[Patricia A]

Stinkydog maybe it’s time for the chicken and rice again to get back to normal stool. The antibiotics take out all the good bacteria and it could have just caught up with her causing the runs. Maybe do not give any treats or chews and when her stool goes back to normal try VERY SLOWLY a different kibble. I’ve had great success with Stella N Chewy’s. My one chihuahua has a sensitive stomach and saw on their f/b page that many said their dogs that had same issues did well on their food. If you choose another food just go VERY SLOWLY with just maybe a few kibble thrown in to the chicken/rice for a few days or even weeks to get used to.

[StinkyDog94]

Hi everyone! This is my first post and it’s kinda long…oops. I’ve been lurking around the forums and there seems to be a lot of good advise here, so I’m hoping you wonderful people can help me!

So I have a 6 month old mixed breed, medium large, last I checked she was 33lbs. I got her 2 months ago and started her on Berkeley Jensen puppy food over the first week. She went through a full bag with absolutely no problems. She’d get various natural chews, treats, some healthy people food, never had a problem with anything she ate. So about 3 weeks ago I started to introduce some canned food at dinner time (4Health). She was totally fine with it for 4 days, then I came home to an explosion in her crate after work on Friday. Okay, stopped the canned. Figured maybe I gave her too much too fast. Well she still had diarrhea and a few accidents over the weekend…decided to give just chicken and rice, and made a vet appointment. After 2 days on chicken and rice she was fine. Vet said she looked good, no poop parasites, gave her an antibiotic just in case she had something going on in there. Continued just chicken and rice for about a week, finished up the antibiotics. The next week I started adding in kibble again. After about a week and a half she was back on just kibble. No treats, no canned, just kibble. That was this past weekend…now the diarrhea is back and she’s had 2 accidents since yesterday. She’s acting totally fine, no vomiting, doesn’t appear to have any abdominal pain, and she’d still happily eat anything I’d give her. I’m not sure what to do…she was having totally normal poops again, but as soon as she was back to just kibble…runs.

If anyone has some suggestions I’d greatly appreciate it!

[Chipy]

Hi Kayla,

So awesome that you are thinking about making homemade dog treats. Your pup is lucky to have you!

Here is a link to a video Dr. Dobias recorded making a dehydrated meal for his dog. I like to follow his recommendations and prepare dehydrated treats for my pup.

How to make homemade dehydrated dog food:
https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/how-to-make-homemade-dehydrated-dog-food

Dehydrated meat should keep for up to a month if it’s been stored correctly. The shelf life can be extended by placing the treats in a fridge or freezer. I recommend checking out some additional online sources about making dehydrated treats and meals as well as best practices to store.

I tend to make small batches in order to ensure freshness, rather than making too much and having some spoil and go to waste. This online Recipe Maker provides guidance on amounts of each ingredient and which ingredients are best.

https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com/

I hope this helps. Wishing you and your pup the best in good health! 🙂

[Diana Prince]

I love Meunster Milling products. It’s a family-owned business in Texas. They have high-quality, holistic kibble that you can customize with add-ins such as coconut oil, bacon fat, salmon oil. They have grain free varieties and freeze-dried treats, all at very reasonable prices with free FedEx shipping if it’s over a certain amount. I have been feeding my dogs the chicken and pork ancient grains for several months now and I have noticed that the shedding is definitely less (I have 2 beagles). Please review their products.

[Preston]

Hey! I just wanted to let you all know of a brand that is very much unheard of from a bison ranch called Northstar Bison. It’s a canned food containing only meat from the farms’ grass-fed/finished bison and vitamins/minerals. Why I wanted to recommend it is because it’s rare to find a food that not just contains meat but contains meat from humanely treated animals fed a natural diet. I’m sure you all know that the majority of beef for instance in dog food is grain-fed and treated not the best. Another thing I never knew about the beef industry is that they are castrated which is what makes them put on more fat but bison generally aren’t which equals a leaner meat. There is also bone included which is rare to see. I’m not an expert in dog nutrition but it’s always nice to see actual animal bone in dog food vs. calcium from a synthetic source. The only other food I have seen that in is Ziwi. The farm is open about everything on their website. You can tell it’s a major step up from the other cans. It’s pricier than most but I would have loved to know about this food years ago and so wanted to share that with you all. Enjoy!

Bison Feast Canned Dog Food

[Peggy B]

I am looking for recommendations for a small, soft, low cal treat for a tiny dog with Pancreatitis and Cushings Disease. She is on a prescription diet dog food, but I need treats to continue her training. Thank you for any suggestions.

[Patricia A]

Stephenie first off so very sorry you’re going through this. Nothing worse then stress from seeing your pup is getting no relief after trying all these different foods. First I know my dogs ALWAYS had diarrhea when switching foods. So it’s possible your switching between too many too fast. It takes at times many weeks of a VERY, VERY slow introduction of a few kibble at a time. I use Open Farm for my two small dogs but just for treats because of the cost. I stay away from too much fat in food for my two. Even when I give home cooked if they have a little steak two days in a row it’s diarrhea time. Same with boiled salmon or even lean chop meat.My dogs are doing great on Stella and Chewy’s . If you go to their f/b page you’ll see all the posts from pet owners writing their dogs are doing very well on their food after having stomach upsets with other brands they tried. I use their RAW Coated chicken grain free. But they have limited ingredients and grain inclusive also. Just go VERY SLOWLY went introducing. I also got my two slowly used to Primal freeze dried as topper.. I only use the LOW in fat proteins such as turkey/sardine, rabbit, and occasionaly duck which they love. Stella’s also has freeze dried toppers. Here is their website . Stella’s has samples you can get in a pet supply store. I hope this helps. https://www.facebook.com/stellaandchewys/ https://www.stellaandchewys.com

[Stephenie S]

So my year old lab puppy has had diarrhea through every food I’ve tried with her. I had her on Wellness in the beginning but she got a rash on her stomach and I took her off that. I put her on Earth Born and that caused diarrhea. I had her on Merrick for a while and that caused diarrhea. My mom gave her one of the Nutro carrot dog treats which caused diarrhea so I started checking dog food for carrot and was able to find a dog food called Open Farm. It has been great for her she hasn’t had diarrhea but now she is having patching fur and brittle nails. So I’m at my wits end I turned to a website like this bc I’ve tried every dog food that’s whole foods, not grain free, no carrot, doesnt have bad ingredients and the last one had fish so her dry skin shouldnt be dry. I need help anyone have any suggestions but it’s been a long battle.
Thanks
-Steph and Behr

[Marisa J]

Hi I work at a pet store and have a hand full of customers with Shih Tzu’s.

If your dog has a sensitive stomach I would recommend adding goat’s milk (a universal milk) into your dogs diet. This will not only aid in digestion but also add hydration too! Some brands even added spices into the goat milk for added benefits.

If not goat’s milk I would encourage you to find a good probiotic powder for your dog. This will help with the sensitivity of your dogs stomach.

Merrick is good brand and Duck is a cooling protein (this will help with any inflammation). I would recommend after 2 months switching through Merrick’s formulas to help your dog become accustomed to other proteins and amino acids.

Other brands that are high in protein and low in carb (easier to digest) are Zignature, Orijen, Farmina, Acana, and Essence.

If your dog has a sensitive stomach I would also try introducing freeze dried treats. These treats are a lot easier to digest than biscuit treats. I only give my dogs freeze-dried raw treats.

[Patricia A]

A wee bit older then you kathleenl. Don’t remember growing up with our dogs even being fed kibble. Just chicken, veggies, hamburger etc. Our poodles snowflake lived to 15. Don’t think he was vaccinated beyond his puppy shots either. I finally stopped my obsession and anxiety over my two’s diet and whether or not I was feeding the right food with all the choices . I think variety is the best . One tend to gain weight so I always have to watch my hubby sneaking cheese, pasta etc. in big pieces. lol He says those “hungry eyes” get to him too. lol
Glad I helped with suggestion and hope they like the Primal even as treats. Good luck with your fur babies.

[jamie L]

I have MAJOR concerns about this food. #1, I bought two different types of the meat meals….Chicken and Turkey. I followed directions, added hot water….and honestly — I saw ZERO Meat.

Now, the meat could have been dyed green by the vegetables in there, but to me, there was a WHOLE lot of broccoli or spinach primarily…the patties are actually GREEN color when dried AND when wet. I then emailed them to ask them about meat content, and they basically have ZERO customer service, had ALL sorts of ‘excuses”…see email below in between the asteriks.

They seem overly defensive to me, and not very customer service oriented. Their food is VERY expensive, so it’s my RIGHT as a PAYING customer to ASK what I am getting for my money. I took pictures for them of all the food…again, I see ZERO meat…you’d think you would be able to SEE some meat in there??!! RIGHT?? I see NONE. Not in ANY of the batches…I think this company needs to be investigated.

As a matter of fact, I myself am going to go ahead and find somewhere that will test for protein content …I am VERY PiCKY about my dog food, and it’s my right to know WHAT I am buying for my pets…they clearly, from below, did not like me questioning them….that, to me, is a HUGE RED FLAG. Their treats LOOK like MEAT…which is why I questioned them so much on this……they said the treats are totally different from the main meals. Okay, great, but I still don’t see where the meat is in the main course food! My dogs did like the food, but to me….I believe in my personal opinion that I just paid $150 for a bunch of broccoli and spinach patties….ALSO, if they have been around TEN years….WHY have more of not heard of them?? Too many red flags for me, I will no longer be buying their food!

************************************************************************************************************
your message is very disturbing. We do, indeed, have a very unique dog food, so it’s understandable that you are not used to it. However, your suggestion that our biscuits do not contain meat is entirely false.

In fact, every biscuit is mostly meat. (please see ratio diagrams attached) All of our food recipes contain the the same ratio of meat to vegetables. Our recipes are exact and calculated, measured with accuracy and inspected for quality control every step of the way. We start with scientific requirements for vibrant wellness and never waiver. Science is our guide but Organic Mother Nature is our provider.

As you can see by the 2 attached images, we have a HUGE VARIETY of vegetables, fruits and herbs but they represent a relatively SAMLL PORTION of the biscuit. Our recipes have been the unwavering same for over a decade. All our biscuits are formed and packaged by hand, each one is also closely inspected. Our food is based on the philosophy of providing non-processed, human quality, organic ingredients for the healthiest dog food, so over-all, there is no normal – in the strict sense of the word.

Since we do not use any processing of our 100% organic, human grade ingredients each biscuit has a different look and feel. There is no way to avoid idiosyncratic differences in batches/ biscuits when individual ingredients are not pre-processed for uniformity. There is no way, ever, that one biscuit will look exactly like another. Sometimes, this can be more noticeable. Especially if, for example, the spinach is much darker, broccoli is much greener, the protein/meat mixture ratio is more light meat than dark, the blueberries are juicier or the apples more meaty than juicy, etc.

These are only a few reasons why our 100% organic, naturally air-dried products differ from batch to batch and even biscuit to biscuit. Every idiosyncratic inherent nature, of every single ingredient contributes to the biscuit in their own organic way. There is no difference in the volume of ingredients or the ratio of ingredients dehydrated in each biscuit.

As time goes by and seasons change, the natural inherent qualities of our human grade ingredients transform as well, there will be times when it’s more noticeable than at other times. Our food recipes are very UNLIKE our treats.
Treats such as Chicken & Pumpkin or Chicken & Apples have only 2 ingredients. Both Organic. Treats recipes are mostly pure muscle meat with a dash of antioxidant. Our food, however is a complete and balanced diet providing optimum nutrition and antioxidants.

For over 10 years, we’ve built a reputation of stellar integrity, excellent customer service and Most Trusted Dog Food in USA for 3 years in a row.

We hope this helps you better understand our products and

******************************************************

[Diane H]

Thank you very much for your reply, Jeanne E. I’m so sorry about the loss of your sweet girl. All of our furbabies are precious to us, and the longer we have them with us, the harder it is to lose them. My guy is 11 years old and has had a sensitive stomach since the age of 8 (his age when I adopted him). I learned from experience to avoid feeding him eggs, and I rarely depended on canned food to add to his kibble, but the pancreatitis showed up twice within the past few months. I had changed his dry food to one that I thought would work (and that he would eat) but when I asked my vet, the fat content pf the dry food he was eating was 12%, 2% higher than the max for a dog with pancreatitis should have. Our vet suggested the prescription food he is on now, and thankfully he seems to love it. I’ve been looking for a dental chew that’s safe for him, and will need to ask the vet because I always check the ingredients and fat content and sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s actually in it. Treats now are apple slices and sometimes blueberries and we’ll be going all natural as much as we can. I really like the KONG idea!

[jeanne e]

I think she was allowed non fat foods and if I remember right I used fat free yogurt and pushed it into a KONG / froze it for her treats.
Not sure, but I think applesauce, sugar free foods were used for treats or food I put in also & froze. Check with Vet though. My vet gave me a print out of a diet to go by. HTH’s

[Birdie30]

Octopus B –
You mentioned that your dog already gets chicken necks? If you happen to only give her one, can you increase that to 2 (given that she’s over 35lbs)? Or one every day?

I ask because I always found that anal gland issues involve the dog not being able to express them naturally because the stool is usually too soft. My dog had to get her glands expressed once a month, and if I’d know to give her foods that would produce firmer stools, I wouldn’t have wasted so much money getting them expressed at the vet’s!

Since I’ve switched my dog over to raw this past year, her poop is way firmer, and I know this is gonna sound so gross, but I can actually SEE the gland fluid dripping as she goes…not always, but occasionally. It’s a few drops, and then her actual poop. Also, no more butt scoots as well.

You can try other foods first or try what your vet recommended, but really, I think it’s a matter of firming up the stool so that the glands express naturally. Pumpkin, owelo carrots, and raw meaty bones help firm up poop.

And lastly, giving the chicken necks works as a natural toothbrush for dogs – if you give necks often, you may not need to give her the CET treats, which have ingredients that look a little ugh, IMO.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 10 months ago by Birdie30.

[Octopus B]

We are looking for food recommendations for a 2 year old mixed breed indoor dog. Her overall activity level is low to medium – both of her owners work during the day but she is walked 2-3 times per week and is relatively active indoors (playing with toys, chasing balls, etc.) She does not attend Agility or any high-activity sports.

Our primary focus is her anal gland issues – she will begin licking herself consistently and will emit a foul smell if she has not been expressed in a few weeks. Our vet suggested that this was due to a lack of grains in her diet and suggested a grain-inclusive meal. The vet did not specify which type of grains were needed and if gluten was a good or bad ingredient.

She was eating Solid Gold Hund-n-Flocken dry food (1/2 cup twice daily). She would also receive supplementary meals of Solid Gold wet food (an assorted variety) replacing a meal about 3-4 times per week. We have since replaced the Solid Gold dry food with Lotus oven-baked chicken small bite food, which contains grains. She still receives the Solid Gold wet foods, which are grain-free.

Her daily treats include CET veggie-dent dental sticks, Tartar Shield sticks, and dried sweet potatoes. She also occasionally eats (organic, whole) dried fish, chicken necks, and other rare treats from our local pet shop.

Her breed info is as follows:

21.6% Chihuahua
12.9% German Shepherd Dog
12.5% Chow Chow
9.7% Australian Cattle Dog
9.0% American Eskimo Dog
4.9% Rottweiler
29.4% Supermutt


[m3ntat]

Shelter puppies do well on Pro Plan puppy, their small breed, regular, and large breed variations, even during sudden transition when surrendered or picked up as abandoned/stray. It’s highly palatable, as they invest in veterinary nutrition r and d proving and improving palatability, safety, balance, and good growth development. It has higher DHA/EPA concentration, essential omega fatty acids contributing to formation of cardiac, bone, nervous system, eye, kidney and skin tissue during development. Purine ONE is a step down in ingredient quality, but their puppy diet is also highly palatable, with dehydrated shreds of meat amongst the kibble pieces. Royal Canin is another option, although Pro Plan is more palatable by most clinical observation of puppies’ appetites. HIll’s Science Diet puppy isn’t as palatable as competing similar puppy diets, as shelter and veterinary professionals can attest despite its good nourishment for lactating mothers as well as puppies, but if your pup’s apathy towards commercial diet persists, as long as he’s maintaining body condition aka adequate covering over bony processes such as hips and spine that you can feel these when press lightly, but not see them, he is ingesting enough to maintain during his growth and development. Mealtime training, with less treats between meal time, i.e. 2T peanut butter in kong at crate time twice daily, after meals, but not treats throughout the day, can improve appetite at meals. At his size and age, his approximate daily energy requirement is 1000-1200 kcals. It will be closer to 700kcal when growth is complete. Diarrhea on a rich, fatty diet does not necessarily imply sensitivity. If his body condition was good on Hill’s per your DVM, maintain; if he was a bit low body condition per your DVM, try the Pro Plan, or ONE, or Royal Canin. Boutique diets advertised as human grade or superior quality don’t have the r and d testing to ensure appropriate growth and development, safety, and palatability that more established manufacturers have. Adding less than 10% of the total diet as cooked egg, lean meat, whole grain such as rice, pasta, orzo, lentil, can entice appetite, but can create a dog that will not eat food without these added, may not eat the treats you have on hand for training, and lead to more restrictions due to preference down the road. This can especially make medicating or prescription diet feeding difficult. Food for thought.

[Nicole A]

Hi all,

I have a six month old mix who will likely be around 55 pounds full grown (he is currently 37). He loves all of his treats, but will not touch his Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Barley food. We tried mixing it with Science Diet wet food, which he likes a little better, but still won’t eat most of the kibble.

We has him on Blue Buffalo Puppy food, but he was having diarrhea and the vet suggested we transition away from it because of the high fat content.

I am overwhelmed by all of the puppy food choices. Any suggestions for a puppy who is bored of mealtime with a sensitive stomach?

Thanks in advance for any advice!!

[Ronald B]

Wendy – Sorry your pup isn’t responding to the Hills Science Diet. We had similar results early on with our Miniature Schnauzer but it was more related to the fact that she just didn’t like/wouldn’t eat the prescription Hills. After 3 surgeries to remove bladder stones, she’s been having great results with prescription Royal Canin Urinary SO (dry, wet and treats) and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diet UR Urinary Ox/St Canned. We were fortunate to get samples from out Vet before having to commit to a full order from Chewy.com where the smallest order size is 12 or 24 cans at a time. Also, I did see the Royal Canin prescription dry food in Petco the other day. You can read other comments I have made above. Good luck, we know how hard it is to treat this condition which is more common in some breeds than others.

[Diann D]

I’m having the same issues with my dog for a year now hi ALT and the other liver enzymes. I took him to a specialty vet out in Las Vegas oh my goodness the money that I have spent and zero results! So I did my research on the computer myself and asked my regular veterinarian and he had no solution for it as well until I went to the dermatologist because I started noticing that his Fur was thinning and then on top of his head he would get some blood blisters. So she told me he ended up getting a bacterial infection in his stomach that treating it and on his skin because when they keep licking their paws because his stomach’s bothering him that they spread a bacterial infection. Oh he looks a lot better his fur looks like it’s thickening up since he’s been on antibiotics problem is that they put him on antibiotics before just from the regular vet but they didn’t continue to fix his situation to find out what the problem was. The dermatologist told me to do a trial and eliminate chicken and beef she stated that any dog that’s been on food for many years anybody can gain a food allergy at any time. But you really got to be stricken all the treats have chicken, turkey, beef so I got him a lamb and a fish recipe so she told me about this dog food and wow was it expensive very good though quality and the dog loves it. So I tried they are doing your own kit and I purchase the ingredients it’s really all human grade food and a vitamin powder that you add in for some vitamins it’s Just food for dogs the food is fantastic I make it takes four hours out of a month for me I cut it I put it in a food processor and then I bake the lamb and the fish inside the oven I broke it all up mix it up put them in freezer baggies and it last me a month for two dogs best thing I ever did. So I’ll be going back to the veterinarian I actually switched because my other one wasn’t doing anything for me so I go back at the end of the month and we will check on those liver enzymes again I will keep you posted.
.

[Ronald B]

Susan – While we’ve been using both the Royal Canin and Purina prescription foods (for variety since our puppy get bored with her food), we’ve had great success. I’m glad to hear the Royal Canin worked for you. In discussion with our Vet, and considering the age of our puppy, we’ve made the decision to just keep her on the prescription diet (they also have prescription treats). 🙂

• This reply was modified 5 years, 11 months ago by Ronald B.

[Susan]

Hi,
My boy was put on Royal Canine Urinary S/O wet can & dry Kibble, Dry kibble for Breakfast & Wet Can food for Dinner , the vet said he has to just eat the R/C/ S/O for 6 weeks, no treats nothing else, then come back & have another Xray to see if crystals had dissolved, they had, then vet said put him back on a normal diet.

[Dewper]

I came home from work the other day and my 7yo boxer beagle had what looked like lumpy fur. Later it spread and both of his sides were covered in it. I didn’t recognize it as “bumps” until then because his fur just looked weird like he got into something. I assumed it was some sort of allergic reaction and took him to the after hours vet. He responded to the Benadryl and they sent him home. They said there’s no way to know what it was from.

No new food or treats. No new chemicals or detergents in the house. It’s winter here and the ground was frozen solid, and he’s outside in our grass and woods several times a day every day of his life! So I’m having a tough time just writing this whole thing off and not worrying about it.

Any ideas what may have caused this would be appreciated! Thanks!

[Patricia A]

Hi Nadia. I’m so glad to hear how well Lacey is dong the frozen raw. It gives me confidence to to switch over from the freeze dried with my two Chihuahuas’. I know it will be cheaper with the frozen also..But I do like the convenience of not having to defrost. I always forget even to defrost my meat so another thing to remember for me. lol I remember a few years ago when there was a rep from Stella & Chewy’s at my local Pet Supply store with samples of their freeze dried. I didn’t even stop to get a pamphlet. It was so foreign to me to give anything else but kibble. After I saw the film as you did Truth about pet food I tried out the freeze dried. I subscribe to Thixton’s list also every new year. So happy that Tia and Loli are doing so well on the different brands and proteins . Just feel good about feeding them what I feel is a much better diet then kibble or canned.I enjoy their enthusiasm when eating and never any stomach problems. My next step is to stop the kibble base. I only give five or six with the freeze dried. I throw that in after I add warm water to the food so it stays crunchy. . I’m worried they’ll miss the little bit of crunch if I stop. lol
Going to order a small Raw bistro from my pet supply store. Maybe use as treats along with the Bixbi Rawwbles I now use. Happy Holidays to you and Lacey!

• This reply was modified 6 years ago by Patricia A.

[Jerry R]

NEVER COOKED BONES! Raw only. Almost any poultry bones are soft enough for any dog to chew up and digest. I avoid turkey drumsticks as they are considerably harder for my little guy. I do let him chew the raw meast off them but the bones seem to be too hard. Turkey wings he puts away no problem.
Chicken feet on the other hand he chews on and swallows whole once he has them crunched up. He just put away 2 of them in less than 30 minutes. Those are his treats.
Excellent source of glucosamine and chondroitin. Glucosamine is a drug your vet will prescribe for arthritis btw. Avoid the need for such intervention by feeding it to your dog BEFORE he suffers such a painful condition.

• This reply was modified 6 years ago by Jerry R.

[Elizabeth T]

Even the best recipes prepared by the best canine nutritionists may not always supply all the required vitamins and minerals to your dog. So, the best idea is to balance your dog’s food by adding as many formulated vitamins and minerals as possible to ensure that your dog gets the best nutrients that will keep it healthy and happy.

PS: I hope these may help somebody:

https://www.thesprucepets.com/vitamins-for-dogs-4149539

Plain Food Is No Longer Enough: 23 Vitamins and Minerals to Add To Your Homemade Dog Food

https://thebark.com/content/important-vitamins-and-minerals-your-dog

[haleycookie]

Hi, I went digging for you and it appears I am able to order most things on their site. There are just a couple bag sizes out of stock.
I see you might mean the treats. Which are all out of stock. Maybe they are discontinuing production? Just keep calling or email if they have a customer service email

• This reply was modified 6 years ago by haleycookie.

[Michael W]

Does anyone know what is happening with Ancestry Pet Food, formerly Sammy Snacks? I have been a loyal customer for nearly 13 years and now, all of a sudden, they have no inventory of food or treats, they are not answering their phone, and the three local stores listed on their website in my area (“Where to Buy”) don’t carry their products.

• This topic was modified 4 years ago by Mike Sagman. Reason: Fix Duplicate Topic Title

[Michael W]

Does anyone know what is happening with Ancestry Pet Food, formerly Sammy Snacks? I have been a loyal customer for nearly 13 years and now, all of a sudden, they have no inventory of food or treats, they are not answering their phone, and the three local stores listed on their website in my area (“Where to Buy”) don’t carry their products.

[GSDsForever]

Jennifer, Cathy B, & Joanna M

Why not just go through a compounding pharmacy?

Veterinary compounding pharmacists absolutely would not include xylitol (or any additive toxic to dogs).

They also can offer you a wide range of forms, from tasty chewable treats to doggie flavored liquids (so no bad taste or rejection from your dog!) to hypoallergenic capsules, and methods of giving your dog medicine + tips. With your vet, they create dosages custom to your dog. All of this is their specialty. (And the meds are often cheaper.) Example:

https://www.wedgewoodpharmacy.com/items/gabapentin-oral-suspension.html
877-357-6613

You can use a national delivery place w/your vet calling/faxing in the prescription. Or you can use a local facility/branch.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 1 month ago by GSDsForever.

[william M]

I wouldn’t put too much into the FDA involvement other than its ability to “REQUEST” a recall. Remember, the FDA still has to use the courts to file injunctions, just like any agent needs to against any business. The FDA is great at throwing those out because the bureaucrats that occupy the positions of power there love being able to legislate without consent. That said, it will be nice when they actually start to regulate pet feeds and treats the way they do our groceries, albeit sloppily.

[william M]

Dont want to seem indifferent, but this is the problem with the whole pet food and pet products industry. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out what your dog would find downright irresistible to eat. The problem is packaging and long term usage issues. If you lived on a farm, that trach would have been not only fresh but extremely pliable. And puppy wouldnt have been choking on it, but instead waking you up and bugging you for more goodies. Your best bet is to identify the “BODY PART” your dog is getting and see if its something thats usually very pliable or something thats naturally harder i.e. sinew and bone etc.

Awful (thats internal organ meats) generally have to be processed so they can be wrapped and put on a dry shelf. Keep that in mind as well as the fact they may even have to add preservatives to keep it from molding, and these may not be of any long term benefit. Good to read labels.

When I was growing up, you couldnt get out of a grocery store without being accosted by some kid giving away pups or kittens. Now theres re-homing fees and all manner of fees associated with pets. Food and treats are as big a business as it gets….nearly 117 billion last year alone. Due diligence and common sense rules the day here. Scientific Diets and treats arent worth much since the FDA doesnt regulate pet food. It’s always up to you to educate and understand whats going into their mouths since they arent in the wild anymore and dont learn from instinct. Hope your pup recovers soon, and if it likes this kind of treat, consider Safeway or your local supermarket and get some beef liver or chicken gizzards etc. etc. and wait till they are in the managers reduced section. A quick boil for 5 min. makes the most astounding treat and someone will be bugging you everytime you walk to the stove, hoping for more of that good stuff!

[Patricia A]

Mona the only difference in the puppy Stella’s freeze dried is the size which has smaller patties. So the feeding guideline on back of bag is suggestive amounts of patties to feed for poundage of puppy. I accidentally purchased the puppy bag of freeze dried once. I called and asked if it would be okay to feed my adult dog and they assured me that the ingredients are the same as in adult formulas. Just smaller so I would have to give more for the calories she needed. Hope this helps. I also got mine used to Primal freeze dried which they also do very well with. hope this helps.

I also want to add that ALL I believe of Stella’s Chewy’s freeze dried is Hpp processed. Companies that make raw food for pets primarily use two methods to insure the safety of their products. … Raw pet food maker Stella & Chewy’s uses both high pressure pasteurization (HPP) and UV technology to deliver a pathogen-free finished product. The company has patented their system.
Primal freeze dired also uses hpp in some of their flavors. I stick to the turkey/sardine and duck.Primal will be implementing High-Pressure Processing (HPP) into our product line beginning the week of June 6th, 2011 for poultry products only. Poultry products utilizing HPP will be designated by a code date of 070812 or later. Red meat products will not be utilizing HPP. Below is a complete list of products utilizing HPP, as well as non-HPP products.
HPP Products
Canine Formulas: Chicken, Duck, Pheasant, Quail, Turkey & Sardine
Feline Formulas: Chicken & Salmon, Duck, Pheasant, Quail, Turkey
Mixes and Grinds: Chicken, Turkey
All Raw Meaty Bones: Chicken Backs, Chicken Necks, Chicken Wings, Turkey Necks
Non-HPP Products
Canine Formulas: Beef, Lamb, Pork, Rabbit, Venison
Feline Formulas: Beef & Salmon, Pork, Rabbit, Venison
Mixes and Grinds: Beef, Lamb, Pork, Sardine
Raw Goat Milk
Bone Broth: All Bone Broth
Recreational Bones: All Recreational Bones
Primal Treats: All Primal Treats
https://www.stellaandchewys.com/dog-food/freeze-dried-raw-dinners/patties/beef-salmon-puppy

• This reply was modified 6 years, 1 month ago by Patricia A.

[Raymond L]

Hello, I would like some advice. I purchased 40 bags of wellness core senior dog food off an Amazon auction website. The best by date is Nov. 9th 2019. I went and checked the bags before bidding, all were sealed and in good condition. Upon getting them home and opening the bag after bag, I found bugs in them. Being an auction site all sales are final and a no return policy is enforced. So I emailed Wellness Core and explained the situation to them and got a reply that was more then discouraging. I was basically told that it was not their problem and that after it leaves their warehouse they have no control over the bags. I just asked if they might replace them seeing how it’s way before the best by date, and silence. Here is what the reply was (

 Dear Raymond,

Thank you for taking the time to write WellPet regarding Wellness® CORE® Senior Formula Dry Dog Food.  At WellPet we are committed to providing the highest quality pet foods and treats available.  Our expert staff of engineers is continuously improving our products to ensure that they are tasty and nutritious for your pet.  We regret that the product you received did not meet our high standards.

Our manufacturing facilities follow a very strict insect and pest control program that is constantly monitored. However, if pet food, treats and snacks are not stored properly at the distributor or retailer level, insects can be a problem. They can travel inside the packaging and can be seen in multiple stages including eggs, larvae, webbing, moths etc. Insect infestation can come from many places along the distribution channel and occurs prior to the consumer purchasing the product. While these insects are a nuisance and pet food industry does its best to store its food properly, they are non-toxic and non-parasitic.  

In order to better address your concerns we would like to get some additional information about the product for our Quality Assurance Department. If possible, please provide us with the flavor and package size of the product in question, as well as the Best if Used By/Please Enjoy By date and any additional manufacturing information stamped on the package.

We do recommend working with the Amazon auction vendor for a refund.

Sincerely)

Had they not had good dates I would understand. So basically I am out? Thank you for listening. Raymond

[Patricia A]

Which Primal Pet Foods products utilize HPP?
Modified on: Tue, 11 Sep, 2018 at 3:09 PM

Primal will be implementing High-Pressure Processing (HPP) into our product line beginning the week of June 6th, 2011 for poultry products only. Poultry products utilizing HPP will be designated by a code date of 070812 or later. Red meat products will not be utilizing HPP. Below is a complete list of products utilizing HPP, as well as non-HPP products.

HPP Products
Canine Formulas: Chicken, Duck, Pheasant, Quail, Turkey & Sardine
Feline Formulas: Chicken & Salmon, Duck, Pheasant, Quail, Turkey
Mixes and Grinds: Chicken, Turkey
All Raw Meaty Bones: Chicken Backs, Chicken Necks, Chicken Wings, Turkey Necks

Non-HPP Products
Canine Formulas: Beef, Lamb, Pork, Rabbit, Venison
Feline Formulas: Beef & Salmon, Pork, Rabbit, Venison
Mixes and Grinds: Beef, Lamb, Pork, Sardine
Raw Goat Milk
Bone Broth: All Bone Broth
Recreational Bones: All Recreational Bones
Primal Treats: All Primal Treats
Supporters of HPP claim the process leads to…

A safer product. It’s been shown that the HPP process is effective at eliminating most food-borne germs such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria with little change in the nutritional value of the end product.2

A fresher product. HPP destroys the microorganisms that cause spoilage which, in turn, increases the shelf life of the product.2

[Leonard G]

Hi Mira R that’s horrible. PROMISE Pet Treats make sprinkles which is ground beef liver in powder form. Looking at doing the same with trachea cartilage and milling into a powder. Great for pups and dogs of all ages. Takes the risk out of what you have alerted to happening. http://www.promisepettreats.com.au

[Chipy]

My little guy has elbow arthritis, luxating patella/dislocating kneecaps on both sides and hip-dysplasia and used to have severe joint pain. Over the past few years I have done extensive research on natural joint supplements and found that a combination of anti-inflammatory Omega 3s, CBD oil, Turmeric and Green Lipped Mussel has helped his mobility to improve the most.

I only use whole food based (synthetic free) supplements to avoid artificial fillers, preservatives and synthetic ingredients/chemicals that processed pet foods (both kibble and canned) are filled with. Be sure to avoid high-carb processed diets that promote inflammation.

He is now 8 y/o (on an anti-inflammatory home-cooked diet with whole food based supplements) and loves running again, moves around with more ease than when he was 4 y/o (on kibble/canned processed foods). I just wish I had switched to a fresh diet and natural supplements sooner. Here is what works for us to support his joints;

Freeze-dried Green Lipped Mussel treats (single ingredient) & Wellness Supplement:
https://www.k9natural.com/product/new-zealand-green-mussel-snacks/
Dr. Judy Morgan's Wellness Formula

Omega 3s:
FeelGood Omega®

Turmeric:
SoulFood®

CBD oil:
KING KALM CBD 75mg – Small Dog & Cat Formula 20lbs or less

I hope these will also help your pup with joint pain. Luckily there is a lot we can do to help them.

[Patti N]

I am actually extremely happy with Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend dog food. My 3 year old 20lb Boston Terrier is probably the pickiest eater ever! I have tried everything. She would eat a new food for a little while and then suddenly quit. It was so frustrating. I saw Dr. Marty’s Facebook ad and watched the very long video. It was quite interesting and educational. I decided to try it and have been feeding her the food for 4 months now. She absolutely loves it! I add half the amount of water to the food and allow it to soak for 2-3 minutes. I mash it down and whip it back up. Exactly how the instructions say to do. I sometimes add some of the Stella & Chewy raw kibble for some crunch and I also purchased Dr. Marty’s Tilly’s Treats. She can’t get enough. Their customer service has also been very helpful when needed. I pay $80 for three 16oz bags which last me about a month. It is more than I was used to paying but well worth it.

[Susan]

Hi Suraj,
a pocket size Bully is small dog, is he active?? I would be feeding him a small breed PUPPY formula.
I have an English Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffy) he has a body of a bully all muscle & he’s only 30cm high..

Normally small breeds are more active then large breed dogs & small breeds use up more energy..
Large Breed adult formulas are normally lower in fat & lower fiber for a large breed bowel as they are more prone to Bloat then a small breed is, my boy has IBD & I feed Patch Large Breed formulas they seem to help with his IBD
I rotate his kibbles & he eats “Wellness Core large Breed Adult” kibble, its lower in fat, DHA, Glucosamine & Chondroitin is higher for large breed joints & bones…
also start adding 10% fresh ingredients to his diet or use a training treats & make sure you socialize your new pup.. also Goats milk is very healthy & good for keeping their stomach healthy

[Patricia A]

I go by body condition score also pugjomsan. She’s a little puffy on her sides when I look from above. I also can FEEL even a little bit of weight difference when I pick her up . My little Hannah was put to rest last month at 17. As I was trying to get her to eat in her last month it was very hard to not give the other two a little of what she was having. it was also an all day and into the night thing where I wouldn’t be able to sleep unless Hannah ate a little.
So now I’m thinking the weight gain was also from last month of the extra little bits of food all day. I have now cut back on the very little kibble she gets as well as breaking a little more each day off of the patties and nuggets of the freeze dried. Just cutting down all around of her portions along with her cooked food.
My five year old Loli was eating same diet and stays slim. Also told my hubby to only give string beans for treats. When he has a piece of cheese I KNOW he sneaks them some. lol But as I said she is getting LONG walks now and come the winter she will not get as much exercise I’m sure. So need to start now to trim her down.

[Stormy J]

Hello, I just got a chocolate Lab. He is a rescue dog he is a year-and-a-half old. What food an treats work best for weight gain?

[Robbie M]

Hello everyone and thank you ahead of time for taking the time to read through this. Again I know that nobody is a veterinary nutritionist but it seems to be a good pool of fairly knowledgeable people who love their dogs, but I have a question none the less. My dog is a rescue dog we believe (and Our vet also thinks so) to be a 9-10 year old boxer crossed with either sttafordshire or pit bull) we drove down from Vancouver, British Columbia to San Bernardino in Southern California once we saw he was going to be put down if he doesn’t get adopted in the next few days.😭😭😭☺️he is getting much much slower now and walks very slow, we know that he has bad hips and we were actually told that they are not even in a place where they should be but that it was held in place by muscle built around it. I’m getting concerned that I should be doing everything I can logically do to help him. He gets sore and I can tell. So with that in mind i was given a about 30 packets of Lickz it has fish oil and glucosamine. But I recently find out his food doesn’t have enough meat content. Since we Feed him veggies like carrots, brocolli, as treats veggies are not as important to be in his food. Also if you have any suggestions for treats and or supplements. Sorry for such a huge message but for those who took the time to read through this and give their feedback as my dog is very very important to me.

[Patricia G]

My 11 year old small breed mix also has been itching and biting a lot recently. No change in his food or treats! Took him to the vet , no arthritis, said it was probably allergies. He has also gotten his eye stains back, which he hasn’t had for years. He is on “GO Food”. Not sure what to do, any suggestions? HELP

[KENNETH O]

I’m here as I’m having a lot of trouble finding solutions to many problems I’m having with a recently acquired dog. I have went to 3 different vets, spent countless hours researching online and tried several different strategies and continue having trouble.

Short backstory on the dog.. He is an 11 or 12 year old boston terrier who I gave to my father before I left for the Army. My father recently passed away and I was the only one willing or able to take him in. When I first saw him again in a long time, two months ago, he was in very bad shape. He was completely covered in hundreds of fleas, due to my father being unable to take care of him during his struggle with cancer in his final week or two. His skin was in bad shape and he was missing a lot of hair. He has, for at least several years, had an unusually bad time with allergies, inability to drink normal amounts of water without regurgitating it short after, and refuses to eat on a schedule. My 3 areas where I’m in need of help are those. I hope I’m not writing too much, but I want to be thorough, and it seems like most responses in here are very thought out and helpful in return.

I know he has always had trouble keeping water down, but I don’t know why. We have it counted out to literally 30 licks of water about every 1-3 hours without him throwing up. However, he is extremely driven to continue drinking. He will literally drink a gallon of water if its sitting in front if him, throw up, and still want more. I’ve tried using a rabbit bottle that he very slowly can drink from, but he will stand there for 30 minutes until he has drank too much. It’s usually just a clear or foamy liquid that comes up, which from what I gather online is “regurgitating” not “vomit.” It may be an esophagus problem, but the vets have offered me nothing other than “dont let him drink too much,” which feels like a copout answer. I’ve recently changed his diet to a limited ingredient, grain free diet (Nulo Senior) in Hope’s that his whole health would be better. Not sure if that could help at all.

His diet with my father was terrible. My dad would buy cheap dog food and mix it with some other cheap bag of treats and he would only pick the treats out and leave the rest, with the bowl left out all day. I’ve never seen him eat a whole bowl before. I’m trying to avoid doing wet food, due to his teeth not being great, however I spent the first month primarily putting water in his food to moisten it and motivate him to eat a whole serving since he really just wants the small amount if water. Since removing the water, he turns his nose up to the food usually once out of the two times hes fed daily. We tried picking up the bowl and just waiting until the next meal, which he will usually eat, but it isnt fixing the problem of not eating enough. Has clearly losing weight quickly as he went from 23-24 pounds a few months ago to about 20 pounds today. My only ideas now are to simply try a different food in Hope’s he likes it more, but I dont think he will.

His skin is continuing to be an issue, although it is significantly better than before. My father was having him get steroid shots roughly every month for years, which I think was just a bandaid for the awful food he ate. I’ve included coconut oil n most of his meals for about 2 months which may or may not be helping, but he doesn’t mind it usually. I’ve also put a lot (probably too much) coconut oil on his skin and recently reduced that to once a week. He constantly is gnawing at his paws and scratching. Again, hes visibly improved, which i think is do to the food change, but he clearly has serious allergy issues or something.

I’ve always been told to go the vet for these answers, but literally all of them seem to think my concerns are silly. I’m just looking for any help I can get to make his life better. Thanks!

[Patricia A]

Melissa I’m confused with your vet after all the testing and specifically a biopsy that he can’t give a definitive diagnosis of IBD? Ask for a copy of the test results also. Did he mention CJ needing to go on any meds such as steroids? Which food did the vet suggest Melissa?

Before you switch the food he suggests, try one more time of the just WHITE meat boiled chicken and white rice. NO VEGGIES at all just a few days and see how he does. I don’t believe in prescription diets myself for reasons here: https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/worlds-biggest-dog-food-scam/
I’m curious of which food he will suggest now. Please keep me updated.
Once IBD has been diagnosed, Wakshlag favors gradually switching a dog’s diet, if the main proteins have been common ones such as beef, chicken or lamb. The dog would be then fed a novel protein or hydrolyzed diet.
Yogurt is high in calcium and protein. It also can act as a probiotic, which can be good for the digestive system. If you are going to feed your dog yogurt, it should be plain and free of any added sweeteners, both natural and artificial.

Diet vs. Medicine

IBD cannot be cured and is often treated with antibiotics or other medicines designed to stop the gastrointestinal immune system from overproducing antigens. Most vets, however, prefer to manage the condition through diet and may prescribe a commercially made food or give you recipes to home-cook your dog’s food. Each dog is different and some will require a specific diet with only a few ingredients. Consult your vet before feeding your dog any homemade meals designed to manage his IBD.

A Proper Balance

Cooked meals for dogs suffering from IBD need to contain a good mix of proteins, fats and fiber. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish and flaxseed oil, may help decrease intestinal inflammation and thus ease symptoms. Fresh meat or dairy protein sources, such as cheese, rabbit, venison and duck contain proteins that are broken down into more digestible nutrients.

Fiber and Fat

While some dogs with IBD do better when they eat more fiber, others do better when fiber is reduced. Vets often recommend fiber supplementation when IBD affects the colon, as fiber improves stool consistency and reduces the growth of harmful bacteria in the colon. Typically, high fiber foods, such as vegetables, are lower in fat. While fiber can trigger more bowel movements, the lower fat content from higher fiber diets often reduces diarrhea in dogs with IBD.

No People Treats

An important part of treatment for your dog’s IBD is keeping her away from people food. That means no table scraps, no bites of your sandwich and no feeding her bits of food that happen to fall on the floor. Also, avoid giving her most commercial dog treats, such as biscuits, which can be full of fillers and ingredients that will aggravate her stomach. Natural chew toys, or rawhides, also are out, as she likely will swallow pieces that flake off while she chews.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by Patricia A.

[anonymous]

No. Maybe feed smaller meals throughout the day (at least 4 hours apart) rather than 2 big meals.
Hopefully she will outgrow the vomiting.
No treats. No veggies. No fruits. Some dogs just can’t tolerate this extra stuff.
Add water to or pre-soak kibble maybe mix with a little soft food. Maybe she would do better on just soft food for now?
Go by what your vet advises regarding diet.

[Karen D]

Hello & sorry to not get back here sooner. I got an appt. with my vet last thursday, she didn’t know why Ellie is throwing up, her blood work came back great. All she said was stop feeding her anything besides her dog food, no treats, none of the veggies & fruits in moderation I had been giving her……so, her last bout of vomiting was August 6th & up till fri. the 16th she still got a few fruits & veggies with her food, 10 days no vomiting. I stopped everything fri after seeing vet on the 15th & she had only dog food going forward. This morning she had breakfast & was fine…6 hrs later I gave her mid morning food & she threw up not 5 mins. after eating it. so almost 2 weeks with no vomiting. But that is what I meant by intermittent, many days can go by with no vomiting, or she will throw up 2 days in a row then many days again. Vet says she is healthy & since she doesn’t know is blaming what ever I was feeding her besides dog food. Thank you all for your comments.

[Jaimie K]

Patricia A – I was very confused too. I was a veterinary technician for many years but the vet I was seeing for this issue didn’t know that. I questioned the antibiotic when the results were negative and they kind of blew me off with a generic answer. I do have a better vet now, but we haven’t started tackling the GI issues since for the moment we’re ok.

I’m inclined to agree it was the kibble causing the issues. However the original incident came a day after she ate garlicky pizza crust, pasta, hot dogs, salami, and who knows what other human food, plus tons of dog treats, bones/chews, and a raw dog food she had never had before – all while staying with my dad and step-mom while I was out of town. I wondered if that bad weekend didn’t cause some pancreatitis.

She has been on the prescription diet (Hills i/d) for at least 4 months and we have not had any other issues. I’m not a fan of the prescription diets AT ALL, and don’t want her on it long term, but have resigned to leave her on this diet for 6 months as a “reset”. I have tried to wean her off a few times with no luck. I will definitely look into the Stella & Chewy’s – I’ve heard all positive things.

[GSDsForever]

Hi Karen.

You really do need to see a vet, sooner than over a month from now.

Pruritus (itching) can make a dog feel utterly miserable and can quickly spiral into bigger problems, whether from injuring the skin from scratching/biting/chewing to soothe itself which can then create secondary skin infection, or an ear hematoma (which I promise you, you do NOT want to have happen) from a hard shake or scratching.

Did you know that most itching is not from a food allergy? It is more common for a dog to have other things causing the symptoms, like flea bites, mites, fungal/bacterial infection, or environmental & inhalant allergies.

It’s great that your breeder is involved. Your breeder is right that chicken could be a food allergy for your puppy and food allergies do commonly show up before 1 yr of age. Chicken and beef are top food allergens for dogs with food allergies.

But did you know that food allergies are actually not very common in dogs? Or that, in a food allergy, symptoms typically can continue for some time after switching over to another food? This is why a novel food must be fed for up to 12 weeks to see results, relief from symptoms. And it must be fed exclusively, without any treats or flavored medicines.

In the vast majority of cases, a vet will be able to diagnose something OTHER THAN food allergy and be able to help your dog get relief very quickly from itching — whether diagnosing external parasite, fungal, or bacterial infection and treating for that, or providing relief from environmental allergies.

For the environmental allergies, there are hypoallergenic and skin soothing shampoos and rinses, a cortisone shot, oral antihistamines, even a Cytopoint/CADI injection (a drug that can relieve itching within 24 hours and last up to 1-2 months) which has safe use approved for puppies as well as adults. Some dogs with pollen allergies just need a little extra help seasonally.

Throwing up in young dogs can be nothing serious and pretty normal or it can be something that really means your vet should be involved and treating. Joanne is right that it matters also when your puppy does this and what it looks like/consists of, even though that may seem gross!

[Shanna J]

So my dog vomits if he eats any food or treats that contain chicken.
It’s hard to find because most treats have chicken of some sort and you can buy a beef dry dog food but they still have chicken in them if you look at ingredients. I have fed him Castor & Pollux organic grain free salmon and the Costco brand of beef grain free food.
I’m looking for recommendations for the best dry and/or wet dog food that completely chicken/poultry free. I don’t necessarily want a grain free food after the studies I’ve read lately.
I have a Pomeranian who is about 13lbs and 8 years old.
Suggestions please!

[Patricia A]

Christine is it a possibility that low blood sugar is contributing to seizure activity since he eats only once a day and very little? Maybe some lean boiled hamburger topper with kibble and string beans, carrots will help with his appetite and assure he gets enough animal protein. I boil chicken and add a tiny bit of the water to kibble also. Also maybe below article is of help. Common causes of seizures are flea/tick meds even when discontinued can result in ongoing seizures in some dogs as well as heart worm meds and vaccinations.
Diet and Epilepsy Link

Environmental control is a significant element in gaining better management of your dog’s seizures. Start with what goes into him. Feeding a home-prepared diet, cooked or raw, can make all the difference for some dogs. Though there are virtually no studies to determine whether there is a relationship between diet and seizure activity, many holistic veterinarians report anecdotal evidence that a top-quality home-prepared diet can play a large part in management of seizures.

Allergy testing for grain and protein sensitivities is another tool you can use to identify and remove any potential seizure triggers.

Dr. Kelleher also advocates the use of taurine supplementation for epileptic dogs at a dose of 250 milligrams per 40 pounds body weight daily. Taurine supplementation is especially important for dogs who eat commercial and grain-based diets. This amino acid is found in the central nervous system and skeletal muscle and is concentrated in the brain and heart. It’s unknown whether that has anything to do with the fact that taurine supplementation can reduce seizure activity, especially in those dogs experiencing tremors or noise triggered seizures. Discuss this or any other supplement with your dog’s veterinarian.

If feeding a home-prepared diet isn’t possible, find the highest-quality commercial dog food. Grains in the diet, including treats, should be kept to a minimum.

Keep in mind that many commercial dog foods include rosemary extract and sage, both of which are known to be seizure triggers in some sensitive dogs. Processed treats like rawhide chews and pigs ears should also be avoided with epileptics. Sharing human food containing MSG or cured products like hot dogs and luncheon meats is also not recommended. Many human takeout foods, instant, ready made, and convenience foods also contain chemical ingredients that can be adverse to the health of a seizure-prone dog. Cleaning up your dog’s diet is good incentive to do the same with your own.

Frequent, small meals are helpful in managing epilepsy, as keeping the blood sugar stabilized seems to help. Hypoglycemia can contribute to seizure activity, especially in smaller breeds where the dog’s digestive tract and his meals are proportionately smaller. Grain products are especially suspect in animals who have seizures regularly. Feeding frequent, small meals is also helpful for coping with the increased hunger experienced by dogs who are given phenobarbital. Snacks such as fresh or steamed vegetables or fruit pieces are great low calorie treats that can keep your dog satisfied and increase his seizure threshold.

Other Canine Epilepsy Triggers

Despite the changes in recommended vaccine protocols recommended by most of the major university-based veterinary medical schools, many veterinarians continue to recommend annual vaccinations for their patients. In a seizure-prone dog, a vaccine booster can trigger seizure activity for at least 30 days. This is one reason that Dr. Dodds recommends avoiding routine vaccination for canine epileptics.

Many owners of epileptic dogs ask their veterinarians to test their dogs’ vaccine titer levels instead, to ensure the animals have adequate antibodies to protect them from disease. If the results indicate a dog does not have adequate immune protection for a particular disease, the appropriate vaccination can be administered individually, rather than in a “5 in 1” vaccine combination.

Regular rabies vaccines are required in each state by law. These vaccines can be especially risky for epileptics; owners of epileptic dogs have lots of anecdotal evidence of this. Check with your local municipality to see if proof of adequate vaccine titer test results are acceptable in place of vaccinating an epileptic dog annually . Many towns and cities will accept documented titer tests as proof of vaccination.

Since exposure to many chemicals can trigger seizures in sensitive dogs, it should not come as a surprise that many heartworm and flea preventative treatments that are systemically administered can be disastrous for many epileptic dogs. While elimination of these treatments is not always possible, care must be taken with a seizure-prone dog when preventing heartworm infestation. Several of the most popular heartworm preventatives actually list tremors or convulsions as rare side effects, and can be contraindicated with a dog that is given daily phenobarbital.

Flea products containing insect growth regulator can cause twitching and muscle weakness when an animal is overexposed. Keep in mind these cautions are given for normal canine populations. An epileptic is commonly more sensitive to these products and great care must be taken when protecting them from heartworm and flea infestation.