[Susan]

Hi,
My last dog had fatty Tumors but you have to watch them & measure them & make sure it’s not growing real quick….. Angie ended up having Mast Cell Tumor & a stupid vet said oh that’s nothing just an old lady wort she’ll be right, one year later she wasn’t her happy playful self, so I took her to a new vet & they rushed her in that morning for surgery & removed every single lump, she looked like a patch quilt after surgery, 2 lumps ended up being Mast Cell Tumours high grade 2 cancer….
here’s a good link & recommends homemade raw fresh whole foods or commercial raw or cooked meal….. http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/fatty-tumors-lipomas-in-dogs-benign.html

I feed kibble Taste Of The Wild Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb for breakfast & Rissoles Lean Pork Rissoles, Sweet Potato, Pumkin, Broccolli, Zucchini all mashed up for Dinner, the lean pork mince is made into long rissoles & baked in oven & I freeze about 1-2 weeks worth & bring out as needed, same with the sweet potatoes & pumkin, I cook & freeze sections, take out the night before & put in the fridge… I add 1/4 teaspoon DigestaVite Plus powder to balance the meal the DigestVite Plus helps stomach, bowel, skin etc..

If you do feed a kibble make sure the carbs are LOW….. Feed 1 meal raw or cooked & the other meal kibble, I like Canidae Pure Formulas but Canidae was too rich for Patch, he has IBD (Stomach) http://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products

[Haley H]

Sojos is freeze dried raw. I didn’t know Grandma Lucy’s was cooked! 🙂 I thought they were the same type of product, just different brands and recipes. The sojos one seems to be like everything incorporated, where gl’s has meaty chunks on top with ground meats within. I think..I’ve never tried either though…just seen them in stores and on chewy

[Linda H]

My 9 month old gets 2 and 1/2 cups a day. I use part orijen and part taste of the wild.
Also she likes a dab of cottage cheese for treat and also apple and cooked or raw carrots.

[Susan]

Hi again, last night after posting my post I started reading the Case Studies on the link I gave in my post, I started reading about a dog called Tessa Adams, she’s a 8yr old cross breed with Chronic Renal Failure, vet gave her 3 months to live, a bit different to your dog but as you read through the case notes it’s unbelievable how diet does help, food does make a big difference…. Jacqueline writes about raw eggs, eggs are high in protein but not has high as meat protein…. its a good read….. http://naturalanimalsolutions.com.au/Shop/category/case_studies/

[Haley H]

Susan, thank you for your thoughtful response. I’m really interested in reading more about Rodney Habib and his research on kibble contents…that sounds really interesting. 🙂 it would definitely change the way I look at kibble. I’ll email Farmina also, just to get some clarity on the ingredients too, what a good idea.

Scared D, I’m not quite sure how to respond to your continual comments about kool-aid, swampland, and certain kibble choices being trash, in many of my posts, but I’m here to learn and research in a positive and kind environment. I think you have a lot of knowledge to offer, but when it’s delivered in a way that some may consider to be rude or abrasive, the efficacy is kind of lost on your audience. I’m not sure if that’s how you meant to come across, but it’s just something to think about…we are all humans on the other end of the screen, and we are here to learn and support each other in giving our dogs the best nutrition we are able to. I’d like to think dfa provides a safe and encouraging space to do that.

As for the by product meal, it has nothing on the fresh, grass fed, raw source. Here’s what I’ve read about it:

/choosing-dog-food/animal-by-products/

Not bad, I guess, it’s largely a cheap source of protein.
Nearly incomparable with fresh, raw, grass fed tripe and organ meats/bits.

[pugmomsandy]

Sam R,

Fromm Large Breed Puppy doesn’t have the high amount of protein that Orijen and Instinct contain.

This article might help:

/frequently-asked-questions/rate-dog-food/

For a rotational feeder like me, I mainly choose 3.5 stars and higher in all forms of foods with few red colored ingredients. For instance, I use Pro Pac Ultimates Grain Free and also feed raw meat with no veggies and everything in between.

[pugmomsandy]

I’ve used GL goat and rabbit pureformance formulas off and on (I rotate between lots of foods). So while I haven’t seen any negatives to this food, I also haven’t fed it as a sole diet for an extended amount of time. GL is a cooked food. The consistency is gelatinous.

I’ve only used the Sojo’s Complete Turkey (dog and cat) and Premix formulas off and on as well. No issues with those either. Some slightly larger stools. I believe Sojo’s is raw food. The consistency is bulky with visible pieces of plant matter. The cat formula is smaller in size than the dog formula.

[Susan]

Hi, I would STOP feeding any kibble, when I first rescued my boy, he was weeing blood & had ultra scan & he had crystals, he was then desexed & put on the Royal Canine wet tin & dry kibble S/O Urinary for just 6 weeks to dissolve his crystal, I was lucky his crystal dissolved after eating the Royal Canine S/O vet diet, the vet said his crystals would of been from being used for breeding, the vet then said, I feel real sorry for the dogs he was breed with….

I would start feeding a raw diet, no kibble or change the brands she has been eating, kibble isn’t good for dogs, wet moist foods are heaps better for dogs with bladder problems…
Here’s a raw diet just have a look at the foods that the Naturopath recommends to feed, for vegetable I read feed lentils, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, spinach & string beans…You can email Jacqueline Rudan & ask her questions she emails back & she does consults overseas on Skype…
http://naturalanimalsolutions.com.au/Shop/2016/03/15/acidifying-diet-urinary-crystals/

[Susan]

Hi Haley, have you emailed Farmina? ask them any questions you may have.. I just google Farmina & clicked on the UK English link, send them a emailed they’d speak English…..link down the bottom..

Farmina kibble looks like a 5 star food & the ingredient list they write, Fresh Boneless Chicken (28%) dehydrated Lamb (27%) being written in the UK they would have translated everything & the Dehydrated Lamb must be dehydrated lamb not Lamb Meal… Farmina was invented with the help of an English company its all in the link below…

I love how Farmina writes the percentage of the meat which is excellent, you know how much protein your getting also the kibbles with grains Farmina writes oats-10% etc……Most kibble brands just write protein % under Guaranteed Analysis, the plant protein & meat protein are put all together & you don’t know if the kibble has more plant protein or meat protein….. I just looked at Farmina’s “Analytical Compounds” (Guaranteed Analysis) & Farmina have written it saying “Raw” the way all kibbles should write their ingredient list…. When ingredients are written it’s done when the ingredients are raw not cooked but they don’t tell us that on the kibble packet or on their online site.. I learnt thru Rodney Habib F/B page when Rodney brought out a video showing us how kibble companies con us, they write Turkey # 1 ingredient then the next ingredient is potatoes or corn, when potatoes are cooked they weigh more then cooked turkey, so really the potatoes are #1 ingredient or corn & your kibble bag is full of corn or potatoes…. an meat ingredient being 1st ingredient is good, but you need at least 2-4 meat ingredients as 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th ingredients, then a carb.

also about the shipping from Italy to America, I live Australia & we get kibbles all the way from America…. I was told by Sunday Pets the shipping containers that were shipping their Sunday Pets (New Zealand Brand) from NZ to Australia the containers were pack with some type of cooling ice packed foam to keep the containers cool…I don’t know if all kibble companies do this but ask Farmina & ask where is the food is made that comes to America is it made in the UK or Italy?
I got a bag of Canidae Pure Land the other month & when I opened the bag the kibble smelt so fresh & that has come all the way from America, no dogs had died yet in Australia from kibbles from overseas…
If you like the look of Farmina Pet Food then buy a small bag, smell it, even taste it, if your pup does well on it, then feed it….Farmina may be too rich, he may have diarrhea being around 42% protein you wont know unless you try it,…
The best diet for any cat or dog is a raw diet so maybe contact a nutritionist & have a raw diet made up.. Here’s an English Farmina link hover over “Farmina” & read all about the Russo family when they started in 1965 then in 1999 started making Pet Food then Farmina was created in 2008 with the help of an English company. Good luck with your new pup…. http://www.farmina.com/uk/d-dog-food.html

[Susan]

Just remember when you cook & add a kibble your probably adding 1/2 the amount of the kibble that you’d normally feed cause your adding cooked ingredients, so now your adding 1/2 the amount of vitamin/minerals etc…
I feed kibble for breakfast then I fed the cooked meal for dinner & I add a supplement to balance the cooked meal… I live Australia & use Natural Animal Solutions “Digestavite Plus” I only need to add 1/4 of a teaspoon….
You don’t have to balance every cooked or raw meal but as long as in the week your dog has gotten enough vitamins, minerals, vitamin D, omega 3,6 & 9 fatty acids, calcium etc that he or she needs….I seen a post the other day & the poor pup had rickets……..

[Haley H]

Imho, I would never feed any “meat by product meal”.

But to each their own. 🙂

Luckily I have a couple months before my puppy comes home. I would miss being able to go to any quality supply store and picking up a bag of dog food, and buying online as it is, can be a bit sketch. My family and friends have alllllll had phenomenal success and healthy longevity feeding Taste of the Wild (which I’ve been told is “trash”, despite dfa’s 5 star rating on some flavors). I know there is pea proteins and etc, but having giant breed dogs live to almost 14, for me, the proof is in the pudding. I *may* just resort to using this while supplementing with raw, freeze-dried, and home cooked…IDK! 🙂

Back to the drawing boards though, the wind has kind of been taken out of the SS Farmina sails.. not a bad thing certainly… I don’t mind comprehensive research. I enjoy it! 😉

• This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by Haley H.

[John J]

Hi Aaron,

I’ve been shopping at raw paws for about a year now. I have 3 dogs, ranging from 10 lbs to 60 lbs, and they’ve enjoyed everything from this store. I buy the complete beef and frozen tripe mostly. I also get bully sticks from time to time as well. I’ve been satisfied with every order, nothing to complain about.

The company has great customer service, I live in Michigan so I get free shipping, and the pricing is reasonable compared to the raw food I can get locally.

John

[Zachary B]

Patvl246–

Hi. I am Zach, Peter’s (TQDF owner) son. I was browsing the web and noticed your post on Dogfoodadvisor.com. Thank you for bringing us up as a topic!

Our company is a family-owned and operated raw pet food manufacturer and distributor (we only distribute our products). All of our products are hormone, antibiotic, and additive free. We are strict to keeping our meats to their natural state; that is why we do NOT add any supplements, hormones, antibiotics, or additives to our meats. All of our snacks are air dried to keep the moisture and blood (aka flavor) in our snacks.

Our production facility is cleaned daily, after every use, and whipped down before the change of product during production periods to maintain food safety. Our production room is temperature controlled at 40 (forty) degrees Fahrenheit to prevent bacteria growth during the production periods. All inventory is maintained in our freezer at a 0 (zero) degrees Fahrenheit.

For our vendors–we use several local vendors for our meats. Our biggest are Metropolitan Poultry and Seafood (http://metropoultry.com/), C&C Meats (http://www.ccmeatsales.com/), Maple Leaf Farms (http://www.mapleleaffarms.com), and Koch Turkey Farms (http://www.kochsturkey.com/), SVO Chicken (http://www.svorganic.com/). Our Vegetables and fruits are sourced from Keany Produce Co.(http://www.keanyproduce.com/) and Bowie Produce Co. Inc (http://www.bowieproduce.com/).

If you are ever in the area feel free to stop by. If you’d like to personally talk to me you can email me at zachary@topqualitydogfood.com.

One last thing, we are currently working on an actual website that will answer all yours–and many others–questions about who we are and where we source our meats, vegetables, and fruits.

I hope you find this helpful!

[theBCnut]

I don’t worry about feeding trachea occasionally. I won’t feed it regularly though. And commercial raw food with beef is often made from beef neck, including the trachea, gullet, thyroid bits, so you have to be careful there too.

[goldenstar]

I have looked for this information and could not find it. So ..sorry if I missed it. My question is…..Does the calcium to phosphorus ratio change if I were to add more meat and add raw chicken or turkey necks to my pups diet. I have a 13 week old Golden Retriever. I am feeding her The Honest Kitchen “Love”. I want to stay away from kibble and Love seems to fit into the safe for large breed puppy’s with calcium and the cal phos ratio. But I would like to add more meat to her diet and maybe some raw chicken or turkey necks a few times a week. How would this affect the calcium phosphorus levels? Thanks for any help on this.

[Haley H]

I really like the ingredients of Farmina N&D. The lamb one is for all life stages as well…

Problem (which could also be a benefit) is that it’s made in Italy…meaning no supply store in CA. however, chewy.com has it. You’d think this brand would be more popular because of its high quality ingredients, I guess I’m wondering why it isnt…

Thoughts?

I’m planning on a fusion type diet, some raw (green tripe, mackerel, eggs, raw ground meat combos), some home cooked, some freeze-dried, all variants based alongside a high quality kibble. Also, like Dr. Ian Dunbar’s puppy training books suggest, I’ll be skipping the use of a food bowl…encouraging foraging “hunting” for food via puzzle/enrichment toys…like kongs (and the ethical pet tpr stuffables), both fresh and dried trachea tubes, raw hooves, bones, etc

I’m considering this brand for my malamute puppy, who will be coming home at 8 weeks this July.

Thanks in advance for the advice and input!

[Shawna]

There is absolutely no reason to include kibble in a raw diet but there is every reason to include raw in a kibbe fed diet.

Yes, they do digest at different rates (raw faster in my experience with foster dogs in poor health). That said, broken down food (aka chyme) doesn’t “sit” in the stomach while the remainder of the food continues to break down. It moves on while leaving undigested food to continue digesting.

I agree with Crazy4cats, if you look at how food is actually digested, adding raw to a kibble diet is going to enhance the digestion of the kibble.

[theBCnut]

Decomposition is a bacterial issue. The toxins that are produced are produced by bacteria.

I’ve been combining raw and kibble for years on multiple dogs and never had an issue in any way. My dog with gut issues definitely digests kibble better along with raw. Personally, I think the admonition to not mix the two is an old wives tail based on anecdotal “evidence.” Raw fed dogs would have gigantic stools too, if people fed like amounts of grains, veggies, etc. My dogs have very small stools since they aren’t fed the foods that have tons of fiber and other filler ingredients. Well, except for my JRT, who actually gets fiber added to her food, but that’s another story.

[Nora L]

I have a booklet that explains raw feeding in detail, the practical application as well as the reasons behind it. I’d be happy to send it to either or both of you, free of charge. (Visitors to my site pay $10 for it but I don’t want to be accused of being here just to sell stuff.:)) You can have a look at my other content as well if you’d like: http://www.NoMoreVetBills.com.

[Nora L]

That’s an interesting article, thanks for posting. It does seem to dispel the notion that kibble “digests” slower. I put digest in quotes because digestion is not just the moving of food through the body, it’s the process of the body actually converting it to fuel. Obviously a lot less of what is contained in kibble is actually digested (converted to fuel), even though it goes through and comes out the other end just like all foods do. The voluminous poops that come out of kibble fed dogs are a testament to that. I’ve transitioned dozens of dogs to raw food in the last 20 years and the experiences I’ve had lead me to conclude that it’s just wise to not combine the two. Jmho.

[Nora L]

There’s not likely to be an answer that would pass your criteria (“scientific”) because these days scientists are not studying important, practical dilemmas, they are too busy developing new drugs. And back when science was an objective search for truth, there was no such thing as kibble.
The reason why kibble should not be combined with raw food has nothing to do with bacteria, but the speed with which various foods are digested does play a part. Kibble, being a complex mixture of different types of foods, some digestible and some not, and being mis-combined in such a way as to render some of the constituents indigestible for that reason alone, digests very slowly. Anything that is manufactured with the intent that it will be sitting on a shelf for a few months is necessarily going to be difficult to digest. Raw meat has no such properties so it decomposes AND digests much quicker, particularly when consumed by an animal biologically adapted to its consumption, like a dog. I think there are grey areas in the rule that they should not be fed together, and that’s what allows some people to get away with it. I have had many occasions where the combination caused a great deal of digestive upset to the dog, and to account for the difference I think you have to look at the types of food, what may have already been in the gut, the age and condition of the dog, etc. When people are transitioning their dogs, I highly recommend a full day of fasting between the last kibble meal and the first raw meal, because this practically eliminates the possibility of digestive issues. Raw meat sitting on top of kibble will decompose if it’s not digested and the process of putrefaction produces toxic by products that the body will attempt to eject. If the encounter happens in the stomach, vomiting may be the result and if it happens further down in the intestine, it will be diarrhea. Since it’s always iffy to combine the two I have a pretty strict policy of never mixing them for the dogs that I feed. I don’t think there’s any situation where feeding kibble is necessary, because when raw feeding is done properly it is no more expensive or inconvenient than kibble, particularly when preventable vet bills are factored in. There is more info about raw feeding and various related topics on my website http://www.NoMoreVetBills.com.

[crazy4cats]

No, some believe that raw digests FASTER, but when you mix it with kibble it slows down the digestion causing the bacteria from the raw to sit in the stomach longer. Like I said above, many, such as myself, think that the raw actually helps with the digestion process of the kibble and have had no issue mixing the two.

I went to a raw feeding seminar at our feed store a while back and there was a very knowledgeable Nature’s Variety rep there expressing the same view that there is no issue mixing their raw food with kibble.

Did you check out this article: https://therawfeedingcommunity.com/2015/01/08/digest-this-kibble-may-actually-digest-faster-than-raw/

Again, some are very adamant about it being a bad thing to do. I guess it depends on you and your dog. Good luck!

[Desiree F]

I feed my dogs broccoli, Sweet potatoes, with cooked ground turkey, or baked chicken along with oatmeal. I mix it with blue buffalo salmon oatmeal and sweet potatoe. I use the dry for teeth. I also give my yorkie carrots, blue berries, strawberries, and she is a finicky eater she weights 3 pounds. So when she won’t eat I’ll mix sweet potatoes with cinnamon and she eats it all.

[Kalle S]

That doesn’t make sense though. If raw food digests slower, what difference does it make if you add kibble? And the bacteria would be there no matter what you ate at that time.

[crazy4cats]

I’m not sure it is a scientific reason, but some believe that raw digests faster than kibble causing raw to sit in the stomach longer possibly making it more likely for the body to pick up bacteria from the raw food.
However, this belief is becoming less common these days. Take a look at this link: http://www.therawfeedingcommunity.com
I feed my dogs raw tripe or commercial raw nuggets mixed in their kibble in all their afternoon meals with no issue.
I also mix canned into all their morning meals with no problems.
I hope this helps!

[Kalle S]

The only thing off the top of my head is raw food. Check out Stella & Chewie, primal, Steve’s real food, lotus or instinct frozen foods.

[Kalle S]

Someone please explain the scientific reasoning as to why raw shouldn’t be fed with kibble.

[theBCnut]

So far, the only fish I don’t feed bones and all is catfish, but I feed raw. My dogs have had salmon, tilapia, perch, herring, sardine, whiting, bass, drum, and a few others. I prefer to feed small whole fish, but I order whole fish grinds too. I also feed whole shrimp.

[theBCnut]

You feed the amount of organs and bones that goes with the amount of raw that was fed. The kibble has calcium, vitamins, and minerals to balance the kibble portion. It shouldn’t have excess. Personally, I think the vitamins and minerals in their natural form are better utilized.

[Alta K]

I have been feeding 4 dogs: doberman, pit/mastiff, white GSD, and a pit mix Tefco Performance Dog Diet for several months. I was previously feeding my own raw diet and my dogs love the Tefco Performance Diet.

Full disclosure, I became the Tefco distributor for NE Florida (NE Florida Raw Dog Food, LLC) after seeing how my dogs thrived on the Performance even though I was feeding a balanced raw diet.

I have seen this food turn around chronic health issues in a matter of days. I have had customers whose dogs came straight off kibble to Performance and experienced no digestive issues and loved the food right off the bat.

Many of my customers were previously feeding far more expensive raw food products and have reported to me that the Tefco is superior. I have everything from breeders and high level competition dogs to rescues and family pets eating this diet and nothing but rave reviews about how much their dogs love the food and how much they love the quality and results. I have many customers in the area and not one single complaint.

Performance Dog Diet is 100% pure beef with a raw feeding ratio of 80-10-10. It is preservative free and complete nutrition supplemented with vitamins and trace minerals.
It contains green tripe for pro and pre-biotics and trachea as a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin . It is only sold through independent distributors so customers can have a personal relationship with a distributor who is knowledgeable about raw feeding. The beef is on the hoof until a shipment is ordered. It is processed then flash frozen at 40 below to kill bacteria then shipped and kept frozen by distributor.

If you have any questions about the food you can contact Jerry, the owner through the number on the website: http://www.paleodietdogfood.com/contact/. He will also gladly put you in touch with the Animal Nutritionist (Ph.D) who developed the Performance Dog Diet formula if you have a question he can’t answer. I can be contacted through my Tefco Raw of NE FL Facebook Page with any questions.

Ingredients:
Beef, Tripe, Trachea, Finely Ground Bone, Salt, Egg & Trace Minerals. You can view the list of vitamins and trace minerals here: http://www.paleodietdogfood.com/performance-dog-diet/

Alta Kremp, NE Florida Raw Dog Food, LLC

[Cannoli]

“No wonder you had problems. No one should be mixing Kibble and raw food together”

This is another myth that needs to be dispelled. You can feed raw with kibble. Obviously you probably don’t want to feed the organs and ground bones since the kibble provides the calcium and necessary vitamins. But you can definetly feed the raw muscle meat with kibble. I do it all the time.

Seriously I eat raw steak tartar and sushi with cooked rice and yet you telling people that dog’s stomachs are so weak that they can’t handle this combination but humans can?

Also the digestion studies I read about how raw digest quicker than kibble blah blah hence you should never feed together is silly science.

[Rox B]

Anonymously: A semi-raw diet? No wonder you had problems. No one should be mixing Kibble and raw food together. Raw should be fed 100% of the time to prevent illness. I am not sure what “research” everyone is doing, but good research should tell you too feed PMRD 80/10/5/5. I cringe when I see people are feeding raw thighs, wings, liver, some piece of this or that. That is NOT a raw diet. That is a person feeding random raw foods without any idea to balance or nutritional needs. On top of that people mix these raw foods with kibble. It’s a disaster just waiting to happen. Meat, bone, liver, and organs should be fed in certain percentages. Advising to feed random raw foods, or feeding random raw foods is irresponsible. Learn the fundamentals to feeding raw. https://www.facebook.com/groups/LearningRawWithRoxane/

[Cannoli]

My pup is not a fan of fruits. He hates bananas, apples, strawberries, and barely tolerates blueberries. He loves meat only…

So I make a bluberry kefir smoothie for him once in a while. I get a cup and he gets some tablespoons.

[Debbie G]

thanks for taking the time to answer my question. After I posted this, my puppy had a vet appt and I asked my vet. She said he didn’t need raw goat’s milk, she had never heard of this and to save my $$.

[Cannoli]

With the salmon they come in pounds already deboned. I never feed fish bones raw or cooked…way too dangerous. They are always sharp.

With the Mackeral I have it deboned by the store.

The Sardines I just removed the main backbone as the rest of the other bones are very soft after it is cooked. There are hardly any bones left when I removed the main spine backbone.

The sardines heads are small about the size of two quarters…He loves to chump on them and he loves the taste of the eyeballs…God bless his heart he takes after me. I love fish eye balls.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by Cannoli.

[Cannoli]

I aim for fish meals twice a week normally on weekends as I have the time to cook and prepare the fish.

I normally buy the frozen fish like frozen sardines, mackeral, and salmon with skin on as these types of fish have higher concentrations of Omega 3.

Other times I buy the fresh none frozen versions of these fish if I plan to feed them on the same day.

On those days I feed fish I normally feed my pup two large sardines (with head on) or half a pound of mackeral (without the head) or half a pound of salmon with skin on top of their raw food. My pup weighs 60lbs. I always cook my fish.

The only time I feed raw fish is when I order sashimi from my favorite Japanese restaurant, as this fish is prepared for human consumption to be eaten raw and I never had an issue when I eat it. Normally I just give him the sashimi salmon, mackeral, and crispy skin pieces.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by Cannoli.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by Cannoli.

[alexis w]

thank you all so much for your input, as for @anonymously, i talked to multiple vets, some of which said to bring her in that it was disptemper or a stomach bug of some sort, then i talked to other vets(mostly the hoslistic ones) that said it was most likely caused by something she ate. to clarify, its not so much diarrhea as it is loose poo. I would have gladly taken her to a vet if we had not spent our last $40 on a popped tire on our vehicle. forgive me if that sounds like an excuse, its not, i looked into payment plans and such but none of the vets in our area do them and we were not eligible for any 3rd party plans. Thank you to those who gave insight into the issue i was having with the poo as well as those who just chimed in on the original question of the post, it was all very informative and helpful, i figured out that the loose stool issue was due to me recently changing her diet and putting her on a bland diet of ground turkey, brown rice, peas, carrots, celery and bell pepper for a few days is clearing it up nicely. she does seem to be sensitive to some fruits like blackberries and strawberries but not to others like blueberries and bananas which she loves. i think my top 3 veggies and fruits are peas, carrots and blueberries but like you all it is so hard just to pick 3 as to have a well rounded diet variety must be had.

[theBCnut]

I throw all kinds of different high antioxidant fruits and veggies into the blender, then freeze them into ice cubes, and give one a day. So my dogs get some strawberry every day, as well as blueberry, blackberry, and some others. They have no diarrhea issues, but they don’t get too much of any of them.

[Coonhound Mama]

Alexis W-

Yes, the strawberries gave her diarrhea. Many of the food charts I’ve seen say to feed strawberries sparingly, as this is a known side effect. I do not feed them at all now. I was certain it was the strawberries as it was the only time I had ever given them to her. I would agree with Anonymous however in that ruling out a medical condition as a reason for diarrhea should come before assumption of gastrointestinal upset from a change in food.

[alexis w]

@Coonhound Mama did your dog get the squirts from the strawberries or just pieces in the poo? im having an issue with the squirts and think that may be what it is, day after giving strawberries for the first time is when it started. sorry if tmi, just in need of some solid info, vets just say omg its distemper bring her in, i know its from a food, just cant figure which one(she gets into everything if its not chained up or swept up promptly)

[Coonhound Mama]

LOL Inked Marie, mine is that way with strawberries. Will never make the mistake of giving strawberries again! 😛

[Coonhound Mama]

While I feed mostly prey model raw, I do feed fruits and vegetables a few times a week for antioxidant and vitamin/mineral benefit. I try to stick to low sugar and low carbohydrate fruits and veggies so as not to overload the system with too much unnecessary stuff. Blueberries, spinach, kale, chia seed, pumpkin and the occasional broccoli, apple, pear or green bean might make its way into the bowl a few times a month 🙂 I do offer butternut squash as a treat from time to time because she loves it like Debbie J said also!

[anonymously]

If you have found a food that works, consider yourself lucky.

What you describe sounds like environmental allergies which have nothing to do with the diet.
Have you checked the search engine here? /forums/search/allergies/

Consider making an appointment with a dermatologist:

By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[Emily R]

My vet told me that my 2 year Great Dane has food sensitivities and prescribed us Z/D Hill’s Science Diet Prescription dog food. The dog food worked wonders, but it is $92/25 lbs which lasts 2 weeks. Has anyone had a similar issue with their dane? We have tried at least 5 other dog foods that are limited ingredient, no grain, single protein source etc. We have had no luck and the poor dog is scratching the back of his ears raw. We have also tried feeding him some coconut oil with his food and benedryl with no success. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated. thanks!

[Tamara C]

No I found out he had a ton of things going on. He had just been diagnosed with pancreatitus, but they conveniently missed the fact that he also had the stomach flu, on top of a horrible infection from periodontal disease… When they took xray’s they showed that he had several bad discs & his whole spine was inflamed. That was the reason he collapsed & seemed to have a seizure. We had been playing outside (With ALL of that wrong & me having NO idea) He’s such an energetic little guy, he just played until he literally collapsed. He’s always been like that, that’s why I’ve almost lost him sooo many times. No one ever believes me that something’s wrong with him or that he’s dying, because he will play play play until he falls over dead. I can tell by looking in his eyes how weak, sick or far gone he is. Once they told me nothing was wrong with him (he was running All over the vets office, playing bouncing off the walls) Vet checked his gums, said he wasn’t Anemic, just to take him home & watch him over night? I DEMANDED they do a blood test (Which REALLY angered the ER Doctor. He slammed his hand down & said FINE I’ll do it, but it’s a Waste of Your Money!) Well he came back Screaming & told me I had to get him to another Hospital Immediately, 3 Hours Across State Lines For a Blood Transfusion because he was Sooo Anemic. (They don’t just have Animal Blood at every hospital) The DR even admitted that if I had taken him home, I would have woken up next to him dead.

For the Pancreatitus: Someone on here told me to Practice (Tough Love) Give him NOTHING but Hill’s ID Food with Nusentia Enzyme Miracle (Probiotics) sprinkled on it. Put it down for 15 min at Breakfast, lunch , Dinner. (Each Meal Time & if he didn’t eat it, put it up until the next meal time, because he wouldn’t eat. Well That worked, they were right. He eventually gave in & started eating that prescription food (Like it or not) he wouldn’t let himself starve. For the first time in 3 months, he started coming out of it, eating regularly, & getting stronger. He’s not sick anymore AT ALL, he eats on a normal schedule & is almost as strong & playful as he use to be. The only draw back is he really hates the smell of the ID food still. I joined the Pancreatitus Support group on Facebook that (Susan Above suggested) & a few days ago ordered that Zeal food from the Honest Kitchen that she suggested, but haven’t received it yet. ALL the people in this support group? SWEAR by this Honest Kitchen food, some of them have been using it with the probiotic supplements for years, with no problems. These people obviously know what they’re talking about, because I had seen 5 different Doctors at 3 Different Hospitals & spent over $6,000 & my baby was dying… If not for the advice from the ladies here on this post & the advice & help from the people in the group they sent me to? My Baby would be dead right now….

[Cannoli]

for those who feed raw and money is not a problem i highly recommend this company.

i have fed both the wagyu beef and organic grass fed patties to my pup and he loves it.

been around since 1920s and have great reviews.

since it’s meat for human consumption they are highly inspected so it will put you to ease regarding contamination.

of course you will need to add organic supplements to meet the requirements but damn is their meat tasty

[John K]

Sorry to hear about all your dogs. My 8 year old shep mix went through this 6 years ago. She went blind in a week and gained weight. Unfortunately it turned out to be tumors. It’s a horrible disease and leaves you feeling hopeless. Vet bills were in the thousands. I feel for you and your dog and all other owners who are going through this. I really believe it was because of her diet.

I rescued 2 dogs 5 years ago and had them on a raw diet. 1 chicken leg and thigh in the am and again in the pm bones and all. They thrived on this diet. However I had to travel a lot and my family didn’t share my affinity for raw chicken. So I was thrilled when I found this site which guided me to an acceptable diet of Fresh Pet rolls and Orijen senior kibbles. I also mix this with raw pumpkin, organic chia seeds, and organic raw dried cranberries.

[sam o]

I am looking to switch to raw and reading a lot on these forums where to start but I cannot find some answers to my question like when I first switch him do I just put him on chicken meat for the first 3 weeks or can he have the bone as well , it’s all quite a lot to take in so I want to make sure I do it right X can you help answer seen as you’ve at some point done the swap ??

[Haley H]

Scared D, I’m not quite sure what you mean with TOTW being trash…it seems to have 5 star ratings on the adult food and the puppy is 4 star, which isn’t terrible…I’d love to hear your thoughts on why it may be trash though. My parents, who’ve raised and owned great pyrenees for 25+ years have been using it since it came out with great results…a dog of ours had a vet tell us he would only live 5 or 6 years, and he lived to be almost 14…practically unheard of in the giant breeds…we attribute this to TOTW and of course, love. (And fresh, raw supplements ). So I’d love to hear your opinion on that.

In terms of annamaet being a rip off, is there a better place to find a good deal besides chewy’s $85 price tag? I’m located in northern California.

I couldn’t find any info on dfa about abady either, and it seems their website is down.

I’m all ears for your thoughts. 🙂

I posted another topic that no one has replied back to yet, it was my first post and I may have put it in the wrong forum. Here’s a link to it.

/forums/topic/the-thyroid-gland-in-gullets-and-trachea/

Thanks for your thoughts too! 🙂

[Haley H]

Hi all! I’m considering blending Annamaet’s Aqualuk with Taste of the Wild’s High Prairie (or alt. The Wetlands) dry kibble. Besides the price tag on Annamaet, is it really worth its salt in terms of quality, or am I better off just getting TOTW and focusing more on transitioning to raw once my puppy is about a year? (He will be coming home at 8 weeks this july, a pure alaskan malamute). I considered the sojos freezedried, but it’s super expensive, I think it would be easier to just feed raw! But I don’t want to risk the malnutrition that could happen feeding a young puppy only raw. I guess some input would be greatly appreciated! Right now I’m debating about kibble, but decided on combining it at probably 25/75 kibble/raw, using green tripe and raw lamb/turkey. I’m also considering exploring my options dehydrating my own meats for when I’m backpacking and camping. Not keen on carrying around a leg of lamb in bear country 😂