[Nancy C]

Just a thought: Years ago I read in one of Dr. Pitcairn’s books (I think) that garlic would take care of fleas. I began giving my young Golden one little round garlic capsule from Whole Foods everyday. (Whole foods brand) She has NEVER had a flea. NEVER. I drop it in the the food bowl. Recently I have been reading that garlic is BAD. But then I ‘ve also read that it’s not so bad in small amounts. I have also dropped one capsule in each bowl (supper and breakfast). she is now 10, is very healthy and totally FLEALESS. Hope this helps.

[Nancy C]

Life has its ways and this might just end up HELPING B C !! Every response on here has been PRO B C and that is GREAT because I am going to try it next Myself.

What goes around comes around.
Thank you, dear friends, for your responses!

[Nancy C]

OMG WHY is the name of the dog food I am inquiring about being blanked out by DFA? The WORD that is being blanked out is the OPPOSITE to the word “sister” – but add a apostrophe and “s” onto it.

Please tell me what is going on here?
Thank you!!

[Nancy C]

Not actually a nomination but WHY is Brothers Complete dog food listed in the “regular” DFA as a FIVE STAR FOOD while it is not on the Editor’s Choice? I hear from respectful sources that this is excellent dog food. Much of the posting that appears following the Brothers’ Complete Review by DFA, is focused on posters’ differences of opinion and varied antagonisms but very little about the dog food itself. I understand that Mr. Darlington is a very knowledgable man. So what am I missing here? Also according to DFA this company has not been reviewed since 2013. ??? I am very interested in this food for my dog but want some updated information about the food – not about people’s angsts. Thank you for any clues.

[Nancy C]

This is wierd… a hint: the opposite of sisters. Someone clue me in. We’ve mentioned DR TIMS and O and A and TOW….

[Nancy C]

Gee — Brothers Complete… an excellent food. Don’t understand WHY the DFA changed Brothers to stars. hummmm

[Nancy C]

Betsy – I agree. My GSD 18 mo old puppy has suffered several months after transitioning to ORIGEN and ACANA from Taste of Wild High Prairie. I moved off TOW due to recalls. did not want to take a risk. He was doing well on TOW – no problem EXCEPT it took 5 cups a day to keep his weight stable. Calorie count on TOW is low.
On ORIGEN and ACANA — OMG diarrhea beyond belief, Metronidole, VET BILLS, Hills’ Rx WD food for 6 to 8 weeks, OMG it has been awful. Vet thinks those were too rich for him. ? He did fine on both UNTIL we got to 50/50. Lots of things in TOW, so I think it must have been the chickpeas/ Lentils in O and A. Both have it. Even Acana Singles have it as one of prime ingredients!

I have switched to DR TIMS Persuit and so far he is doing beautifully. DR TIMS is a great food. And Victor’s Professional (PURPLE BAG) is on my list. A GSD Breeder of 20 yrs wrote in about it and she swears by it. Gives it to ALL her GSDs. Also Brothers complete – but is very pricey. However, after a bad bout with Diarrhea my theory is you either pay up front with good food or PAY THE VET.

Best of luck!

[Nancy C]

OH — one last thing…. I sent my dog up there to New Hampshire with Vetri Science Probiotics and Dr. Mercola Digestive Enzymes. I wrote Dr TIm about adding them. Interestingly he said No– Add nothing for now. And said to report back to him in 30 days. I think he puts probiotics in his food. And maybe enzymes. I’ve studied foods so much my brain is clogged… but I think his food is very good. He has formulated it for his own sled dog pack – so his own skin is in the food. That’s a good thing I think.

[Nancy C]

I hear you. And sympathize! Zolli, I do not remember you being in any of the posts when I had HUGE gastro troubles with my GSD who came to me in PERFECT SHAPE and HEALTH.Was delivered in Jan age 16 mos. I decided to switch him to ORIGEN from TOW. due to recalls. (I had told the trainer from whom we bought him that I wanted him on TOW). At 50/50 Loose stools, diarrhea. so switched to ACANA and same thing at 50/50. A mystery. Both are great foods but not for him. After the ACANA he had so much diarrhea the vet had to treat him w Metronidazole and that (poisonous) HILLS Rx WD Formula). He at that from March til May. Lots of troubles. And there were no parasites. He lost from 70 pounds to 63 pounds! In 6 to 8 weeks! He was on Purina Pro Select Sensitive Stom for a month “to let the digestive tract calm down” (vet’s suggestion) the month of MAY. But I wanted him OFF of that too.

OKAY — He is now back up in New Hampshire getting more training. I am in NC. The trainer, who is beyond wonderful, and very knowledgable is transitioning him to DR TIMS PERSUIT and he reports so far so good. I have had numerous email dialogs with Dr. Tim and his wife MARY — they are wonderful too. I think this food is going to be great for him and my fingers are still crossed. In looking at Dr Tims ingredients it appears to me that there is nothing in there but the basics/ essentials. That’s it. I commented on that to him and he affirmed with a big “yes.” My own thought is that the more ingredients the more chance of trouble.

Good luck. You are trying hard and doing your best. Your pups know that.

[Nancy C]

Try looking at Natures Logic.

[Nancy C]

Sorry – I did a poor job remembering who said what. Apologies. I’ve said enough.

[Nancy C]

We can all choose. We can choose to agree & affirm in our own minds a poster’s contribution or we can choose to disagree about out a food favored by a poster. We each must eventually become our own researcher for our furries.

Dchasset, I don’t argue with your thinking there is “no need” for a Readers’ Choice list. Readers share their choices already in dialogues. I have written notes on many of them and now have MY OWN FOOD SUGGESTION list based on Readers’ Choice comments. Many of the foods are NOT on Editor’s Choice, but that matters not to me.

AS dchasset said, Dr. Mike et al have worked very hard to develop a valid, well researched list based on reputable research. Does it REALLY matter if a food we love is not on his list?

[Nancy C]

I’m beginning to wonder WHY have an Editor’s Choice LIST if Dr. Sagman keeps getting urges to add particular foods to his list? Or if readers continue to suggest foods to add to the list. I think we should remember that being “on the list” does not preclude other foods from being very good or excellent foods – or even the BEST food for one’s dog. If most peoples’ favorite foods eventually end up on the list, then WHAT ‘S THE POINT OF THE LIST?

For me, “the list” is only ONE WAY to evaluate dog food. Dr. Sagman’s criteria are as he designated them and the foods comply to those criteria. I also pay close attention to what readers have to say about particular foods they feed their dogs and their experiences with those foods. For me, this is equally important as Dr. Sagman’s list.

Maybe Dr Sagman should consider having a new heading: “READERS’ CHOICE” and the submissions are given along with WHY the individual LIKES his/ her particular choice.

[Nancy C]

Yes, agree… depends on each individual dog. My 10 yr old Golden Retriever can eat a different kibble every day with no trouble, topped with racoon poop everyday after breakfast when she goes outside to poop. All the kibbles I have tried with my GSD with the stomach issues end up in the Golden’s bowl. This teaches me how this just depends on the dog. It appears that we have to figure out each unique dog – just like with our children. No two are alike.

[Nancy C]

Thank you Freeholdhound – this helps. Yes, frustrating. It’s still a mystery how a food with the ingredients that WD has can help a dog get over diarrhea. I cringe when I read the ingredients!

[Nancy C]

I would like to hear more about your Nature’s Logic experience. My GSD has been on prescription WD food for a month due to diarrhea which showed up during transition from TOW to Origen and then to Acana. Had diarrhea with both once I reached 50/50 in the transition. Ended up at the VET, with Metronidazole twice, many loose stools and diarrhea. A mess. I am now at 50/50 Prescription WD (UGH) and Purina Pro Select Sensitive Stomach (which I am not excited about). The Purina Pro is “not bad” but is not what I want to keep him on for long. But he is doing better and I am grateful too for this group of people who so graciously have helped me. I am impressed with Nature’s Logic and have talked to the company. I think it will be the first “real” food I try him on after the sensitive stomach food. There are lots of testimonials regarding diarrhea and GI issues coming to a stop with Nature’s Logic. It looks like great wholesome real food. Please tell me anything you can about it. Thank you. Nancy Calloway

[Nancy C]

A few thoughts, as I am studying this topic as well. FYI I have given my 10 yr old golden retriever the little round garlic capsules from Whole Foods-pinkish label. One in AM and one in PM. I drop it in her food bowl. We live on a wooded lot in NC and I have NEVER seen a flea on her! I studied for 6 years for a PhD and my chair was the founding president of the American Holistic Medical Assoc, a former Harvard Neurosurgeon, BUT VERY BIG ON avoiding chemicals and pharmaceuticals whenever possible (which can be most of the time actually). He is very informed on holistic remedies, incl homeopathic, and says HE uses a product called CEDARCIDE on his several dogs for ticks and fleas. Says it’s great and it works! He lives in Missouri also in the country/ woods. It’s sold at Amazon by the quart but you can get a better deal by ordering a gallon. My container arrived yesterday and I have already sprayed it on the dogs. It has a cedar-ish fresh smell. Dr. S told me he just sprays and rubs it into the fur a couple times a week. Reviewers swear by this stuff. It’s called “BEST YET” by Cedarcide. And it is super – SAFE! My doc advisor does not put the chemicals in his dogs either. I have not asked him about heartworms but I will. Someone ELSE Who has several dogs and who I respect told me there is a product called PBG-51. The link to the site is http://www.firstchoicenaturals.com/resourcearticles/parasitesbegonefrom mypet.php. I am told that this product is not advertised for heartworms for legal reasons BUT it protects against them. I am studying that now as would like to get OFF Sentinel. I used to give my golden Sentinel only half the year. Two yrs ago my vet sat me down and nicely chewed me out saying the dog is vulnerable in NC all year around. So I promised I would keep her on it. Last thing – I am the one who has the GSD who was 18 mos in jan and wandered into big digestive troubles trying to transition him to Origen then to ACADA — several of you have helped me so much. I have discovered in this awful experience with all his loose stools and diarrhea that a flea/tick collar I bought at the vet (Solesto – made by Bayer) is probably one of the culprits for my Shepherd’s digestive disorder. The DAY after the vet’s secretary fitted Axel with the collar he had diarrhea IN the house and IN the yard. Everywhere he went the entire weekend diarrhea was falling out of him. I was going crazy. Two weeks later I realized that it was NOT the HILLS nasty WD Rx dry food he was on that caused this sudden diarrhea– geeze that stuff is like eating HAY and no way could he have the squirts on it. I had just started giving him a little Science Diet Sensitive Stomach. BUT I bought that collar as I went out the door at the vet. It HAD to be the collar. I looked on line and found that among all the LOVERS of the collar there are some detractors as well whose dogs also had bad diarrhea. So watch out about that collar!
That’s all I know for now. PS: Cedarcide gets rid of all insects, including BED BUGS!!
Nancy C

[Nancy C]

Sarah Y – you mention SENIOR food. Someone more knowledgable please comment on SENIOR FOODS. I hear conversations regarding it is gimmicky and or misleading. Just another marketing effort. I notice that some companies are making food for everyone. I’m trying to picture a senior ancient dog/wolf looking for ONLY “senior” food in the natural world. Makes me chuckle.
Nancy C

[Nancy C]

Interesting. I’m the one with the now 20 month old GSD with the afternoon loose stools who had been doing beautifully on TOW High Prairie (5 stars) until I transitioned to Origen and Acana. Simultaneous to that I was giving him some Bully Sticks from “BEST BULLY STICKS” (an internet site). I had studied Bully Sticks and the way these were made sounded the best. The small company in Virginia appears to be very conscientious about producing a quality and safe product. They are aware of potential problems re Bully Sticks and say they have implemented some techniques that ensure safety. I had ordered inch thick ones. Have been wondering if he got a particular bacteria from those sticks that contributed to this inflammatory bowel condition he is now in. Our weather was bad during Feb when this started and I gave him one every other day to help tide us all over until our bad weather cleared up. At first I had put them in my deep freeze bec I had read that that would kill any unknown bacteria. Then I stopped doing that. Nice weather is here and I do not plan to give him anymore of those. May freeze the remaining ones all summer in prep for winter. He DID enjoy chewing on them and I do not blame this company. I think they are very committed to producing a sound product. They have an interesting video on their web site.

[Nancy C]

Sorry – was off line a while. To the Pet Nutritionist. I need to come up with a solution OTHER than HILLS W/D for my dog. Maybe I am ignorant but that food scares me. The FIRST ingredient for the dry food is WHOLE GRAIN CORN — and I thought corn was bad for dogs. His stools come out in pieces the size of fireball bubble gum and ping pong balls. So dry it makes me hurt. This CAN’T be good for his GI track. He was on it one whole week and then we moved him last friday to Science Diet Sensitive Stomach and he pooped custard all last weekend. So on MOnday we put him back on it and the poops are dry.
The vet says do this for a month. ugh.
Any thoughts? I had thought I could add that Organic Paul Newmans canned food as a topper and maybe add a probiotic and see how that goes. ??? Boy I need help.
Thank you !

[Nancy C]

Duh – sorry. Not sure how I missed your explanation.

[Nancy C]

Not sure what a Consumable Bone is. Brand name? Are you talking about a real bone that they chew up (consume?). Thanks.

[Nancy C]

ACV – can you give a hint as to what your dilution is? a good guess maybe? Thanks.

[Nancy C]

I understand that Vetri Science has a good Probiotic. I am looking for a good one too. Several on this site have mentioned using Greek plain yogurt and Kefir before the meal. That sounds viable to me and could be very easy and cost efficient. Will be interested in what other say.

Can anyone tell me please the best recommendation for the correct percentage of Carbs in dog food? Thanks.

[Nancy C]

YES I want to know too. Have a 20 month old GSD. My vet does not like deer antlers and anything else hard which includes BONES because they can easily crack a tooth and then you REALLY have a problem. I was surprised but she said if I saw some of the problems she sees due to cracked teeth I would agree with her. Rawhide is not digested so I do not give them to my dogs. Greenies are supposedly VERY BAD- plus our GSD chewed the XL ones in one minute. I found the website BESTBULLYSTICKS.com and they seem to have good ones. Go read that site. They explain WHY theirs are better. I ordered some and he LOVES THEM and a 12 inch takes him about 30 min. I take it from him after 15 min. I put them in the freezer a few days, thinking it will help with ANY bacteria left on the sticks. THe company says there is no bacteria due to their processing, but you never know. When this dog started getting runny stools I quit giving them to him because it COULD be bacteria in the stick that he cannot deal with. Now I’m dealing with runny stools. I also bought him a VARSITY BALL which is at Amazon and on the net. They are expensive but honestly this is more entertaining than a chew toy could ever be. Watch the videos of dogs playing with that toy. Plus, it wears him out. He cannot get enough of it. You might consider spending your chew toy money on this great entertainment. Good luck.

[Nancy C]

My 10 year old Golden Retriever went 8 or 9 years taking GARLIC and NEVER NEVER had a flea. I bought the Whole Foods little round Garlic capsules (pink label) and dropped one in her morning and night bowls and she ate it with the food. NO FLEAS EVERRRRRRR. How easy.

Then my vet put her on Sentinel. It covers fleas. So no more garlic. Check on the health of garlic for dogs before you consider it. I read about it in a HOLISTIC DOG CARE BOOK. It WORKED FOR SURE. And is cheap and I think safe. She is 60 pounds and healthy. Check and be sure it’s healthy first – never know- they’re always finding out bad things about what we think is Good. Otherwise, believe me, it WORKS.

[Nancy C]

My 10 year old Golden Retriever eats anything. The vet says she is the picture of health and I have fed her always REGULAR food. Premium Edge (not for seniors), then Taste of Wild all flavors rotated. After that I have fed her the left over Origen and Acana that my German Shepherd puppy seemed to not be able to eat. Her dog friends are from ages 2 yrs old to 5 or 6 and she can outlast them some days. She keeps up with our 20 month old German Shepherd. I agree that they NEED the protein to keep them young and vibrant. It’ll be a long time before she eats senior food.

[Nancy C]

Oh My do I need to ask YOU a question — to the Pet Nutritionist who just responded to “HELP! Dog Eating Hills…”
MY DOG IS ON HILLS AND I AM MISERABLE ABOUT IT.
He is the GSD who the kind people on this website have helped me with. 18 mos old in Jan when I got him. Great Dog. Was fine then and doing great on TOW High Prairie. I suddenly discovered the recall hx of Diamond & immediately started transitioning him to Origen, very slowly– starting w 1/8 cup Origen to 2 cups TOW morning and night. At 50/50 he started loose afternoon stools. Morning stools normal. Moved to Acana slowly. At 50/50 same thing. Afternoon stool like custard. Morning fine. Vet said she thought it could be bec he had so much exercise in the mornings which made PM stools so soft. But said it could also be that the Champion food is too rich. This had gone on for several weeks so the vet gave him Metronidazol and sent us home with a bag of HILLS RX W/D. The loose stools were replaced by dry sawdust clumps of poop which he worked hard to push out. He did fine on that for a week so the vet said at the check up to start slowly transitioning him to Hills Sensitive Stomach. She said we would not keep him on this but she had seen a lot of dogs improve with a bag of this. Loose stools started within a day – He pooped custard all weekend in my house and out, uncontrollable, and I was up three times last Sunday night with him running outside to poop. Back to the vet on Monday. Lab work negative – no worms. She said not to feed him until Monday afternoon and gave me canned W/D HILLS. Said give 1/2 can Monday afternoon and 1/2 can MOnday night. Tuesday we finished up the HIlls CAnned Crap at lunch and started HILLS W/D dry. His poops are now all dry solid sawdusty. He sometimes groans as he strains. Vet said to keep him on this for a MONTH but I cannot bear watching this and Whole Grain CORN is the first ingredient. I bought more cans but Water, Egg Particles and Whole Grain Corn are the first ingredients. I know this is wrong. He has lost 2 pounds. He now has a quiet period for 2 hours after all meals to support digestion and plays afterward. I bought a Slow Eating Bowl and it REALLY slows him down.
Surely there is a better way than HILLS to help this dog.
I bought a bag of Dr. Tims, planning to try that next. In a way I am scared but I am also scared to face 3 more weeks on HILLS W/D DRY.
Advice? Thank you.

[Author]

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