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Molzy

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  • in reply to: Dog gulping and swallowing #54550 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    While I’m sorry to see that others have this problem too, it is always nice knowing we’re not alone.
    Since my last update in February we’ve gone back to feeding only 2X a day (12 hours apart from each other). He is still on the Honest Kitchen Keen. We bought a slow-down bowl which seems to help (definitely takes him a lot longer to eat!). The BEST change we’ve made though is getting him a Thunder Shirt. If he starts an episode, I put the Thunder Shirt on him, and it seems to really help calm him down. I don’t think the attacks are *started* due to anxiety, but they definitely bring on an anxiety, which I think escalates the attacks. Anyways, I highly recommend trying the Thunder Shirt if you think there is an anxiety portion of the attacks.

    So, in summary what we’re currently doing is feeding wet food (Honest Kitchen) in a slow-down bowl, and using the Thunder Shirt on certain nights. The massaging the tummy to “push” gas out is also still really helpful, both to calm him down and relieve some of the tension in his tummy.

    Good luck everyone!

    in reply to: Cat food recommendations #38811 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    My cat has been on a raw diet for the past two years. He was on canned with water mixed in previously, and has been on the Natures variety chicken medallions since then. I can feed him (9lb, 4 year old male) for less than $1 a day (I get 48 medallions for $17, would be even cheaper if I did the parties or chubs but the medallions are SO convenient!).

    I mush his food with water the same as I did his canned food. He was easy to convert, but I’ve heard cats can be extremely difficult. He won’t touch the Honest Kitchen trials I bought him. He will still eat canned and dry (he only gets that when I have to travel overnight).

    I started him on raw after he got a UTI. He has gotten one since then, when we moved last year (his are definitely stress induced), but the raw seems to help and his coat and teeth are great!

    I think commercial raw might be a good way to start and try to transition, and I think you can usually get a $3 coupon on the natures variety website for new customers.

    I also have a fountain…he doesn’t really use it much, I think because I add water to all of his meals (3 a day). But I keep the fountain since I have seen him drink from it occasionally.

    in reply to: Cat food recommendations #34968 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    He is gorgeous!! Congrats!

    Wet food is SO important for male cats! Luckily they are a lot smaller than dogs – I can feed my 10lb cat a commercial raw diet for less than a dollar a day. His coat is gorgeous, and it keeps urinary tract infections at bay! Ralph is on natures variety raw chicken. But even canned food is better than dry (Ralph only gets dry if I leave overnight without a pet sitter).

    I could do natures variety even cheaper, but the medallions are SO convenient!

    in reply to: Choices and dilemmas #34845 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Have you considered using a set of gates instead of the crate? I know people who have had success doing that with multi dog families.

    We have had two major fights with our boys, but we were able to see the cause of each (overstimulation), and we were there to separate them before any major damage occurred. I still have trouble if they start to wrestle and im alone with them, as i get nervous. We keep high value toys away, they eat in their kennels, and aren’t left alone unattended. We are hoping we have stopped any additional issues since our boys are only 2 years old, so we have lots of time left.

    Good luck with your decision, I know it’s tough.

    in reply to: First venture into raw #33459 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks everyone! Tonight went better. I decided to let him eat it in his kennel, hoping he would take his time since he doesn’t have to worry about it being taken away. It worked! He still gulps large portions, but he crunches all the bones first so I think it’s ok. His poops looked fine today (last evening was his first raw) so we are continuing on!

    Gonna have to price out some organ meat and additional muscle meat to eventually balance his diet out, but for now he’s still getting breakfast of honest kitchen so I’m not too worried yet.

    in reply to: First venture into raw #33377 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks patty! I can go buy some vice grips tomorrow…he did chomp them down, I guess I was just upset he didn’t chew more, which is probably against a dogs nature! I’m calmed down some now, it’s been four hours and he’s been fine so far.

    We are gonna start our other dog, LoJack (German shorthair mix) on raw as well, my boyfriend is now convinced this is the best choice for all our animals (our cat has been on a manufactured raw for almost two years to keep urinary tract infections and ear infections in check).

    Thanks for your help!

    in reply to: Honest Kitchen Preference #33209 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    It does look like the preference is a 2.43:1 calcium to phosphorous ratio, so it should may not be best mixed with bone-in mixes?

    in reply to: Honest Kitchen Preference #33208 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    No problem, thanks! Both my dog are around 40 pounds, and full grown (2 years old), so I don’t have to worry about puppy growth with them! Quincy is a cattle dog and LoJack is a German shorthair mix, currently on honest kitchen keen (Quincy) and Halo salmon kibble (LoJack).

    in reply to: Honest Kitchen Preference #33202 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Ok, that makes sense! Thanks patti. I guess I was getting thrown by the meat not being balanced…so I just need to make sure that the meat is balanced prior to using the preference with it. I’m leaning towards balancing everything on my own, but like most newbies I’m just a little scared to take the plunge!

    in reply to: Dog gulping and swallowing #33185 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Wow! Thanks for all the responses. Sorry I haven’t been responding, my internet at home was down, and I am not talented enough with my smartphone to respond on it, but I have been following all the wonderful information. But a quick overview of where we are at today – attacks are down to about once every two weeks, and I am able to keep them from escalating to vomiting by massaging his belly to push out any gas build up (meaning I am up every hour or so all night those nights). I am feeding him Honest Kitchen Keen, and he gets 2/3 of cup at 7am, 5-6pm, and 10-11pm. He doesn’t get any other treats or human food. I will try to reply to each post below:

    Cbgmom – So far we have been using the harness (and even taking that off when inside, since our home has double entries with a front porch and back mudroom so no risk of escaping). I think it *is* helping some, since he does still occasionally start an attack when he rests his head funny (so that something pushes on his throat).

    Billy – the boarding definitely was stressful for him, and I wish we hadn’t been forced to do that. However, I don’t think he is confused anymore, and certain other events (such as staying with my mom for almost a week) were not related with any sort of attack. They will often start at night while we’re watching TV and he is basically sleeping/resting, though once they start there is definitely a stress component. I don’t think it is a habitual thing, as he clearly gets freaked out when it happens and wants it to stop (not to anthropomorphize). We have tried boiled rice and chicken – did NOT go over well with him (he did not digest the rice at all, it came out the other end looking the same). Our best luck so far has been a wet diet (honest kitchen or canned dog food). I will definitely work in increasing his physical activity, been a hard winter here with wind chill advisories most weeks it seems, and he is not tolerant of the cold at all. Thanks for the advice!

    Bunny – the first time this happened, I definitely thought it was bloat!! I don’t think I slept at ALL that night, I gave him some gas-x and just laid next to him. I called the vet as soon as they opened the next morning, but since he was still eating and defecating they weren’t concerned. He has never had one of his episodes AT the clinic, and my vet is very unconcerned about whatever is wrong since he is otherwise healthy. We haven’t even done an endoscopy at this point.

    I have been considering post-nasal drip recently (Pepcid doesn’t seem to really help, so I don’t *think* it is completely related to reflux). However, he can also be triggered if his throat gets touched oddly, so I am leaning towards trachea damage. We adopted Quincy at the end of July – I know they used a choke chain at the shelter with him. However, he had NO issues for the first 10 days we had him, then I had to board him for 4 days due to a family wedding and it started after that. I will always wonder if something happened to him while he was boarding, as he is TERRIFIED of the guy we boarded him with (I took a training course there a few months later, and Quincy would hide under my chair from the guy, so we stopped going because he would force Quincy to let him pet him).

    I will try the walking, as I could see that helping. The best thing I have found so far is lying next to him and massaging his belly to push the gas out. I’ve been doing that for the past 6 weeks or so and have managed to avoid the escalated attacks (vomiting and what appears to me to be severe discomfort).

    AnotherEmily – SO sorry to hear what you’re going through! As relieved I am that my dog isn’t the only one, I wish I was the only one, because I hate hearing that other dogs are suffering as well. It sounds like you’ve really tried everything, so please keep us posted. How is he doing without chicken? I have considered food allergies, but what I don’t get is that he can be FINE for two weeks, and then have an episode. I try to be VERY careful about not giving him anything “extra”, not even any dog treats recently. I really can’t see a pattern to why and when it happens, even with keeping a calendar.

    WParsons – Again, I am sorry to hear that you’re going through this too. It is so heartbreaking to watch. I have also started feeding more frequently (Quincy gets 2/3 cup, 3x a day now), but there seems to be *some* sort of link to bedtime, because he gets the attack around 9pm (which is only 3-4 hours after he ate dinner, so it shouldn’t be an empty stomach?). I’ll try the Pepcid again as well, I have some on hand just wasn’t sure it was really making a difference (GasX seems to maybe help more?).

    Slappppy – Interesting that there is another cattledog with this condition (Quincy is a cattledog as well)! What type of bowl do you use that works well with wet food? I have been considering investing in something like that for Quincy, because it is hard to slow him down. I know what you mean about the differences – we call Quincy’s attacks either the “gulpies” or the “swallows” depending on their severity. The swallows can also escalate into the gulpies at times.

    Steve Johnson – glad you found something that works! I will check that out, I have seen it in my web searches but thought that it might be a little gimmicky…I am basically willing to try anything though, it is terrible watching him when he doesn’t feel good!

    Khouston – sorry to hear that your dog has this as well, but I am glad you found something that works! I understand about the landscaping – I was lucky and I’m still renting, so all I had to do was sacrifice my houseplants.

    Mmt – I will ask my vet about Sulcrcate. I have tried using slippery elm in the past, I think it is supposed to be similar (you make up a paste for them to eat before food, it is supposed to coat the intestine).

    Again, thank you ALL for your contributions to this!! It is wonderful to hear that some people have found some relief for this, so I will keep watching this thread. Give all your puppies a big hug, they are so lucky to have people who care this much for them!

    in reply to: Dog gulping and swallowing #30111 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks!

    I don’t think I can say yet, but I do think you’re on to something. My boyfriend has noticed that he’ll start gulping if he rests his head a certain way where his throat has pressure on it, I can’t believe I didn’t think to take the collar off sooner! I have him in the harness all the time now, no collar at all. Is there anything a vet can do for trachea damage? Quincy’s issues started after we adopted him and then had to board him, I know the humane society used a choke collar on him, and he is very afraid of the man we boarded him with (will NOT be going back there!), so who knows what happened at either of those places or in his previous home (where they claimed he wasn’t house trained because he’d go in the house if they didn’t let him out when he asked).

    I feel terrible, I just went to move him on the couch and didn’t think about it, and I think I caused a little attack by hitting his throat. I feel TERRIBLE, I have never noticed such a direct link before.

    Do you think there are long term more serious issues to consider with this? Sorry for all the questions!

    in reply to: Dog gulping and swallowing #30042 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks cbgmom! I switched him to his harness as soon as I saw this post two days ago (on my phone, which is why I didn’t reply then, sorry!). What do you feed your dog for his normal food?

    It’s so hard to tell what sets Quincy off. We were doing great for a few weeks (only mine episodes), and then early this week he had a particularly bad attack, throwing up multiple times one night. The Pepcid seems like it might be helping, hard to tell. Hopefully the harness will make a difference too. Poor guy hasn’t gotten treats in months now because I live in fear of setting off an attack, but I have decided to try some freeze dried beef this weekend.

    My vet doesn’t take me seriously about it, since he has no other symptoms and has yet to gulp at the vets. I guess I’m thankful to not be spending my WHOLE paycheck at the vets (our other dog has had two surgeries in the past two weeks for entropion, and then again when he ripped his surgical site open), but it kills me to watch him when he starts panicking!

    I’ll try the harness for now, please share any other helpful hints! I joined the Facebook group a few months ago, but I couldn’t post to it? I sent a message and the went responded, but I would love to be able to contact all the members.

    in reply to: favorite online store to order from #29520 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Wag.com has a great offer for new customers right now, 25% off your first food purchase! Plus a lot of their foods are on sale right now, I just got a 10 lb box of Honest Kitchen Keen (normally $60) for $38! I ordered from them a few weeks ago and got the box within two days, free shipping! So I ordered again today, under my boyfriends name and address to stock up.

    I also love Amazon, I’ve ordered Honest Kitchen, Merrick dry food, and Chicken Soup canned dog food from Amazon, and all were great prices and arrived undamaged and fast (I have amazon prime, so free two day shipping!).

    in reply to: Heartburn? #29331 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    First off, thanks for adopting a senior dog! She is one lucky girl! Sorry to hear you’re having troubles.

    I have been struggling with a similar issue with a dog we adopted in July, Quincy, a year-old cattle dog. While Quincy isn’t officially diagnosed, it is the best answer I’ve come up with for his symptoms (my vet is not concerned because he has never lost his appetite or shown other negative effects…he just swallows/gulps obsessively during an “attack”). His attacks will last multiple days once started, and seem to get worse due to a build up of gas from swallowing air (he will get bad gas and the belches after a day or so).

    Patty, we tried Braggs and we were still having issues. Quincy gets 1 cup of Honest Kitchen mixed with almost two cups of water. I was adding a little over a tablespoon, was I adding too much? We did this almost every day for over a month.

    We are now trying Pepcid (but I don’t want this to be a long term solution – I just needed a week or two to calm down and stop feeling defeated by this thing!). No major attacks, a little swallowing here and there. I don’t think it’s the miracle I was hoping for, so I will probably wean him off after he’s been on it for a week (he is 40lbs and gets half a tablet, 30 minutes before each meal).

    He is definitely better since switching him to a wet food, on kibble he will have MAJOR attacks where he gulps until vomiting. The severity and frequency has decreased since August when we switched him to canned food. We also add a probiotic/enzyme to his food, but if anyone has a recommendation for a specific brand I would appreciate it!

    I’ve read that smaller meals spaced out is best. I have hesitated to try this only because I don’t know if my job will always allow me to come home at work, but I will probably start trying that next week, since right now I work 5 minutes from home.

    Good luck, it is very hard to watch them when they aren’t feeling good!

    in reply to: which dog do you like best #28432 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Well, I am a little partial to the Australian Cattledog myself (we have two of them at the moment, one of whom is also mixed with German Shorthair). They have been the most loyal dogs I have ever had (grew up with a basset/beagle mix, who was also an awesome dog). Ours are actually both pretty mellow for their breed(s), but active when we want to be – though that could be because they can wear each other out wrestling!

    I would love a Border Collie, Rottweiler, or German Shepherd someday, though I am kind of sold on the 40lb size dogs right now. I also LOVE any bully-mix, and we would have considered adopting one if we knew for sure where we’d be living and owned our own home (landlords here won’t allow them, and we are early in our careers and may have to move to another city eventually).

    Really though, any dog that needs a home.

    in reply to: Budget friendly dog foods #28431 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    I will suggest – you should try to do a “price per day” comparison rather than per pound. I have found that certain brands differ a lot on how much you have to feed to maintain weight. Also, most dogs I have owned I have had to feed less than the recommended amount (not so anymore with two 1.5 year old cattledog mixes, who I have trouble keeping weight ON). A 30lb bag isn’t necessarily comparable to another 30lb bag in how long they will last your dog(s). That being said, of course, it will probably still be more expensive to feed the expensive food. I really like the idea of mixing a mid-level food with a more expensive one (or rotating) to keep things affordable. I might actually have to try that with some of the Honest Kitchen mixes I am starting to try.

    Another suggestion – right now, Wag.com has 25% off your first order for new customers, with up to $20 off!! I plan on purchasing something tonight, and probably making my boyfriend and mom both order some for me as well (it says 1 per household). Also, I have been looking at the Petango store, which has an awesome 15% off recurring orders. You can choose how often they ship something to you, so I am considering eventually having things spaced a few months apart, to get a rotation going (shipped to my door too!). I live in a smallish town, where the only dog food available is grocery store/walmart brands (the local farm and fleet does carry Taste of the Wild if I am ever in a pinch), so online shopping is very convenient for me.

    Other suggestions – for Minnesota/Colorado, Chuck and Don’s Pet Food Outlet has quarterly sales (usually something like $15 off a $75 purchase) as well as quarterly newsletters with a TON of coupons. I highly recommend their stores! For those in Iowa, Theisens (a farm store, but with high quality food including frozen raw) has a twice-yearly 18% off anything you can fit in a bag sale. We have successfully fit 35# bags of Nutrisource/PureVita/Merrick in their brown bag for the discount before. Also, a LOT of brands have “Buy X number of bags, get the Xth bag free” programs at participating stores. Honest Kitchen just started one actually (buy 12 get one free), I just picked up an envelope last week.

    Good luck!

    in reply to: Apple Cider Vinegar for stomach acid #28329 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks Marie. I plan on adding bravo raw at some point, but I’m *trying* to get his issues somewhat under control before I switch everything on him! I’m also interested in trying the other Honest Kitchen foods, but again, I’d like to find a base I can work off of first that I can revert to if he gets sick again. But I will keep the low protein in mind, thanks!

    in reply to: Apple Cider Vinegar for stomach acid #28313 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Also, is there a THK diet you’d recommend? I have him on Keen now, because it seemed like it would be the most gentle on his stomach. But perhaps there is another one better for acid reflux? Again, he hasn’t been officially diagnosed, but the symptoms point in that direction. Yet from reading online I think his problem might be too little acid, so his sphincter doesn’t always close?

    He gets a probiotic as well.

    in reply to: Apple Cider Vinegar for stomach acid #28312 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks guys! This week has been especially bad, but I think I made it worse with the Pepcid Monday night so I am hoping that tonight will be better.

    Do any of you use slippery elm powder?

    in reply to: Apple Cider Vinegar for stomach acid #28262 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks! I added some to his breakfast and dinner – I have the Braggs Organic brand. I will continue it for a few days to see if it helps – should the results be fairly quick with something like this? I have no problem continuing it indefinitely like you have with yours, but I am curious about when I should see results.

    in reply to: Best Dry Food for Two Dogs? #28070 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    I have used amazon in the past and been happy, but I plan on switching to the Petango store now, where you get 15% off if you do auto ship! So amazon isn’t ALWAYS the best, and I am usually a diehard amazon shopper!

    From amazon, I’ve gotten Merrick Classics dry food, Chicken Soup canned food, and Honest kitchen dehydrated food, all have arrived without issue.

    in reply to: Cat food? #27785 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    My cat has done GREAT on Natures Variety raw medallions. He had his first UTI two years ago, and has only had one since then (when we moved -I think it was triggered by the stress). I add a little water to his raw and mush it up.

    Otherwise, I’d suggest a grain free canned, but still add some water to it. You want to really increase the water intake, as Patty said. I also add a scoop of the NaturVet cranberry powder onc or twice a week, not sure if it helps or not. A lot of the dog food brands that are good also make good cat foods. I keep a variety of cans on hand for days when the raw isn’t thawed enough or if I run out (I live an hour from the nearest place I can buy the commercial raw). Right now I have Wellness and Lotus in the cabinet.

    If I weren’t doing the raw, I’d also consider the Honest Kitchen dehydrated diets, with lots of water added. I just bought a sample of each of them to try, but my cat isn’t too picky. I’ve found that raw is cheaper than the good canned food. I can feed my guy for about $30 a month, and could do it cheaper but I pay for the convenience of the medallions over cutting up the chubs myself.

    If your cat has never had wet food, it can be difficult to transition. I had no issues with my cat, he loves food too much.

    Oh, I also bought a pet fountain to encourage him to drink more, and I think it has accomplished that goal.

    Good luck, it is so hard to watch them go through those episodes!

    in reply to: Budget friendly dog foods #27629 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    You should calculate out based on feeding recommendations, not how much food it’ll make. A box of Honest Kitchen makes like 40lbs of food, but only lasts my dog 20 days. When he i on dry kibble, a 30lb bag lasts about 6 weeks. When I was researching foods, I made an excel file with the cost per bag, and then calculated how long a bag would last. This way you can compare daily costs.

    Good luck!

    in reply to: Australian Cattle Dog diet. #27468 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Great idea Marie! We put kibble and canned pumpkin in our other dogs kong, but had been doing only pumpkin in Quincy’s. I will definitely try that once he is completely switched over.

    in reply to: German Shepherd – Sensitive stomach/diarrhea #27462 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Have you tried adding a little canned pumpkin to the diet? You need to buy pure pumpkin, no added sugars. We place a big spoonful on top of our dogs kibble if his stools haven’t been as firm as we’d like, it adds some fiber and helps. We also use pumpkin to stuff their kongs, then freeze them overnight so they have a treat in their kennel when we leave.

    in reply to: Australian Cattle Dog diet. #27460 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    We are starting with the keen, which seemed the closest to a what he’s been used to, and possibly the easiest on his stomach with the oatmeal. I made my first batch two days ago, and it looks awesome! He loves food, so I can’t really comment on the taste since he would probably eat anything I offered him (and often attempts to eat things I don’t offer, he is a world class counter surfer – his first week home I found him on the kitchen counter drinking my coffee). I’d like to eventually start rotating between a few of their meals, but with his tummy I will probably stick with keen for a little while to make sure it’s working.

    in reply to: Australian Cattle Dog diet. #27442 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Have you had him checked for worms or other health conditions? It seems odd that it started after adulthood and that you’re having to feed SO much, I’d do a fecal to be on the safe side.

    That said, we have two Cattledog mixes around your dogs age. It is hard to keep weight on them, our vet admitted that he NEVER tells clients their dogs are too skinny, but that both of ours could gain a little. We feed LoJack (a German shorthair cattle dog mix) Merrick chicken and rice dry food, two heaping cups a day. We add a little more if we notice him thinning out too much. Quincy, who we think is a purebred Cattledog, gets 2-3 cans of chicken soup adult (for about 1000 calories). He has some stomach issues and can’t have dry food. They are both around 40lbs and both are around 21 months old. Both are neutered males. We don’t have a large yard, so their exercise is mainly walks and wrestling with each other. They’re both kenneled while we are at work – I imagine they’d need more food if they weren’t. And we haven’t been exercising them as rigorously these past few months, so it’ll have to increase if that changes as well.

    I never use the bags recommendations, but instead figured out how many calories I need to get them each day and then figure out the food from there. Some brands is more, some less. Most have the calories per cup or can printed on the label, or on their website.

    We’ve used Nurrisource grain free in the past as well with success, and are starting Quincy on Honest Kitchen soon. My moms dog does beautifully on Wellness (he’s not a Cattledog, but its a good food to my knowledge).

    Good luck! These crazy herding dogs sure keep us on our toes!

    in reply to: Dog gulping and swallowing #27323 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Quick update. In the past month he has had two episodes. One was 10 days ago, when he managed to eat our other dogs vomit before we could get to him (have I mentioned that this dog will eat ANYTHING??). That episode lasted about 5 days, but it was not helped when he also was given free range to a pile of compost (friend said that the yard was dog proof, failing to mention that her dog ignores their open compost pile).

    Now this said, he also ate some turkey this past weekend without any ill effects (unless they are showing up 72 hours later). In the past, he has also gotten a granola bar and package of brat buns without any noticeable effects. This dog is extremely food motivated, and can jump onto the counter (all 4 feet) with ease. At home we don’t leave things on the counter anymore, but have run into trouble when traveling (finding stuff in the car, or surfing other people’s counters). We are learning to constantly supervise him, and all of these mishaps have been our fault for underestimating him!

    Anyways, Now tonight, he has been gulping again and threw up once. I am fairly certain he hasn’t gotten into anything, but he could possibly have eaten bird seed or cat litter while I showered this morning (both are behind a baby gate which he has proven he can easily jump over).

    Tomorrow I should be receiving a box of Honest Kitchen Keen and a bottle of slippery elm powder. I will update again in a few weeks with my results, just in case others with this issue are following this thread. We will also be calling the vet again tomorrow to get their opinion on what tests we should be running.

    I should mention, he’s been on chicken soup canned this whole month, with NaturVet enzymes. About 3 weeks ago I started adding 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to each can of food as well. I had stuck with two meals a day, but will be in increasing to three once I start the Honest Kitchen.

    • This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by Molzy.
    • This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by Molzy.
    in reply to: Two dogs, different foods? #27310 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    When we adopted our second dog, we budgeted for using the same food as our other one (he has been on various high quality, grain free foods since we adopted him). Surprise surprise, the new dog needs canned food, which tripled my monthly dog food budget!

    Luckily I’ve been able to redo my budget, and its still easier and cheaper than being at the vet every week with a vomiting dog! But it does make things harder, having to store more food in addition to preparing canned food (switching to dehydrated and raw soon). I am guessing it may have been why he was given to the shelter, though we were told they just didn’t have time for him.

    in reply to: Cooked Bone Problem – Please Help!!! #27309 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Aleksandra, I would keep monitoring for longer. I’m not sure how things differ, but it once took our dog 2 weeks to poop out a stuffed toy he had eaten (he no longer gets fabric toys by the way). We assumed he had passed it when we weren’t looking, but were still monitoring his behavior since we hadn’t seen it. Luckily it passed without issue, just took WAY longer than we ever thought it could!

    in reply to: New to raw food diet #26872 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    I’m just about to start my own raw with both the cat and our two dogs who are currently on commercial dry and canned food, but I feel more comfortable after using a commercial raw product! I would continue using natures variety if I could, but it isn’t feasible for my budget with two 40lb active dogs. For me, it helped to read the ingredients on my raw bags to see that they don’t add much. I’m going to buy a ground whole prey as well, which seems easier to balance than using parts for now.

    Good luck with your puppy! I have really loved natures variety, and will continue to use it for back up food. It seems like a great company, and I’ve been very happy with the product!

    in reply to: New to raw food diet #26865 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    In my opinion, the medallions are WAY easier than the bites! My cat has been on NV for over a year. He looks great, hardly sheds. I tried the bites when they came out and don’t like them. Too many edges to get freezer burned, and harder to manage portion sizes. The medallions are all the same size, where I felt the bites didn’t always measure out the same in my measuring cup, and it was harder to split up his meals for the day. Just my opinion, but thought it might help. I’ve been very happy with the natures variety raw!

    in reply to: Budget friendly dog foods #26864 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    What about chicken soup for the dog lovers soul? I don’t know what stores near you carry it, but I’ve used that when needed, and have one of my dogs on their canned now. Taste of the wild is another diamond product, but grain free. Personally, I’d feed diamond (and have) over nutro, but that’s just a personal opinion.

    in reply to: After Meal Snacks/chews #26595 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Do you have a kong toy? It may not have the dental effects of bones, but for everyday use they are great! We put canned pumpkin in ours, and freeze them overnight. Gives the boys extra fiber, as well as something to do when I leave for work!

    in reply to: Help with first My Pet Carnivore order #26490 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks guys!

    After looking through dr. Becker’s book again last night I am a little less intimidated by the whole thing and will probably try to follow their supplement regiment to start. I looked at the ingredients on my frozen natures variety last night too, which helped. Not all that complicated.

    I also went freezer shopping last night, as we need more freezer space even if this diet doesn’t work for Quincy. I can get a small chest freezer (7 cubic feet) for $250 at the local appliance store. Probably a plunge I need to make.

    Thanks again!
    Molly

    in reply to: Help with first My Pet Carnivore order #26456 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Would their ground whiting fish be the same as adding sardines to the diet? Or do sardines have a special balance of omegas?

    Also, would the whole ground chicken be equivalent to the mix of RMBs, ground meat, and organs recommended in dr Becker’s book or the ancestral diet book? If so, could I follow their supplement guides?

    Lastly, is there any type of premix or vitamin that can be mixed with whole ground chicken to balance it? I know most are for meat without bone.

    Thanks!

    in reply to: Just want a good dog food! #25743 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    I also spent a long time trying to pick the “best” dpg food. I finally realized that there are lots of good choices. We did nutrisource grain free for a long time. I’m from Minnesota. So I liked that it was a local company that tries to source ingredients from the Midwest. We’ve also done merrick for its local farmer push, though I don’t know how true it is. We are big on the local food movement, so our next step will be raw, though I think I’ll be doing honest kitchen in the meantime due to the human grade ingredients.

    I guess what I’m trying to say is, there are lots of great dog foods. We have decided to try and support those which also operate under ways we respect.

    Good luck!

    in reply to: Basic Supplies/Staples of raw #25638 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Hound dog mom, do the hand grinders work for bone? We have one that we use to grind venison, I’m wondering if it could handle a chick neck?

    Molly

    in reply to: Dog gulping and swallowing #25636 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks mmt. I’ll talk to my vet, we will probably be doing more testing if we can’t get it under control. So far, our vet hasn’t wanted to jump into all the tests simply because he’s trying to save us a little money, so we are taking it one step at a time. I do think it his has something to do with food, as he does have less episodes on canned food so far. Next steps will be trying dehydrated or raw food to try and nail down a fix.

    Thanks again!

    in reply to: Dehydrated Food. #25610 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks Hound dog mom. I am sure you’re right about the processing. I’ll give it a try while I’m researching raw, and see how his system deals with it.

    in reply to: Dog gulping and swallowing #25609 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks mmt. So, was your dog diagnosed with a specific condition? I live in a small town, and for the first time in 25 years I am not near a vet school. I don’t think my chances of finding a Chinese doctor around here are great, but I can try to bring him to one the next time I’m visiting my mom in the big city!

    The wet food appears to be helping for now. He did throw up once in the last week. Nottingham sure if he ate something I didn’t see or what. Otherwise we’ve only had some swallowing, no gulping.

    Sorry to hear you’ve been through this, it sucks watching them panic!

    in reply to: Dehydrated Food. #25583 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Awesome, thanks. I wi definitely give it a try. I have a dog who I think needs a more liquid diet, I have him on canned food now but would prefer to support a company like honest kitchen. Eventual goal is raw, but might not be affordable at the moment. I’ll give the thrive a shot once he is doing ok for a month.

    in reply to: Dehydrated Food. #25570 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Hopefully it’s ok for me to add a question to this post – I had read that a lot of dehydrated foods result in more poop? To me, that’s indicative of a lower quality food. Do all of these brands have that problem? It’s not that I mind picking up after my dogs, but I also don’t want them having to go while I’m at work, which hasn’t been a problem for us on high quality kibble or cans.

    in reply to: Commercial raw? Pre-mix? #25128 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks guys! Glad I’m not crazy about the calories.

    Losul, thanks for the info on chronic wasting. We didn’t save organs at the time, only some bones. The deer is from Wisconsin, but I don’t think it’s a county with CWD.

    I found a store that sells the 5lb Bravo chubs, so I think I’ll start with that and work my way into raw. We have to board them in a week, so we will probably wait until mid October before starting, which gives me time to read my new books too!

    Thanks again! Keep the advice coming!

    in reply to: Commercial raw? Pre-mix? #25098 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks Patty. I guess I had been thinking I would completely eliminate kibble, but perhaps I will leave a little in, just to give us that option when traveling or boarding. But it wouldn’t be 50%, so I guess I’ll still need to balance the raw.

    I ordered two of the book I see mentioned on here a lot, the canine ancestral diet and the dr. Becker’s one. They should arrive Friday, so I know what I’ll be doing this weekend!

    For the premixed, would I just buy ground meat at the store then? Without any organs or bone?

    Thanks again, sorry for all the questions!

    in reply to: Commercial raw? Pre-mix? #25082 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks Patty!

    So, I have been looking at my pet carnivore because I live in the Midwest and it wouldn’t be TOO hard to do one of their pick-ups if I got enough to make it worth it. But on their website, it seems like their calories per pound are really low? According to the 3% rule, my dogs need 1.2 pounds each, but I also know that they need around 1000 calories…doesn’t seem like it adds up?

    Would I mix the stuff from my pet carnivore (I’m looking at the grinds that have bones and organs) with a premix? Or a vitamin?

    Thanks!

    in reply to: Dog gulping and swallowing #25047 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks for the advice everyone! So far he’s been ok on canned foot, I am currently working on switching him over to Chicken Soup cans, and if that works I will start considering raw.

    Aimee, I have heard that it may be seizure related, or allergy induced seizures. I will ask my vet about it. I’ve found I can talk him out of an attack if I catch him at the beginning. The wet diet seems to be helping a lot.

    Thanks again for your advice!

    in reply to: Dog gulping and swallowing #24880 Report Abuse
    Molzy
    Member

    Thanks for the responses!

    We feed at about 6:45am and 6pm every day. They were on Merrick lamb and rice, but he is now on I/D canned food. It occurs about 4 hours after dinner, but again, not every night. And once it starts, he will do it during the day and all night as well, until he gets randomly better. We started a calendar now so I am keeping track of food, exercise and gulping and vomiting episodes to find a pattern.

    I will try your suggestions for sure, thanks!

    And I do have a video on my phone for our next vet visit, but I am first trying a strict week of the canned food with water to make it soupy, and nothing else. We will see how it goes.

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