[Karen J]

I just got a Thundershirt for Trixie’s barking and reactive behavior on the leash. “Just got” is the operative- but I do see it beginning to work. She would wake me every night barking at the noisy building next door, at first I loved it because the constant noise and slamming of doors really made me mad but I’m paying for it now. I used the Thundershirt for a couple of hours before bedtime last night and she then slept through the night. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. We both got a good nights sleep.

Karen

[Karen J]

Well dog obsessed I believe we’re on the same page. All of a sudden she didn’t want to go out in the infrequent rain we get so we went for our walk together in the rain. She did great. The accidents don’t happen very often.

The reason I wonder about the physical is she is not going in the same place, ever. When I was potty training her she did.

If I know I’m going to be gone all day she goes to daycare.

I’ll work it out – see what the next test says.

[Karen J]

In reference to leash only, thanks for your input but with my schedule and my neighborhood that’s impossible. I take her out often and she goes to daycare on my longest days. When she was originally potty trained the doggie door was closed for awhile. She was doing so good -the trainer I hired to help me said it might be medical. We’ll see.

[Karen J]

Yeah, I use enzymes, she never goes in the same place but I do use enzymes. She was spayed at 4 months I believe, she had the stitches when I got her from the rescue. The vet is looking into incontinence. It’s not often but it seemed like the new diet, no grain etc was doing the trick but now not always. I have house guests and it’s been pretty stressful. When I work I’m gone for too long to crate her and I close an number of doors in the house so she doesn’t have free run.

She doesn’t appear to have the struvite crystals or an infection but waiting for the other test to come back. She always used the doggie door until this started a few months ago. Her PH level is lower than the doctor likes, so I’m trying things like adding low sodium chicken broth to one of her filtered waters to see if she will be better hydrated.

Thanks for your input.

[Karen J]

Thanks for your response, she’s young a year in fact – I’m more worried about infection.

She has a doggie door.

She has to take her antibiotics with food (no grain food) and in the morning she doesn’t always want to eat.

So she is making me nuts. I have to go out town and the dog sitter will have to deal with it so it makes me worried.

I’m waiting for additional tests from a new vet. A number of people on this forum said get a new vet.

[Karen J]

Thanks, I’ll try adding glucosamine she’s already getting C and Cranberry. The big BUT is the delivery system. Cream cheese is the only thing really working and she is getting suspicious of that. I’ve mashed the pills and put them in a syringe with water, that goes over real big too. But usually the next day she’ll opt for the cream cheese.

I am taking her to a different vet for a second opinion. This last vet didn’t even ask to see her again.

[Karen J]

Yes the pumpkin…she won’t eat it. My last dog wouldn’t either. Too bad for me, it’s highly recommended.

[Karen J]

I know at work they give us some Turkey, but that’s what happens when one of your jobs is local news.

Anyway no infection was found. Honestly I don’t know what all this means, I asked for the report I really don’t know if it was a complete urinalysis:

<ol/>

[Karen J]

Sorry, submitted the above twice…have to go work.

[Karen J]

Thanks for the info crazy4cats…no blood in urine, seems to go pretty good most of the time but is clearly blocked occasionally because all of sudden she will puddle in the house, it’s only happened about 3 times. Kibble will most likely just be an option for when I have a particularly killer schedule and can’t take her to daycare.

I got her at 4 ( she is rescue, but was so young) I don’t think the kibble is necessary for her nutrition. She ate a little of it if I sprinkled Stella and Chewy on it. Then she got tired of that.

She has fresh filtered water everyday too.

I want to bet a second opinion, I have yet to find a vet that I have confidence in.

Maybe I’ll reconsider the Rx after the second opinion.

[Karen J]

Thank you, I did try one of the Merrick’s a a few months ago and she didn’t want it – maybe I’ll try I different flavor. Time to diversify, thanks for the info.

[Karen J]

Thanks will do.

[Karen J]

Well she is the right weight, don’t want to wantonly choose, my last dog had IBD so I’m very keen on a good diet within my budget. True, she won’t starve, she will eat eventually.

But don’t want her eating only because she is so hungry anything will do. I have heard that dogs do self fast.

Can’t they have both kibble and wet. There seems to be a prevailing point of view that it has to be either or. She doesn’t free feed, my last 2 dogs did and did fine with it.

Oh well, I’ll just try EVO kibble and some wet food. Moisture is best for crystal control.

[Karen J]

Here I imploring for advice. Trixie loves Wellness Petite Entrees (Grain Free Lamb Cassarole) BUT very expensive because ant 12.8 lbs she needs 4 a day. Petco $1.50, forget them, Henco in Sun Valley $1.25 but they only have 3 containers left right now & they’re far.

My thought is if I get get a kibble to mix it with I could use 2 a day. She will no longer eat the BB Basics NO grain for small breeds, I tried mixing it with her new favorite the Petite Entrees but no go. I do have some calls out – tried a raw frozen and she ate it once.

Just got a bag of EVO no grain kibble to try and mix with the Wellness Petite Entrees . Any thoughts?

[Karen J]

She loves Petite Entrees by Wellness needs 4 a day.
ouch$

[Karen J]

I couldn’t find the recommended brands at Unleashed.

[Karen J]

Okay so I tried Nature’ Valley Prairie Raw Frozen last night…she ate it up, this morning at 5am she left it so before I left…it had been out for about an hour…I wrapped in plastic and put it into the fridge. Can I give it to her tonight? Is it safe?

I gave her a grain free Petite Entree from Wellness and she ate that!

[Karen J]

Thank you Leisa- When I have time I’ll give that a try too.

[Karen J]

okay I’m going to try prey model vital essentials and/or primal first.

she like pears and apples, I can give those as treats. anyway i believe they are more meat eaters.

Thank you so much!

[Karen J]

Well right now I need to stick with pre-made. Any recommendations. She’s so picky ):

[Karen J]

She was eating Freshpet Vital grain free and stopped…didn’t like it. Is that the same as Vital Essentials?

[Karen J]

Yes the vet said no infection or stones just crystals. I’d really rather not have her puddling because that means her bladder must be stopped up until the crystal dissolves and it’s too late to get outside. That’s got to be uncomfortable.

Maybe I should switch to raw. As soon as I found out about the Wellness I cut it down, whew, her little farts filled the room. I started mixing the lamb Wellness – she just loves it -so she doesn’t get too much of it but still eats the kibble with the Stella and Chewy mixed in. I haven’t seen her this excited since I brought her home from the rescue place (she was 4 months old now she is a year).

I think I’ll take her for a second opinion but what are some good raw foods to feed her?

[Karen J]

Thank you I will try it.

Yes, I was trying to find a wet food she liked but gave up after about 4 different varieties without grain. Merrick and BB and a couple of others.

I will give Wellness a try.

Karen

[Karen J]

Okay, so she’s not getting a lot of treats because I’m so busy I haven’t been training her much. She only gets the supplements once a day.

But, what small kibble, grain free options do you think might be worth a try? You sound very much against BB, they are tiny bites and grain free. But she’s not eating them all of a sudden.

Now I’ve heard dogs do self fast. I’ve tried Orijen dry no go and too big and Merrick wet, wouldn’t touch it.

I haven’t found any pee puddles lately, that’s the good news 🙂

[Karen J]

For my last dog, Lucky I got organic dried chicken jerky shipped form a place in Maine called Tri-Pom, he loved it…I haven’t tried it with Trixie yet.

http://www.tripomchews.net/

Karen

[Karen J]

Thanks for the info, I’ll be more patient. She did not have an infection or stones of any kind so no antibiotics were give according to this vet. She gave me a cranberry powder and wanted to put her on prescription dog food.

I can’t crate her because sometimes I’m gone for too long. Super long days I take her to doggie day care. During housebreaking I tried to confine her to the kitchen but she could jump climb and squeeze through ever gate. I finally put her in the bedroom.
About the doggie door, I’ve come home and she has been out back – through the doggie door so I don’t believe that’s an issue.

I am going to continue the d-mannose and if in a week or two this continues I’m taking her to a different vet.

Other than that she’s active playful and her poops are good.
I really appreciate your input, it’s been great. Thank you for taking the time.

[Karen J]

If it wasn’t so irritating it would be funny. From rescue that would eat anything to princess in 8 months 🙂

[Karen J]

You’re very helpful, but she is so picky, now the only thing she will eat is Freshpet Vital Beef Bison formula with BB Wilderness topping. At least Unleashed carries it. I bought PH strips and gave her Vit C – waiting for d-monnase to arrive. I use boiled chicken breast in bit and pieces to train with.

I wish I could find a vet I really liked and trusted near me in North Hollywood and surrounding areas, that isn’t too outrageously expensive. Anybody have any clues on that?

[Karen J]

Makes sense, thanks.

[Karen J]

I would think it would probably go out with his poop, if he starts acting different then you might take him in – Trixie is little and ate part of a pencil, I freaked but found out it’s not lead, it’s graphite and the wood could splinter but nothing bad ever transpired. There would have been blood or something I believe.

[Karen J]

Good idea thank you.

[Karen J]

I haven’t tried peanut butter recently can’t remember if she likes it but I will get Mercola d-mannose caspsules. Thanks for taking the time and for the input.

[Karen J]

Great information, I’m calming down. I’ll still stay grain free, and filtered water- supplements like cranberry and Vit C and be given hidden in a treat separately.

Last year I lost a dog (a senior) but he was so sick and went through so much I just want to be cautious.

Thank you.

[Karen J]

Thanks I’ll try that Mercola d-mannose I will get that and try it thank you

[Karen J]

Boiled chicken it is…what about the cranberry supplement – I’m not going to put it in the next food I try at least not until I see if she eat it. I want her to have it and I’m afraid if I put it in her filtered water she won’t drink that either and that’s of supreme importance.

[Karen J]

Wow this is all so helpful. Just got can of Merrick, BB Wilderness and Holistic select wet to try. Got test bag of Orijens kibble, beef and lamb family. Moist treats, grain free Natural Balance and just gave her some Vit C wrapped in boiled chicken breast. Will have to get cheese I think and proper dose. Also put Cranberry relief…also some Stella and Chewy.

When I make her food to wet she won’t eat it.

So that’s where I’ve started and sounds like of what I put one can each of the Merrick appears to be a favorite of the forum.

Always open to more advice, I’m starting to put together a menu for Trixie.

[Karen J]

Good information, any thoughts on canned foods or just freeze dried raw with water added? Looks like there is some Calcium Ascorbate from Ester C in Cranberry Comfort.

I have to get the PH strips and trade in kibble for no grain. She really loves the BB canned, this morning I added too much water and other stuff to some canned and she wouldn’t eat it, so I’m concerned about just freeze dried raw with water, someone told me to just give her that and make it like oatmeal. I don’t think she’ll eat it.

I re-did her food this morning with a small amount of filtered water and less Stella and Chewy on top. She ate some of it, but she usually gobbles the BB canned with a scoop of the cranberry. Not eating isn’t an option either. I usually put the kibble with Stella and Chewy topping in separate bowl and she nibbles at it.

I have to figure out a combo she will eat.

[Karen J]

I really appreciate the input. I lost Lucky dog last year. I was heart broken, and Trixie is sunshine in a tiny body.

I know vet said pre struvite…I’ve heard stay away from fish too.

What should the PH be?

I’ve heard one person on FaceBook said:” If the crystals are Struvite, then acidifying the food, as well as high protein, low carb, grain-free food helps them from forming. I feed my dogs Taste of the Wild with wet food added as a topper.”

I’m mixing a little kibble and some freeze dried crumbled on top and part of a can of Blue Buffalo which I may return the BB products, then adding Cranberry Comfort and some water to make it all really moist. Either boiled tap or Brita water only. I’ll get the PH strips and trade kibble in for grain free I also heard “low ash” is good for this.

[Karen J]

The vet told me today she has the precursor to Struvite, (magnesium ammonium phosphate).

Karen Jossel
323 882 8241 office
323 630 7552 mobile
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