[C4D]

Crystal C,

You really do need to take the dog to a vet ASAP!!! Gulping and crazy eyes sounds like he might be choking or gulping for air!!! It sounds like he might have a damaged trachea. This could result in some serious problems including difficulty breathing and swallowing. This is definitely a situation that needs a vet diagnosis rather than supplements, especially since it started after an incident involving injury. Please rule out any medical problems!

[C4D]

Hi Kevin R,

I give my dogs both coconut oil and fish oil. Fish oil is the common source of Omega 3, Poultry and eggs are a common source of Omega 6 and Coconut oil is a common source of medium chain fatty acids. They all have a useful purpose in the diet. I use fish oil to supplement my arthritic dog (but the others get some too) as it’s an anti-inflammatory, along with all of the other great properties.

Here are some links to help explain all of the various Omegas:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/85285-coconut-oil-omega3/

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_9/features/Fish-Oil-Supplements-For-Dogs_20600-1.html

http://www.dogaware.com/articles/suppsoils.html

Red is correct regarding kibble. The long storage and oxydation after opening the bag are likely to destroy the EPA & DHA in the fish oil in dry dog food.

[anonymously]

I seriously hope you will take your dog to the vet as soon as possible, he may have obtained some type of internal injury due to the accident you described, that only an x-ray would reveal.
I think it would be money well spent, rather than buying supplements and over the counter meds (not prescribed by a vet) that may not help and may cause more harm.
And trying various different brands of food, his issues may have nothing to do with the food.
Use the search engine here, look up allergies. I would trust a vet that has examined my dog. My dogs enjoy going to the vet.
Best of luck.

[InkedMarie]

Shipping should be free. Chewy, PetFlow and Wag all offer free shipping with a minimal purchase. All carry all kinds of dog related items as well (supplements, toys, chews etc) in case you’re a little short. Chewy is my first recommendation because they have the best return policy and excellent customer service.

Foods I like are Farmina, Dr Tim’s, Annamaet, Nature’s Logic. You’ll have to check out ingredients.

[InkedMarie]

I’ve tried a number of supplements etc and the only thing that works is picking it up when they go. I’d do this even one didn’;t eat it; how else do you see possible works, diarrhea, white stool (for us raw feeders) if you don’t pick up?

[SaltiDawg]

Jeffry S,

Supplements to deter your dog from eating other critters’ poop?

How do you get the deer and the neighbor’s cats to eat the supplement?

[Jeffrey S]

As far as I know, my puppy (six-month-old Pyrenees mix) doesn’t eat his own, but is anxious to eat just about any other kind of poop he encounters, including that of other dogs. Anyone have success with supplements or other methods?

[anonymously]

The only thing that worked for my dogs that had developed this nasty habit was to follow them around, when they had a bowel movement, scoop/discard immediately.
Out of sight, out of mind. After a while they stop turning around to look for it, lol.

Also, if you are feeding 1 or 2 measured meals per day, you will learn the dog’s pattern and will be able to predict when he will have a bowel movement and avoid surprise eliminations.
In other words don’t free feed, and don’t give them the opportunity to be alone with their feces. Some dogs outgrow it, but often it is something you will always have to keep a eye on.
I have never tried any supplements for coprophagia, the price deterred me and the fact that they look like chemical junk? Also, you would have to give them to every dog in your household, plus I have heard that they don’t work.

PS: Has the vet ruled out medical issues? Good article here : http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/coprophagia-eating-feces (excerpt below)
Medical Problems to Rule Out
Starvation, Malnutrition or Malabsorption Disorders
If your dog isn’t getting sufficient food or isn’t able to digest the nutrition in his food, he may resort to coprophagia as a way to supplement his diet. Before doing anything else, it’s important to have your dog thoroughly examined by a veterinarian to rule out medical problems that could cause coprophagia.

[Jeffrey S]

Anyone tried supplements for preventing a dog from eating poop? Any of them work? I’ve read that organ meats help, and there are freeze-dried supplements offered. Also, I’ve read that certain enzymes help. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[Bobby dog]

Hi Kevin R:
I recently downloaded a book of home cooked recipes by Susan Lauten, PhD. It includes grain inclusive and grain free adult maintenance recipes using human vitamins that are fully balanced to AAFCO requirements and NRC recommendations.

She lists the sites where you can purchase the vitamins. Some I have purchased from drug or health food stores in the past. I made one recipe to use as an unbalanced topper to try out since I don’t have the supplements on hand. My dog enjoyed it very much. There are also a few treat recipes included:
http://petnutritionconsulting.com/susan-lauten-phd/
http://backtobasicspetcare.com/

I currently use Balance IT Carnivore blend for making a few balanced home cooked meals per week. Their site has a free recipe generator and the fresh foods can easily be found at your grocery store. Very simple directions and easy to make:
https://secure.balanceit.com/index.php

[Ptcbass]

Wow, I went to lunch and come back to lots of great info. Yes Shawna I also believe food is medicine. I went 2 years without healthcare and have successfully treated health issues with health food and supplements (Ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and ginseng).

Anonymously – The prednisone come weeks before and then tiny stones were present (small enough to pass). Then she was on the prescription food for one week and developed acute pancreatitis. That is what killed her. The prednisone I am sure didn’t help her immune system and have read it can cause stones and isn’t good for the pancreas. Just a horrible situation all the way around and especially knowing that if I didn’t take her to the vet at all and just kept treating her myself with “healthy” stuff then she would more than likely still be with me today.

My other dog is a little over weight and gains easily. She is 9 years old, has a history of crystals and UTI’s and has a short nose and has trouble breathing sometimes so I can’t exercise her like I would like to. She is still otherwise healthy and still likes to play (what time she isn’t eating or sleeping LOL!).

I am looking into
Horizon Amicus Small & Mini Breed Senior & Weight Management Grain-Free Dry Dog Food and Annamaet Grain-Free Lean Low Fat Formula Dry Dog Food.

I like the Natures Logic but it isn’t grain free and has higher fat content (except for the fish). The calories are still ok thought which I really don’t get but have moved on.

Thanks again! This has been super hard and have never had to experience anything like this with any of my dogs in the past. Also, in the same week my mother in law had a stroke. Now I just want to help get her healthy and do what I can for my other furbaby.
Thanks for the support here!

• This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by Ptcbass.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Bethany-

Here is a link that I use when my dogs’ have digestive upset:

http://www.dogaware.com/health/digestive.html#diarrhea

I mentioned some supplements that I used to heal tummies earlier that I learned about on this site. I find that pro-pectalin works really well for diarrhea. But, I want to caution you that if your new dog does have parasites or worms that are causing the diarrhea, stopping them from pooping is not good for them. They need to get rid of the “bugs”.

However, I’m sure it also has a lot to do with not eating properly for a month and the dog food is new to him upsetting the tummy.

BD mentioned Eagle Pack above. I have fed that as well and had good results. It is just not as available in my area and I forget about it.

Have you had any progress yet?

[crazy4cats]

Hi Bethany-
I regularly feed my male golden labs Victor kibble. I have fed both the grain free joint health and the healthy weight formula. I think it is one of the best values you can buy. And…my dogs breath do not stink! I also rotate with Whole Earth Farms kibble with various toppers.

My dogs had a rough start due to multiple bouts of giardia and coccidia and have sensitive stomachs now. They do well with these foods. I have used Perfect Form, Gastriplex and Vetri-Pro BD supplements to help heal their tummies.

I’m sure glad you are rescuing that poor pup. Good luck!

• This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by crazy4cats.

[corgwnmom]

Actually, ActiFlex 4000 sounds like a really good one. I like that it has Glucosamine SULFATE vs. HCI. Did you end up using this product and what are your thoughts on it? I have a corgi so I would image he would need about 1/2tsp for the first week and then 1/4tsp following. He tore his ACL and will be having surgery this week so I am looking for joint supplements other than the Dasuquin given by the vet.

Any advice is appreciated!

[corgwnmom]

Did you ever find an answer to this? I’m curious about different supplements (glucosamin/MSM/Chondroitin). One of my corgis will be having surgery on his ACL this week.

[Colby C]

Hey guys! I also researched homemade dog food for my bulldog and there isn’t a lot out there. He’s doing great on the homemade and loves it. Right now I’m using lickochops and dinovite supplements but I want to switch to something else because they make his breath smell awful!!!!!! I might try the u stew. I also agree homemade is pretty expensive and time consuming in the kitchen but he lovesssss it. I am still struggling with allergies with him and I’m pretty certain it’s the weather and him allergic to something outside

[Anonymous]

LOL! I am a licensed healthcare professional (not animals, humans) so, yes I am familiar with various medications and such.
Why are you folks so angry? If you don’t agree with anything you see posted, just say so and post your opinion and rationale why. No need to make it personal. Easy-peasy 🙂

PS: A doctor I worked with once told me that many of the homeopathic supplements are in fact effective, however it is impossible to get the dosage correct, therefore making them unreliable. I have admitted people to the hospital from an ER setting carrying paper bags full of supplements that had to be discarded. So, I have formed my own opinion.

[C4D]

Red,

Are you familiar with liver disease in dogs, including high ALT? Are you familiar with Denamarin? It is a PRESCRIPTION medication given by vets to support liver function. Do you know what the ingredients are in Denamarin? They are Sam-e and MILK THISTLE. I have actually reduced high ALT from well over 300 to the completely normal (actually on the low side of normal) on a dog diagnosed with chronic hepatitis using a combination of Sam-e and MILK THISTLE (the vet verified that this could be used in place of the prescription). I use vets and Lab tests, so this is not guessing, Voodoo or witchcraft. I also know many people who have done the same that are knowledgable people in the dog world who also used vets to diagnose, etc. that have successfully used this therapy.

Here are some links to studies or research done:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.0743.x/full

http://www.fvmace.org/FVMA%2082nd%20Annual%20Conference/Proceedings/Update%20On%20Management%20of%20Liver%20Disease%20in%20Dogs.pdf

This is for humans, and it includes many diseases unrelated to the liver, but it does suggest that there is efficacy in milk thistle use:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/milk-thistle/evidence/hrb-20059806

You might want to consider reading other sources besides skeptvet.

[Anonymous]

Please communicate with your vet as to how to proceed with the treatment of your pet.
Prescribed medications are often an important part of treatment, some supplements can cause even more damage. http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2015/10/unregulated-herbal-products-and-supplements-send-23000-people-to-the-emergency-room-annually-in-the-u-s/
PS: Call the vet’s office and leave a message for him to call you back when he has a minute. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

I know this doesn’t answer your question, however, I thought it might help, as coconut oil is expensive. And you did mention you are on a budget. I have been using less and less supplements for my pets and myself, however I still use fish oil, and put a capsule in my dogs meals once per day.

Coconut Oil for Pets?

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=fish+oil
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

Hope this helps.

[Jenn H]

I really love that site. It convinced me to try the goat milk for my dogs. The only pet store that sells raw milk only carries Primal. They love it.
I was hoping it may be an alternative to giving glucosamine & chondroitin supplements. I have a horse that gets so many supps I hoped to avoid that with my large breed dogs as they get older.
One of my girls is having a flare up of her Lyme. The vet suggested she not have the milk until she finishes her treatment. This time we are giving her Minocycline instead of Doxycycline since the side effects were too much for her.

I’m not sure if I want to stop giving her the milk. It has anti-inflammatory properties and good bacteria. But I also don’t want to mess up the antibiotic.
The vets at this hospital are amazing, but I don’t think they all keep up with the latest & greatest natural stuff. I’ll be contacting my integrated vet today.

Thanks for the suggestions. Even if Chevelle has to wait for her Lyme to go into remission before she can begin the goat milk, I can still give it to the puppy and my other girl.

[aimee]

Hi Judith B,

It is great that you home cook. The primary concern I’d have is that it seems like well over 10% of the total daily calories that you are feeding comes from the stew and additional meat you add. This will throw off the balance of the diet unless the stew portion is balanced. The recommendation I’d make is to balance that portion of the diet. You can go to the site balance it and make a semi custom recipe by selecting the ingredients you want. I think the recipes are free if you use their supplement or a small fee if you use human supplements to balance it.

I wouldn’t fret over the stars. The base kibble I chose for my dog is 2.5 stars.

[Anonymous]

Consult a veterinarian, there are medications prescribed for canine anxiety disorders that have proven to be quite effective. I had a dog that did well on a low dose of clomipramine, she was able to be tapered off of it in after few months, it was prescribed for separation anxiety/thunderstorm/fireworks phobia.
Why mess with food supplements?

[Shawna]

Hi Sheila23,

Although a homemade diet is absolutely doable I would do a LOT more research before you decide on any one brand. Example — Tripe is a great food for kd dogs but it is supposedly already balanced in calcium to phosphorus. Adding a premix like Preference, that is designed to balance higher phosphorus meat, could be problematic. Although phosphorus needs to be watched, you can go too low too early in the disease.

Balance IT could be an option but I personally wouldn’t have fed my KD girl such a low protein diet (ESPECIALLY in the early stages). Based on the nutrient profile of their beef and rice early stage kd diet the protein amount is only 15.3%. That’s ridiculously low for early stage kd without any complicating issues like proteinuria. Not even enough to meet the minimum protein amounts required for an a complete and balanced diet. They also use corn oil — EEEEKK. The chicken & rice recipe is even worse at 14.9% protein.

If you can afford it, I would highly recommend looking at Darwin’s prescription KD diet formulated by vet Dr. Barbara Royal. The ingredient list is
“Human-Grade Meat: Beef Meat, Beef Tripe, Beef Pancreas, Beef Lungs, Beef Kidneys, Beef Liver, Beef Heart, Beef Spleen.

Vegetables: Cabbage, Celery, Squash, Sweet Potato, Beets, Romaine Lettuce.

Special Nutrient Mix: Filtered Water (for processing), Sardine oil (source of EPA, DPA and DHA), Egg Shell Powder, Parsley, Apple Cider Vinegar, Inulin, Cornsilk, Dandelion Root, Cinnamon, Cranberry, Linden Flowers, , Chitosan, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin E, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3, Aloe Vera.” http://www.darwinspet.com/our-raw-foods/our-raw-dog-food/intelligent-design-ks/

I LOVE that you are starting Alvin on Standard Process Renal Support. It is the one supplement that my Audrey NEVER did without since diagnosis. She had KD from birth (symptoms showed at just 6 weeks of age) but she wasn’t diagnosed till she was 13 months old. She was given one year to live after that. She lived to almost her ninth birthday and it was an infection that took her life not the normal progression of kidney disease.

Some other things to look at for Alvin — purified water (as much as he wants), extra water soluble vitamins if he urinates large volumes of water. A high quality probiotic and a prebiotic made with acacia fiber helps to clear BUN etc from the blood allowing for higher protein to be fed or simply helps clear BUN when necessary. This is called “nitrogen trapping”. Giving Evian (or another higher calcium, lower sodium mineral water) has been shown to be beneficial for kidney disease. I did give my Audrey fresh, raw garlic most of her life. I still believe that if I hadn’t gotten lazy and quit giving it to her near the end of her life she wouldn’t have developed the severe infection that ended up damaging her kidneys and taking her life. Enzymes to help with the digestion of his food. Certain supplements and herbs can be helpful — spirulina provides many nutrients, food grade activated charcoal given off an on in small amounts can help clear toxins, organic turmeric helps with inflammation and also helps prevent scar tissue (works best when combined with pepper or the enzyme bromelain from pineapple). Chlorella is a wonderful detoxer and it helps build red blood cells due to the high amounts of chlorphyll in it. Apple cider vinegar can help with indigestion (fed with food in small amounts or given via syringe but must be diluted first). Ginger extract and therapeutic grade peppermint oil can help with nausea (later in the illness). I also recently read that there is other therapeutic grade essential oils that can help the kidneys but I don’t remember the particulars of the article. Vet Dr. Melissa Shelton would be the person to seek out if wanting to incorporate essential oils.

I was lucky with Audrey, she was able to eat commercial raw products clear up to a few months before she passed. I’m not sure if that was because of the supplements, being fed raw from weaning or what but she did quite well. Possibly look at lower phosphorus commercial foods and then add small amounts of low phosphorus toppers (lightly cooked egg whites and coconut oil as an example) to keep the calories up while lowering the overall phosphorus even more. There are some great nutritionists out there as well that could be quite beneficial to you and Alvin.

Hoping Alvin does as well as, or better than, my Audrey!!!

Thank you Marie!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Krystal H-
Wow! You have your hands full. I know what you mean by needing a chart. I have a note book that I keep information in for different foods and supplements for my crew. I just wanted to let you know that I have a repeat delivery set up with Chewy and it works out really well. They are extremely flexible with being able to switch up your order as far as frequency and items in your list. You can delete items, add items, delay or move up the delivery as much as you want. They give you a heads up email about a week before your order is to be delivered to allow you to make any changes. I have tried other company’s programs who said they were flexible and definitely were not.

I currently am rotating between Victor (unfortunately not available on chewy) and Whole Earth Farms kibble for my dogs. I feed them the same food but different amounts. They are litter mates, but have two totally different metabolisms. I feed the hyper one first since he gets more food and then take my time to put the bowl down for the chubbier less active dog. If allowed, he will eat his real fast and then rush over to help his brother finish his meal. But, they do eat the same food, just in different amounts. What breed is your XL puppy?

[C4D]

Hi Lisa B,

InkedMarie and Pitlove gave you some good suggestions. I’m curious, what food is your dog currently eating? You don’t want to switch to something that’s too radically different if she’s been eating the same food all her life.

I have had and currently have some “senior” dogs (large breed)as well as adult large breed, but I don’t feed any senior foods ever. The only reason people might consider a senior food is if the dog is overweight, and that’s not really a good reason either. It sounds like your dog wouldn’t need it. Try to avoid the potatoes in any of the food, as InkedMarie said, as they worsen arthritis by causing inflamation. Fish oil is an anti-inflamatory, and is also helpful with arthritis, but add it slowly. I use human grade fish oil pills as they tend to be more pure than traditional dog fish oils.

Some other things you might consider feeding is some fresh and/or wet food. This would help keep your dog more hydrated and might encourage eating since they often lose their sense of smell as they age. Again, a word of caution: only change or add one thing at a time, including supplements. They can change stool consistency and you won’t know the cause. Good luck!

[InkedMarie]

I have no experience with large breed dogs, I don’t know if they need anything special as adults. Senior dogs need a high quality higher protein food. Outside of Orijen senior, I think the rest of the senior foods are too low in protein. With an arthritic dog, I’d find a food without grains & potato as they can be inflammatory.

Is she getting joint supplements? Look into making Golden Paste for her. A large breed dog should be kept lean as opposed to too heavy; can you share a picture of her?

[Alex p]

There is growing interest in the potential health threats posed by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) to the reproductive system. Soybean is the most important dietary source of isoflavones, an important class of phytoestrogen. While consumption of soy food or phytoestrogen supplements has been frequently associated with beneficial health effects, the potentially adverse effects on development, fertility, and the reproductive and endocrine systems are likely underappreciated. Here we review the available epidemiological, clinical and animal data on the effects of soy and phytoestrogens on the development and function of the male and female reproductive system, and weigh the evidence as to their detrimental impact.

[Leslie M]

Most lipomas happen simply through age and at 12 years old I would not put my dog through a surgery unless the lipoma is blocking something or causing discomfort. That being said there are few things you can do to help combat lipomas through nutrition. Omega 3 is very helpful and cardiovascular supplements are also very helpful. As far a actual food, a low calorie may also help. I like Fromm whitefish and potato at 360 calories a cup. You and your vet know what is best for your dog, so I would talk to your vet before making any of these changes.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by Leslie M. Reason: forgot a r
• This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by Leslie M.

[DogFoodie]

It was funny, I have always thought my Golden was intolerant of fish. To make a long story short, it turns out that it was more a matter of timing. Each time he reacted, he was eating something that includes fish. I had been avoiding fish of any kind for him. I decided to do the Glacier Peaks Holistic alternative sensitivity assessment test and it said most fishes were OK. After a few weeks, I got brave, feed him a fish based food and he was fine. I couldn’t believe it. What I’ve determined is that he has environmental allergies (seasonal) and the supplements I mention have helped. His symptoms typically would present as an ear infection and itchiness. My Sam is young, he just turned three, so it took a couple of seasons for me to put together the timing of the onset of his “allergies.”

[Anonymous]

“Dietary supplements account for nearly 20 percent of drug-related liver injuries that turn up in hospitals, up from 7 percent a decade ago, according to an analysis by a national network of liver specialists. The research included only the most severe cases of liver damage referred to a representative group of hospitals around the country, and the investigators said they were undercounting the actual number of cases”.

“Americans spend an estimated $32 billion on dietary supplements every year, attracted by unproven claims that various pills and powders will help them lose weight, build muscle and fight off everything from colds to chronic illnesses. About half of Americans use dietary supplements, and most of them take more than one product at a time”.
Excerpts from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/22/us/spike-in-harm-to-liver-is-tied-to-dietary-aids.html?_r=2&
Just one example, in response to: “so if Shirley wants to go a holistic route there really isnt any harm”.

[Kevin R]

Hi all, what brands or specific products would you recommend for Quercetin as well as Omega supplements. I have an itchy Westie and am looking for something that may help alleviate some of this. Thanks!

[Shawna]

As one who actually USES holistic medications, I can say they actually DO work and work very well. In fact, there’s even SCIENCE that shows that those “food supplements” actually cure autoimmune diseases (actually, they use the word ameliorates but same thing). It’s called oral tolerization, check it out.

Here’s one to get you started
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17162357

The New York Times has a great article on oral tolerization titled “‘Hair of Dog’ Tried as Cure For Autoimmune Disease” http://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/18/science/hair-of-dog-tried-as-cure-for-autoimmune-disease.html?pagewanted=all

Pretty impressive if you ask me.

[Anonymous]

Give it at bedtime. The “holistic” stuff isn’t medication. They are considered food supplements. It will say right on the package that they are not intended to cure or treat medical conditions.

Find a vet that you trust and go by what he recommends. If you don’t have one already.
Did a vet approve the Benadryl and clarify the dosage? What is the dog’s diagnosis?

[Anonymous]

The echo is important to rule out a leaky valve, found a decent article on mitral valve insufficiency. Excerpt below: Can’t post the link but you can find the complete article at:
Doctors Foster and Smith Pet Education, Search articles for: Heart Failure (Mitral Valve Insufficiency) in the Dog

Treatment of dogs with mitral insufficiency depends upon the size of the heart and if clinical signs are present. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease in dogs are based on classifying dogs into several stages:
•Stage A: Dogs with no murmur or symptoms but who are at risk of developing valvular heart disease. These include Cavalier King Charles spaniels and small breeds of dogs.
•Stage B1: Dogs with no heart enlargement or symptoms.
•Stage B2: Dogs with enlarged left atriums and/or ventricles but no symptoms.
•Stage C: Dogs with heart enlargement and symptoms of congestive heart failure.
•Stage D: Dogs not responding to treatment for congestive heart failure.

Dogs in Stages A and B1 generally do not receive treatment, but are monitored for any changes in heart size or progression into symptoms.

Treatment of dogs in Stage B2 is controversial. Some veterinarians believe treatment of these dogs will slow progression of the disease, others do not.

Treatment of dogs in the Stage C with heart enlargement and symptoms is based on medications to help the heart pump more efficiently. Drugs that may be used include diuretics that cause the dog to urinate more and thereby remove excess fluids from his lungs. These include furosemide (Lasix) or spironolactone .
Medications such as pimobendan or an angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor like enalapril may be given to help the heart pump more efficiently. Digoxin, another heart medication may also be prescribed. If the dog does not respond well to these medications and is in Stage D, other therapies such as amlodipine may be used. Cough suppressants and bronchodilators may be prescribed is there is a chronic cough.

Diets lower in sodium may assist in decreasing the fluid build-up. It is important to maintain adequate protein intake. Attempts should be made to maintain the dog at his ideal weight. The use of omega-3 fatty acid supplements is often recommended.

What is prognosis for dogs with mitral valve insufficiency?

Many dogs with heart murmurs due to mitral valve insufficiency may live for years before developing any symptoms. They should be carefully monitored however, so treatment can be started as soon as warranted. In those dogs with heart failure, approximately half will not survive for more than 6-12 months.

[Marianne P]

I wondered if anyone has thoughts on SpecialBlend dog food, one is chicken & rice. It sells for 69 cents a can at Save-A-Lot stores. My dog has special gastrointentional problem and has been on hill’W/D and looked at the ingredients in this and bought a can. I have not tried it yet.

starts with chicken, poultry by products, rice, then guar gum (?),sodium tripolyphosphate (?), salt , potassium chloride(?)vitamins E,A, B12, D3 supplements, thiamine monotrate(?),
BIOTIN, RIboflavin supplement, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide,, copper protenate, manganous sulfate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite, choline, chloride, natural flavor.

is this bad or good sounding?

Marianne (and SAmantha the dog)

[Faith G]

Hi Losul,

Would beef hearts be better than chicken? and how much would you feed a 60lb dog daily?
also krill oil isn’t the only one I am interested in, natural salmon oils are supposed to be good also, it’s hard to search for oils when so many companies are selling it, I can’t just go on a website that is promoting their oils or supplements, when of course they are going to swear by it. I am pretty skeptical of people like ceasar millon and dr mercola, because of course they are going to say it works, everyone has an endgame: money.

[Anonymous]

Did the vet do a lung x-ray? To rule out other reasons for the congestion? Most of my older dogs eventually have murmurs. But, your dog is young…. doesn’t mean that it might just be congenital and benign. Good luck, let us know what they find.

PS: For the age related murmurs, my dogs were never prescribed medication, as they were asymptomatic. No supplements were recommended either, just a healthy lifestyle and avoid high sodium foods.

[Faith G]

The vet who heard the murmur isn’t a cardiac specialist, I took him to get neutered and that’s when they heard it. The doctor who is doing the echo in a week is a specialist. I am going to get a second opinion, although I have no doubt he has a murmur, he is very mucus-y sounding in his breathing every once in a while, and has a hard time taking full deep breaths. I have no issue with waiting until the echo before giving him supplements, it is only a week. I just don’t have a lot of experience with vitamins, or raw food, I am just doing some personal research to see if there is anything more I can do besides giving him heavy medication that they will probably prescribe after the echo. I have already spoke with my vet about CoQ10 and fish oils, he said I can try them, although he told me to be careful with coq10 because he didn’t know the recommended doses.

[Anonymous]

Check The SkeptVet for info, click on Herbs and Supplements.

[Anonymous]

Is your vet a specialist (cardiac)? I would spend my money on that first, before supplements. See what the specialist recommends.

[Faith G]

I have a two year old pit mix who just got diagnosed with a stage three murmur. I have heard about feeding raw hearts to get nutrients and minerals that they need that dry food doesn’t provide.

I wanted to know if adding raw hearts to a dry food diet will hurt or help. He’s eating 4health from tractor supply, which is seemingly the cheapest best rated food I can find. It has 4 stars on here. We have a limited income and I can’t particularly afford an entire raw diet. I want to do whatever is in my power to help him live a long life. He’s only two and I don’t want to worry about him dropping dead for just being excited that I came home, or anything like that.

If you have any information or experience with things like this or affordable supplements you could recommend please do!!!! Thank you so much.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Amelia-
Boy, can I feel your frustration. I have two golden labs that had/have similar issues. They are now four years old. I switched foods several times only to finally find out that they had parasites, both giardiasis and coccidia. Have you had fecal tests done to rule out both parasites and/or worms? Sometimes they are hard to detect and need to test a couple of times. After four or five treatments to rid of the pesky bugs, they were left with bad digestive issues. A lot of loose stools and also the walking around and dropping soft plops a little at a time like you described.

I turned to http://www.dogaware.com for a lot of great information on digestive disorders and diarrhea along with recommendations from several on this site. Pumpkin did not work for my dogs either. The Honest Kitchen’s Perfect Form worked great until my difficult dog decided he didn’t like the smell of it anymore. I also used and rotated Gastriplex made by Thorne, Vetri Pro BD by Vetri Science, and Phytomucil with success. I have fed Victor which contains clay that I think is beneficial with success. Now, I have been slowly weaning them off supplements and am feeding Whole Earth Farms with only probiotics now and then and they have for the first time have consistently firm poops!

It took a while for their tummies to heal, but it finally happened! You also might want to try feeding a little less food. Sometimes over feeding can cause loose stools as well.

Good luck! Please write back with any questions.

[Pitlove]

Hi Brie- Always nice to meet a fellow pitbull owner and first let me just thank you for taking one in with some behavioral issues. They are often euthanized for being aggressive etc.

My male pitbull has some skin issues as well, his mimic seborrhea. He gets patches of oily flakey skin and when the skin falls off it takes his hair with it and the end result is a sore that heals and the cycle is repeated. My vet firmly believes that his skin problems are environment related with possibly a minor food component.

So far I’ve tried a lot of different foods and I’ve used different supplements etc. I haven’t gotten around to going to the dermatologist like my vet recommended, but I’ve seen a vast improvement in his skin condition with the addition of salmon oil to his food. A lot of his hair has grown back and the flakey patches have reduced in number. He eats Fromm Gold Large Breed Adult which is mainly duck and chicken based. He is intolerant to beef, but it seems hes just fine on chicken.

My suggestion is to find a food with a protein and a carb he has never had before (there is no reason not to use grains if he is not intolerant to them. I view all carbs as fillers, but thats just my opinion) and see if there is any improvement. True elimination diets are not always easy or fesiable to do for a lot of people and it also takes getting everyone that comes in contact with the dog on board and monitoring them like a hawk. They can not have ANYTHING but that food.

Pitbulls are more prone to skin issues and I see that your girl is mostly white, which is also a contributing factor. My pit comes from a very bad breeder, who bred these skin problems into the litter. I didn’t know any better about backyard breeders when we got him, but now I feel as if I did rescue him even though most would say I didn’t.

Getting different opinions from different vets is also a good idea. 3 out of 3 vets I saw confirmed my boy was reacting to something in the environment. It might be helpful to talk to more than one vet and see if there is a consensus about the food intolerance.

Best of luck, keep us updated!

[Anonymous]

Consider seeing a dermatologist for allergy testing (not a mail-in saliva test) for the most accurate results.
/forums/search/allergies/
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/category/symptoms/
PS: In my experience, sprays and OTC stuff, supplements don’t work. You could try a grain-free, potato free food. An elimination diet under the guidance of a vet might help, however if the allergies are environmental, it won’t make much difference, if any.

[Brie B]

Hi there. I have a pit bull mix thats around a year and a half old. Shes recently started developing some terrible allergy issues. She gets these rashes all over her neck and armpits, gets really bad ear infections, and is constantly itchy and restless.

I was considering switching her to raw, but I just realistically can’t do it (shes a rescue with a ton of behavior issues so the cost for trainers/meds/behaviorist is outrageous). I dont make a lot of money, but I want her to be happy and healthy.

ANYWAYS. Shes on Taste of the Wild for her food. I use their salmon formula. Shes 55lbs.
Are there any suggestions for supplements, probiotics, or anything to add to her food that you think would help? I also would be down to switch her food brand, I just want to make sure its grain free.

[Nick G]

I started cooking for my dogs recently and would like to know if the recipe I came up with is suitable for my dogs’ nutritional needs.

2 pieces of wild caught cod (about 1-1.5 lbs.)
2 7.5 oz can of low sodium pink salmon
4 eggs(shells included)
1 16 oz bag of split peas
1 cup of quinoa
1 cup of brown rice
1 16 oz half bag of broccoli
1 1/2 sweet potatoes
1 1/2 cup of blueberries
2 tablespoons of flax seed
2 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil
probiotics and vitamin supplements added

This feeds a 120 lb and 50 lb dog for about a day and a half.
I give my big guy human grade glucosamine.

I think my portions in the recipe may be off. If anyone spots other problems please let me know.
I’d like to alternate fish proteins only as I don’t approve of the inhumane treatment and filthy farm factory environments on which poultry, beef or pork are processed . If anything I may consider adding free range chicken as a supplemental protein along with the fish if necessary. I bought some wild caught mahi mahi for my next batch. I was unable to find information about that type of fish’s benefits or detriments in a dog’s diet.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[Anonymous]

Consider seeing a dermatologist for allergy testing.
/forums/search/allergies/
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/category/symptoms/
PS: In my experience, sprays and OTC stuff, supplements don’t work.

[Anonymous]

If it was my dog I would make an appointment with a Internal Medicine Specialist (traditional not homeopathic) ASAP.
In the meantime I would stop all supplements and keep the diet as simple as possible.
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/
I would consider a veterinarian recommended prescription food until the dogs are stable (could take a few months), then evaluate my options.

What did the emergency vet advise you? What was the diagnosis?
PS: I would call the emergency vet and have him call you back when he has a minute and ask him these questions.

[DogFoodie]

Hi Chris,

If you’re just using it as a topper, as opposed to using it as his total diet, I wouldn’t worry about adding supplements. Just keep the toppers to no more than 20% of his daily caloric intake to avoid throwing off the nutritional balance of the kibble.

I would consider some other veggies. Instead of potatoes, I might use spinach, broccoli or kale. Look for other dark green and orange veggies. It might not sound as tasty to us, but I’m sure your dog will still love it.