[kim w]

I’ve searched high and low but can’t find a review or any info on a new dog food brand I’ve found at Dollar General. I havent seen it anywhere else and the website looks to be under construction. They offer dry food, wet food, and treats. I’ve listed the ingredients below and would like to see how it fairs. Anybody have an opinion or could a review be done on this? Thank you.

Mossy Oak Nature’s Menu Super Premium Dog Food
Real Beef & Brown Rice Recipe
Ingredients: Beef, chicken meal, ground rice, soybean meal, whole grain corn, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), brown rice, corn gluten meal, dried beet pulp, natural chicken flavor, calcium carbonate, salt, potassium chloride, dehydrated alfalfa, zinc sulfate, iron oxide (color), titanium dioxode, dried peas, dried carrots, choline chloride, vitamine E supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin c), minerals (ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide), vitamins (vitamin a supplement, vitamin d-3 supplement, vitamin e supplement, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin b12 supplement, folic acid).

[anonymous]

Most shelters have an arrangement with a local veterinary clinic to get discount prices for services and products as a courtesy. That is the route I would pursue, as you will need a prescription for heartworm preventives.

Regarding garlic pills:
Do a quick Internet search on natural ways to prevent fleas and ticks and you’ll come up with thousands of links. You could spend all day researching these home remedies. The problem: As much as we love using natural solutions when they work, many simply aren’t effective at controlling parasites. In some cases these ‘remedies’ can cause more harm than good for your pet.
So before you add chopped up garlic to your animal’s food or bathe her in essential oils, check out our quick list of home remedies to avoid.
Parasite Prevention and Removal Remedies That Don’t Work
Bad Idea: Putting Garlic in Pet Food
Even though a lot of people think this a safe and effective way to prevent fleas, there’s no scientific evidence that garlic — whether it’s fresh from the bulb, powdered or in a supplement — can keep the parasites at bay. Even worse, garlic can be toxic to pets. Garlic contains substances that damage red blood cells in dogs in cats, potentially leading to life-threatening anemia if ingested in large quantities. (excerpt from:)http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/home-remedies-that-will-not-get-rid-of-fleas-and-ticks-and-may-hurt-your-pet

[anonymous]

Is he on medication? I would go back to the vet that knows the dog’s history and make sure everything is being done to keep him as comfortable as possible.
Sorry, I don’t have much faith in supplements, but see what your vet advises.
He is a senior and has some serious health conditions so I would focus on care and comfort vs aggressive treatment.

This is not veterinary advice; consult your veterinarian.

[Nancy R]

Please Help. I have a 10 yr old Old English Sheepdog that this spring started coughing but nothing come up. Sometimes he throws up, but nothing comes out. I took him to the Vet because it went from once in a while to everyday. Vet did blood work for heart worms, took an X-Ray, and said he may look and act like a pup, but he has old man lungs. He said he had Chronic Bronchitis and arthritis in his upper spine too.
I love this dog more than anything, my home was broken into 1 month ago and he heard the garage door go up and became a crazy animal. He chased 2 men out of the house and into there truck. My neighbor saw him run them out. While Archie was bouncing up and down while doing a different growl than I have ever heard. Once I got him back in the house, my unless Security Company was still on the intercom saying do you want us to call the police.
I live in WV, and I have deer that sleep in my back yard. The loves to chase them, but funny thing that is the only time I have seen him do his bounce up and down bark. But a must different bark at the deer. He warns them he is there. Then when they run he runs after them.
He just in a month has progressed of a cough a day to he has had 3 episodes today. What has happen. I changed Dog Food from Taste of the Wild ( because in the last year the price has dropped almost $15.00. So something had to change about there product) he has been on Orijen for the last 5 months.
I Have done research and it says they need Antioxidants. How do I do that? Supplements? This dog is the Love of my life. What has happened? What can I do? Please help?

[Aidan B]

Have you tried using something like Glandex instead of expressing the glands?

[Patterson C]

Thanks so much for all your info! It helps so that I can mention some ideas to my vet. He does not specialize in anything but I’m going to see what he can do and if my dog gets any worse then I’ll take further measures by finding another vet or something to do the testing.

I am going to consider the Malaseb shampoo, I’ve heard great things about it.
He takes a fish oil supplement but I am going to check to see that it has Omega 6.
I kind of think the bath is what helped soothe his skin. I used a hurts bees shampoo, I’m not sure how good that is but it seemed gentle.

[anonymous]

Forget about it! It’s a scam. Not only is it ineffective, adverse reactions have been reported.
Example: http://www.justanswer.com/dog-health/79768-expertise-dinovite-lab-terrible.html
Click on the checkmark (upper right) to get rid of the annoying vet popup, lol

Ask your vet. I would stop listening to well meaning homeopathic supplement supporters. Stop looking for miracle cures. Your money would be better spent consulting a specialist, assuming that your regular vet has not been helpful within a reasonable amount of time.

This is not veterinary advice; consult your veterinarian.

[Mary G]

Thank you!!!! Customs allows only one bag per person and they it.even.depends on their mood. It is hard to say since friends have tried and.some are allowed to import the kibble.and others do not. I can probaboy purchase online from people who import it but the cost is close to twice the value. I am weary of the expiration date on that as well.

He is taking homeopathic remedies and i also.give hm supplements such as taurine, l-carnityne, omegas 3 and 6, and co enzyme q10.

[anonymous]

In my opinion, his behavior is not related to his diet. Many dogs suffer from anxiety, thunderstorm phobia and separation anxiety. Often there is a genetic component that determines which dogs would be more vulnerable. There are effective medications (prescribed by your vet) to treat this.
I would make an appointment with your vet to have him examined and to discuss medication options. Some dogs only need the meds for a few months or prn (as needed) in conjunction with other treatments, for example “The Thundershirt”.
Don’t be fooled by over the counter meds and supplements (waste of money).
Your dog is becoming aggressive during these episodes, youcould try putting a blanket over him, like a tent, a safe dark place. Refrain from getting “in his face” when he is upset.
Regarding food, I have heard good things about Pro Plan Focus Salmon for sensitive stomachs.

Excerpt below from https://www.vetary.com/dog/condition/thunderstorm-phobia
Diagnosis of Thunderstorm Phobia in Dogs
As this is a situational issue, your veterinarian will rely heavily on history and your observations of your dogs’ behavior during storms for a diagnosis (unless your appointment just happens to coincide with a thunderstorm). They can do some in-office tests to check the dogs’ fear response to noises and other unusual stimuli. Your veterinarian will also likely do a quick physical exam to ensure the dog has not harmed itself or experienced any physiological complications from the intense fear reaction.
Treatment of Thunderstorm Phobia in Dogs
Dogs should begin treatment as soon as this problem is recognized, as it will only get worse as they age. Your veterinarian can recommend a course of behavior modification and desensitization to lessen your dog’s anxiety during thunderstorms. Playing the sound of storms at a quiet level while giving the dog treats has been known to work in some cases. As the dog remains relaxed and has a pleasant association, the volume can be increased, and treats continued until they are no longer fearful of loud noises.
Your veterinarian may determine that your dog could benefit from anti-anxiety medications or a sedative to be used when a thunderstorm is eminent. Some owners have also had success with dog “wraps” that can comfort the dog by giving them a sense of being swaddled in a protective way. These products are available through many retail outlets and can even have the bonus of offering your dog protection from a static buildup in their fur.

This is not veterinary advice; consult your veterinarian.

[Susan]

Hi Simon,
I really think your looking into the diet thing way too much, looks like the fireworks stressed him out big time, my boy is the same, I hate New Years Eve with all the fireworks……Sounds like your poor little dog couldn’t get a break today….. I’ve seen my boy have a few bad luck days, where he just doesn’t get a break….. When your boy is stressing out having an anxiety attack, calm him down, pick him up & pat him around his head & ears, playing softly with their ears gives them a calming feeling & relaxes them, treat him like he’s your baby, you wouldn’t put a little baby in a windowless basement if he was crying & stressing out, you may have a very nervous dog, most small dogs are nervous. I have a very nervous cat, I have to calm her down & tell her it’s OK, stop stressing out it’s OK & hold her & pat her head, then I reward her with some treats, just a few kibble biscuits she normally eats & she forgets what’s stressing her out as soon as she see’s me getting her food container.. also grab his favorite ball & play with him so he forgets about the fireworks or what ever noise has stressed him out. There’s a supplement called ”
… Sometimes when a dog feels better when eating a new food they will be more hyper & play more that’s a good thing, I love it when Patch plays & act like a nut, it means he feels good & isn’t sick with his IBD….
I feed “Canidea” Pure Wild + TOTW… Which Canidae formula are you feeding & did you take 7-10days to slowly introduce the new Canidae formula?… when poos start going sloppy when introducing a new kibble stop adding the new kibble & add more of the old kibble for a couple of days then start adding the new kibble again, if your boy has a sensitive stomach give “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain, Roasted Lamb a try, it’s a single protein kibble with just Lamb Meal & has limited ingredients, single protein & limited ingredients are best to feed a dog with a sensitive stomach…My boy does real well on the TOTW Sierra Mountain, Roasted Lamb formula, it’s my go to food when he’s having a IBD flare & I get him all well again….
If his poo’s don’t firm up on the Canidae, the read what are the ingredients are, what fat %, Fiber % & protein % is & keep a diary…..

[anonymous]

“Ppl dont ever give ur dogs “human” glucosamine and chondroitin!!!! Glucosamine is an amino sugar and should be the same regardless if it’s in a human or dog supplement. However, human supplements can contain ingredients that may be unsafe for your dog. Some ingredients that humans use daily can be fatal to dogs. … Glucosamine supplements designed for dogs are better. Spend the extra cash and get the G & C modified for dogs…”

Exactly, better yet, don’t give supplements at all, unless recommended by a veterinarian that has examined your pet. Supplements are not medication.
Most supplements are scams.
This is not veterinary advice; consult your veterinarian.

[Susan]

Hi C f
Did you know Glucosamine was first researched & tested, on Race Horses & worked a treat so they started to give dogs with joint problems Glucosamine & Chondroitin, how do you think they test most of our medications?? they test on poor animals..
also human grade medications & supplements are of better quality then the dog & cats medications….Just read the ingredient list on any dog Joint supplements & you’ll find they have the same ingredients as the human joint supplements except dog medications & supplements will be double the price..

[C f]

Ppl dont ever give ur dogs “human” glucosamine and chondroitin!!!! Glucosamine is an amino sugar and should be the same regardless if it’s in a human or dog supplement. However, human supplements can contain ingredients that may be unsafe for your dog. Some ingredients that humans use daily can be fatal to dogs. … Glucosamine supplements designed for dogs are better. Spend the extra cash and get the G & C modified for dogs…

[HoundMusic]

“Just an idea – Everything I read tells you that yeast is caused by sugar and starch turns into sugar. And what foods are high in starch? Potatoes! Try taking her off starchy foods. ”

Yeast is not caused by sugar; however, sugar is a food source for yeast. That being said, the myth that carbs will cause a yeast infection is a perfect example of how correlation does not mean causation. Yeast may require carbs to survive, but so does every other healthy cell in the body. When yeast or bacterial infections are chronic, it normally signals a deeper problem going on, namely, an autoimmune or hormonal issue. Speaking personally, as someone with severe hypothyroidism, “yeast starving diets” may kill off some of the nasty little buggers, but the dietary deficiency of complex carbohydrates will only further sicken the “host” and worsen the underlying condition.

Thyroid issues are a major cause of recurrent yeast infections in animals and humans. Even if thyroid is borderline low, it depresses the immune system and the will yeast multiply like rabbits.

Some of the worst bacterial/yeasty ears I have ever seen were on dogs fed prey model raw. Many, many years ago, I had a Shepherd mix who developed a recurrent infection several months after being placed on a zero carb raw diet. In that instance, he had one weepy, disgusting ear for the rest of his life, and was on every ear treatment imaginable. There were no deformities, etc. of the inner ear, either. I went back to raw for some unfathomable reason about 3 years ago, and several of my older dogs developed ear infections, amongst a plethora of other issues. from about 2014-2016, I was pumping their ears full of different meds, even the steroidal Zymox. One poor old hound couldn’t even properly aroooo without flapping his head to and fro 🙁 Two months on a moderate grain home-cooked diet, and voila! Ear/eye/rotted teeth conditions begin clearing up without the use of medications. Even my dog with hypothyroidism/cancer got well enough to be weaned off thyroid supplementation.

So I don’t buy that lowering the carbs is a solution for yeasty ears. Instead, get to the bottom of what is causing the dog to be unable to ward off the infections – is it a hormonal imbalance, an autoimmune disease, a systemic bacterial infection or food/environmental allergy running down the immune system?

[anonymous]

@ Angela

It would be best to take your dog to a veterinarian for an examination and a diagnosis.
I would refrain from giving the dog antacids and other over the counter meds and supplements not intended for veterinary use. Unless the examining vet recommends.
What someone says worked for their dog may not be best for yours.
There are many reasons why a dog would exhibit the symptoms you described.
Many medications and supplements are not benign and have side effects.
Taking 3 or 4 different meds to treat the same condition is called polypharmacy, common among the elderly. Healthcare professionals discourage it.
Ps: Eating grass is not normal and could be an indication of GI upset among other things.

[Cathy B]

Thanks anon! Yep, that’s the joint supplement I just started. LOL. I know you don’t like a lot of supplements, but I read up on it..and just wanting to help my sweet lil man.
He’s been on Cosequin for a long while, and it seemed to stop helping so I wanted to switch over to something new.

He’s also been on pain meds for years ( he’s my problem child.) He’s had back pain and 2 surgeries and vet said to always have pain meds on hand for him.

He’s never had a problem with them and I never give except once in a long while.
I did notice the one time I gave the Tramadol he was able to rest and get some slee

You and a few others are a blessing on here :0)

[anonymous]

If your pet is having a positive effect from the tramadol, then I would continue it as prescribed. Carprofen also known as Rimadyl is a very effective pain med for canines, however, not all dogs tolerate it well if they are on it for a while, GI symptoms such as diarrhea have been known to occur. So, I would use it for pain (as prescribed by the treating vet), but would stop it and call the vet if side effects occur.
As far as supplements go, I have no use for most of them. A lot of scams out there.
Just read the ingredients:
Guaranteed Springtime Analysis
MSM, 99%
(methyl sulfonyl methane)
300 mg/tablet
Glucosamine HCL, 99%
(shellfish extract)
250 mg/tablet
Desiccated beef liver
200 mg/tablet
Chondroitin sulfate, min. 90% purity
(bovine cartilage extract)
175 mg/tablet
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
125 mg/tablet
Carrot powder
100 mg/tablet
Citrus bioflavonoid complex, 40%
100 mg/tablet
Hesperidin, 85%
50 mg/tablet
Rutin (vitamin P)
830 mcg/tablet
Ingredients: dextrose, microcrystalline cellulose, MSM (99%), glucosamine HCL (99%), desiccated beef liver, chondroitin sulfate (bovine cartilage extract – min. 90% purity), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), carrot powder, citrus bioflavonoid complex (40%), hesperidin (85%), stearic acid, and rutin (vitamin P).

I prefer science based veterinary medicine http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=arthritis

[Cathy B]

Hi anon, my vet gave me Tramadol pills a few months ago for my 14 y/o tiny Chi after he had another hernina surgery. I did give him one a few nights ago as I could see he was hurting from Arthritis.
I also have Carprofen. Which should I use for pain?

Just started Springtime joint supplements hoping they do him some good.

[anonymous]

Have x-rays been done? Bloodwork? The first thing you need is an accurate diagnosis.
At age 13 (senior) I don’t know how aggressive you want to get about treatment, but I would consider making an appointment with a Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist.

I would direct your questions you have to the vet, I would not give him anything (over the counter meds, supplements) unless recommended by a vet that has examined him.

Call the vet in the morning and leave a message for him to call you back when he has a minute.

[Kathy B]

No, the vet did not specifically say to give the supplements I did because I was giving to our 11 year old girl, will stop immediately thanks!

[Susan]

Hi why you need to feed more cups of kibble with certain brands of kibble & some kibbles you need to feed less cups is the Kcals per cup amount, the higher the Kcals per cup, you will need to feed less kibble….
You may find kibbles that are higher in Kcals per cup may cause more Intestinal Stress cause the kibble is more dense…..
A Kibble should be around 360 Kcals per cup & under when a dog has Intestinal Stress any higher then they may start to have digestive problems….. I hope this isn’t the case with Molly… Vet diets for Intestinal problems are around 360 Kcals per cup….. if you have any problems with a high Kcal per cup kibble then start feeding a kibble that isn’t as dense & are under 370Kcals per cup & feed a kibble that has 1 protein with limited ingredients….

If your dog continues to do sloppy poo’s or has diarrhea daily she’ll end up with thickening of the bowel & you’ll end up with a dog with IBD when she’s older….. I’d start her on a Probiotic like Purina Forti Floria to make her gut healthy & strengthen her immune system & start adding healthy foods high in Omega 3 to her diet… I would also stop giving her the Glucosamine supplement until her poos are firm, did your vet say to give the extra Glucosamine to an 18 month old dog that has no joint problems & has diarrhea ?

[crazy4cats]

Hi Kathy B-
Have you taken in a stool sample to be tested. Puppies (especially rescues) often get worms and parasites. Coccidia and Giardia are especially common in young pups. Doesn’t matter what food you feed if they have something like this. They both can cause intermittent loose stools.
I would quit adding those other supplements while your pup continues having this issue. It makes it too hard to know what is causing the diarrhea when you are changing and adding too many different things. Forti Flora, although is an excellent probiotic that helps with diarrhea.
I had this issue when I first got my dogs. I know it’s frustrating!!! Best wishes 🙂

[anonymous]

Of course it is related to Lyme disease or some other neurological disorder. See a specialist asap, the dog should be loaded up with antibiotics as much as possible (sometimes several times) as determined by the examining veterinarian. to kill the tick borne illnesses.
The damage may be done.
Supplements are a scam.
See an internal medicine veterinary specialist asap, the dog has to be correctly diagnosed first.
Dr Google doesn’t count .

[Emily V]

I have been using the raw diet on my dogs fro over 10 years and forums have been a lifesaver for me. I’m hoping you all can help with a mysterious lameness problem in our 2 year-old German shepherd. I’ll try to be as brief as possible here on the sequence of events that were observed:
1. Tsavo discovered a deer carcass in our woods and was chewing on the bones.
2. About a day later, he was slightly lame in his back leg. No physical causes were detected. he had some diarrhea.
3. The lameness moved to his left forefoot about two weeks later and became more pronounced. He would sometimes yip when jumping off the bed. The lameness would improve if he ran around but worsen when he was at rest or walking.
4. Tsavo then began marking in the house and the diarrhea increased.
5. X-rays indicated no issues. The vet confirmed Lymes and erlichia tick diseases were present so Tsavo was treated. It was discovered Tsavo also had crystals in his urine and he was also treated for that. He was also given a homeopathic liver cleanse. Most of the marking behavior and diarrhea disappeared, though he was still lame.
5. After some research, I began supplementing Tsavo with cranberry pills and ascorbic acid, thinking there was a remote chance that the lameness was caused by pain from urinary crystals. After two days, the lameness and marking issue were resolved.
6. A week later, my daughter discovered that Tsavo found an errant bone from the deer carcass and he was chewing on it. The next day, Tsavo had a slight limp in the same foot. He also had diarrhea. It’s been about three days and he currently is not marking, but the lameness is getting worse, despite my continued use of cranberry and ascorbic acid.

Help! What could the lameness be attributed to? I don’t think it’s related to Lymes or erlichiia because there was no relief after he was treated for those diseases….

[Bobby dog]

You’re welcome! 😉

Check out the canned foods I listed in my other post as well. From your comment they might be another option for your pup. It’s always nice to have a back up plan.

One other option is making balanced home cooked meals. I have been doing this a few times a week for a few years now. I am currently using Carnivore Blend supplement from Balance IT. The recipe options are great and easy to concoct using their Autobalancer recipe menu. You pick the ingredients and it tells you how much supplement is needed to balance the meal. Their customer service is very helpful if you have any questions.

https://secure.balanceit.com/

[anonymous]

Natural Balance is loaded with potato and sweet potato which doesn’t agree with some dogs that have sensitive stomachs, hard to digest.
Glucosamine chondroitin is a supplement and may not be necessary. What does your veterinarian recommend? I would go by that.
Go here for science based veterinary medicine
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=glucosamine
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/herbs-and-supplements/

Pro Plan sensitive is a good food and often recommended by veterinarians.
Zignature is a quality kibble, grain free, potato free. My dogs do well on the Whitefish (lowest sodium content of all the Zignatures) I would add a splash of water and a bite of real food.

[anonymous]

Pro Plan sensitive is a good food and often recommended by veterinarians.
Zignature is a quality kibble, grain free, potato free. My dogs do well on the Whitefish (lowest sodium content of all the Zignatures) I would add a splash of water and a bite of real food.
Natural Balance is loaded with potato and sweet potato which doesn’t agree with some dogs that have sensitive stomachs, hard to digest.
Glucosamine chondroitin is a supplement and may not be necessary
Go here for science based veterinary medicine
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=glucosamine
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/herbs-and-supplements/

[Susan]

Hi, I don’t think a raw diet is a good idea at the moment especially if her immune system is compromised, tripe made my boy feel real sick & vomit, tripe is very strong & rich, if you do feed raw, only feed fresh human meats, no pet meats, pre made raw & no bone, the bone is very hard to digest & premade pet raw has bone in it unless you get the cat pre made raw, cat pre made raw seems to be of better quality of all the pet meats, cats are very fussy…..Patches Naturopath advised not to feed any pet shop pre made raw meats, it’s bad quality especially if you have a sick dog…. I used a supplement to replace the bone & organ meats… “Natural Animal Solution” Digestavite Plus Powder it balances the diet, strengthens the immune system & fixes the gut, you only need to add to 1 of the meals added once a day, but it’s Australian made by Naturopath Jacqueline Rudan she does export her NAS products but not to America, she helped me get Patch onto a raw diet here’s her link click on the “Maintenance Diet.. http://naturalanimalsolutions.com.au/Shop/2016/03/15/maintenance-dog-diet/
you pick 2-3 veggies & 1-2 fruits, I pick broccoli, celery, carrot & apple, peel & de seed, chop up & put thru a blender & blend to a pulp then I froze in 4 spoon sections, what I needed for 1 day meals & I froze the Kangaroo mince & chicken breast all cut up in 1 cup sections, I had to add 1 cup raw meat & 1-2 spoons of the veggie/fruit mix.. but your dog will lose more weight on the raw diet, she needs to fix her stomach first make it healthy again, she’d be better eating a cooked diet, feed at least 3 meals a day, feed her the amount of kibble she needs in smaller meals, then a cooked meal for another meal & see which meal she keeps down & digests best.. I like the Canidae Pure Meadow you don’t need to feed as much, all Patch needs is 1 & 1/2 cups a day & with the TOTW it’s 2 cups a day so not much to digest when you break the meals up…
Jacqueline made me add a digestive enzyme & probiotic to the raw meals but I think the Digestive Enzyme digested the meal too quickly in Patches stomach cause 20mins after eating the raw meal, 1 cup kangaroo mince mixed with 2 spoons of the blended veggie/fruit mix Patch would burp & all digested raw bits of meat & water would come up into Patches mouth & onto the floor, I thought his sphincter flap wasn’t closing properly from his stomach to his esophagus & foods was coming back up but I think the digestive enzymes made the raw meal digest way too quickly & when he burped the raw was still in his stomach & it came flying back up & out of his mouth, raw didn’t work for Patch, he kept regurgitating it back up & got bad acid reflux, back then I didn’t think it was the digestive enzymes causing the problem but now when I look back it was the digestive enzymes, I should of stopped adding them to the raw, but I think his stomach wasn’t healthy enough to cope with a raw diet at the time, I started to cook his raw food made into rissole balls baked in the oven & boiled sweet potato & mixed it all together, he did heaps better on a cooked diet then a raw diet, I’d cook once a week every Sunday & freeze it all but I still feed kibble TOTW 7am & 5pm feeds & the cooked meals for 12pm & 8pm feeds the kibble seems to work the best for him once I found a kibble that digest easily…It’s hard to keep the weight on so more smaller meals are needed thru the day this way the stomach & pancreas don’t have to work over time digesting 1 big meal of food, you can buy those feeding machines you put the kibble in & set the timer so she gets a small meal while your at work, you need to work out how much to feed her & feed her an extra 1/2 a cup that’s when I feed the cooked or wet tin foods as extra meals to keep the weight on… Patch should be 18kg +40lbs…
If a dog eats 4 or 5 times a day they don’t poo 4 to 5 poo’s a day, my boy just does 2 firm brown poo’s a day & he eats 5 smaller meals….
Have a look at her poo’s, what colour are her poo’s, yellow, green/black, are they soft, cow patties or firm? I’m just wondering if she is doing yellow sloppy poo’s or a greenie black poo’s ?

[Soph M]

Hey guys! I think that I’m going to use bone meal to supplement my dogs homemade food. What brands do u guys recommend?

• This topic was modified 8 years, 7 months ago by Soph M.

[shandi h]

So I have been looking into this raw diet stuff for about a week now. I watched “Pet Fooled” on netflix and I will admit it really woke me up to what is going on with pet food. Recently I lost my service dog that was an american bull dog. I lost her to Osteosarcoma. It was the hardest day of my life. It’s been a while and I am still not healed from that but we have decided to get a new dog. We have found a wonderful newfoundland pup who is coming to our home Thursday!!! I have been trying to do this research on my own but I’ll admit it’s so over whelming I can’t handle it! We have another dog but let me say this other dog is part goat, she has to be because she can eat ANYTHING. This new dog however I want to make sure is started off right while I correct the other dog’s diet to what is right!

So, I can’t understand the raw diet. There are no set ideas. No blueprints to go through. Is there a dehydrated diet I could use? That tends to be a bit cheaper for now. ALso, the vet said canned isn’t as bad should I try that? Also, I’m still going to give him the yogurt, eggs, liver, chicken broth and supplements. That’s easy for me but its everythign else that is confusing. HELP. He will be 10 weeks old on Thursday and around 28 pounds. How do I start this? Is there a site that has a set menu or grocery shopping list I can go by? I’m so very new to this. I don’t understand all the terminology yet. I want to do this right. Please help! He will be on NuVet as well as Mega C plus. I need to know exact portions like 1 cup of this, 2 tbs of this, 2 eggs, 1 tsp of coconut oil… yadda yadda. I can follow those!

[DAVID M]

Reviewing the list of ingredients of all so-called “natural” foods I find, always at the end of the list: Viatamine supplement, calcium, magnesium, etc.
These are artificial additives, chemicals that are added.

Why then do we call them “natural”?

[anonymous]

Regarding supplements: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-supplements-herbs-dangerous-2017-5
On the back of virtually any bottle of supplements are two words that strike fear into the heart of Pieter Cohen.
The words are printed inside a small square on the back of the bottle beneath bold lettering which claims to list the supplement’s ingredients: “Proprietary blend.”
Under the protective umbrella of these two words, a supplement maker does not have to list all of the details of what’s in its product, according to Cohen, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
This “allows companies to put in ingredients without telling us the amounts,” says Cohen, who spoke on a recent panel put on by The Forum, an event series organized by the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. “And those tend to be the higher-risk product.”
The risks can be serious. Several supplements have been linked with an increase in certain cancers; others have been tied to an elevated risk of kidney stones. Although this research has been widely published, supplements continue to send roughly 20,000 people to the emergency room every year.

Cohen likes to compare the safety framework for supplements with that for food. “In food,” says Cohen, “they have to meet what’s known as the “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS, standard. That’s not the standard for ingredients introduced to supplements. The standard is not anywhere near that level of scrutiny.”
There are some laws regulating dietary supplements, however. In 1994, Congress established the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) to address the labeling and safety of supplements, and several more recent regulations mandate that manufacturers observe what are known as “good manufacturing practices,” or GMPs, including ingredient testing.
Under the DSHEA, ingredients listed under the “proprietary blend” category don’t have to include information about individual amounts of ingredients in that category. Instead, they only have to list the total amount and list the ingredients within the “blend” in order by their weight.
This can be a huge problem when it comes to dosages, as certain amounts of the listed ingredients could have dangerous side effects or negative interactions with prescription drugs.
“From a regulatory perspective they’re all presumed to be safe but the reality is many people….are harmed by supplements,” says Cohen

[Marie P]

This was set up for a 11 month old Boston Terrier at 16 pounds )
YOU will need to ADJUST the feeding amount for your Dog’s Weight

VERY Easy
WE have had Good luck with this Recipe:
This recipe uses egg as a binder; bake it like a meat loaf, with bread crumbs. As presented here, with these ingredients, it is about 30 percent protein, 25 percent fat, and 38 percent carbohydrates.
If you need Wheat FREE bread crumbs – here is a link: to Gillian’s Foods
http://www.gilliansfoodsglutenfree.com/products/index.php?cPath=29&osCsid=15aad74dac45e25945dd8f62963644c1

FEED Daily: for the Boston Terrier:

2 ( 1 inch size slices of the meat loaf ) 2 x per day ( for you size dog ) ( 15-18 pound dog )

( at night you may want to do 1 1/2 slices ) – JUST see if he is hungry

SNACK-
( FEED 1/4 cup of a quality Dry ( LOW grain or NO grain Kibble per day ) – as a snack

WE like the Fromm’s Brand of Dog food – also Blue Buffalo is good:

Recipe:

CHOOSE 1 meat:

2 lbs fairly lean *****( YOU will do Ground Chicken or Ground Turkey ) ( skip the beef )/ for this month-

3 cups of bread crumbs – plain – See Wheat free link above if you need it –

1/8 of a cup 2 % low-fat milk

3 large eggs

2 teaspoons of CRUSHED eggShell — – Smash it ( it’s for Calcium)

1/2 cup cooked vegetables ( green beans/peas/ others) ( grated and mush) *** ( TRY GREEN BEANS but cut them up orSmash them )

( do not put the NuVET into the Recipe ) –

(YOU can not balance this Recipe without a Quality Supplement)

*** 1 NuVET wafer vitamin ** each day – see below: ( PER DAY PER DOG ) ( NuVET is a must to balance out home cooking )

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1/8 teaspoon LOW SALT tamari soy sauce

order your NuVET here- I do get a small % and give BACK to Pet Rescue

go here: http://www.nuvet.com/81098 ( you are looking for the NuVET Plus Wafer ) – if you go on auto ship you save 15% on every bottle
use my Name if they ask you – Pet Nurse Marie

BAKE
* press the mixture into a casserole dish so it’s 1 to 2 inches thick and bake at 350°F for 30 to 35minutes, or until set and lightly browned.

[Marie P]

Salmon dinner for dogs, Woof food!
Salmon Dinner for dogs
Glad you have her on a good supplement; TRY this recipe:

3-4 bs. Wild caught salmon ( frozen is fine if you can’t get fresh) – COOK the Salmon,
5 cups brown rice cooked to mushy texture
1/2 chopped garlic clove – fresh
2 cups fresh cabbage – steamed / or Fry
1 1/2 cups of zucchini ~~ steamed / or Fry
3-4 tablespoons Olive Oil

1 Daily multi-vitamin
( NUVET PLUS, (1) per dog, daily … NOT sold in stores
MUST be added in order to balance the meal. To order NuVET Plus see here http://www.nuvet.com/81098 ( green bottle)
( order Discount code 81098 or call 1-800-474-7044 Tell them Pet Nurse Marie sent you

( never home cook without out some way to balance your recipes.. vitamins and often bone meal are needed;

1. Fry salmon, vegetables and chopped garlic clove in olive oil until salmon is tender.
Will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

– GARLIC is totally safe in small amounts and cooked.. buy fresh garlic. it’s actually a natural antibiotic

FEEDING a 50 to 60-pound dog this amount: ( PLEASE adjust to your dog’s Weight )

FEED him / her 2 1/2 cups in the am and only 1 1 /2 to 2 cups in the PM of the salmon meal —
PLEASE NOTE : this is a higher protein diet so do not give this to pets with PANCREAS issues

[Marie P]

Place your dog on a high-quality salmon oil ( I like the ones from Alaska) – Grizzly is a good one. Also, start on a Daily supplement to balance out the nutrients and help the immune system; See here; Normally 1 to 1 1/2 per day — Got to http://www.nuvet.com/81098 and tell them Marie sent you for the Green Bottle – made in the USA / Human grade quality, not pet level grade. ( code 81098 if you want the auto ship deal ) Call 1-800-474-7044 and they can suggest the exact dosage for your dog’s situation

[anonymous]

No, I am not aware of any “natural” heartworm or flea/tick preventives that are effective.
Also, if the dog tests positive for heartworm, the treatment that works to save the dog’s life is very harsh. Same with Lyme disease, nasty disease if not caught early.

Some science based information you may find helpful here http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=heartworm
Nothing is being sold at that site, no supplements, no books, no miracle cures, no membership fees………

[anonymous]

Excerpt from Chewy, only one review so far, I would ignore it 🙂
https://www.chewy.com/purina-beneful-grain-free-real-farm/dp/143869

Chicken, Pea Starch, Cassava Root Flour, Chicken By-Product Meal, Soybean Germ Meal, Soybean Meal, Canola Meal, Beef Tallow Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols, Dried Beet Pulp, Poultry and Pork Digest, Mono and Dicalcium Phosphate, Soybean Oil, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Blueberries, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Spinach, Minerals [Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Biotin (Vitamin B-7)], Choline Chloride, Iron Oxide (Color), Garlic Oil. A-4096.
Caloric Content
3522 kcal/kg, 349 kcal/cup
Crude Protein
24.0% min
Crude Fat
13.0% min
Crude Fiber
5.0% max
Moisture
12.0% max
Linoleic Acid
1.2% min
Calcium
1.0% min
Vitamin A
10,000 IU/kg
Vitamin E
100 IU/kg

[Mon C]

Thanks everyone for helping out with really useful info. Ive put in an order for the HK base mix and waiting for delivery. Looking forward to share how things will go, I am still studying what nutrients are missing from the mix, and I might end up also getting additional supplements like the Missing link maybe.

Cooking by steaming or boiling lean cuts of meats is the best option we could afford right now (time and budget wise), then Ill probably shred it post cooking and put in the base mix. The puppy load shared by Susan looks really good, I will also give a go. Thanks!

[zcRiley]

She may need more exercise to increase her appetite. Or too many treats that may taste better than her food. Or the food is starting to go stale quickly (in what you keep it, dogs can smell it before we do). For the latter, I distribute a 27 lb bag into 7 airtight containers with liners inside that I twisty tie as the food goes down. Anyway, I went through all of these situations, it’s a fine tuned balance of type of food/supplements /exercise/snacks/rest. And it changes as they age. For me, I learned it was sticking to a strict daily routine or their eating habits and weight go astray. Until you find an appropriate food your dog likes, adding things to it like toppers, broth or canned won’t resolve anything.

[anonymous]

A little high in the calorie department, so you may want to keep an eye on his/her weight
Nutritional Info (per Chewy’s site) Also, add a splash of water, maybe presoak? See what your vet advises.
Ingredients
Salmon, Canola Meal, Brewers Rice, Barley, Oat Meal, Fish Meal (Source of Glucosamine), Animal Fat Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols, Salmon Meal, Dried Egg Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Natural Flavor, Inulin, Fish Oil, Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Folic Acid, Biotin, Sodium Selenite.
Caloric Content
3,905 kcal/kg, 447 kcal/cup

[anonymous]

When I prepare toppers to add to kibble, I defrost, chop it up (I use utility scissors, seems easier) then I stir fry in water and cook. I then mix it in the kibble with a healthy splash of water. Maybe make a 2 day supply and store in a airtight container in the fridg.
I use chicken breast, steak, egg, ground turkey. I occasionally use tuna right from the can (canned tuna is cooked already).
I don’t use pork. I don’t use HK. I just use a quality kibble.
I don’t serve large chucks, possible choking hazard, or they will wolf it down and ignore the kibble. I do give about 1/2 raw carrot as a snack here and there (no baby carrots).
But, make sure your dog isn’t a gulper. Good luck
Ps: If you are interested in science based veterinary medicine this is a good site to visit http://skeptvet.com/Blog/
Nothing is being sold there, no supplements, no books, no membership fees.

[Susan]

Hi Jessica, my boy has IBD Skin Allergies, Food Intolerances & Pancreatitis….he needs a diet high in Omega 3…When I have feed any vet diets for his IBD & Skin problems that had fish, oil, soybean oil, coconut oil he got bad acid reflux, same with premium kibbles, if they had fish or salmon oil, he’d get acid reflux, he grinds his teeth when he gets his acid reflux….. I’m the same I cant take any fish oil supplements, I get acid reflux…

The other day I won $100 to spend at the Chemist, I asked the lady pharmacist what can I take for my arthritis, I need Omega 3 but every time I’ve taken fish Oil capsules I keep burping up the fish taste & get acid reflux, same as my dog, she told me Krill Oil capsules are more milder & are easier on the stomach, good for people with digestive issues like yourself, so that’s something to remember..

I follow “Rodney Habib” on his facebook page & I’ve learnt a lot about healthy foods
to add to Patches diet, I’ve also be adding them to my diet as well lol
Almonds are very high in Omega 3 fatty acid, a dog can have 3 Almonds a day but I bite 1/2 of the almond & I give Patch the other 1/2 of the almond this way it’s the size as a small kibble & I tell him to chew it, I started with just giving him 1 almond a day then after 5 days, I gave him 2 x 1/2 almonds a day, till we got too 3 almonds a day….
K-9 Natural, freezed Dried Green Lipped Mussels are very healthy & not greezy….
Sardines, Salmon & Tuna in spring water or Olive Oil, not brine, I give Patch small tin salmon, all water drained, I add some boiled sweet potato & broccoli as a small meal…. Patch has a beautiful shinny coat but I do feed “Canidae” Pure Wild Boar kibble for a few of his meals, I rotate between a few different things & have made his gut healthier & stronger, when I rescued him he couldn’t eat anything without having sloppy, bloody poos or up 2am having diarrhea it was awful, now 4 yrs on & he can eat pretty much anything as long as it isn’t any food’s he’s sensitive too….
I’ve read a few dogs haven’t done well on the Honest Kitchen formula’s, I think it’s the freeze dried pieces of veggies & meat, they stay small, hard & don’t reconstitute back to bigger, softer veggies & can’t be digested properly causing intestinal problems……
Dogs can’t chew their foods like we do & don’t have salivary amylase (digestive enzymes in their salvia) so they can’t break down the Cellulase walls in the vegetable, fruit or grass,
Cellulase digests plant matter, that’s why when you feed a raw diet you have to blend & break down the veggies, fruit & make them into a pulp liquid…Same when a dog eats grass it either comes back up vomit or comes out in their poo undigested, the Chlorophyll in the grass settles their stomach…. I let Patch eat a little bit of grass no longer then 1 minute, it can cause diarrhea, it cleans him out…
*Foods High in Omega 3 fatty acids are
Spinach
Chia Seeds
Flax Seed Oil cold pressed
Canola Oil Patch does best when the kibble has Canola oil, Flax Seed Oil (No Acid Reflux)
Almonds
Walnuts
Green Lipped Mussels
Sardines, Mackerel, Salmon, Tuna
Soybeans
Tofu

[crazy4cats]

Hi Soph M-

I just wanted to give you my review of http://www.balanceit.com. I have formulated four or five recipes on this site and I try to feed a homemade meal every couple of weeks to my dogs. I have a couple using ground turkey and a couple with ground beef. You can choose to add a carb, fruit and/or veggies also. Or, just meat. In addition, you can choose the percentage of protein, fat, carbs and calories you want the meals to be. You just have to play with the variables a little bit. Then it spits out a recipe stating which and how much supplement you need to add to it to make it balanced. Viola!!! My dogs love when they get their homemade meal and I don’t worry that not being balanced.

Good luck!

[aimee]

Hi Soph M,

I’d heard of Hilary’s Blend but never really took a look at it until now. I have multiple concerns which would lead me to pass. The major concern I have is this: “Its exact composition is a trade secret.” Without knowing what is in the supplement no one can check her formulations. Secondly, the recipe example uses vague ingredients that will have very variable nutrient profiles. ( canned applesauce, tomato sauce). Additionally, she states all the recipe meet AAFCO yet includes a chapter on renal patients. (A correctly formulated diet for renal patients in need of diet modification would never meet AAFCO.) Finally, she calls herself a pet nutritionist which rubs me the wrong way. The term is meaningless, I can call myself a pet nutritionist too. Though she doesn’t hold any advanced degrees in nutrition, she is formulating for dogs/cats with disease conditions.

Hilary’s blend falls far short of the parameters I look for when I compare to balanceit. I have no hesitation to use balanceit but lots of red flags in regards to Hilary’s blend.
Hope that helps!

[anonymous]

Evidence Update–Homemade Diet Recipes for Your Pet are Unreliable

I’m sure if your dog was hungry enough she would eat whatever was available.
I like to use a quality kibble as a base with a splash of water and a bite of cooked protein mixed in, such as scrambled egg, chopped chicken breast, ground turkey, chopped up lean beef…..
A raw carrot (1/2) as a snack here and there.
Offer meals twice a day, leave food down for 10 minutes, pick up and put in the fridg, offer at the next mealtime. Have fresh water available at all times.
If they don’t eat times 72 hours, call the vet.
An occasional fast is a good thing 🙂
Ps: Why would I add supplements/vitamins? Check with your vet, but I don’t think they are necessary.
Otherwise, you could consult a veterinary nutritionist, for a diet formulation specific to your pet.

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

[Soph M]

Hi Aimee,

Have you heard of the Hilary’s Blend supplement and cookbook? If so, what do you think about it? Is it comparable with the balance it supplements and recipes?

[Soph M]

Hi Anon101,

She was recently checked out by her vet and everything is good with her health.

If you think that supplements are scams what do you recommend to make sure that she gets all the vitamins and minerals that she needs when being fed a homemade diet?

She won’t eat kibble, and I like making her food at home, but I need o make sure that she gets everything she needs.

[anonymous]

@ Soph M
Please listen to a vet that has examined your dog. A lot of misinformation on the internet.
For science based veterinary medicine go here: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/
Use the search engine at this site to look up topics.
Do you have any specific health concerns regarding your dog?
Bones are the worst thing you can give a small dog (under 20 pounds) this is based on my personal experience. Also, use the search engine here to look up various topics.

Ps: Has your dog had a checkup and labs recently? I strongly recommend annual exams, lab work as indicated, professional dental cleanings as needed
Also, most supplements are scams.

[aimee]

Hi Soph M.

While I’m sure the woman at the pet store meant well the advice you received was inappropriate and will over time surely lead to problems.

Strombeck’s recipes were based on the nutritional information known at the time but today are considered unbalanced. Additionally, multi vitamins differ significantly in nutrient profile and because human supplements have increased the Vit D levels in them in response to human findings the levels are too high to supplement a canine diet.

If you haven’t yet looked at balanceit dot com please do so. There is an interactive tool in which you can choose what ingredients you want to feed and them it balances the diet and tells you how much of the balance it supplement to use. Balance it is run by a boarded veterinary nutritionist.

[pugmomsandy]

dogaware.com has a homemade diet section with supplement suggestions. Also, on youtube, search for “Homemade Dog Food Recipe Rodney Habib” for a 3 minute video. You can also get supplements from balanceit.com.