[Dori]

Oh Marie, I am so jealous. Though I must admit that until Katie I’d never had a dog that had any issues whatsoever. She’s a real challenge and keeps me on my toes all the time. I’m thinking she was sent to me to keep senior citizen dementia at bay. Lol! She’s got my brain thinking 24/7. Love her like crazy. And honest to God, she has got to be the sweetest dog I have ever come across. You’d think all she’s been through in her life that she’d be a cranky B.tch. She’s quite the opposite. She’s a mushy gushy little happy go lucky little girl. Just loves everything and everyone. So sweet.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 2 months ago by Dori.

[Dori]

I hear you Akari. Jim and I sometimes think that Hannah has developed selective hearing. Unfortunately she does have some senior dementia. I hope you figure out your new pups issues. I refer to her as “your pup” cause I’m hoping your mom says it’s ok to keep her. You would make such a good caring mommy to her regardless as to whether she answers to her name or not.

[Dori]

Hi Akari. You are so sweet to take the dog in. I hope you get to keep her. Poor little thing, it will be so difficult for her to have to acclimate to someone new again. Did the vet check the dog out to make sure that she’s not internally injured or hurting or that her shoulder is okay? The previous owner was probably pushing her down or handling her very tightly each and every time she gave her the liquid medications and could also have scratched the back of her throat with the syringe. I don’t mean for you to have to pay for the exams, etc. Most vets that I have used and still use will do all this pro bono for an animal that is having issues just to be kind and make sure that there is nothing wrong. Thank you for taking the dog in to your home. It’s so sad that she has been put into this situation by whatever her previous owner’s issues are. Breaks my heart. 🙁

Forgot to say about her ears. You don’t always necessarily see a bunch of gunk in their ears if they have an ear infection. If she’s shaking her head I bet she may very well have an ear infection.

As to the dementia issue. Nothing that she is doing would lead me to that conclusion. I’ve had dogs in the past (and presently have Hannah starting to go in to early signs of dementia), what issues this dog is having have nothing to do with dementia. As you know, not all senior dogs go through dementia. Just like humans. Anyway, I’d feel pretty confident ruling out dementia and look for physical and internal problems.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 2 months ago by Dori.

[Audrey C]

I am looking for a moderate to low phosphorous canned food for my 13 year old 45 lb. hound dog. I add Chinese herbs to his food to help strengthen his kidneys and the Blue Buffalo “Blue’s Stew” is the only canned food that “absorbs” the bitter herbs so he enjoys his meal. Can you tell me if either the Blue’s Stew and/or Blue Buffalo “Senior” canned foods have low phosphorous level and appropriate for an aging dog? They don’t list phosphorous level in the nutrition analysis on the cans. Thank you.

[Bobby dog]

When my JRT was older I had the same issues having to pick her up because she couldn’t jump as high, then came a time when picking her up was uncomfortable for her. I had doggy steps everywhere in the house. But, I have a truck so a dog has no choice but to jump in or get help from me. At first I made this sling I would use to lift her up in the truck. lol Then I found a ramp that stored easily in my truck that she used without a problem. It took no time for her to figure out there was no pain involved with using the ramp and using it meant she got to do one of her favorite things, ride in the truck. Thought I would pass that along in case she gets a new home and it’s with someone who wants to drive places with her.

If your mom says no, I have had luck finding homes for a few stray kitties by posting info at local churches and senior citizen centers. Some of the kitties that have crossed my path have been older couch potatoes and I was able to place them with people that needed that quiet companion that was past all the training necessary for a younger pet. Also, you may be able to find a senior dog or Dachshund rescue in your area if you can’t keep her.

[Bobby dog]

C4c:
I was trying to find websites I looked at for my hyper-t kitty when he needed help eating. One of the main reasons given for kitty’s not eating was a change in routine. I really hope that is all it is for your kitty and it is not health related. When I used to have to leave town for extended periods of time I would take my JRT with me and take my two kitties to my parents house. When I brought them back they were so funny. They would sit on my bed and wake me up in the middle of the night and morning by just staring at me. It was like they were telling me they never thought they would make it back home again and would start purring and rubbing up against me as soon as I woke up. They would do this for about a week until they settled back into to their routines.

The first thing that caught my eye was the sweetener in the ingredients. The second was the ingredient that I guess keeps the kibble from getting hard. I really don’t know anything about those ingredients, but if I fed this food it probably wouldn’t be long term. Honestly, if a kitty is not eating I would pretty much give anything a try and this food would be no exception. 🙂 Here’s the links I used for the ingredients that I checked out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructooligosaccharide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucono_delta-lactone
http://www.modernistcookingmadeeasy.com/info/modernist-ingredients/more/sodium-alginate

I reluctantly added two Friskies flavors to my senior female’s diet. She was not eating well and did not have a long term interest in any of the new foods I tried. She looked haggard and I had to find something that she was excited about eating. I re-visited the Friskies recipes. I added two from the Special Diet line, the Beef & Chic and Turkey & Giblets; AE is Country Style Dinner. They are all pates’, carbs are about 5% for SD and 11% for Country Style Dinner, and none of the recipes have fish. Drawbacks are by-products are listed first (named meat is like third), giblets are high on the ingredient list for the turkey, and all have added color. Haven’t had to try the Country Style Dinner, but my girl is happy, looking better and that’s what matters.

[crazy4cats]

Thanks, aimee. One of my labs is on the low end for energy as well. I was thinking of feeding a senior food which has a lower fat content to try to keep him fit, but he is only 3 years old. I also add toppers which typically are a little higher in fat. You definitely answered my question! Thanks, again.

[Akari_32]

I emailed Wellness the other day looking for a low carb kibble to use as treats for Bentley, and they, awesomely, sent me the as fed and dry matter carb values of their entire dog line! Decided I’d post it here, and possibly help someone out in the future 🙂

Wellness® Dry Dog Foods: Carbohydrates

Wellness® Dry Dog
Complete Health Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe:
As Fed: 49.58%
Dry Matter: 53.89%

Complete Health Whitefish & Sweet Potato Recipe:
As Fed: 45.89%
Dry Matter: 49.84%

Complete Health Lamb & Barley Recipe:
As Fed: 48.15%
Dry Matter: 52.34%

Complete Health Healthy Weight Deboned Chicken & Peas Recipe:
As Fed: 53.11%
Dry Matter: 57.73%

Complete Health Senior Deboned Chicken & Barley Recipe:
As Fed: 52.42%
Dry Matter: 56.98%

Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Oatmeal & Salmon Meal Recipe:
As Fed: 36.72%
Dry Matter: 39.91%

Large Breed Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe:
As Fed: 44.58%
Dry Matter: 48.46%

Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice & Salmon Meal Recipe:
As Fed: 43.56%
Dry Matter: 47.35%

Small Breed Complete Health Adult Turkey & Oatmeal Recipe:
As Fed: 37.67%
Dry Matter: 40.94%

Small Breed Complete Health Adult Whitefish, Salmon Meal, & Peas Recipe:
As Fed: 35.43%
Dry Matter: 38.51%

Small Breed Complete Health Puppy Turkey, Oatmeal & Salmon Meal Recipe:
As Fed: 36.36%
Dry Matter: 39.52%

Small Breed Complete Health Senior:
As Fed: 44.16%
Dry Matter: 48.00%

Small Breed Complete Health Healthy Weight Turkey & Brown Rice Recipe:
As Fed: 43.38%
Dry Matter: 47.16%

Toy Breed Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice & Peas Recipe:
As Fed: 32.48%
Dry Matter: 35.30%

Toy Breed Complete Health Healthy Weight Deboned Chicken & Barley Recipe:
As Fed: 41.71%
Dry Matter: 45.34%

Toy Breed Complete Health Senior Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe:
As Fed: 42.43%
Dry Matter: 46.12%

Wellness® CORE® Dry Dog
CORE® Grain-Free Original:
As Fed: 29.47%
Dry Matter: 32.03%

CORE® Grain-Free Ocean:
As Fed: 28.52%
Dry Matter: 31.00%

CORE® Grain-Free Reduced Fat:
As Fed: 34.19%
Dry Matter: 37.16%

CORE® Grain-Free Puppy:
As Fed: 23.58%
Dry Matter: 25.63%

CORE® Grain-Free Small Breed:
As Fed: 23.79%
Dry Matter: 25.86%

CORE® Grain-Free Large Breed:
As Fed: 31.29%
Dry Matter: 34.01%

CORE® Grain-Free Wild Game:
As Fed: 28.18%
Dry Matter: 30.63%

Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Recipes:
Simple Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Formula:
As Fed: 43.20%
Dry Matter: 46.96%

Simple Grain-Free Turkey & Potato Formula:
As Fed: 41.99%
Dry Matter: 45.64%

Simple Lamb & Oatmeal Formula:
As Fed: 48.11%
Dry Matter: 52.59%

Simple Duck & Oatmeal Formula:
As Fed: 49.26%
Dry Matter: 53.54%

Simple Grain -Free Small Breed Salmon & Potato Formula:
As Fed: 35.13%
Dry Matter: 38.18%

Simple Grain – Free Healthy Weight Salmon & Peas Formula:
As Fed: 42.76%
Dry Matter: 46.48%

[DogFoodie]

In addition to those Marie mentioned, I’d also recommend Orijen Senior and Go! Fit + Free Grain Free Senior. I’ve used them both and love the quality, ingredients and results I had with them.

[Sarah Y]

have you checked out http://www.dogaware.com/health/kidney.html. I find these a great place to find more info on diets, prescription and non prescription for dogs with kidney disease/failure.

My one dog is eating wellness senior food which is one of the lower commerical foods out there with low phosphorus (.74%) It’s still higher than the diet foods though. Also, keep in mind, what doesn’t seem tasty to you may be tasty to your dog. Wouldn’t hurt to try it.

One of my cats is in renal failure and she loves her can food (Hills K/D prescription)

[Bobby dog]

Yeah, I gave it a try because you never know when you might need something that you know a cat will eat with no problem. At least I know the one senior kitty really liked the flavor of the juice. Now I know they like my bone broth better too; it doesn’t take much effort to make, but I think my feelings would have been hurt if they liked the FF broth better! lol

[Bobby dog]

I got a free sample of the Tuna, Shrimp, & Whitefish Fancy Feast Broth in the mail. I don’t care for the ingredients, but gave the cats a sample anyway. My female sniffed, then did the old “cover up the dish” like she was using the litter box, and walked away. My other senior male loved the broth and left the meat, my other male ate the meat. lol

Over the past few weeks I have also fed Stella & Chewy’s freeze dried Chicken dinner to the kitties; only two like it. They are the same two that like Primal FD.

C4c: How’s your sister’s dogs?

[InkedMarie]

Hi Tom,
First, thanks for adopting this senior gal! I would not feed that food. No offense to your vet but they get very little nutrition education.
Years back, we adopted a senior dog who was obese. She should have weighed about 25lbs but was 43.7. We used Wellness Core reduced fat & she lost the weight. For snacks, you can use some of her kibble from her daily ration, fresh green beans, we use The Honest kitchen quickies but they’re costly.ni think Buddy biscuit itty Bitties and Charlee Bear treats are low calorie.
What supplements are you using? I’ve used Joint Mobility Plus (from SwansonVitamins.com), green lipped mussel, salmon oil, Liquid Gold K9 and salmon oil for ours with bad joints.

[Tom L]

We recently acquired an overweight (78#) 12 year old Labrador with severe joint disease who can have limited walks and exercise due to bones rubbing on bones. This is a loving female who loves to eat and likes snacks and treats. Our vet recommended feeding her Science Diet Senior Food 1 cup in the morning and 1 cup at night along with supplements.
She hasn’t lost any weight and is always looking for snacks. We are concerned that this is the correct food for our overweight dog. Ideally, we would like to give her 3 small servings a day. Tom L.

[Akari_32]

Today’s haul!
Total out of pocket: $0.36
Total savings: $80.19

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx294/Akari53/073F19AC-6FB5-4616-B6F4-5D37E695863D_zpsv6wjoypa.jpg

This may be my best haul ever! Very happy I decided to print out those $1 off any can coupons, because the bags (and cans) were on clearance, which means they are extra 30% off the clearance prices, and I would have paid $6 a bag if I hadn’t printed those extra coupons! I wish I’d’ve printed a few more though, because I wanted 4 bags. Oh well, this worked out great, and I paid even less total than I was thinking I was going to be paying per bag (which would have been $1.97 plus tax if it wasn’t for the weird clearance deals lol).

So, in three separate orders I did:

1x $5 off Wellness Manufacturer coupon
1x $5 off any Natural or Specialized brand PetSmart coupon
3x $1 off any Wellness can coupons

1 4lb bag of Wellness Toy Breed Senior (the only clearance bags they had left)
4x 6 oz cans of Wellness Senior (again, the only one on clearance)
Bags were on clearance for $11.97 each. After additional 30% off they were $8.38 each
Cans were on clearance for $1.50, and after the additional 30% was applied, they were $1.05.

Had I had more than 10 $1 off can coupons, I could have gotten a crap ton of cans, but I forgot the clearance items were extra 30% off and wasn’t even expecting to buy cans in the first place, just the bags, but the price of the bags after the extra 30% wouldn’t have let me get the best deal. This worked out great, though, for totally messing me up! LOL I’m very happy over all, and the cans will be going to the local shelter, along with some other food I’ve accumulated and decided to not use lol

[crazy4cats]

Hi All-
I’m home! All my pets are still alive. My senior kitty stayed with my parents to make sure she got Her medicine and food on a regular schedule. No, I didn’t trust my teenage son to handle this responsibility. My mom was a good sport. She has never had a cat before and doesn’t even particularly like pets that much. Not sure where I got my “disease” from. Lol! Anyway, after about two days of hiding, Rosie came out and was sleeping with them by the end of the week. The other cats stayed home and it looks like my son fed them here and there when convenient. They are young and strong so no issues with that! The dogs were boarded and came home healthy and TIRED! I had them kenneled because I thought it wouldn’t be anymore expensive than an emergency trip to the vet due to my son leaving out yummy stuff they would get in to.

Akari- My human boys are not as responsible as you!

Bdog- Nice pic! Is that his best side? Lol!

I bought some Blue Healthy Gourmet canned cat food yesterday. They are not eating the Nutro Max very well anymore and looking for a replacement. Also bought some Dave’s the other day as well. We’ll see what happens!
Take care!

[Laura T]

Thank you for your reply. Is there a particular brand that we should get? I think that even though she is 5, she is getting a bit “old” – i see gray hairs and sometimes when going up in couch she misses (not often) but when she does i feel that she is becoming a senior thus she might need maybe more calcium? … Vet says she is very healthy and there is no concerns but i have read that food can make a huge difference and that is why we are researching.

[Melissaandcrew]

There is no magic date that all dogs need their food decreased. Adults don’t need to be fed three times a day like a pup, but the amount they eat will vary from dog to dog. For ex, my shihtzu ate three very tiny meals per day. As she reached adulthood, the amount increased, but the frequency did not. I have not found my crew needed reduced food simply by virtue of spay/neuter, but rather based on their particular activity levels, and those change depending on the weather. All my dogs, from pup to senior eat an all life stage food.

[Audrey C]

Can someone recommend a canned dog food with low phosphorous content? My dog is 12 years old and was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. Currently he’s eating Blue (Senior) dog food mixed with Blue kibbles. But I wonder if there’s a supplement I can add to slow down the kidney failure or a dog food that will slow its progression. Any advice?

[Dori]

Thanks Marie. Really interesting article on senior canine supplements.

[Robin P]

I am feeding my 12 year old 100 lb. lab nutro for seniors/large breed-in a can. He seems fine with it, but I am looking for some reassurance that this is a good diet for him. Thanks

[Aaron P]

The Kahoots brand dog food is not made by Diamond. It is US made and US sourced(Texas). The meat content is much higher than you will find in Taste of the wild. The salmon is wild caught (tow is farm raised)and the supplementation in Kahoots brand is superior. My dogs have been on Kahoots for about four years. My lab is three now and is in beautiful condition. My beagle is nine she is now a healthy and happy senior dog thanks to the kahoots food. Prior to kahoots she was on Nutro or Wellness neither did her justice as she was tormented by itchy dry skin, irritated paws and frequent hot spots. Thank you Kahoots for making great products that allow my animals to thrive!!!

[Daria S]

Hello all, Hello HOUND DOG MUM 🙂

Speaking about Ca:P ratios – I’ve just received response from First Mate pet foods according to their actual Ca:P ratios. On their pages and on the internet the figures are really really high (1,9:1 for Pacific Ocean Endurance/Puppy which made it to the HDM list). Here are the figures I received by them:

Pacific Ocean Fish Original 1.44:1
Pacific Ocean Fish Endurance/Puppy 1.50:1
Pacific Ocean Fish Large Breed 1.45:1
Pacific Ocean Fish Weight Control/Senior 1.40:1
Chicken with Blueberries 1.85:1
Australian Lamb 1.78:1

The ratios are lower than shown on their pages BUT still high for any large breed puppy because of too little Phosphorus. It’s a shame, I really liked the company and the food so now I’m thinking about Orijen Puppy Large (new formula since January 2013).

Orijen CS couldn’t give me answer about actual Calcium level and kept saying the same info as on the pages – Ca is between 1,2 – 1,5. The best i got from him is “The minimum calcium and phosphorus contents that are listed on our guaranteed analysis are reflective of the typical content.” Kcal is 3800/kg. So while 1,3 would be acceptable, 1,4 is too much. Now I really don’t know. I have a 3,5mths GR puppy and as everyone here I want the best for him. I like high protein in Orijen and quality ingredients.
Also I heard that Orijen is being too high in iron – I still need to analyse this topic.

Any thoughts here?

• This reply was modified 11 years, 3 months ago by Daria S.

[InkedMarie]

I have not tried that but I use Neutricks for my senior whi I believe has Canine Cognitive Dysfunction.

[Akari_32]

I decided to use the Applaws as a full meal, rather than throwing a tub in here and there. So I went out and bought 24 cans of Friskies Special Diet and Senior Diet (my previously scoped out flavors however many pages back). I tried to get away with not having to buy more cat food, but there was too much Applaws for me to feel comfortable with not adding more food that was balanced. So my 26 days of food turned into 40 days of food after the Friskies and Applaws was added lol You guys should have seen all that cat food sprawled across the floor as I tried to fit everything evenly into my rotation.

He’s on a 10 day rotation (not including different flavors):

Ideal Balance or Sheba
Applaws
Wellness
Authority Flaked Turkey
Friskies
Wellness
Applaws
Friskies
Authority Flaked Turkey
Friskies

Because of stacking difficulties with the Applaws tubs and Sheba and Ideal Balance 3 oz cans, I couldn’t really spread the Friskies out as much as I would have liked, but as soon as Wellness goes on sale again (which shouldn’t be long, I would think), I’ll be buying more, so it’ll do for now. The cats fed, and that’s all that matters lol

[Susan]

Hi Erin, Patch cant have wet tin food as he also gets sloppy poo but since I found the Kangaroo at 1.5% fat he’s Ok, so it must of been the highter fat in the other tin foods they were around 4-5% in fat that must of made his poos sloppy..
When I soak Patches kibble in his bowl I drain the water then put the kibble on a paper towel & touch dry & all the kibbles are just soft with a little crunch still & no its the same & doesnt give sloppy poos,
When I first got Patch he was always having sloppy poo then good poos & for about 9 months, we thought it was the fiber, it was flaxseed, then he had a Pancreas flare & it was the higher fat giving him the sloppy poos, so now I make sure I stick around 10% fat for kibbles & 1.5% fat for wet tin foods..
I’d try the Merrick G/F Healthy weight cause the max fat is 11% the protein is 32% min, fiber is 5% but if you have trouble with Merrick it will probably be the protein being to high at 32%
With Pancreatitis some dogs cant have a high protein diet either, thats why Ive never try the Wellness core in the begining cause the protein was 33% & the fiber is 8.5% too high, Patch cant have a high protein, nothing over 24% …also there’s the ‘Holistic Select’ senior at 10% fat & 26% protein, I did try this but I had to take Patch off chicken as vet thought he was allergic to chicken, that’s why he’s on the Wellness Simple Duck & Oatmeal with no chicken fat,
I think that’s why dogs do well on the Vet prescription diets as they are made for illnesses & lower in fat protein & fiber, needed for some dogs with Pancreatitis, you’ll just have to see how ur girl goes, when I joined the dogpancreatitis group on Yahoo I started to learn heaps then I understood why Patch was still having his flares, I was trying to keep his protein high, I’d add a boiled egg to his meal, then he wasnt his usual happy self playing, after eating, I didnt realise that the yoke was too high in fat & protein.. but ur girl will probably be OK, not as bad….

[crazy4cats]

Fresh Pet makes soft kibble. I’ve tried to feed it to my senior kitty, but she turned her nose up. My dogs loved it, however! They don’t mind eating the cats’ rejects. But, anyway, I highly recommend it for your dog. How about canned food? Hope you find something.

[Susan]

Hi Erin, you said her current food is 15% fat is that min% or max% if its min% then add another 1-2% on top making it around 17% fat, very high for a dog with pancreatitis…I normally email the company to find out the max fat% if it isnt written on the bag… there’s a good group on Yahoo called “dogpancreatitis” they have alot of good info in that group…Ive read that wet food is better for pancreatitis then kibble, so if ur girl doesnt get diarrhea form wet foods i’d use wet instead of kibbles, here’s a link to all the wet Wellness foods, they have a Senior complete health its 3% fat also they have their grainfree Core weight management is 3.5% fat..there’s a few to look at http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/recipes.aspx?pet=dog&ft=

[pugmomsandy]

Amicus by Horizon Pet Food had a senior/weight management formula.

[Mom2Cavs]

There are a few that I would use. Wellness has a Small Breed Healthy Weight and also Core Reduced Fat. The problem with Core RF is that the kibble size is pretty big for some small dogs. I prefer the Small Breed. Annamaet also has a grain free food called Lean that is good. Victor has a food, while not really a weight loss but billed as a senior food, it would still be a good one to feed for weight loss. Fromm has a food in their 4Star line called Whitefish and Potato that has less fat and fewer calories that might work, as well. These are just some suggestions. You could always just feed a lesser portion of her current food and add in some green beans (fresh cooked, frozen or no salt canned) as a filler to make her think she’s fuller. I hope this helps and I’m sure others with more knowledge than me will post later.

[crazy4cats]

Thank you, Akari. Your explanation wore me out. Lol! I asked politely and they told me just one politely. There was no limit listed so I thought it was probably just buy one and get one free, period. But, I thought I’d try. Yeah, I know Sheba isn’t terrific. But for the price it’s pretty darn good. There are plenty of others that cost a lot more and about the same quality. I never buy any with gravy or thick sauces either. It makes my senior kitty throw up. She does enough of that off and on as it is. Have a great vacation!

[crazy4cats]

Barbara, it sounds like you take great care of your cats. But, I caution anyone reading this thread to be VERY careful about feeding your cats a significant amount of fish. Especially human tuna fish. It can cause a number of health issues, such as malnutrition by Vit E deficiency, mercury poisoning, steatis, hyperthyroidism and it has a high allergy potential. It is deficient in taurine which can lead to retinal degeneration and cause your cats to go blind. My senior cat has hyperthyroidism most likely from feeding her canned seafood variety cat food for years that is high in PBDES. It’s best to stick to poultry and rabbit flavors. Seafood now and then is Ok, but not daily and especially not human fish that is not supplemented with extra taurine. Unfortunately, most cats love it and it is very addictive. I know we all grew up thinking that you should feed your cats canned tuna and milk. I know that’s what I did! But, it really isn’t a good idea.

[crazy4cats]

Tindaisy-
I love the fact that you also love cats now! LOL! No, fish is not very good for cats, believe it or not. I too first learned to love cats when a stray mamma cat showed up on my doorstep with her two kittens! I didn’t know a thing. Of course, I put out a bowl of milk and tuna! That’s what they do on TV, right? I’ve learned the hard way that it really isn’t the best thing. My senior 15 year old cat has hyperthyroidism most likely due to the fact that I fed nothing but canned Fancy Feast seafood variety for years along with kibble. I had one die of hyperthyroidism a few years back. It’s best to feed mainly chicken, turkey, duck and rabbit to cats. I am going to see if I can find the Nutrisource canned food you are feeding. I think our local feed store will probably carry it as they have their dry food.

Thanks for taking care of the strays. Cats really are a beautiful animal.

[crazy4cats]

Yes, Dr. Pierson on http://www.catinfo.org stated that it is better to feed cheap canned than any dry kibble. It always makes me feel better too! My shelter kitty loves his crunchies though. Sometimes he hugs the bag. It’s hilarious and pitiful! Lol! At least he is eating most of the wet food now too. My cats are indoor only. Except for the 12 ft by 4 ft outdoor cat enclosure we have set up outside our back sliding door. They got a four foot extension for their birthday last week 🙂 Therefore, they don’t get any yummy mice, birds, moles or anything wild. It makes me feel bad, but losing another cat to a coyote would be much worse!
Just checked out the age calculator. That is fun too! My senior cat is about the age of my parents also! However, I have a feeling I’m much older than you!

[Adele P]

My fourteen year old dingo mix, Libby, was on Weruva’s “Bed and Breakfast” and a Blue Buffalo kibble but when I became aware of Blue Buffalo’s legal problems I switched to Hill’s Ideal Balance “Slim and Healthy” because it was recommended by the retailer we use. Libby’s once sleek, shining fur is now dry and dull so I’m looking for recommendations for a kibble that is appropriate for elderly dogs without carb loading. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

[Mom2Cavs]

I think your pups are lucky, too. 🙂 Laverne is doing fine and the spot seems to be clearing up. I think you’re right about her allergies taking a toll on her immune system. I have Fresh Factors on hand and started them a few days ago. I wanted a whole food vitamin so began them. I also have spirulina wafers and might add them in later (one thing at a time). I’m back to adding in the fiber because I feel it’s needed for her glands. Personally, I’m not sure this is food related allergy (maybe inhalant). I plan on taking her back to the vet in a few weeks for a relook. Let me know how Bella continues to do. I hope she feels better soon, too. She’s just a youngster, lol, all mine are seniors with Laverne being the oldest I have now with Lucy gone to the bridge.

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi Brenda & Linda –

Pregnant bitches should be fed a high quality food appropriate for puppies or all life stages. All of Orijen’s formulas would be acceptable, all of Acana’s formulas with the exception of the Adult Large Breed, Senior Dog and Light & Fit would be appropriate and all of Natural Balance’s foods with the exception of their Fat Dogs formula, their Vegetarian formula and their Ultra Reduced Calorie formula would work as well. Personally, however, the only Natural Balance formula I would feel comfortable feeding to a pregnant or lactating bitch would be the Synergy formula – the other are all too low in fat and protein for my liking and I feel it would be difficult to maintain body condition on those foods. I would also highly recommend mixing in a quality canned food with high levels of protein and fat with whichever dry food you choose, this will not only aid in further increasing the protein and fat levels of of the kibble but will also increase the moisture level in the diet helping to keep her hydrated and increase the palatability (many bitches tend to not eat enough to support the high energy demands of pregnancy and lactation so this is important).

[MastiffMomma]

Hi everyone–I hope someone can help me out here! My mom has a 9 year old JR/Chihuahua cross who has had diabetes for about a year now. He is currently on Royal Canin Moderate Calorie Gastrointestinal Veterinary Exclusive dry and wet food, and has been on this since he was diagnosed with diabetes. He currently takes 8 units of insulin twice daily, and weighs about 15lbs.

Since adopting my own dog (mastiff/German shepherd/ lab cross) I have begun researching dog food and ingredients, and after reading the label of my mom’s dog’s food I am concerned that he is not getting the nutrition he needs. The first ingredients are brewers rice, chicken byproduct meal, corn, and brown rice. There are also several other ingredients noted as “controversial” according to DFA. This food is also quite expensive for the number of poor ingredients it contains ($40 for an 4kg bag of dry food, plus the canned food to mix with as he is a picky eater).

I was wondering if anyone here could recommend a low calorie dry dog food that would be suitable for him? I know it’s difficult to put a star value on therapeutic dog food, so something with higher quality ingredients and no byproduct meals would be excellent.

Thanks in advance!

[crazy4cats]

Well, the fresh pet kibble did not go over well with any of my four cats tonight. Shoot, I was hoping my senior kitty would love the soft kibble. I’ll give it a few more tries. The dogs had NO problem eating it! Lol!

[crazy4cats]

I really kind of doubt that the thyroid is the issue as you haven’t mentioned any lethargy or weight gain along with the hair loss. But it is one of the symptoms. Last year when my oldest cat had a senior blood panel test, it showed her thyroid levels off. Then they did another more specific test for the thyroid. I’m guessing it would have shown up on the test you already had, but not sure.
I’m sure you have already checked for fleas. Also, it is so itchy outside right now anyway. Everything is dry and there are so many bugs. Maybe it is a seasonal thing?
Oh, the worry these pets cause!

[crazy4cats]

Thank you, you made a bad story worse! I really really hate snakes! I think I’m gonna give the Fresh Pet kitty kibble a try for my senior. She’s earned it. New foods don’t always go to well though. No matter how excited we are about them. Lol! I’m also adding a few new panels to their outdoor cat “condo” for their birthdays. Woo Hoo!

[crazy4cats]

Oh, Bobby dog, I could have done without the snake story. Eeeeek! I remember you saying that you tried Fresh Pet for your cats. Did you try the chub type food, or the more kibble like stuff? I’m wondering if my senior thyroid kitty might like it. The trick would be to keep the other cats out of it, though. She’ll be 15 next week. I’d like to feed her a little higher quality if I could. She can’t or doesn’t eat kibble anymore. I give them all the same birthday pretty much. Next week, I will have a 15, 6 and two 4 year old cats. I can’t believe the babies are going to be 4! 🙂

[DogFoodie]

Hi Nan,

Your pup definitely could do well on a homemade diet that’s low in fat and high in high quality protein. It’s critical though to make sure a homemade diet is properly balanced.

Here is a great website with lots of information that could get you started: http://dogaware.com/articles/wdjlowfatdietsamples.html

Here are some suggested low fat foods: /best-dog-foods/suggested-low-fat-dog-food/

If they’re low enough in fat for your boy, some I think are excellent are Orijen Senior, Go! Fit and Free Senior, Wellness Core Reduced Fat and Nature’s Variety Instinct Healthy Weight.

Good luck!

[Hendrick C]

OMG! The same thing happened to us. We have a 4 year old Shih-tzu and we switched her to Wellness Complete a little over a month ago. About 3 weeks later, she started having seizures. I was thinking about switching her to a different food but after reading your post, I will definitely stop giving her Wellness food. She had a senior blood work done and a tick panel and everything came back normal and negative. Our next step is to take her to a Neurologist but I will also see if stopping Wellness will also stop her from having seizures.

Wish us luck!

Thanks,

Worried Dad (Hendrick)

[DogFoodie]

Hi Tracey,

Not all fats are unhealthy and contribute to weight loss. It’s very important to have a variety of healthy fats in the diet. For example, coconut oil is high in medium chain triglycerides, fatty acids that actually boost metabolism and promote weight loss. Other fats contain DHA and are critical for brain function.

A healthy weight loss food should be high in quality protein and have plenty of healthy fats.

Keep your pup moving and reduce his portion size. Feed him for what he should weigh and not for what he currently weighs.

Some excellent foods for weight loss are Orijen Senior which has 38% protein and 15% fat, Go! Fit and Free Senior has 32% protein and 14% fat, Wellness Core Reduced Fat has 33% protein and 10% fat and Nature’s Variety Instinct Healthy Weight Chicken has 32% protein and Salmon has 34% protein, and both have 12% fat.

[Corinne M]

Something happened today that really moved me & I thought I would reach out to the dog community and see what happens. Tell me your thoughts – also, share any resources you know about, please.
So here’s the story: I make my own dog food but sometimes I rotate to a commercial (complete) or commercial supplements and I don’t like my ingredients to go to waste – so today, I realized I had enough egg shells on hand to make about two months’ worth of calcium supplement, which I don’t need right now – so I decided to look on Craigslist to see if anyone in my dog community might need it.
On Craigslist, I accidentally came upon a post that said “I NEED DOG FOOD” – it was a few days old, but I sent a reply asking if they had gotten what they need. Turns out, this lady is sort of having a hard time financially, is renting a room from a church & most of her needs are met except dog food. She has 2 weeks before any funds come in. I told her I could bring her a couple weeks of dog food, and I said she could just “pay it forward” for someone else’s pet someday. Well it turns out that she was involved in running a “death row dog rescue” for 20 years – the 2 dogs she has are, as she calls them, “former inmates”. It got me thinking – I know that there are so many people in this country just barely getting by, and I’ve heard from shelter workers that its not uncommon for pets to be surrendered by loving families who just can’t keep up with food costs. After a little research I discovered that “ Meals-on-Wheels” have begun to include pet food delivery, particularly to low income senior citizens because they found that many of their clients were sharing their meals with their pets out of desperation.
So it occurred to me to reach out to the food pantries in my community & the local “Meals on Wheels” to donate pet foods for them to distribute as needed. Maybe someone who reads this will do the same. ..I hope so.
Best, Corinne

[Mom2Cavs]

Hi! I have one sensitive Cavalier, too. The other two can eat pretty much anything within reason. They are all doing great on Wellness Small Breed….I alternate between Simple, Whitefish, Healthy Weight and Senior. I love their SB Senior but it only comes in 4lb bags. I have been topping with a small amount of canned food…Wellness, Weruva and Simply Nourish. I also am using, atm, Ark Naturals Gentle Digest (a pre/probiotic) and a supplement called Firm Up, which is dried pumpkin and apple pectin (a tsp. a day divided between meals). Three days a week they get a coq10 supplement, too. I haven’t had any gland problems since doing this. There are some other foods I like and would use, too, and they’re Annamaet, Victor, Dr. Tim’s and Fromm.

[DogFoodie]

I would try Go! Fit and Free Senior, Orijen Senior or Wellness Core Reduced Fat.

I plan to try the Go! next – it looks fantastic! I’ve used the Orijen and Wellness previously with success.

FWIW, I’ve used EVO Weight Management and didn’t care for it. My usually “unpicky” Cavalier did not like it either.

[Jane E]

I like to use a grain free dog food and feed less…the diets geared toward weight loss drop protein and fat and the dog acts hungry because they are not typically satiated. I like both Orijen Senior and GO! Sensitivity and Shine Grain Free and use a measuring cup every time

[jim p]

Looking for suggestions on best brands to use to help our senior pomeranian lose some weight
Thanks
Jim