[BeachDogs]

My Yorkie was diagnosed with dry eye even though his eyes tear a lot. The vet, or tech actually, did a Schirmer tear test. I wish I had wiped his eyes before the follow up test because of course it showed the eye drops were working. I still wonder if his tear ducts are clogged or did not develop correctly. I’m currently testing the drops again to see if there’s an improvement.

I agree to have your vet examine his eyes and go from there. Hope you get it figured out.

[BeachDogs]

I don’t have experience with the one you posted, but I do have experience with the one from LittleCityDogs.com. I learned about it from reputable rescue groups I work with and when they gave me some for the puppies I was fostering at the time it worked wonders. I buy their generic Capstar and monthly preventative. I open the capsule and sprinkle it on my dogs’ food. It’s gentle and I have never had issues.

There was some heat on them (from the big companies) for their use of using “the same ingredient as Capstar/Program” on their products but that’s all it was. They changed the wording and are good to go.

[BeachDogs]

You’re welcome!

[BeachDogs]

You’ve gotten great advice already! So happy the food switch is going well.

I want to offer that if her ears need cleaning you can use Simply Saline, the nasal rinse for humans, instead of any medicated ear rinse you may have. Give it a try and see if it helps until the food change is complete or even after. We had a Sheltie (RIP) who had chronic ear infections for most of her life and when we switched vets the new vet told us her ears were angry and fed up with the medicated stuff lol. Sure enough, we never had to use those type of rinses again.

[BeachDogs]

Alexus L,

The calcium and phosphorus values in Earthborn Holistic foods are fine, well at least the three I recently checked by using the values from the manufacturers website and the Calcium Content Analyzer Tool here on DFA.

Meadow Feast: Calcium 1.2% and Phosphorus 1% with a ratio of Ca to P of 1.2 to 1

Coast Catch: Calcium 1.3% and Phosphorus 1% with a ratio of 1.3 to 1

Great Plains Feast: Calcium 1.5% <- on high end, but ok and Phosphorus 1.10% with a ratio of 1.4 to 1

This site recommends a minimum ratio of 1.1:1 and a maximum of 1.5:1

Anyone can correct me if I am wrong. I would want to know!

[BeachDogs]

This is the facebook link from their email in case you’re curious:

April Gales‎ Little City Dogs
December 4, 2014 ·

FDA leave them alone. They do a good job and we have been using these products for a long time and it works. I run a resq and there is no way to afford these types of products at the vet when you are working with hundreds of dogs due to ignorance of society. Only problem here is the Vets themselves that complain. They cheat the public by raising prices about 75% on products that are supposed to be ok for pets. Well when a pet dies from their producta that are approved do you step in? Nope you font so stay away and leave Little City Dogs alone

[BeachDogs]

I was expecting a rude response from them from dealing with them before. This is a very smarta** way to treat a customer. This was LCD’s response:

“Dear Shaina,

Thanks for your interest in Little City Dogs products.

We are wondering here if you actually read the FDA letter.
If did read it you would know that the FDA’s problem with Little City Dogs related only to our website and product wording.
Nowhere in the FDA letter does it even infer anything that would cause you to question whether by using our products you would be “giving my pets a safe medicine.” Clearly, as long as your pets do not eat our wording, they should be just fine. 😉

… if you look at our website, you will see that we changed our website and product image by removing ALL of the wording they complained of in their letter. See for yourself at: http://www.LittleCityDogs.com.

The FDA apparently posts their warnings, but does not post the responses they receive. A large number of our buyers are rescue organizations. A good many of them are municipalities who buy our product for government run animal shelters. Our FDA status is no secret to them. It has been discussed on those pages and our sales are still increasing. Read this one. https://www.facebook.com/LittleCityDogs/posts/889806671037072
We don’t advertise. We simply rely on one person telling another how well our product worked for them.

Instead of relying on our word that our products don’t hurt your dogs, ask our long time buyers if they have ever had their dogs hurt our products.
We don’t mind you asking because our products have never hurt a pet and not even the FDA letter suggests anything different.

Thanks for writing…
Thanks for shopping with Little City Dogs and…
Good health to you and your pets!
Little City Dogs®”

[BeachDogs]

I have a product from them currently on the way to me and am concerned now. I have emailed the company and will share their response if I get one. I’ve been using their flea products for almost a year now with no problems.

[BeachDogs]

That doesn’t sound so bad. Glad you’re isolating the cause. It’s such a good feeling when that happens!

[BeachDogs]

Yes.

[BeachDogs]

That’s been a constant issue with my Yorkie. His vet said it could be clogged tear ducts or the ducts/drain tubes didn’t form correctly. He said the fluid can’t drain and that they can do a procedure to open them up. Hoping it’s an allergy for your pup. I just dampen a cotton pad with warm water, wipe the eye area and let it sit. A few minutes later I can remove the junk easily.

[BeachDogs]

I also buy from Little City Dogs and have been pleased. Saw there flea killer, same as Capstar, work magic on a senior Chihuahua I found. I came home from work 5 hours later and there were 100’s of dead fleas in his bedding. My pups stay on LCD’s lufenuron monthly throughout the year. I’m in the south.

[BeachDogs]

I am in Florida as well and would love to not have to give those chemicals to my pups every single month, but I do because we have mosquitoes (and ticks and fleas) year round. I agree with the others about getting the test in spring if you do skip a couple months of meds. Maybe work it to where it’s the yearly visit. Oh, on that topic, my vet says the yearly exam is just as important as the vaccines. I tend to agree.

[BeachDogs]

Good to know about the calcium and joint health. Thanks! Both dogs are coming from deboned lamb and deboned chicken formulas, and the Victor has beef meal, chicken meal and pork meal. That is where the glucosamine and chondroitin would come from I’m thinking. It’s not a deal breaker right now anyway. I’m wondering if picking Victor was a good decision. It has a decent protein amount at 33%, though, that’s a tad more than they’ve been getting. The source might not be the best in Victor. I do plan on trying a rotational diet and could switch to something else in a couple of months.

Perhaps I’ll look at NutriSource again and Earthborn. As you might have noticed, I am looking for a good food with a budget-friendly price for now.

Thanks for the reply!

[BeachDogs]

Congratulations!! I agree with Dori, whichever place you go will be lucky to have you.

[BeachDogs]

Thanks! Are those your kitties? They are oh so cute.

[BeachDogs]

Hey! I am new to this forum, but not DFA. Never really noticed the forum part, unfortunately. A HUGE thanks to Hound Dog Mom for compiling the list and for all the other amazing info members have given.

I have a 72 pound 11-month old Dane/Heeler rescue pup – have had her since she was 6 weeks old. Yep, foster failure right here! Got the ok from the vet to go ahead and put her on an adult formula. Went to a local pet boutique to buy NutriSource and ended up with Victor GF Active Dog and Puppy (ALS). I also have a 5-year old Yorkie. Concerned about the calcium, I called the manufacturer after I noticed it’s not on HDM’s list and the bag does not list calcium or phosphorus at all. They said it has 1.9% calcium and 1.23% phosphorus with a Ca:P ratio of 1.5:1.

My questions:
1. Since my large breed puppy is past 10 months, is this Victor food ok at 1.9% calcium and a 1.5:1 ratio? I am not sure if calcium percentage or Ca:P ratio is more important.
2. Is it ok for a pup this young and a 5-yr old not to have glucosamine and chondroitin? Maybe it’s better not to have those, yet. IDK. I realize I can give a supplement.
3. The kibble size is tiny, but I would like to have both dogs on the same food, so does kibble size matter?

Thanks!

[BeachDogs]

Testing

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