[crazy4cats]

I’m sorry, but I’ll have to disagree. I would take the food back. I always check expiration dates when buying food. Of course, they will tell you it’s still good so they can get rid of it. I think kibble is already risky enough to feed as is without being expired. I really hope the food is OK if your friend goes ahead and feeds it.

[crazy4cats]

Yes, Akari, as Bobby Dog recommended, the catinfo dot org site has great info on UTIs. Again, the main thing is to make sure he is getting plenty of moisture to flush the crystals. If not, a blockage could be created and then the cat is in real danger. Assuming that is what is going on. Dr. Lisa Pierson even goes as far to say that it’s ok to feed a lower quality canned food rather than to feed a dry kibble to ensure they get enough moisture. To keep price down, I do feed my cats a can of Friskes Classic Poultry Platter every couple of days. It is the one flavor of this brand that at least has a named meat as the first ingredient and does not list any food coloring. I also think that Petsmart’s Authority is a decent budget canned food. I feel for you. I know what it is like to unexpectedly take ona pet with unexpected issues that you weren’t prepared for. This cat is lucky you took him in!

[crazy4cats]

Yes, Harper’s Mom, I think I would switch foods too if the obsessive grass eating hasn’t stopped. I have one dog who loves to eat grass too, but never til he vomits. I found a green mix that is not too expensive to add called NU-PET Granular Greens made by Ark Naturals. It seems to have helped some, but he still loves his grass! I don’t worry about it too much except on walks where we don’t know if it has been treated with anything or not. Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Hi-
Does the food have to be grain free? Have you checked out Nature’s Logic? This food is highly recommended by many on this site. It’s tough to find a grain free kibble without peas these days. Have you looked into canned food at all?

[crazy4cats]

I have two male cats and their pee doesn’t smell strong nor is there any blood in it. You are right it sounds like a UTI. I hope you are able to get him to the vet ASAP. It’s a huge responsibility taking on another pet. I’m not sure we are always ready for it. (Including myself). I think this cat sounds pretty well behaved for a stray. It will just take him some time to learn the rules. He hasn’t had any for a while. Good luck to you, Akari.

[crazy4cats]

What are your cat’s symptoms?

[crazy4cats]

Hi Akari-
Welcome to the cat world! Yes, your cat will be naughty for a while. Mine ruined a set of curtains when they were little and continue to be rough on our blinds. Please try to open up a few blinds so the cat can see out and won’t ruin them. And, yes, my cats have torn up my furniture as well. I don’t think any cats should be de-clawed. Also, please to get a snug fitting break-away collar for him. You can’t even imagine how many situations cats can get them selves in. I believe the saying that cats have nine lives is true! LOL!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Aleksandra-
Poor, poor Bruno-
I’m not sure what caused his upset tummy, maybe all the different type of treats in one night? But, whenever my dogs get bad bellies, I try to withhold food and water for a while. It’s tough to do with multiple pets cause I have to feed the others. But, when I do feed him, I would never give kibble. That is the hardest type of food for them to digest. I usually start with a very small amount of rice and boiled chicken/turkey or canned food and pumpkin. You need to start with something very bland and only a small amount of it. It seems like you fed him too much too soon when he had a bad belly. Also, I would never take him to someone else’s house when he’s feeling sick. I honestly think about what I would do for myself or my kids when we are sick.
A great resource is dogaware dot com. They have a lot of great remedies for diarrhea. Best of luck to you!

[crazy4cats]

Yes, I like the wellness core turkey and duck also. It doesn’t have any chicken or fish in it. I try to use it every other bag. It’s a little pricey though. Luckily we don’t go thru near as much with the cats as dogs.

[crazy4cats]

My dogs are doing great on Victor Grain free right now. It is one of the cheaper 5 star foods that have worked for me. I can’t get it as cheap in my area as others as it is not very available. But, still less than a lot of other quality foods. There is also Earthborn, Nutrisource, Taste of the Wild (Diamond), and Dr. Tim’s. good luck!

[crazy4cats]

OMG, Sandy! Too funny!

[crazy4cats]

Hi All-
That Nature’s Logic fortifier looks interesting. It looks like it contains probiotics, digestive enzymes and a protein boost. Seems like it would be easier than adding all separately. How much does it suggest to add? It doesn’t show feeding recommendations on their website. Are you having good results with it? Thanks for any input. Sometimes I feel like I’m feeding more supplements than food. Lol! And I have big dogs.

[crazy4cats]

Yahoo! He’s gorgeous! You already sound like a cat lady. Congrats. Lol! Yes, he’s definitely not very wild. I hope no one’s looking for him. It’s great he ate the canned food. It’s much better for them. Especially males that are more prone to urinary tract problems. Just a warning, if he loves the Friskies, he might not like the expensive stuff. Congrats!

[crazy4cats]

🙂

[crazy4cats]

Hi-
No, I wasn’t worried about it until this thread was started! I just get worried when I hear talk about intestinal damage due to the parasite fiasco we had. Both of the enzymes I have are part of a multi-enzyme supplement. My dogs are doing pretty well right now. So I won’t worry too much. Thanks, BC nut. (But you will always be Party V to me!)

[crazy4cats]

Hi-
I just checked and both of the enzymes that I use contain bromelain. Should I try and find one that doesn’t to rotate with? Or, do they all pretty much include it?

[crazy4cats]

I think the Party Animal brand is canned by Evangers. There is talk of that going on right now on the review side.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Mommadog-
Have you got rid of the infection? Was it giardia? Mine had a tough go with giardia and now are also sensitive. I am currently using Victor grain free with a digestive supplement and they seem to be doing much better. Good luck.

[crazy4cats]

Hi-
Have you checked out the 4 and 5 star puppy foods on the review side of this site? Any food that is labeled puppy or all life stages is ok to feed a puppy. It’s hard to know what to recommend when there is no mention what he is allergic to.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Akari-
Did you get the cat yet. Was your friend able to catch him? Honestly, I’ve never been very diligent about getting my cats vaccinated. After hanging out on this site for a while now, I think I’m glad. Mine are strictly indoor now. But, in the past I had indoor/outdoor cats and didn’t always keep up on shots after their initial ones and never had any problem. But, I certainly don’t want to make any recommendations to you as I don’t know enough about it, other than my experience. Also wanted to remind you to try and stay away from fish based kibble and fish based canned food as much as possible. My senior cat was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and feeding too much iodine from mostly fish seems to be a common cause for it. There was actually some talk about it today on the off-topic thread on the review side of this site. Have fun!

[crazy4cats]

Yes, Mom2Cavs, that is what I dislike about ordering online also. I like to check the bags for tears and expiration dates before I purchase. It’s so difficult to return food online if there is a problem. You most likely just have to “eat” the costs. Plus, it’s nice to support our local pet stores if possible. I have gotten some expired or close to expired supplements when ordering from Amazon. But, so far, I’ve had great luck ordering dog food from Amazon, Wag and Petco. I am going to be trying rocketpetz in the next week.

[crazy4cats]

I’m sorry, I’ve never wormed mine at home and none go outside any longer so I don’t worry about it. Hopefully someone else will chime in. Good luck.

[crazy4cats]

Akari, one more important thing. Make sure to keep your dog out of the litter box. Dogs typically love cat poop. The cat may have worms or parasites and you do not want your dog to get them too.

[crazy4cats]

Just remember, the cat will most likely be very scared. That’s what I told myself when I have gotten bit. It’s not mean, just scared. You’ll have to be patient. But, who knows, maybe it’s very friendly and used to people. Yes, I’d like to feed a little higher end, but can’t afford as I mostly feed the canned food. With 4 cats, 2 big dogs and a kid in college. I do the best I can! I hope it works out. I love kitty rescue stories!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Akari-
Yippee, cats, one of my favorite subjects! I have four right now. 15, 5 and two 3 year olds. I hope the kitten is fairly tame. He might be tough to catch if she isn’t. I am first going to give you my go-to website for cat food nutrition. It is catinfo.org. I have rescued a handful of semi-feral kitties. They sometimes are hard to get to eat wet food at first, but keep trying if that is the case. I also feed both canned and dry. My favorite budget canned food is Authority only found at Pet Smart. I think it is the best for the least. I also have and do feed Chicken Soup, Fancy Feast, Nutro Max and Friskies. In addition, they get Weruva Cats in the Kitchen every now and then as it is more expensive, but very good. I rotate dry between Taste of the Wild, Wellness Core, Earthborn and right now am feeding Premium Edge Healthy Weight because they are getting a little chubby. Yes, the Premium Edge and Taste of the Wild are Diamond products, but I keep an eye on recalls and so far so good. You actually have to be aware of recalls for every brand. Very concerning matter! Check out the site I mentioned above. It is full of all kinds of cat health information and has two different charts with several types of canned food sorted by protein, fat, carbs and phosphorous. Good luck. It can be a very rewarding experience to save a kitty. It certainly will not survive for more than a couple of years if left in the wild. It might take a while for it to warm up to you. My 15 year old kitty was feral and it took three years for her to come to me. Now, she won’t get off my lap! LOL!

[crazy4cats]

Hi-
Yes, pure balance is made by Ol’ Roy. But I think it is much better quality. I use the canned food regularly. It’s a great value. There is an active thread on this food on the review side of this site. You may find it helpful.

[crazy4cats]

Jennilee-
A bit smitten? lol! Hey, I actually was going to recommend Pet Fresh. There was a big discussion on this food in the review section of this site a few days ago. It was determined that is a very good food. I’m glad you found something that works and is healthy.
My (human) boys are 19 and 23. No grandchildren for me either. I’ll have to start dressing my cats! I don’t think I’m gonna get my two 80lb retrievers in a stroller! Take Care.

[crazy4cats]

Jennilee-
Your pups sound adorable. They are smaller than most of my cats! Lol! There has been mention of a lot of dogs picking out the life source bits. Also, do they like fish? Once a week, I use sardines with my pups’ kibble. I also use a kong like Marie mentioned. But, it’s more to keep mine busy and out of trouble when they are in the house in the evening. I soak kibble for a minute or two then add a little pumpkin and apple sauce to the kibble. Then stuff the kong and stick in the freezer. They love it. But like I said before, they love everything! Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Jjennilee-
Actually, yes, you could add meat to a kibble they like. Do you ever add water or a topper to their kibble? As I understand it, as long as you keep an unbalanced topper at 20% or less of their total diet it is fine. You could put a little chicken or roast in their kibble with some warm water to make a gravy to try to make it more appetizing to them. I was also wondering if you have tried canned food? Most canned is balanced and you could do half and half with the kibble. Or even just canned if they like it better. I can’t really relate to this as I have two lab mix dogs that eat anything and everything! I wish you luck!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Harper’s Mom-
I am using Victor Grain Free right now. I’ve recently experienced soft stools also previously. They are doing very well on the Victor so far. The first three ingredients are beef meal, sweet potatoes and chicken meal. I am going to try their salmon formula next. I’ll report how they do on it. I wish you luck. I didn’t know feeding a dog could be so complicated. Lol!

[crazy4cats]

I also have labs with digestive issues. The supplements that I have used with success that have similar ingredients are: Gastriplex by Thorne, Vetri Probiotics BD by Vetri-Science, Phytomucil by Animal Essentials and the Perfect Form by Honest Kitchen. Good luck all. This is not a fun issue to deal with.

[crazy4cats]

I’m sure he will enjoy them. You could also add psyllium or chia for fiber. Bruno is a lucky dog!

[crazy4cats]

Aleksandra-
The Victor Ultra Pro variety has the highest protein and the lowest fiber in the line. It has 42% protein, 22% fat and 2.7% fiber. The premium grain free that I’m using right now has 33% protein, 16% fat and 3.8% fiber. As for Earthborn Primative Natural, the fiber is even lower at 2.5%. I think the other varieties in the line are a little higher also. I’ve only tried the Meadow Feast and my dogs did not do well on it.
Both of these websites are very informative and easy to maneuver. You should check them out! Good luck.

[crazy4cats]

How about Victor Ultra Pro grain free or Earthborn Primitive Natural?

[crazy4cats]

Patty-
Hard for me to write this cuz it makes me so sad. I’m really sorry. As I have written before, I also have taken in feral cats. There is something so special about them. When they finally trust you for just a few seconds even, it’s the best reward ever. I’m sure she will be missed by everyone. Thank you for giving her a great life. 🙁

[crazy4cats]

Hi Leah-
Just to add to my last post. If I had a bigger pet food budget, I’d definitely be checking out the Nature’s Variety Instinct kibble and possibly trying to feed more fresh and/or raw foods. Have a great day!

[crazy4cats]

Leah-
Sounds like you are on the right track! Read through Dr. Mike’s library of informative articles on the review side of this website. Empower yourself by learning as much as possible. Then, most importantly read the ingredient labels and analysis of what you are going to feed. I just looked at the pretty packaging and listened to those crazy commercials before I ran into some issues with my pets before I got smarter. You are already past that! I am currently feeding Victor grain free with great results. I think most of their food has poultry except for the fish based kibble. I’m not sure how you feel about fish. I’m going to try it next. I also add toppers, such as, canned, sardines, raw nuggets and eggs to their kibble. Have fun with your new pup!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Leah-
Congrats on the new pup. How fun, but very stressful. They are almost like having a new born baby! Have you checked out the 4 and 5 star limited ingredient foods on the review side of this site? I’ve heard many experts on this site say that Natures Variety Instinct is a great choice. I have not used it as it is not in my budget, but many have had excellent results with the smaller less frequent poops with this food.
However, if you are willing to cook for your pet, it is probably even better. I’m hoping to “bump up” your post, so others may chime in. Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

I bought a 5lb box of Wet Noses peanut butter/banana treats at Costco last week. There are two 2.5lb pckgs in the box. It sells for $12.49. Not sure if this is a great price or not because I’ve never bought them before. They smell good and the dogs really like them. Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Hi-
I guess I’m lucky also. Haven’t had much trouble with hairballs either. Three of them have short hair and one has medium length. I think longer haired cats have more issues. I split a 6 oz can of food between them twice a day and give them a little dry also. I try to give the larger boys a little more than the small girls, but I think my chubby little girl goes around and eats everyone’s left overs. I alternate between wellness core turkey/duck and Taste of the Wild dry foods. I’m thinking of finding a dry food with a little less calories. As they are all indoor cats and getting a little chubby. I don’t give them much dry now so thought a “lighter” recipe might help with the weight. Any ideas? As far as hairballs go, I think that feeding canned and brushing the cats is the best remedy.

[crazy4cats]

Hi-
Wow! Nice coupon. I have been using the Victor grain free with great results with my dogs. I highly recommend it. I feed my cats Wellness Core with great results as well. I think Weruva just sells canned food, bit I think they are very good also. I’ve never used the Merrick G/F, but Merrick seems to be a good company. Have fun with your choices.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Shasta-
Have you had a full blood panel done on her? There are at least three very common conditions that I know of that can cause that. I have experienced or have had friend’s cats have these symptoms and it has turned out to be either hyperthyroidism, kidney disease or diabetes. I really hope that isn’t the case for sure. But, a possibility. I use a lot of the budget friendly Authority canned food for my crew. Good luck.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Patty-
I take my pups in to a groomer about every 4 months for a bath and brush. I believe they use the furminator. Their coat always looks so good when we pick them up. Is it actually damaging their coat? They are lab/retriever mixes. Thanks.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Aleksandra-
No, Blue Buffalo is not a Diamond product. But, Canidae still uses Diamond for some of their manufacturing and they are a little sketchy about which of their products still come from the Diamond plants. I’m with you on the TOTW food. It looks very tempting.

[crazy4cats]

Hi-
I think you have gotten some good ideas. I know that you have to be sensitive with your friends when you try and “help” them with dog food. I’ve been successful at switching two off Beneful, but others have no interest in what I have to say. It’s funny to me that it can be such a touchy subject. Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Marie-
It appears to me that she is giving Shasta220 advice on how to get a friend to switch dog foods without being rude.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Akari 32-
You could click on the recalls tab above and bring up the previous recalls to see which states were usually involved. I know what you mean. The Diamond products are so tempting. Most appear to be great budget friendly foods. I work for Costco and we sell hundreds of bags of the Kirkland and Nature’s domain foods without incident. I live in the NW and we have not been affected by most recalls (supposedly). I’m still a little leery and still have not started using it again. But with it being almost two years, I’m tempted. Not sure if that means they’ve figured it out or are about due for another one! Hopefully, they have tightened their quality control because I know thousands of dogs are eating it. I think Taste of the Wild is one of the most popular foods along with Blue Buffalo sold in our area. Good luck, but I think you are right about Florida being one of the states affected in the past.

[crazy4cats]

Petco does not carry Perfect Form. I got it at our local feed store. It is made by The Honest Kitchen. You’ll probably have to go to a more boutique type pet store that carries the Honest Kitchen line of food. You could always order online if you are not opposed to that. Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Tina-
I agree with Patty that you should have blood work done on your dog. My furry nephew was experiencing similar problems as your dog plus a little lethargic and his eyes a little buldgy. His blood work showed that he had hypothyroidism. He now takes a tiny little pill everyday to speed up his metabolism and he’s like a new man! Good luck!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Leah-
I, unfortunately, am no help to you about diabetic dogs. However, if you go to the top of this page and click on the library tab, there is a thread for diabetic dog foods. There has actually been a lot of action on that thread. There seems to be some well informed people that are contributing to that thread the last couple of days. Check it out and good luck!

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