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anonymous

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  • anonymous
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    Take the dog to a Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist, ASAP

    Sounds like he needs a lot more than just the right food. He should be under the care of a specialist.

    Or, at least check in with your General Practice Vet, the dog most likely needs a prescription food and some more diagnostic testing and treatment.

    in reply to: Chicken Free with no peas, potatoes #153655 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    A Veterinary Dermatologist can do a skin test that will tell you exactly what environmental allergies your dog has.

    Food sensitivities tend to fluctuate so the blood test is not accurate even when done by a vet.

    The mail order hair/saliva tests are a total scam.

    in reply to: Changing food, overweight dog with allergies #153654 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member
    in reply to: Changing food, overweight dog with allergies #153603 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Fromm, yes. This is a good food. It tends to be a little bit higher in fiber, so you may see softer stools at first.

    But this should go away as the dog gets used to the new food after a week or two.

    Weigh once a week, you will see a difference soon.

    in reply to: Help! Recurrent episodes of bloody Diarrhea #153600 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    “What would you say is a “reasonable amount of time”?

    Three months without significant improvement. Ten days or sooner if symptoms get worse or are severe.
    Ask your General Practice Vet for a referral to a specialist. It may be cost effective in the long run.

    You must follow the instructions of your General Practice Vet exclusively, diet and all, if you want to see results.
    Listening to folks on the internet/forums will only sabotage the dog’s treatment and decrease the chance for positive results. Stop messing with the dog’s diet. Only feed what the treating vet recommends. You can add water/presoak the kibble if you want.

    There are NO veterinarians or veterinary nutritionists affiliated with this site.

    • This reply was modified 4 years ago by anonymous.
    in reply to: Help! Recurrent episodes of bloody Diarrhea #153581 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    “pancreatitis”

    It doesn’t end just because you change the diet. This may be a lifelong condition.

    PS: Pancreatitis, it can be acute or chronic…time will tell.
    Consult a specialist if symptoms continue despite diet changes and treatment by your General Practice Vet, within a reasonable amount of time…

    in reply to: Help! Recurrent episodes of bloody Diarrhea #153578 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Going back to raw is about the worst possible thing you could do. It may take a long time for the dog to recover from the damage the raw diet has caused. Some of the damage caused by the raw diet may be permanent.

    Please continue to work closely with your vet, diet recommendations and all. I would go along with more testing, or ask for a referral to a Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist.

    in reply to: Changing food, overweight dog with allergies #153494 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    PS: Maybe these articles will help http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

    in reply to: Changing food, overweight dog with allergies #153490 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Regarding allergies, your best bet is to go to a board certified Veterinary Dermatologist (asap) for exam/diagnosis/treatment.

    Continue to work closely with your General Practice Vet regarding GI issues.
    It’s not the chicken (just my opinion based on my experience with a allergy dog)

    This is a good weight management food, run it by your vet https://www.gofromm.com/fromm-family-weight-management-gold-food-for-dogs

    Add water to all dry food, and use wet/canned food when possible.

    PS: They (dogs) all act like they are starving, no matter how much you feed them. They are scavengers. Don’t be fooled 🙂

    in reply to: Help me please! #153446 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Stop doubting your vet. Your dog is age 14, that is a long life for a dog.

    Just ask your care and comfort measures. Everything has a life expectancy. It’s not the food. If anything the prescription food probably helped your dog live as long as he has.

    Sorry.

    in reply to: Fish-based Urinary Diet #153384 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Please consult your vet. There are no veterinary healthcare professionals affiliated with this site.

    Per the search engine /forums/search/bladder+stones/

    PS: Ask your vet if the prescription canned food would be better? Discuss with your vet.

    in reply to: Hydrolyzed Homemade Option? (Topic 2) #153079 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    /forums/topic/hydrolyzed-diet/

    in reply to: Hydrolyzed Homemade Option? (Topic 2) #153078 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    First of all the folks at the shelter are not veterinary healthcare professionals. I would ask to speak to the vet that examined the dog and prescribed the therapeutic diet. Your request will probably be denied.

    I would then request to take the dog to a vet of my choosing for an examination (you pay). The diet you mentioned is probably a food trial to rule out sensitivities so I would suspect that the dog may be suffering from allergies.

    If this is the case the dog will need to be under the care of a veterinary dermatologist for the rest of it’s life.
    There is no cure for allergies but there is effective treatment.

    And, NO, there is no substitute for prescription dog food, the one you mentioned goes through a special process so that the dog will not respond to any of the ingredients. Hence, the price.

    All commercial dog food is subject to cross contamination. If you think the cost of the dog food is too much I would not adopt this dog. Allergies usually require lifelong treatment, they have flareups so it can be expensive.

    BTW: There are no veterinary healthcare professionals affiliated with this site. Some of the regulars give dangerous advice involving raw diets and such.

    Good luck

    in reply to: Fat to protein ratio? #152613 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Check with your vet but I believe this would be a good choice for your puppy, Fromm has other puppy formulas too, stay with grain-inclusive.
    https://www.gofromm.com/classic-puppy-dog-food

    Stay away from boutique brands. Your vet will explain why.
    BTW: Feed the pup whatever he has been eating for at least 2 weeks to a month, then gradually transition to the new food.

    anonymous
    Member

    deleted

    anonymous
    Member

    @ Muttjunky: “Should I see a dermatologist?”

    Allergies don’t always have dermatological symptoms. Please discuss with your General Practice Vet as to which specialist you should be referred to. As he has not responded to the treatment provided so far.

    Either dermatology (dermatologists treat allergies), Internal Medicine or a ear, nose and throat specialist.

    I assume your General Practice Vet has ruled out medical conditions, done lab work and other diagnostic testing? If not, start there. ASAP

    PS: Let him skip meals if he’s not interested. As long as he’s drinking water. Just offer him his meal twice a day, pick up after 10 minutes if not consumed, store in fridg and offer at the next mealtime. If he doesn’t eat solid food times 3 days go to the vet to find out why he has a poor appetite.

    anonymous
    Member

    Make an appointment with a veterinary dermatologist, asap, for exam/testing and effective treatment options.
    Many allergens are airborne and present all year round (indoors/outdoors)
    You are wasting your time changing foods over and over again. Meanwhile the dog is suffering (from the symptoms you describe).

    Hope this article helps: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2010/06/evidence-based-canine-allergy-treatment/

    you can use the search engine there to look up allergies and other topics.
    Good luck

    in reply to: Extreme allergies #152137 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Make an appointment with a board certified veterinary dermatologist, asap. The blood test that you paid for is notorious for being inaccurate.
    The dermatologist will most likely recommend a prescription (hydrolyzed) food trial. The dog will not react to any of the ingredients. You could ask your general practice vet about it while you wait for the appointment with the dermatologist.

    Food sensitivities tend to fluctuate. Environmental allergies are more common and if you are not seeing results from the treatment that your general practice vet has provided, time to see a specialist.

    The most accurate testing for allergens (not food) is intradermal skin testing can only be done by a dermatologist.
    ASIT (allergen specific immunotherapy) is the treatment for environmental allergies that has the least possibility of side effects, it’s not even a medication. It allows the dog to naturally desensitize from allergens.

    I hope the articles you will find at this site and the comments that follow them help: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2015/10/evidence-update-evidence-based-canine-allergy-treatment/

    • This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by anonymous.
    anonymous
    Member

    Make an appointment with a veterinary dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis and treatment options.

    in reply to: Need help ASAP for my dog with IBD AND PLE #152051 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Call and see if they can move up the appointment. Ask to be notified if they get a cancellation.
    Otherwise your only other option is to go to the emergency vet.

    There are no veterinary healthcare professionals affiliated with this site.

    in reply to: I need Help for my dog #151713 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    There are no veterinarians affiliated with this site.

    Find a vet nearby that you like and trust, make an appointment for a senior checkup, lab work , dental exam and all.
    The vet will then advise you regarding diet, and medication (if needed) to keep your senior healthy and comfortable.

    Never give OTC meds or supplements to a pet unless recommended by a veterinarian that has examined the animal.
    Many products are not intended for veterinary use and can cause harm.

    in reply to: Urinary Crystals #151605 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    I would feed the food that your vet recommends. Was an ultrasound done to rule out bladder stones? Ask your vet…because often dogs can have more than one type of stones along with crystals.
    Food does not dissolve all types of stones, sometimes surgery is needed.

    had a dog with calcium oxalate bladder stones, struvite crystals and urinary tract infections. It was serious, emergency surgery and all.
    From what I could tell, the main culprits were genetic predisposition and inadequate water intake, not the food.
    A lot of pet owners serve kibble dry. Put down a bowl of water and assume their dogs are drinking enough….this is often not the case.
    Also, expecting these dogs to hold their urine for 10 hours a day is conducive to stagnant conditions in the bladder, perfect environment for crystals and bladder stones to form.
    Keep the bladder flushed, offer bathroom breaks at the minimum, every 4 hours (every 2 hours is ideal). Exercise, long walks, keep the weight down. Feed twice a day, measured amounts.

    in reply to: Raw feeding with possible colitis #151557 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    @ CS
    Susan Thixton is not a veterinarian. She is not a veterinary nutritionist. Therefore, she is not a reliable source of information.
    Dr Becker is a homeopathic vet (quack) Again, not a source of reliable information.

    /forums/topic/fda-dcm-clarity/#post-142026

    PLEASE, take your dog to the vet for a checkup ASAP. The dog is very sick because of the non veterinary professionals you have been listening to. I am going by the symptoms you have described.

    I am not a vet

    in reply to: Raw feeding with possible colitis #151550 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Stop the raw immediately. There are no veterinarians or veterinary nutritionists affiliated with this site.
    Hope this helps

    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=raw+diet

    and https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.243.11.1549

    Please take your dogs to the vet, asap, they may need emergency treatment. based on the symptoms you described,

    • This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by anonymous.
    in reply to: Lymphoma #151490 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    You may want to make an appointment with a veterinary oncologist, asap. for the best recommendations and treatment options.

    There are a lot of myths about food and cancer and false information. Wait and see what the vet recommends.

    Hope these articles help http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cancer

    in reply to: Siberian Husky with diarrhea. #151487 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    ” I buy a rotisserie chicken, take the skin, bones, gristle out and shred it/chop it up finely”

    Terrible idea. I would consult another vet (in real life not on the internet)
    Rotisserie chicken is a processed food loaded with salt, msg, and a bunch of other chemicals.

    I would not feed it to a human I cared for, never mind a pet.
    Health conscious folks will not touch rotisserie chicken. The msg makes it very addictive.
    Oh, msg has several different names, so you won’t find it on the ingredient list.

    in reply to: Sudden welts in flanks mystery #151457 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Do you have poison ivy in your woods? . Because some dogs are sensitive to it just like people.

    If it happens again or turns into something chronic a veterinary dermatologist would be the best person to diagnose it.

    in reply to: Hydrolyzed Diet #151450 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    If it’s unopened I would try to return it.
    If this is not an option. I would mix it with your other dogs regular food to use it up, maybe 3/4 regular food. 1/4 prescription food.
    I have done that before with no adverse effects.
    I am not a vet
    Sorry for your loss.

    in reply to: Possibly adopting a Saint Bernard mix #151416 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    There are no veterinary nutritionists affiliated with this site.

    Go here https://www.reddit.com/r/stbernards/hot/

    And here http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2010/01/nutrition-in-large-breed-puppies/

    • This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by anonymous.
    in reply to: Bladder Cancer #151408 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Make an appointment with a veterinary oncologist.
    There are no veterinarians affiliated with this site.
    Maybe these articles and comments after it will help http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=cancer

    in reply to: Alternative to Hill’s k/d diet? #151036 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2016/07/more-nonsense-from-holistic-vets-about-commercial-therapeutic-diets/

    Consider getting a second opinion. From what you describe your dog has not responded to treatment or you have not complied with the treatment recommended.
    Either work closely with your vet or consult a specialist not Doctor Google.
    PS: There are no veterinary healthcare professionals affiliated with this site.
    Regarding the weight issues, start walking for at least 1 hour a day or at least three 20 minute walks per day. Certain breeds (such as yours) need more exercise than others.

    in reply to: My dog is *ALWAYS* hungry #151012 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Start walking him for at least an hour a day. He sounds bored.
    Btw: All healthy dogs act like they are starving all the time.
    Keep the trash where he cannot get at it. Don’t leave him unattended outside.

    Didn’t you learn your lesson about raw? http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=raw+diet

    Sounds like your dog did best when you went by what the veterinarian that examined your vet advised.
    Good luck

    PS: there are no veterinary healthcare professionals affiliated with this site.

    in reply to: Pancreatitis & Salmon Oil #150967 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    No veterinarians are affiliated with this site. Ask over here https://www.reddit.com/r/AskVet/

    Salmon oil is high in fat. Fat triggers pancreatitis. I would trust the vet that told you to stop it.

    in reply to: Starting Raw #150581 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Hope this article helps someone.

    From SkeptVet TV- Raw Diets for Pets
    Posted on December 6, 2019 by skeptvet

    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2019/12/from-skeptvet-tv-raw-diets-for-pets/

    in reply to: Eating Raw Meaty Bones #150470 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Hope this article helps some of the readers
    https://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/jcoates/2012/mar/dogs_bones_dangerous_combination-13528

    Dogs and Bones: A Dangerous Combination

    Dogs have been chewing on bones for thousands of years. This is what nature intended, right? Well maybe, but it’s an activity that is not without its risks.

    As a veterinarian, I’ve seen the ill-effects of feeding dogs bones more times than I can count. The risks are significant enough that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has even gotten involved by posting the following “10 reasons why it’s a bad idea to give your dog a bone” on their Consumer Updates website.

    Broken teeth. This may call for expensive veterinary dentistry.

    Mouth or tongue injuries. These can be very bloody and messy and may require a trip to see your veterinarian.

    Bone gets looped around your dog’s lower jaw. This can be frightening or painful for your dog and potentially costly to you, as it usually means a trip to see your veterinarian.

    Bone gets stuck in esophagus, the tube that food travels through to reach the stomach. Your dog may gag, trying to bring the bone back up, and will need to see your veterinarian.

    Bone gets stuck in windpipe. This may happen if your dog accidentally inhales a small enough piece of bone. This is an emergency because your dog will have trouble breathing. Get your pet to your veterinarian immediately!

    Bone gets stuck in stomach. It went down just fine, but the bone may be too big to pass out of the stomach and into the intestines. Depending on the bone’s size, your dog may need surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy — a procedure in which your veterinarian uses a long tube with a built-in camera and grabbing tools — to try to remove the bone from the stomach.

    Bone gets stuck in intestines. This will cause a blockage and it may be time for surgery.

    Constipation due to bone fragments. Your dog may have a hard time passing the bone fragments because they’re very sharp and they scrape the inside of the large intestine or rectum as they move along. This causes severe pain and may require a visit to your veterinarian.

    Severe bleeding from the rectum. This is very messy and can be dangerous. It’s time for a trip to see your veterinarian.

    Peritonitis. This nasty, difficult-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen is caused when bone fragments poke holes in your dog’s stomach or intestines. Your dog needs an emergency visit to your veterinarian as peritonitis can kill your dog.

    I look at feeding bones in the same way I do letting dogs run loose. Is it natural? Yes. Do dogs like it? Yes. Are there some potential benefits? Yes … until misfortune strikes. There are many ways to safely satisfy your dog’s desire to chew (e.g., toys made out of twisted rope fibers or dense rubber), to promote dental hygiene (e.g., daily tooth brushing or dental diets), and to provide your dog with the high-quality foods and balanced nutrition he needs to stay healthy.
    Dr. Jennifer Coates

    in reply to: Rescue dog won't eat kibble, need help #150467 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    https://www.amazon.com/Placebos-Pets-Alternative-Medicine-Animals/dp/1912701367/
    Placebos for Pets?: The Truth About Alternative Medicine in Animals. Paperback – November 1, 2019
    by Brennen McKenzie (Author)
    Whether online or in the local pet store, there is a bewildering variety of pet healthcare products and services to choose from. Diets and supplements, ancient herbs and folk remedies, and even high-tech treatments like hyperbaric oxygen tanks and laser therapy. Everything promises to give your pet better health and a longer life, and isn’t that what every pet owner wants?
    But how do you know if all of these products do what they claim? Are they safe? If they really are miraculous cures, why are so many offered only on the Internet or by a few veterinarians specializing in “alternative medicine?”
    McKenzie, a vet with twenty years of experience and the former president of the Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine Association, helps pet owners and veterinary professionals understand the claims and the evidence, allowing them to make better choices for their companions and patients

    in reply to: Starting Raw #150466 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    I hope this article is helpful to readers. It’s a few years old but still just as accurate, there are more recent Nutrition articles at this site, just use the search engine
    Click on link to read comments
    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2012/07/what-do-veterinarians-know-about-nutrition/

    What do Veterinarians Know About Nutrition?
    Posted on July 8, 2012 by skeptvet
    It is not unusual for people promoting unconventional, approaches to pet nutrition, such as raw diets, grain free foods, homemade diets, a preference for organic ingredients, and so on, to dismiss objections to these approaches made by veterinarians. These people will often claim that veterinarians know little about nutrition and that what they do know is mostly propaganda fed to them by commercial pet food manufacturers. Like most bad arguments, this one contains a few bits of truth mixed in with lots of unproven assumptions and fallacies.
    Most veterinarians do have at least a semester course on nutrition in general. And a lot more information on the subject is scattered throughout other courses in vet school. So the idea that we know nothing about the subject is simply ridiculous. However, it is fair to acknowledge that most veterinarians are not “experts” in nutrition, if by this one means they have extensive specialized training in the subject. The real “experts” in this area are board-certified veterinary nutritionists, individuals who have advanced residency training in nutrition and have passed the board certification exam of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.
    Of course, as I always take great care to point out, expertise is no guarantee of never falling into error, particularly expertise based primarily on experience and a familiarity with the opinions of other experts rather than solid scientific research. Given the limited research data available on many important questions in small animal nutrition, even the real experts are often forced to rely on extrapolation from basic science or research in humans and their own clinical experience, which are important sources of information but always less reliable than studies specifically designed to answer these questions. Nevertheless, boarded nutritionists have a legitimate claim to expert status in this area. And as a group, they generally are skeptical of many of the alternative approaches to nutrition, as they should be give the paucity of data to support them As for the question of the role of the pet food industry in veterinary nutrition education, there is some truth to the claim that much of that education is sponsored by companies who make pet foods. Obviously, most veterinary nutritionists put their training to work researching and evaluating food for veterinary species, so the money and expertise in this area tends to concentrate in industry. And it is not entirely unreasonable to ask the question whether or not this influences the information veterinarians get about nutrition. It quite likely does.
    This is not the same thing as saying that veterinarians are all lackeys or dupes of industry and unable to think critically for themselves, however. I am generally as skeptical and critical of pharmaceutical companies and mainstream pet food companies as I am of herb and supplement manufacturers and producers of alternative diets. All of them have both a genuine belief (most of the time) in their products, a genuine interest in the welfare of the animals they serve, and a high risk of bias and cognitive dissonance that impedes their ability to see and accept the flaws in their own reasoning or the data that contradicts their beliefs.
    One should always be aware of bias, but that awareness does not justify ignoring the arguments or evidence coming from a source with potential bias, only evaluating it carefully and critically. The reason science is so much more successful than unaided reasoning is precisely because it is a method for compensating for human biases and other cognitive limitations that interfere with our seeing the truth. Mainstream pet food companies undoubtedly have biases, but often they also have good scientific data, which is rarely available for the alternative products and approaches. Ignoring this data in favor of opinion, theory, or personal experience is not a recipe for improving the state of veterinary nutrition.
    The real issue is not so much what do general practice veterinarians know about nutrition as what is the evidence supporting the alternative theories and products being promoted? The accusation that vets know little about nutrition, even if it were true, doesn’t invalidate their criticisms. The classis ad hominem fallacy is the strategy of attacking a person and imaging that somehow this attack says anything about that person’s argument. It is the mirror image, in many ways, of the appeal to authority fallacy, which involves claiming some special wisdom or expertise on the part of a person making an argument and then imaging that claim somehow proves the argument. If proponents of raw diets or other unconventional nutritional approaches wish to make a case for their ideas, they have to do it based on logic and facts, not on the presumed expertise of supporters or the supposed ignorance of critics. As always, it is the ideas and the data that matter, not the people involved.
    That said, there is a certain hypocrisy to many of these criticisms in that they come from sources with no particular right to claim expertise in nutrition anyway. Proponents of alternative nutritional practices are almost never boarded veterinary nutritionists. Often they are lay people who have labeled themselves as experts without even the training general practice veterinarians have in nutritional science. And while they may not be influenced by the mainstream pet food industry, this only means they are less subject to that particular bias, not that they don’t have other biases. People selling pet food or books on veterinary nutrition are all too often blind to the hypocrisy of claiming their opponents are under the influence of pet food companies while ignoring the fact that they make money selling their own ideas or products.
    Others who frequently claim most veterinarians know little about nutrition are themselves general practice veterinarians or specialists in some aspect of veterinary medicine other than nutrition. It may very well be true that they are well-informed about nutrition because they have an interest in it, but this is not evidence that their arguments are true and those of their opponents are false. It is not even evidence that they know more about nutrition than their detractors, who may themselves have studied independently in the area. If you’re not a boarded nutritionist, you can’t claim to be an expert. And whether or not you are an expert, your ideas must stand or fall on their merits and the evidence, not on any presumed superiority in your knowledge over that of your critics.
    So I think it is fair to say that most general practice veterinarians have only a fairly general knowledge of veterinary nutrition. And it is fair to acknowledge that much of this information comes from a source with a significant risk of bias, that is the pet food industry. However, I see no evidence that proponents of alternative approaches to nutrition have a reason to claim they know more about nutrition than most veterinarians, or that they are free from biases of their own. Only boarded veterinary nutritionists can legitimately claim to be “experts,” and even this is no guarantee of perfect objectivity or the truth of everything they believe. Claims about who is or is not smart or informed enough to have an opinion on a subject are mostly a superficial distraction from the important elements of any debate, what are the arguments and data behind each position. Awareness of potential bias only serves to make one more careful and cautious in examining someone’s arguments and data, it doesn’t get one a free pass to ignore what they have to say.

    in reply to: Rescue dog won't eat kibble, need help #150465 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    @ YorkiLover4

    Per the product link you provided”

    Disclaimer
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    When you choose to use the information presented on this website, you understand that the decision to do this is your own responsibility and you agree to hold Susan Davis and Ask Ariel harmless for any outcome from the information provided. If you use the information or products contained on this website, you are “prescribing” supplements for yourself or your pet and Susan Davis assumes no responsibility. You affirm your right to self-health and that of your pet.
    The Ask Ariel website strongly encourages you to seek the advice of a veterinarian for regular preventive care, dental care and the treatment of any symptoms or diseases. Every pet is unique and supplements may not have the same effect for every person or animal. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Susan Davis for a professional consultation or seek the advice of a doctor or veterinarian.

    in reply to: Starting Raw #150443 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Please speak to a veterinary healthcare professional (not on the internet) preferably a vet that has examined your dog and knows it’s history before going down this dangerous path.
    I hope these articles help you or someone else.
    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=raw+diet

    in reply to: Eating Raw Meaty Bones #150348 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Yes, they (wolves) die young and suffer greatly from broken teeth, infection, bowel obstruction, ,etc.
    They also suffer and die from malnutrition and parasitic diseases. Alone, deep in the woods.

    Bones are dangerous for dogs, anyone who is educated in veterinary medicine knows that.

    in reply to: Water Additives? #150347 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Dental Disease in Dogs and Cats: Does Treatment Improve Health?
    Posted on June 6, 2013 by skeptvet
    A reader recently asked me about the evidence supporting recommended therapy for dental disease in dogs. This is has become a common question given the increasing awareness among pet owners that dental disease is a real and important health problem, … Continue reading →
    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2013/06/dental-disease-in-dogs-and-cats-does-treatment-improve-health/
    Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 37 Comments

    Dry Pet Food and Dental Disease in Dogs and Cats
    Posted on October 17, 2011 by skeptvet
    One of the most common diseases in cats and dogs that I see in practice is dental disease. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, by three years of age 70-80% of dogs and cats will have signs of oral … Continue reading →
    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2011/10/dry-pet-food-and-dental-disease-in-dogs-and-cats/
    Posted in Nutrition | 19 Comments

    Healthy Mouth Water Additive: Does It Help Prevent Dental Disease?
    Posted on January 13, 2011 by skeptvet
    I am often asked by clients or readers about specific products, and while I certainly can only investigate a small proportion of all the stuff marketed to pet owners, I try to look at as many of these things as … Continue reading →
    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2011/01/healthymouth-water-additive-does-it-help-prevent-dental-disease/
    Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 103 Comments

    in reply to: Eating Raw Meaty Bones #150339 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Make sure you have the phone number and directions to the nearest emergency veterinary clinic handy for you or anyone else that wishes to engage in this risky practice “raw meaty bones”.
    I speak from experience.
    Best of luck!

    in reply to: Updated: Grain & White Potato Free dog foods #150337 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Here you go!
    Just add a little bit of chopped up boiled egg (no shell) and a splash of water

    https://www.gofromm.com/fromm-family-classic-adult-dog-food

    INGREDIENTS: Chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, pearled barley, oatmeal, white rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), menhaden fish meal, dried whole egg, beet pulp, cheese, flaxseed, brewers dried yeast, potassium chloride, salt, calcium sulfate, dl-methionine, l-tryptophan, taurine, chicory root extract, yucca schidigera extract, sodium selenite, sorbic acid (preservative), Vitamins [vitamin A acetate, Vitamin D3 supplement, Vitamin E supplement, Vitamin B12 supplement, choline bitartrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin], Minerals [zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, magnesium sulfate, copper sulfate, cobalt carbonate, calcium iodate, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, magnesium proteinate, cobalt proteinate], dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product.

    PS: I just reread your post. I would stay awy from grain-free unless a veterinarian that has examined your dog specifically recommends it.

    in reply to: Dog gulping hard swallowing #150310 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    /forums/search/gulping/

    Multiple threads here on the subject that are not closed.
    That being said, some of the advice being given is bogus and could cause harm.

    Your best bet is to work closely with a veterinarian that you trust.

    in reply to: Rescue dog won't eat kibble, need help #150307 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    @ Helen S

    Have you tried adding a little warm water to the kibble? Your pup may prefer soft food, I would try a can version of the same Science Diet food you are feeding now and see if that makes a difference.
    Next time you take him to the vet make sure they take a good look at his teeth.
    Small breeds tend to have lousy teeth. Maybe he needs a dental cleaning.
    Just saying to rule out issues that may cause him discomfort when he eats hard food.

    in reply to: Flea & tick prevention #150287 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Those things don’t work.

    That stuff is crap and a waste of money.

    http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=heartworm

    in reply to: Rescue dog won't eat kibble, need help #150284 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    Another thing, don’t leave food out all day. Offer the dog a meal twice a day, if he is not interested pick it up after 10 minutes and put it in the fridg, offer at the next mealtime.
    As long as he is drinking water I would not worry unless he goes 72 hours without eating solid food, then I would call the vet and speak to the vet (have him call you back when he has a minute)
    I would not hand feed. Let the dog rest and adjust to his new surroundings.

    in reply to: Rescue dog won't eat kibble, need help #150283 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    @ Helen S

    Please listen to the folks that you adopted the dog from.
    The worst thing you could do right now is make any change to his diet. never mind a drastic change.
    Raw sucks and will most likely cause more problems. No reason for it.

    Please go here http://skeptvet.com/Blog/ for science based veterinary information, use the search engine there to look up nutrition .
    Find a vet that you like and trust and work closely with him if the dog’s symptoms continue.
    But, honestly it takes an adult at least a month to adjust to a new home.
    Patience.

    There are no veterinarians or veterinary nutritionists affiliated with this site.
    But I suspect there are vet haters.
    (I am not a vet)
    Other sites you may find helpful: Reddit Ask a Vet, or Reddit Dogs.
    Good Luck

    in reply to: Beagle Anal Glands #150184 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    It may not be all about the diet

    https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/digestive-disorders-of-dogs/disorders-of-the-rectum-and-anus-in-dogs

    Your veterinarian can often squeeze out impacted anal sacs by hand. If the material in the sacs is too hard or dry, the veterinarian may inject a softening agent into the sac. If infection is present, antibiotics might be prescribed. Your veterinarian might recommend applying hot compresses if an abscess (infection) is present. Supplemental fiber may be recommended to increase fecal bulk, which facilitates anal sac compression and emptying. If treatment is ineffective, the condition keeps coming back, or a tumor is present, the anal sac can be surgically removed. A common complication from this surgery is fecal incontinence.

    Anal sacs may become clogged (impacted), infected, abscessed, or cancerous. There are several common causes of clogged anal sacs, including failure of the sacs to be squeezed out during defecation, poor muscle tone in obese dogs, and excessive secretion of the gland. When the clogged gland contents are not periodically squeezed out, this can make the glands susceptible to bacterial overgrowth, infection, and inflammation.

    in reply to: Beagle Anal Glands #150183 Report Abuse
    anonymous
    Member

    “Most dogs never have problems with their anal glands, but some unlucky dogs have to have their anal glands emptied several times a year. In these cases, your veterinarian may recommend removing your dog’s anal glands. This is a simple procedure that will prevent future problems with these glands”.

    https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/anal-sac-disease-dogs

    f your dog repeatedly has impactions, you vet may suggest adding more fiber to his diet. This increases the size of his poop, which puts more pressure on the sacs to empty naturally.
    If your dog doesn’t have a problem, there is no need for you to empty his sacs.
    Left untreated, the impaction will turn into an infection. Look for yellow or bloody pus oozing from his sacs. This painful condition can cause your dog to act fearful or angry. Your vet will wash out the sacs and give your dog antibiotics.

    An untreated infection will develop into an abscess (a swollen, tender mass of puss) and could break open. Your vet will open and drain the abscess and usually prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Daily warm compresses can help, too.
    If your dog keeps having problems, your vet may want to remove his anal sacs with surgery. It’s a simple procedure, but can result in complications like fecal incontinence (when his poop leaks uncontrollably).
    Prevention
    Put your dog on a healthy diet and make sure he gets plenty of exercise. Small, obese dogs are at the highest risk of anal sac disease. Also, if you dog has problems with his anal sacs, have your vet check them at every checkup.

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