[Tyrionthebiscuit]

I would do a kibble plus freeze dried raw or a simple homemade mix. My dogs do fantastic on Orijen/Acana, Fromm, Petcurean, and Farmina. I like Merrick but have one dog that gets very gassy on all formulas except for the rabbit and the venison. For the mixers, I’ll use Primal mostly. I try to keep to the poultry formulas or the rabbit. The ones that are beef inclusive tend to be very hard in comparison so it’s hard to mix in or rehydrate easily. There are some good canned foods as well. Scrambled eggs, chicken thigh or breast, and other home prepared meats are a good option as well. Sometimes you just need to see what your dog likes.

[anonymous]

My dogs do well on Zignature as a base with a little chopped boiled chicken meat and water or chicken broth mixed in.
/forums/topic/help-food-change-disaster/#post-111832

See chewy dot com for more information and reviews on Zignature.

PS: Listen to your wife 🙂

There is no reason to feed raw when you consider the risks. http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/ (excerpt below, click on link for full article)
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.

[Chuck]

So I have been feeding my Brittney (5) Darwins since she was a puppy and my Foxhound (3) since we got him which was about a year ago. I live in Tampa, FL and the cost of shipping is just crazy, so between the cost, the Darwin customer service and recalls and my wife shying away from raw since we have a newborn, I really need a good solution.

Should I switch to a kibble like Orijen? A mix like Merrick Back Country Infused Raw, Kibble plus dehydrated raw supplements or is there another raw option that would be more cost-effective, and she isn’t going to let me grind anything up so bulk probably wouldn’t work.\

I just want to make sure they keep being healthy and I hate the idea of just putting them back on kibble. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[a c]

I believed most of the raw and freeze dried are high in fat. I feed my 10 years old Stella and Chewys and Primal raw and freeze dried last year, and she end up with pancreatitis.

To lose weight, You probably want to use the tool from this site to narrow down a 5 star weight management dog food. Also, you need to calculate the fat in dry matter to get the actual fat %. Wellness Core has a weight management formula.

Good luck!

[Patricia A]

I am truly confused as to why Dog Food Advisor has Stella Chewy’s a five star kibble. Alfalfa is listed in top half of ingredients. Also found a list of amount of ASH in the food which is VERY high.
The Dog food advisor has this food on his 2018 personal selection list. Now I don’t know what to believe. Just when I was confident in giving Stella Chewy’s raw coated with topper of freeze dried I now worried I should have stuck to Fromm.
Ash (%)
Stella’s Super Beef, FR
3.56
Stella’s Super Beef, FD
11.0
Chewy’s Chicken, FR
3.32
Chewy’s Chicken, FD
16.5
Duck Duck Goose, FR
3.93
Duck Duck Goose, FD
10.8
Dandy Lamb, FR
3.93
Dandy Lamb, FD
10.4
Surf ‘N Turf, FR
4.01
Surf ‘N Turf, FD
11.9
Simply Venison, FR
2.15
Simply Venison, FD
6.9
Absolutely Rabbit, FR
4.07
Absolutely Rabbit, FD
12.1
Phenomenal Pheasant, FR
5.10
Phenomenal Pheasant, FD
14.8
FD = Freeze Dried
FR = Frozen Raw

[Patricia A]

Thank you for info. I am truly confused as to why Dog Food Advisor has Stella Chewy’s a five star kibble. It’s listed in top half of ingredients. Also found a list of amount of ASH in the food which is VERY high.
The Dog food advisor has this food on his 2018 personal selection list. Now I don’t know what to believe.
Ash (%)
Stella’s Super Beef, FR
3.56
Stella’s Super Beef, FD
11.0
Chewy’s Chicken, FR
3.32
Chewy’s Chicken, FD
16.5
Duck Duck Goose, FR
3.93
Duck Duck Goose, FD
10.8
Dandy Lamb, FR
3.93
Dandy Lamb, FD
10.4
Surf ‘N Turf, FR
4.01
Surf ‘N Turf, FD
11.9
Simply Venison, FR
2.15
Simply Venison, FD
6.9
Absolutely Rabbit, FR
4.07
Absolutely Rabbit, FD
12.1
Phenomenal Pheasant, FR
5.10
Phenomenal Pheasant, FD
14.8

FD = Freeze Dried
FR = Frozen Raw

[Patricia A]

I am switching from Fromm grain free kibble to Stella n Chewy’s raw coated. My 16 year old has done great on the Fromm with a topper of Vets Choice Health Extensions for a little extra protein so not switching her at her age. However my little four year old has not been eating it and I turn my back and my middle 8 year old who is a little overweight scarfs hers down, So I’m having luck with her eating the Stella’s with a topping of their freeze dried. So I was very happy with my decision since both are five star. Now I’m very worried that they both have suncured alfalfa high up on the list of ingredients. I checked primal freeze dried and it also contains suncured alfalfa though further down on list of ingredients. I’ve read negative things about suncured alfalfa in dogs diet . Anyone else with this concern . Thank you for any info.

[Patricia A]

I need my 6 year old chihuahua to lose a little weight. I always gave Fromm kibble mixed with health extensions canned as a topper. I wanted something better for topper so went with Stella Chewy’s freeze dried. Within the last year she has gained weight. I’ve cut down the kibble and give her less then is advised on the freeze dried. Been looking at recently the Stella Chewy’s fat is 53% according to advisor. protein is 35 and carbs 11. I know lower carbs are a good thing and fat should be higher but it seems like 53% is very high. Thinking about going with wellness canned core hearty cuts as topper which is protein 37% Fat 39% and carbs 24. . Also of thinking of changing kibble to Stella chewys raw coated since it’s less processed and got the 5 stars. Please any advice would be much appreciated. Going nuts with research.

[Michael S]

I’ll ad my two cents worth. I rescued my dog 3 years ago. He was 9 1/2 months old. Acana is the only dry food I have ever fed him (every other evening I’ll add some canned food to his meal). I rotate him between several of Acana’s recipes. At our yearly exams my vet (each of the doctors I see at the office) always raves about the excellent condition my dog is in. He maintains a perfect weight (he was vastly underweight when I adopted him). He has had no health issues. Acana is his staple food.

When The Clean Label Project reared it’s dubious head, red flags were immediately raised by experts and regular people with common sense. People need to be very cautious when buying into the con job they’re selling…and people need to be very cautious believing Truth About Petfood. That blog has turned fear mongering into a cottage industry, and I was not in least surprised when they allowed Clean Label Project to solicit consumer information from their site.

If you aren’t familiar with The Clean Label Project here are a couple of links that might give you food for thought.

https://therawfeedingcommunity.com/2017/06/20/why-wont-clean-label-project-listen-to-concerned-pet-owners/

http://www.chadhayesmd.com/the-clean-label-project-is-playing-dirty/

[Nadine H]

Hi Josh,
I switched my two Great Danes to Farmina low grain three months ago. Leah weighs 113 and Logan 133.Both are still growing. I feed three times a day, 5 and a half cups split into three meals. This food is low carb at 32% so they’re not getting the fillers that might have them feeling fuller. If you go to the farmina website there is a link to feeding amounts. Poop is perfect, they go once in the morning and once at night. Coats are so shiny and the energy level is great. You’ve made a good choice for your pup. What does your pup weight ? many people add steamed green beans to the kibble if they are still acting hungery. I also give sardines as a treat every night along with sliced raw apple.

[Patricia A]

Thank you for replying with your feeding choices Cathy. The more I read the more confused I get. I always went with the Fromm kibble and rotated proteins. Just was disappointed to see that advisor gave them the 4 stars . Also been reading that kibble is the most processed going in the order of healthier would be dry worst, canned next freeze dried then raw. I don’t want to go raw but I would like to step up at least for my two younger ones with a 5 star canned topper and rotating with a 5 star kibble . So far only the little fatty7 year old Tia(Chihuahua) eats the freeze dried stella chewys topper. It’s my three year old Lola(Chihuahua) that is pickly I put the food down and turn around and the little fatty Tia is has gobbled hers already and is eating Lola’s. Hence I’m sure the weight gain also. I’ve tried feeding Lola much later but in the end I have to hand feed her or end up throwing away the bowl because kibble is mixed with the canned or freeze dried soaked topper. Then I try again later and she eventually eats it. I just tried topper with kibble of the Core Hearty Wellness canned. She seemed to at least show interest and eventually ate it with some coaxing. . She tends to wait until But I worry its like a stew and too fattening for the chubby one. Like I said my 16 year old is doing wonderful on the fromm/canned topper. Just would like to get the younger two on the same food and then concentrate on Tia giving her a consistent smaller amount for weight loss.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

I noticed all the red showing up for questionable ingredients in Fromm Four Star grain free kibble hence getting the four star rating. Been rotating between beef Fritta, Salmon Tunalini and Salmon ala Veg(not grain free). I use Health Extension chicken topper. Just would like an opinion if Wellness Core Dry small breed or ocean kibble would be a better choice since it got five stars? Also should I just go with the Stella Chewys raw coated kibble small breed, white fish which also got the five stars. Does the baking REALLy make that big of a difference being less processed and a better choice for kibble. I also try to top with Stella Chewys freeze dried but my 16 year old and 3 year old walks away. Is Wellness Core Hearty Cuts good. My middle one is a little overweight. I’m so confused. My 16 year old Hannah Belle has been on Fromm mixed with the Vets choice health extensions for years so I wouldn’t switch her.

[Kelli A]

Just wondering – I’m looking to attempt to try prepping my dogs raw meal. What is a good bone for a 70lb dog to eat for meals? She needs 2.8oz of bone per day (apprx). Before this she has eaten 80/10/10 ground. I gave her a chicken back once, and I feel like it might’ve been too small as she just kept trying to put the whole thing in her mouth (after she started with trying to pull some of the meat off). She’s definitely a gulper? – she was used to eating her kibble non-stop, barely chomping at all. I’m so lost on this meal prepping, etc… any help is greatly appreciated!

[Connie S]

I’ve fed my dog Acana since a pup..she’s now 7. In January she was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney failure. She doesn’t have the typical symptoms of kidney failure but her blood results and many other tests indicates this diagnosis. I am so upset to think that in making the choice to feed her a high quality food that it could have potentially resulted in this.

I’ve taken her off kibble and now feed a modified raw diet that fits with her needs. So far it seems to be working and her interest in food high.

[anonymous]

I would go by what a veterinarian that has examined your dog recommends.
I would not give over the counter medications or supplements, unless the vet approves.
I would consider making some diet changes as he probably can no longer tolerate raw and would do better on a bland commercial food, but first take him in for a vet visit, labs, senior workup.
There is probably a lot you can do under the guidance of a vet to keep your dog comfortable.
Best of luck.

[Susan]

Hi Lesile,
As we age & dogs age we don’t make as much hydrochloric acid & get acid reflux, it’s called Hypochlorhydria-lack stomach acid & Hyperchlorhydra-excessive acid production both contribute to acid reflux in pets as well as additional symptoms burping, gas, rumbling/grumbling bowel noises, abdominal bloating, mouth licking swollowing, my boy grinds his teeth…
Is he on an anti acid medication?? you can try a mild ant acid medication like Pepcid (Famotidine) or I started Patch on Zantac (Ranitidine) we dont have Pepcid in Australia no more its an old ant acid drug & I think it interfered with other medications, with these 2 ant acid drugs you have to give tablet 30-45mins before they eat twice a day the doses are online… I’d ask your vet can you try Prilosec (Omeprazole) it’s an ant acid blocker, sends a msg to brain, its a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) given just once a day, you dont need to wait 30mins before you take it like other ant acid meds, my Gastro Dr said its best taken first thing of a morning 20mins before you eat breaskfast, so by the the time you make your cuppa & his breakfast its about 20 mins, the only thing with PPI’s after you have taken it for 21 days you cant just stop taking a PPI, you must reduce slowly, Patched IBD vet recommended I do what he does with himself, he said to do give 20mg Prilosec tablet for 3-4 days then stop if acid has gone & he’s better, then if he gets his acid reflux again give the Prolosec for 3 days, you dont have to wait till the next morning to give table just give when he has any ant acid symptoms.
I found Patch was heaps beter while taken his Losec & then he’d be OK for 2 days then back to bad acid of a morning, vomiting yellow acid then after they vomit the excess acid burns their throat, I buy the Liquid Mylanta & keep in the fridge so its cold & when Patch had his acid reflux & has vomited up the acid I’d give him about 4mls of the cold Mylanta in a syringe….
Patches vet gives me 6 repeat scripts of the Losec now cause he takes it everyday, I buy from the chemist its heaps cheaper, it cost about $4-5$ a tablet from the vet, very expensive here in Australia….
Your poor boy probably has acid reflux, I did Endoscope + Biopsies for Patch, when vet looked down Patches throat everything looked great but the biopsies told a different story Patch had Helicbactoer-Pylori Spirals which cause bad acid reflux & IBD..

Acid Reflux is worse early hours of the morning, with the Prilosec I give Patch 20mg as soon as he wakes up around 6am, I have everything near my bed, the tablets & I full the syringe up with water the night before, just make sure after you have put the tablet on the back of his tongue & down his throat you have one of those 20ml syringes & put water in the side of his mouth slowly push the plunger on syringe so he swollows the tablet, the tablet washes down his throat & doesn’t sit & dissolve in his throat.
Another thing start feeding 4-5 smaller lean meals a day, I feed Patch 7am 12pm 5pm & 8pm, at 7am & 5pm these meals are a bit bigger & at 12pm & 8pm he gets 1/3 a cup….

Have you tried changing his diet to a cooked low fat diet, I do both but dont feed together feed at separate meals, I’ve started Patch on Freeze dried dehydrated raw now, its an Australian brand “Frontier Pets” there’s might be a low fat freeze dried raw brand in America & see if does he do better on the raw diet, cooked diet or on the freeze dried diet then feed the one he seems to do best on but after trying all different things for Patch the Prilosec worked the best…

[Janee T]

I started giving my dog Smart Bones as a healthy alternative to raw hide but have stopped since I found out the ingredients are sourced from Mexico, China, and Vietnam. Even though they are inspected in the US, I don’t feel comfortable any more. My dog loved chewing them
so I am searching for a “made in the USA” chew treat. I do like the Get Naked brand.

[Leslie K]

Westie has always had sensitive stomach with occasional bile vomit and refusing of food. Only occurs in early morning accompanied by noisy stomach / intestines. In the last month has been virtually every morning. Murphy is 14 yrs old and has been on a twice a day feeding of prey type raw diet his entire life which eliminated skin allergies.
Have tried splitting his dinner and giving 2nd portion before bed as well as just giving him some sweet potato or 1/2 slice of bread at bedtime. That works occasionally but not enough. Any suggestions on what my senior boy might need in his elder years to make it through the night without waking with stomach distress? Maybe probiotics?

[John G]

I am completing my 5th bag of the freeze dried raw food and my 2 year labradoodle seems to love this food. I feed 1 cup twice daily and I use 1/2 cup of warm water to rehydrate for 3 minutes, then I mash the kernels to a consistency that he seems to enjoy. It has never appeared to be “sawdust” like but it is different in appearance from kibble and wet foods. I am not sure I will be able to afford to keep y pet friend on this food, but the cost is the only reason I have now to change. Does anyone found a raw freeze dried quality food that is priced more modestly than Dr Marty’s?

[Lisa K]

I can almost 100% tell you that your dogs seizures came from the food you are feeding them.

My dog Horus ( Shih Tzu Chihuahua mix. Completely Shih in apearence) 5 years old at the time, was perfectly healthy. I had been feeding him Prina One dog food. At the time I was unaware of what Raw dog food and thought I was feeding a good quality brand of Purina. Well one day he just feel over and his body seized, foam started coming out his mouth, his eyes bucked out. I grab him up hysterically thinking he was having a heart attack. I was about to try CPR on him, when he snap out of it and jumped up, and began running around. I got online immediately and started searching for a reason by symptoms. I came to the conclusion it was a seizure and hoped it would not happen again. A few days went by and he had another one, but this time he began having them every 30 mins to an hour in between. I rush him to the vet. They administered phenobarbital and did blood work. His readings were normal with a slightly elevated liver, which the vet said could be the problem but he was not sure. I took him home with a prescription. The doctor said he would need these meds for the rest of his life. I didn’t believe him because that’s what they said about my daughter when she was one. The doctors gave her to high a does once and I pulled her off the meds. She’s 26 now and has never had another seizure, but I gave Horus the meds as prescribed. One day the thought hit me that it could be his food. I started researching the brand I was feeding him and discovered that Purina had several law suites against them for seizure related issues. I was stunned. I continued to research to find what I should be feeding him and found out the a Raw food diet was the best options for dogs. After more research on quality and the best brands I immediately ordered his Raw food. Over the next few weeks I whenned him off the meds. For the next 2 years he never had another Seizure.

Now 3 weeks ago I forgot to order his food and had to get a bag from the market. This time I got Pedigree until his food could arrive. Big mistake. 2 days into the Pedigree he began having seizures again. I rushed him to the vet emergency because he was not recovering from it. They just kept coming. They put him on Keppra and Potassium Bromide which did absolutely nothing to stop the seizures and later his normal vet told me vets sale this stuff to make more money. It does not work, and it’s way more expensive then phenobarbital. My vet gave him one shot of phenobarbital and started Horus on a regiment of vitimains, Enzymes and Amino Acids along with a suggestion to purchase a product called Vet CBD, which I got immediately after leaving her office. These along with the Raw food should help in his recovery. She also said that he may have some brain damage because of the severity of his seizure this time. It has now been 1 week and Horus has not had another seizure. I am still working on his recovery as I do think he may have suffered some brain damage as he will not stop endlessly pacing. He has a wonderful appetite and his blood work remains good.

With all this said, I do see that your pooch is on a raw food diet, but I would also suggest you get her started on supplements also. What she recommended was: Arthur Dex joint support for all animals given by weight of dog, Ultimate Daily Classic 1/2 pill daily, and Ultimate Selenium1/2 pill daily, All by a company called Youngevity which you can get on Amazon. The Vet CBD I’m not sure you can get. It depends on the state you live in. I’m in California and Cannabis is legal here.

I hope some of the info I left helps you in some way.

[Karen A]

This dog food is much too expensive even for a small dog. My Lilly was still hungry after giving her the recommended amount. I called Customer Service today to return and they did seem agreeable to accept a return. I was told they would offer a 40% credit if I were to keep the product. They also mentioned they wouldn’t give me a return authorization but that I would need to pay for returned shipping. I’m considering the 40% discount which would actually bring the price in line with other raw dog foods.

[anonymous]

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=homemade+diet excerpt below, click on link for full article and comments

Evidence Update–Homemade Diet Recipes for Your Pet are Unreliable
Posted on May 20, 2013 by skeptvet
I have previously discussed studies of recipes for homemade diets, from books and the internet, which show that these diets are rarely nutritionally adequate or reliable in terms of consistently providing predictable levels of critical nutrients. Recipes for kidney disease, cancer diets, and raw diets have all been evaluated and found wanting. Now the largest study yet looking at the nutritional adequacy of homemade diet recipes has been published and—surprise, surprise—it has found that almost none of the recipes evaluated provide recommended levels of important nutrients.

[Marla G]

Didn’t intend to originally, but I put my dog back on PP 30/20 Sport. Once he gets straightened out again after his poor experience on “Go” and Acana, I’ll look for something to mix with the 30/20. I can’t say my dogs have been better off on the boutique foods, and in some cases haven’t thrived on some at all. Again, dissolutioned. I know too many people in the show world that feed 30/20. I see their dogs and they look amazing. And I even tried raw, first back in the 1980’s, and then in 2005. Unhappy both times. Thinking back about the dogs I grew up with, a Poodle and Border Collie. Wonderful companions that lived 16 and 17 years. My mom fed them Science Diet. I’ve always wondered, why did they thrive on that diet?

[Carrie W]

I am saddened by this lawsuit, however I read the letter sent out by Champion in regards to this lawsuit. I think everyone should at least consider both sides. I had already read the white paper (re: heavy metals in their food) info on Champion’s website (its in their library). I don’t know how long it has been available but it was a while back when I reviewed it. I have fed several different foods over the years. And when I got my latest GSD I did a lot of research and DFA became my favorite follow up site. When I reviewed the ingredients in Orijen I was so glad to see a food that was made with real meats with no meals, no by-products, etc. It even went beyond by using real fruits, veggies and herbs. It was refreshing and as for a kibble I could not find another that matched it. I researched heavy metals and the heavy metals in human foods as well and found the unfortunate truth that we and our pets our exposed to these heavy metals everywhere in our environment. The soil, air, and water which allows it to get into our foods. After all my hard research there was a negative for every positive. So I decided that a variety would probably be the best diet and why not that makes the most sense. I have to apologize to my past dogs for this, as they did not have this luxury. So I feed a mixture of Orijen Tundra, Primal Raw, Pumpkin, Pre-Probiotics, other raw meats, fruits and veggies. I hope that we will be able to remove more or all heavy metals from human and pet foods one day.

[Kate C]

I am so angry reading this post! I never buy rawhide chews for our 6yo golden doodle, matter of fact I rarely get him anything like this but OF COURSE, today I was at a high end pet store, (one of the better ones in our area) and they had a full display of these things. I am so SICK of crooked companies that do shit like this and am concerned that I gave this to my buddy today when I have no idea what the hell is in it!

~kd

[Susan]

Hi Kim,
So sorry for your girl, it sounds awful, I dont know anything about MMM…
About making her eat, I wouldn’t push her head into the bowl of food, instead get a spoon & sppon soft blended food in side of her mouth under her to lip, like you do when giving syringed water also start her on electrolytes with water, give every hour if she isnt eating or drinking water…..Do you live America? I live Australia & we have a really good dehydrated raw food called “Fronteir Pets” it has no bone, smells beautiful & is human grade ingredients, the meat is free range chickens, pigs or cows, I smash the balls up then add water & the food all softens up & the dog or cat can just lick up the food or it can be put into a big 20ml syringe & put in the side of your dogs mouth slowly push syringe…
Can you find a dehydrated food like “Honest Kitchen” Zeal or Hope formula, there’s a few formula’s with grains or no grains, higher in fat higher in fiber & some are higher in protein you need to look at the ingredients & see which formula will suit your girl, Honest Kitchen has samples you can try, if she takes a steriod, then look for a lower fat diet cause of the acid reflux & ulcers steriod can cause, the vet put my dog on a ant acid med before 1/2 hour before he took the steriod with food to be on the safe side… you add water & the Honest kitchen reconstitutes or can you get some sweet potatoes peel & boil also get some lean chicken breast or turkey mince & cook then put 1/2 sweet potato & 1/2 meat into a blender & blend, this will be easier to eat & spoon into side of mouth if she cant lick up food, even cottage cheese is good, scrambled egg, Predisone can cause acid reflux so your girl will have to have food in her stomach first then take the predisone mash into a bit of sweet potato or pumkin….
Have you looked on facebook for any groups for Canine Masticatory Muscle Myositis or Yahoo also has groups best to talk with people who have dogs that are going thru the same health problems also find a vet or a holistic vet that knows all about MMM cause the only way to eat soften kibble is make the kibble soft then drain out all the water, I use to 1/2 the swollen kibbles in the bowl then cuff my hand over side of bowl & kibble & squeeze out all the water then I put swollen kibbles in a blender & blended in sections, the kibble would fluffed up, it depended on which kibble I used, some brands of kibble when I soaked in water then drained all the water then put in the blender the kibble turned to goo I suppose if she can lick she can lick it up, another food people feed is baby food..

[Lewis F]

This is a reply from Champion Dog Food facebook page:
Champion Petfoods is with Maureen Randall Breakfield.
18 hrs ·
Dear Fellow Pet Lovers,

The allegations contained within a Class Action Complaint that was brought against us on March 1st are meritless and based on misinterpretation of the data.

Let us assure you that our products are safe and that we systematically test our products at two third-party laboratories using the Official Methods of Analysis by Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC). While we plan to comprehensively refute the wide range of false allegations in a court of law at the appropriate date, in the interim we want you to be confident in the safety and quality of our products.

For more information, we urge you to read: ORIJEN and ACANA Foods in Comparison to Pet Food Safety Standards, here: http://bit.ly/2HMvJiy

As you know, our commitment to using fresh and raw meat and fish ingredients means that pets and Pet Lovers can count on Champion to provide safe, Biologically Appropriate™ nutrition. Much like the natural human food we consume, Champion Petfoods contains small traces of a range of naturally occurring elements. These so-called ‘heavy metals’ are found throughout the Earth’s environment, and the miniscule amounts of these substances found in Champion Petfoods are a safe and common component of both human and animal diets. Our Biologically Appropriate™ foods feature much higher levels of quality fresh and raw meat ingredients than conventional pet foods, including fish and seafood ingredients.

Please know that we are confident that we will prevail as the facts and evidence are presented to the court, and that these baseless claims will not deter us from our mission of delivering award-winning Biologically Appropriate™ foods. The legal complaint has no bearing whatsoever on the activities or operation of our business, and you will continue to enjoy the same high degree of professionalism and quality you have come to expect from Champion.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our company and our quality food products.

Champion Petfoods

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[haleycookie]

Raw diets should contain the precentages I posted above. Where do you live? Usually if there’s any type of meat market around you butchers are begging ppl to take the less sought after organs. And will typically sell them in bulk for low prices. Same with unwanted meaty bones. If you’re just feeding ground beef right now your dog isn’t getting a lot of vitamins. There should be bones and organs (liver and secreting) added to have full benefits.

[Connie L]

Im new to this site and i need some help, im having the worst time with my pitti.. she is having really bad skin issues that affect her ears, her belly skin, and her skin is flaking and she is loosing little patches of hair… every site i have gone on say pitties are notorious for these issue and RAW is the beat way to go.. BUT……. she is allergic to chicken, and alot of these diets call for feeding chicken, a buddy of mines gave me a meal plan to start… i started with ground beef and she seems to be loving the food she cleans her bowl, i also see that they require organs but where i live its seems like its not easy to aquire all the wierd stuff… i guess i need help with meal planning. 😫😫

[pitlove]

Hi Brendan-

I don’t feed raw for a lot of reasons, but here is a blog written by a woman from the Netherlands who has, in my opinion, correctly done a Prey Model Raw diet for her dog Mojo.

http://mojoandfriends.blog/2017/10/29/prey-model-raw-diet-dogs/

They also have a YouTube channel with meal prep videos.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Marijkee17

And if you follow her Insta gram page, she answers questions about Mojos diet.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by pitlove.

[pugmomsandy]

Depending on the size of your dog, if you feed muscle meat, you can use raw meaty bones as their treat in appropriate amounts. There are also products like roasted tendons, tripe, gullet, feet and pizzles that can be fed. I often use the “bite size” freeze dried foods as treats or cheese. I have small dogs so the treat expense isn’t too much.

[haleycookie]

You usually want that last 10% to be raw meaty bones. Feeding whole carcuses is a way to make up for that though I suppose. Just make sure you’re also feeding veggies that will make up for a little bit of that calcium intake.

[haleycookie]

Raw meaty bones, freeze dried treats. You can also find recipes you can make yourself or just dehydrate meat yourself into strips.

[Carrie H]

Hi,
My dod
My dog is now on a raw diet. Which treats or bones are compatible with this? Thanks

[Susan]

Hi Patty,
are you walking her daily, throwing a ball in the yard or park for 20mins X 3 times a day? Excerise will help her lose weight, get her into a routine with her excerising, eat meals the same time, feed 3 small meals a day, if she is hungry then start adding beans with her raw food or as a treat, buy the frozen beans, make sure she goes on daily walks, same time everyday…
A raw diet does make the dog lose weight, cause they are not eating all those carbs that’s in dry processsed kibbles, they are eating what their bodies have been build to eat, raw food, a dog has a short digestive tract made to quickly digest raw meat & move quickly into the small bowel before any bacteria starts to breed, the raw meat moves thru the stomach quickly into the small bowel then large bowel then poo…
A raw diet is healthier, higher in protein & higher fat what a dog needs….
I’ve just started my 9yr boy on Dehydrated Raw Diet. “Frontier Pets” due to declining health, I have to try everything before I put him to sleep, I just wish I started him on this dehydrated raw diet earlier when it came out… I know in the past my boy lost weight when he was eating a home made raw diet, I didnt want him to lose weight, I had to increase his raw diet to keep his weight on, the home made raw diet stopped his yeasty smelly skin, stopped his red paws, then I started a raw elimination diet & found he can not eat chicken, it was the chicken causing his red paws & itchy smelly skin, he also suffers with Seasonal Environment Allergies as well Spring & Summer & baths are best for environment allergies, you wash off the allergens that’s on their skin & paws……
Are you bathing her weekly or twice a week? or as soon as you see her really scratching, rolling around on carpet grass scratching herself give her a bath in a medicated shampoo, it will reduce her itchy skin & paws. I use “Malaseb” Medicated Shampoo for Patch, the Malaseb kills any bacteria or yeast on his skin & paws, relieves his itchy skin & red paws, puts moisture back into his skin & leaves him feeling so soft & silky.. Buy some Malaseb shampoo & start bathing weekly or every 5 days especially now Spring is here….
Look for a raw wet diet or dry air dried raw diet or dehydrated raw diet & stop the Wellness Core dry kibble, if you have 1/4 to 1/2 a bag of the Core then take it back to pet shop & buy her some more raw food, just feed her the raw diet for 1 month & you will see a difference, have you looked at Ziwi Peak air dried & wet can food raw? Ziwi Peak has limited ingredients & good for dogs who have food sensitivities & environment allergies, You don’t need to feed as much as you do with the dry kibble, the 1/2 a cup comes in the Ziwi Peak bag, here’s their site https://www.ziwipets.com/ contact Ziwi Peak if you have any questions.

[pitlove]

Hi Patty-

I think thats a really great question you are asking, but unfortunetly difficult to answer, so I will give you pros and cons.

Pros (from what I’ve heard) from a raw diet is healthy teeth, small stool, evidence of help with allergic dogs. Cons are pathogen exposure, potentially not balancing the meals correctly, possible GI obstruction from bone content.

Weight loss can be tricky. The key is to burn more calories than what is being consumed. If she is not active and is still getting extras in her diet (like the pork pattie and other treats), but isn’t getting enough exercise to burn off those calories, she will not lose weight even on a raw diet. And yes, I’ve seen overweight dogs on raw diets. Raw isn’t a cure all for weight control. You, the owner, still have to put in the work and get the dog exercising. Walks are good, fetch in the yard is good. We use something called a “flirt pole” with my dog to burn calories. The big thing is going to be no more treats! Also, you will need to make sure that everyone in your household is on board with trying to help her lose the weight. Explain to them that she can live up to 2 years longer if you help her lose weight and yall want to keep her around for as long as possible.

[Pamela L]

Here is the answer for affordable heartworm control. I use the 1% injectable for Cows. You can get it at almost any feed store for about $25. It does not taste good to the dogs but I can treat the animials in my no-kill shelter for about $25 per year which is amaziing. Here is the dosage:

Directions for making 30:1 dilution of 1% solution
A 30:1 dilution works best for smaller dogs. Ivemectin is given orally (never use pour-on solutions for heartworm prevention).

Mix 30 parts glycerin, propylene glycol, or vegetable oil to 1 part ivermectin 1% solution. Shake well before using to mix the ivermectin evenly. Refrigerate any unused portion (do not store mixtures with vegetable oil).

Dosage using Ivermectin 1% solution at 30:1 dilution for heartworm prevention (you may want to double these doses for better protection):
< 6 pounds: 0.05 cc (one-half of 0.1 cc, or 1 drop from an eye dropper, assuming 20 drops per ml)
6 to 12 pounds: 0.1 cc
13 to 24 pounds: 0.2 cc
25 to 36 pounds: 0.3 cc
37 to 48 pounds: 0.4 cc
49 to 60 pounds: 0.5 cc
62 to 72 pounds: 0.6 cc
73 to 84 pounds: 0.7 cc
85 to 97 pounds: 0.8 cc
98 to 109 pounds: 0.9 cc
110 to 121 pounds: 1 cc
Ivermectin solution is given orally. It’s best to squirt it into the mouth, rather than adding to food, to be sure your dog gets it all.

To make a small amount of the mixture, you will need a 1 cc syringe that measures accurately to the tenth of a cc. Draw up 0.1 cc of Ivermectin solution in a 1 cc syringe, and mix well with 3 cc of glycerin, propylene glycol, or vegetable oil, giving you 3 ccs at a dilution ratio of 30:1. This is enough to treat 300 pounds of dogs using the 1% solution.

To make larger amounts of the mixture, use a 1 fluid ounce dropper bottle, which is 30 ml. Put 1 ml of ivermectin solution in a 1 fluid ounce dropper bottle, then fill with glycerin, propylene glycol, or vegetable oil. This will be enough to treat 3,000 pounds of dogs (e.g., 300 10-lb dogs or 150 20-lb dogs) using the 1% solution.

1 cc of ivermectin 1% diluted 30:1 contains 333 mcg; 0.1 cc = 33 mcg.
The exact dosage is 0.0824 cc (approximately 0.1 cc) per 10 pounds of body weight.

Directions for making 9:1 dilution of 1% solution
A 9:1 dilution works best for larger dogs. Ivemectin is given orally (never use pour-on solutions for heartworm prevention).

Mix 9 parts glycerin, propylene glycol, or vegetable oil to 1 part ivermectin 1% solution. Shake well before using to mix the ivermectin evenly. Refrigerate any unused portion (do not store mixtures with vegetable oil).

Dosage using Ivermectin 1% solution at 9:1 dilution for heartworm prevention (you may want to double these doses for better protection):
up to 18 pounds: 0.05 cc (one-half of 0.1 cc, or 1 drop from an eye dropper, assuming 20 drops per ml)
19 to 36 pounds: 0.1 cc
37 to 73 pounds: 0.2 cc
74 to 110 pounds: 0.3 cc
111 to 147 pounds: 0.4 cc
Ivermectin solution is given orally. It’s best to squirt it into the mouth, rather than adding to food, to be sure your dog gets it all.

To make a small amount of the mixture, you will need a 1 cc syringe that measures accurately to the tenth of a cc or a dropper bottle. Draw up 0.1 cc of Ivermectin solution in a 1 cc syringe, and mix well with 0.9 cc of glycerin, propylene glycol, or vegetable oil, giving you 1 cc at a dilution ratio of 9:1. This is enough to treat 333 pounds of dogs using the 1% solution.

To make larger amounts of the mixture, use a 1 fluid ounce dropper bottle, which is 30 ml. Put 3 ml of ivermectin solution in a 1 fluid ounce dropper bottle, then fill with glycerin, propylene glycol, or vegetable oil. This will be enough to treat 9,000 pounds of dogs (e.g., 90 100-lb dogs) using the 1% solution.

1 cc of ivermectin 1% diluted 9:1 contains 1,000 mcg; 0.1 cc = 100 mcg ivermectin.
The exact dosage is 0.0272 ml (approximately 0.03 cc) per 10 pounds of body weight.

[patty S]

She has dry skin and scratches all the time. I have tried a homeopathic treatment for itching cuased by environmental allergies but so far there is only a slight improvement. The vet did give her a shot last year that worked great for the itching but I hate to keep using that as my research showed it wasn’t a great choice. I do give her coconut oil. I am at my wits end. I tried the raw diet and she likes it and is healthy except overweight still. Anyway, thank you.
Patty

[Mike Sagman]

Kibble size affects palatability only. Nothing else. Kibble size has zero effect on the nutritional value of any food.

Calcium, phosphorus and calorie ratios are critical for a large or giant breed puppy and should take precedence over the size of the kibble.

My recommendation: Use the Custom Search link and select the Type 2 – LG Br Pup option and check the “Dry” feature. This will remove canned and raw foods from the list. I found 43 individual recipes that would be suitable for your Saint Bernard puppy.

And there are many more if you’ll select a recommended brand or sub-brand you like and choose one that meets AAFCO profiles for either Growth or All Life Stages AND contains the words “includes the growth of large size dogs”.

Another suggestion: Avoid switching to an Adult Maintenance food until your puppy reaches 24 months.

Hope this helps.

[anonymous]

Hope these articles help. When you do “research” you are going to get all kinds of opinions.
Homeopathic veterinarians have very different views on diet than traditional veterinarians.
So you will get a lot of conflicting information, and some of it will not be accurate.

https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/ excerpt below

“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”

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

[haleycookie]

Would you eat processed foods that have to have artificial vitamin packs added to your foods? Or would you prefer a balanced fresh food diet? Same for dogs. Whether you do a cooked or raw diet there is no competition when comparing the burnt little rocks we call commercial dog food. Granted fresh diets aren’t for everyone as it can be time consuming and if you have a large dog or a lot of dogs it can be expensive. If you shop wisely and make your own meals for small dogs it’s no more expensive then buying a premium kibble.

[Susan]

Hi Gaby,
Please don’t go Gaby, I know to end up here on DFA, your desperate to help your dog… that’s how I got here 5yrs ago…
XXX TEXT REMOVED XXX
I hate seeing dogs suffer, Ive been thru heaps with Patches IBD & like to help other dogs get on the right track & get better, its sad having a sick dog epecially when some vets do NOT know what’s wrong with these dogs…

This sounds like what my Patch gets, very hungry, stomach pain, eats food then feel better for a couple of hours, then it all starts over again, he gets Helicobacter-Pylori Spirals”, all dogs have Helicobacter BUT the Helicobacter takes over some dogs stomach & lives in their stomach wall cause they don’t have a healthy stomach….
Ask your vet can you do “Endoscope + Biopsies” or ask vet can ur dog start the Triple Therapy meds “Metronidazole” taken every 12 hours with a meal. “Amoxicillin” also taken every 12 hours with a meal & 20mg “Prilosec” (Ant Acid Blocker) taken in morning 30mins before breakfast & then other meds taken with breakfast, these 3 drugs are taken for 3 weeks….
The first time Patch took the Triple Therapy meds, he became better within 5days I had a normal dog, he finshed all the triple therapy meds but within 2-3 months Patch was hungry again, whinging again the Helicobacter returned, so we re did the 3 week triple therapy meds & when the triple therpy meds finished, I continued the Losec every morning, so the Helicobacter has no stomach acid to live in…I read a study that had been done where taken when a PPI is taken (Prilosec) it stopps the Helicobacter from returning, Patches Helicobacter did NOT return for 4-5 yrs, then last December Patch went dont hill & stopped eating, so I started feeing him dry kibble with grains & Beet Pulp, kibbles he he’d eat, he still continued to go down hill so I asked his vet can we do another the Endoscope & Biopsies, I thought he had Stomach Cancer but Patches Helicobacter Spiral were mild & returning, so back on the triple therapy meds & we increased & changed his PPI (acid blocker) which is Pantoprazole now, but I think the Losec was working better??

Look for low fiber, gluten free, grain free diet…. if you can feed cooked meal or feed freeze dried raw thats heaps better then a dry kibble… Feed 4-5 smaller meals a day, dont just feed 2 larger meals a day, need to keep the acid reflux down…
Patches lower esophageal Spincter flap isnt closing now & kibble is the only thing that stays down in his stomach, wet cooked canned foods come back up… Patch is 9yrs old…

• This reply was modified 7 years, 9 months ago by Mike Sagman. Reason: Text removed by moderator

[aimee]

Why didn’t I think of this before? My friend is a taxidermist. I asked him if I could tan a rawhide. He said I should be able to do it and advised hydrating it in a non iodized salt bath. He told me to let it dry out a bit until just damp then apply tanning solution to both sides of the hide and wrap in plastic wrap for 24 hours to soak in, then let it dry. I used Deer Hunters Tanning Oil from a local sporting goods store and I also tried my hand at egg yolk tanning,

I purchased a known rawhide and successfully tanned it! It looks like a light tan piece of suede. It really is quite pretty. Next I bought an Earth Animal cough cough “No Hide” chew. I hydrated that and then tanned it. It tanned up beautifully! Main thing when tanning is that as the hide is drying you have to continually pull the hide. This is so it stays supple. I showed the results to the taxidermist he was amazed how well it came out!

For the egg yolk tanning I found videos on how to do this on you tube. I tanned a piece of the Earth Animal chew this way as well. It took longer to dry but again came out pretty well. No reason anyone couldn’t do this. I’d recommend using one of the thinner thickness chews for tanning.

[patty S]

I have a havanese 3 year old female that needs to lose some weight. I had her on Wellness Core weight management dry food but she still kept gaining. I now am giving her a frozen raw pork pattie (1/2/ a day) and it seems to be maintaining the same weight for several months, but still not losing. She seems to be doing better with her scratching, and she has energy . But I wonder if raw food is really all everyone says it is. What do you all think? Is it really worth the price or is it just hype?

[Tyrionthebiscuit]

Instinct isn’t a bad food. It has freeze dried in it, not true raw food. Maybe try a different formula within the brand you’re on, Instinct has MANY to choose from.

In regards to anon101’s suggestion to read that link regarding milk thistle, the author misinterpreted the Cochrane review. It was stated in the review that EVERY trial assessed was of low quality so no judgement could be made. skeptvet took that as “low quality trials showed benefit, high quality showed negatives”. as this was not mentioned once in the Cochrane review, I would take it with a grain of salt. Listen to your vet. Something anon101 always tells people to do unless it disagrees with his beliefs.

[GAby R]

She had blood work done. She is clear for diabetes and dental in good condition. She had a bit of kidney results elevated but vet said she is not worried. She said it’s normal She has advised me to giver her a bit of milk thistle Instinct does have raw food in it. Is there a food that you would recommend They have so many choices these days pretty confusing. She was on wellness before but I read that grains are bad for dogs. So confused on the dog food thing. The only test she had not done is thyroid which at this time the vet said to monitor her. She is very energetic and has lots of energy. For 9. She is still bouncing off the walls so I really don’t know why she does it. Thanks

[anonymous]

Before switching food (I have never used Instinct but if it is one of those raw foods, I wouldn’t recommend) Small breeds are notorious for not doing well on raw foods. Not worth the risk for any dog (imo)
I would take her in for a veterinarian visit, senior workup complete with dental check, labs and whatever else your vet recommends (if you have not done so already).
I doubt if her symptoms have anything to do with “dry air”.

If she has had a recent vet check then I would put a call in to your vet and see what he thinks.
There are many things that could cause the symptoms you describe, it’s impossible for anyone over the internet to guess, nor should they try.

[Anonymous]

To Ron and others who may be interested:
In my prior postings, I expressed concern regarding whether or not the Dr. Marty Dogfood Company would honor their 90-day refund policy. Although it was difficult to obtain a return authorization number, once that was accomplished, the refund came quickly. I sent my food back on March 6th; the tracking confirmed they received the food on March 9th, and the refund occurred on March 12th.
Meanwhile, I found another dog food my pups seem to really enjoy: Wellness Core Tender Bites Gently Air-Dried Meal or Mixer (from Chewy.com). It has 70% raw protein ingredients and is grain free (no grain, corn, soy, wheat gluten, animal meals , artificial preservatives, colors or flavors). The other ingredients consist of many vegetables and fruits, along with vitamins and minerals. It comes in 2 flavors: Original Turkey and Chicken (which I bought), and an Ocean Flavor. My older dogs (age 11+) are enjoying the softer, rubbery morsels and I appreciate that it doesn’t require mixing with water or any other ambitious preparation. I have only found it in 2lb bags, and the cost is just under $29/bag. Even though my dogs are small, I realize I’m going to probably use about a bag a week, unless I start mixing it with other food. So far, after four days, my pups seem to be digesting it nicely with no changes in their stool. It is made in the USA. My only concern is the rather high fat content: not less than 21%. My other dry foods are in the 13% to 15% fat range. It remains to be seen if there will be weight increases feeding the amount the instructions indicate. Will report any long-term problems.

[Susan]

Hi Jean,
are you on facebook? start following Rodney Habib, Dr Peter Dobias, Planet Paws, Dr Karen Becker, Steve Brown….
Rodney Habib has quick easy to follow video’s educating pet owners about pet foods, dogs diet over vaccinating etc,
Start looking for Freeze Dried Raw, Air Dried raw -“Ziwi Peak” make really good wet & dry dog food, send them an email for samples- https://www.ziwipets.com/ when you send email ask them any questions you may have or there’s Dehydrated raw foods “Honest Kitchen”
Try & avoid dry processed kibbles if you can, also start feeding either home made raw or cooked meals as well..

[a c]

There is a thread on “No Hide Stix”. Go take a look. There are some findings on where they are really contain no rawhide.