[Maniza D]

HOMEMADE DOG FOOD FOR DIGESTIVE AND SKIN ISSUES
My 13 month old Tibetan Terrier has been sick on and off since I got him at 14 weeks old. After spending thousands of dollars, I decided to cook for him. After doing a lot of research, I discovered that the Acana Pacifica he was on was too rich for him. Acana, like most dog foods does not have a balanced protein to fat ratio (1:1). It is a very fatty kibble. Also it has quite a few sources of carbs lentils ( which are also a source of protein) etc. Lentils are hard to digest, even for humans .. see Indian cooking where Hing is added to aid digestion of these pulses. The Acana ingredients may work well for other dogs but not mine. I decided to switch to homemade meals and the recipe below cured him of stomach ailments overnight!

I was able to create this recipe using BalanceIt website. Couple of important things to note : I added in one capsule of Slippery Elm, great supplement for digestive issues, rosemary, one teaspoon of fresh garlic-ginger paste, parsley, a half teaspoon of bonemeal, and substituted out a portion of the corn oil (causes inflammation) for 1/2 tsp of high quality fish oil. I also adjusted the ingredient quantity to cook for 14 meals ( 2 per day). I cooked the base consisting of the cod, salmon, sweet potatoes and pumpkin and froze the portions. The fresh veggies in the recipe are par-boiled and pureed in the water they were boiled in, and added on a daily basis, along with the above ingredients and a VITAMIN SUPPLEMENT. Very important to add the vitamins and bonemeal (for calcium) to create a nutritionally balanced meal. I add in the bonemeal because the calcium to phosphorus ratio is off in the BalanceIt Vitamin powder.

The following homemade recipe was specially created for a 28 lb healthy adult dog who requires 659 Calories per day. The following recipe provides 692 Calories, enough for 1 day.

TOBY’S HOMEMADE PET FOOD RECIPE
Ingredients Grams Amount
(1) Sweetpotato, baked in skin, without salt (BalanceIT.com; flesh fed only) 200.0 g 1 cup
(2) Fish, cod, Pacific, baked 159.5 g 5 5/8 oz
(3) Fish, salmon, Atlantic, wild, baked 74.4 g 2 5/8 oz – *I used canned
(4) Pumpkin, canned, without salt 61.2 g 1/4 of a cup
(5) Celery, cooked, boiled, drained, pureed, without salt 56.2 g 3/8 of a cup, diced
(6) Spinach, cooked, boiled, drained, pureed, without salt 45.0 g-1/4 cup
(7) Squash, summer, crookneck and straightneck, cooked, boiled, drained, pureed without salt 45.0 g 1/4 of a cup, sliced
(8) Apples, raw, with skin 40.9 g 3/8 of a cup slices
(9) Oil, corn, industrial and retail, all purpose salad or cooking 18.7 g 1 3/8 tbsp – *I use only 1.5 tsp.

You MUST also add the following supplement(s) to prevent essential nutrient deficiencies:
2 3/8 teaspoons (4.75 gram) of Balance IT® Canine – I give Toby half the dose.

Per Above Recipe: 692 Calories; 33% protein calories (228 Calories); 34% fat calories (238 Calories); 33% carbohydrate calories (226 Calories).

[Patty L]

I, too, am searching for the best canned food for my Corgi/Sheltie/Norwegian Elkhound mix. I supplement with Arthroplex by Thorne for joint issue prevention. I also supplement with Thorne Vet’s geriatric canine vitamins. I hope this helps. I so want our precious canine family members to live very long, active lives with us.

[pugmomsandy]

Foods do not contain a therapeutic dose of joint supporting supplements so that shouldn’t be a deciding factor for choosing a wet (or dry) food. I would check into separate powder, liquid, capsule or chewable joint/senior supplements. And if you haven’t already, check to see if she has any dental or gum issues and have a check up with blood work.

http://www.dogaware.com/health/arthritis.html

[crazy4cats]

Hi RobbW-
If you are feeding the Adult Chicken Blue Wilderness kibble, it has 415 calories per cup. Here is a link the the dog food calculator that may help you determine how much to feed your pups: /dog-feeding-tips/dog-food-calculator/

Raw food has a lot more moisture in it and most likely a lot less calories. You either need to feed less of their current food and exercise more. Or, find a food with less calories. I tend to feed lower calorie foods and add different toppers to my dogs’ meals. In fact, I feed commercial raw mixed in their meals three times per week. You could still feed partial raw along with kibble to help save money.

I agree with the others about not adding any supplements that advertise stopping urine burn to you dogs’ diets. Changing the pH of their urine could be dangerous. Best of luck to you!!

[anonymously]

I believe most supplements and “natural” remedies are a scam. I tried various things…nothing worked. Do you really think I wanted to go to a specialist? I am glad I did, as nothing else worked for my dog.

BTW: ASIT (allergen specific immunotherapy) is the most natural treatment available for environmental allergies. No drugs involved. Of course steroids and antihistamine medications and frequent bathing with Malaseb (sometimes twice a week for my dog, even now) may be necessary from time to time to stop the suffering until the ASIT takes effect.

I hope these articles help:
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/herbs-and-supplements/
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=allergies
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=probiotics

PS: I would not put anything topically on the dog unless prescribed by a veterinarian that has examined her/him, it could make things worse. We ended up at the emergency vet after I applied witch hazel to a rash.
Do not give over the counter meds to a dog unless approved by a veterinarian that has examined the dog.

[Jen T]

Thanks anonymous. I had read what you have posted here in other people’s posts and it’s very helpful. I wanted to know how I could help my dog unrelated to drugs to maintain allergies as best as possible. I will take her to a dermatologist but in the mean time, instead of using Cortisone cream is there another natural anti-itch cream that can be used? Do people supplement with probiotics and salmon oil? Do people use those spot on treatments to help with the skin barrier? I’m hoping to find some natural alternatives to help her while we find a dermatologist and get to the bottom of this.

[Oceans11]

Thank you, Marie P., for your recommendation on NuVet. After going online and reading an impartial review, I decided against using NuVet. Here is a link to the review https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/nuvet-pet-supplement-snake-oil/

[Shawna]

Hi Katie C,

There definitely is LOTS of opinions on right from wrong with raw feeding. I think there are three really important factors and everything else is just opinion — 1. No matter what you decide to feed, minimally processed food is always going to be an improvement over highly processed food. 2. The diet MUST be balanced. That said, except for calcium/phosphorus, the balance can happen at every meal or over a weeks time. 3. Variety in the diet (even if feeding commercial prepared, balanced foods) is absolutely a must.

I’ve been feeding raw to about 35/40 dogs over the last 11 to 12 years (my own and foster dogs). I’ve weaned pups onto raw and fed 19 year old seniors raw. I personally don’t feed grains or many starchier vegetables but if the pup isn’t having specific issues these can help keep the diet financially friendly. 🙂 I personally DO like small amounts of fruits (about 5% of total diet) and veggies (about 15 to 20%). They are not necessary, I will totally agree, but they do add a lot of nutrient bang for the buck when properly processed. Since our pups live in a somewhat toxic environment those extra antioxidants etc can only be beneficial in my opinion. I live pretty clean but my pets are exposed to formaldehyde in a few pieces of particle board furniture in my house as well as the anti-stain coating on furniture and rugs. I don’t spray my yard but my neighbors do. Then there’s car exhaust and………

I mostly feed commercial raw, right now I have more money than time. But I do buy meat on sale and use a premix to help balance it. I also have freeze dried raw, and even kibble, on hand for those days I literally run in to feed the dogs and run back out, or maybe I’ve got the flu and don’t even want to get out of bed let alone dish up meals for seven dogs.

There are recipes in books and online that you can use but, as mentioned, I don’t think it’s good to rely on one recipe all the time. Dr. Karen Becker has a book with recipes called “Dr. Becker’s Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats”. She uses a few supplements but, in my opinion, it’s better to use supplements (even synthetic ones) than to omit that vitamin / mineral from the diet all together because of a bias. Balance IT website is another place where you can create recipes using ingredient you chose and then use their supplement mix to balance the diet. You also DEFINITELY CAN balance over a week but you have to be way more committed to finding and using harder to find ingredients/foods.

To recap, best thing you can do is not get too wrapped up into what is wrong or right and just strive for balance using whatever fits best into your lifestyle, price range and belief system.

[Marie P]

HI there.. I do home cooking and all my dogs get the NuVET supplement powder or wafer to balance out home cooking.. it’s a liver flavor and amazing..
WE have been on the NuVET Plus for 9 years
http://www.nuvet.com/81098

it’s great for pets on commercial dog food too.. NO dog food will maintain all it’s nutrients because of the HEATING and cooking process. So that is why good quality supplement like NuVET Plus are needed..

[Marie P]

Becca mentioned the NuJOINT plus .. Also a great product.. The nice thing about this Joint supplement is it’s NATURAL, made in the USA and will help in about 2-3 weeks.. they give you a 60 day money back guarantee. My pets are on the NuJOINT DS and doing amazing , Learn more here .. Blue bottle NUJOINT DS http://www.nuvet.com/81098 NOT sold in stores , holistic

[Marie P]

The NuVet Plus helps to rebuild the immune system and fight allergens. Normally with a good quality food and the NuVET Plus you can fight off many allergens. Take a look at your environment too. Sometimes environmental issues will come up and it is a new allergen hitting your pets. See here as NuVET and Zyrtec are highly recommended by many vets for environmental issues – Many VETs offer this Dosage of Zyrtec along with the Natural NuVET supplement http://bulldogvitamins.blogspot.com/2015/07/does-your-dog-have-watery-eyes-itchy.html

[Susan]

Hi have you seen a Dermatologist?? a Dermatologist is the best place to start google one in your area they are a bit dearer then a vet but in the long run you will save money cause all vets do is relieve the itch with drugs & don’t find the cause of the problem…

With my boy it’s Food sensitivities & seasonal environment allergies….I don’t give any steroids as they suppress the immune system or antibiotics as they kill all the good bacteria in the gut & they need a healthy gut to have a strong immune system…. It sounds like you have been going around in circle….
With food did you try elimination diet ? 1 novel protein, 1 carb & feed for 2 months & add dog Omega 3, 6 & 9 Oil, with kibbles it’s too hard, unless you feed a kibble that just has 2-3 ingredients like “California Natural” Lamb & Rice, a few people use this kibble instead of feeding the vet diets….. http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products

With the shampoo which one did you use ? you have to make sure your using the right shampoo for the skin problem your dealing with….. Baths are the best for skin problems, you wash away any allergens & pollens on their skin & fur & if they have yeasty smelly skin, shampoos like Malaseb kill the bacteria & relieve any itch & redness they may have.
I use Malaseb medicated shampoo twice a week in the Spring/Summer months & once maybe twice a month give baths in the Winter months…..It depends if he’s starting to smell & itch at the moment it’s Winter & Patch has no yeasty smell & isn’t itchy, so I must have his diet right finally as soon as he eats a kibble with Barley & chicken he starts scratching & starts to smell yeasty, gets red paws, red under his mouth/chin & sometimes hive like lumps all over the white fur section of his body…when it’s food sensitivities some dogs have sloppy poos, bad farts/gas etc, it starts to do your head in…..
I take Patch for a walk & he’s fine, no itch, nothing, we go for a walk & Patch might walk under a tree or smell a bush that he’s sensitive too, then in 1/2 to 1 hour later he’ll get his hive like lumps all over the white fur on his body & start to itch, sometimes he doesn’t itch when he has his hive lumps… also when you change diet, add new supplements, bath in a new shampoo etc, you have to do 1 thing at a time, if you try a new supplement or add a new ingredient to the diet, it must be done with nothing else new added to diet or put on their skin that day or week, even treats you can not give a little treat cause it may have something he’s sensitive too…..Keep a diary….my vet said you’ll start to see a pattern & I did, I was at the vets the same times every year March/April & November/December that’s when vet said he’s got Seasonal Environment Allergies… & with food sensitivities it can take anywhere from 1 day to 6 weeks to show any symptoms…Patch was eating Wellness Simple he was doing really well then on the 4-5 week his poos started to get real smelly, yellow & soft, so I emailed Wellness & the lady said he’s probably sensitive to an ingredient, it happened on the Wellness Complete health kibbles as well.. so I rotate his kibbles now find, a few limited ingredient kibbles he does good on & rotate before the month is up.. I also cook his dinner, Pork & Sweet Potato & add DigestaVite Plus powder & Dog Omega 3, 6 & 9 Oil, so the meal is balanced…
It’s best to see a Dermatologist….. I’ve joined a Face Book group called “Dog issues, allergies and other information support group” http://www.facebook.com/groups/240043826044760/
the admins that run the group are very helpful so are the ladies in the group, they have links of Dermatologist in your area, prices & cost for blood test, some of the ladies do injections once a week, once the Dermatologist finds out what your dog my be sensitive too, then the Dermatologist de sensitises your dog from that allergen…has your dog been tested for mites?? also are you feeding chicken a lot of the Bull breeds Staffys /Pit Bulls are sensitive to chicken & have skin problems….

[Shawna]

Hi Erin N,

I would start by giving the good probiotic for at least for several days and then add the fiber at just maybe 1/16 to 1/8 tsp. Increase the amount over a few weeks. You can possibly use the human dosage given on the product you purchase as a guide but I would err on the side of less is more till you can judge how your pup is doing. Fiber 35 is no longer made but NOW and Garden of Life both have an acacia fiber supplement.

I wish I could give you exact amounts but I simply haven’t seen any reference. It is now easier to find data overall — they now refer to nitrogen trapping as enteric dialysis but I still have yet to see recommended dosage amounts.

This website has some info about how it works about halfway down the page. They are pushing low protein (which we know is not necessary) but it is the best source of info I’ve found on how nitrogen trapping actually works. http://todaysveterinarypractice.navc.com/nutritional-management-of-renal-disease-an-evidence-based-approach/

I’m happy you are starting the Standard Process Canine Renal Support!!!!

Wishes for your baby to have as much success with these products as my Audrey did!!!!!!

[Erin N]

Hi Shawna,

I have a 10 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback that has been diagnosed with stage II kidney disease. I have ordered the Standard Process Renal supplement and working on implanting some raw into her diet. I am very curious about the Nitrogen trapping. Do you have a suggested guideline for how much to give a dog per weight? Mine is ranging from 90-100 lbs (trying to get some weight back on her, currently 95 lbs, but always been 100-105).

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

[crazy4cats]

Hi again-
The food that worked the best for my dogs when they were going through a similar stage was a Victor’s grain free formula. But I’m not sure if it is suitable for a growing large breed pup. You also may want to think about using a supplement that contains a probiotic and ingredients that help soothe and heal the gut. I like and still use from time to time supplements such as Perfect Form, Vetri Pro BD, Gastriplex, Forti Flora or Phytomucil.

I have two lab/retriever mix male siblings who turn five this week. We had a rough start too, but are doing well now and can rotate between a few different kibbles and toppers finally without issue.

Best of luck to you. I know it’s stressful!

• This reply was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by crazy4cats.

[CircaRigel]

No. The dry food is very different from the canned version with regard to the ingredient profile, and even the canned is meant as a supplement, not as the dog’s full diet. Regardless of what the dry ingredients are, you MUST make sure that the mean calcium/Phosphorus ratio is approximately 1:1, and that it contains a maximum of 1.5% calcium. Most manufacturers list the minimum amounts, so you may have to contact Petkind directly to get the mean and/or maximum levels each variety contains.

[anonymously]

Environmental allergies wax and wane. Maybe this is why the dog was given up?
If the dog is suffering I would advocate for the dog, ask the vet to recommend to the shelter to have him seen by a specialist (as described in my previous posts). In my opinion, it will be cheaper in the long run. The best part is, the dog may feel and look better and therefore become adoptable.

Why would he want to walk and move around if he is bothered by pruritus.
You could try a dome dish to slow down his eating, the rescue may have one you could borrow.

Above comment is in response to:
“Regarding the allergy testing. I don’t think the rescue is going to do that at this point unless it’s recommended by the vet. His allergies are not severe I would say (not like our late dog who had terrible allergies). We just notice a bit of paw chewing/licking.”
And:
“He had a severe yeast infection and lost a lot of hair and was severely matted and had to be shaved down. His hair is growing back now and we’re giving him some fish oil supplements as well. He has been on occasion chewing or licking his feet/paws. I think that might be our grass and we’ve had another dog who was allergic to the grass and I can attest that it is very itchy for me to walk in it (I have grass allergies).”

[Oceans11]

We are feeding the Orijin Puppy kibble because we have a one year old also. Both are Coton de Tulears. They aren’t that active except they do run around and play hard in their area which is quite large. We tried feeding him Fromn Gold Adult kibble along with the can food but they completely ignore it. I am afraid I sound like an idiot but I am exasperated as to what to fed them. The two year old has been a finicky eater. So we keep trying to come up with something he will eat. If he doesn’t like it, he will go two days without eating. We have tried: cooking chicken breasts or thighs which the like but I am concerned they are getting the right mix of nutrients (when I add veggies and blueberries, they pick around and just eat the chicken.). We tried balance It Whole Canine menus w/the supplement and they wouldn’t touch it. We tried Basic Instinct t Raw with no luck. Tried Freshpet – they didn’t eat that after an initial meal. They are eating the Evangers canned chicken thighs supplemented with the Orijin Puppy kibble which we leave out all day. The reason we leave the kibble out all day is they often don’t eat the canned food right away. I think we are making feeding them way harder than it should be.

[Elizabeth A]

Thank you for all the posts regarding the allergies. I will definitely look over the links and do some reading. The rescue had recommends feeding grain free for skin issues. Most of his skin issues have cleared up. He had a severe yeast infection and lost a lot of hair and was severely matted and had to be shaved down. His hair is growing back now and we’re giving him some fish oil supplements as well. He has been on occasion chewing or licking his feet/paws. I think that might be our grass and we’ve had another dog who was allergic to the grass and I can attest that it is very itchy for me to walk in it (I have grass allergies).

Regarding the allergy testing. I don’t think the rescue is going to do that at this point unless it’s recommended by the vet. His allergies are not severe I would say (not like our late dog who had terrible allergies). We just notice a bit of paw chewing/licking.

Also, we brought the Limited Ingredient back and got the Merrick Lil’ Plates for him since it was 5 stars and the other was 3.5. I started feeding him 5/8 twice a day plus a spoonful of can food just to mix it for him. The can food he’d need 1.25-1.5 cans a day if we fed him entirely canned food so I’m not too worried about the calories in one spoon or two.

I’m just confused should I feed him to his ultimate goal weight of 15 lbs or should I feed him to 20lbs and when he reaches 20lbs feed him the 15lb guide? And thank you for pointing out the guides are too much on a lot of dog foods. We definitely noticed this with our other dog’s food (Nutro Ultra). We have one that’s overweight by about 1 – 1.5 lbs (small dog–12-13lbs) and we were feeding the guidelines too! I wish they would just put Calories/kcals on the serving size on the bag of food. It’s much easier for me to relate to and then I could find out exactly how many calories she should be eating.

We’re trying to exercise our foster as much as possible but it’s a little hard with the heat here. Today’s heat index was about 110! He is so overweight and had a lot of breathing trouble (recovering from kennel cough) so we didn’t want to walk him too much. He does like to walk he just can’t go too far. We’ve gone down a few houses each way and he’s huffing and puffing when it’s over.

[anonymously]

Rimadyl is an effective pain medication, if it agrees with the dog. Short term usually is not problematic, however, long term could lead to various side effects such as GI distress and paradoxical effects, in example, agitation.

Tramadol is no longer recommended for pain relief for dogs, consult a veterinarian for details.

It is best to find a veterinarian who you trust and discuss all treatment options, I would not recommend spending money on supplements and over the counter medications unless a veterinarian that has examined your dog advises you to do so. You could cause more harm.

[Debra E]

Recommend you supplement with STANDARD PROCESS Hepatic Support (per my holistic vet and Western vet). My 16 yr. old Maltese has done wonders with both.

[Debra E]

Standard Process makes a Cardiac Support Supplement that a seasoned, top notch dog rescuer had recommended to me when one of my Maltese was diagnosed with a heart murmur. Blood work also showed he and his “brother” needed Denamarin (now available generically as Sylben, a Milk Thistle Extract plus hepatic support (liver). Bambi’s heart murmur was never a problem and both the 15 yr. old and 11 yr. old (who were seemingly on their last legs) found new life and energy here in Florida with my 90 yr. old dad and I had them on Blue Buffalo (before the recalls, as they assured us they only used human grade ingredients). Even their treats were only Blue. Their bloodwork 6 mo. later was NORMAL and except for old age, they both lived to be 14 (when Bambi’s trachea suddenly collapsed and we had to put him down) and then Beebop (17) died of a broken heart in my arms the 2nd night after his passing. I now have the last of the 3 Maltketeers, Thumper (nearly 16) and am trying to cope with is severe arthritis — which is going amazingly well with a combination of Western and Holistic DVM care (accupuncture, supplements, Adequan shots, Rimadyl, Tramadol for pain, etc.) Hope that helps. They can live a long healthy life even with a heart murmur. Just keep an eye on your Chi and look for panting, easy exhaustion and do regular checkups. Hugs, MalteseMom

[Kelly R]

The ingredients are INGREDIENTS: Organic chicken, Organic chicken meal, Organic tapioca starch, Organic dried pea, Organic chickpea, Organic flaxseed meal, Organic potato flour, Organic poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Organic pea flour, Organic chicken liver, Chicken liver meal, Menhaden fish oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Choline chloride, Salt, Natural mixed tocopherols (preservative), Ascorbic acid, Vitamin E supplement, Zinc proteinate, Zinc sulfate, Manganous oxide, Manganese proteinate, Inositol, Ferrous sulfate, Niacin, Vitamin B12 supplement, Zinc oxide, Iron proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Riboflavin supplement, Calcium pantothenate, Pyridoxine hydrochloride, Sodium selenite, Copper sulfate, Vitamin A supplement, Copper proteinate, Citric acid (preservative), Vitamin D3 supplement, Folic Acid, Potassium iodide.

I bought a 20lb. bag from Flintriver.com. Flintriver stopped selling their food, and replaced it with this. My dogs like it. I’m currently trying to find something comparable to this as it is quite pricy.

[anonymously]

Any veterinarian or vet tech can show you, just pop the pill down their throat and rub under the throat/neck area until you feel a gulp indicating that the medication has been swallowed.

I assume you are talking about medication that has been prescribed by a veterinarian that has examined the dog. Most supplements are a scam.

Regarding supplements: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/herbs-and-supplements/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/supplements-and-safety/

[Chris S]

Does anyone know of a DIY slushy treat mix that I can make to give my dog his medicines & supplements? I do mix them in with his dog food but he doesn’t eat sometimes so it goes to waste & he doesn’t get his supplements. I would like to have some sort of slushy mix that I could mix his powder supplements into that he would really like so much he eat it even if he didn’t eat his meal.

I say slushy, but it can be liquid as well. It would be easier to mix these powders in a slushy or liquid instead of regular food. Plus I would like something he would surely like. He likes things like turkey & chicken, & won’t turn down roasted chicken or turkey. He doesn’t choose beef as much as the poultry.

Thanks!

[anonymously]

https://www.chewy.com/nutrisca-grain-free-salmon-chickpea/dp/35033
Ingredients
Salmon, Menhaden Fish Meal, Peas, Chickpeas, Salmon Meal, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Sunflower Oil, Pea Fiber, Flaxseed, Calcium Carbonate, Salmon Oil (a source of DHA), Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Dried Eggs, Natural Flavor, Tomato Pomace, Carrots, Cranberries, Apricots, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Iron Proteinate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Proteinate, Biotin, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Rosemary Extract

PS: I just noticed the rosemary extract (probably minute amounts) check with your vet first.
I have good results with this limited ingredient product.
Seizure disorders are often idiopathic, unknown cause. Sure there are triggers, some as benign as the weather….
Consult a specialist for a more detailed evaluation if the regular vet isn’t being helpful.

[anonymously]

It may not be about the food, I have a senior peke who needs help to have a bowel movement. The anal sphincters sometimes don’t work as well as these small breeds age.
I have a medical background so I deal with it, I realize that not everyone can.
Have your vet examine the dog and advise you.

Add water to the food dish, they will lap it up to get to the food, this may help.
Don’t free feed, 2 or 3 small meals per day, and increase exercise, even a couple of 10 minute walks around the block every day can make a big difference.

Just my opinion, but I would stop all supplements including the coconut oil, unless the vet advises you differently.

[CircaRigel]

It’s been a while, and I thought I’d provide an update on Galen, now 19 months old, technically an adolescent for a giant breed (Shiloh Shepherd), but no longer a puppy. However, I did go through a number of adjustments to his diet as he grew up, and thought I’d discuss them. I’ll first discuss kibbles, since that is generally the area where improper calcium and phosphorus content causes problems. Brands discussed include Eukanuba, Holistic Select (and other WellPet brands), Canidae, Taste of the Wild, Fromms, Tripett, and my absolute favorite and the most impressive, nutritionally… Darwin’s Natural Selections. I will also briefly touch on treats. Every choice I’ve made for Galen has come about via extensive research, wanting only the very best for Galen’s growth and health, for he is training as my service dog. My first responsibility is to him, even before looking after myself, for it is his responsibility to always be looking after me. Besides… I consider him family on equal par to my most beloved family members. I have linked the Dog Food Advisor pages for Galen’s finalized diet at the bottom of this post.

Galen’s breeder weaned her litter on Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy diet. After his adoption, I transitioned him to Fromm’s, which is what his breeder now weans her puppies on, but his stools were often quite soft. There was a brief period when I tried Holistic Select Large breed puppy, but rapidly transitioned away from it when Galen became ill. As it happens, ALL kibble foods made by WellPet (Wellness, Holistic Select, Old Mother Hubbard, Eagle Pack) contain green tea extract. While the very small amounts are probably not harmful to most dogs, particularly since it’s being taken with food, I found a number of studies that were halted because of dogs dying after being given green tea extract on an empty stomach. There is no way I can know for certain, but I suspect Galen is somehow particularly susceptible to toxic effects from it, even in small doses. So I began researching foods, and I liked the nutrition profile for some of the Canidae varieties, and while they were not specifically puppy or large breed diets, I contacted Canidae to make sure I chose a variety with the proper calcium and phosphorus ratios for proper bone growth (Canidae has recently been shifting their manufacturing away from Diamond pet foods, with a new processing plant in California). He did well on this, but didn’t like it much. Since he’s rather thin (but not so much as to be unhealthy, according to his vets at Alameda East, the same hospital where Animal Planet’s “Emergency Vets” was filmed, as it’s closest to where I live), I decided to change things up again when he was about a year old. Since he now was at an age where his calcium metabolism was properly established (generally puppies older than 8 months old can properly metabolize calcium, without the need to limit it so much), it broadened the choices of available foods for him. So, I made a list of grain free foods on Dog Food Advisor with 4+ ratings, focusing especially on 5 star rated foods, and ordered a bunch of sample packs for him to try from K9Cuisine. Of all of the foods he tried, he preferred the 5 star rated varieties of Taste of the Wild best. While I’m not fond of the record of Diamond pet foods, I trust the ratings of Dog Food Advisor (except the high ratings of kibbles by WellPet brands, for the previously mentioned Green Tea toxicity risk). Anyway, to keep things interesting for his palate, I now transition between the three 5 star rated varieties of TOTW for dry food.

Canned foods: From very early on, I had Galen eating Tripett green beef tripe as his wet food. I chose this because green tripe contains the nutrients of what the cow ate as well as the nutritional value and digestive enzymes that are naturally inherent to tripe. I have tried other varieties of canned foods, but Galen usually turns his nose up at them after a few days, when the novelty wears off. There has been a single exception, though, which I also supplement his diet with. That is Darwin’s Natural Selections raw foods. Back when I was letting Galen choose from among the samples I got for him, I also got the $15 introductory sample of the Darwin’s food (10 lbs variety pack), which included free shipping on dry ice. Their foods are raw, made from free-range, organic animal sources and organic vegetables. They come in easy to open plastic packets. Dog Food Advisor not only rates it 5 stars, but enthusiastically recommends the foods. They have never had a recall. I was quite surprised to find that the food was packaged and frozen just a few days before it shipped to me. Now, Once you have had the trial and go to their subscription plan, the cost is far higher, plus shipping on dry ice. It’s too high for me to feed to Galen exclusively or even as half his diet, so I subscribe to it as a supplement to his regular diet, feeding him 2 lbs a week. I get him all varieties, which include chicken, turkey, duck, beef, and bison. Of all of the foods I’ve ever fed a dog, This has been by far of the highest quality I’ve encountered.

Galen is incredibly picky even with treats, generally preferring single-ingredient, meat based treats. These have included Simply Lamb (freeze dried lamb), PureBites freeze dried chicken breast, PureBites freeze dried duck liver, and Primal freeze dried Nuggets (lamb), although the nuggets I use more as an occasional supplement rather than a treat. Galen turns his nose up at most other treats, even jerky treats. That’s fine by me. I rather like seeing only one ingredient listed, which leaves me zero doubts of there being anything in it that is unnecessary to his health (i.e. preservatives).

On a final note, around holidays I like to make a turkey stock from the leftovers and carcass (bones removed, of course, after cooking so that nutrients specific to the bones leach into the stock, like the marrow). That turkey stock is for Galen, as a special treat supplementing his food.

So… Galen’s final adult diet:
Taste of the Wild (wetlands, High Prairie, and Canyon varieties)
Tripett Green Beef Tripe
Darwin’s Natural Selections raw (beef, bison, chicken, turkey, and duck)

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

[anonymously]

Please, do not use over the counter medications or supplements without the approval of a veterinarian that has examined the dog.

You could cause harm.

[Jeffrey S]

Hi Susan, actually I personally love bluefish {I live near Long Island
Sound). Thanks for the info on the omega 3 options. My Baby had bad ear infections, plus hot spots and the fish capsules really helped. However, you are right that one has to be careful using any supplement. I have a holistic Vet and check with her before I use anything. By the way, my wife hates the smell of sardines, also. I think I will try the VeRUS, but will continue using the fish capsules. Thanks again for your advice.

[Susan]

Yes, also look for another food that has no Tapioca, Patch cant eat any kibbles with Tapioca he starts to smell yeasty & itch, also once you get a good supplement, it will balance the diet, I use Digestavite Plus Powder an Australian brand that’s seems to last forever, I only need to add 1/4 teaspoon to 1 meal a day & I use Omega 3 6 9 Oil a couple of squirts on a meal, Dr Judy Morgan sometimes uses the Honest Kitchen Base Mixes to balance some meals in 1 of her videos… You can go thru a Nutritionist, I went thru a Naturopath Jacqueline Rudan with Patch & use all her supplements……

[pitlove]

Hi Hannah-

If you are interested in trying to homecook there are a few things you can do to make sure the meals are properly balanced. Best thing would be working with a board certified veterinary nutritionist, however that can be expensive. Another option is Wysong’s Call of the Wild supplement.

http://www.wysong.net/products/cotw-dog-cat-supplement.php

[Mike Sagman]

Hello Triet,

As this article explains, calcium and phosphorus level must remain within a critical range in order to decrease the risk a puppy will develop hip dysplasia later on in life. Adding a supplement to a properly balanced puppy food could easily increase the calcium and/or phosphorus content to a level that’s beyond the maximum safe dose.

Hope this helps.

[Triet S]

Hello,
Could I mix this supplement with dry food ?

[pitlove]

Personally, I would wait on the raw diet til she is older if she already has a curved back. I personally do not know if the curvature is something that can be fixed or not at this point. I think you need to find a large breed puppy food that she enjoys eating and stick closely to the feeding guidelines until she is 18 months old. If you want to supplement with something to encourage her to eat the only thing I would recommend is Trippett.

https://www.chewy.com/petkind-tripett-original-formula/dp/44461

[Susan W]

Jeffrey, are you one of those people who likes lutefiske? Just kidding. My dogs liked the sardines but I always managed to get just a little drop of juice on me somewhere then I’d have to smell it all day long. ICK!
Now, as for supplements…
There are certain supplements, such as Glucosamine chondroitin, that is always best as a liquid supplement added to the formula because the temperatures of kibble processing can kill off most of the nutrients. However there are certain ways to preserve the omega 3s and other essential nutrients without having to apply it afterwards. If there isn’t an immune deficiency in the dog, omega 3s can be utilized in the form consumed within the food. The Omega-3 in VeRUS’ Advanced Opticoat is sufficient as a preventative. If there IS an immune deficiency, it is best to apply additional supplementation. For people like me who don’t like the smell of sardines, VeRUS also has an Opticoat 2 supplement featuring Menhaden fish and flaxseed. I looked into purchasing the Opticoat supplement for mine but the VeRUS food I purchased took care of the itchiness my dogs were battling.

[pitlove]

Hi Triet-

Has the 7 month old gone to the vet? If so, what did he/she say about the curved back? If she hasn’t gone I would bring her.

It is very important to feed 2 meals a day and measure out each meal. Overfeeding can cause issues with bone growth and joints.

Also you do not need to use a supplement when feeding a food that is properly balanced for a large breed puppy. Stop the supplement ASAP. It is probably doing more harm than good.

[Susan]

Hi, have you thought of cooking?? you have a very small dog so you can make a batch of food & freeze meal, with cooking you can feed what you want to feed…….Kibbles with grains & grain free kibbles both need a carb to bind the kibble & some grain free kibble have more starchy sugar carbs then the kibbles with grains, when a dog is sensitive to an ingredient they start to get that yeasty smell & start scratching…… I bath weekly in Malaseb medicated shampoo, it’s excellent & kills the bacteria on their skin & leaves them feeling so soft…
Have a look at Dr Judy Morgan site http://www.drjudymorgan.com/articles/food-therapy/
Dr Judy Morgan also sells supplements to balance the meals & has easy recipes on YouTube to follow…. I think it’s her husband that’s in some cooking videos….

There’s also “Balance It”
http://secure.balanceit.com/ Click on link then it will say “Click here Free Pet Recipes” & you fill out the quick questionnaire, all your pet health problems, if you tick too many health problems, it will say you need to make an appointment with one of their Nutritionists, but if you click a few health problems then recipes will come up to cook then you add the “Balance it” to balance the meals…..Fresh foods are best, I cook & I feed kibble… Kibble for breakfast-Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb & cooked meal for dinner…. I cook my meal sometimes & make Patches meal as well, we eat the same meal some nights, he eats lean pork mince or lean veal mince made into rissoles that I bake in the oven & boiled sweet potato, cabbage, broccoli, I freeze all this in meal sizes….
I feed 1 cup meat/rissoles cut up mixed with 1/2 cup mashed veggies….feed low glycemic veggies, Patch doesn’t get many veggies cause they are high in fiber, Patch has IBD & needs a low fiber low, fat diet….

[Triet S]

Hello !
I have two Akita Inu Puppies. They are about 7months and 10months. I am feeding them by TOTW puppy line, but I want to change something better for them. Any recommended ? Please !
One more thing, my 7months girl has a curve back, I think it is my fault. I got her on 18 March. She has no problem at this time. But I am overfeeding for fer and canxi supplement everyday. Please give me some advice how can I do for her now ?
Thank you very much !

[Triet S]

Hello !
– After read this instruction /best-dog-foods/best-large-breed-puppy-food/. I have question about this sentence. Please, explain to me what is it mean.
“Don’t use nutritional supplements when feeding your large breed puppy any commercial diet.””

– My Akita Inu 7months puppy get a curve back. What should I do for her now ?

[Lynn P]

I have my dog on hills c/d dry dog food. Due to a urinary issue. It’s to lower her PH in her system. But I think the dog food I had her on may have been the cause in the first place, and hills is not such a great dog food. So I want to know if anyone could suggest another dog food that is better in nutrition and maybe a supplement to keep her from getting urinary tract infection. She is a golden retriever and only a year old. I have had her tested for stones and all else. So now I want to help her with food I think it will work if I get the right stuff. The vet has there purpose, but they always want to use medicine and I think a lot of or animal problems are self induced. Thanks Lynn

[Authority R]

Authority report is best option for you to resolve your health issues, there have more supplements for every type of health problems, if you have suffer from yeast problems there have best solution for yeast infection treatment for health.

[Jeffrey S]

I honestly think and so does my Vet that it is better to add fresh omega 3 to the diet either with fish capsules, oil, or adding a sardine (low salt in water) daily. I have had excellent results using this with my precious baby toy poodle. Of course your pet has to be willing to eat it, but it probably will like some fish supplement or canned fish. Just watch the salt.

[anonymously]

Your dog has a serious enough condition that requires prescription medication. Whatever you decide to feed her, add water and more water, offer frequent bathroom breaks. Keep the bladder flushed.

I would not only listen to your veterinarian, but where he has not managed to stabilize your dog as you inferred “recurring urinary tract infections”. I would ask him for a referral to a Veterinary Internal Medicine specialist and may an appointment as soon as possible.

Has your dog had x-rays? Lab work? Often dogs have bladder stones, they go hand in hand with urinary tract infections. There may be a genetic factor. I imagine your vet has recommended a prescription diet, which I would comply with.

I find this site helpful: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

I would be leery of homeopathic remedies and supplements, they can cause harm.

Have you tried the search engine here? From one of my previous posts:

Dogs that have experienced struvite bladder stones will often be fed a therapeutic diet for life. Diets lower in protein, phosphorus and magnesium and promote acidic urine are recommended. The preventative diet is NOT the same as the diet that promotes dissolution of the stones. In certain cases, medications to acidify the urine may be required. In addition, careful routine monitoring of the urine to detect any signs of bacterial infection is also recommended. Bladder x-rays and urinalysis will be performed one month after successful treatment, dietary or surgical, and then every three to six months for life. Dogs displaying any clinical signs of urinary tract infections such as frequent urination, urinating in unusual places, painful urination or the presence of blood in the urine should be evaluated immediately. Keep in mind that the greatest risk factor for developing struvite bladder stones in the dog is a urinary tract infection.

Above link is an excerpt from: http://www.michigananimalhospital.com/page/452425598

[Authority R]

Resolve your skin problems quick with your superb supplements that available in market currently for health.

[lindsay p]

I made a homemade diet for my dog. However, he refuses to eat the food if it has the powder form of a nutritional supplement (I was using Balance It). Can anyone recommend a pill form that will ensure he is getting all the nutrients he needs?

[anonymously]

Five is young. As far as supplements go, most of them are a scam and a waste of money.
You may be better off saving your money for other age related issues that come up.

Fish oil is the only one I use for just general issues…
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/herbs-and-supplements/

PS: Don’t underestimate genetic back concerns….use doggie steps if need be and don’t allow the dog to jump in and out of high places, like the car.
I just went through this with a poodle mix that has a long (dachshund like) back. She does not have short legs.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/supplements-and-safety/

[Carina M]

My dachshund husky mix will be five this October and I’m wondering if I should start giving her any supplements as a preventative measure for any specific health issues she may experience in her later years, either due to her breed backgrounds or just due to age. She is not short like a doxie so I’m thinking back problems shouldn’t be an issue. Any advice?

[Francine R]

Salmon, chicken meal (cooked at high temperatures to remove fat and water), sweet potato, whole ground garbanzo bean, pea flour,chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, pea starch, fish meal, ground flaxseed, dried chickory root, dried cranberries, blueberries, carrots, lactobacillus casei fermentation product dehydrated, lactobacillus, acidophilus fermentation product dehydrated bifido thermophilum fermentation product dehydrated, enterococcus faecium fermentation product dehydrated, natural (liver) flavor, potassium chloride minerals [ zinc, sulfate, copper sulfate, magnesium sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite] vitamins[ choline chloride, vitamin a supplement, vitamin d3 supplement, vitamin e supplement, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine, hydrochloride [source vitamin b6] riboflavin supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin b12 supplement.

No corn, wheat or soy.
No by-product meal.
No added artificial color.
No added preservatives.

[Salz]

Hello! I am a long time reader of DFA Forums but this is the first time I’ve actually posted anything. I have two dogs; a 4 year old minpin tripawd (Bean) and now a 4 month old Doberman/Rottweiler x puppy (Jax). Bean has done great on all and any premium food (wet, raw, kibble, he’s been on it all) but the more I read the more I want to just bite the bullet and switch fully to raw. Jax on the other hand, has had quite the hard time with kibble. I got Jax about two months ago and immediately put him on Orijen Large Breed Puppy. He’s had on and off diarrhea since I’ve had him. I figured the Orijen may have just been too much for his digestive system so I transitioned him (VERY) slowly to Natures Instinct Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy Kibble. His stools were firm for about three days until the diarrhea started again. I’ve had him tested for parasites and every malady under the sun with only negative results. Right now I just have him on cooked turkey and rice to settle his tummy until I decide on what to try next. I was hoping for some input from all of you lovely people!

I am concerned about putting a large breed puppy on raw so young, simply because I lack all of the knowledge about his nutritional needs. But so far, here are the options I’ve come up with.

Honest Kitchen Preference Base Mix mixed with a rotation of raw grinds/meats primarily from Primal and EcoPawz Raw (a local raw company in my area)

Stella and Chewy’s Frozen Raw (rotation of proteins)

Darwin’s Zoologics Line (a little out of my budget but they are sounding better and better)

No matter which I choose, I will definitely supplement with raw goat milk, yogurt, etc. I would also like some input on what kinds of meat I can buy at the grocery store. I’ve only ever bought dog raw from PFE. Sorry for the long post and I’m really looking forward to any and all input. You all rule!

Sally, Jax & Bean