[Anonymous]

This article is 5 years old, but I thought it might help http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=3189 See excerpts (out of context) below

Waking at night may occur for reasons other than cognitive dysfunction, such as pain or discomfort. Dogs who are feeling discomfort may pace, pant, vocalize or be restless at night but may not show any physical limitations during the day. The effects of pain or sore muscles may be more noticeable to the dog at night.

Melatonin may help create a normal nighttime sleeping cycle. This supplement should be given at bed time on a regular basis. Combined with a predictable nighttime routine, it can help create a normal sleep pattern.

Pharmacological Treatments

Sometimes medications may be helpful to induce sleep. Benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety medications) such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), or oxazepam (Serax) may be given. These medications are relatively quick acting but don’t last long so administration must be timed carefully. Medication should be combined with other recommendations described above.

Generalized anxiety may be reduced with medications such as SSRI’s or TCA’s but these medications require many weeks before positive effects are seen. Cognitive dysfunction symptoms may be reduced with selegiline (Anipryl), which when given in the morning may help to keep the dog more alert and active during the daytime. Old age onset of anxiety may reflect the additive effect of lifelong learning or be a sign of progressive decline from cognitive dysfunction.

Expected Outcome

Nighttime waking may be caused by medical or behavioral changes common in senior dogs. Often these problems may be managed and good sleeping patterns can be re-established, though many of the underlying conditions may be persistent and worsen with age. Quick intervention is important since undesirable habits may form quickly and people may become frustrated when they sleep deprived.

[Kate L]

From what I have read on dog nutrition, a dog doesn’t need special senior food. In fact, often those foods are lower in protein and senior dogs need more protein. I stick with high protein all stage dog food. Plus, I make dog food to supplement the bought. A senior dog may just need less volume. Mine is doing splendidly on Instinct dog food. He is close to 11.

[Anonymous]

I have a 15 year old small breed dog that is constantly hungry too. I took him to the vet for a senior workup and his blood work came back better than mine.
Anyhow, I suspect he has a little dementia going on, he sometimes gets up at night and goes to the kitchen, barks at the fridge.
The vet told me these small dogs often have some spinal degeneration issues which can cause them pain/discomfort. He does have these episodes of agitation…..but often he just needs to go out. The vet prescribed something for his discomfort that he gets twice a day and this has helped. He is calmer now.

I feed him 4 small meals per day, a mix of wet food, kibble soaked overnight in water in the fridge doubles in size so he thinks he’s getting more, maybe a bite of cooked chicken.
I add a little water too, as I rarely see him go to his water dish.
He did well on Wysong Senior, but is getting Nutrisca now (wet and dry)

The other thing I give him is a combination low dose of a supplement and otc med at bedtime (approved by his vet).
I am reluctant to tell you what I use, I would prefer that you talk to your vet and have him prescribe something that will help keep your dog comfortable. Your dog just had a physical that ruled out medical, so it shouldn’t be a big deal if you leave a message for your vet to call you back to discuss options.

Some dogs tend to get confused and agitated as they age.

[Andrew B]

Well, your dog is too old and suffering from lots of issues, then I’ll suggest you to add Salmon Oil in your pet’s daily diet that helps you to keep your pet fit and healthy for all seasons. Also it’s recommended by most of the all health and nutrition experts and the best supplement of Glucosamine, omega-3 and fatty acids. Make sure always prefer to use fresh, high-quality salmon oil in your pet food to keep your pet fit and healthy.

[Susan]

Hi my boy suffers from acid reflux, two years I’ve been battling with new diets, ant acid meds etc & this is what I have found..
You are better of leaving him on the Pepcid instead of stopping & re starting it again, the burning acid can burn their throat, esophagus & even cause ulcers if he hasn’t already got an ulcer..the Pepcid will relieve his discomfort…
Slipperly Elm Powder is suppose to be good google how to make a slurry paste..Slippery Elm coats the throat, stomach & stops nausea, you can add about 1/4 teaspoon slippery elm powder to their meals…I’ve never tried adding with meals, I was going to try if this new diet doesn’t work.. I’ve ordered the Royal Canine Intestinal low fat kibble as much as I hate vet diets, I’ve run out of kibbles & wet tin foods.. I live Australia & low fat diets are very hard to find the weight loss diets are low in fat & are higher in fiber & you need to avoid high fiber diets I’ve read..
I add about 1/2 teaspoon of the Slippery Elm Powder in a glass & add boiling water & stir till I have a thick paste but not too thick, I put about 3mls in a syringe when it cooled…this seem to help Patch but I hate giving him any meds, herbs, supplements..
I had him on Zantac as the Zantac doesn’t interfere with the bowel like other ant acids do.. now I give liquid Mylanta 3mls in a syringe, I make about 2 syringes up & leave in the fridge, the cool Mylanta soothes the throat & stomach…
I give 3mls Mylanta at 6am 1/2-1 hour before breakfast then if I see Patch unwell or feeling sick thru the day I give another 3ml Mylanta…it taste yuk but he lets me give it to him, so it must make him feel better normally he runs when he has to take tablets & see the syringe with water but with the Mylanta he doesn’t run away..I have found the Mylanta relieves Patches acid instantly..

You need to book your boy in for an Endoscope & Biopsies to see what is happening…blood test will not show if there’s anything wrong with his stomach only his pancreas, has he had the blood test for his Pancreas? All Patches blood test came back good & he had all the symptoms of Pancreatitis again..so Patch had Endoscope & Biopsies last December his stomach looked good the vet said, no ulcers or any scaring from old ulcers, lucky he had the biopsies as well, they found the Helicobacter-Pylori infection, he was given the triple therapy antibiotics & Zantac for 3 weeks but as soon as the course was finished he had his real bad acid reflux again, so vet said keep him on the Zantac twice a day every 12 hours which I did for about 1 month then I stopped his Zantac to see if his acid reflux came back, I changed his diet again to a lower protein.. & was just giving the 1/3 Zantac 150mg tablet every morning 6 am 30mins-1 hour before food & I stopped the night Zantac & he seemed OK & if he did wake thru the night licking lips, I give Mylanta..

I cant find a real low fat wet tin food only the Royal Canine Intestinal Low Fat or the Hills I/d Low Fat GI Restore they have boiled rice & Patch can’t eat boiled rice it gives him diarrhea, he can have grounded rice in kibbles, so I soak Patches kibble & drain all the water real well when the kibble is swollen then put thru a blender & its like wet tin food but has the low fat & low protein 8%-fat & 22%-protein.. I also cook Extra lean beef ground mince made into little rissoles balls, I also buy kangaroo mince for a change & blend a carrot broccoli & celery & add with the mince & bake in the oven & hardly any fat comes out of the extra lean beef or Kangaroo mince..

I would cook then freeze little meals, a low fat meat with blended green veggies, broccoli, celery, beans, kale etc or another wet tin food where the fat is 2% & under….The Wellness Stews are 4%-fat so when converted to dry matter (Kibble) its 16.2% fat, that’s pretty high in fat… & put him back on the Pepcid if it works for him, some of the Wellness Stews have potatoes or sweet potatoes, I was looking for another recipe last night for acid reflux & it said stay away from starchy veggies, Potatoes, Legumes & sweet Potatoes & give Pumkin, Squash, Rutabaga Turnip instead.. here’s the link… http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/acid-reflex-gerd-in-dogs-cats-natural.html
I’ve read Kale is good, it has Chlorophyll what is found in grass, it settles their stomach & digestive upsets.. so I’m going to try adding some blended kale to his rissoles as well..

[Anonymous]

I would stop all gobbledygook supplements and pumpkin stuff, maybe this is what is making him nauseous.
What does your vet who is prescribing the cerenia and okaying the prn pepcid recommend?
If the GI upset has been going on for a while, I would seek out a specialist to get an exact diagnosis and treatment options.
Less is better, keep the diet simple. A healthy dog can tolerate a variety of foods.
Just my opinion.

[weezerweeks]

My yorkie seems to have this. He throws up about every 2 weeks. The cerenia or Pepcid clears it up but I don’t like giving drugs. He is on canned weruva and wellness stews at the moment. I give him Mercola’s probiotic and digestive enzyme. I have also been adding a teaspoon of pumpkin. I read he should be on low fat and low protein diet. I know his food is high in protein but low in fat. If I give low protein and low fat then that will mean high carbs and I don’t like carbs. Any suggestions on food and supplements that would help this. I don’t want his esophogus damaged. He does not have loose stools. He just throws his food up about an hour after he eats. He had blood panel and urinalisis in Jan. He is 7 now and I was going to wait until Jan. to have it again. I do it yearly but do u think I should have it done now? Thanks

[crazy4cats]

Hi Jamie B-
Have you had a fecal test done to rule out worms and/or parasites? I’ve had good luck with canned Fruitables digestive supplement and The Honest Kitchen’s Perfect Form to help firm up stools. The website http://www.dogaware.com is a great resource in my opinion for digestive disorders. Check it out!

I’ve had great luck with Victor dog food. Good luck!

[DogFoodie]

Hi Kate,

I know you just spent about $275 on the NutriScan, but I recently had a food sensitivity test by Glacier Peak Holistic. The test results are the result of biofeedback energy collected from DNA on hair and saliva samples you send them. My test results are extensive. It tests 34 animal proteins plus numerous other fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, oils, spices as well as environmental sensitivities. Plus, it makes recommendations for beneficial supplements. It also identifies possible concerns to address with your vet. The test was $85. My test result yielded some surprises. I talked to two friends who received their test results at the same time and they feel the results are highly accurate based on past elimination diet results.

Here’s a link: http://www.glacierpeakholistics.com/More-Than-an-Allergy-Test_p_80.html

One problem with lamb, is that it’s frequently high in fat. So I understand, are you looking for a food that is lamb based and pea free? One that comes to mind is California Natural Lamb and Rice if you’re not opposed to grain.

[InkedMarie]

I personally don’t want to pay for produce in my dogs food; I can give them that separate if I want to.

I only give eggs 3x a week, salmon oil 3x a week, 1tsp diatamaceous earth 3x a week, Bug Off Garlic daily and my oldest gets some joint supplements.

[Pitlove]

Hi Jamie-

Some follow up questions for you– How old is he and has he always been eating Merrick? If not, what other brands have you tried with him? Did they all contain beef? Has he had issues with beef before? If you did switch to Merrick from another food was this recent and did you allow enough time with the transition to allow his stomach to adjust to the new food?

My large breed dog used to be picky as well. He wouldn’t eat when I had him on only kibble. He even refused to eat if I put canned food on the top of his kibble and even more so if I took a pate style food and mixed the kibble in with it. Finally I tried sprinkling the kibble on top of the wet and BAM he loved it. Now he eats no problem. I also offer him a variety of foods and it’s kept him from getting bored of the food. Also I found that with my dog when I added a diegestive supplement and a probiotic (I use human kefir) to his diet he was able to switch foods and his stool remained firm. Now he only gets loose stool if he gets into something he shouldnt eat (like the half a pepperoni pizza he ate the other night!!)

• This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by Pitlove.

[Marta W]

Mary we’ve been or raw for a month this week, so maybe she could have new protein.
i am thinking beef or pork mixes. Also i was going to get her turkey necks separate.

DO you know if feeding that is all she needs or should i give her some supplements?
RIght now her food has veggies mixed in but she wont have that with Pawfectly Raw.

[Andy B]

Lindsay,
I have 2 brother maltese/pekingese mix that will be 14 in Dec. They are both on Royal Canin LP Modified Renal dry. This was from a vet’s recommendation and it has only been about 3 months. It cuts back their protein intake, although I mix a tablespoon of cooked chicken breast in with their meal as well as about 2 tablespoons of water. Also, I am still mixing Blue Buffalo Grain Free Wilderness Chicken recipe with it. I am going to switch to Orajen to mix with the RC instead of BB. (didn’t realize BB isn’t as good as I thought it was) Also, I have a 12 year old Italian Greyhound. She has an enlarged heart and the vet recommended RC Early Cardiac dry. She has been on that for almost a year. Doesn’t like the taste too well, but does finally eat it. Same program as the brothers with the chicken and water, but no BB. Both RC foods are vet prescription required. All dogs get a multi vitamin once a day and a cosequin joint supplement once a day. The Greyhound takes a cardiac pill called Cardial. She gets 1/4 of the tablet twice a day. They are all very active and no weight problem.

[sharon b]

Following! I started a thread on raw for large breeds but have not seen any recent comments. I thought I was mixing raw in their kibble, an 8 y/o husky and a 6 m/o Newf, only to find out the package “Vital Raw” is misleading and not Raw. I was going to just switch to raw as my pup has an ongoing infection when I read on another link of a man losing his 9 & 1/2 y/o Pitbull to I believe it was e-coli from chicken, but may have been salmonella, so decided to wait and see how others weigh in on this. It does not seem this has been an issue for others. I did want to ask a bit about the supplements though as others recommended omega 3’s and salmon oil’s for mine, but you mentioned flax seeds. Do you grind those daily and add them? Just a comment about flax seeds, as they are only active the day you do that, as they oxidize and then are of no benefit otherwise, including all the gel-tab’s etc. The market has us fooled, I am an R.Ph and learned that in an continuing Ed, only helpful w/ husks off for a couple hours.
Because my dogs are so big this seems like a very expensive way to go, even though I know it’s healthier. Does anyone do kibble in the AM, and Raw in PM? What about all the hormones in the meat from grocery stores? All concerns of mine.
Also for those of you that grind, how? Do you have a special grinder that does the bones? Trying to figure the most economical way to do this?

[Dina H]

My dogs love this company’s food…I use the beef with tripe HVM (healthy variety mix), pork HVM, lamb HVM, duck HVM, chicken hvm. They love it all but esp the beef with tripe. I pick up my monthly supply in Quakertown and I know that they deliver to New England and New Jersey as well.

I will also use the Honest Kitchen dehydrated mix called Kindly and add this to their food…soak it well for 20 min to rehydrate and then I mix the raw with the Kindly. That product has the following ingredients and it is the only dog food out there that is HUMAN grade:

“Dehydrated carrots, organic flaxseed, dehydrated parsnips, dehydrated peas, dehydrated celery, dried organic coconut, dehydrated pumpkin, dehydrated chard, dehydrated organic kelp, dried marjoram, dried garlic, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, potassium iodide, potassium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, thiamine mononitrate.”

[DogFoodie]

Wysong Epigen is good product, Pitlove. It’s worth a try, but it also quite possibly not food related.

That said, I have a Golden whose seasonal allergies became very apparent to me this spring. He was eating a particular food that he’s always done great on when seemingly out of nowhere, he had yeast infections in both ears. He does have food intolerance issues also, and in the past, when he’s reacted to foods, he’s had the same type of reaction which resulted in yeast infections in his ears – usually his right ear. But, this year, I was able to relate the timing of the onset of his symptoms to seasonal environmental changes. Looking back, it happened the same time last year. I was starting him on Springtime’s Bug Off Garlic and I attributed his ear infections to him reacting to that. I’m still not certain whether or not he’s intolerant of garlic.

One thing I did that seemed to help was to add Quercetin with Bromelain, Papain and an Omega 3 supplement to help the scratching. I could tell a difference. My dogs allergies have improved as the particular pollen season that seemed to affect him the most has decreased a bit. We’re still not in the clear, but I’m formulating my strategy for next spring.

Another thing you might consider doing is preparing a rinse of diluted white vinegar. Use it to clean his feet and wipe off his legs and belt with it every time he comes in from outside. Vacuum frequently. Keep indoor cleaning products simple and natural. The sensitivity could also be to products in your home; ie: cleaning products, new carpet, bedding, etc.

A raw diet would be great, but it’s OK if you’re able to do it currently. Since you’re interested, talk to your boyfriend and find out why he feels uneasy about it. Would he be feeding your pup at times? Maybe you could assume sole responsibility of feeding him if your boyfriend is uneasy about it. Also, half raw is better than none. Maybe you could try a commercial raw – that’s sometimes easier to stomach for queasy feeders. It’s also agreat way to be sure you’re getting balanced meals. A dehydrated food like The Honest Kitchen would also be less processed than kibble. I’d probably choose a grain free one like Zeal. Raw isn’t for everyone. My Golden isn’t a fan of raw, unless it’s tripe, which he eats eagerly. Another option would be canned food.

Allergy testing is notoriously inaccurate. I actually had a hair and saliva test recently that tests samples using biofeedback energy. The test was affordable for me, but I’m struggling to make sense of the results. My integrative vet and I were discussing another test, Dr. Jean Dodds, NutriScan test as likely being the most reliable, but still limited in scope and possibly accuracy. So, you’re better off with an elimination diet for food intolerance issues and developing a strategy for dealing with your pup’s environmental sensitivities.

There was someone here who was feeling with an issue with a food the same breed as yours and she ended up figuring out that it was a specific new detergent she was using. She stooped using the detergent and the symptoms disappeared. She had started using Gain lavender. She and her pup went through h*ll until she figured it out.

I know how frustrating it can be. There’s an awful lot of us here dealing with similar issues. You’re not alone! Good luck!

[Alasdair D]

Hi All,

First post, so please be a bit gentle….

As an introduction, I live in the UK and have 2 Deerhounds. One is 10 years old and one is 10 months old. The pup has been fed raw since birth and I converted the old lady to raw when we got the pup 6 months ago. The old lady had been fed raw many years ago, but I got lazy and moved her onto Royal Canin some years ago at a vet’s recommendation. Over time, she developed some skin problems, but the move to raw has cleared that up completely and she now also has more energy.

Anyway….what I am looking for is some advice on the diet I currently feed them. I will describe the “go to” menu, but be aware that I do chop and change depending on what is available and also feed lamb rib bones and other raw meaty bones often.

I normally feed the dogs twice daily. Breakfast is a raw mince and vegetables (see below) meal and dinner is normally raw chicken wings or quarters.

The mince I use is made from ground chicken carcasses so has about 15% bone, and also has about 10% added offal. It is all human grade chicken meat with no additives or preservative whatsoever – just pure ground up chicken parts.

For the vegetables, about every month or so I buy a load of leafy greens, carrots, sweet potatoes (the orange ones) and broccoli, then grind it up really fine in my food processor and freeze to use later.

I use about 1/3rd veggies and 2/3 mince for the breakfast meal – and I also add a supplement that I make up from equal weights of powdered kelp, brewers yeast and ground flaxseed. Each dog gets a desert spoonful of this powder with their breakfast.

That’s the typical meal plan. Both dogs love it, the pup appears to be in phenomenal health and the old girl is much better than she used to be.

So, I am really looking for comments on this….. I think it covers most of the bases in terms of protein, fat, carbs, vitamins and minerals, but I want to know if there is something I am missing or anything I can or should add to improve their diet.

Let me know what you think!

Many thanks,

Alasdair

[M M]

We have been using V-Dog for 10 months with amazing results in our hyper-allergic English bulldog. Only after switching to V-dog did we learn through allergy testing that she is allergic to milk and every kind of meat (tho’ we suspected at least some meats were an issue as we tried ~6 types). To the person who has never heard of a dog being allergic to meat, you’re welcome to call our vet and discuss our dog’s case. It happens. A week after we adopted her, her previous owner commented that she has “allergies” but he didn’t specify details and we had never heard of meat allergies. I had to buy a cone collar to keep her from scratching herself raw.

The first vet we saw recommended a novel protein diet so we proceeded to try salmon then various rare protein and grain/potato-free options. I didn’t notice any changes in her intense whole-body itching, skin yeast and bacterial infections, and ear infections, so I figured we had not given it enough time to show benefit as I was told it takes 3 months after switching foods to notice a change.

We switched to the V-dog a week after our pup had a severe allergic reaction with facial and airway swelling, wheezing, and hives that failed to resolve with 2 steroid injections and oral prednisolone. She gobbled up the V-dog and begged for more, which was a huge change from me having to lace the other foods we’d tried with peanut butter or moist food (which she often would just lick off and leave the kibble behind).

Within a few days of switching to V-dog we noticed a dramatic reduction in the itchy-scratchies, yeasty body smell, yeasty ears, red face after eating, and watery eyes after eating. Her hives resolved and thanks to her improved smell I was able to wait 2+ weeks between baths (vs 3x/week with medicated shampoo as previously directed by our vet). Her hives totally resolved. The bald spots in her coat filled in and now her coat is thick and shiny.

A while after switching to V-dog, I tried giving her a fresh raw meat knuckle bone which she gnawed at for 2 minutes then promptly threw up and then refused to touch it. I thought maybe she didn’t like the raw aspect, so I cooked meat and made homemade broth from bones, at which point her allergies dramatically worsened. Stopped the meat, allergies gone.

The V-dog is expensive, but we happily pay for it as our dog is now healthy and happy. She was so miserable before. When we go to the vet for routine care she and her staff all say how nice it is to see a healthy bulldog. We also supplement with coarsely ground home-cooked beans and veggies (especially kale and broccoli), which she devours. We give her plain organic PB mixed with freshly ground flaxseed for treats. For training treats we just use the V-dog kibbles since she loves them so much. She also loves and begs for raw carrot sticks and fruits like thin apple slices, mashed cherries/berries, watermelon, and banana (tho’ we heavily limit fruit to small amounts due to high sugar content and also give watermelon from near the rind to limit sugar).

I would like to find a home-cooked food option in case there is a time when we can’t get the V-dog (and also it seems that baked kibble is not really an ideal food, despite how well she does with it compared to other kibble and moist foods), but for now I am very happy to support the company. The vet told us that we should stick with V-dog as it is working so well for us.

Of note, our dog also has environmental allergies, but as long as we vacuum to keep dust/pollen at a minimum she does fine. I do limit her time outdoors during the worst of the pollen season. But even if her allergies flare from pollen they are nothing like what they were before the V-dog switch.

[Anonymous]

The Skeptvet has finally released his long-awaited review of Dr. Jean Dodds’ book “Canine Nutrigenomics.” The full review can be found here:

Canine Nutrigenomics by Dr. Jean Dodds: Science as Windowdressing

The Skeptvet provides many citations of peer-reviewed research to support his critiques
“Please note that not all of these points are critical of Dr. Dodds–the Skeptvet does agree with her on some topics, such as fish oils”.

Bottom Line
While Dr. Dodds’ book is a mixture of fact and fiction, science and pseudoscience, plausible ideas and outright nonsense, overall the work is deeply misleading. It has little at all to do with nutrigenomics or epigenetics, despite the title and claims to the contrary, and it uses real science primarily to give an aura of legitimacy or authority to claims which are unproven or outright false. References are employed in a manner that suggests an academic research summary with conclusions based on scientific evidence. The reality is that the book is a collection of opinions, some plausible and some not, supported in most cases by very little evidence and in some cases clearly contradicted by this evidence. The references employed are often simply other people’s opinions or, in some cases, Dr. Dodds’ own opinions reprinted elsewhere.

The recommendations made for and against specific feeding practices and dietary supplements are mostly typical for proponents of alternative medicine, and they stem from ideology and philosophical beliefs rather than scientific evidence. Occasionally, such claims turn out to be true, in the manner of a broken clock which happens to be right twice a day but this has little to do with the underlying principles. And while there are a few evidence-based claims here and there in the book, and some recommendations I would agree with, overall Canine Nutrigenomics is misleading, misguided, and in conflict with the best evidence and expert consensus in veterinary nutrition.

[Susan]

Hi Jen, I know what your going thru, for 2 years my boy has the same gulping fits, swollowing & swallowing, he had Endoscope & biopsies done, last December, biopsies found Moderate to chronic Lymphocytic gastritis with associated spiral bacteria infection..(Heliocobacter-Pylori) vet was surprised that his stomach had no ulcers or scaring from old ulcers & the stomach look really good, vet couldn’t get into the small bowel cause his lower pylori spincter was close & the only way to get more answers was to have Patch cut open & have more biopsies on small bowel to see what is happening, I said NO, I cant do that to him cut him open & then do what, we already have tried all the medications…. I thought once he takes all the meds for his Helicobacter & & a diet change (Vet Diet Royal Canin Gluten free Duck & Tapioca) everything will be great… when the meds were finished, he started his has swallowing & swallowing attacks again, more when he eats cooked foods or raw diet, he starts regurgitating & water comes up & then he swollows & swollows the water…I think his esophageal spincter isn’t closing properly.. I have it, its called non ulcer dyspepsia, vet said he has acid reflux & he was put on Losec cause the Zantac or Pepcid wasn’t working no more…
You know how you said he’s on the Hills Z/d so we know its not the food PLEASE PLEASE try another food, my boy didn’t get better on the Hills Z/d…..a few other people I know from a Face Book group said their dogs also didn’t do well on the Hills Z/d vet diets…. at first we thought he was doing better cause Z/d has more insoluble fiber, so it moves thru the stomach quicker, then diets with more soluble fiber but now when I look back it was probably the Ant-Acid meds that stopped his swallowing & swallowing attacks….also low fat diets help…look for a new diet that’s limited ingredient, novel protein & 1 carb “California Natural” has hypoallergenic diets, their Lamb & Rice has just 4 ingredients, http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products & see if you see any improvement & try a different ant acid maybe Zantac if you don’t want to use a Pump Proton Inhibitor (Losec or Somac) I found Somac to be better as it didn’t affect the bowel like Losec did …You keep saying you know its not the food but have you tried any other diets, I would be trying a new diet before trying any medications, I’ve learnt along the way that food seem to work the best & supplements… Lew Olson has a great face book group called K9 Nutrition & she helps & answers all post…..

Finally after Patch not getting better up & down some nights with these swallowing attacks, …I feed a Hypoallergenic gluten dairy sugar FREE Salmon & Sardine kibble that’s is 10% fat that I soak in water till its soft then drain all water very well then put thru a mini processer blender for a few seconds it comes out like wet tin food & what a difference it has made I’m not being woken up thru the night ….its not 100% we still have the odd swallowing attack (acid reflux) sometimes cause I’ve been introducing new foods to the diet, I just give 3 ml liquid Mylanta & the Mylanta seems to help & stops the swallowing & swallowing attacks….
Sometimes you need to do things yourself as vets aren’t real good with nutrition & dog foods they stick with their vet diets & think they’re great, I tried them all, Hills being the worst as it caused bad skin problems & they use chicken even though the chicken is broken down some dogs still pick up that it was once a chicken & have a reaction with the Z/d diet.. join this Face Book group, there’s a few dogs that have these swallowing attacks aswell “Dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disorder group” Good-Luck

[Terrina L]

Thats great news Heather! Im so glad things are going well. My dog Sushi has been on the supplement for about two months now. Our margins we not clean, hence the chemo. I did a lot of research on Japanese mushrooms (Maitake DMG). There are a few companies that make this but I choose Vetri Science since I found more positive reviews on this. I cant for sure say that this is working but it cant hurt. I found it least expensive on Amazon. Ive also give her apple cider vinegar (unfiltered, organic, with mother) and coconut oil (organic and cold pressed). They both help with itchy skin and allergies.

Here is the web site for the Maitake DMG http://www.vetriscience.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=9002204120
You can download a PDF file that will give you the information on the supplement.

[Anonymous]

At 11 she is a senior, could she have a little dementia going on? My old guy gets confused, sometimes he sits in front of the fridg at 2am and barks. He thinks it’s time for breakfast.
Ask your vet if there are supplements or otc meds or prescription meds that might help calm her so she is not as hungry and agitated.
I have a bedtime cocktail (approved by his vet) that helps, I hesitate to share it, as I am not a veterinarian. Plus, my old guy doesn’t have any liver issues…he has other age related issues though.

[Ginger E]

Thank you all for the information. Lucy is also on 225mg of Denamarin once a day. I am at work so I don’t have her exact enzyme levels right now, but they might be on the paperwork at home so I will check tonight.

We have tried to cut back on the amount of food, but she just seems ravenous. I supplement her food with frozen green beans to try and fill her up, but lately she has also started eating my daughters plastic toys – Legos and My Little Ponies have been mutilated. This behavior is just not normal for Lucy at all. Even when she was a puppy, she never was much of a chewer.

When I was feeding the Hill Scrip food, she was getting just over a cup a day – half in the morning and half in the evening. On the Blue Buffalo, she has been getting more than that just because it doesn’t seem to fill her up as much. She just seems to be continually starving and when she does eat, she starts choking because she is eating so fast – again, this is NOT her normal behavior.

She did have an ultrasound to look for signs of Cushings, but everything was normal – other than a slightly enlarged liver. It was nothing to be too worried about, according to the vet.

[Pitlove]

This is the GA for the Hill’s Metabolic and Mobility:

Average Nutrient and Caloric Content
Dry 3210 kcal/kg (291 kcal/cup†)

Nutrient
Dry Matter1
%
Protein 28.0
Fat 14.6
Carbohydrate (NFE) 36.2
Crude Fiber 14.9
Calcium 0.95
Phosphorus 0.7
Sodium 0.37
Potassium 0.88
Magnesium 0.159
Carnitine 400 ppm
Vitamin C 324 mg/kg
Vitamin E 741 IU/kg
Chondroitin Sulfate 1174 mg/kg (ppm)
Glucosamine 738 mg/kg (ppm

The protein is highER than most of their formulas and the carbs are low which is why it is meant to help your dog lose weight. I agree that the ingredients are sub-par. Prehaps look for a food with better ingredients but very very close %’s on the GA. This food also contains Chondroitin and Glucosamine for the joints. I’m not sure if a senior formula would contain those ingredients but be high enough protein and low enough carbs to help your girl lose weight. If you switch to something that is better quality and the same %’s on the GA make sure you add a joint supplement.
I have heard really good things about this product: http://www.naturvet.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_images.tpl&product_id=39&category_id=7&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=4

Edit: Remember a “weight loss” food does not work if they are taking in more calories than they are burning. If your senior dog is less active make sure to decrease the amount they are eating as well to aid in weight loss. Also senior dogs have a increased need for quality animal protein, not a decrease. Perhaps consider looking into a raw diet for her?

• This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by Pitlove.
• This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by Pitlove.
• This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by Pitlove.

[Dori]

Hi C4D. I figured that was what your concern was. I don’t think raw is an issue but if it will make you feel better than feed canned but please don’t forget that canned is not without it’s own bacterial issues. As to anti-inflammatory supplements I would look into feeding anti-inflammatory fruits and veggies. Just google them. I’ve never had any luck with turmeric or golden paste made with turmeric for any of my girls including myself. Also, don’t forget to avoid any and all pro-inflammatory ingredients. Google that also.

[Anonymous]

This is what I use http://www.gnc.com/GNC-Pets-GNC-Ultra-Mega-Hip-Joint-Health-Savory-Beef-Flavor/product.jsp?productId=61709686&cp=41316406.10772793.12946231

Pull up the label to see and compare ingredients. I wouldn’t be comfortable using a human product for this supplement, unless a veterinarian told me it was okay.
Some of these things can have adverse effects….also sometimes the ingredients that they use for coatings on human supplements don’t always agree with dogs.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by Anonymous.

[j316]

will like to give to 10 year old labs that are slowing down
Advanced Triple Strength Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM Plus

Serving Size: 2 Coated Caplets

Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 30 mg 50%

Manganese (as manganese gluconate) 1 mg 50%

Glucosamine Sulfate 2KCl 1,500 mg *

Advanced Triple Strength Proprietary Blend: MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), Chondroitin Sulfate, Collagen (hydrolyzed gelatin), Boswellia serrata (resin), Citrus Bioflavonoid Extract (Citrus limon)(fruit), Hyaluronic Acid 1,700 mg *

Boron (boron citrate) 1.5 mg *

Other Ingredients: Calcium Carbonate, Cellulose (Plant Origin), Vegetable Stearic Acid, Croscarmellose, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate.

Directions: For adults, take two (2) coated caplets daily, preferably with a meal.

Other Information: Contains shellfish (crab, shrimp, lobster, crayfish) ingredients.

[mike d]

u know what, for human can take the supps to loss weight, but not sure if doggy the same? if walk enough everyday, and take some [url=http://www.best-dietary-supplements.com/l-carnitine-34]L- carnitine[/url] which can build muscle and cut the weight.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Ronda-
Have you talked to your vet about your dog’s rising Ph level? Maybe a supplement can be prescribed that helps lower her pH rather than feeding food that does it. Also make sure the dog gets as much moisture in her diet and also as many opportunities to pee as possible. These two things can help flush out any struvite crystals if they form again. Good luck!

[jakes mom]

I don’t have any trouble with my dog, either. Finish one bag and start the next. If your pup has a sensitive tummy, tho, you can add some probiotics or digestive supplements to help with any GI trouble short term. There’s a whole forum on supplements here.

[aquariangt]

Haley-glad you popped over to the forum side, I remember your post from reviews-its sometimes a bit easier to get comparisons like this over here.

As far as my opinion goes: I love Fromm, Dani eats the 4 star grain free in rotation, and Liesl eats Gold and a few of the grain inclusives do to some food intolerances. Fantastic company. With their grain inclusives especially (and to an extent the gf) the protein levels can be a bit low so I supplement with toppers

Wellness is a good brand with a lot of variety in it. I use the CORE on occasion. I’ve never used Horizon. Rotation is best though, so I would say-go with all three!

[Heather H]

I hate that you are going through this, but I do hope all turns out well, I have faith that it will. All is well here, we are not doing chemo this time around the mast that was removed was low grade enough that it was not felt to be necessary as they felt it was removed with large enough margins during the surgery, but we check and double check for new growth often and we keep his coat clipped.
Would you mind giving me more info on the supplement? I am going to google it to see what I can find but if you don’t mind I would love to hear what your experience with it is.

Best of luck to you and your baby!

[Terrina L]

Hi Heather
I am going through the same thing 🙁 My little girl is on her last round of chemo. I too spent hours scowering the internet for any information. I’m sure that you have read on many sites that a low carb diet is essential for fighting cancer. I switched my dog to Evo. It has the least amount of carbs for the dry and the canned food has zero carbs. Also check into a supplement called Miatake DMG by VeriScience. My vet recommend that. I hope all is going well with your fur baby.

[Anonymous]

Hi, tal

I have 3 dogs. One senior small breed, 1 allergy girl small breed, and a young terrier.
I had to find a food that agrees with all three.
I am pleased with Nutrisca salmon and chickpea kibble (no grains or potato). But I add a little cooked chicken or lean meat and a splash of water. I order it through Chewy.com.
I get a 15 pound bag and divide it up into airtight containers or freezer bags and store it in the freezer or fridg to keep it fresh. I think the 15 pound bag should last us 4-6 weeks, we’ll see.
I also add a fish oil capsule and other supplements depending on the dog’s individual needs. Good luck.

[jolie q]

Has anyone tried Balanceit.com? Recommended and invented by vets, but that doesn’t always mean a good thing.

I’ve been home cooking a food issues girl and have been using these supplements. Wondering if anyone else has and if there are any similar alternatives?

[Jennifer H]

I keep some high quality frozen kibble in the freezer in case of emergency, if the power goes out just thaw it out and I’m good. I also have a flock of free range chickens, so my dog would be supplemented with a daily fresh egg. Also if the power went out the food would still be edible for the dog for a few days if kept in a cooler with ice. I also keep a few cans of dog food on hand in case of emergency.

I feed my dog a raw diet and I love it. I’ve been formulating my own recipes somewhat based off of HoundDogMom’s (check out her stickied thread.) but with more ‘parts’ aka a lot of variety in bones and meats. It’s been kind of getting to be a pain in the butt lately though, so I think I’m going to fully switch to her model with a few minor tweaks to suit my small dog. Instead of grinding my own meat I’m just going to be preground meat from Hare Today (probably going to use the whole rabbit and the goat instead of chicken/beef, and then use chicken necks and feet as his evening rmbs, because chicken bones are the only ones he can safely eat.)

Be careful feeding kibble and raw in the same meal. Some dogs can get digestive upset from this, although some dogs tolerate it fine.

[El]

Hi DO

There are 2 options for creating a custom diet for your dog on BalanceIt.com The first is for HEALTHY dogs and is called the Autobalancer. I found BalanceIt’s Autobalancer recipe generator to be a lifesaver for people who want to feed their dogs a nutritionally balanced homemade diet quickly and easily. While it may not be beneficial to everyone and it doesn’t have unlimited options, it certainly can be of great assistance to novices and anyone else looking for a simple way of entering the world of homemade diets!

https://secure.balanceit.com/recipegenerator_ver4/index.php?

The second choice is for dogs with a specific health issue and while you can create a recipe, you can’t view it or use it without a vet’s approval.

https://secure.balanceit.com/tools/recipegenerator/

ALL the free recipes use supplements from BalanceIt. There is a paid option where you can use human supplements that you purchase yourself.

[Kristin C]

Yes, I grind the meat and organs and add a supplement. I put the grinds in mason jars and freeze. It’s easy to thaw and feed inside.

I feed the RMB plus organs as a separate meal. I only feed these outside. My dog’s don’t touch the meat with their paws so we don’t have contamination concerns. I also watch them as they eat no matter what so I think that helps

[Miss Koa]

Thank you Red for the PDF. I hadn’t searched it. It has very interesting info. I appreciate that! I like that I can refer to it on my tablet because I have it with me all the time. 🙂

Hi, crazy4cats! Thank you for sharing your experience with me. I know, the thought of raw meat kind of gives me the heebie jeebies. 😀 Where can I find this “commercial premix” stuff? Is it expensive? Is it sold in regular stores or do I have to order it online? Right now I’m doing a raw chicken in the morning and kibble in the evening…at least until I can figure stuff out. 🙂 At least my husband isn’t complaining….yet. 🙂

Hi Kristin C! Thank you for your reply! What is “homemade raw”? Do you grind the muscle meat, organs and supplements together? Also, do you feed it at the same time with the raw meaty bones or are they separate meals? I’m glad to hear that you haven’t had any contamination issues. That’s my main concern. I am very diligent about keeping my kitchen and work area very clean. ( I’m a bit of a germaphobe…lol! ) I was concerned more like if my dog ate her chicken, then she walked around the house, would it get on my socks…then if I went to lie down, will it transfer from my socks to the bed….that kind of thing. 🙂 Maybe I’m over thinking this too much.

I agree. It is a process and I can’t say for SURE that this is the best diet…still researching…but I also feel that I like the idea of feeding my dog food that I know is not filled with unnecessary chemicals and fillers.

Thank you everyone for your opinions and input. I appreciate all the help I get! 🙂

[Kristin C]

Hi Miss Koa-I feed both my dogs raw, mostly homemade and raw meaty bones, no more than 2-3 kibble meals per week. The ratio between homemade raw and commercial raw I feed depends upon the time of year. Right now, I will buy more commercial raw since the summer gets busy and it’s also easier to feed RMBs. I also buy raw nuggets from Steve’s Real Food For Dogs. It’s not HPP treated though, which I prefer. I also order grinds and RMBs from Reel Raw in Maine, and occasionally get turkey necks from a grocery store. When I make homemade food it’s a combo of muscle meat and organs plus a supplement. When I feed RMBs I make sure I add matching organs in proportion (this is cheaper I am finding). I also add some fish oil and vit E a few time per week (or sardines) plus a raw egg and cottage once or twice per week.

I have not found feeding raw to have any contamination issues. When I make the food I take the same precautions as if I was making food for me and my husband. Children,and the ill, I would watch out for though as others have mentioned. I only feed raw grinds inside, I feed in small mason jars. RMBs I feed outside, but my dogs don’t use their paws.

The final thing I can add about feeding raw is that I think it’s great IF it works for your dog. It is definitely a process. I have changed how I feed my dogs several times in the last year, keep reading and form your own opinions on what works for your dog and household.

[Sarah M]

Hello All,
I have two Dobermans that tend to be on the thin side (vet confirmed). They are active but not overly so. Does anyone have recommendations for putting weight on a dog? Any dog food brands or supplements that have worked for you? I’ve tried upping the amount of kibble and canned but there’s a point where it’s too much food and they get loose stools. I also tried raw but they lost weight on the recommended amounts and it became cost prohibitive.

Thank you for taking the time to read my question!
Sarah

[crazy4cats]

Nicole-
You have received some great advice. One word of warning, be careful with the supplements if you are going to feed the Rx food. You shouldn’t do both as you will over manipulate her system’s pH.

[Nicole O]

Red,

We adopted her from the shelter and don’t know her actual breed but many have said she looks like a small American Eskimo mix. She is 5 years old. As far as diagnosis. Vet just told me she is prone to the formation of stones due to the struvite and that’s why she needs to be on the prescription diet. Prior to everything, we had her on Hill’s Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed Light Dry Dog Food. The vet said it is her food that cause the stones to form. We had only had her for 3 years and don’t know her prior history, the size and amount of stones removed from her bladder indicated that they may have been forming for a while. She nevershowed any signs of discomfort until her UTI.

I will ask the vet about supplements and will start adding water to her dry food.

[Anonymous]

What breed is the dog? How old is the dog? What are her diagnoses? What type or types of stones does she have?
What is wrong with only having 1 bowel movement a day, most dogs go once or twice a day (in my experience).
But is she is a little constipated, increased water in the diet will help.

PS: If you soak the kibble in water overnight in the fridg, it doubles in size, ask the vet if you can add a spoonful of cooked lean chicken or red meat. I would still add more water.
Ask the vet about supplements, fish oil, dog multivit, etc.
Make sure she is offered a bathroom break, the opportunity to urinate at least every 4 hours (every 2 hours is ideal) Keep the bladder flushed.

[Anonymous]

Do the research before adding supplements, for example: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=probiotics

[Anonymous]

PS: Some dogs experience nausea due to taking certain antibiotics…..if possible can your vet prescribe a different antibiotic? May be worth asking.

If the GI symptoms are related to medications the dog has to take, changing the food might not help. But adding water to the food may aid in relieving nausea.

Adding supplements (more gobbledygook) is not a good idea right now, unless your vet advises differently. Keep it simple.

[Naturella]

I second Marie and pitlove’s sentiments. Good food and regular brushing are key. My terrier mix sheds a ton, but on good food and supplements like coconut oil, canned sardines, fish skins, etc., his coat has become super shiny and soft, though shedding hasn’t stopped.

On another note… @pitlove, you live in the South too? So cool! So do I and a few other regulars (there are 3 of us in GA on here that I know of). I may be joining C4C up in the North-West sometime in the 5-year future, I hope! 🙂

[Anonymous]

http://www.chewy.com/dog/hills-prescription-diet-sd-canine/dp/54707

What’s wrong with the ingredients? Ask your vet if you can add a bite of cooked chicken or lean meat or scrambled egg…..

Water, Corn Starch, Egg Product, Chicken Fat, Pork Liver, Sucrose, Powdered Cellulose, Iodized Salt, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Sulfate, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic acid), Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, minerals (Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Beta-Carotene.

Also, have you seen this thought provoking blog and comments:

JustFoodForDogs Brings Us Some Classic Marketing Masquerading as Science

[Anonymous]

As you can see by using the search engine (bladder stones) and checking the various posts and threads at this site. The most important thing you can do is increase water intake, add water to all meals, 3 or 4 small meals per day instead of 1 or 2.
Offer frequent bathroom breaks, opportunities to urinate, observe for normal flow/amount/stream. Keep the bladder flushed to avoid stagnant conditions conductive to stone formation.
Otherwise I would defer to your vet regarding diet and supplement choices, at least till the dog has been stable for a while….then discuss changes with the vet.
Some types of bladder stones tend to recur, there is a genetic component to consider.

PS: Wysong has a prescription food, ask your vet if it would be appropriate….if you like the ingredients better http://www.wysong.net/veterinarian/

[Chrys H]

Gold Berry Balance very reasonably priced, a little goes a long way..plus it’s good for dogs cats horses etc, supplement added to dogs regular diet cleared Struvite Crystals & bladder shadows in 3 months for our 12+ lb Maltipoo female. Veternary’s Best Urinary Tract support for cats as a period supplement just for added protection