[crazy4cats]

Zach-
I do not give my dogs the shells. I separate the yolk from the whites and give the yolk raw and lightly cook the whites. My dogs are about 80 pounds each and they get two eggs twice a week.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Zach-
I give my dogs canned every morning with their breakfast. In the evening they get either sardines, eggs, dehydrated, or frozen raw nuggets with their Kibbles. If we have healthy leftovers, I’ll throw those on too!
I think it’s really healthy to add to dry food. Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Paula-
That is exactly what we did! They worked out fine because there was hardly anyone on the beach. So, we did not “clothes line” anyone! You just have to manually pull them in if you need to.

[crazy4cats]

Betsy-
Maybe it is a Solid Gold issue. It contains a lot more ingredients than the Tripett. I can’t find it here either. I’ve also used Merrick tripe and they also have a stew that has tripe in it. I only use it once in a while. But, my dogs eat just about anything. Except, if I don’t put anything in their kibble, they give me the “hairy eyeball.”

Meky6ra-
Tripe, I believe is the stomach of a cow or lamb. You can google foe more info. It’s stinky and gross, just like the dogs (well most dogs) like!

[crazy4cats]

Congratulations, that’s impressive. Let us know how he does on it!

[crazy4cats]

Wow, Betsy, that is surprising. Did you mix it in the kibble at all, or just put it on top?

[crazy4cats]

Hi-
I’ve seen Tripett recommended by several posters. I can’t find it in my area so I use Solid Gold about once a week. I’ve also tried Merrick’s. I would be ok suggesting either of these also. It’s a little stinky, but not too bad. I guess raw is really odorous! Good luck.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Justine-
I have had similar issues with my dogs, however, they did have parasites. I’ve tried several supplements as well. Currently, I feed Victor grain free joint and health kibble. I use various toppers such as canned, raw, dehydrated and fresh mixed in. I almost always use a digestive enzyme and an occasional probiotic. They are doing much better now. I strongly suggest checking out dogaware.com website as they have so much information on digestive issues. If you are looking to change dry food, give Victor a try. Many on this site have done well with it. Also, plain pure pumpkin might be a great addition to your dog’s food. It is very healthy and adds fiber that is both helpful for constipation and loose stools. The supplements that I have used with success that I discovered from dogaware are: Gastriplex, Vetri Pro BD, Perfect Form and Phytomucil. I hope you find a winning combination because I know how frustrating your situation is. Cleaning up runny poop is not a good thing! Good luck.

[crazy4cats]

Mom2cavs mentioned a supplement called Firm Up in a post a few days ago that was dried pumpkin and apple pectin. That also sounds interesting. I think Dr. Becker just recommended grinding or chopping the greens. I don’t think you cook them. Not sure your Sam would like those either!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Betsy-
I don’t blame your Sam. I think it smells terrible! I just mix it in with their topper on their kibble. I haven’t used for a while, but just got some a couple of days ago. I had been using Syner-G and wanted to switch it up. I hope they will still eat it. Lol! They are big dogs, 80 and 85 lbs. Therefore get a lot of food. I actually feed the lighter one more than the other! They are labs and not very picky. Plus they finish fast so they can “help” their brother with theirs! Maybe just try starting with a tiny amount and gradually increase? I also like the Fruitables digestive supplement which might be more appetizing to your dog.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Jennifer P-
Welcome to DFA! First of all, there is no such thing as a perfect food. It is best, in many people’s opinions on this site, to feed a variety to your dogs. There is an article in the review site’s library about diet rotation. I have fed Blue in the past, but thought they were too expensive for what you get. Right now, I am feeding my dogs grain free Victor dry kibble. I also add a different topper almost every meal so they can get different benefits from the different foods. I’m not a Blue hater but probably would not feed it again. Find at least one more kibble that is a different brand with a different protein and starch binder to give them some variety. Print the best dry food list and bring it to the pet store with you, or even better yet, check them out on the internet on their own sites to compare. Also you can start adding canned, dehydrated, raw, eggs and/or sardines to their kibble to make it even healthier. Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

My dogs’ don’t seem to do very well with peas either. The two dry kibbles that I like so far are Victor grain free and Nature’s Logic. However, neither are considered limited ingredient. Also, have you tried adding any type of digestive enzyme to their food? The Honest Kitchen makes a supplement called Perfect Form that seems to help my dogs. I wish you luck!

[crazy4cats]

Hey Akari-
Nice job! Let me know how you like the litter. I’m still searching for something good and cheap! I don’t think the Dr. Elseys has very good odor control. Thanks!

[crazy4cats]

Akari-
How is kitty and Bentley?

[crazy4cats]

Hey Moms2Cavs-
I just added that to my supplement list. I often use canned pumpkin and sugar free applesauce with my dogs’ meals or kong treats. The combination usually is very helpful with the stools. This supplement would definitely keep better. Thanks!

Hey Susan B-
Let us know how the new food and supplements go. Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Sharon- Gosh darn you. That looks really good! Nature’s Variety is the one premium food my cats will eat. Well, at least they did once a few weeks ago when I got a buy two get one free deal. I might have to get a few more cans before I order a case though. They are starting to not eat their Nutro Max and sometimes not even their Authority. Always their Fancy Feast and Friskies. Maybe Nature’s Variety would balance that out!

On another note, have we heard from Akari in a while? I’m curious how her pets are doing.

[crazy4cats]

Yes, this site is awesome. Well, I need a few more pets to catch up to you! I just have 2 large dogs and 4 cats. Thanks for the support. And, I really don’t PLAN on getting anymore!

[crazy4cats]

Oh my! You are one organized lady. I am definitely going to have to set up a spread sheet also. I have little post its and notes here and there with foods they don’t like. Of course, when I get to the store I don’t remember which is which! I always remember that Friskies, Poultry Platter always is a hit and never any vomit! Figures. LOL!

[crazy4cats]

Well, FWIW, I’m not willing to spend that much money on kibble due to that very reason. And, plus the fact I can’t afford to. LOL! I’d rather get a more basic budget friendly kibble so I can try and add the fresh or less processed ingredients myself. BTW, I’m very proud of this posting because I finally figured out what FWIW means! Woo Hoo! (I had to google it after I saw it used on this site multiple times)

[crazy4cats]

The BCnut-
Did you really want to tell me that? Lol! Thanks for the help with supplements.
Cindy-
I feed mostly kibble with various toppers. I give mine digestive enzymes every meal. Probiotics and a green supplement twice a week and right now garlic granules everyday for increases flea protection. You can just start adding these things slowly. You are off to a great start. You are feeding high quality products. You are way ahead of the average dog owner!

[crazy4cats]

Yippee! I wish you continued success. Your dog is in good hands.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Miss nut, or shall I call you miss puppet master! I missed you! I’m glad VBS went well. Our kids aren’t even out of school yet here. I ran VBS one year and helped several other. It was a lot of fun. Anyway, you feed oysters, huh? I honestly almost got some when I was buying the sardines, but wasn’t sure if it would be good for the dogs or not. I know my human son loves them. Maybe I’ll give it a shot! Nice to have you back.

[crazy4cats]

Aquariangt-
Did you take a look at the Authority link that Sharon posted. That food looks stew like. It might not be as high quality as Wellness, though, you’d have to look at the ingredients. Also Earthborn has some tubs that are popular, but I haven’t tried those either. Somehow, I ended up with too many pets to feed the more expensive food! I have to buy the more budget stuff in the big cans at this point.

[crazy4cats]

Sharon-
I think 3 out of 4 of my cats would really like and do well with those Authority stew style tubs. But, I always feed them all the same thing. The young ones, at this point have to eat the same thing as the old lady. Poor kitties!

[crazy4cats]

So our feed store had an “event” yesterday. There were hay rides, raffles, hot dogs and so on. But most importantly…..vendors and reps from several companies! I got a lot of samples. I got two of the new Wellness divine duo packs, but haven’t tried yet. The Nutro rep gave me a 3 pound bag of dry and 4 cans of wet. I also got a few cans of Dave’s for both cats and dogs. I’ll let you know how they work out. There were probably at least 10 companies represented. What I do for fun these days? My, how things have changed. Lol!

Aquariangt-
I’ve never tried the pouches either, but understand how they could be a pain. Can you try to find one of their canned prods with like ingredients but add water to it and stir it up? It sounds like it is a little soupy? Glad you are trying to add more moisture to the diet.

[crazy4cats]

I’m so sorry to hear what you are going through. I remember how stressful it is. I actually had a couple of anxiety attacks when I couldn’t seem to get my dogs better. And you are right, my (previous) vet also recommended Forti Flora. It actually worked pretty well for my pups. But, after looking at the ingredients and reading about it, I discontinued. EF is in many, many dog foods. And also in a lot of probiotics for dogs. There was another poster a while back that made some negative posts about EF as well. It didn’t seem to cause my dogs harm, but obviously it must to some. I certainly hope you can get rid of the bacteria it has caused and get your doggy better! Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Not that I know of. Not yet anyway! Us “cat” people hang out on the cat food recommendation thread on this forum. Come join us. My two favorite cat sites are catinfo.org and littlebigcat.com.

[crazy4cats]

Some of the stores may still have some of the cuts in gravy left. You can call or ask your store if there is any inventory at a neighboring store. Otherwise all the regions have the new turkey stew on order. The Midwest states have already been getting theirs. I haven’t tried it yet. I bought four cases of the old stuff though that should tide me over until we get the new stuff! There is a review on the Natures Domain Turkey Stew on the other side of this site. Check it out! I think you will be pleased.

[crazy4cats]

Is that something new? I didn’t know they had stew style. I’ve only fed the Authority Pate. My senior kitty prob would have barfed it up too. But I would have given it a go too! And then be mad at myself. Lol!

[crazy4cats]

It didn’t work for me either and now it’s gone. Do you think the reply button will actually reply to the poster, or will it go to the bottom after the last poster like it does now?

[crazy4cats]

Hey, look a report button has been added. I wonder why??

[crazy4cats]

Hi Zolicylus-

Unfortunately, I’ve had the same issues. My pups went through four or five treatments for giardia and then coccidia. First of all, are you sure they are clear of the giardia? Sometimes it is very tough to rid of. Next, you will have to be patient because the parasites and remedies can be tough on their intestines. It has taken almost 9 months to get consistent stools. I have used several supplements in addition to probiotics and enzymes. On dogaware.com, there are several ideas to help with these issues. I often used remedies that were suggested for leaky gut or IBS. When first starting a supplement, such as a probiotic, make sure to start slow. Only give half or a quarter of the recommended amount and build up to make sure it doesn’t cause upset. I think slippery elm and L-Glutamine are beneficial. I’ve used Gastriplex, Vetri-Pro BD, HK’s Perfect Form, Friutables Digestive supplement, Seacure and Phytomucil. Most of them contain a probiotic or enzyme with some diarrhea meds also. I am definitely not in the veterinarian field, so these are just suggestions from a fellow frustrated dog owner. Please check with your vet if you have any concerns. My former vet, who moved, actually recommended the Phytomucil, probiotics and enzymes. Good luck. I know it’s frustrating. And like Case, I’m curious about what you are currently feeding and using.

[crazy4cats]

Hi-
I use all of them also as toppers. Both the stews and the 95% pate. I honestly think the stews look and smell delicious! So far so good! I wish they carried it for cats!

[crazy4cats]

Hey, thanks for sharing, Dieseljunki. I found it interesting and informative.i have not fed Wysong, but would consider it.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Maria-
Victor has a healthy weight formula that looks good. As mentioned above, however, you would need to add fiber, such as chia or psyllium seed. But it is 27% protein and only 11% fat. Other foods that I’ve seen recommended are Wellness Core and Anament Lean. Also adding plain canned pumpkin would be helpful to add a little fiber and it is also very healthy for dogs.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Bobby dog-
I think that I recall you saying that you use Merrick dry food. If yes, are you concerned at all over the latest issues with the dog kibble? I just started transitioning my cats from their Wellness Core duck to the weight mgmt Merrick. It smells and looks ok. The cats are eating with no issues so far. I guess I’ll just keep an eye out for any problems. Any thoughts?

[crazy4cats]

Yes, Sue, I gave prednisone to my previous dog. It actually worked very well and kept his bloody diarrhea under control. If you can taper off to the the lowest dosage possible after time, that would be best. I was always worried that the prednisone would shorten his life, but the vet said his life would be shortened also if I didn’t give it to him. What do you do? I wish you the best!

[crazy4cats]

Oh, I was just gonna do the glasses, nose and mustache thing. Your idea sounds so much better. Actually I did go to Sam’s once with my mom’s membership and ran in to a coworker! We laughed and swore to secrecy we wouldn’t tell on each other. Lol!
I’ve not really tried any other litter for years. This is a very big step for me. Lol! I did buy some Dr. Elseys and it is less dusty. It’s expensive with 4 cats and 5 or 6 litter boxes. I think I’ll try the Petco brand to see how that works.

[crazy4cats]

Praying for you and your family during this very difficult time. She is in good hands!

[crazy4cats]

Bobby Dog-
We don’t have BJ’s here. It’s Sam’s Club that I’d have to wear a disguise to. Lol!

[crazy4cats]

Mine don’t seem to do well with beef either and they don’t like lamb. That pretty much leaves chicken, turkey and fish. I try not to feed much fish, though. Any canned food with duck or rabbit is pretty expensive. Do any of you know of any budget type foods with duck or rabbit?

Bobby dog- Catinfo likes Dr. Elsey’s ultra clumping litter the best. The little big cat site likes the world’s best the best. They are both a lot more expensive than I’ve been using. But, I just don’t want all that dust anymore!

[crazy4cats]

Yes, I do remember that. LOL! I was just trying to remember that website a few days ago. It is actually chicken feed, isn’t it, that he recommended? It is very similar to the World’s Best Cat Litter, but actually chicken feed. Hmmmmm, we’ll see. Let me know what you find out this summer if you give it a go. I’m curious as well.

[crazy4cats]

Don’t worry, it’s an obsession at our house too. We have set up several grading methods to describe it. LOL! It’s not, “How was your day today?” It’s more like, “Did the boys have blue ribbon poop today?” Yikes!!!

[crazy4cats]

I did worry about it at first, but not as much anymore. I cooked the eggs at first, both scrambled and boiled. Then I started just very lightly cooking. Now, I separate them and stick the whites in the microwave for about 30 seconds first and give the yolk to them raw. So far so good! I give them each 2 eggs twice a week. They are both about 80 pounds. In addition, they each get a tin of sardines once a week. We call it “Sardine Sunday” at our house.
I personally wouldn’t worry about finding a food that is labeled for giant breed dogs. Most of that is marketing in my opinion. I would be more concerned about buying from a reputable manufacturer. I find that large breed foods are usually lower in protein. That is why is I don’t usually feed mine the large breed foods. Also, just read the label and use common sense. It seems as though you have a lot of that! The ingredients and the guaranteed analysis are the most important to me.
What is funny to me, is that most of what I read, says it is best to feed variety, no matter what size the dog is. But, you really need to do what you think is best. Good luck to you!

[crazy4cats]

Hey Guys-
Does anyone have any suggestions for a good budget friendly cat litter? The one I’m buying now at Costco seems to be just getting dustier and dustier. Maybe it’s also due to the fact that I’ve about tripled the size of their main litter box. Just more litter to fly around! It makes a mess and it can’t be good for them. I think it’s called litter purrfect? I was thinking about the refillable litter at Petco. Has anyone tried it? Also, I see Dr. Elsey’s recommended quite a bit. But, it’s also more expensive. Help!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Tracy-
Welcome to DFA! It sounds to me like you are doing a great job with your pups. I have litter mates also. Two lab mix males. They will turn three next month. What a handful! I’ll never do that again! However, I can’t imagine life without them.
Anyway, you got a clean bill of health at the vets so you must be doing something right. Most members on this site believe that it is best to feed your dogs variety. A rotating diet is recommended. It sounds like Royal Canin is very expensive for a 2.5 star food. You could definitely keep it in your rotation since the dogs do well on it if you want. You could probably add another kibble to your rotation that has more protein and even be less expensive. So far I use Victor and Natures Logic Kibbles. I also use several different toppers for variety. Such as canned, eggs, sardines, raw nuggets and even dehydrated.
When you are introducing a new food, just transition slowly and add a little plain pumpkin and probiotics to help with the change. Good luck to you and your pups!

[crazy4cats]

Have not tried the new Wellness. I went to Walmart today to check out the New Variety cat food, but they didn’t have it. I did buy a couple cans of Sheba, however. I’ve never fed it and it was on sale for 50 cents. My thyroid kitty hasn’t thrown up for a while, so I am a little afraid to feed something new. We’ll see how it goes.

Glad Kitty is doing better, Akari.

[crazy4cats]

OOh! Thank you very much. Looks like I’ll be stopping by Pet Smart as well for some Authority canned cat food. Woo Hoo! Did they send this to you, or is there some place on their site that you check for these?

[crazy4cats]

I received my Wellness coupons also. But, of course, I left them in the car when I went to Petco yesterday. Shoot, looks like I’ll have to make another trip!

[crazy4cats]

That sounds like a great plan! I switched foods several times as well thinking that was the problem. I had never even heard of giardia or coccidia before. Good luck!

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