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Chipy

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  • in reply to: general supplement question #181551 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Thanks so much for sharing Jeffrey! That’s such an amazing list of high-quality supplements πŸ™‚

    I love Dr. Peter Dobias’ website and feel so grateful that he publicly shares his unique perspectives and medical experience with dog lovers, so we can feel more empowered and make better choices for our adored dogs.

    Also highly recommend his free resources like the Recipe Maker, Natural Diet Course and Healthy Dog Tool:

    https://peterdobias.com/

    in reply to: GreenMin for Detox? #181550 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Thank you for the helpful feedback Hav Mom and WondrousPups!

    We decided to try GreenMin along with the other essentials; SoulFood, GutSense and FeelGood Omega… wow I couldn’t believe the transformation!

    He is now 11 yrs old and has the mental sharpness and physical energy of a puppy. Our vet can’t believe how healthy he is πŸ™‚

    in reply to: High Alt levels #164822 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Diane,

    Sorry to hear you are going through this with your beloved Havanese boy and I hope to provide you with some information that might be helpful.

    Dr. Dobias has written an article about liver disease in which he discusses elevated enzymes and his protocol. He has seen excellent results from the bi-annual liver cleanse protocol, both proactively and for dogs dealing with existing liver issues and enzyme elevation.

    Treating & Preventing Liver Disease Naturally:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014997-treating-and-preventing-liver-disease-naturally

    LiverTune is an herbal supplement recommended for high liver enzymes and liver conditions:
    https://peterdobias.com/products/livertune-supplement

    It’s great that you feed him raw food, but please be careful with liver treats. Dehydrated treats can be harmless in small amounts but toxic when it is frequently given – like dehydrated liver treats.

    The reasons why liver treats, especially the dehydrated ones, put our dogs in danger of hypervitaminosis A are that they are greatly reduced in volume during dehydration, and they contain ten times or more vitamin A than the raw liver or cooked liver.

    Liver treat toxicity in dogs:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/liver-treat-toxicity-in-dogs

    12 things you must know about dog treats:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014081-12-things-you-must-know-about-dog-treats

    I hope this helps. Wishing you and your pup all the best in happiness and good health πŸ™‚
    Chipy

    in reply to: Where do we stand on peas now? #163090 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Good question, Mitch. When it comes to grain-free and/or pea-free diets, we need consider the overall quality of the food and the root cause of taurine deficiency.

    The “grain-free” marketing term refers to processed dry food/kibble that is an extruded, highly processed product; whether it is full of grains or grain-free, it is not healthy.

    The main ingredients in the grain-free diets are often peas, lentils, chickpeas and potatoes β€” carbohydrates typically intended to replace grains – rather than high-quality meat protein. This explains why some dogs became taurine deficient when fed these diets, as taurine (an essential amino acid that supports heart health) is naturally found in fresh meat and organs.

    So it’s best to avoid most grains and starches (because they are not a natural part of a canine’s diet) and focus on increasing the amount of fresh meat and organs in your dog’s diet to naturally prevent DCM.

    Dogs have much shorter digestive tracts than herbivores and can’t process high-carb foods like grains and starchy carbs very well. This often results in excessive food fermentation and gas.

    You can replace starchy carbs with cooked squash or pumpkin, especially for dogs with digestive upset. Grains (including rice) in general can contribute to IBD. Arsenic toxicity in rice is also a serious problem.

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/113943301-how-to-avoid-foods-high-in-arsenic-and-keep-your-dog-healthy

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014993-what-veggies-are-good-for-dogs

    The best diet is as nature intends; fresh meat, organs and bones with some vegetables and leafy greens. A varied, species-appropriate diet, along with all-natural vitamins, minerals, omega-3’s and probiotics is the way to go.

    It is very rare for a dog to have a taurine deficiency when consuming an unprocessed, fresh food diet because taurine is so readily available in meats and organs. It may need to be supplemented if your dog has been tested as deficient, but overall dogs get enough of this amino acid from fresh food, and from their ability to manufacture it in their own body.

    If you are concerned, connect with your holistic or integrative vet to get your pup tested and you can discuss options together based on the results.

    Here are some links to a quick & easy Natural Diet Course, and an online Recipe Maker that I hope you will find helpful if you want to learn more about alternatives to processed food. Your dog will love you for it! πŸ™‚ Switching from kibble to fresh food was the best decision we made a few years ago to improve our pup’s health and reduce unnecessary vet bills.

    https://peterdobias.com/pages/course-rawdiet

    https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com/

    Wishing you and your pup all the best πŸ™‚

    in reply to: Meat Meal #162821 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Good question, John. It’s best to avoid meat meals but they are the primary ingredients in most dry dog food so the healthiest option is to switch to fresh foods like home-cooked or premade raw diets that are more nutritious for our pups.

    Meat meals are made from taking slaughterhouse and fish processing factory remnants that are not edible for humans, and cooking them, processing them under high heat, and dehydrating them into a dry powdery substance that goes into kibble.

    Like most other low-grade and highly processed ingredients in kibble and canned diets, meat meals contain little to no nutritional value to the dog being fed.

    I use Dr. D’s recipe maker and natural whole-food based supplements to create healthy meals for my pup. It helps me build balanced recipes with the ingredients I have available and I love it; https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com

    in reply to: Homemade diet supplement #162306 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Soph, so great that you switched to a 100% homemade diet for your girl. My pup is about the same size as yours and eggshells didn’t work for him. Bonemeals are often high in toxic heavy metals such as lead, and low-level lead poisoning can damage kidneys, liver and nerves over time so I would be careful with them.

    If you don’t feed any raw bones, you can use GreenMin as the main calcium source. Dr. Dobias has found that dogs who are on GreenMin, and are not consuming any bone in their diet, consistently have results within normal ranges for calcium levels on their hair analysis test.

    Also, please be aware that Balanceit. com provides synthetic vitamin & mineral mixes. I was considering it many years ago when we switched to a homemade diet but I don’t like feeding anything that is NOT natural. There is a big difference in how the body abosorbs nutrients from whole food-based vs synthetic chemical-based supplements.

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/15188693-synthetic-supplements-for-dogs-can-cause-serious-problems

    We have been using the Fab4 (GreenMin, SoulFood, GutSense, and FeelGood Omega) for many years and our dog loves them. He is super healthy at the age of 10 and we are very grateful for Dr. Dobias and his pure products.

    https://peterdobias.com/collections/adult-dog-essentials

    These natural supplements are like wholesome food, the body recognizes them as such and only absorbs what it requires. As every dog has slightly different nutritional requirements, it’s best to provide a wide variety of nutrients to support the body. Here is what we add to our pup’s homemade diet to fill in any nutritional gaps.

    GreenMin, as a source of plant-based minerals, calcium, amino-acids, and super greens
    SoulFood, as a certified organic multivitamin with additional organ support components
    GutSense, as a source of dog specific certified organic probiotics
    FeelGood Omega, to supplement Essential Fatty Acids (omega 3s) – Sardines can be high in toxic strontium!

    In a perfect world, a wide variety of food would keep your dog’s body nourished and no supplements would be required. The problem is, due to intensive agriculture, minerals and nutrients do not get recycled back into the soil, leading to a lack of minerals in the whole food chain.

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/15072565-how-many-supplements-are-too-many-for-your-dog

    I encourage you to do your own research and only choose the highest quality products for your dog. They deserve the best! πŸ™‚

    in reply to: Information Please #162234 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Leamless, it’s so great that you are considering to switch from kibble to something healthier. I know what it’s like to live on a strict budget and understand how expensive life can get. In my experience it is more economical to feed a home-made diet (raw or cooked) than feeding commercially processed pet foods. You also get the benefit of understanding where each ingredient comes from (dog food recalls have been super scary lately)!

    We switched to home-made meals years ago and it was the best decision for our dog and my budget. LOL I am happy to share some resources that have been super helpful in guiding us to prepare balanced, home-made meals.

    Dr. Dobias has created a free Natural Diet Course which contains videos and articles full of information on this subject;

    https://peterdobias.com/pages/course-rawdiet

    His online Recipe Maker will help you build healthy meals for your dog with the ingredients you have available. It provides guidance on amounts of each ingredient and which ingredients are best;

    https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com

    The key is to offer a variety of both proteins and vegetables, and add essential nutrients (non-synthetic, whole-food based supplements) to help fill in any nutritional deficiencies;

    https://peterdobias.com/collections/adult-dog-essentials

    I hope this helps to get you started on this journey. It takes some time to learn the basics but the energy investment will definitely pay off when your dog is super healthy thanks to natural nutrition and you get to save on unnecessary vet bills.

    in reply to: Feeding dehydrated fruits and vegetables #162101 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Glorida, you can feed your pup dehydrated treats but it’s best to use meat as the main ingredient to keep the sugar and carb content low.

    This article explains what veggies are good for dogs;
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014993-what-veggies-are-good-for-dogs

    When it comes to fruits, you need to be more careful due to fructose, the natural sugar that is present in fruits. The rule of thumb is to feed fruit at least one hour before feeding meat or other proteins and a minimum of three hours after a protein meal because fruit digestion on its own is fast. When you feed fruit with protein it sits in the stomach much longer, which may lead to undesirable fermentation and production of a small amount of alcohol.

    Why fruit and protein should not be fed together:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015005-why-fruit-and-protein-should-not-be-fed-together

    Lastly, here is a healthy homemade treat recipe that my pup absolutely loves;
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/all-natural-homemade-dog-treat-recipe

    I hope this helps. Wishing you and your pup all the best!

    in reply to: Small breed or Senior #161761 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Meleasa, I understand your struggle trying to figure out what’s best for your little seniors. I’ve been there myself… and I know how exhausting it is to be constantly worrying about the right choices that support our fur baby’s well-being.

    Both terms “Senior” and “Small Breed” are marketing terms the pet food industry uses to sell more junk food πŸ™ My ****-tzu looking little one is also 9.5 y/o. I stopped feeding him kibble & canned food many years ago when I learned about the dangers of these processed diets. I encourage you to watch the documentary “Pet Fooled” on Netflix to learn about the truth and how kibble is made.

    Luckily, there are a few amazing holistic and integrative vets educating dog lovers online about the importance of fresh food diets and the essential nutrients dogs need. My personal favourite is Dr. Peter Dobias. He has created a free Natural Diet Course which contains videos and articles full of information on this subject;

    https://peterdobias.com/pages/course-rawdiet – It’s super helpful to learn the basics!

    He also has an online Recipe Maker, which will help you build healthy meals for your dogs with the ingredients you have available. It provides guidance on amounts of each ingredient and which ingredients are best;

    https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com

    The key is to offer a variety of both proteins and vegetables, and add essential nutrients to help fill in any deficiencies;

    https://peterdobias.com/collections/adult-dog-essentials

    I’m so happy we switched from processed food to home-made. It takes some time to learn the principles but it is so worth your energy investment because you will be saving a lot of money on future vet bills. I hope these free resources will be helpful for your pups and you get to enjoy many more happy and health years together! πŸ™‚

    in reply to: Where to start? #156909 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Jessica,

    So awesome that you are switching to fresh food! Your pups are very lucky to have you!! πŸ™‚

    We switched to home-made meals many years ago and it was the best decision to support our dog’s health. I am happy to share some resources that have been super helpful in guiding us to prepare balanced, home-cooked, and raw meals.

    To learn the basics, I suggest you start with this quick and easy Natural Diet Course which contains videos and articles full of information on this subject; https://peterdobias.com/pages/course-rawdiet

    This online Recipe Maker will help you build healthy meals for your dogs with the ingredients you have available. It provides guidance on amounts of each ingredient and which ingredients are best; https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com

    The key is to offer a variety of both proteins and vegetables and add essential nutrients (non-synthetic, wholefood-based supplements) to help fill in any nutritional deficiencies; https://peterdobias.com/collections/adult-dog-essentials

    When it comes to recommendations on where to purchase high-quality meat and bones, it’s difficult to provide specific options as that will vary depending on where you live. I have some general advice that I would like to share and hope you find helpful.

    Connecting with your local butcher is a great option, but you can always go to the supermarket as most meat departments have butchers working on site.

    Bones that we are looking to feed our dogs are not often packaged for the display shelves. If you chat with them, they might have something you are looking for or can work with you to put it aside next time.

    Some people that live in the country connect with local farmers or those that have friends or family that go hunting for a game could potentially give you items that they would discard when they are processing meat.

    Pet stores are beginning to carry more natural food including stocking freezers with various bones and brands of pre-packaged, raw dog food. Unfortunately many primarily carry a lot of big beef marrow bones which are very hard and can lead to teeth fractures. On speaking to the pet store owner about what you are looking for, they are more likely to carry alternatives if they know that people want to buy them.

    There are many Raw Food suppliers that ship nationwide and you can also try to connect with dog lovers in your area in person or online through Facebook groups etc to see if they have suggestions.

    I hope you find the above information useful for your beloved dogs. Wishing you a great rest of the week! πŸ™‚
    Chipy

    in reply to: Dog has Severe Allergies #156875 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Jake,

    I am sorry to hear that you are going through this with your beloved pup, and understand that you would like to provide him with some immediate relief.

    Allergies and skin problems are often the signals that the body is out of balance. Dr. Dobias has written several articles on the topics of allergies and paw licking that I have shared with you below. Many dog lovers are surprised to learn about the underlying cause of these common issues and the natural protocols that can be super helpful.

    WHY ARE SKIN ALLERGIES IN DOGS OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED?
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014037-why-are-skin-allergies-in-dogs-often-misdiagnosed

    WHY DOGS LICK THEIR PAWS – NATURAL APPROACH TO TREATMENT:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015041-why-dogs-lick-their-paws-natural-approach-to-treatment

    5-STEP HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PAW LICKING IN DOGS:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014073-what-you-should-know-about-paw-licking-and-chewing-in-dogs

    Apoquel can look like a miracle for dogs with allergies and their human companions watching them itch, however the negative effects of this drug are now well documented.

    I recommend that you seek the guidance of a local holistic/integrative vet to help you with alternative treatment options and also have your dog’s spine checked by a chiropractor – as issues with spinal health are related to skin problems in dogs. I have included some links to help you find holistic practitioners in your area:

    https://www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/
    http://www.civtedu.org/directory/

    Regarding diet, it’s best to avoid processed food (kibble and canned food) entirely and provide a fresh, raw or cooked diet for your dog. Dry dog food/kibble is is an extruded, highly processed product full of synthetic ingredients and starchy carbohydrates, which are very often the main cause of allergies. Every medical professional knows that fresh food is always healthier than processed food!

    Fine tuning your dog’s body with a species appropriate diet and essential nutrients is the key to supporting his health and well-being. The best diet is as nature intends; fresh meat and bones with some vegetables and leafy greens, along with all natural vitamins, minerals, omega-3’s and probiotics;

    Here is a link to a quick and easy Natural Diet Course which contains videos and articles full of information on this subject and an online Recipe Maker which will help you build healthy meals for your pup with the ingredients you have available:

    https://peterdobias.com/pages/course-rawdiet

    https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com

    We switched to home-made meals many years ago and it was the best decision for our pup. I hope you will find these free resources helpful and wish you and your boy the best in good health.

    Chipy

    in reply to: Best food to reduce Lipomas #156762 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Virginia,

    I am sorry to hear that you are going through this with your beloved boy and I’ve posted some articles below that I hope will be helpful regarding natural treatment options for your dog.

    HOLISTIC APPROACH TO LUMPS IN DOGS:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015077-holistic-approach-to-lumps-in-dogs

    FATTY LUMPS ( LIPOMAS ), OTHER LUMPS AND WHY SURGERY IS NOT THE BEST CHOICE:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11016161-fatty-lumps-lipomas-other-lumps-and-why-surgery-is-not-the-best-choice

    EPILEPSY ( SEIZURES ) IN DOGS – HOLISTIC APPROACH TO TREATMENT AND PREVENTION (PART 1):
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/10933933-epilepsy-seizures-in-dogs-holistic-approach-to-treatment-and-prevention-part-1

    Regarding diet, it’s very important to avoid processed kibble and nourish your dog’s body with fresh food and essential nutrients. We made the switch many years ago and it was truly the best decision to support our pup’s health.

    We use Dr. Dobias’ free recipe maker to create balanced meals and I recommend you watch his quick and easy diet course to learn more on this subject. It may take a little bit more time to prepare homemade meals but it is so worth it. Investing in high quality nutrition and good health will help you to save on vet bills over the long term.

    NATURAL DIET: https://peterdobias.com/pages/course-rawdiet

    RECIPE MAKER: https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com

    I hope this helps your pup. Wishing you both the best in happiness and good health! πŸ™‚
    Chipy

    in reply to: Urinary Crystals #156744 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Lauren,

    I’m so sorry to hear you are going through this with your senior pup. My favourite vet, Dr. Dobias has written some articles that I can share with you to learn more about these conditions. I absolutely love his natural approach and hope that it will be helpful for your beloved boy.

    URINARY BLADDER INFECTIONS IN DOGS – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/57048581-urinary-bladder-infections-in-dogs-what-you-need-to-know

    5 STEPS TO PREVENT CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTALS AND STONES IN DOGS – HOLISTIC APPROACH:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/53667141-5-steps-to-prevent-calcium-oxalate-crystals-and-stones-in-dogs-holistic-approach

    WHY DO DOGS GET BLADDER AND KIDNEY STONES AND HOW TO TREAT THEM NATURALLY:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014185-bladder-and-kidney-stones-and-urine-crystals-in-dogs-natural-approach

    Having veggies in the diet can help balance PH. Dr. Dobias discussed within the following article;

    WHAT VEGGIES ARE GOOD FOR DOGS?
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014993-what-veggies-are-good-for-dogs

    I hope this helps and wish you and your pup all the best for good health! πŸ™‚
    Chipy

    in reply to: Has anyone made Homemade Dog Treats? #156480 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Kayla,

    So awesome that you are thinking about making homemade dog treats. Your pup is lucky to have you!

    Here is a link to a video Dr. Dobias recorded making a dehydrated meal for his dog. I like to follow his recommendations and prepare dehydrated treats for my pup.

    How to make homemade dehydrated dog food:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/how-to-make-homemade-dehydrated-dog-food

    Dehydrated meat should keep for up to a month if it’s been stored correctly. The shelf life can be extended by placing the treats in a fridge or freezer. I recommend checking out some additional online sources about making dehydrated treats and meals as well as best practices to store.

    I tend to make small batches in order to ensure freshness, rather than making too much and having some spoil and go to waste. This online Recipe Maker provides guidance on amounts of each ingredient and which ingredients are best.

    https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com/

    I hope this helps. Wishing you and your pup the best in good health! πŸ™‚

    in reply to: Great Dane with loose stool #156444 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Kat,

    Sorry you are going through this with your Great Dane πŸ™

    Probiotics are essential to support your dog’s digestive tract and immune system, however the extreme heat that kibble and canned food must undergo guarantees no live microbes would survive. So please don’t waste money buying pet food that claims to include probiotics for dogs. The process of manufacturing pet food is simply too extreme for delicate living microbes to survive.

    It’s best to do your research and look for a high quality probiotic supplement. We use an organic probiotic supplement, GutSense that was specifically formulated to match the intestinal microflora of dogs (it is also dairy free and includes prebiotics).

    https://peterdobias.com/products/gutsense

    During times of acute digestive upset it is recommend to double the dose, and this has always worked for our dog along with a home-prepared diet. I have included a few other articles below that Dr. Dobias has written about digestion that may be helpful:

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015037-11-steps-to-treat-acute-or-bloody-diarrhea-naturally

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015049-the-surprising-link-between-diarrhea-back-injuries-and-too-much-exercise

    I hope this is helpful for your Great Dane. Wishing you both the best in good health! πŸ™‚

    in reply to: Boxer Possible Pancreatitis–Issues eating #155076 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Jen,

    I’m sorry to hear that you are going through this with your dog. I know how upsetting this must be for you.

    In the case of pancreatitis, Dr. Dobias recommends giving FeelGood Omega as it beneficial to cell repair and helps to heal the pancreas. This has really helped our dog.

    https://peterdobias.com/products/feelgood-omega

    I’ve also included a few articles here that I trust will be useful to learn more about the topic of Pancreatitis.

    Pancreatitis in Dogs Treatment & Prevention Natural Approach:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11016097-pancreatitis-in-dogs-treatment-and-prevention-natural-approach

    What Causes Pancreatitis in Dogs and What you can do:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014065-what-causes-pancreatitis-in-dogs-and-what-you-can-do

    The Mad Science of Processed Food Making:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015013-the-mad-science-of-processed-food-making

    A high-quality protein diet is much better for dogs suffering from pancreatitis than starch, rice or a grain-based diet. He does not recommend feeding a low protein diet, but he does recommend lower fat meats for dogs with pancreatitis. Chicken, turkey, kangaroo, llama, rabbit and eggs are good examples of low-fat foods. He doesn’t recommend fatty meats, such as duck or lamb, or large red meat animals (beef, buffalo or bison) as they are higher in inflammatory factors.

    https://peterdobias.com/pages/course-rawdiet

    I hope this helps your pup. Wishing you both the best in good health!
    Judi & Chipy

    in reply to: Diabetic dog won't gain weight #154466 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Kellye,

    I am so sorry that you are going through this with Duffy. He is very lucky to have such a dedicated person looking out for his well-being. Dr. Dobias has written an article on the topic which I hope will be helpful for your beloved boy;

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/16556248-diabetes-in-dogs-treatment-and-prevention-holistic-approach

    Wishing you and Duffy many years of happiness together!
    Chipy

    in reply to: My dog will no longer eat raw! #154435 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Lindsay,

    Some dogs are more sensitive than others when it comes to different smells, tastes and textures in their bowl. It is also nutritionally sound to feed a cooked diet. It can be helpful in dogs that either refuse to eat raw meat or in dogs that are weakened or older and do not digest raw meat well.

    Dr. Dobias has created a free Raw and Cooked Diet Course which contains videos and articles full of information on this subject;
    https://peterdobias.com/pages/course-rawdiet

    He also has an online Recipe Maker that helps dog lovers create healthy custom recipes. It provides guidance on amounts of each ingredient and which ingredients are best;
    https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com/

    Wishing you and your boy all the best in good health! πŸ™‚
    Chipy

    in reply to: Looking for Advice (Topic 3) #154381 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    We have been using the 4 Essential Supplements (GreenMin, SoulFood, GutSense, and FeelGood Omega) for many years and our dog loves them!! πŸ™‚ He is super healthy and we are very grateful for Dr. Dobias.

    https://peterdobias.com/collections/adult-dog-essentials

    These natural supplements are like wholesome food, the body recognizes them as such and only absorbs what it requires. As every dog has slightly different nutritional requirements, it’s best to provide a wide variety of nutrients to support the body. Here is what we add to our pup’s home-made diet:

    GreenMin, as a source of plant-based minerals, amino-acids, and super greens
    SoulFood, as a certified organic multivitamin with additional organ support components
    GutSense, as a source of dog specific certified organic probiotics
    FeelGood Omega, to supplement Essential Fatty Acids (omega 3s)

    In a perfect world, a wide variety of food would keep your dog’s body nourished and no supplements would be required. The problem is, due to intensive agriculture, minerals and nutrients do not get recycled back into the soil, leading to a lack of minerals in the whole food chain.

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/15072565-how-many-supplements-are-too-many-for-your-dog

    I hope this helps. Please be sure to do your research and only choose the highest quality products for your dog.

    Chipy
    Participant

    So awesome that you are switching to homemade dog food! Your pups are lucky to have you!! πŸ™‚

    It was the best decision for our dog and I love to encourage other dog lover to do the same. We use an online Recipe Maker to create healthy meals and add synthetic free, whole-food based vitamins, minerals, probiotics and omega oil supplements to fill in any nutritional gaps:

    https://peterdobias.com/collections/adult-dog-essentials

    https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com/

    in reply to: Looking for Advice (Topic 2) #154279 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Jason,

    Great question! There are so many synthetic and toxic supplements on the market. We’ve spent countless hours researching the overwhelming supply of products. When it comes to essential supplements such as minerals, vitamins, omega oils and probiotics, choosing the right product can be daunting.

    The following article was very helpful for us to find the best quality, natural supplements for our pup;

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/15072565-how-many-supplements-are-too-many-for-your-dog

    https://peterdobias.com/collections/adult-dog-essentials

    I hope this helps. Wishing you and your dog all the best in good health!
    Chipy

    in reply to: Tired of worrying about store-bought food #154258 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi DanDad,

    I completely understand your concern about commercial dog food. It’s very difficult to trust any brand nowadays while the industry is so unregulated. It’s so awesome that you are considering to prepare home cooked meals for your pups.

    We switched to home-made meals years ago and it was the best decision for our dog. I am happy to share some resources that have been super helpful in guiding us to prepare balanced, home-cooked meals.

    This online Recipe Maker will help you build healthy meals for your dogs with the ingredients you have available. It provides guidance on amounts of each ingredient and which ingredients are best;

    https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com

    Dr. Dobias has created a free Natural Diet Course which contains videos and articles full of information on this subject;

    https://peterdobias.com/pages/course-rawdiet

    The key is to offer a variety of both proteins and vegetables, and add essential nutrients (non-synthetic, whole-food based supplements) to help fill in any nutritional deficiencies;

    https://peterdobias.com/collections/adult-dog-essentials

    I hope you find the above information useful for your beloved Chihuahuas. Wishing you a great rest of the week! πŸ™‚
    Chipy

    in reply to: Help me please! #154227 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Cesar,

    I am so sorry you have been going through this with your dog, but hope that I can offer some information that will be helpful. Dr. Dobias has written an article about treating liver disease naturally which also includes his diet recommendations;

    “Feed lower fat meats. Avoid rich and greasy meats such as duck, fatty lamb, bison, buffalo and beef or meat rendered from meat-packing plants. He also recommends avoiding kibble and canned food.”

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014997-treating-and-preventing-liver-disease-naturally

    He also has a liver cleanse protocol that I have found very helpful for my pup:

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/detox-a-hoax-or-an-effective-treatment-method

    If you are interested in exploring the option of working with a holistic/integrative vet near you, the following links might help:

    https://www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/
    http://www.civtedu.org/directory/

    Wishing you and your boy many years of happiness together! πŸ™‚
    Chipy

    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Kris,

    So sorry to hear that you are going through this with your puppy. I encourage you to review the following articles Dr. Dobias has written on the topic of diarrhea covering a range of reasons it occurs and how to manage it;

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015037-11-steps-to-treat-acute-or-bloody-diarrhea-naturally

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015105-a-complete-guide-to-raising-a-puppy-naturally

    He also has an amazing article that will help you raise your puppy naturally. I found it very helpful;

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015105-a-complete-guide-to-raising-a-puppy-naturally

    Wishing you and your pup all the best! πŸ™‚

    in reply to: Urinary Crystals #153005 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Lauren! Sorry to hear that your pup has recently been diagnosed with crystals. The below article has a natural, simple kidney and bladder stone treatment protocol and diet recommendations that I hope you will find helpful for your boy. It can be used as a resource if a dog has already been diagnosed with urinary stones or if you simply want to prevent this painful and annoying condition in the first place;

    WHY DO DOGS GET BLADDER AND KIDNEY STONES AND HOW TO TREAT THEM NATURALLY:
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014185-bladder-and-kidney-stones-and-urine-crystals-in-dogs-natural-approach

    in reply to: Starting Raw #152807 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Daniel,

    It’s so great that you are interested in starting raw feeding your pup. I normally create raw recipes and meal plans for my pup with this online Recipe Maker; https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com

    It will help you build healthy meals for your dog with the ingredients you have available. It provides guidance on amounts of each ingredient and which ingredients are best for dogs.

    They also have a human grade fish oil that I have been using both for my pup and myself. It’s toxin-free and sustainably sourced; https://peterdobias.com/products/feelgood-omega

    Wishing you and your pup all the best,
    Chipy & Judi

    in reply to: Raw Dog Food Recipes (multi-mix patties) #150454 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Megan,

    So happy you have decided to feed your dogs raw. Below is a link to an online Recipe Maker I love using every week, that will help you create convenient multi mix patties with the ingredients you have available;

    https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com

    I hope this helps. Wishing you and your pack all the best in good health! πŸ™‚

    in reply to: Can Dog eat Raw Carrot? #150332 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Ella,

    That’s a good question… Carrots are not ideal. While carrots are rich in vitamin A and other nutrients, they should be fed in moderation especially in the raw form as dogs do not digest carrots very well. Some sources are also concerned about the levels of sugar in carrots. There is a simple way to see if your dog can digest carrots. Just feed them in chunks and see if you find carrots in your dog’s bowel movement;

    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014993-what-veggies-are-good-for-dogs

    Wishing you and your puppy many years of happiness together! πŸ™‚

    in reply to: Freshly killed food #150261 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    It’s a good idea to remove the intestines, beak and nails. Regarding freezing the meat, the following note is included in Dr. Dobias’ online recipe maker;

    “Do not feed raw meat or fish that has not been previously frozen due to the risk of tapeworm infestation. All meats and fish should be previously frozen for at least 7 days in temperatures below -0.4F (-18C) to kill tapeworms. Tapeworms can be present even in inspected meats.”

    I hope this helps; https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com

    in reply to: Hydrolyzed Diet #150164 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Denis,

    I’m sorry to hear you are going through this with Achilles. He is lucky to have you taking care of him. It’s wonderful that you are considering cooking for him. In my experience it is more economical than feeding commercially processed foods.

    Here is an article you may find interesting regarding hydrolyzed diets;
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015041-why-dogs-lick-their-paws-natural-approach-to-treatment

    I find this online recipe maker super helpful in creating home cooked meals for my pup;
    https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com/

    Wishing you and Achilles all the best in good health! πŸ™‚

    in reply to: Itchy doggo?? #150157 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Many dog lovers are surprised to learn about the underlying cause of itching and paw licking. Here is a super interesting article that I hope you will find helpful;
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015041-why-dogs-lick-their-paws-natural-approach-to-treatment

    in reply to: Homemade SO Diet for bladder and kidney stones #150113 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Graciela,

    So sorry your pup has been dealing with this. I know how upsetting this must be for you.

    Have you seen this protocol for treating bladder and kidney stones naturally?
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014185-bladder-and-kidney-stones-and-urine-crystals-in-dogs-natural-approach
    https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com/

    Wishing you and your girl all the best! πŸ™‚

    • This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Chipy.
    • This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Chipy.
    in reply to: Suggested Raw Dog Food Menus? #149668 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Thanks HDM and everyone for sharing. So happy to see these whole food menus!

    I used to think that balancing home-made diets was too complicated, but luckily I have found Dr. Peter Dobias’ free online Recipe Builder for dogs and now it’s so much simpler to build Chipy’s menus and meal plans. Yay for Dr. D. He is such a genius!!

    Check it out, I hope it will make your life easier too πŸ™‚
    https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com

    in reply to: Husky on new thyroid meds wont eat #149373 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Tiffany, I am so sorry that your Husky has hypothyroidism and elevated liver enzymes. I know how upsetting these conditions can be. I have found Dr. Dobias’ articles very informative on both subjects and hope they will help you and your girl, as his natural healing protocols have been super beneficial for so many dogs suffering from the same conditions.

    Hypothyroidism: https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014981-holistic-treatment-of-hypothyroidism-in-dogs
    Elevated liver enzymes: https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014997-treating-and-preventing-liver-disease-naturally

    in reply to: Hare Today Gone Tomorrow #148647 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    So happy to see that everyone likes this family business. I love Hare Today’s ground meat/bone/organ mixes for my little guy with narrowed esophagus. They ship to Florida and the box always arrives with dry ice, super fresh and frozen, solid 5 lbs chubs when I buy in bulk. They offer a great variety of meats and high quality raw products. I use their raw products to build meals with this new Recipe Maker for my pup; https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com I love that I can learn something about each ingredient before adding it to my recipe. Super helpful. πŸ™‚

    Chipy
    Participant

    Hey Sandi, so happy to hear that you refuse to feed your dog processed food. I agree with Kristin to look out for feeding your dog too much from one protein source (beef ), and also to be careful with too much sweet potato (starch). I use Dr. D’s recipe maker and natural supplements to create balanced meals for my pup. https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com It helps me build healthy recipes with the ingredients I have available. Love it! πŸ™‚

    in reply to: How much food do I feed my dog? #148406 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    I have found this article helpful in calculating how much I need to feed; https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11016157-how-much-food-to-feed-your-dog They also have a useful recipe maker for dogs; https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com/

    in reply to: Is it good to feed dog with supplement? #147974 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    My little guy has elbow arthritis, luxating patella/dislocating kneecaps on both sides and hip-dysplasia and used to have severe joint pain. Over the past few years I have done extensive research on natural joint supplements and found that a combination of anti-inflammatory Omega 3s, CBD oil, Turmeric and Green Lipped Mussel has helped his mobility to improve the most.

    I only use whole food based (synthetic free) supplements to avoid artificial fillers, preservatives and synthetic ingredients/chemicals that processed pet foods (both kibble and canned) are filled with. Be sure to avoid high-carb processed diets that promote inflammation.

    He is now 8 y/o (on an anti-inflammatory home-cooked diet with whole food based supplements) and loves running again, moves around with more ease than when he was 4 y/o (on kibble/canned processed foods). I just wish I had switched to a fresh diet and natural supplements sooner. Here is what works for us to support his joints;

    Freeze-dried Green Lipped Mussel treats (single ingredient) & Wellness Supplement:
    https://www.k9natural.com/product/new-zealand-green-mussel-snacks/
    https://drjudymorgan.com/collections/dr-morgans-favorites/products/dr-morgans-wellness-formula

    Omega 3s:
    https://peterdobias.com/products/feelgood-omega

    Turmeric:
    https://peterdobias.com/products/soulfood-multivitamin-for-dogs

    CBD oil:
    https://kingkanine.com/collections/king-kanine-products/products/king-kalm-cbd-75mg

    I hope these will also help your pup with joint pain. Luckily there is a lot we can do to help them.

    in reply to: GreenMin for Detox? #147917 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Susan, thanks so much for this link. His puppy does look VERY healthy!!

    in reply to: GreenMin for Detox? #147663 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Thanks so much for sharing your opinion. Luckily, I have only good experience with Homeopathy… not only for myself, but also for my pup. I totally understand people being skeptical about it until they actually experience the healing in their own bodies. Initially I was skeptical too, so I get it. πŸ™‚

    Anyway, I would still love to know if someone has tried GreenMin, before I pull the trigger and order it. I am super intrigued about it, because it is food based and NOT synthetic, which is really hard to find nowadays. I believe in the healing power of real wholesome food, as I often heal myself and treat my own issues with targeted nutrition instead of popping pills. So I have a feeling this would be super beneficial to detox my pup from environmental toxins, heavy metals, etc. I have read all the reviews about it, but would love to learn more if someone has already experienced how GreenMin works…?

    in reply to: best multivitamin? #146235 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Chipy, my little rescue has been taking this organic multi-vitamin for years. He is a very healthy 8 y/o pup and loves this multi-vitamin to be mixed with his delish homemade meals. πŸ™‚ It’s a human grade (and organic) product, so some days I also take it myself. So fun that we can share high-quality supplements with each other. Love it! πŸ™‚
    https://peterdobias.com/products/soulfood-multivitamin-for-dogs

    in reply to: What Were Your Longest & Shortest Lived Dogs? #146149 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Shortest: 9 y/o Lucy πŸ™
    Longest: my current little guy, Chipy who is super healthy , and we are hoping for at least 23 years together, inspired by this dog who lived to be 23 y/o;
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/a-cool-story-of-a-dog-who-lived-for-23-years

    in reply to: Home made diet #145909 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Hi Tammy, it is great that you started making meals at home for your girl. I decided to do the same many years ago, but I am still learning something new every day. I’ve found this quick diet course that might be helpful for you; https://peterdobias.com/pages/course-rawdiet This vet also has good quality supplements, and an article explaining why dogs tend to eat poop; https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/5-most-common-reasons-why-dogs-eat-feces Hope this helps.

    in reply to: New to raw feeding #145583 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Feeding home-prepared meals can certainly be less expensive than commercial raw diets. You just need to find a good source for raw ingredients. I heard that My Pet Carnivore is good, but I only have experience ordering from Hare Today. They offer a great variety of quality meat. I’m lucky to have a good butcher in town and love preparing my pup’s meals at home. It is so great to know what goes in there. I was developing anxiety over choosing the right commercial raw brand. Some uses radiation, some uses HPP, some are fermented and they all claim they are the best. Most of them are still full of synthetic ingredients like synthetic vitamin and mineral premixes. I have lost trust in the pet food industry over the years, and prefer to be in control of the ingredients I offer to feed my fur baby. Feeding home-made raw or preparing home-cooked meals is so much easier than many people would think. The basics I have learned from a quick Natural Diet Course https://peterdobias.com/pages/course-rawdiet and also ordered some nutrition books and did a lot of online research. It takes some time and patience to get used to preparing meals at home, but it is so worth the effort. Good luck on this new and exciting journey! πŸ™‚

    in reply to: High ALT (liver enzyme) -food allergy? #145427 Report Abuse
    Chipy
    Participant

    Blood testing results from raw fed dogs will often differ from those of their kibble fed counterparts. I only learned this after switching from kibble to raw. Dogs fed raw food naturally have higher enzymatic activity. The majority of vets don’t advocate raw feeding and much of the reason for this is they don’t understand much about it. The result is that many vets are alarmed when the raw fed dog’s blood values are skewed and this can result in costly and unnecessary follow up care. The reference range of normal values varies from lab to lab and the units from country to country. There are so many benefits to feeding a raw diet, I would highly recommend avoiding kibble that is so often full of toxins. I wish I had started feeding raw sooner. My little guy was almost 5 y/o when we switched him to raw from high-end kibble (mixed with canned food). His joint issues and overall health improved within months. I started detoxing his liver twice annually following Dr. Peter Dobias’ liver detox protocol for dogs and now his ALT levels are perfect every year. πŸ™‚
    https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014997-treating-and-preventing-liver-disease-naturally

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