[anonymous]

I am glad you are working with a veterinarian. There is nothing wrong with prescription food. Check with the vet that has examined the dogs before making any diet changes.

I like Fromm Classic Adult as a base, also I would consider Purina Pro Plan Focus Salmon for sensitive skin and stomach.
I feed 2 meals per day, add a splash of water or plain chicken broth and a topper.
/forums/topic/grain-free-2/#post-109751

I feed 1/3 cup of kibble as a base twice a day for a 20 lb dog. An occasional snack, maybe 1/2 raw carrot to chew on.

Check their teeth as they may need professional cleanings. If all is okay, start brushing their teeth twice a day, I like Petrodex (6.2oz tube) is economical. Google to find it.

Start walking the dogs on hard pavement for at least 10 minutes at a time, work up to 1 hour a day. This will help their legs. You will see a big difference after a few months.

For science based veterinary information go here, use the search engine to look up specific topics, ie: nutrition http://skeptvet.com/Blog/

[Susan]

Hi,

“Wellpet” makes
Wellness, Holistic Select, Eagle Pack.

Have a looked at “Eagle Pack Large Breed/Giant breed Adult or the “Lamb Meal & Brown Rice” Adult, these formula’s are always sold out here in Australia.. especially the Lamb Meal & Brown Rice.
http://www.eaglepack.com/product-dog.aspx#.W-ohMfZuI5s

“Wellness Core Large Breed” Adult saved Patches life back in March when he became very unwell, very thin, bad acid reflux, I nilly put him to sleep …

Wellness Core Large Breed was the only dry food that agreed with him at the time, I had given up, I tried every dry food that “I thought would agree with him” grain formula’s caused diarrhea no acid reflux 🙁
he couldn’t eat low fat wet can vet diets made his acid worse same with home cooked food, he’d regurgate making his acid reflux worse…

When Patch is sick sad etc I always take him for a drive to make him feel better & forget he’s unwell, wind in his face, he loves shopping at Pet Shops or human shops, meeting people & their dogs, this day we went to the closest Pet Barn store, the manager came up to Patch to say hello & I told him I dont know what to do anymore, his IBD vet can’t help him, his Sphincter Flap isnt closing properly & there’s nothing the vet can do no more, the Pet Barn manager said, have I tried raw diet, I said he cant hold down no wet foods, then he said, he has had good results with Wellness Core dry foods, I said, but isn’t Wellness Core formula’s high in protein & fat? Patch cant eat over 30% protein, (I dont know why I thought this?? I probably read somewhere he needs a lower protein diet)
then the man said yes thats what he needs a higher meat protein & lower carb diet & he said give the Wellness Core Large Breed formula a try, it isnt high in fat, its high in meat protein, so I read the Wellness Core L/B kibble bag & it said 12%min-fat, 34% -protein, he said this is probably Patches problem he’s eating low fat & low protein = high carbs causing more acid reflux…
I said, how do you know about acid reflux, he wasnt old maybe in his 30’s, he turn around & said I suffer with GERD & Hiatus Hernia, I’ve just come out of hospital, I normally don’t work at this store, I work Central Coast store, when I’m better I’ll be back at my regular store..
I believe in Angels & there’s human angels that guide us thru life when we need help, showing us the way & Patch has had few Angels along the way that have help him, the man gave Patch the 6kg bag for 1/2 the recommended price & said if I have “any” problems bring it straight back & we’ll try something else or give you a refund, as I was walking out to my car to open the back section so he could put the bag of kibble in car, I thought to myself we’ll be coming back next week you watch, but we didn’t, Patch got better, he started playing, he was his happy self again saying hello to everyone, wanted to go on his walks, I couldnt believe it, I had my old Patch back. His vets couldnt believe it either..
He just had 5 weird looking wort like lumps removed from the sides of his back right & left legs, stomach & ear & they were all benign…He’s a lucky boy..

Depends which Wellness Formula your dog was eating at the time, was he unwell, this could be why he didnt want to eat it or it was making him unwell so he wasnt keen on eating it?
Purina, Hills & Royal Canine spray their dry foods with flavouring, Wellness kibbles are sprayed with Probiotics, so some dogs mighten like the smell they might be use to the flavouring spray.

Years ago Patch didn’t do well on the Wellness Complete Health Whitefish & Sweet Potato Barley formula, he cant eat barley causes yellow smelly sloppy poos then diarrhea.
He didnt do well on the Wellness Simple, Duck Meal & Oatmeal & the Lamb Meal & Oatmeal formula’s caused yellow sloppy smelly poos..

Wellness have brought out a new cheaper grain formula called “Wellness Healthy Balance” dry but it isnt on the Wellness site yet.
https://www.petbarn.com.au/dogs/dog-food-dry/by/brand/wellness-healthy-balance/

Take back the Old Mother Hubbard Biscuits exchange them.
https://www.oldmotherhubbard.com/about-us.aspx

[Susan]

Hi,

“Wellpet” makes
Wellness, Holistic Select, Eagle Pack.

Have a looked at “Eagle Pack Large Breed/Giant breed Adult or the “Lamb Meal & Brown Rice” Adult, these formula’s are always sold out here in Australia.. especially the Lamb Meal & Brown Rice.
http://www.eaglepack.com/product-dog.aspx#.W-ohMfZuI5s

“Wellness Core Large Breed” Adult saved Patches life back in March when he became very unwell, very thin, bad acid reflux, I nilly put him to sleep …

Wellness Core Large Breed was the only dry food that agreed with him at the time, I had given up, I tried every dry food that “I thought would agree with him” grain formula’s caused diarrhea no acid reflux 🙁
he couldn’t eat low fat wet can vet diets made his acid worse same with home cooked food, he’d regurgate making his acid reflux worse…

When Patch is sick sad etc I always take him for a drive to make him feel better & forget he’s unwell, wind in his face, he loves shopping at Pet Shops or human shops, meeting people & their dogs, this day we went to the closest Pet Barn store, the manager came up to Patch to say hello & I told him I dont know what to do anymore, his IBD vet can’t help him, his Sphincter Flap isnt closing properly & there’s nothing the vet can do no more, the Pet Barn manager said, have I tried raw diet, I said he cant hold down no wet foods, then he said, he has had good results with Wellness Core dry foods, I said, but isn’t Wellness Core formula’s high in protein & fat? Patch cant eat over 30% protein, (I dont know why I thought this?? probably read he needs to feed lower protein diet)
then the man said yes thats what he needs a higher meat protein & lower carb diet & he said give the Wellness Core Large Breed formula a try, it isnt high in fat, its high in meat protein, so I read the Wellness Core L/B kibble bag & it said 12%min-fat, 34% -protein, he said this is probably Patches problem he’s eating low fat & low protein = high carbs causing more acid reflux…
I said, how do you know about acid reflux, he wasnt old maybe in his 30’s, he turn around & said I suffer with GERD & Hiatus Hernia, I’ve just come out of hospital, I normally don’t work at this store, I work Central Coast store, when I’m better I’ll be back at my regular store..
I believe in Angels & there’s human angels that guide us thru life when we need help, showing us the way & Patch has had few Angels along the way that have help him, the man gave Patch the 6kg bag for 1/2 the recommended price & said if I have “any” problems bring it straight back & we’ll try something else or give you a refund, as I was walking out to my car to open the back section so he could put the bag of kibble in car, I thought to myself we’ll be coming back next week you watch, but we didn’t, Patch got better, he started playing, he was his happy self again saying hello to everyone, wanted to go on his walks, I couldnt believe it, I had my old Patch back. His vets couldnt believe it either..
He just had 5 weird looking wort like lumps removed from the sides of his back right & left legs, stomach & ear & they were all benign…He’s a lucky boy..

Depends which Wellness Formula your dog was eating at the time, was he unwell, this could be why he didnt want to eat it or it was making him unwell so he wasnt keen on eating it?
Purina, Hills & Royal Canine spray their dry foods with flavouring, Wellness kibbles are sprayed with Probiotics, so some dogs mighten like the smell they might be use to the flavouring spray.

Years ago Patch didn’t do well on the Wellness Complete Health Whitefish & Sweet Potato Barley formula, he cant eat barley causes yellow smelly sloppy poos then diarrhea.
He didnt do well on the Wellness Simple, Duck Meal & Oatmeal & the Lamb Meal & Oatmeal formula’s caused yellow sloppy smelly poos..

Wellness have brought out a new cheaper grain formula called “Wellness Healthy Balance” dry but it isnt on the Wellness site yet.
https://www.petbarn.com.au/dogs/dog-food-dry/by/brand/wellness-healthy-balance/

Take back the Old Mother Hubbard Biscuits.
https://www.oldmotherhubbard.com/about-us.aspx

[Susan]

Hi Lisa,
you want the meat protein to be a meal, not just the single meat “Lamb”, you want to feed more “meat proteins” less plant proteins….
When ingredient list are written they’re raw not cooked, so after you cook the salmon it shrinks 70% is water & is no longer 1st ingredient no more, its about 4th ingredient & the next ingredient is first ingredient so you probably have a carb as first ingredient instead of a meat, you want a dry kibble that has at least 2-3 meat proteins as 1st, 2nd & 3rd ingredient then the carb eg, Pork, then Pork Meal, Bison Meal then the carb, sweet potato, rice, peas, etc..or Lamb, Lamb Meal, brown rice, oats, peas

Patch has IBD & finally he is doing really well & its cause he is finally eating more meat & less carbs…I rotate his foods & he’s eating Wellness Core Large Breed Adult formula, Large Breed formula’s are made for a large Breed bowel, this is when he started to do really well cause he was eating more meat less carbs. 70% meat proteins & 30% carbs…
When you have a sensitive dog you want more meat in their diet, dogs have a short digestive tract its made to digest raw meat, meat is easier to digest then a heap of carbs… Your dog can react to carbs aswell meat proteins..
When you just feed 1 meat protein year after year & do not rotate & change meat proteins this is when the dog can start to react to the single meat protein he’s been eating year after year..this is why its best to change & rotate your dogs food so this doesnt happen…
Find 2-3 brands with a different meat proteins your dog can eat & does well on & change dry food proteins with the Seasons, I use to feed Whitefish/Salmon in the hotter months – Spring & Summer then Lamb & Pork in the cooler months – Winter.

Here’s “Wellness Complete Health Adult Whitefish & Sweet Potato dry,
it has “Whitefish” first ingredient & its not a meal what you’re looking for.
When you see a fish you want the fish name, not a fish meal, you do not know what type of fish it is with fish meal?? it should say Sardines, Salmon meal, or Salmon, Sardine meal, Whitefish, Menhaden fish meal,

Here’s the ingredients, there’s NO chicken..
Whitefish, Ground Barley, Peas, Menhaden Fish Meal, Oatmeal, Sweet Potatoes, Canola Oil, Tomato Pomace, Ground Flaxseed, Natural Fish Flavor, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols Added to Preserve Freshness, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium.
https://www.chewy.com/wellness-complete-health-adult/dp/34375

Wellness is a good dog food & have been around over 100yrs… this formula will agree with your dog….if you like another brand of dry food put it on your list so you have about 2-3 different dry food you can introduce over 10 days & then rotate them every 3-4 months..

Here’s DFA explaining Meat & Meal Meals, in the review section on a dry chicken & menhaden fish meal dog food..

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is menhaden fish “meal”. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.

Give the “Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Rice Large Breed” a go & see how he goes, then have a few other dry foods on your list so you can try later on so you know if you can’t get the food he’s eating or something happens you know he can also eat another dry food that has a different meat protein & is OK & has no diarrhea….

[crazy4cats]

Hi Lisa A-
I’m glad your vet notified you about diet related DCM. There is a FB group dedicated to this issue called Taurine-Deficient cardiomyopathy. The cardiologist that is leading one of the research groups from UCDavis belongs and pops in every now and then to give advice. There is also a team of mostly knowledgable admins that run the site. Check it out!

Many of the members whose dogs cannot tolerate chicken have transitioned their dogs off of suspect diets to the Purina ProPlan Sensitive Stomach Salmon recipe.

As I think Susan mentioned, Acana and Zignature have been mentioned quite often when people have reported their dogs either have either low taurine or actual DCM. Remember, it’s tough to rate an ingredient label. So, I have officially given it up and leave it to the experts to know which ingredients work well together to deliver an appropriate nutrient package to my dogs. Surprisingly, a number of raw and homemade fed dogs are also turning up taurine deficient.

At this point in time, I’d stay totally away from the suspect ingredients (legumes and potatoes) and stick with a brand that has been around for a while that has proven to be safe. I switched to Purina and will stick with either them or Royal Canin, Eukanuba, Hill’s or Iams. They all have veterinary nutritionists on staff, do research, feeding trials and own their own facilities.

Btw, I think the ingredients of Natural Balance look fine. It doesn’t contain any of the suspect ones. It contains some of the building blocks for dogs to synthesize their own taurine. I’m not sure about that brand though but if your vet is good with it, give it a go! Or, try out the PPP salmon formula. Good luck!

[Susan]

Hi Lisa,

I’d stay away from Zignature as it was 1 of the brands + (Acana) that had a few diet related DCM causes…
I didn’t know Zignature make a beef formula? they have Pork or Goat, Zignature is very high in Legumes, Legumes need to be avoid till they work out what ingredients are causing these heart problems, no more then 20% legumes, so more meat proteins in the first 2-3 ingredients, not plant proteins…

Have you looked at Pork, there might be more LID pork formula’s?? my IBD boy does really well on Pork, “Canidae Pure Wild”
https://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products/canidae-grain-free-pure-wild-dry-formula

Have you done a proper elimination diet to work out his food sensitivities when he was on a vet diet that agreed with him? it’s the only why to know 100% what meats he is sensitive too.. just add some raw or cooked meat with his vet diet he did well on this way you will know 100%

You have to remember when these grain free dry foods first came out they were all potato or sweet potato, tapioca & we didnt have any problems with DCM in dogs like we are having now with these newer grainfree dry foods that started to use Lentils, Chickpeas to replace the meat proteins.

“Natural Balance” grain free formulas are also pretty good for dogs with sensitive stomach/bowel, alot of people feed the Fish & Sweet Potatos or the Duck & Potato, these 2 Natural Balance formula’s are legume free…

I rotate between a few G/F dry foods that my boy does well on, my boy is doing excellent on the “Wellness Simple” Turkey & Potato at the moment, years ago he ate the Lamb & Oatmeal but started to do sloppy poos after 3 weeks, he doesnt seem to do well on grains formula’s as he has gotten older, he has a beautiful shiney coat, still holding his weight at 18kg-40lbs & only doing 2 firm poos a day on the Weillness Simple Turkey…

Oh did you look at the Farmina Vet Life formula’s
https://www.farmina.com/us/eshop-dog/dog-food/8-farmina-vet-life-canine.html

Hopefully they’ll have some answer soon, as there’s alot of stressed out people who own Goldens & Labrodors, this breed seems to be affected the most..

[Susan]

Hi Laurence,

join this f/b group,
“Dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBD – Raw Feeding & Holistic Support”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/292537937935806/

I know the group says Raw Feeding but there’s alot of people in group that feed dry kibble, vet diet kibble/wet tin, cooked meals, raw meals etc, look out for one of the Moderators named Anu, I wont post last name, she is a wealth of information, really good help, it’s worth copying & posting your post then posting in the IBD Holistic f/b group once you’ve joined ask how to firm poo up naturally…

I know potatoes & sweet potato firms up poos for dogs who have IBD & EPI, have you tried a different dry kibble?? one thats lower in carbs & higher protein that has sweet potatoes or potato??…
also have you tried Slippery Elm Paste given 15-20min before he eats? you buy slippery elm powder, add 1/2 teaspoon in a cup slowly add boiling water & stir till you have made slurry & you can pulled up 5ml into a syringe when it has cooled down, I cover cup with cling wrap & put the rest slippery Elm slurry in fridge for the next time you need to use again, then you boil the jug & add a little boiled water & stir till it’s a slurry again & pulls up into the syringe..then I throw away if any Slippery Elm paste is left & start again..

Have you tried reducing the Metronidazole to 1 tablet morning & 1 tablet with Dinner, then get him down to 1 Metronidazole at Dinner time?? ask vet?
also have you tried Tylan Powder?
It is a macrolide antibiotic. Tylosin is used in veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections…
Tylan can replace Metronidazole as Tylan is similiar to Metronidazole (Flagyl)…
Tylan powder will firm up poo within 1 day but cause its a lose powder you MUST put in empty capsules & put down his throat then he eats his dinner, tylan tastes awful & some dogs end up refusing to eat meal if you sprinkle Tylan powder on their food, so best to put in capsule & put back of tongue, push down their throat then quickly feed, its worth a try you might be able to stop giving immodiums twice a day & the Metronidazole, baby steps.
They have proven a dog taking a high Tylan dose can take 1/2 the Tylan dose once a day & poos stayed the same….
ask your vet about Tylan Powder, years ago you could by online or over the counter in the US, I dont know about now, I think I read you can still buy without script if its for chickens I think you might still be able to buy online best to ask in the IBD f/b group people might know more or if you join the EPI Dog group on f/b
https://www.facebook.com/groups/38663535025/
alot of the EPI dogs take Tylan powder & are doing firm poos now, dont be scared to reduce dose if you do start your dog it wont make any differance..
I tried 1/8th teaspoon Tylan powder in capsule given once a day with Breakfast, within 1 day Patches poos were firm..
Go on U-tube it shows how to make the shoe box to hold up the empty open capsules so you can put 1/8th or whatever the Tylan dose is for your size dog into 1/2 empty capsule….

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3084160/

I hope you find something to partley firm up poos, you mighten it might be the ways poos stay with SBS, I know whats it like when Patch does a mountain of diarrhea out the front of someones yard on his walks, I know when he’s going to do sloppy diarrhea, he wont go poo & he holds it in & walks & walks till he can find a bush to hid his sloppy poos, the silly old bugger, he must of gotten into trouble when he was younger, he’s a rescue I got age 4yrs old, I’ve tried telling him it’s OK Patch, your a good boy & we can go home now after walking & walking to find a good bushto poo under & hide it, he will NOT do sloppy/diarrhea poo in his own yard, one vet said he’s a very private dog, lol…

[I love Dogs 2]

@Pitlove
You wrote

“Grain free literally has ZERO benefits to your dog. Why would you risk even a SMALL possibility of your dog getting DCM from the food your feeding when there is no reward?”

How dare you say Im putting my dog at risk?
How can you put this information out there
“grain free foods have ZERO benefits to your dog”
Where is your evidence to support these claim?

My vet prescribe her Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine Gastrointestinal grain dry food first, it made her symptoms worse, then the vet put her on grain free Royal Canine Veterinary Diet Canine Selected Protein Adult PR Potato & Rabbit dry dog food straight away she improved, this dog was given to me after her mum had passed away the family were taking her to a shelter, Im her neighbour I know Chloe so I said I’ll take her, from what I can remember she was raw feed her whole life, so I dont know if family members feed her a cheap grain dry dog food this is why is became very ill, vet said it looks like food allergy, since being on grain free Royal Canine vet diet she has gain weight she looks better then she looked 4 months ago when she came into my care, she has energy now wants to play with her brother, the vet said we’ll keep her on the Royal Canine PR for another 3 months then come back again we’ll discuss what to do next (put back onto raw diet).
I asked the vet are potatoes OK, I was reading the ingredients on the Royal Canine food bag, he said potatoes are fine, he has been selling Royal Canine PR vet diet for years there have been no food related DCM cases no problems with potato.

Shame on you, you need to stop putting fear into people put your beliefs aside till we have more proof DCM is food related?…

[crazy4cats]

Actually many grains contain the amino acids necessary for dogs to synthesize their own taurine. There are a surprising number of raw fed dogs showing up as taurine deficient in the ongoing study. (Both the official and the unofficial FB)

Carbs are a great source of energy for dogs.

[woodpecker]

Hi guys,

I am so glad I found this site. Just today I found out I’ve been unawarenly feeding my dog a changed Nature’s Variety food since it was adquired by another company. Like others, I thought the change was only in the bag apearance. Rats!!!

I don’t remember the signature raw chicken formula, which is supposed to be same as the original one having Yeast Culture, Turkey Heart, not sure about the Montmorillonite clay…

Does anyone have a copy of the ingredients list back in 2016 before Nature’s Variety was bought by Agrolimen?

So far the changes I found in my dog are the apearance of his scat, from small hard little nodules that become white and disintegrate quickly to looking a little more like the kibble eating dogs and his hair looks drier, more dull and wooly.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 1 month ago by woodpecker.

[Bany A]

If anyone is interested in a healthy raw diet for your dog, I recommend ordering from wefeedraw.com if you want cooked, order from nomnomnow.com Personally, my smaller dog gets her food from nomnomnow.com and occasionally dehydrated beef nuggets that I add hot bone broth mixed with some water. My Shepherd eats raw from wefeedraw.com and to be sure he gets all the nutrients he needs, I do add Vital food that I buy from Petsmart refrigerator section and I mix it up between these two. I hope this information helps someone out there.

[Susan]

Hi Tami,

Goats Milk is really good for puppies look at “Answers Fermented Raw”

Home

Dogs are likely to take better to goats milk than cow’s milk. Young puppies can thrive on a formula made with raw goats milk. … Young puppies learning to eat solid food often eat better when goats milk is added to their wet food.

[Susan]

Hi Sara,

Change your vet look for a female Holistic Vet or a female vet who isnt chained to these vet diets, I don’t dislike vet diets, yes they are good to use “temporary” until owner works out what to feed once your dog is stable, did you know back in 2013 I remember reading the side of one of the vet diets Patch was on for his IBD, it said, this formua is not to be feed long term…Vet diets weren’t meant to be feed long term, the dog was suppose to get stable then another diet was feed…
Now the vets Diets have been reformulated, can be feed long term now since 2015…
In Australia we can buy a vet diet straight from a vet practice or order online & do not need no presciption or vet, this just proves vet diet are nothing real special & there’s better alternative out there that are healthier & probably cheaper..

I dont understand why is your vet isnt looking into WHY your girl is having this problems in the first place, she is only 1 yr old. Did vet say why this was happening to a 1 yr old dog?
Your vet sound like Patches 2nd vet we got after I rescue him, I was scared to ask him for anything, I remember telling him my boy IBD has gotten worse on this vet diet, he said he needs to be on it longer, after being on the vet diet 1 month I bought the big bag back & told the a vet nurse its not working I want my money back & I told her that my vet John wasnt listening & Patch is pooing water now, his front paws are red & he’s crying 11pm every night & swollowing acid, she went in & asked another vet can I try the Royal Canine Sensitivitiy Control & this is how Patch gets his GOOD female vet who is his still his vet now….

Dogs and cats are designed to eat meat & when they’re are fed a grain-based diet or a starch-rich diet, the starch alkalizes urine pH, which can lead to the development of struvite crystals and stones.
Also is she she having wee breaks every 3 hours?
I would be looking at feeding your girl a raw balanced diet, there’s a few good Pre-made raw diets around, like “Answers Fermented ” Answers raw is suppost to be very good, it’s a bit expensive but its probably around the same price of a vet diet?? ..

I’ve read alot of people’s post who have female dogs (older then your girl) who have urinary problems swear by using “D-Mannose” Pure Powder Healthy Urinary Tract..

Start strengthening her Immune System, get some goats milk add to her diet for breakfast make sure she is having regular wee breaks every 3 hours…
also look into Vitamin C High Potency Powder or I think the D-Mannose has Vitamin C??

For now give the Hills wet & dry vet diet, look for an Holistic Vet or a vet who has been educated in dog Nutrition alot vets just know Hills, Royal Canin & Purina. Ask the vet why he didnt he prescribe Hills Urinary Care, Multicare C/d wet & dry formula’s instead? Ingredients are better in wet & dry formula’s, thats if you do stay feeding the Hills vet diet. Ypu could feed the Hill C/D Wet can food, for 1 of her meals.

My boy was put on the Royal Canine S/O Urinary wet & dry for 6 weeks, he had another Ultra Scan & his crystal had dissolved, all clear, I rescued him & he was weeing blood then the rescue vet said put him back on what he was eating before…
His crystals were from being used as a breeding dog the rescue vet said, he was 4yrs old.

Here’s Hills C/d wet can food
https://www.hillspet.com/dog-food/pd-cd-multicare-canine-chicken-and-vegetable-canned#accordion-content-054167331-2
Feed till you work out what you’re doing..

Start joining few Face Book Holistic Health Dog groups & you’ll find your way..

*”K-9 Kitchen” run by Monica Segal

* “K-9 Nutrition” run by Lew Olson

Dr Judy Morgan DVM
https://www.facebook.com/pg/JudyMorganDVM/videos/?ref=page_internal

* Holistic Dog Care
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Holisticdogcare/?ref=group_header

[Susan]

Hi Erin,

Have you tried dry foods that have Potatoes or Sweet Potatoes??
Potato is easy to digest & smooth on the stomach & bowel
Look at
“Wellness Simple” Turkey & Potato formula or the Salmon & Potato or their Simple Duck Meal & Oats or Lamb Meal & Oats formula’s??

Blood, Salvia & Fur testing is a waste of money, they can give false Positives.
Best is to do either a raw or cooked elimination food diet & add 1 new ingredient every 6 weeks & see how she goes..
Patch did really well on the raw elimination diet, he didn’t do well on the cooked elimination diet but I think it was cause I used Oats for the carb, he doesnt do well on grains.. I didnt know about boil Potatoes & Boil Sweet Potatoes being really good for IBD, IBS & Pancreatitis back then…
Boiled Sweet Potato pieces freeze very well after they’re thawed is just like the sweet potates are cooked, White Potatoes don’t freeze too well you have to boil them fresh as needed….

Here’s Wellness Simple formula link
I’m feeding the Wellness Simple Turkey & Potato formula at the moment to my IBD boy, I was feeding the “Wellness Core” Large Breed adult g/f but it wasn’t on special last week so I got a big bag of the Wellness Simple it was $40 cheaper & Patch loves it, so I’ll rotate between the 2 foods + I have a bag of “Canidae Pure Meadow” his poos are excellent on..
https://www.wellnesspetfood.com/natural-dog-food/product-catalog/simple-limited-ingredient-turkey-potato-recipe

Also have you looked at “Earthborn Holistic Venture” formula’s some formula’s have more fiber then other formula’s, so make sure you read the fiber %,
Does she do better on a lower fiber % or higher fiber % diet??
Buy food from a pet shop so you can take back if it doesn’t agree with her, just say she wont eat, Pet foods are a Guaranteed for Palability money back or exchange..
https://www.earthbornholisticpetfood.com/dog-food-formulas

[Patricia A]

I just read Mike Sagmans home page AGAIN as I did when I first found this board a few years ago. It just reminded me of why I was relieved to find The Dog Food Advisor Board. I desperately needed a starting point in choosing dog food for my three Chihuahuas. I would be in a pet store for hours second guessing if I’m feeding them the most nutritious food. It is just so overwhelming with all the brands, flavors, cans, raw etc.
I am now confidently feeding freeze dried primal flavors, Stella’s and Bixbi Rawbbles in rotation. I go by the proteins Mike reviews as 5*’s. I also give a small amount of Stella’s kibble. Also rated by him as 5*. They are healthy and eat with enthusiasm. I was concerned about Stella’s raw coated kibble when this DCM scare came to light. It does have peas up high on ingredient list. However, Mike has not changed his 5 star review for this grain free food. He states in reviews that the abundance of protein in this brand comes from meat and not the peas. It also has added Taurine .Chihuahuas’ are not to my knowledge listed as one of the breeds most likely effected by DCM but will have them tested yearly.
I will continue to read his reviews and put my trust in him and his staff to provide me enough info to make informative decisions in what to feed my fur babies. Dog food Advisor statement below.

We Obsess Over Dog Food
So You Don’t Have To

• This reply was modified 7 years, 1 month ago by Patricia A.

[haleycookie]

This is being discussed all over the forums in other threads. Don’t let it scare you too much though. Many people will make you terrified on this forum and suggest you start feeding proplan hills Royal Canin etc, however I wouldn’t do anything drastic at this point. Still too little is know about the topic. If you are really concern you can visit the vet and ask them to do a taurine blood test and send it off to be tested. Then act accordingly if your dog does have low levels. I don’t advicate for putting grains back into a diet. Dogs don’t need grains or carbs in general. Carbs = fat dogs, more shedding, and larger poops. I would recommend switching (or rotating with honest) other high meat content foods, adding in fresh meat, canned foods, bone + meat broths etc to the dogs diet to maximize nutrition if you can’t simply switch to raw.

[aimee]

Hi Crazy4cats,
Good Link!

I think it is important to note that not all diet responsive DCM cases test low in taurine meaning other factors likely in play.

Also somewhat surprising to me was the very high percentage of dogs on raw diets that tested low in taurine. Based on the small sample size it appears that simply feeding a lot of meat/organ doesn’t correlate with normal taurine levels. I guess this shouldn’t be too surprising considering the Wynn study: the cats were fed raw ground rabbit and many developed cardiomyopathy.

Biological systems are complex!

[Jessie H]

Has anyone dealing with chylothorax tried raw fermented goats milk for your dog and seen improvement? Specifically Answers Brand. Have a 6 year old bloodhound, Rori who is not doing well at all, trying anything to stop the chyle flow and restore her health. Not wanting to eat much and losing weight.

[Susan]

Hi Cathy,

Contact a animal nutritionist to formulate home made raw or home cooked “balance meals”, home cooking is more work then raw, raw is easier & healthier, this way you’re killing 2 birds with 1 stone…

If you still want to feed a dry food then have a look at “Farmina”
https://www.farmina.com/us/eshop-d-Dog-food.html
In the beginning when this DCM low Taurine all started they were saying feed “Farmina” it’s a good dog food to feed for DCM theer have been no DCM cases….

Or rotate between a few dry foods, as soon as the kibble bag has around 1/4 left then buy another brand & start introducing old kibble with new kibble, Gryff will enjoy the change, I know my boy does & Gryff is getting the best from all the dry kibbles & isnt staying on same brand causing health problems, this is what I’ve been doing for years now with my nilly 10yr old Staffy…

[Susan]

Hi Sandy,

Sorry about your girl,
I cant really help, have a look at “Just For Dogs” they have Hepatic Support Low Fat: Copper Restricted is formulated to support dogs with liver disease or kidney disease
pre made cooked meals, Wild Caught Cod, Sweet Potato, Long Grain White Rice, Broccoili, Zucchini, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Icelandic Premium EPA/DHA, Multi-Vitamin & Mineral Blend
https://www.justfoodfordogs.com/vet-support-diet,

One thing that happened with my 13yr old cat who had Kidney Disease, he needed to gain weight BUT the high fat diet was causing vomiting & acid reflux, so vet put him on a acid reducer medication Zantac & a lower fat diet, I had to fed more smaller meals thru the day & vet said add boiled potato or boiled sweet potato to his wet can food to help keep on his weight..
Boiled Sweet Potato pieces freezes really good, I keep in freezer & thaw a few sweet potato pieces some days to add with Patches lunch..
On your days off work, I would make small meals & freeze them & take them out the day before put in fridge…
Have you looked at “Answer Fermantable Raw” instead of Stella & Chewy raw food, you have to make sure foods aren’t high in Toxins Heavy metals..
Answers have a Fermentable Goats milk & REWARDS Raw Goat Cheese Treats, for sick dogs, she might like the goats milk or goats cheese & organic blueberries treats…

Home

[Susan]

Hi,
Join this facebook group
“Dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBD – Raw Feeding & Holistic Support”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/292537937935806/
Heaps of help for raw feeding, a few people in this group feed “Answers” Fermentable Raw & Answers Goats milk to dogs https://www.answerspetfood.com/

You write
“raw or cooked? which would be easier on a delicate gut?”

its raw, a raw diet is easier to digest then cooked diet… Raw meat has enzymes that helps dog digest the raw food, raw vegetables & fruit also have enzymes but a dogs pancreas does not secrete cellulase, so you will need to blend your fruit & vegetables, make sure you peel, de-seed apples etc, remove all seeds, cut up peeled fruit & veggies & put thru a blender & blend into a pulp, or stop blending veggies just before the vegetables/fruit becomes a liquid pulp, then I use to put the blended broccoli, celery, apple, kale & parsley in ice cube tray, add 1 spoon of your blended veggies & fruit into ice cube tray, I cover with cling wrap & freeze then I take out the frozen veggies & fruit & put in those re-sealable clip lock snack/sandwich bags…
I buy Bone Broth from Pet Shop & I freeze in ice trays & I take out 1-2 frozen ice cube bone broth cube & let it thaw then I mix with Patches Dehydrated Raw or today Patch just drank his bone broth he loves it…
A raw diet is so much easier to make & prepare then Cooking meals, cooking is more work, I was freezing 1 cup portions of raw Kangaroo mince & 1/2 a cup of cut up chicken breast in those separate in re-sealable snack bags, & the green veggies & fruit in ice cube trays, cut in 1/2 chicken wings, etc, then I was taking out what I needed the day before, put in fridge to thaw for the next day…
Chicken bone is the softest & easiest bone to digest…
Fresh & Easy & not that expensive.. All Meals dont need to all be balanced “as long” as diet is balanced over the week…
You can balance diet naturally or use supplements like “Balance It” https://secure.balanceit.com/index.php

Join a few raw feeding groups….

[Sandy C]

Our 13 year old female standard poodle has always been thin between 37-39 lbs. we brought her to the vet for a hot spot this week and when we weighed her she went from 37 lbs in May to 34 lbs mid October and we were shocked. I told my hubby she looked like she was getting thinner. The vet ran blood tests and her creatine was elevated at 1.6 which is slightly over the range and her SDMA was 24 (normal range is 0-14) her BUN is OK and her first morning urine is OK.

She has eaten raw food all her life except for a short period of time where she ate canned. We feed her Stella and Chewys at the present time. She was on Primal but stopped eating it. She has never been a great eater even with the Stella’s and sometime will go a day without eating or only eat 3/4 of her dish. In the last three months it is getting worse.

So, we have two problems- one is getting her numbers down and two putting weight on her. Our vet said to try the Hills KD, Royal Canin. We bought some cans but the ingredients are horrible and I am not even sure if that will put any weight on her if she even eats it. We gave her the Royal Canin T and she barely ate one can and we had to add cooked chicken for her to eat it. That kind of defeats the purpose since chicken is a high source protein.

We are so worried about her!

We cannot cook foods for her as we work so we need a commercial dog food/topper that is low in protein, phosphorus and hopefully high in fat to put some weight on her. She will not eat kibble, because she has had some teeth extracted. I am at the point where we would be willing to try a kibble and maybe soaked it overnight with some low sodium chicken broth?

Any help would be greatly appreciated for our fur baby! We were even wondering if we should get a chest X-ray or abdominal ultrasound to see if anything else is going on?

Thank you!

[… .]

Thanks! 🙂

I guess it depends… Which of the two would be a cheaper way to go, raw or cooked? Also, which would be easier on a delicate gut?

[Cara P]

Hi Karen and Stephanie

I just joined this forum so I could join in on the conversation. Firstly I hope that both Abby and Maui are still doing well. I have a 3 1/2 year post mesenteric torsion greatdane. His name is Luca, he is now 5 years old and weighs about 102 lbs.
Over the course of these 3 1/2 years we have tried many foods ( commercial, homemade, dry, canned, raw etc) medicines, and treatments and he has been followed by veterinarian nutritionists, holistic veterinarians, veterinary school veterinarians etc.
I am not going to lie having a short bowel dog is challenging some days more than others
But your dog can live a fairly normal life and I would do anything for him. If either of you are interested in swapping stories of what you have tried, what works, what doesn’t etc
Email me. I don’t think there are many of us ( short bowel dog post mesenteric torsion)owners out there but I do believe we can learn from each other and this will help us give our special dog the best quality of life.

[haleycookie]

So are you trying to do a raw diet or a home cooked diet?
For raw you follow a simple plan 80% muscle meat (muscle meat, heart), 10% bones(you want no weight bearing bones, chicken wings or legs are good options. Same with other types of birds. For red meat animals it’s typically ribs, tails) then 5% liver, and 5% excretory organs (kidneys, lungs, skin). Some stick to this other add other things like fruits and veggies high in vitamins (blue berries, kale, turmeric, etc). I’ve also seen bone broth used and raw goats milk.

As far as cooked diets with no bones. Those can be more complicated. Many on this site will suggest balance it, a website where you can buy supplements and recipes for cooked diets.

[Patricia A]

I generally feed freeze dried Primal and Stella’s with rotation of proteins to my two younger Chihuahuas with home cooked in between. My 16 year old will now only eat scrambled eggs(hit and miss), steak when i have it, boiled shredded chicken. She loves watermelon and french fries. At her age I indulge her when other two aren’t looking. lol However I was worried that she wasn’t get proper nutrition. She will eat canned Health Extensions chicken flavor hit and miss also. But I’m very relieved to say that several weeks ago I tried out a sample bag of Bixbi Rawbbles Chicken n Salmon and Hannah Belle is now eating this freeze dried enthusiastically. So now I’m going to try their canned also as a rotation. Ingredients are below and to me all the proteins look great. No peas OR potatoes. Just wanted to share.
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Agar-Agar, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Dandelions, Salt, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Proteinate, Sunflower Oil, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salmon Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid.

[Olive M]

Their recipe changes are definitely a way to lower the quality of the product. Their rabbit recipe now contains a significant amount of pork, as well as other fillers. It is, actually, virtually identical to the Primal brand of raw foods – and my dog is extremely allergic to Primal foods. I think it’s the clay and the vinegar, at leas, as well as adding proteins she doesn’t tolerate. I’ve been feeding her the new formula without realizing it (I thought only the bag had changed) and she has been absolutely miserable and itchy and her eyes are weeping tremendously. Now I know why. They claim it’s to make it more nutritious, but it’s nothing of the sort. It’s to make it cheaper (for them, not customers) and use more low quality, mass produced meats that many dogs are allergic to.

[HoundMusic]

“So, I am curious what it is the the Purina food that works for your dogs reproductively. I was under the impression that grain the kibble could be a source of estrogen that is counter-productive. (Excuse the play on wirds). I would change kibble in a heart beat if that solved the problem. ”

Grain has absolutely nothing to do with the production of estrogen. Soy will produce estrogen like compounds in the body, but quite honestly, if you want a bitch to come into heat, her estrogen levels had better be high. And I personally don’t mind soy, especially for older or spayed bitches, because it keeps their hormones at a more balanced level, since the old gals produce less naturally as they age.

As for ingredients, I honestly could not pinpoint any one in any of the Purina products I’ve tried over the years that “does the trick”, as it were. I’ve used their dry foods from Pro Plan to Alpo, with protein levels ranging from 18-30%, and, like clockwork, bitches who are late to their cycle will come in heat anywhere from within a week to several weeks later, regardless of the brand. Although higher protein, fat and kcals in combination tend to speed this process along.

I do, however, have a theory that there are dog foods which, in my personal experience, seem to cause hormonal issues such as depression of thyroid function, and low carb diets, be they dry, canned or raw, are often a major culprit in irregular cycles. In fact, when I want to speed a bitch out of heat, raw for a day or two will do the trick nicely. Any Purina (dry) product I’ve tried seems to have the opposite effect – in that of balancing the hormone levels, or causing a surge where they previously had been low.

Also, diets that are higher in simple or complex carbohydrates are pure nourishment for the thyroid gland, which has its own functions but is also like a master control for the production of other hormones. And the thyroid is a glutton for sweets. I don’t consider it a breeding food, but when I’ve used Kibbles N Bits, I get the exact same results – instant heat cycles and bitches that stay in full blown heat for a good 10 days.

Anyway, I only recommended Purina ONE because when I was actively breeding, I got the best results with it for brood bitches in particular. I even had a dog with cervical cancer who hadn’t come into heat in almost 2 years, come in after a few days of eating ONE. So, for good or ill, it works like a charm in bringing bitches in season, and the 26/16 ratio seems to be ideal for both pre and post breeding maintenance.

[Susan]

Hi Jennifer,

great what you’re doing….has she been wormed? If she’s coming thru rescue they may have wormed her already?? this would be the first thing I’d be doing, make sure you give all wormer with her Dinner (a meal), Dinner is best time to give tablet then she goes to sleep..
puppies should be wormed at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks of age, and then every 4months for life with an all-wormer” or you can have poo tested for worms by vet…

I would avoid these new flea/tick chews – “Nexgard & Bravecto” as they are Neurotoxins, attack the fleas nervous systems also causing side effects to the poor dog.
Do your research first…especially if she is malnourished..

Frontline Plus Spot On & Frontline Spray is the only flea/tick product that only penetrates the first 2 layers of the dogs skin & doesnt go into their blood, so less side effect for the dog…

I’d say her mum was also very malnourished, she’ll be right you’ve adopted her at a good age & the rescue people know the age of these rescue dogs that’s their job..
if rescue has said she’s 4months old, then she is 4months old..
I rescued a 18mth old Boxer she was a skeleton, it took a while for her to gain some weight, we had to feed 3-4 smaller meals a day, she had NO health problems except arthritis when she was older…

Look for a large breed puppy formula, then after she is fully grown start rotating her foods so she isnt eating the same brand of dry food…
start feeding raw meaty bones as a treat…

also make sure you start puppy classes & socialize her
The first 2 years are very important for socializing a puppy..
I’d join a GSP f/b group….

[Spy Car]

Don’t feed the troll…except perhaps a little raw chicken.

Bill

[aimee]

Hi Anon,

Thanks for posting this. This mirrors the turkey outbreak in which numerous people were infected, most through handling turkey for their own consumption. However, two children became ill, one severely with osteomyelitis, through product that was used to produce raw dog food.

I see in this outbreak as well one person reported to have contacted through the raw diet fed to their pet.

This report reminds me of the important work of the One Health initiative. The health of people and animals is interconnected. These outbreaks serve as a call to improve the health of the flocks and the processing of poultry to prevent the problem at the source.
And a reminder for everyone to practice good hygiene and safety measures whenever working with any animal based protein whether intended for people or pets, kibble included.

[anonymous]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/drug-resistant-salmonella-from-raw-chicken-sickens-92-people/ar-BBOwoHt?OCID=ansmsnnews11 (excerpt below)
Consumers and retailers are advised by the CDC to handle raw chicken carefully and to cook it thoroughly.
“This outbreak is a reminder that raw chicken can have germs that spread around food preparation areas and make you sick,” the investigation notice read.
Washing raw poultry and other raw meats before cooking is not advised — as germs can spread to other kitchen surfaces or utensils.
The CDC also recommends washing hands frequently and to avoid feeding pets raw food.

https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/infantis-10-18/index.html (excerpt below)
The outbreak strain of Salmonella Infantis has been identified in samples from raw chicken pet food, from raw chicken products from 58 slaughter and/or processing establishments, and from live chickens. Samples collected at slaughter and processing establishments were collected as part of FSIS’s routine testing under the Salmonella performance standards. Furthermore, WGS showed that the Salmonella from these samples is closely related genetically to the Salmonella from ill people. This result provides more evidence that people in this outbreak got sick from handling or eating raw or undercooked chicken.

[Debbie T]

I was wondering this as well. Is it due to ongoing litigation/investigations? I’ve been feeding for months mixed with raw. Now debating.

[Michelle W]

My 70 pound Collie was in very bad shape. He is 11 years old and has had movement problems for years, these were helped for a long time using acupuncture, but I eventually gave that up. My vet eventually suspected Addison’s disease and put him on Prednisolone a short time later we added Adequan for arthritis. I have also been taking him to an excellent dog physical therapist. He had improved quite a bit, but the Prednisolone caused him to have excessive food seeking behavior that made him not even seem like my dog anymore. Once I was on-line researching dog nutrition and ran into Dr. Marty. I purchased one bag of food (at it’s highest price) just to take a look and see what it was. When it came I was so embarrassed by what I had paid for it that I put it in a drawer and ignored it for a couple of weeks. One day I hydrated a cup of the food and gave my dog, who usually gets 1 cup of dry Avoderm with his meals. Instead I gave him 1/3 up of Dr. Marty’s and 2/3 cup Avoderm Duck. Later when I sat down to eat my dinner I was astonished that my dog was not begging. I have kept feeding it at that same ratio for a while and he is physically getting a lot better and his food seeking has returned to a normal level. I just took him off of it for two days to see if the food seeking returns and in two days only a hint of it has returned. I will leave him on the 1/3 cup per meal for another month or two because he is healing so well and when his health seems stable I will try cutting down to 1/4 cup. My conclusion is that Dr. Marty’s is very, very good for my dog and that I need not feed him a large portion of it, thus, it is not as ridiculously expensive as I thought, because I do not need to feed him the portion required to feed only that one food to a 70 pound dog.

[Susan]

Hi Rebecca,
I’d ask vet can you re-do a 21-28 day course of Flagyl (Metronidazole) twice a day, every 12 hours with a meal the first 10 days then down to 1 flagyl a day with his dinner till course is finished, Flagyl helps heal the stomach & bowel, just make sure Flagyl is given with a meal not with a small snack/treat.. His bowel needs time to heal & strenthen his immune system, do you have him on a probiotic?, also has he been retested to see if the Giardia cleared up?
Frenchies are known to have intestinal problems, I was going to get a French Bulldog & my vet advised against it, I have Patch (staffy) who has IBD & skin Allergies the vet said French Bull Dogs have a few health problems.. In Australia Frenchies being inbreed or breed with a parent who has health problems, they’re known to suffer with food sensitivities & skin problems..

also have your tried “Natural Balance” LID Potato & Duck formula the fiber is 3% or try the Natural Balance LID Fish & Sweet Potato formula.. alot of people have really good results with Natural Balance LID.
Potato & Sweet Potato seem to help dogs who are doing soft, sloppy or diarrhea poos, stop all chicken if giving any home cooked meals or any treats that are chicken, try Turkey or Pork instead & boiled potato instead of the boil rice, sometimes boiled rice can irratate the all ready irratated bowel..
If you’re on facebook join this group.. you dont have to be a raw feeder, heaps of help & people who have had a dog who has had Giardia..
“Dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBD – Raw Feeding & Holistic Support” group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/292537937935806/

[Patricia A]

I found these reviews regarding mold in FreshPet. /forums/topic/mold-in-freshpet-food-2/
Also not crazy about these ingredients in the chicken recipe pea fiber, pea protein, carrots, natural flavors, spinach, vinegar, salt, carrageenan
I also have chihuahuas’. They are doing well on Primal freeze dried duck and Turkey/sardine. I also rotate with Stella Chewy’s venison and rabbit. Bixbi Rawbbles has great ingredients. Even my VERY picky 16 year old loves the freeze dried Salmon/chicken recipe. Dog food advisor rates all these proteins 5 stars.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Patricia A.

[Susan]

Hi Tanya,

if she is throwing up I would take the vet food back to vet office for a refund or exchange, tell receptionist what is happening & can you try a different brand WET vet diet, the receptionist will go & see vet & ask him, you shouldn’t have to pay again for another vet visit..
ask can you try the Hill i/d™ Low Fat Canine Rice, Vegetable & Chicken formula,
it Reduces risk of urinary stone formation, has OK ingredients & is LOW in fat, Shih Tzu are prone to pancreatitis, I wouldnt be feeding a 10 yr old a high fat diet maybe the vet diet she is eating is high in fat or she could be vomiting cause she has only ever been fed the one food her whole life, I always recommend to rotate between a few different brands so immune system strengthens, plus some dry dog foods are high in toxins, heavy metals & contaminates especially the fish dry foods..
Here’s the Hill I/d vet diet to try just till you work out what your doing & stop her vomiting.
https://www.hillspet.com.au/dog-food/pd-id-low-fat-canine-rice-vegetable-and-chicken-stew-canned#accordion-content-400284275-0

Which vet diet was she put on
Royal Canine S/O Urinary wet & dry or
Hills C/d Multicare wet & dry formula’s?

She should be on a wet vet diet not a dry vet diet…

I’d be contacting a Vet Nutrionist & ask about making a home made balanced wet diet, or you can contact “Balance It” they have nutritionist who prepare special diets & you add Balance it powder to balance diet.
https://secure.balanceit.com/index.php?rotator=Front

also are you adding Vitamin C Powder to diet?

Vitamin C for Prevention of Chronic Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs

Have a look at “D-Mannose” Pure Powder alot of people say its really good you also add cranberry powder aswell.
https://www.nowfoods.com/supplements/d-mannose-powder

Here’s a good link explaining how low protein isnt needed.
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_4/features/Detecting-Urinary-Stones-Dogs_16215-1.html

Here’s a good face book group to join you dont have to feed raw or cooked but will get some good advise, “Raw & Holistic Cat & Dog Support Group”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1411906099101822/

Also follow “Dr Judy Morgan”
look thru her video’s link below,
I’m pretty sure her 17 yr old dog has urinary problems & she cooks for him, her recipes are very easy. Even if you feed 1/2 cooked diet & another food…
https://www.facebook.com/pg/JudyMorganDVM/videos/?ref=page_internal

also here’s “Just For Dogs” special diets
https://www.justfoodfordogs.com/

[Atlas T]

Hi everyone,
The good news is that my dog finally found a dog food he can tolerate: Natural Balance LID (both fish & sweet potato and duck & potato, haven’t tried any others). He’s been on this for more than six months now and his poop is a great consistency. However, in an ideal world, I’d like to move him over to another food for two main reasons: 1. Price! (yes, it’s not the most expensive, but it is more than I want to spend) and 2. Rating (only 3 stars on dog food advisor).

Here’s the challenge: every time I transition him to a new food, his stool goes soft. I do it EXTREMELY slowly, and yet every time I hit about half a cup per day, I have to stop because of his stool. That all leads to another problem, which is that he starts obsessively licking his butt, which I think means that his anal glands aren’t being expressed with the soft stools. So then I go back to Natural Balance for a few weeks and starts again with a new food. I was hoping to have him be on either the Costco Natural Domain or there regular dog food, but no such luck. I’ve tried lots and lots of different brands with no luck. The only one he seemed to do somewhat alright on was the American Journey LID salmon and sweet potato.

I’m hoping someone here can help me with a strategy for how to find the right food. I’ve tried shopping by protein (since he seems to be fine with at least fish and duck, thought probably with most others as well), by grain free, by things without legumes. Maybe I need to focus on fiber content? Or fat content? Or something I’m not thinking of altogether?

I was also wondering if I should just buy some psyllium husks to add into his food to make his poop harder?

And while I have lots of respect for folks who feed raw, that’s not a path we’ll be pursuing, so please give me other suggestions. Thanks so much!

[Susan]

To Kullboys,

With rotating dog foods, the idea is that by allowing short exposure to a wider variety of protein types, the immune system is primed to a larger range of potential allergens, which strengthens the immune system and may reduce the risk of allergies or symptoms developing, this is particulary “Important for YOUNG animals”.
Added benefits, a rotational diet allows a better chance of providing a more complete and balanced diet. While most dog foods sold commercially have been balanced to meet nutritional guidelines there is always a chance that one brand might be a little deficient in a nutrient compared to another brand, by rotating a variety of foods your pet is less likely to suffer any deficiencies as they will draw whats needed from other diets..

Dog Food Advisor recommends to rotate your dogs diet, DFA is where I learnt to rotate & strengthen Patches Intestinal tract.

Here’s a parragragh from DFA post

“Isn’t changing dog foods dangerous for the animal?”
Although some pets can’t tolerate menu changes, I’ve never been able to find “a single scientific study” proving diet rotation to be unhealthy or detrimental to a dog.

/frequently-asked-questions/diet-rotation-for-dogs/

[Susan]

Hi Brenda,

IBD is an awful disease, has your dog had Endoscope & Biopsies
done on Stomach & Small Bowel?? Biopsies will tell vet whats wrong?? my boy has Helicobacter Spirals + Gastritis

What medications does your dog take? is he on an acid reducer or acid blocker like Omperazole 20mg?
His rumbling grumbling noises is gasses running thru his bowel, it can be painful, my boy wakes up around 4-6am with these loud noises happening but not as much theses days since I worked out what foods he is sensitive too & NO boiled Rice it can irritate the bowel, sweet potato or potato is best to add instead of boiled rice, I make 1 piece of white bread toast & make the toast very brown nilly burnt then I cut toast into pieces or if you have Charcol tablet or charcol dog biscuit works good & stops the rumbling noises.. work out what ingredient is causing gasses & bad wind?? also Ive used liquid Mylanta 1 teaspoon/5ml stops the gasses rumbling thru bowel.. Ive read some pet owners use Degas, but find out WHY?? this is happening, re do diet, elimination diet, 1 new meat & 1 new carb.

My boy has IBD mainly stomach & small bowel, when he eats a wet diet he doesnt do well, it seems to ferment in his stomach, then he burps & food comes back up & then he gets bad acid reflux 🙁 I feed 5 small meals a day & at lunch he gets a small wet meal only.
The only food he seems to do best on is a dry kibble that has Sweet Potato & Potato that is either Pork, or Lamb or Turkey & Chicken, the dry kibble must digest quicker & move onto small bowel instead of sitting in his stomach.

Here’s a really good face book group you can join heaps of help & answers…
“Dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBD – Raw Feeding & Holistic Support” Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/292537937935806/

[Lobo H]

There’s a couple of things you can look into regarding diet, something called the BARF diet
Or getting your husky pup on a raw diet. Search Ian Bilinghirst, and Dr Karen Becker have excellent iinformation.

I feed my husky raw lamb, rice, frozen veggies, sometimes I throw him a carrot to chew on, he likes butternut squash – raw – frozen peas, egg shells, and sometimes kefir for a probiotic.

These are just some suggestions, I give him lamb marrow bones, he can chew the marrow.

Tbh, sounds like your pup is starving. He’s eating and his body is refuting the food by passing through him too quickly for the nutrients to sustain, 50 lbs sounds light for a husky, perhaps at 1 year though he can gain another 10 pounds and be healthy at 2 yrs.

Hope this helps.

[Susan]

Hi kelly,
are you on facebook? join this f/b group
“Dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBD – Raw Feeding & Holistic Support”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/292537937935806/

There’s a few dogs who have IBD & are doing really well on Answers raw & Answer goats milk, Anu & Fonia are very knowledgeable & probably can help you with your dogs diet, also there’s a few members who can tell you why Answers didn’t agree with their dogs…..
My boy would probably be the same as he doesn’t do well on any fermentable foods or high fiber foods..
Sounds like something in the Answers isn’t agreeing with both of your dogs or they’re not use to eating certain ingredients, I read Answers is high-vitamin butter oil…

[Kelley W]

Hello, I think my dogs are allergic to fermented foods. I started feeding them Answers Dog Food and both did poorly on it. Severe and intense itching. Vomiting and diarrhea. The one dog with vomiting and diarrhea was taken off of it immediately. The other dog was on it for 3 months and had loose stool the entire time. Everyone said “it’s die off” “give it time” “I can’t imagine a dog would be allergic to raw goats milk”, etc. etc. His stool used to be perfect when he was on Darwins and other non-fermented foods. I’m going to switch back.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Kelley W.

[Susan]

Hi Vicki,

just becareful with Zignature it’s a high legume diet, they’re finding that high legume diets have been blocking the dog from absorbing Taurine & a few dogs have ended up with DCM who ate Zignature Kangaroo, Acana formula’s was another bad brand high in legumes, I’ll post the f/b group & its list is in their files below
Kangaroo, Venison, Bison are all expensive meats these pet food companies looks for cheaper alternative & add Lentils, Chickpeas to up the protein % & add less meat proetin & more plant proteins..

Make sure you rotate your dog foods every 3months so your dog isnt eating the same brand & ingredients 24/7…

Have you looked at Freeze Dried dry foods like “BIXBI Rawbble Freeze-Dried Dry Dog food”
& wet foods instead of feeding a dry processed kibble or rotate & feed a few different foods this is what I do with my boy, he has IBD & Food Sensitivities, rotating foods has strenghtened his immune system & now after 5yrs rotating he can eat anything as long as it doesnt have any ingredients he is sensitive too..

“Taurine-Deficient Dilated Cardiomyopathy” f/b group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1952593284998859/

Once you have joined look in “Files” 2nd & 3rd PDF link called “2018-09-14 Copy of Diet and Taurine.pdf” the
Light Orange = DCM or CHF w/o low Taurine; diet related.

[Susan]

Hi,
Rotate & feed Nature’s Logic– NutriSource – Instinct see which brands your dog does best on & change every 3 months so your dog isn’t just eating 1 brand 24/7 just incase the dry food is high in heavy metal, toxins & contaminates & not balanced properly etc.

I would be looking at Freeze dried foods instead, these brands below got 5 stars & came 1st, 2nd & 3rd when tested for heavy metals & contaminates, you’ll have a healthier dog..

* Buckley Liberty Freeze-Dried formula’s

* CaniSource Grand Cru All Life Stages formula’s

* BIXBI Rawbble Freeze-Dried formula’s
Freeze dried would be a better choice then dry processed kibbles..

[Patricia A]

I have Chihuahuas’ also. Sixteen year old is now on Stella Chewy’s Raw coated kibble small breed with a topper. My four year old and eight year old are both on Stella’s kibble as a small base and get Freeze Dried Stella’s as a topper. Flavors are revieved as five star and they are Chicken, Rabbit, Venison. I also rotate with Primal Freeze Dried Turkey/Sardine and Duck.Both reviews as 5 stars. The only freeze dried topper my 16 year old eats is Bixbi Rawbble in Chicken/Salmon. They not found at Petco but my Pet Supply Store. Very easy to use. Just crumble and add a little warm water. I mix it with the kibble. The Bixbi Chicken/Salmon I just give dry. They are crunchy and almost like a treat to them. All these are high in meat with low carbs.
This is an example of ingredients in Bixbi Beef.
Ingredients: Beef, beef liver, beef kidney, beef bone, pumpkin, coconut oil, salmon oil, selenium yeast, vitamin E supplement, manganese proteinate, riboflavin supplement, calcium iodate, d-calcium pantothenate, mixed tocopherols (a preservative), rosemary extract.
My three are doing great with all the Freeze Dried recipes . I introduced them slowly with each brand and protein. Now I can rotate out. Good luck with your Chi.
This is the Primal duck recipe
INGREDIENTS:
Duck, Duck Necks, Duck Wings, Organic Kale, Duck Hearts, Duck Gizzards, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Duck Livers, Organic Broccoli, Organic Apples, Blueberries, Cranberries, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Organic Parsley, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Salmon Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Quinoa Sprout Powder, Dried Organic Kelp, Alfalfa, Vitamin E Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols (natural preservative).

• This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Patricia A.

[Susan]

Hi Tara,
TOTW is a high Legume diet, I’ve been seeing alot of dogs on f/b groups & on DFA, dogs that were eating Zignature who were feed a high legume diet they keep having UTI’s…
Look for a Potato, Sweet Potato, Oats, Rice food that has NO Lentils or Chickpeas…

Also stop feeding any fish pet foods as fish is the worse dog food for Heavy Metals, Toxins & Contaminates.. The TOTW Pacific Stream has been in the top 10 worse dry foods high in heavy meatals for the last 1 & 1/2 yrs…. 299 dry dog foods are tested every 3 months & TOTW Salmon & TOTW High Prairie formula’s have both stayed in the bad top 10 dry dog foods…
Change her food to a different brand, feed more of a wet diet then dry diet…
Can you cook or feed a raw diet instead of a dry diet?? wet diet would be heaps better then a dry diet even when you add water its still a dry process diet full of toxins….

Have you tried D-mannose??
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27424995

D-Mannose has been known to disrupt the ability of e-coli bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract. It is derived from mannose, which is a sugar molecule (binding). Some have reported combining cranberry with a dosage of D-Mannose and have seen great improvements in their dogs’ urinary tract conditions.

Also Vitamin C has been known to help stengthen immune system & help with Urinary tratc problems..

Vitamin C for Prevention of Chronic Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs

[Joyce B]

To Gold1: check out the facebook group called Canine kidney disease. It is full of kind, very experienced people with dogs with renal issues. Lots of food ideas. Some people have had good results with prescription diets but many home-cook, some use raw. Good luck with your precious Yorkie!

[Susanne S]

@Julie M…you are EXACTLY right. I switched my dogs to The Honest Kitchen (not as good as raw, but better than most commercial foods) a few months ago and for the first time, NO EAR INFECTIONS! I am about to transition to raw feeding because I FINALLY found a raw dealer that comes to my area. What could be better for dogs than raw meat? Commercial kibbles are literally poisoning millions of pets. I am appalled that the pet food industry has brainwashed people (including vets) into thinking that processed crap is better than natural raw food. I was one of those people until recently. Thank goodness my eyes have been opened!

[Nicole H]

I’ve been feeding congo raw for along time to my boxers. First boxer, the raw diet cleared up all her tumors. My second and third guy have been fed congorawsince birth. They are both in great shape and optimal health.