something… lol

Off to look up SSLL!

[Akari_32]

Aside from perhaps some medical conditions, I wouldn’t think so. It’s definitely preferred to feed high protein and low carbs. Is there any reason you were asking?

[aimee]

Hi Chuckles,

To answer your question about protein…. I don’t have a reference right off hand but I have seen it reported as a quick “down and dirty” estimation to use 1 gram/lb for dogs and 2 grams/lb for cats. This provides a lot more protein than NRC nutrient recommended allowance.

For example my Lab weighs 68 lbs. NRC min requirement for protein is 2.62 x body weight in kg to the 3/4 power. For my 68 lb lab that calculated out to 34 grams of protein. NRC min req assumes a really high digestibility and an ideal amino acid profile.

The NRC recommended allowance is 3.28 X body weight in kg to the 3/4 power. For my Lab that calculates out to ~43 grams protein.

Diets formulated for dogs whose medical needs require no excess protein over metabolic needs are formulated close to these levels.

But for a dog without restrictions protein is usually fed at higher levels and by using the 1 gram/lb “rule” at 68 grams protein you can see that this is more than adequate assuming a decent digestibility and AA profile. Dogs etc don’t have a protein requirement so much as they have amino acid requirements.

In regards to fat, this is really dog to dog variable. My labs have always been “easy keepers” meaning a few calories goes a long way. I tend to stick with fat levels around 10-12 % allowing them to eat a larger volume of food. Also of the three macronutrients, protein carb and fat, fat is the most efficiently retained by the body as fat. Calories though are key for body condition as excess calories from any source result in fat storage.

[Chris S]

I agree with much of what Betsy mentioned. One of the main reasons for dogs (& people) gaining weight is carbs & sugar. Fat isn’t the culprit. I have proven this for myself by going on a very low carb & sugar diet & eating just about all the fat I wanted. Result: in about 2 weeks I had lost over 5 lbs.

This is the same with dogs. Read the labels & look for items that contain carbs such as grains, fruits & vegetables containing sugar, etc. Sugar turns into body fat & carbs turn into sugar. Fat that is eaten rarely turns into body fat.

So get your dog off those “low fat” foods & replace them with high contents of real meat, fish, chicken, & organ parts, such as liver, hearts, gizzards, etc. Also be careful with those fruits & vegetables. Look them up to see what their sugar & carb content is & go with the lowest items.

Protein is just as important as fat. It will give a sense of fulness that lasts throughout the day, where sugar & carbs are digested very quickly causing hunger to return soon. Protein is very important in building body & muscle mass instead of fat. Your dog will loose the fat & replace it with a more solid & healthy body.

[Akari_32]

Hey guys! Yes, I’m on vacation lol

How the store accepts coupons is entirely up to them. The manufacturers set rules on the coupons, and the store can take or leave them, and may or not get paid back the face value of the coupon, plus shipping and handling, if they don’t follow the rules they set. When in doubt, just ask the store manager. Or the nicest highest-up person in the store…. LOL Usually just asking gets you want you want, rather than just assuming (or having no idea what you’re doing) and trying to do something you aren’t sure of. For some reason (with me anyways), when I have no plan of action, everything gets all screwed up at the register lol

That said, most stores will take multiples of the same coupon. If they won’t, a lot of times there is a coupon in the news paper to match a printable coupon (coupons.com, etc), which works out pretty good if you don’t want to make quite so many trips or transactions.

Store coupons (including ones printed from competitors websites and clipped from receipts), are usually limited to one like coupon per transaction, in my experience. Can’t usually double up on store and competitor coupons on the same item these days. But you can use a manufacturer coupons and a store (or competitor) coupon on one item if the store allows. Again, it’s up to the store. And the person checking you out at the time.

I do use Sheba. It’s not too bad. I’d say it’s an average, 3 star sort of food, because of the coloring. If it didn’t have the colors, it would be a great food. I only use the pates, and try to not get the gravy ones. The gravy ones always smell weird to me, and have a gray look to them, plus they have higher carbs. Cat eats the just fine, regardless, though. Of course, this is the same cat that knocks over the garbage can at least once a week, so I’m not sure how reputable his opinion is LOL