[Anonymous]

What kind of fistulas? Are they related to allergies? Blocked anal glands?
My dog with allergies does well on Nutrisca (fish), assuming your dog can have fish, I know it contains no potato or grains. Wysong has a vegetarian blend.
I may start getting my Nutrisca from chewy.com because the prices are better.

I like Wysong and consider it to be a quality food and still feed it to my senior dog. However I noticed my dogs seemed to be drinking more water, so I worried that maybe it’s high in sodium? If that’s a concern I think someone at their company could answer your questions.

PS: Consider consulting a homeopathic vet, they may have some treatment ideas different from the traditional vets http://www.vitalanimal.com Some of them do phone consults, if there isn’t one located near you.

[Nancy B]

Jennifer:

My two senior rescue dogs loved their THK and I stuck with it for 2 years, struggling with the price. Recently i switched to another food when our vet found no reason looking at lab results why one dog had been losing weight and excessively urinating. I switched to Champion Foods’ 5-star Orijen and all symptoms disappeared and the cost is 1/3 that of THK. Champion makes Acana and Orijen, but someone mentioned a problem with puppy Acana, so I don’t know.

[Anonymous]

First, make sure there isn’t a medical reason. Decrease in appetite, refusal to eat, just as changes in behavior, can be red flags that something may be wrong. Time to see the veterinarian (imo).

Otherwise, I would consider a higher quality food, I like Nutrisca (for my allergy girl), Wysong for my senior. I have also used Wellness Simple. My neighbor likes Fromm for her picky eater. Maybe add a little water or homemade plain chicken broth to her food. Mix in a spoonful of canned or a bite of chicken…
Newman Organics is a reasonably priced quality food, I think.
Or consider homemade with kibble as a base. http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

[Anonymous]

If you wet her serving of kibble with water and put it in the fridg overnight, and a few hours prior to her afternoon meal, it softens up nicely. I do this for my senior dog for 2 reasons, he doesn’t have much left for teeth and it gives him some more moisture in his food, as he rarely goes to the water dish. If you have homemade plain chicken or bone broth you can use this instead of H20.

I assume where she was a rescue she was seen by the vet prior to adoption, did they tell you the condition of her teeth? Anyone that has owned dogs for a while may be able to take a quick look and a sniff and tell you if they think she has a problem…..but it’s best to have a vet examine. If anything in her mouth hurts, she is likely to bite.

[Anonymous]

I forgot, obesity is another contributing factor, as is age (seniors). Also, it’s important to keep the backside well groomed.

[jpjhooper]

After reading a heated discussion on the merits of the Merrick brand (one we currently use and do not have a problem with) as with any pet parent you wonder if what you are feeding your dog is enough. Here is the run down.

Over a year ago we were feeding our 7 year old Pom/Australian Shephard mix (not even sure how that happens) Blue Buffalo when that company had some issues so we switched to Grandma Lucys freeze dried grain free chicken. Did well on that but pooped like a German Shepard. Recently started feeding Merrick grain free Texas beef with no ill effects. Pooped less and not as loose but stinks to high heaven.

We shop at a local natural pet food store and there are so many to choose from its overwhelming. Do you stick with what you know? How do you decide what is best for your pet? I notice a lot of people switch around between 2 or 3 different foods.

After getting teeth cleaned we had him on Merrick canned chicken senior food until his gums healed up and still not a lot of waste which I hope means he is actually absorbing more of the good stuff.

Long winded I know. Thoughts?

[crazy4cats]

I’m taking my senior hyper-t kitty in to the vet tomorrow also. She hasn’t been eating great and won’t take her meds. I want them to take a look at her mouth. I don’t think she has many teeth left. I’m hoping I won’t be in the same boat as you with making difficult decisions. Take Care.

[Bobby dog]

Mike A:
I would ask your Vet what protein, fat, and fiber %’s to look for in a new food. Each dog with pancreatitis will have a different threshold for what they can tolerate. When you find a brand you like I suggest calling the manufacturer and asking what the maximum percentages of each are in the food; most times they only list minimums.

I feed lower fat kibbles to my dog to help maintain his ideal body condition. I am not sure if these foods would be appropriate for your dog, but here’s a few I feed Annamaet Lean, Nature’s Variety Healthy Weight, Wellness Core Weight Management, and Precise Holistic Complete Senior. For low fat canned foods I feed Wellness Core Reduced Fat, Innova Large Breed Sr., and Weruva’s Marbella Paella, Paw Lickin’ Chicken, and Bed and Breakfast recipes. I have Fromm’s Four Star Shredded Chic or Beef and Petsmart’s Simply Nourish bisque or stew foods on my list to try.

Here’s a few articles about pancreatitis:
http://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/dr-coates/2014/august/new-recommendations-feeding-dogs-pancreatitis-31941#
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2214
Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I apologize if I came on too strong. I can see why one would have concerns about putting a senior dog with health issues through any type of surgery.
Peace

[pugmomsandy]

An article from b-naturals:

https://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/is-it-necessary-to-reduce-protein-in-the-diet/

An article from mercola pets:

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/05/05/surprising-findings-from-tufts-study-of-37-senior-dog-foods.aspx

And this comment has some research links it it:

/dog-food-reviews/pure-balance-grain-free-dog-food/#comment-1829102659

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

[Sarah Y]

I’m interested in the research on seniors needing more protein. Would you have anything to share? Just trying to educate myself. I’m feeding a senior formula (Wellness) to my 12 year old beagle. Thanks!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Caro-
There is no AAFCO guidelines or requirements for “senior” food. Therefore, it is up to each brand to determine what they are going to call their senior food if they carry one. Some brands’ senior foods are a little lower in protein and fat. Making them a little higher in carbs. Some brands maintain the protein level while dropping the fat and calories. Most of them have added glucosamine and/or chondroitin.
So, you see, it would probably be best to pick a four or five star kibble and add some high quality canned or fresh protein to it to make it more digestible for your dog.
I have fed the Nutrisource Senior food to my dogs. They are only three years old, but I liked the ingredients and analysis of the food. My dogs seem to be better with a little lower fat kibble as I add canned to many meals and it tends to be a little higher in fat.
Another thing to keep an eye on is fiber. Some senior and healthy weight dog food tends to have high fiber which could be good or bad depending on your pup.
Hope this helps. Good luck!

[theBCnut]

Senior dogs have decreased ability to use the proteins in their food, so they may need as much as 50% more high quality protein just to get the same amount out of their food. This may mean that senior dogs should not be fed kibble at all, but it definitely does not mean that they should be placed on a decreased protein diet. That can lead to all kinds of problems.

[Dori]

It is a marketing ploy to appeal to the guardians of senior dogs. Senior dogs do not need a senior food. In fact, more senior dog foods on the market are totally inappropriate for senior dogs. Senior dogs need more protein, not less. It is out of date thinking to advertise lower proteins to senior dogs. I have a very senior dog and the foods I feed her are between 38 – 68 % protein. 38% is on the very low end of what I would feed her or her two sisters.

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

[InkedMarie]

Caro,
Alot of us, myself included, don’t see the benefit of senior food. Senior dogs need a higher protein food and most of them have too low protein.

[Caro E]

I wish you had a Senior Dog Food category, just as you have one for Puppies.
Is it going to happen?

[InkedMarie]

She was in rescue, they didn’t do anything til we said we wanted her (she was a senior, they probably waited to see if anyone wanted her) then yes, all of that in one procedure.

[crazy4cats]

It was one of my cats that had the crystals that caused a blockage and I am still feeding him a small amount of the RC urinary prescription dry food, along with mostly canned. I am being very cautious about letting his bladder completely heal after our ordeal. I will probably continue to feed mostly canned. And yes, it is soooo expensive. Believe it or not, canned cat food is even more expensive than dog. And I have four of them! Yikes! But, his emergency vet bill was over $2000 and we are still paying on it. I could have bought a lot of canned food for that. Not to mention some new furniture! LOL!

Again, a blockage is much less likely in a dog, especially in a female.

I’ve heard a lot of people recommend Wellness Core reduced fat with great results. I have fed my dogs Nutrisource Senior dog food as it is a little lower in fat and calories than than the norm. BTW, my dogs are only three years old, but I like the guaranteed analysis on a lot of senior foods. Right now I’m feeding California Natural grain free pork. It has a lot less ingredients and lower in fat than most foods. It is a little expensive though. I only feed it if it is on a good sale! I have lab mix brothers and one of them tends to get chubby. The are 80 and 85 pounds.

It sounds like your dogs are in good hands. Good luck!

[JANIS F]

I’ve started my 5 english setters on Victor about 1 month ago. Gradually weened them from Evangers (which they did marvelous on) The two senior dogs (15 1/2 and 11 1/2) on senior food, are doing well, however, the others are different. I’m still doing 1/2 and 1/2 of both foods for the others. The 8 and 5 year old are fine, but the 3 year old that is actively showing and in great coat, has to be enticed to eat food, (I put a little bit of can food on top) and now has diarrhea often. I have them on the 5 star Hi-Pro. Any advise? Should I go back to Evanger’s for her? She’s in the top ranking of English Setters (#1 Owner Handler and #12 in breed standing at only 3) I don’t want her condition to change!! She’s never turned her nose up at food before, she’s not in season or anywhere near going into season. HELP!!

[pugmomsandy]

If a food is rated for “all life stages”, you can feed this to puppies and adults and seniors. An all life stage foods includes foods that meet “growth” and “maintenance” requirements. You can also feed a “puppy” food to puppies and adults and seniors. Is that confusing? Puppy foods tend to have controlled levels of calcium and phosphorus, a little more fat, protein and DHA. There’s nothing in a puppy food that an adult can’t have. Since your dog is going to be about 35 lbs full grown, I wouldn’t consider him a large breed so you don’t have to worry about choosing an appropriate large breed puppy food. I would feed him a puppy food or all life stage food though till at least 12 months and then try out other foods. But you don’t have to move on to just “maintenance” food. Not sure if this helped.

[Pam P]

I know this isn’t food related, but it seems your dog has some serious issues and it might not be all due to food. Pet healthcare is a lot like traditional healthcare or sickness care (as I call it)….it’s big business. Dogs are way over vaccinated, and traditional vaccines have mercury, formaldehyde and other toxic substances that can affect a dog’s health over time. Metal toxicity is a serious issue as they aren’t eliminated from the body. They are stored in the organs and joints. The core vaccines are usually good for life. A titer test can determine the antibody levels. A holistic vet uses vaccines that have no mercury or heavy metals. My holistic vet detoxifies the dog immediately after giving a vaccination. If a dog does need the 3 core vaccines, he does them in 2-3 week intervals so the dog isn’t overloaded all at once. That’s why it’s not a bad idea to do the kefir diet for 30 days or more to detoxify the dog and get all the junk out of their system, and then gradually get them back on a very clean, healthy food. I still give our Mastiff all the oils I mentioned previously; just no kibble or meat. I also give her a tsp of organic turmeric at each feeding. Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory, and there is obviously some serious inflammation going on with your dog. I mix it with the kefir and she downs it. I start with a small amount and build to a tsp each meal. Just like with humans, a detox diet can make them feel worse before they get better; as all the toxins are being released and coming out of the body, the dog can appear worse for a while. I detoxified the Mastiff gradually starting with Nature’s Logic, then raw, then kefir. She’s a senior dog so didn’t want to overload her system. The kidneys and liver are the detoxifying organs so didn’t want to take a chance to overload them. Just some more suggestions.

[jgr789]

When my dog was first diagnosed I used a combination of the prescription food W/D with mostly Wellness Core Reduced Fat and later switched to Royal Canine. After a couple of years she started having appetite and gastro problems caused by pancreatitis and we tried over thirty different high end low fat, low carb foods mostly purchased from Chewy.com because they are so great with customer service but in her final days we used Flint River Senior. They have several different food mixes and you can get samples too. Also very good customer service.

Good luck with the challenges of diabetes and if you aren’t already familiar, you should definitely go to the k9diabetes website and join the forum. Those people are the most amazing group and helped me through a multitude of concerns.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by jgr789. Reason: Added information

[crazy4cats]

Hi Janie-
While I have no experience with dogs with gallbladder issues. In fact, I didn’t know they could have them! I ended up having my gallbladder removed a few years ago. I had about 5 or 6 “attacks” and couldn’t deal with it anymore. It is so painful. Does your dog have stones as well? My issues started after a fairly significant weight loss and then a VERY fatty meal one night. My best guess would be to keep the fat at a minimum with your dog and avoid any type of quick weight loss. I would definitely cut back on the salmon oil. Check the labels on the canned food before you feed. Many of them are packed with fat! I also would feed the prescription food and give the gallbladder a rest for a bit. Like Susan mentioned above, there are 3 or four brands of prescription dog foods that you could check out and work with your vet to choose the best one. And then maybe slooowly transition to a regular dog food, sticking with a low fat variety.

I tend to use lower fat foods as well as I have two large neutered male labs that tend to get chubby. I have fed Nutrisource senior, California Natural grain free pork, and there is also a weight management/senior Victor food that I may try that are all lower fat while maintaining a decent amount of protein.

Good luck with your dog. Let us know how it turns out. Poor thing!

[Susan]

Oh, I forgot to mention the fat% in wet food seems lower but when converted to dry matter (Kibble) its high for example 4% fat in wet tin food is around 22% fat when converted, if it was a kibble, that’s why I have to cook, if you live America you have lower fat% in wet food, then I have in Australia.. your best to get 2% fat & under for wet tin food, the Wellness Complete Health Senior has the lowest at 3% fat in the wet, or the “Wellness Petite Entrees Mini Filets” only the ones in gravy are 2% fat..

Have you have a Endoscope & Biopsies done for the Helicobacter? I found with the Helicobacter all the ant acid don’t work…. Zantac worked the best for Patch also, Zantac doesn’t affect the bowel, where Losec affects the bowel & gave Patch bad wind pain & sloppy greenie/black poos…..another thing I’ve just read on Dr Karen Becker site about fiber & prebiotics don’t use kibbles with Prebiotics Beet Pulp, FOS, a lot of vet diets use Beet Pulp & FOS & MOS… for a healthy dog with a healthy Gut, prebiotics are good but for a dog with GI problems Prebiotics can make things worse, another reason Patch was taken off kibble…The link has been put up on the Face Book group…

There’s a group on Face Book called “Dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disorder” a few dogs on that site have bad acid reflux & stomach problems, the group was called, “Dogs with Stomach & Bowel problems” but the name was changed about 3 months ago..

[Carol B]

Hi I am hoping someone can help me out. We have been feeding our dachshunds Dr. Harvey’s Canine “Miracle” dog food for several years. We only rotate between chicken and beef, so in the am they get beef, at night it’s chicken. We cook the meat ahead of time, package it in bags and freeze it. We also add the Health & Shine with the am feeding and used to add the Golden Years, but we have a range of 3 yrs to 15 yrs. now. We have one Senior that is having issues with his pancreas now. I have spoken with Dr. Harvey on more than one occasion to find out if “when you add your own protein” the mix is balanced and has all the minerals needed. I have yet to get a straight answer. I am reluctant to switch their food, but I also want to make sure they are eating a balanced diet. We are considering changing them to a dry food. Many years ago we used Honest Kitchen, it just became too expensive with 4 dogs. I welcome any comments or anyone who has experience with Dr. Harvey’s that might help us decide what to do to help keep our senior’s healthy. We were told we need a low-fat, but if we add the protein, how do you know what “low-fat” is?

[Dog_Obsessed]

I’m glad she is still mostly doing well! As long as she is still having more good days than bad, she is probably having a fairly decent quality of life. 😀 Thank you (again) so much for taking in this deserving senior dog!

[Carole K]

Interesting katrene–just researched magnesium and seizures have been linked with low magnesium. My beagle has suffered with the gulps and licking followed by vomiting everything she licks off the floor. Like every one else on this forum, I have changed food, used antacids and spent too much money at the vet’s office. My new vet suggested we start giving her a mild anti seizure med–I decided to wait a bit for fear of side affects because she is a senior. Not sure if I should try magnesium or just go for the meds. I am so opposed to over medicating dogs. I was sure it was her stomach but now I’m leaning towards seizures causing the gulping and licking. Think I’ll try magnesium first–as soon as the roads get plowed and I can get to the store. Feeling hopeful.

[Oleanderz]

Well, not necessarily spoil, but what do you do to show them that you really truly care? What kind of toys do you give them? Which ones are their favorites? Do they have a big cozy bed or do they sleep with you? I’d like to know how other pet owners regard their “furbabies”. Whether they’re senior cats, work dogs or even rabbits with their own room. I’m just curious is all. Now I’m not the type to throw my pup birthday extravaganzas, but I do find the time to give her a special treat every now and then. I really don’t like when I have to go back to my campus every week and leave her behind, but I started to notice, whether it’s a long walk or just a gift she looks at me like I’m giving her the world. I hope I’m doing ok, but I’ll never be able to tell. (´°ω°`)
So how do you all wine and dine your pets?

• This topic was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by Oleanderz.

[M A]

Hey Dori!
Gas has always been an issue with Luci. I know this is common with older dogs and was with my last senior beagle. However, Friday night was terrible! I did not even think about Luci having gas pains!! I guess I was worried about her being so frantic, which could be due to pain. DUH!!
Thank you so much! Will discuss with Jan, her vet, about the Gas-X and most definetly keep you posted!
Thanks again!

[BeachDogs]

I also buy from Little City Dogs and have been pleased. Saw there flea killer, same as Capstar, work magic on a senior Chihuahua I found. I came home from work 5 hours later and there were 100’s of dead fleas in his bedding. My pups stay on LCD’s lufenuron monthly throughout the year. I’m in the south.

[Shawna]

It’s important to give doxy whether doing the slow kill or the immitricide as it kills the wolbachia which is what causes havoc at die off. LOTS of vets and others are successfully using methods other than immitricide. For those that feel comfortable using it, do so. But for those that don’t, like myself, it is good to know that there are options. Here’s some of them.

Dr. Karen Becker – “As it turns out, low-dose ivermectin therapy in dogs with no sensitivity to the drug, in combination with the antibiotic doxycycline, can be an extremely effective, inexpensive option for treating heartworm infection.

The cost was about 50-75 percent cheaper than Immiticide and all four cases of infection cleared beautifully.

The only time I’ll consider using Immiticide in the future (once it becomes available), is when I have an ivermectin-sensitive patient.” http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/11/22/cheaper-safer-therapy-for-heartworm.aspx

Dr. Marty Goldstein (vet to the rich and famous) uses herbs and food to clear heartworm. He also feels monthly heartworm preventatives are a leading cause of cancer in our pets. He discusses it in his book “The Nature of Animal Healing”.

Dr. Melissa Shelton is treating her heartworm infected rescued dog with Young Living essential oils.

Additionally, Dr. Shelton discusses a person she personally spoke with who cleared a SEVERE case of heartworm in her rescue senior pup using alternatives.. “She had taken the dog to the University to have an echocardiogram performed. The heartworm infection was so severe, that they recommended endoscopic removal of the worms from the heart — they gave the dog a very guarded prognosis, even with that procedure. No matter which treatment they chose – it was a very grim outlook for this little dog.

She decided to try a natural approach. What did she have to lose?…….

Not only did the little dog not die, but all of the heartworm died without major side effects. The dog is still alive today, and doing well.” This case was cured using essential oils. http://www.crowriveranimalhospital.com/pdf/15-2010%20Heartworm%20%28Dogs%29.pdf

Research has shown that garlic and ginger alcohol extract both kill heartworms. My guess is that garlic also kills the wolbachia bacteria.

I would never tell anyone to not use immitricide if they were more comfortable with that route. I am intelligent (at least I think I am) :), I’ve researched this topic thoroughly and I personally, without even a moments reservation, would use the slow kill method with my fur kids.

The heart is a muscle. IF a few heartworms did in fact do some damage to the heart, it is quite capable of repairing itself. But, to help things along, I would certain give Standard Process Cardiac Support while doing the slow kill method.

PS — remember Dave’s Hounds? He used the slow kill method with his senior rescue hound dog successfully.. I know quite a few people (including REALLY ill pets) that have recovered using slow kill method.

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

[weezerweeks]

I’m so sorry but she was so lucky to spend her last years with you. I so admire people who can take seniors in and give them so much love and care. RIP Gemma

[pugmomsandy]

There is no official recognized category for “seniors”. Foods either meet criteria for “growth” or “maintenance” which includes all adults. For seniors, I would just pick a quality food and give additional supplements for age-related issues.

[Bobby dog]

Dori:
Yes, if I live to be the equivalent of my horse’s age I hope someone is around to indulge my every whim! I plan to eat lots of fried foods, candy bars, and maybe take up smoking again. lol

BC:
Glad to read he probably had a belly full of hay! Those senior equines can certainly keep us on our toes. I found some really soft hay and bought everything the hay guy had to sell. Although my senior will eat chopped hay, he clearly prefers (and can still chew) regular hay if it’s not course. I was busy stacking it in the hay area and of course my Sr. was sneaking bites of the hay because I had the door open. So to avoid him knocking over the stack I opened the bale he was snacking on and gave him a few flakes. Well a few minutes later he was back and busy snacking on another bale of hay, didn’t want any parts of the flakes I gave him. I thought to myself I have been around horses all my life, how many times am I going to fall for that? The hay you’re not supposed to have is always better than the hay given to you. lol

Naturella:
Love the pics!!!!!!

[Mom2Cavs]

I have 3 senior dogs and one that is a year old. They all eat the same food. I recommend Fromm, Wellness, Annamaet, Victor, Naturej’s Variety, Nutrisource.

[InkedMarie]

I can’t answer about the Editors Choice but senior dogs don’t need a senior specific food. Most of them are too low in protein. Senior dogs need higher protein, not low.

[MJ H]

What is your Editor’s choice for senior large breed dogs?

[theBCnut]

Happy Birthday Brian!

It wasn’t very many years ago that the expected lifespan of pretty much any horse was only 17 years old. After that their teeth age out and aren’t much good for chewing. They have learned a lot about nutrition for horses and about feeding senior horses in the last several years, so they live longer now.

My friend couldn’t prove how old her horse was. It was mostly stories from people who knew the original owner, not directly from the original owner and once horses get past a certain age teeth don’t even help you guess at their age anymore.

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

[Dog_Obsessed]

I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you so much for taking on a senior and giving her the best life possible for 2 years.

[Ronald]

Thanks..Your probably getting the same storm we are, snowing now..

I’ll do the same also..

I see your a web designer..

I run two seniors web forums Love working in the back grounds, playing with the css and other files..

This is my busiest one: http://seniorsworldwide.net/index.php?action=forum

Ron..

[Ronald]

InkedMarie, thanks for your reply.

I checked out your selection, both look good and have a high rating..

Wellness Core has different products..

Annamaet is not in my area, but I travel back and forth to Canada and I see locations and stores that I know..

I have many selections now, going to be hard to make a choice..

Will try one at a time and see if Abby likes them..She is not a picky eater.

She is a rescued dog who was abandoned and on the list to be euthanized, so we stepped in and took her home two years ago..she has been the very best little girl, but is too friendly..I live in a senior’s complex and can’t get out of the parking lot for a walk without her visiting everyone on the way..She must have made friends over the last two years with a million people..

Ron..

[Pamela K]

I have an 11 year old Doxie with a horrible gas problem! He has been eating Merrick Before Grains Buffalo for many years. Just recently, someone brought to my attention that it could be his food. He is a very active little guy, so we do not feed him senior food. Any suggestions on what to switch him too? Should I just try a MBG food with a different protein source? Or should I switch to something altogether different? Help please, being gassed out of the room! PJK

[Hater and Molly’s Mom]

I get tons of samples from two of the pet stores that i go to. I use a lot of them for my senior girl. She seems to like a different food every day. Not to mention she doesn’t need to transition.

[JANIS F]

I’VE BEEN USING EVANGER’S…MADE IN ILLINOIS. I VARY THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES SO THE DOGS DON’T GET BORED WITH IT AND IT’S AN ALL STAGE DOG FOOD, FROM PUPPY TO SENIOR, WHICH SURE HELPS WHEN YOU HAVE 5 DOGS RANGING FROM PUP UP TO 15 YEARS! THEY ALSO MAKE A GRAIN FREE. ANYONE ELSE USE THIS FOOD?

[Susan]

Hi Karra, my boy eats the Hills I/D Low Fat GI Restore wet BUT I can not feed the Hills I/d Low Fat GI Restore kibble it has Wheat, Barley & Oats, which gives him real itchy skin, I have him on the Vet diet “Eukanuba Intestinal” the fat is only 10% the Eukanuba has corn but it doesn’t seem to affected his skin, the I/D Low fat GI Restore kibble has 7.4% fat you could probably go to 10% fat & under in a kibble, try & find a kibble that is either grainfree & low in fat or a kibble without the Wheat Barley & Oats, maybe rice, I emailed Hills & asked them why is the I/D Low Fat GI Restore wet tin food have different ingredients to the I/d Low Fat GI Restore kibble a man rung me back & said they need to bind the kibble, I said but 3 grains why not just use rice instead of grains that make dogs itch…then he said try the Z/D Ultra kibble but the fat is 13.3% my boy cant have higher then 10% fat…someone might know of low fat kibbles, 10% & under, I know that a lot of senior kibbles are normally around 10% in fat but that’s min 10% fat so you have to email the company & ask what the max % of fat they are, where the vet diets are the max% in fat, Oh have you joined the Dogpancreatitis yahoo group, a few ladies use the “Canine Caviar Special Needs” dog food here’s their site the fat is 9% just slowley introduce the new kibble with the old, I do it over 1-2 weeks, but as soon as u stop the Hills I/d Restore kibble you watch the difference NO MORE SCRATCHING….. http://www.thecaninecaviar.com/product/special-needs/

[Dori]

Hi Deanna. Life stories are always welcome. It lets us all know background stories and whether one is old or new to the world of companion animals.

If your vet is a traditional vet than he/she will give you all the cons of feeding raw. Bacteria, yada yada yada. None of that, in my experience is true. All dogs have a bit of salmonella in their guts. It is dogs that have been fed kibble and/or inferior foods that will or could have an issue with salmonella in foods. A healthy dog (gastrointestinal health I’m speaking of) have no issues with a commercial food that may have a little bacteria in it. I’ve actually never known or heard of a commercial raw fed dog that has fallen ill from bacteria of any sort from a commercial raw diet. The issue with salmonella contaminated raw foods is more of an issue with the animals owners (humans) and not the owners. We are the ones that will get sick BUT only if we are slovenly. I’m sure cooking for yourself and your family now or in the past you have handled raw meats and poultry. When done you are always cautioned to clean all surfaces, clean all utensils and scrub your hands and all surfaces that the raw foods have touched. It’s the same thing. Raw meat and poultry is raw meat and poultry regardless of whether your feeding it to yourself and loved ones of the human variety or your animals. A lot of the traditional veterinary community seem to think that commercial raw feeders are indiscriminate as to what we feed our animals. I’m not sure where some of these vets are getting their education from or lack thereof. They don’t really keep up with the times and would prefer to just scare you off.

As to how much I feed my dogs, specifically Hannah, as she weighs 7 lbs. like your yorki does, it depends on what I’m feeding. If I’m feeding Primal Pronto (it’s a complete and balanced diet from Primal made in little “kibble like” bits frozen) then I scoop out 1/4 cup in the a.m. or p.m. just as I would have done with a kibble. If it’s in a pattie form, then I read the packaging for her weight and feed her accordingly. Typically it’s 1/4 of the pattie per meal. For varying meals even though all three of my girls weigh a little bit differently I pretty much feed them all the same amount. Lola, my 5 lb. girl is very very hyper so she burns everything off quickly. If she’s awake, she’s in motion. Katie my 6 lb. girl is tall for a Maltipoo and very petite in structure. She was the runt of the litter and due to be put down before I rescued her into our family. She has a lot of issues food wise, environmentally and muscoskeletal so I’m always making sure she keeps her weight on. Hannah, my true couch potato, and at her age that’s okay with me, she stays on the lean side. Because she is 15 1/2 years old and a touch of old age arthritis I keep her on the lean side. I’m not big on having a scale to weigh them on a regular basis. I feel my dogs. If they have a little bit of coating on their ribs that I don’t mess with the amount I feed them. If I feel one of them and can too readily feel their ribs where with my fingers I can actually feel an identation then I know that dog needs a bit more food. If I have to press down too much to feel ribs, then I feed a little less for that dog. Kind of like ourselves. We have heavier days and lighter days. Winter we’re indoors a bit too much in the summer we’re very active.

I got both Lola and Katie both when, I guess I was around 61 or so. I thought I’d go insane. Literally, I was shedding tears all the time. I then thought it was one of my bigger mistakes. It was tough going having to 9 week old puppies at the same time. I hadn’t had a puppy in so long I’d forgotten the colossal amount of work let alone having two. Well, now that all is said and done I have to say that Lola and Katie are the best of pals. They are not siblings in the true sense of the word but you’d never know it. They sleep by each other, they rough house, play, everything together. But honestly I didn’t think I’d make it through those first couple of years. Hannah was none to happy about any of it either. Now they all pal around together. When I call them to let them out in the back Hannah won’t go out until she waits for the other two to catch up. All three wait for each other by the back door before they’ll come back in. Very very cute. Of course, if one of them barks, they all start barking even though the other two haven’t got a clue why or what they’re barking about. Very funny. Some times irritating but mostly have given me so much love and quality to my life. At 66 I’d probably be able to handle a puppy again but certainly not two at a time. Though I think I would rescue a senior at this point in my life. At one point in your life you want babies and are all about babies and as you get older you see the need that seniors (whether they be humans or dogs) need.

One last point on commercial raw feeding. Once you do it you’ll wonder what took you so long and what you were so worried about. Also, feeding commercial raw foods is not at all what you think it’s going to look like. It’s not like you’re going to toss a whole animal at your dog for dinner. I couldn’t possibly handle that. Really it just looks for the most part like ground meats in shapes of hamburgers. Other than the “kibble like” bits that are meant for the squeamish kibble feeders trying to make a transition into raw and also because they defrost so darn quick.

[Laura L]

My lab mix just had a bout of pancreatitis. The vet said we caught it as it was starting and as a result she had a quick recovery, only requiring 1 night and day of IV and pain meds at the vet. She came home on the Purina EN diet which makes me cringe when I look at the ingredients. I have been researching foods for after this initial phase (we have acupuncture in a week that will also serve as a recheck) and found the Artemis fresh mix weight management formula with 6% fat and 20% protein. I have found that many of the foods that are low fat are also high protein so this seemed like a good combo. Does anyone have any ideas about this food or alternatives. My Cammie is almost 13 and is overweight at 80 pounds (lab mix). I also have another dog in the home so I would love to find something both of them can eat if possible (My other girl is very picky and is currently on Natures Variety Prairie but she rarely finishes her food and I would love to eliminate the risk of Cammie eating her food.

[Dori]

http://www.instinctpetfood.com/nvcoupon/81

Thank you Akari. I swear I was going to stay at this even if it took me till midnight. Don’t I feel brain dead. This was way more than just having a senior moment. So so stupid. I was trying to copy and paste the actual coupon without realizing it, until you instructed me, that what I was suppose to be copying and pasting was the url address NOT THE COUPON! Once I got it…..just now……I realized how much sense it makes. That’s a big DUH????? for me! I must go into a corner now and hide in shame for a bit. Thanks again Akari.

Oh, I forgot, I know it’s on a different thread but I’m so happy that the food is working. YAY! You gotta feed what ever works.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by Dori.

[crazy4cats]

Just a word of warning on the ProDen Plaque Off. I was just reading about it because I was going to purchase for my cats. Specifically for my senior kitty. But, it says on the site that it contains iodine and not to feed any pet or human if they have thyroid issues. I won’t be giving it to my hyper-t kitty after all.
And yes, they make it for humans as well.

[Cheryl Pepper Millie Sophie]

Hi Kelly,
My 11 1/2 y.o. mini schnauzer has similar issues -bad bouts of gastritis IBD/IBS just suffered a bad bout in December.
I came to the conclusion that she can no longer process kibble any kind-she was on the Amicus Grain-free Senior,did very well on it. But as they say things change
But it seemed every so often the problems reappeared.
In December after every single test was given except an endoscopy -i changed her to lightly cooked ground turkey breast with canned organic pumpkin -then switched from the pumpkin to sweet potato, nothing else for 3-4 weeks ,now your kid may have an infection have you had her stool tested to rule out any infection?
Now I was told she should dry a vet diet-hydrolozed protein-she she was also vomiting and reguritating. I choose to try something else and if that didn’t work ,well to go ahead & try what the vet recommended.
She is on The honest Kitchen now a rehydrated food i buy her grain free, they have various types.
my thoughts are stop the rice-rice can cause inflammation, and she has an inflammatory process occurring with the colitis episode.
Dr. karen Becker has some excellent articles just on this subject-its on the Mercola.com website.
If you can buy some organic canned PLAIN PUMPKIN -stop the kibble completely. You might also offer her a cooked sweet potato, with the ground turkey. I know this may sound odd, but pepper does better on Ground turkey ,chicken & beef than she did on lightly boiled chicken breast. Maybe try a ground version of the turkey or chicken. She could have developed an allergy to egg or even the chicken. You might want to try her on a novel protein,a protein that she never ate, I bought a rabbit at Whole foods & boiled it for her. Her tummy needs about 3-4 weeks of rest, that’s why I say the soft low residue foods-no treats nothing that cause cause the inflammation to linger.
I just personally think, that as they get older the kibble is just too hard on them, and I soaked her kibble to make it easier. When they have this inflammatory disease, I think they need a softer diet.
There are some canned foods also that you may want to try, on that I really don’t know, i have never fed canned. I know people have good things to say about WERUVA & other people can guide you on that.
I hope some of this helps you, I will be glad to help further if you have any more questions.
Good Luck
Fondly,
Cheryl
I see you provided your email I will email you the site to Dr. becker and all you have to do is put in the search IBD/IBS