[joanne l]

I talked to two of my neighbors that had dogs go to the vet because of coughing and their vets said it was heart related, and ask them what they were feeding. They were feeding grain free. So their vets said stop the grain free and they did and now the dogs are not coughing any more and they are fine. So I think there is something to the grain free diets. What are the odds that I heard that by two neighbors. And who knows how many more we don’t know about. I agree that any dog food can cause problems, but I am curious about this DCM and grain free. Furthermore, even in the wild peas and legumes are definitely not in a wolfs diet, very far fetched. But grains in a wolfs diet is possible and or more likely.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

Two neighbors of mine had their dogs to the vet due to coughing. The vet said it was heart related and asked what they were feeding them, they both were using grain free and their vet said stop the grain free. After that the dogs were okay. So after I heard that there is definitely something up with the grain free.

[joanne l]

Hi Donna, you can try annameat you can find it n chewy and read all the different ones they have. It is a very good food. You can also try Holist Select this is for their stomachs. I use Purina and I know some people don’t care for it and that is fine. But I have used others in the past as well. A lot of people here may recommend freeze dry food I never tried it so I can’t give a review on it. Hope you find something. I like the two I mentioned because they don’t over do the fiber content. Plus they are very good brands.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

what brand of puppy food is it? how long has he been eating it? is it grain free? some puppies can not handle grain free dog food, even though you are buying expensive food it might not be for him. Let me know what I ask you but for know feed him ground beef and rice or chicken and rice. Boil the beef or chicken drain all fat and mix it with white cooked rice. Use more rice than meat right now about 2 parts rice to 1 part meat.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

I really don’t see a problem either way. If he is doing fine on what you are feeding than leave it alone. If you are really concerned than call the vet, but I don’t see any problems on what you are feeding now. I have a German shepherd and one before this one and I have feeding both. If you want to feed large breed puppy food than feed it when he gets a little older, maybe 6 months.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

First off weight management foods for dogs have high fiber, which may make them poop too much. So I would fine a dry food that has low fat and low calories. Calories about 350 to 380 per cup and fat no more than 12%. Anytime you see high fiber in dog food you may also see more stools. Also look for about 4% fiber. When fiber goes pass 5 or 6% it is too much. That is my opinion.

[joanne l]

Purina One

[joanne l]

Patricia, I thought like you did too, however it can just affect their paws. Why? I don’t know. My friend has the same trouble when her dog eats chicken she licks and bites her paws. Now that she don’t eat chicken, no paw biting. I know it is weird but true.

[joanne l]

Here it the ingredients for Annameat Option:
Salmon Meal, Brown Rice, Millet, Rolled Oats, Lamb Meal, Pearled Barley, Canola Oil, Menhaden Fish Meal, Menhaden Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E)), Dried Tomato Pomace, Sun Cured Ground Miscanthus Grass, Dried Apples, Dried Blueberries, Dried Cranberries, Flax Seed Meal, Lecithin, Marine Microalgae, Salt, DL Methionine, L-Lysine, Taurine, Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product Dehydrated, Fructooligosaccharides, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate, L-Carnitine, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Betaine Anhydrous, Iron Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate.

This is Holistic Select:
Anchovy and Sardine Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Rice, Salmon Meal, Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Oats, Flaxseed, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Pumpkin, Salmon Oil, Cranberries, Apples, Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Papayas, Choline Chloride, Blueberries, Pomegranates, Vitamin E Supplement, Inulin, Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Zinc Sulfate , Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Ground Cinnamon, Ground Fennel, Ground Peppermint, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Dried Lactobacillus bulgaricus Fermentation Product,

[joanne l]

check out Holistic Select sardine and anchovy it doesn’t have chicken or peas or lentils or potatoes. Also Annameat option it has salmon and lamb no chicken or legumes or potatoes. Look it up on chewy.com

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

Try Purina Pro Plan sensitive skin and stomach, they have it in lamb and salmon. A lot of dogs love it. I just talked to my friend that works in a kennel and the dogs would not eat their food. So after a while of trying to add can food in order for them to eat they got Purina One and they are eating all their food now. They love it.

[joanne l]

You seem to like Fromm a lot are you a Sales Rep?? If not you sure can be a good one.

[joanne l]

Fromm did change their recipes. And they did add chicken, not good for a dog who can’t eat chicken, plus I agree with the DCM issues.

[joanne l]

I would also like to add, changing a pups food is not good if he is already dong good and he like his food. He is growing and if you change it and that food doesn’t work than you have to change again and you need to do it slowly and it is a headache. That is why I said feed what works. I went through this and I was trying to find better, and sometimes it didn’t work. And some one said to me stop changing and feed what works so I am passing it on to you. I hope this helps.

[joanne l]

CMZ, if your pup is doing well on the pro plan leave him on it. However, if he isn’t doing good than find another food. I heard a lot of good things about pro plan, and you will find good and bad in any dog food. I heard Fromm is good and I also heard that some pups couldn’t handle it. So is he doing well right now on Pro Plan? like I suggest if yes than continue. Don’t get wrapped up on what’s better go by the dog.

[joanne l]

That is great that your dogs are doing well, however I had heard a lot of people complaining about taste of the wild. Plus they are selling it at Petco now. Sorry IMO I d don’t like grain free. As far as the FDA goes they would not put it on the news if they didn’t feel it was necessary. There is a good reason for it. I am not saying not to feed it, but others should be aware and follow, for now, what the FDA recommends. After all you would listen to the FDA if it was your food, wouldn’t you?

[joanne l]

I agree with Anon.

[joanne l]

The food he was on was probably upsetting his stomach, and his skin is bad from flea bites and he can be allergic to the flea bites. Is he treated for fleas? And give him a better food, I would start to give him Holistic Select look on chewy.com It is a good food. Right now make him some boiled chicken and rice, than start mixing in new food but do it slowly. I think it all stems from his diet, also did the vet rule out anything? By mixing in chicken with the broth into his food will get him to eat. Also you can try baby food, but get the one for infants you can get chicken and it just has chicken and chicken broth. Read the ingredients on the baby food so you get the right one, you don’t want to get the ones that have added stuff in it. I read that it will make a sick dog eat. So you can mix the baby food with his dog food.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

Excuse me, Anon I am only trying to help. Karen ask your vet about it and see what he or she says first.

[joanne l]

Karen buy probiotics it is good for dogs even if they don’t have a problem. Dogs with EPI and IBD benefit from this. Go on chewy.com and it is called Forta Flora it is a powder in packages and put that on his food. You can’t hurt him with that at all. Read the reviews on chewy and it is well worth it. It will help his stomach digest his food. Believe me it works like a charm. And keep the vet involved. Buy this and let me know how your dog does.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

I would go with the Rx diet the vet suggest. See how that goes before more testing. Another thing what food were you feeding and what are the ingredients?

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

He started itching after you stopped the medication, Trifexis? If so than it could be fleas. I never used that medication but is it a monthly one?? The vet will know for sure if he has fleas or mange or mites. So I would get him checked by the vet for that first. It is hard to find fleas, if you have a fleas comb you can try to find some, but they are stubborn insects to find, that is why I say let the vet see if it is these things.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

And it maybe true about giving her veggies’ and other stuff, like Anon said some dogs just can’t handle it, especially some puppies. Keeping things simple for their diet is better. After all dogs really don’t need vegetables. It may sound healthy to us humans but dogs they can do without it. Hope she stops this, and it sounds like she is getting better.

[joanne l]

Karen was the fluid she threw up yellow? IF so maybe give her a snack before bedtime. My vet told me sometimes if they throw up yellow bile it is from a empty stomach, but I don’t know if that is why she threw up in the middle of the night. It could be.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

Take your dog to the vet and rule out fleas and mites and or mange. Other than that I don’t know, obviously he is allergic to something or many things. Or it is a skin condition. How old is he and when did you see this start? I did hear that Pits have skin problems. I have heard a few or more people say this that own Pits.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

Hi I agree with Anon. But the only thing I don’t like is the fact that they are using pea protein. That is a bad way to boost the protein in dog food. I am a firm believer that pea protein is not good at all for dogs, but that is just my opinion. However like Anon said ask your vet about it. For me personal I avoid any dog food that has pea protein even if it is grain in.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

You’re quite welcome.

[joanne l]

I like eagle pack and holistic select too, but my GSD didn’t like either of them. Plus he can’t have dog food with chicken in it and the eagle pack lamb and rice has chicken so bummer all the way around.
GSDsForever: I like that you are very knowledgeable on dog food and on top of things, I too research like crazy.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

When does he throw up? is it after eating after playing? After he eats don’t let him run around until he digests his food. What does the throw up look like? Is it white foam, yellow or undigested food? Oh and what breed is he? The reason why he is pooping more on the sensitive stomach one is because it has more fiber. But let me know what I ask you if you can.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

I am no expert but I think with pancreatitis it has to be low in fat and with diabetes I think low in carbs. Did the Vet recommend a food for your dog? He should have told you something about the diet. If not call him/her and ask for diet information.

[joanne l]

Just to let some people know that I have a few people that own GSD’s and since they changed the recipe with Fromm their dogs are not doing good, they are getting loose stools and some vomiting. I don’t use it anymore but this is what they were saying about it. I think there is another page for Fromm about issues with their food on here.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

Thank goodness you stopped Acana, it seems like bad news, Health Extension is a good dog food. It just goes to show you even if the ingredients look great it doesn’t matter.

[joanne l]

Did you ask a Vet? I don’t know if they require a special food or not. I never heard of that breed. I hope someone here can help you. I just found this on the internet:
Food/Diet. The Blue Picardy Spaniel is a medium-sized breed so you should choose a high-quality dog food formulated for dogs of its size. It is also important to remember that this is a high-energy hunting breed, so an active, working breed, or high-performance blend may be more appropriate.
Maybe try Victor puppy food. It can be found on Chewy’s website.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

Okay I just checked on chewy.com and Victor is gluten free and has grains, also Natures Logic is gluten free. Just check on chewy’s website and select gluten free dog food. You will see grain free but also grain in.

[joanne l]

look into Victor, I know Purina pro plan is good. there is a list of grains that are gluten free check it out and then read the dog food ingredients. Merrick Classic with grains maybe good too, What are you feeding right now? They are big dogs so I hope you find something soon.

[joanne l]

HI Emma, I know how frustrating this can be. I heard Purina pro plan is great for picky eaters. It is not that bad of a food. I did hear some people saying their dogs were refusing Fromm, I know they changed their ingredients. This seems like a hard one. You can boil chicken and shred it up since he is a small dog you don’t need a lot. after you boil it you will have some broth and you can put it on their dry food. If you can avoid grain free right now I would. I don’t know of any other brand that will get him to eat. Picky eaters are hard to feed but you can try what I mentioned and see what happens. A friend of mine had the same problem she has a GSD and he would not eat dry dog food until she tried Purina Pro Plan. He loves it. Well I hope I helped a little.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

Hi Michael thanks for letting us know. I won’t feed it. Some fish bones are soft so that you can smash them with your fingers, but if they are sharp throw it out. I give my dog human grade salmon in the can, the one in the supermarket people eat and they have bones but they are soft to smash up and he eats it. But who knows what the heck they put in dog food cans.

[joanne l]

Shanna all the foods I mentioned are pretty good they are not on the FDA list except for Merrick. I think you will like these foods. Let me know how you make out.

[joanne l]

And from what I gather off of crazt4cats post is that exotic meats are a suspicion as well as bouquet foods, but the ones with exotic meats are also grain free and most bouquet brands are grain free, except for Fromm, but their grain in diets in the 4 star line also include peas and potatoes and such, so they are mixing grains with legumes. When I look for a grain in diet I don’t want to see peas included period. So you have to read the ingredients. The reason why I don’t like peas included in grain in diets is because that is their cheap protein booster that they sneak in there. If these companies do decide to change their recipes in the future I will bet they will include peas in it, because they know the protein will be higher and people will think “oh this is good it has more protein” but do not be fooled by that. Dogs do not thrive on this kind of protein.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

Wow my sister-in-law feeds fancy feast and her cats are fine. I don’t have cats but I will tell her, but she is stubborn she may not switch.

[joanne l]

The reports on the FDA list is grain free diets. That is what I gather. When this DCM started the University’s were saying that “the dogs with DCM all had one thing in common, they all were eating grain free”. That is what I read and heard. The FDA did not say anything about grains, they did mention that grains never hurt a dog. I understand that nutritionist on board is better because they know how to formulate food. But I still will not trust grain free diets. I recommend people to just listen to the FDA for now. And the FDA states the brands and they are all grain free. I say this respectfully. Plus I am no way gonna support grain free diets at all. Even if DCM was not a problem I don’t like how they boost the protein with peas and legumes. These legumes have far more protein than grains. If anything people are paying a lot of money for grain free “high protein diets” When these companies are taking full advantage of using legumes for protein boosters. Not cool. They can’t do that with grains. Legumes have 3 times more protein than grains so companies are taking advantage and I will not support that at all.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

Holistic Select sardine and anchovy formula is chicken and poultry free and it has grains in it, it is a very good food. It is made by Wellpet. They also have a lamb and grain in one. Look it up on chewy.com The other one is Merrick classic beef formula it has no chicken and it has grains. Annameat has a good one to it is called option it is in a purple bag. Purina Pro Plan has a lamb and oatmeal sensitive skin and stomach and a salmon and rice sensitive skin and stomach with no chicken or poultry in it. I have a dog that can’t have chicken too so I know. I have used Holistic Select and now I am using Purina Pro Plan. I have also used Annameat option but my dog did not like it. Merrick I couldn’t use because it was too rich for him. So these are the ones I have used because they are NOT grain free. I prefer grains. Good Luck.

[joanne l]

I have to say to people on here that are new comers and are asking about grain free diets. I would like to say please don’t be fooled by the high protein gimmick on grain free diets. These foods are only high in protein due to the legumes and chickpeas and pea protein that make it that high. If they were taking out these legumes the protein would go way down. I hate that these companies use them to boost the protein. I have read that legumes have twice the amount of protein than grains. So I can’t stress it enough about these grain free foods. Here are some things I researched:
1 cup of chickpeas has 39 grams of protein
1 cup of lentils, it depends on dry or cooked, has 18 to 24 grams of protein
Pea protein doesn’t’ seem to say about the grams, but it is highly concentrated protein. to me is the worst.
Now, 1 cup of oatmeal has 6 grams of protein
1 cup of brown rice has 5 grams of protein
1 cup of cornmeal has 8 grams of protein
That just gives you an idea how grains can not boost protein percentages as much as legumes.
Food for thought. This is why I hate grain free diets for dogs. They charge more for cheap protein boosters. Not cool.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by joanne l.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by joanne l.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

I never heard of it. Are you looking for a RX diet? Purina has a Rx diet as well. I heard good things about it.

[joanne l]

I used to love Fromm dog food, but I think their change of formula was to cheapen it. Example oat groats are a lot cheaper than oatmeal. Plus they added chicken to a lot more of their receipts. I do believe people when they say their dogs got sick after eating it. Owners know their dogs best.

[joanne l]

I hi again I just looked up Venture pollack and pumpkin it is earthborn, I wouldn’t use it. Earthborn is on the FDA list for DCM. Your instincts are right when you said you had a bad feeling about this food. IMO don’t use it. I don’t like the food at all even if it wasn’t on the FDA list.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

I never heard of it, but why don’t you try something that been around a very long time. Maybe Victor or Purina pro plan, or Holistic Select it is made by Wellpet. Another good one is Annameat check it all out on Chewy’s website. And you can order these on there. If you are looking for fish formulas the Annameat has the Aqualuk and Holistic Select has a fish one and so does the others. Good Luck.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

This happen to me yesterday, but now everything is okay. Maybe something went wrong with the site?

[joanne l]

That is what I am going to do to.

[joanne l]

That’s good Nadia maybe these companies will cool it with the grain free fad. The more people don’t buy it the better.

[Author]

Posts