Please listen to your vet and start the prescription food right away and whatever other recommendations the vet has made. Provide plenty of fresh water and frequent bathroom breaks. I would get the kibble plus the canned version, mix and add a little water (measured amounts 2 or 3 times a day) no free feeding.
Believe me, you want to keep kidney disease at bay. It’s good that your vet caught this early. It’s not unusual for a senior dog to have labs that are a little off, but hopefully with the special diet you will see improvement when you retest in a few months.
I’ll never understand why people disregard the advise of their vets. The internet is not “research”. There is a lot of incorrect information on the internet.
I hope that you will pick up the prescription food today and ask your vet to explain the rationale for the special diet and anything else that you should be doing.
Btw: Raw is the worst thing you could feed a dog with kidney disease.
I recently had routine senior blood work done on my 8 year old lab mix and some of her levels were on the high end of normal. Her veterinarian said she may be in the early stages of kidney disease and suggested switching her to Hills K/D. They aren’t sure about the kidney disease and want to retest her in several months. She has been eating a variety of mostly grain free foods her entire life with Taste of the Wild being her main food. I am not comfortable switching her to K/D for a few reasons but mainly because we aren’t even sure she has kidney disease and if she does it’s still the still early stage. The vet has said the food is well balanced and ok for a dog without kidney disease. I have switched her to First Mate Senior which I feel has higher quality ingredients. I also add a small amount of canned K/D, eggs whites, green tripe and some fresh fruits and veggies. I have been reading so many things about canine kidney disease and diet and am getting overwhelmed! I am looking for others input and opinions. Also, I am wondering what others have fed their dogs with early stage kidney disease? I have looked in to raw but am not ready to feed a completely raw diet although I have begun to do some research on it.
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This topic was modified 8 years, 7 months ago by
Kelsey F.
Im sure DFA already knows about it but, yup! S&C has come forth with their own baked raw coated kibble. https://www.stellaandchewys.com/dog-food/raw-coated-kibble/
Just as a disclaimer: I’m a little new into the raw feeding world. I’ve been feeding my pups Primal for about 6 months now due to my beagle’s constant weight fluctuations when on a kibble diet. After weaning her off of the table scraps my family would give her, scheduling her feedings and walks, and going at least 90% commercial raw, she’s been better than I thought she could ever be; the chub she used to have just melted off, and she’s quite the beaut. Not to mention my 7 year old Schnauzer’s been thriving like crazy off of it – no more half eaten bowls. Well thats enough about that ~
I’ve never tried S&C, but I’ve heard its a decent starter brand for those who’d like to try raw feeding with a nice amount of protein options. As a dog food retailer I know the meal mixers are a huge hit, which has earned them a pretty good rep overall.
The S&C company believes that by providing this baked, raw coated kibble, they would be reaching more pets with the benefits of raw. Specifically for those who cant afford a 100% raw diet, whether it be because of time or money. I think they’re hoping for this kibble to be a sort of “gateway” for raw feeding and kibble standards in general.
As you can imagine, there are a couple sides to this:
– Those who think this is just a marketing tactic, a contradicting product, a step backwards, etc.
– Those who think this is a good starting balance for those who simply cant or wont go raw.
As for the kibble ingredients, it looks decent enough, and the baked route certainly stands them out some. I really cant say what I think about it just yet.
What do you think about their decision? Is it a good idea? A bad one? Personal opinions/Thoughts?
Hi LovelyBear!
All my dogs use their feet when eating, yet my cats don’t. Go figure 😀
I wouldn’t be surprised if she catches onto the crate games soon and remembers that her crate used to be a place she enjoyed. Some dogs just kind of get weirded out by something they haven’t seen in awhile. My overly visual herding breeds are like this. One of them will stare at something new as if willing it to move!
Truthfully I don’t think all kibble is horrible, but I’m like you–I’d rather know what I’m feeding my dogs and cats, as well as know where it’s sourced from…most of it is farm to bowl. The suppliers I’ve used for the many years I’ve been doing this have never left me anything but satisfied. I don’t feel a raw diet magically “prevents” or “cures” cancer, nor will keep a dog from dying of anything but old age when they’re well into their 30’s (but wouldn’t that be awesome….), but I consider it another form of insurance, along with environmental factors that can potentially increase or decrease those risks. We do our best.
I don’t notice a huge difference between my young or young-ish raw fed animals vs. their non-raw fed friends, but as they age I see subtle differences between the two. An NR breeder I work with has generations of dogs and her seniors look (and act) pretty much like the younger generations do. The most striking difference was between one of my dogs (then 7 years old) and another dog of the same age and breed who appeared to be much older. Maybe we just got lucky genetics but my dog was often guessed to be between 2-4 years old because of his coat condition, clean teeth, etc.
Wishing you the best of luck!!
Hope this helps.
https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/
excerpts below, click on link for full article:
Animal by-products
In addition to grain, animal by-products have become “dirty words” on the ingredient list. Although not necessarily appealing to humans (particularly in the USA), the definition of a by-product in pet food is a part of the animal that is not skeletal muscle. This includes organ meats and intestines (not intestinal contents). AAFCO specifically excludes hair, hooves, horns, hide, manure, etc… as acceptable by-products. So in reality, by-products are perfectly healthy and full of nutrients. And you can be sure that a wild wolf or mountain lion is eating “by-products” in nature.
Raw diets
Raw diets are another popular option on the market today. Studies have shown that 20-35% of raw poultry and 80% of raw food dog diets tested contained Salmonella. This poses a health risk for your pet, but also for humans. This is especially true for children or immunocompromised adults, whether exposed to the raw food directly, or the feces of the pet eating the raw food. Additionally, there is increased risk of other bacterial infections and parasitic diseases when feeding raw diets. And the bottom line is there is no reason to believe raw food is healthier than cooked food.
The numerous dietary choices for your pet can be daunting but if you pick an AAFCO approved food made by a manufacturer with a long track record, odds are good that you will find a suitable food for your pet. Most of the large pet food companies employ full time veterinary nutritionists and have very high quality control standards. That is not to say that a small company cannot produce nutritious and high quality food, but you should check out their website if it’s a company that is not familiar to you. Take the time to research, and ask your veterinarian if you have specific questions or concerns.
Please understand that this article is meant to provide basic dietary guidelines for healthy pets. If your pet has specific health issues, then your veterinarian may make specific food recommendations, which may include special prescription diets.
Here is some research, hope it helps: excerpt below from: https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/
“Choosing the Right Diet for Your Pet”
Raw diets are another popular option on the market today. Studies have shown that 20-35% of raw poultry and 80% of raw food dog diets tested contained Salmonella. This poses a health risk for your pet, but also for humans. This is especially true for children or immunocompromised adults, whether exposed to the raw food directly, or the feces of the pet eating the raw food. Additionally, there is increased risk of other bacterial infections and parasitic diseases when feeding raw diets. And the bottom line is there is no reason to believe raw food is healthier than cooked food.
The numerous dietary choices for your pet can be daunting but if you pick an AAFCO approved food made by a manufacturer with a long track record, odds are good that you will find a suitable food for your pet. Most of the large pet food companies employ full time veterinary nutritionists and have very high quality control standards. That is not to say that a small company cannot produce nutritious and high quality food, but you should check out their website if it’s a company that is not familiar to you. Take the time to research, and ask your veterinarian if you have specific questions or concerns.
Please understand that this article is meant to provide basic dietary guidelines for healthy pets. If your pet has specific health issues, then your veterinarian may make specific food recommendations, which may include special prescription diets.
Here is some research, hope it helps: excerpt below from:
“Choosing the Right Diet for Your Pet”
https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/
Raw diets are another popular option on the market today. Studies have shown that 20-35% of raw poultry and 80% of raw food dog diets tested contained Salmonella. This poses a health risk for your pet, but also for humans. This is especially true for children or immunocompromised adults, whether exposed to the raw food directly, or the feces of the pet eating the raw food. Additionally, there is increased risk of other bacterial infections and parasitic diseases when feeding raw diets. And the bottom line is there is no reason to believe raw food is healthier than cooked food.
The numerous dietary choices for your pet can be daunting but if you pick an AAFCO approved food made by a manufacturer with a long track record, odds are good that you will find a suitable food for your pet. Most of the large pet food companies employ full time veterinary nutritionists and have very high quality control standards. That is not to say that a small company cannot produce nutritious and high quality food, but you should check out their website if it’s a company that is not familiar to you. Take the time to research, and ask your veterinarian if you have specific questions or concerns.
Please understand that this article is meant to provide basic dietary guidelines for healthy pets. If your pet has specific health issues, then your veterinarian may make specific food recommendations, which may include special prescription diets.
My 8 yr young 104 lb rottweiler has been raw for the past day and a half. She has been given 2 chicken quarters a day (1 twice a day), pumpkin puree, coconut oil (she loves it), and some chicken gizzards. All night she never woke me or acted like she would have “cannon butt”. This morning I watched her poo and it was solid and about 4 inches. I couldn’t find in the yard, but ill keep a better eye out them to make sure everything is digested. She is having stinky gas.
For her first meal the texture freaked her out and she got insecure, because she didn’t know what to do. I waited 15 minutes and tried encouraging her. I had to put the food up and try again for dinner. Dinner was the same, but I kept trying. I got meat scissors and cut about 90% of the meat off the quarter and hand fed her small pieces. At first she spit it out and then she realized it is edible. Then I popped out all of the joints in the quarters and hand fed her the bone part. The next day I did the same and she eagerly ate all the chicken pieces. She even chewed apart pieces she thought where to big. Plus she chewed all of the bones slowly and very gentle. I’m glad she isn’t a gulper!
There is something I am stuck on:
Where do you feed your pup? Or what do you feed them on?
The past meals I have been having her eat on a towel, but it gets tedious to wash a bunch of towels. One meal I fed on a trash bag and that seems wasteful to me and she was a little scared of it. I cleaned out her crate to possible feed her in that and since it has been 3 years since she has even seen the thing it terrified her and she wont get in it. Also I’d love to feed her outside in the grass, but my dad uses fertilizer, weed killer, and bug killers……. I do have a lanai though with a concrete floor. If I fed her in there how can I keep the floor sanitary? Although I have a crazy neighbor who spies on my family, so they will probably think crazy things if they see me feeding her raw body parts lol.
My parents are slightly grossed out and apprehensive about raw. I thought that I’d be the germophob, since I eat a plant-based diet lol! They haven’t researched it like I have and I never want to feed my pup kibble again.
Have a great day!
Not sure if anyone mentioned it, but beef heart is incredibly rich, so I feed it as an organ meat not a muscle in a raw diet. Only about 1 oz per meal for a 70 lb dog.First time I overfed it as well and my dog had the runs for 2 days. It’s quite possible that it was too much if your dog is used to eating mostly poultry.
Hi Caleb-
If you are dead set on doing a raw diet for a large breed dog like a Lab, you will want to contact a veterinary nutritionist to help make sure your diet is formulated safely for a large breed. Large breed puppies have extremely strict dietary requirements during growth to allow for slow growth. They are at high risk for devasting orthopedic disorders like OCD, HOD, Pano, Hip Dysplasia, Wobblers Syndrome etc. I have seen raw diets gone wrong with large breed puppies and it is horrible. They can barely walk, are in horrible pain, lethargic etc. Consider going through a website like BalanceIt.com for help.
I have a 12wk old black lab who right now is eating orijens puppy food which i believe is BARF.
I want to switch him to raw foods that i prepare for him.
To give some background i plan on starting him on chicken only. I have a hookup for organic free range chickens for good prices.
I plan on only feeding him just the meat parts and then if his stools are doing well and his energy levels don’t change in a bad way then ill introduce some organs to him. A week after I introduce organs i will slowly add different meats. such as pork, duck, turkey, beef, lamb, and etc.
Once organs are introduced his diet will be 80% meat 10% bone 5% liver 5%other organ(green tripe, lungs, etc.)
Could someone please let me know if this seems like a good way to do this and my last question is Should I be grinding up his meats and bones together and feeding it to him this way or should I feed it to him whole?
Thank You!
Even dogs without pancreatitis sometimes don’t tolerate a high fat diet. I have one who does not, and he does just fine on raw provided I stick to low fat options for him. My IBD’er is doing great on cooked; I cook the meat in the crockpot until it falls off the bone and add some broth back in; I then re-add the bones to water and make bone broth for everyone.
Like you I prefer to feed my family (which includes the animals) real food. When I was feeding an elderly pet with organ problems and joint problems, fresh food made all the difference.
Hi, i rotate my dogs meat every week. Cooked to slightly cooked, Beef, pork, chicken, lamb, goat , little fish. He gets a raw egg coconut oil, colostrum ,eggshell powder, liver, beef kidney, hearts and gizzards are all part of his diet. A raw veggie mix. Some canned peas or something for more of a filler cus too much veggi mix gives him gas. Oh, probiotic yougurt sometimes,and always a quarter cup OVERCOOKED brown rice. 50% protien, rice and veggies, 10% organ meat(i am looking for spleen and other things in my area)
Hoof soup ice cubes, for the natural glucosamine. Usually two or 3 a day. He is almost 12 and arthritic with torn acl.
I add dehydrated chicken feet. As a treat.
I cook meat in oven, i trim all the fat but its still greasy. I drain the juice during cooking at least once and the the rest after.
I boil my hearts and gizzards ,kidney, lightly cook liver in coconut oil in pan.
Will these things cause pancreatitis? The grease ftom the meat?
Wonderful news. Now, please play it safe and keep him on a bland diet, maybe 1/2 cooked chopped chicken and rice or something, but use a quality kibble with water added or presoaked as a base (1/2 of the diet).
Two or three meals per day.
You dodged a bullet, stay away from that raw, homeopathic crap. Just my opinion based on the fact that I don’t enjoy going to the emergency veterinary clinic. I tried that stuff too, back when, with negative results. No thank you.
Hi Jasmine, the vet sounds awful, can you see another vet there instead if her, 50% carbs that’s what most vet diets have 50-60% carbs, no good for senior dogs…. sounds like he’s pooing blood, something has irritated his bowel probably the raw food, the Metronidazole (Flagyl) will stop the blood within 3 days, Metronidazole must be given with food a meal twice a day, every 12 hours, just hide it or crush it in the cottage cheese or something he loves to eat boiled sweet potatoes are another good thing to feed with some boiled lean meat/chicken/turkey etc…. this is how I give tablets, I stand behind Patch then I kneel down & sort of sit on Patches back but I’m kneeling on the floor, from behind I open his mouth & I have the tablet in between my thumb & middle finger, I open his mouth & put the tablet on the back of his tongue & push down throat with my pointer finger & I have a big 20ml syringe filled with water near my leg & I put in the side of his mouth so the water washes down the pill, but when Patch is on the Metronidazole I give it in his meals….. He’ll get better soon, it scares you big time, I remember when my Patch was diarrhing light red blood water all night & morning till the vet open, it was like a fountain but the vet told me pink light red blood is better then dark red black blood.. Vet will know if it’s the small bowel or large bowel, I forgot what vet said I think light red blood was from the small bowel. He’s a very lucky boy he has a real good mum that cares….Keep us posted
I don’t understand how this works, I clicked on the “Dry foods” there is 15 rows of dry dog kibbles, from 5 stars to 1 star….Holistic Select, Adult/Puppy Salmon, Anchovy & Sardines dog gets 3 stars, it’s in row 9, then when you get to row 14 the Holistic Select dog same formula gets 1 star… how can that be??
I did notice when the formulas used chicken & turkey they got 5 stars when the kibble had any type of fish it got 1 star… I seen a few brands that got 1 star that Patch didn’t do well on, when he first started eating them he was OK then by the 3rd week, he went down hill & was doing sloppy yellow poo’s & didn’t really want to eat the kibble no more, Earthborn, Ocean Fusion, Wellness Complete Whitefish & Sweet Potatoes , Wellness Simple Duck & Oats, Canidae Pure Land…..Patches very sensitive stomach/bowel must know when a kibble is CRAP….there was no TOTW formula’s, that’s the only kibble Patch hasn’t ever gone down hill on, no stomach/pancreas pain, no sloppy poos/diarrhea, no acid reflux, I’d love TOTW to be tested, cause why do dogs with IBD, EPI & IBS do really well on it, I’d love to no how many stars TOTW gets?….
This is why I like rotating kibbles, this way they are not on the same formula/brand long enough to get sick…
The ladies that use to post 3 yrs ago knew what they were talking about they always recommended rotating your dog foods…
Like I always say your better off feeding a Raw or Cooked diet, not a dry kibble….
Rodney Habib & others are proving dogs live longer when they eat raw/cook fresh whole food diets….People start adding fresh whole foods to your dogs diet……
Hi how is your poor dog doing?? what did vet do is he on Metronidazole??
All organ meats are very rich & can cause diarrhea when feed too much, my boy gets diarrhea from those liver treats, Beef liver treats chicken liver treats… when I first rescued him 4-5yrs ago, I took him to the Hunter rescue second hand shop they raise money & sell worm, flea products, collars, name tag’s, toys, jackets etc everything for dogs/cats they raise money for people that don’t have the money to desex their cat & dogs, I wanted a new ID tag & a few toys for Patch & showed all the ladies my new rescue boy, the elderly ladies kept giving Patch liver treats & these were real big thick chunky black liver/beef treats, they could have been beef liver, I don’t know, anyway that night we were up all night with bad diarrhea, pain, feeling sick, I took Patch to vet next morning cause I have never had a dog get this sick, he was put on Metronidazole an antibiotic for the bowel & stomach & Royal Canine, Hydrolyzed dry vet diet just to let his bowel rest & heal, that’s when Patches new vet told me organ meats are very rich & can cause diarrhea, so since then I have never given him any liver, beef, or chicken liver treats again…
Years later I went thru a Naturopath to put Patch on a raw diet cause of his IBD & Skin allergies & he wasn’t given any organ meat or bone in his diet cause he has IBD, he was put on a probiotic & digestive enzymes & a supplement powder to balance the raw diet but the raw diet didn’t agree with Patch cause of his IBD, it cleared up his itchy skin & red paws cause we were just feeding Kangaroo with blended broccoli, apple, celery, we were starting an elimination raw diet but Patch kept feeling very sick & regurgitating the raw back up….Maybe stick with the cooked diet, I know raw is so much easier to do there’s no cooking just start with 1 lean white protein & a few blended veggies (2-3) like broccoli, apple, celery etc & only add 1-2 spoons of the blende veggies with 1 cup raw..
I’ve been feeding raw for decades and have only had two animals in that time frame that did very poorly on raw, and they got what you’re trying to transition away from–home cooked. They thrive(d) on it! Is there a specific reason you’re wanting to do raw for this dog, and how long have you been trying to transition, because it looks like you’re feeding a lot of possibly novel stuff in a very short time frame.
With that said, I would go to the ER clinic if my dog were doing what your dog is doing, ASAP . I’ve had excellent luck with raw diets over the years and poor results with kibble, but the animals that receive home cooked thrive just as well as their raw fed cousins.
Best of luck to you and your pup.
Raw diet? Wake up. http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=raw+diet
If it was my dog, I would head over to the nearest Emergency 24/7 Veterinary Clinic, NOW. Not in a few hours.
Stop listening to the homeopathic vets. That being said, there are some good ones and they mean well, however some of them are downright dangerous…. Science Based Veterinary Medicine is best. Just my opinion, blah, blah, blah
Ps: Stop looking for veterinary medical advice online, it’s true, you get what you pay for.
I hope your pup makes a full recovery and you learn something from this experience.
I am sorry to hear that. I have only ever given my dog raw chicken liver and heart but that was about month 2 into our transition. I am new to raw food but I can say that it took about three months for Bella to transition to completely raw food. I know of some dogs who can do it in less time but she took a while and we are still slowly adding more and more to her diet. Each time I add something new she does usually respond at first with diarrhea and sometimes even vomiting. One thing to note is that heart and liver meat is super rich and should be added slowly into their diet and only in small amounts. I have been told it should only equate to about 10% of their diet.
I hope your puppy feels better- all the best!
Today is april 13 2017 , i have been trying to transition my dog from homemade to raw. I cooked him heart liver and kidney the day before yesterday . All beef. The heart was hardly cooked at all. I boiled it but barly. I didnt realize it was still raw in middle i ment to cook it more. I fed it to him 2 o clock as a snack . He ate dinner as normal 5 o clock . Cooked pork,probaley more heart i dont remember, brown rice and a raw veggi mix i made in blender ,powdered eggshells for calcium.
Later that night i went to give him rice peas and chicken gizzards so he can eat with his caprofen.
He didnt touch it. Wanted to be alone rest of night.the nex t day i found puke piles in yard, and hes been squirting pink meat juice in place of poop. He still wont eat. Vet said to give it till today , that it may not be blood but undigested beef heart. I cleaned up pink water he squirted out all over the kichen floor at 4 am last night.peices of pink pulp.
He is drinking water. And it looks just like meat juice. It smells like meat juice.
He has an appt in a few hours.
Maybe he wasnt ready for so raw a meal?he handles beef pretty much raw just fine, chicken needs to be cooked more.
Maybe i gave him e coli
I am so worried, i just want him to be healthy , on a raw diet. I hahe had bad luck so far with it. He just gets sick, now hes REALLY sick.
I’m not sure if this will be of any help based on your findings, but it might be something to check into. Is your vet aware that your dog is raw fed?
Hi Samantha, I was told by Patches Naturopath when I started feeding him a raw diet, as long as the diet is balanced over the week your dog will be fine, every single meal doesn’t have to balanced but make sure the dog is getting what is needed in their diet over that week…
Sounds great what your doing, they have proven by adding 1-2 spoons of fresh whole foods to a dogs bowl of kibble reduces their chances of getting cancer, when Rodney asked Steve Brown, if you were to add just 1 fresh food to ur dogs diet what will it be, Steve said Mussels, add 2 mussel, 1 tablespoon salmon & a pinch kelp, do you follow “Rodney Habib” on his face Book page?? watch his video’s, Rodney has really good info, what foods to add to a dogs diet to prevent dogs dying young, preventing cancer, healthy skin & skinny coat, healthy on the inside, start adding tin sardines in spring water or olive oil, a couple sardines a day, some blueberries, teaspoon of coconut oil, there’s more healthy foods look for Rodney’s Video’s also change & rotate the protein source in diet, I stay away from chicken, it’s full of hormones unless your buying organic chicken, here’s Rodney F/B page he has just released a new video, “pet owners no longer trust vets” 2 studies this week just released, Pet owners DO NOT what to talk to vets about nutrition.
https://www.facebook.com/rodneyhabib
Hi Jazzlover,
Have you increased the Omega 3 in your dog diet? tin sardines in spring water are excellent, add about 2 small sardines to the raw diet a day, how come your only feeding 1 raw meal a day? is this raw meal balanced properly, is it home made raw or premade raw diet? after adding the Sardines you watch Jazz’s skin & coat start to shine & improve….
Have you tried using High Potency Vitamin C powder for dogs? Vitamin C is a Natural Anti histamine & strengthens the immune system, we use Vitamin C in Australia, it’s also added to our dog foods, here’s the Natural Animal Solution site, I’m pretty sure Jacqueline Rudan the Naturopath does sell her products in America, the Skin Pack is really good & a good price, it will balance the raw diet if it’s homemade diet, I used it when Patch was eating a raw diet…. done the bottom of my post is a link when you have clicked on the link read about Vitamin C then go to the top & click on “Pet Health” look on your left, scroll down a bit then you’ll see “Skin System” there’s a little green arrow facing down, click on arrow & all skin conditions will come up, click on “Skin Allergies” the last one, it’s a really good read, make sure you bath weekly or twice a week or daily in the bad seasons to wash off the pollens & allergens on the skin, bathing relieve the itch I also use “Malaseb Medicated Shampoo” it’s mild & can be used daily, excellent for red paws…
For Jazz itchy lower back tail & bum area have you tried “Sudocrem” it’s a healing cream sold in the baby Section at Supermarket or Chemist, when Patch starts rolling body on carpet & bum surfing on my carpet I should bath him but some days you don’t feeling like bathing the dog so I buy the Huggies baby Wipe the Coconut Oil wipes there’s also Cucumber & Aloe. I wipe his fur down then get another coconut oil wipe & wipe his bum & around his tail area, then I apply the Sudocrem, then straight away the itch stops… When he gets his itchy bum it’s from food sensitivities, as soon as he eats something he’s sensitive too he starts rubbing his bum on carpets…
http://naturalanimalsolutions.com.au/Shop/product/high-potency-vitamin-c/
My puppy “Minnie” also began regurgitating her ground beef meal. Someone suggested lightly cooking the beef. It worked. Maybe she was tired of the taste. I also switched the type of bowl when feeding the beef I put it on a plate or shallow bowl. Sounds weird but it worked. I also added a table spoon of canned pumpkin after heating it to cool it back down and mask the scent for her. She eats a fully balanced RAW diet with different protein every day so i figure lightly cooking only the beef isn’t hurting. You should be feeding her an array of other protein so maybe she’s sick of the taste. I personally say to try switching to chicken, lamb or pork. Once a week start adding a new protein.
On YOUTUBE Rodney Habib “Homemade Dog Food Recipe” is what I follow as a guideline and I change up the protein plus I feed RAW MEATY BONES every other day. Since Minnie is a puppy I also add more calcium and other things to balance this for a growing puppy but it is balanced for an adult dog.
Sounds like maybe there could be a Leaky Gut Issue that is causing the initial inflammation. Go to dogsnaturallymagazine.com “ultimate guide to fixing hotspots naturally” for a list of things to feed to help repair and prevent leaky gut. Good luck. I hope everything works out ok. Keep up posted on her progress to Raw 🙂
Love, Leelina
To Pitluv:
I am truly sorry for the loss of any beloved furry family member. As I previously stated I am also new to RAW and we are all learning, this is why we come to these forums. To listen, share and hopefully help. I literally read more and more on the subject online every single day. I’m petrified of getting it wrong and harming my baby girl. I’m 110% committed to her health and nutrition as well as education and training.
While I appreciate your passion, you come off extremely strong for no apparent reason. As the rest of us post advise in which someone was seeking you never actually answered her question, you simply tried to shoot the idea down. My advise to you is to NOT BE SO COMBATIVE. I’m guessing that you work in a traditional vets office or maybe for a big name pet food company. Not judging but the 2 seem to go hand in hand these days. I considered not responding to you at all and writing you off just as Ashleigh did because people like you spend far to much time trolling online for things to be negative about.
In regards to my “questionable remarks” as you put it… I’ll do my best to address them in order they were received. If you read Minnie’s Meal Plan you’ll see that IT IS BALANCED DAILY as Dr Becker recommends. I believe in balance over time as a standard but for now Minnie is a growing baby so I’m gonna pack everything she needs into every single day. On that note Dr. Becker also says to “feed the best that you can, the best you can afford” and the best that I can afford and do for my pet is A HOMEMADE RAW FOOD DIET. I choose homemade because I know exactly what is in it. I wouldn’t feed her anything I wouldn’t eat. The best I can afford is FULLY ORGANIC MEATS AND VEGGIES FROM TRUSTED BUTCHERS AND SOURCES. My situation isn’t everyone else’s situation. Some can only afford sale meats. My advise is simply to do the best you can just like Dr. Becker recommends.
In dogsnaturallymagazine.com there is an article about Salmonella:The Bad Bacteria by Dana Scott and she references a couple vets who break down a dogs mouth and intestines so that its easy to understand why a healthy dog should not be harmed by food borne pathogens. In the case of the poor rotti, there is just no way that you can be 100% sure that his gut wasn’t already compromised. It is very sad and stories like that are why I feed Minnie foods rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids to help prevent a leaky gut issue.
I guess all I can tell you is where I started like naturalmonarch.com and it just ballooned out from there. I’ve been to too many websites to keep track of or site for reference and I continue to learn every day. I implore everyone to do the same. Also, seek the guidance of a Holistic Vet and or Holistic Pet Nutritionist in your area. Nothing against traditional vets but their clinics and/or schools are funded by major pet food companies and pharmaceuticals. And now i sound like a nutjob, sorry for that 🙂
Everyone please have a beautiful afternoon. Minnie and I are off to the beach
Love, Leelina
Just thought I’d mention…with some of these homemade diets, you can source your meats from highland packers on stoney creek mountain. They supply all sorts of products for raw feeders, and yiy xsn just cook the meat etc for home cooked meals. Just call or email them to ask for their list if what they offer. This makes homemade diets much more cost effective. Grocery store etc meats would cost way too much.
Another good book is Raw and Natural Nutrition for dogs by Lew Olson.
Hi Leelina-
“i went seeking online and now I follow Dr. Becker” “In all my research I have learned that EVERY MEAL DOES NOT NEED TO BE BALANCED! Just work on balancing over the week.
It is interesting that you follow Karen Becker, but have adapted the balance over time theory, which is exactly what she warns against doing.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/11/08/best-to-worst-pet-food-types.aspx
“Even sale meat is ok for animals, as you know animals have different enzymes in their mouths as well as guts to combat the bacteria and parasites that we as humans cannot without cooking it first.
Mechanical breakdown of food in the mouth is what begins the digestive process in canines unlike humans.
Could you provide a credible source for your statement that animals have different enzymes in their gut and mouth that allow them to destroy pathogenic bacteria & parasites? Information from PubMed or Google Scholar will be just fine.
And lets not forget the risk involved for the humans in the home when feeding a pet raw grocery store meat.
“Dogs that get sick and /or die from bacteria already have had compromised immune systems so please don’t be turned away by nay sayers.”
Again, I’m going to have to ask for a credible source of information on this considering my boyfriends Rottweiler was very healthy before he passed away of E.Coli poisoning.
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/42/5/686/317224/Human-Health-Implications-of-Salmonella
“Fecal shedding of Salmonella organisms was evaluated in 20 dogs in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to determine whether dogs would shed the organism after consumption of homemade raw food diets [25]. Salmonella organisms were isolated from 30% of the 10 dogs that were fed homemade raw food diets, but they were isolated from none of the 10 dogs that were fed commercial dry food.”
and in another study
“In a similar study conducted in 2004, research beagles were fed commercial raw food diets identified as being contaminated with Salmonella organisms. Five of the 7 dogs that shed Salmonella organisms after consuming a raw food diet meal shed a Salmonella serotype that matched the serotype isolated from the diet that was fed [26]. This study used commercial frozen raw food diets that were naturally contaminated, and clinically healthy dogs became colonized after ingestion of a single meal.”
Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide to some of these questionable statments!
Hi Leelina-
“i went seeking online and now I follow Dr. Becker” “In all my research I have learned that EVERY MEAL DOES NOT NEED TO BE BALANCED! Just work on balancing over the week.
It is interesting that you follow Karen Becker, but have adapted the balance over time theory, which is exactly what she warns against doing.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/11/08/best-to-worst-pet-food-types.aspx
“Even sale meat is ok for animals, as you know animals have different enzymes in their mouths as well as guts to combat the bacteria and parasites that we as humans cannot without cooking it first.
Mechanical breakdown of food in the mouth is what begins the digestive process in canines unlike humans.
Could you provide a credible source for your statement that animals have different enzymes in their gut and mouth that allow them to destroy pathogenic bacteria & parasites? Information from PubMed or Google Scholar will be just fine.
And lets not forget the risk involved for the humans in the home when feeding a pet raw grocery store meat.
“Dogs that get sick and /or die from bacteria already have had compromised immune systems so please don’t be turned away by nay sayers.”
Again, I’m going to have to ask for a credible source of information on this considering my boyfriends Rottweiler was very healthy before he passed away of E.Coli poisoning.
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/42/5/686/317224/Human-Health-Implications-of-Salmonella
“Fecal shedding of Salmonella organisms was evaluated in 20 dogs in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to determine whether dogs would shed the organism after consumption of homemade raw food diets [25]. Salmonella organisms were isolated from 30% of the 10 dogs that were fed homemade raw food diets, but they were isolated from none of the 10 dogs that were fed commercial dry food.”
and in another study
“In a similar study conducted in 2004, research beagles were fed commercial raw food diets identified as being contaminated with Salmonella organisms. Five of the 7 dogs that shed Salmonella organisms after consuming a raw food diet meal shed a Salmonella serotype that matched the serotype isolated from the diet that was fed [26]. This study used commercial frozen raw food diets that were naturally contaminated, and clinically healthy dogs became colonized after ingestion of a single meal.”
Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide to some of these questionable statments!
Dear Ashleigh,
I’m so sorry if you’ve been discouraged by negative postings. I’m also new to RAW and finding more hurdles than helpers. The problem is everyone thinks they know everything rather than just sharing what they’ve learned. I hope you are still looking into and exploring the world of raw. Here is what I’m learning and would like to share…. Obviously every dog(like every person) is different but what works for most should work for all, barring complications. I’m feeding raw with a spin. When Minnie first came home I started her on an organic GROUND WHOLE CHICKEN WITH ORGAN MEAT AND BONE. I’m lucky enough to live in an area of Southern California where that is available to me, made by NATURAL MONARCH. Knowing that she also needs other protein sources i went seeking online and now I follow Dr. Becker. She’s a traditional vet gone holistic and i like that. She has a youtube video with Rodney Habib that outlines a raw food recipe which i follow but i change up the protein. I like that this recipe doesn’t call for too many supplements. In addition i feed Raw Meaty Bones every other day. My puppy is super finicky so we’re only doing Lamb Chops, Pork Spare Ribs and Beef ribs with the occasional Chicken Wing. She refuses to eat chicken sometimes as well as chicken feet and turkey necks. She’s kind of a butthead 🙂 but we’ll keep trying. In all my research I have learned that EVERY MEAL DOES NOT NEED TO BE BALANCED! Just work on balancing over the week. Also, Human grade is best. Dog food or food intended to for pets does not have that same regulation. i don’t care what anyone else says. Let those guys eat dog grade food instead of human graded. Even sale meat is ok for animals, as you know animals have different enzymes in their mouths as well as guts to combat the bacteria and parasites that we as humans cannot without cooking it first. If in doubt just cook the protein in question and feed everything else raw. Minnie doesn’t like the taste of ground beef(youtube recipe) but i already made a giant batch so i cook it then add a tablespoon of pumpkin to kill the scent and smell and she loves it. I also add lots of parsley, kale and mint to ward off any leaky gut issues. Dogs that get sick and /or die from bacteria already have had compromised immune systems so please don’t be turned away by nay sayers. Here is a sample diet of what Minnie eats but keep in mind that she is a growing toy breed puppy and eats 3 times a day but only eats 6.5% of her body weight per day (18 weeks as of today between 6 & 7 ounces per day)
sidenote, I’ve started mixing in the rodney habib video recipe into her already ground chicken mix plus as said before pumpkin to the beef mix after lightly cooking it. The beef, i only heat the beef.
Monday… Lightly cooked Beef mix with pumpkin then a pork spare rib the Natural Monarch Raw Chicken with mix
tuesday… Ground Turkey with rodney habib mix then ground chicken mix
wed… ground beef mix then ground turkey mix then a beef rib
thurs… chicken mix then a lamb chop then chicken mix again
fri… beef mix then turkey mix
sat… beef steak with bone then chicken mix then turkey mix
sun… chicken mix then lamb chop then beef mix
Upon writing it out, i see that i obviously feed lots of ground meat but that’s because Minnie is a spoiled puppy. I feed her enough Raw Meaty Bone to have the benefit of the nice breath and clean teeth and gums plus the calcium from those and her chicken has ground bone as well and the egg shells provide sufficient calcium. I plan to introduce more WHOLE proteins after 6 months. It is safe to fast dogs for a day after that point. But right now she’s just too small and too dang picky.
Pulsing spinach, kale, parsley and other super green veggies into your mixes is also sufficient however, i also juice so i mix in the pulp into Minnie’s food.
I hope any of this was helpful.
Love, Leelina
Addendum:
What food did your veterinarian recommend? It doesn’t sound like you are overfeeding him.
You can presoak the kibble in water or plain homemade (nothing added, boiled chicken water)broth. I would say no snacks, except maybe a raw carrot here and there.
How about: https://www.chewy.com/natural-balance-fat-dogs-chicken/dp/46804 Only 250 calories per cup!
I hope these articles help: https://www.mspca.org/pet_resources/the-skinny-on-pet-diets/
and https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/
I would increase the walks, even if they are slow and leisurely.
PS: Brush his teeth once a day, they love chicken flavored toothpaste.
Hi Barbara, stick with the homemade raw diet, change from the carrots to frozen beans you get in supermarket they will thaw, also one day or 2 days a week feed 1 raw meaty bone for breakfast instead of the 1/4 of a cup meal, it can be a chicken leg NO skin, chicken wing, NO skin, chicken bones are soft easy to digest & will clean his teeth & he’s getting a different protein in his diet, also start adding tin sardines in spring water to his diet add about 2 small sardines to 1 of the meals so he’s getting his omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins & minerals for his skin, joints, brain & heart, sardines are very healthy…. watch his coat start to shine after eating sardines or feed tin pink salmon or tuna in spring water drain the water…Replace 3 or all of his breakfasts with the tin salmon instead of the grinded meat, the weight will start to fall off with fish, is his grinded meat very lean, not much fat?? Tuna or Salmon would be more leaner & higher in protein, change the proteins in his diet around a bit, in 1 week he should get at least 3 different proteins in his diet, the bones in the tin salmon are good leave them, just crush them with a spoon if your worried..
It takes time to lose weight, it’s quicker to gain weight but losing weight is hard, do not go back to a kibble, kibbles are very high in carbs unless you see vet & feed the Hills Metabolic + Mobility vegetable tuna stew wet tin food, this vet diet is suppose to be very good & dogs do lose weight..
With his 2 walks a day start walking him at a faster pace, get his heart pumping, at first you start off slow then each week you increase the walk & speed also throw a ball out in the yard or up & down the hallway & have play time once a day, you will get there… if after changing to the tuna sardines & salmon for breakfast instead of the meat & if in 2 months he hasn’t lost any weight see a vet & try the Hills Metabolic + Mobility wet tin food, Hills guarantee your dog will lose weight within 21days from 13% to 60% weight loss… Good Luck oh for a treat or snack, give a few small peeled apple pieces, size of a kibble, you can even add grated apple no seeds or peel in his meals.
Hi Emmygirl,
It’s good you have found a food that works, stick with it for now…Royal Canin vet diets also has their Potato + Venison-PV, Potato + Rabbit-PR, Potato +Salmon-PS & Potato + Kangaroo wet & dry formulas, I don’t know why but my boy seems to do better on Royal Canin vet diets then the Hills vet diets, but we don’t get any of the Hills d/d novel proteins wet & dry formulas they don’t pass our strict quarantine laws to come into Australia & why we get the all the Royal Canine vet formulas is cause the Royal Canine is made in France & passes our strict quarantine laws……
Be VERY careful feeding a raw diet, raw freeze dried or raw air dried diets, Donate the Canine Caviar if kibble bag is open a kibble only stays fresh for 2 weeks google it, the oils go rancid as soon as the oxygen/air hits the kibbles…changing diets can make your dog have another flare & put him back to square one again, your dog needs time to heal his bowel/stomach & be on the Hills d/d for a good 6 months, my vet wanted Patch on a vet diet for 1yr so everything healed….
The only freeze dried raw I give Patch is the K-9Natural or Sunday Pets Green Lipped Mussel treats as a treat after his bath but I just found out as soon as you open these freeze dry foods some have to used within 10 days, they have written it on their packaging now, I didn’t know until the lady in the pet shop told me the other day, maybe that’s why Patch became ill again about 1 month ago it could from the Green Lipped Mussel treats, I was giving him once a week every Thursday….
When your dog is doing REALLY well & off meds have a look at “Zignature” formulas the Kangaroo has the lowest fat & protein % out of all the Zignature formulas, read what the Hills d/d fat, protein% & fiber% is & when your looking for another kibble/wet tin make sure it has Limited Ingredients same as the Hills d/d has & is around the same amount of fat, protein & fiber as the d/d, you can go up a bit for the protein cause you wont find too many normal formulas that low in protein & when the protein & fat is real low that means the carbs are real high….
Hi, i have just come across this site. We purchased a very thin gsd 2 year old that we assumed they hadnt fed her. But after us feeding her she had constant very very runny water diarrhea with blood in it, constantly vomitting and rapid weight loss. After vet examinations and a biopsy she had ibd. Extremely sad. Looked everywhere for advice. I see many people are trying there ibd dogs on say potatoe, duck and a 3rd item. My advice is try to do 1 food at a time.
We had no idea what food she was allergic too so we put her on vet dry food bag called anallergenic in the meantime. We did try hypo-allergenic first but immediately had the runs and blood flowed from her for hours.
I now have had her on raw 4 paws dog food, i tried the turkey first (nothing else! no pills from vets or anything) Well my gs is happy healthy full of life and has gained 10kg.I am trying the roo next. What a difference. Then ill try the potatoe duck. Eventually my dog will have several different options to eat.
I know any supermarket food inflames her bowels immediately, chicken, any meat in there is bad.
Raw 4 Paws is a premium quality, natural, complete and healthy raw diet for dogs.
Raw 4 Paws is grain, yeast and dairy free – to minimize allergy tendencies. All ingredients sourced for the production of this amazing product is fit for human consumption, and contains no added preservatives, artifical colours or flavours, chemicals or fillers.
100% Australian – made, sourced and owned.
We love Raw 4 Paws, and are certain you will too.
Just google this and give it a go–im certainly glad i did.
I just got a puppy and I’m trying the raw diet for his second week with me. So far so good. His stomach has adjusted to the meals and he’s plowing through cut up chicken like a champ. I’ve been feeding him sardines for an omega 3 addition. It’s working well and he handles the bones fine.
I wouldn’t worry about the bones. I’d feed it whole, just due to the fact that it’s less work for you. Your dog should be able to handle it. If you feel uncomfortable with bones then you can stand by and watch.
What veggies? 🙂
Is anyone aware of a commercially available raw, freeze-dried, or dehydrated dog food that does not contain fish oil? I’m trying to transition one of my dogs to a commercial diet that doesn’t contain synthetic vitamins and minerals. My other dog is doing great on Nature’s Logic kibble but unfortunately, all of their formulas include either fish meal or fish oil or both. From the research I’ve done, it seems like every commercially available raw/freeze-dried/dehydrated food contains fish oil.
I have 5 dogs and am preparing to move to a raw diet. I think that I have the formula down with meaty bones, muscle meats, organs and fruits and veggies. My dogs are 33lbs, 26lbs, 17 lbs , 11lbs and 6lbs. I understand that I will need to use 3 percent of body weight for determining amount of food. Can someone tell me roughly how much of each to buy to last 2 weeks for these dogs and the amounts of each?
Another concern is my smallest dog only has about 18 teeth and she is tiny, what are safe meaty bones for her?
Hi, I had a very similar question as well! I contacted Chewy and it is their own branded food but I forgot to ask where they manufacture but I would guess somewhere in the south/FL where they’re based. It looks quite healthy and I am considering it for my two dogs.
My dogs rotate between THK revel and raw from Stella & Chewy’s or Primal throughout the year and they do quite well for it. I’ve read a few articles on how rotating diets allows for better nutrient variety and I find it to be a nice way to be more cost effective. DFA has a helpful guide in the FAQ (/frequently-asked-questions/diet-rotation-for-dogs/). Hope that helps!
Where do you usually source your beef from? The grocery store or supermarket can be an expensive way to do it sometimes. If you haven’t already, could you talk to a local butcher about saving some quality scraps? Many will, or if you have freezer space, buying in bulk can help tremendously.
If she does well with beef, have you considered substituting beef heart? It’s usually cheaper, VERY high in taurine and a very nutritious additive. It’s considered a muscle meat, not an organ, and while some beef heart is fatty, many are pretty lean. Does she need 90%FF or is this just what you’re able to locate the easiest?
Another option is going right to the source and finding a local farmer that raises beef. You might be able to get scraps and meat for cheaper, especially if you’re able to buy in bulk and store in the freezer.
Another somewhat inexpensive thing to consider would be beef tripe, if you can handle the smell! I’m not sure if it can or should be cooked, but I know fed raw it’s great for digestion and teeth and has a good cal/phos ratio. Some people swear by it and say it’s the perfect food for dogs and (if fed alone) is a complete diet, but I’m not as 100% convinced that they need nothing else. I’m not sure if you’re into that idea or not, but if so it’s something you could definitely consider sourcing as it’s very inexpensive compared to “real” muscle meat!
You could also bulk the meals out with these things (heart or tripe), as well as kidney, liver, or tongue. I can feed tripe, livers, gizzards and all sorts of weird stuff but for some reason beef tongue really grosses me out so I don’t use it 😛
Assuming that she would do well on any “relation” to beef, I wonder if any hunters (or, again, butchers) would be willing to share venison, or if the butcher would have any leftover venison from last season…sometimes hunters have deer processed and then (for some reason) never come to pick the meat up. If she does well on beef, she MIGHT do well on venison, so this might be another option to keep in mind. It would probably be too expensive to purchase on it’s own, but if you can get a freebie…
Hope this is (somewhat) helpful!
Many people feed boneless raw; they just add pulped (usually steamed) vegetables and sweet potatoes or pumpkin for fiber. The shells (provided you’re giving the correct amount finely ground) would be good for calcium that would otherwise be present in bones.
http://dogaware.com/diet/homemade.html#cooked
There are guidelines in this article for those who wish to feed a raw diet that does not contain bones. Hope this is helpful!
I have no recent personal experience using Dinovite, but I do know of many owners who have used Dinovite with good results and others who have had their dogs do nothing but refuse it, or throw it back up whenever it was fed. It seems like people either absolutely love it and swear by it, or hate it and swear it’s nothing but a gimmick.
Has your Pug had Dinovite in the past, before starting the yeast starvation diet? What about beef, eggs, and fish (even though you’re feeding fish oil and not the whole fish, it still could be some form of reaction.)
Raw dog food recipes don’t need to be complicated and not all dogs need (nor thrive on) diets that include vegetables, grains, sweet potatoes, and all the “extras” recipes throw in. Some dogs do better with, some without, some it seems to make no difference. Prey model raw is pretty much 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% organs (half of this being liver.)
If and when we feed vegetables of any sort, it’s mostly limited to a handful of leftovers (we like ’em steamed, too!) and herbs (parsley, dandelion, etc.)
yeah, I was told to stick to this diet till I saw improvements in her skin. The few websites that talk about the Yeast Starvation Diet seemed to suggest you could keep your dog on this diet for awhile… but maybe this is not the case. I have searched and found some good raw dog food recipes that I will implement. I just was not sure how long it takes for a dog to fully transition over to raw and if her throwing up is a part of that or something else.
Thanks for your help.
I can’t answer your question but want to mention that that is not a balanced raw diet. You need edible bones and organs. You need more proteins….fine to take some time to make sure the dog does well on a certain protein but father two months, she should be on another protein, at least.
Hello Everyone,
I need some advice! I recently (2months ago) transitioned my 4-year-old pug (Bella) to a raw diet- the “Yeast Starvation Diet” (ground beef, cooked whole eggs, dinovite, and fish oil). She was having major yeast issues- non-stop itching, dark balding spots, little black spots, inflamed ears and feet. At first, she was doing great- she loved the food and her itchy, irritated skin subsided. However, the last few weeks I noticed she has been regurgitating her meal. This happens at least once a day. I am worried and not sure if I need to take her in or if this is normal?
Thank you for any advice!
Erika
Hey everyone. I have wanted to feed my dogs raw for a long time but I don’t think I can afford it. My dogs have always had 5 star rated wet and dry dog food mixed like now I feed them Wellness limited ingredient diet dry and Holistic select wet food mixed in and it costs me about 70 dollars a month but I know raw is much better for them plus I have tried many many kinds of 5 star rated dry and wet dog food an my dogs only eat it cause they are very hungry because they don’t really like any i have tried. I have 2 small dogs both weight about 15lbs. Can anyone tell me a raw or freeze dried food I can feed them that won’t cost me much more than what I’m paying now? Or is that totally impossible to feed them raw or freeze dried for around that same price per month. I am on disability so I have limited income an i cant afford to go much higher. Both my dogs are in pretty good health. My pomeranian is 11 years old and acts like he is 4 years old or less. My shi-tzu is 10 years old and he isnt as active as my pomeranian and he does have some medical issues but the vet says he believes that he was inbred at a puppy mill. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
My 9 year old mutt has Adenocarcinoma. She was diagnosed 30 weeks ago and was only given 10 weeks at best to live. She is thin and always hungry but has a belly the size of a walnut after a bypass. She eats wet food and uses Raw Goat’s Milk by Answers for supplements. She is just hungry all the time. Does anyone have any recommendations for food that can keep her full, are full of nutrients to help her gain weight, and won’t be heavy on her stomach? Any help or recommendations are appreciated.
My Rollo, a 4 1/2-year-old Jack Russell, has been to 5 Veterinarians, one was a specialist in internal medicine. Rollo’s been scanned, colonoscopy, tried different diets and tried anti-inflammatory medicine, all which has not helped. He usually yelps only on the first poop, but sometimes on a second poop.
I’ve conferred with a veterinarian nutritionist, but diets are not helping, Dr. Katz feels it might be stricture or scar tissue in the anus area but we have yet to do a barium test. He talked about a stint to open the anus???
I’ve read that your university has had good results with Irritable Bowel Movements…
This is been going on for the last year… Rollo has been fed the best QC dog food, we tried raw but his poops were too hard .
Can you please advise me or my vet on your latest research…more than happy to pay a consultant’s fee.
Any help will be appreciated.
I wonder if the cartilage would work for my knees!! Let me know .
I would recommend Answers Pet food. It is raw. easy to feed and really the fantastic. All the kibbles you are feeding are bound to not be great because they are PROCESSED and limited. This is very low in carbs. It is fermented and truly wonderful. As far as I am concerned all dogs should be on a diet like this. You can feed just the meat which is complete and that will keep the calories down ( depending on how much you give him) and it will be so good for him. Contact the company and ask they about the Fermented fish stock they sell this may help his joints a lot. I know the owner drinks it herself because she had a broken back at one point. Good luck and keep me informed!
Pitluv
Do you know if commercial raw pet food companies like Hare Today and Darwins take any precautions above and beyond the raw meat that is sold in grocery stores?
Asking because I occasionally use hare today grinds as a topper but it’s not a regular feature in my dogs diet (too expensive).
I cook most of the grocery store meat I purchase for toppers. I feed a few raw chicken hearts a week.
For your adult dog check out BalanceIt.com. They make a supplement to add to meat and carb of your choice. Also, there’s an easy recipe video with few ingredients. Search “Homemade dog food recipe Rodney Habib” on youtube. These are suggestions for your lab.
I would recommend further research for your Bernese. Calcium/phosphorus content and ratio is very important or wait until he is an adult.
/best-dog-foods/best-large-breed-puppy-food/
Edit: about your rough draft raw menu. It isn’t a complete diet. Have a look at DogAware.com.
http://www.dogaware.com/diet/homemade.html
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This reply was modified 8 years, 9 months ago by
pugmomsandy.
