[Dog_Obsessed]

Yes, and I like that way of putting it. I feel weird using any food that is owned by Purina though, so I probably won’t be including Merrick or WEF in my rotation anytime soon, but there probably wouldn’t be much harm in doing so if Purina really isn’t going to make any changes to it.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Not only can there be bad ingredients within the USA, but any claim saying that pet food is manufactured in or sourced from the USA can potentially be sketchy. A company could send the food to China or another company with bad standards for manufacturing, even if it is sourced from the USA, or vice versa. Purina had some issues with their chicken jerky treats that suggested they were sourced and/or manufactured in China, so I don’t know how much I’d trust their “USA” claims.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Here’s an article about dogs and Pepcid, including the recomended dosage: http://canigivemydog.com/pepcid-ac

[Dog_Obsessed]

I agree completely with pitlove. My dog is currently also on an elimination diet, and I know how incredibly frustrating it can be to not find anything that works, so I’m glad you have found something that works! I think that now that you’ve found a diet she is stable on, you could try slowly introducing a “challenge item.” starting with the novel meats that others suggested above, and switching back to V-Dog if she reacts. I would recommend consulting your vet for guidance on how to do this. She could be allergic to all meat sources, though she is not necessarily, because food allergy tests can be unreliable.

As pitlove said, if she is doing well in terms of overall health, then you and your vet may decide to just keep her on the diet she is on. I consider your situation very different from people who are feeding their dogs a vegetarian/vegan diet due to personal belief. I am a vegetarian myself for belief reasons, but I don’t believe that pets should be except in extreme medical cases such as this one. I don’t think cats should be fed vegetarian/vegan under any circumstances.

[Dog_Obsessed]

I agree with Red. I have used Sentinel for several months without an issue. It is probably a coincidence, but I assume it would be possible that it could be a side affect of the medication. If your vet thinks it may be, then I would recommend switching preventatives and contacting the company.

[Dog_Obsessed]

🙁 If they replace it soon then I might be able to get it. Lily will be on the metronidazole for a few more weeks, and I think we have a bit more of the NVI left.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Wait, is there one available at all right now with a later expiration date?

[Dog_Obsessed]

Ooh, thanks for link me to the maintenance one! I thought it would have a lot more ingredients, but the only difference is the vitamins/minerals required to meet standards.
Unfortunately I would not be done with the food by mid-July, so I can’t take advantage of the discount.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Dog_Obsessed.

[Dog_Obsessed]

I’m currently looking at the Rayne Diagnostic (LID) diets. They are all super limited ingredient, which is great. I don’t think they work for long-term feeding however, which I may need to keep in mind for a longer elimination diet. The kangaroo wet food looks amazing nutritionally, but is not all sustainably financially ($40 a week). The dry food is much more practical, at something like $40 a month for Lily. http://www.raynenutrition.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VC201D-2kg
It’s not great protein-wise, with 17% as-fed protein and Sweet Potato Flour as the first ingredient, but I might have to just let that slide for the elimination diet.
Still keeping in mind the Balance It Catfish and Beans, though this might be my first choice because there are so few ingredients.

Edit: The Rayne diet I linked to is also currently out of stock, which could be an issue.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Dog_Obsessed.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Okay, thanks for clearing that up. The other thing is the Balance It Catfish and Beans Vet dry food: https://secure.balanceit.com/marketplace2.2/details.php?i=44&cc=
It is expensive for an LID, but Lily’s never had beans as a carb before as far as I know, and she hasn’t had much Catfish either, so it could be an option.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Dog_Obsessed.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Thank you for the links BD, and thanks for the recommendation aquariangt! I will look into the Rayne diets. And yes, I do think that Balance It uses synthetic vitamins, but don’t most commercial foods also use them? Correct me if I’m wrong on this,

[Dog_Obsessed]

Just a comment on the spaying thing, I always highly recommend it due to both population and medical reasons. After Lily was spayed, the only change was that she became more food-motivated. She didn’t gain weight, and her personality didn’t change.

[Dog_Obsessed]

@BCnut/El Doctor Thanks! I played with the website a bit more after posting this topic and found the one for specific health issues. It would be great except for the fact that Lily needs a novel protein source, such as bison, venison, or kangaroo, and I’m pretty sure that isn’t really practical to use for a homemade diet based on the availability/cost of novel meat sources.

[Dog_Obsessed]

@Red My vet thinks it has a lot to do with food allergy/sensitivity issues, and while they also have recommended the routine expression, I have read quite a bit about it possibly worsening anal gland issues long-term. I have a few previous topics about this that explain the situation better: /forums/topic/anal-glandfood-allergy-issues-tmi-warning/
/forums/topic/more-anal-gland-issues/

[Dog_Obsessed]

I have heard of some joint health risks for large breed puppies if they are neutered before 6 months, but I don’t think I’ve heard of any after that. I know more about it for female dogs, but I’ve never heard of anything wrong with neutering after 6 months for LBPs.

However, as someone who has volunteered in animal rescue, I definitely think you should neuter your dog at some point. I have seen far too many cases of puppies ending up in shelters due to people not spaying and neutering. Yes, it is more of a problem with owners that are irresponsible, and you are certainly responsible if you are asking this question, but anything can happen to any dog.

[Dog_Obsessed]

I have used THK and been happy with it, but I have never used Grandma Lucy’s. I firmly believe that variety is the best for dogs, so I would recommend rotating between the two, and also within flavors of each brand. Here is some more information on diet rotation: /frequently-asked-questions/diet-rotation-for-dogs/

[Dog_Obsessed]

Good suggestion! Unfortunately, the line between “firm stool” and “constipated” for Lily is very fine. Last week, for example, she was straining a bit in the morning but had nice, firm, poops later in the day. The balance is pretty hard to strike with her. I am hoping that if we can get her allergies minimized (both food and environmental) then she will have more consistent stool.

[Dog_Obsessed]

@Dori Her stools are okay right now, and have never really been too bad. Sometimes they’ve been a little loose, or she’s been straining a bit, but for the most part they’ve been good.

@LM She’s had the problem with discolored fluid since we had her (8.5 months), but she mostly just started scooting in February.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Thanks for the idea. Lily was actually on grain-free, potato-free kibble for quite a while, so I don’t think potatoes are the issue (though I guess they could be one of them.)

I couldn’t find anywhere around here that carries the GO venison, and Chewy says that that item may take up to a week for delivery, so it looks like we might not be going with that food. My next choice was NVI LID Rabbit, so even though we can’t find anywhere that carries that either, we might go with that one and order it from Chewy.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Yup, I saw her say that in the video and found it interesting. I was also thinking that maybe her ingesting pollen, from eating grass or licking her paws after being outside, could cause anal gland issues. The vet thinks this is plausible, but there are still some food allergy issues involved.

I think we are going to go with Petcurean GO Sensitivity+Shine Limited Ingredients Venison formula. Thanks Susan for suggesting this!

• This reply was modified 8 years, 11 months ago by Dog_Obsessed.

[Dog_Obsessed]

We’ve been adding a wet food topper and water to Lily’s food for a while, and we were doing an all-wet diet (THK) the last few weeks, but it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[Dog_Obsessed]

That is super interesting losul, thanks! It sounds like I would want to avoid regular expression of the anal glands, if possible.

[Dog_Obsessed]

@BCnut Yeah. The problem with any elimination diet, even the prescription ones, is that the dog could react to ANY ingredient in it. I guess we just have to keep trying.

@LM I might be a little squeamish, but I could probably manage. However, I doubt I’d be able to get Lily to tolerate it, because she hates having it done. We do get her groomed every 6ish at her vet’s office, and so the tech could express them then if we decide to go that route. I want to keep trying with the elimination diet and probiotics first though.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Thanks Susan! I will look at these! One of them is called “Lily’s Kitchen” lol.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Video from Cone of Shame, by Dr. Andy Roark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97csZ2OxDYU&feature=em-subs_digest

[Dog_Obsessed]

Thanks everyone for the replies!
I find it interesting that in the article that C4D provided, it says that regular expression of the anal glands can make problems worse because they will then will fill up faster. Has anyone else heard of this?

@Susan Thanks for the info! I unfortunately can’t access the group because I don’t have a Facebook account, but thanks for the information about the pumpkin.

@LM Thanks! What kind of other treatments could a dermatologist provide?

@C4D Great article, thanks! I will look into some of the supplements they mentioned.

As for the elimination diet, here are the foods I’m considering:

•NVI LID Rabbit formula
•Natural Balance LID Sweet Potato and Venison*
•PureVita Bison formula

*Yes, I know this is not a high-quality food. I am considering it because it is the only food I can find that uses Venison as the sole animal protein.

Any opinions on these, or suggestions for other foods? Thanks!

[Dog_Obsessed]

The web description looks great, but I’m having trouble locating an actual ingredients list. Do you know of one?

[Dog_Obsessed]

This is so cool! Thanks Dr. Mike! 😀

[Dog_Obsessed]

Each category of topics (e.i. Dog Treats, Diet and Health Issues, etc) will contain many different threads, listed in order from most recently posted on to oldest, regarding that general topic. Each individual thread will have a title, which should give some insight about the particular question or discussion. The first post in a thread is the original post, where the poster will generally be asking a question and/or starting a conversation. While things sometimes do get off-topic, we generally try to stay on the topic that the original poster (OP) brought up. Also, you may want to avoid posting the same thing on multiple threads, even if it is relevant on them. I hope this is helpful!

• This reply was modified 8 years, 12 months ago by Dog_Obsessed.

[Dog_Obsessed]

It would be adorable…for about 4 seconds until she tore it off. 😀

[Dog_Obsessed]

Lol! I’m not a dress person, and I don’t think Lily would be too big on the idea either, but I appreciate the idea. 🙂

[Dog_Obsessed]

Um, this is a dog food coupons topic, not just any coupons.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Hi! Large Breed Puppies have special requirements, and so you will need a food that meets those for the first few years of life. Learn more about that here: /best-dog-foods/best-large-breed-puppy-food/

Here is the forum topic about LBP food. /forums/topic/large-and-giant-breed-puppy-nutrition/ Midway through page 15, there is a link to a list of foods that meet the LBP standards. Many of them are grain-free, and all are rated at least 4 stars by DFA.

I hope these are helpful!

[Dog_Obsessed]

I’m so sorry your friend had to go through that C4D. :'(
The outbreak appears to be mostly in the midwest right now, though I know these things don’t stay local for long. 🙁

[Dog_Obsessed]

Anyone know how widespread the outbreak is? It’s scary stuff. 🙁

[Dog_Obsessed]

I like Lab’s method, because it works directly with the trigger (kids in raincoats) without putting the kid in danger. Of course, make sure to get consent from the parent first. 😀

[Dog_Obsessed]

Great! Hopefully she’ll keep on eating it! 🙂

[Dog_Obsessed]

Showing him the contrast in DFA reviews is one idea, as that may help him see that you are not making it up. To get her to eat her food, I would recommend putting amount of high-quality wet food or pumpkin on her food, if he is willing to do that. I use wet food as a topper for my small dog, and I freeze it in small portions since it only lasts a few days in the fridge. Some dogs also also like their food better if it is mixed with water, so that is a simple idea he could try. Good luck! 😀

[Dog_Obsessed]

You can fill his Kong with pumpkin and his kibble and freeze it as his meal if you’d like, but if you want something more treat-like, then here is a link with some ideas:http://www.kongstuffing.com
As for his sensitive stomach, I would say the key is to introduce new ingredients very slowly. Only give him a tiny bit of something the fist time, and if that goes well then slowly increase the amount. If it gives him loose stool, discontinue that ingredient.
As for the beef and rice, it sounds like a good idea, but it should definitely be cooked if it is going into a Kong, and make sure it doesn’t make up too much of his diet. Good luck! 😀

[Dog_Obsessed]

I don’t think this necessarily means that she can’t be a service dog. I would recommend using positive reinforcement to get her less afraid of the things she is afraid of, which it sounds like you are already doing with the trainer. Depending on what your trainer thinks, you may also want to consider having a few private training sessions to work on specific triggers.

And I agree, dogs make the best deep pressure therapy. 😀

[Dog_Obsessed]

I agree with aquariangt and C4D, this is a horrible idea for a dog with fear-aggression. If a dog is about to bite, it means that they are at a fear level so high that they feel the need to physically defend themself. By rolling a dog over on their side, also called an alpha rollover, you are making the dog associate the situation with being forcefully and painfully rolled over on their side by the one person they thought they could trust. This may accomplish:
1. Making the dog more afraid and more likely to bite in a similar situation in the future.
2. Making the dog afraid of the owner.
3. Making the dog bite the owner.
Even though aggression may look different than what most people think of fearful behavior, it is almost always rooted in fear. I think it was perfectly reasonably for Sam to ask the girl to remove her raincoat, though it was reasonable for her mom to deny, as that is her choice.

[Dog_Obsessed]

@Michael Saull What do you mean by “put her on her side?”

• This reply was modified 9 years ago by Dog_Obsessed.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Yeah, I think Wellness Core would be a good option. I’m going to comment on the review and ask about the typo.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Lol, I’m pretty sure that was a typo, and that it’s supposed to be 10%. I could be wrong, but it seems rather unlikely for a food to be 1% carb. 🙂

[Dog_Obsessed]

Hi pitlove,
What do you consider low-carb? The Orijen Regional Red has about 28% carbs on a dry matter basis. It seems that most canned dog foods have similar carb readings, as canned foods tend to be much lower in carbs than kibble. So I would say to browse around some of the high-quality canned foods, and find one that looks good. You can look at the DFA review to see the carb content, or if you are considering a formula that is not the one highlighted in the review and want an exact reading, then you can manually calculate the carb content. First, use this system to find the as-served carb content: /choosing-dog-food/dog-food-carbohydrate-content/
Then, use this system to convert it to dry matter basis: /choosing-dog-food/dry-matter-basis/
Good luck! 😀
–DO

• This reply was modified 9 years ago by Dog_Obsessed.

[Dog_Obsessed]

I personally think that THK is a great food. If you don’t mind it being a bit pricey, then I would definitely recommend it. However, I believe strongly in rotational feeding, (learn more here: /frequently-asked-questions/diet-rotation-for-dogs/) and I think that, like any food, it should not be a dog’s diet for their entire life, and should be rotated with other high-quality foods.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Huh…I’ve never heard anyone recommend not to feed dogs pork kibble. My vet recommended it as a novel protein for my dog’s elimination diet, and so I have been using Acana Singles Pork and Butternut Squash. It is hard to tell if it is working or not, especially since we found out she also has environmental allergies, but she didn’t do badly on it.

As for Pork treats/chews, I have occasionally heard of contamination issues, or dogs having issues with the fat, but I think they are generally fine if from a reputable company, and of course, supervised to make sure the dog doesn’t choke or consume too much in one sitting.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Sounds like your household appliance systems have all teamed up against you. 😛
On a more serious note, I agree with your views about the dental. I can see that your mom would be very concerned because of her age and blood work, but I agree that it sounds like it would make her a lot more comfortable. I know it must be really frustrating not to be able to make the decision, so just keep on doing what you’ve been doing with the nagging for now. I’m glad that Ginger has been feeling better lately. 😀

[Dog_Obsessed]

Hi Joyce,
There is already a topic about homemade dog treats that can be found here: /forums/topic/has-anyone-made-homemade-dog-treats/

[Dog_Obsessed]

Congrats on your soon-to-be new puppy!

I have not had direct experience with Large Breed Puppy nutrition, but here are a few resources that will hopefully help clear things up for you:
Here is a basic article about LBP nutrition, along with a calcium/phosphorus calculator: /best-dog-foods/best-large-breed-puppy-food/

Here is a link to the forum topic about LBP nutrition. In the middle of page 15, there is a link to a list of acceptable LBP foods: /forums/topic/large-and-giant-breed-puppy-nutrition/

Good luck with your new puppy!

[Author]

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