[Patricia A]

Hi Rachel…sorry you are going through this with your poor pup. I’m thinking the vets possibly should have went straight to the endoscope because all these tests are so costly. which really is the only way to determine if he suffers from that or IBS. (Inflammatory Bowel Disease is ultimately diagnosed by a biopsy that shows the presence of inflammatory cells.).
While I don’t have dogs that suffer from this disease I do have one that gets diarrhea when I give too much fat in diet. There are forums you can google though to find others with dogs who do have Ibd I’m sure for helpful information. Hope this helps a little.

[Patricia A]

Ooops forgot to put the sight. https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Pet-Supplies-Dog-Itch-Remedies/zgbs/pet-supplies/2975393011

[Patricia A]

Jake first off make sure your Goldie has no flea dirt on him. Just pull a fine comb through fur and shake on white paper. You’ll see little black specks that rehydrate in a bit of water turning red with the blood. Fleas can live year round I think. For allergies make sure there is nothing in your home causing the paw and eye itching. Maybe scented carpet cleaner, those scented plug ins or even scented detergent you wash where she beds.
Make sure you wash off all her paws thoroughly when coming in from walks or in your backyard so he doesn’t scratch at face with paws full of pollen etc. You can try the change in diet without going hydrolyzed . Maybe SLOWLY, SLOWLY as not to cause more problems with stomach upset, switching to a food with a novel protein. I use Stella Chewy’s. If you look at their f/b page many positive comments. I also use Primal freeze dried as toppers.
Here is many products that you can look through for the ones that people said worked and see which one fits for your dogs symptoms .
Hope this helps.

[Patricia A]

Fingers crossed also that after getting used to the food change he’ll no longer have any tummy issues. I hope over time you need only have to feed the most three times a day so not all that running back and forth from work when off quarantine. Best wishes to Walden being a happy, healthy pup hereafter.

[Patricia A]

Hi Rachelle,
So sorry you poor Walden are gong through all of this and not finding answers and a solution when trying so hard for him to get relief.
First off I’m curious if you got a very definitive diagnosis of HGE when all this started? A telltale sign is stool which contains blood and mucous but is very raspberry jam like. Also when you got him off all dog kibble did you give ONLY the white meat of boiled chicken with the rice, I’m saying this because my dogs are fine with some boiled white meat but have diarrhea with the dark meat. I imagine higher fat in dark meat
. If Walden truly again has what you describe as spots of blood in stool again then don’t believe the Science Diet ZD is not doing any good since (In some animals, dietary proteins can trigger an abnormal immune response. Hydrolysis uses water to chemically break proteins into pieces that are so small that the immune system no longer reacts to them. Veterinarians typically prescribe hydrolyzed protein dog foods to treat two diseases: food allergy and inflammatory bowel disease.) However, I’m thinking that stomach irritation usually comes with the diarrhea and you stated that her stools are fine as of now but just the drops of blood. So maybe bringing a stool sample to your vet would be helpful?
If a dog doesn’t have enough fiber this could cause strain and hence anal gland problems causing the drops of blood..
Originally Walden was regurgitating . I know at least in my two dogs this was from an empty stomach . So many small meals a day would be helpful once you find the best food for him.
I don’t want to sound like a commercial for a dog food. My one Chihuahua is sensitive to fat and will have diarrhea when I home cooked at times. So if I give a little steak, salmon or even low fat hamburger two days in a row she will have very loose stool. I found a food that they both tolerate which is Stella Chewy’s raw coated grain free chicken. A lot of people on their f/b page have had dogs with stomach issues and they said since feeding and they do very well with this kibble. I also give freeze dried topper in Primal but only give the 5* rating proteins since they are low in fat.
Remember too give VERY, VERY, VERY slowly if you do decide to try a different diet again if he’s not doing well again on the Science Diet food.
Hope Walden gets all better.

• This reply was modified 4 years ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Stephenie first off so very sorry you’re going through this. Nothing worse then stress from seeing your pup is getting no relief after trying all these different foods. First I know my dogs ALWAYS had diarrhea when switching foods. So it’s possible your switching between too many too fast. It takes at times many weeks of a VERY, VERY slow introduction of a few kibble at a time. I use Open Farm for my two small dogs but just for treats because of the cost. I stay away from too much fat in food for my two. Even when I give home cooked if they have a little steak two days in a row it’s diarrhea time. Same with boiled salmon or even lean chop meat.My dogs are doing great on Stella and Chewy’s . If you go to their f/b page you’ll see all the posts from pet owners writing their dogs are doing very well on their food after having stomach upsets with other brands they tried. I use their RAW Coated chicken grain free. But they have limited ingredients and grain inclusive also. Just go VERY SLOWLY went introducing. I also got my two slowly used to Primal freeze dried as topper.. I only use the LOW in fat proteins such as turkey/sardine, rabbit, and occasionaly duck which they love. Stella’s also has freeze dried toppers. Here is their website . Stella’s has samples you can get in a pet supply store. I hope this helps. https://www.facebook.com/stellaandchewys/ https://www.stellaandchewys.com

[Patricia A]

Janell it’s just the dogs personality. I have two Chihuahuas’ both females. One will sniff and pee every few steps throughout the whole walk. My other just does her business once and NEVER pees again . My little pea head will also wait for the other to wee wee patiently behind her and then lift her little back legs and wee wee OVER the other ones pee. lol Here’s an insightful article on why dogs mark.
https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/urine-marking-in-dogs#1

[Patricia A]

A wee bit older then you kathleenl. Don’t remember growing up with our dogs even being fed kibble. Just chicken, veggies, hamburger etc. Our poodles snowflake lived to 15. Don’t think he was vaccinated beyond his puppy shots either. I finally stopped my obsession and anxiety over my two’s diet and whether or not I was feeding the right food with all the choices . I think variety is the best . One tend to gain weight so I always have to watch my hubby sneaking cheese, pasta etc. in big pieces. lol He says those “hungry eyes” get to him too. lol
Glad I helped with suggestion and hope they like the Primal even as treats. Good luck with your fur babies.

[Patricia A]

Kathleen you’re being loving, responsible and caring pet owner. I also believe less is best when it comes to vaccinations. I stopped all vaccinations when my Hannah turned 9 after being diagnosed through bone marrow s testings with Neutropenia . Results came back immune mediated from vaccinations. She only stopped wanting her dog food at 16. I then gave her only home cooked such as boiled chicken, lean hamburger, steak, sweet potatoes, boiled eggs, natural peanut butter, cottage cheese, plain yogurt etc. Anything that she would eat. I crumbled up 5* kibble with this. She lived very actively until 17 when we knew it was time. She had mitral valve disease common in small breeds.
My other two are doing very well on kibble with freeze dried food. I believe fresh pet according to DFA reviews are showing higher in fat. I use freeze dried Primal and Stella’s which is very convenient since you just hydrate with warm water. They both have high ratings. I stick to only the 5* ones since they are lower in fat. I also add a little 5* kibble with the freeze dried. Anytime I have appropriate home made they are fed that in-between. If you want to try just do it VERY slowly in the transition. But if your dog is doing well with the fresh pet then feed what she does well with since she isn’t gaining weight from it which is bad and uncomfortable with the limposmas and also no tummy troubles.
Don’t be anxious. At 12 my Hannah was just middle aged. At 12 he has many years ahead.

[Patricia A]

Kathleen has your JR gained weight when the tumor spiked in growth? Some info from an article on fatty tumors below.
Because lipomas are so common in overweight dogs, one obvious treatment is weight loss. In some cases, diet and exercise have reduced the size of existing lipomas and may have helped prevent new ones from developing. Even if your dog’s lipomas don’t shrink as a result, helping an overweight dog trim down should help her feel better and be more active.

Switching to a raw, grain-free diet has been said to help some dogs, although most raw diets are high in fat, which may be counterproductive.

Limiting vaccinations may help some dogs, especially if lipomas tend to occur after vaccination.

“In my practice I have been following several dogs who are now 6 to 14 years old,” says Judith K. Herman, DVM, of Augusta, Maine. “So far these dogs, all of whom received minimal vaccinations and are fed raw, have not developed any lipomas. Most are Jack Russell Terriers, Belgian Tervurens, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers.”

• This reply was modified 4 years, 1 month ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Kris did your vet have any concern regarding this…Orange Dog Poop
It could indicate a liver issue or biliary disease, or it could just mean that your dog’s food moved too quickly through the GI tract to pick up the bile. Bile is what changes poop to the normal brown color we expect. If your dog has orange diarrhea, contact your vet.
I have two chihuahuas’. One never has a problem with stomach issues. My other is sensitive to feeding certain foods which results in diarrhea or vomiting. I have been feeding both Freeze dried Primal and Stella Chewy’s raw coated kibble in chicken with no stomach issues ever. I see a lot of people on the Stella’s site who’s dog had various problems with other food but do very well with Stella’s. If diet is what is causing the diarrhea then maybe get a sample of Stella’s kibble and introduce VERY slowly. You can read here on their f/b page all the positive comments. https://www.facebook.com/stellaandchewys/

• This reply was modified 4 years, 1 month ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 1 month ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Small and frequent meals also very helpful also Laura.

[Patricia A]

Giving tums or pepcid to your dog on a regular basis is not a good idea .
Repeated use. Regular exposure can lead to kidney disease, urinary stones, pancreatitis, and other conditions in dogs. Alternative treatment is necessary for chronic stomach issues, and there are safer alternatives if your dog needs calcium supplements.
Maybe a change in diet done very slowly could be a better solution?

[Patricia A]

Teagsmom at age approx 13 I wouldn’t switch her food if she’s doing well on it. I have using Primal for my two chihauhuas’with kibble to stretch the cost of the Primal. I switch from Stella’s and Chewy’s grain free (which does contain peas etc.) and grain inclusive. My two are doing very well health wise .

• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Did you vet ever check for this common disease in German Shepherds? https://www.ufaw.org.uk/dogs/german-shepherd-exocrine-pancreatic-insufficiency

[Patricia A]

richard are you sure there is not a recurrence of the problem which can occur as stated in article below?
Treatment
An incision will be made into the abdomen to allow the surgeon to examine the internal organs. If the bowel affected by the intussusception is in good condition, it is massaged to separate the telescoped bowel. In most cases, the affected portion of bowel must be removed and the bowel surgically reconnected.
Up to 20% of patients that are surgically treated for an intussusception may have a recurrence of the problem; however, if adjacent loops of bowel are tacked to each other with sutures (called “surgical plication”) this problem can be prevented.
Occasionally, an intussusception can spontaneously reduce by itself and the bowel will appear normal at the time of surgery; however, the intussusception commonly recurs if the bowel is not surgically plicated.
Has you shephard been eating normally without diahrreah problem and sustaining a healthy weight up until now? I imagine his digestion several weeks after his intestinal surgery would or should go back to normal and no reason why he would have to have “special” food since your vet did not mention any future complications in his digestion to you???

• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Marlene N you might want to try freeze dried. I use Primal and Stella’s for my Chihuahua. They contain NO potatoes, Peas, oats etc. You can buy chicken, beef, venison blend etc . A lot of different proteins available and would not cost much to feed a Chihuahua. Easy to feed. Just hydrate with warm water. My chihuahuas have no issues with these brands.

[Patricia A]

Michelle D try Stella & Chewy’s. It’s a very popular brand with many selection including grain inclusive and limited ingredient selections. Here is their f/b page . As you read you can see many people post that their dogs do really well on this food. Worth a try but introduce slowly . Feed a little less and try to exercise your beagle more. Hope this helps.
https://www.facebook.com/stellaandchewys/

[Patricia A]

You’re welcome Nicole. I hope the boiled white meat chicken n rice settles his stomach like it does for mine. The other week my one had diarrhea after eating and then throwing up her food. Turns out I noticed the next day them scratching at the ground and eating something. I ran over and scraped the ground and saw a few pieces of kibble. My other Chihuahua ran over to another spot and scrapping up and crunching again. The only thing I could think was that a neighbor was feeding a stray cat outside and a squirrel picked up the kibble and buried in different spots. So my one wasn’t bothered by cat kibble but my other most likely was sick from eating a few. Also when her stomach was emptied out from throwing up solid food, she started with the clear bile throw up from empty stomach. . I let her sleep for a few hours before giving just a tiny bit of the chicken with the rice so her stomach was not all empty. Did this for two days and then started her back on her diet and she’s been fine now. I just have to keep watching them in back yard making sure there is no more buried kibble. lol

• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Nicole H I’m curious if ANYTHING had changed in his raw feeding diet when this started? Were any food ingredients added that was new to him? You said he’s been on raw for years with no problem? Was he fed too much of a fatty meat for a few days in a row ? My one dog cannot handle a protein higher in fat and will get diarrhea and vomiting if given two days in a row. I’m not talking raw but when I give cooked food such as dark meat boiled chicken, hamburger that is not 90% lean etc.
Also switching over to kibble right off when his stomach is still very upset is not helping. He didn’t get a chance to get used to that food. That is a BIG switch from raw to kibble.
Maybe to get his stomach settled you can feed WHITE meat only boiled chicken with a little white rice. Then slowly introduce the raw back in with low fat meats??
Although raw feeders don’t believe freeze dried is TRULY raw feeding that is what I feed my two. I always stick to lower fat proteins/flavors in two different brands rotated My dogs do very well on this diet with no tummy trouble. I add some high quality kibble on the side to make the expense of this stretch.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Sometimes dog beds online are bargains however the quality is not there. I always thought i was getting a good deal but when arrived there was a lack of cushion. Best thing to do would be go to PetCo or Petsmart or even walmart and pick out the right size for your dog and one with a thick cushioning.

[Patricia A]

Ed E this is DFA reply…

Thanks for your email. For the last 6 years, we have prepared, posted and maintained more than 1000 dog food reviews representing some 4100 different recipes. Although every recipe is analyzed together with all the other “siblings” in its product line, we select one example and discuss it in detail in every review published on our website.

In many cases, we award a higher or lower star rating for specific recipes — known as “outliers”. There are a number of reasons why we might assign different star ratings to different recipes within the same product line. And the most common cause for these variations is typically due to our estimate of the meat content of a particular recipe. Or in some cases, we observe a higher or lower fat-to-protein ratio.

If you check the protein, fat and carbohydrate figures for a product, you should be able to see this difference.

Hope this helps.

Jackie B.
Community Support
The Dog Food Advisor

To view the entire conversation please click here

• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

I’m going to email DFA and ask for explanation on his criteria for the * ratings on this brand. A few months ago his rating for their freeze dried turkey was 5* but the raw was 2.5* I believe. I asked why and they corrected the freeze dried to the lower rating. I’ll post when they answer. I also use primal freeze dried. I notice the calories with the same protein is much lower then the Stella’s so I think lower in fat? I alternate since my one Chihuahua tends to get chubby with the Stella’s.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Hope someone can correct me if I’m wrong. I believe the lower ratings for a particular protein/flavor are so because of a higher fat to protein ratio. I stick to the 5* in Stella’s freeze dried . Higher fat would be a problem if your dog is prone to pancreatitis.

[Patricia A]

You might want to give Stella & Chewy’s a try. I know many pet owners comment on their f/b page and under reviews on their f/b page that they went through many foods but will eat Stella’s kibble and do very well with feeding their food https://www.facebook.com/pg/stellaandchewys/reviews/?ref=page_internal believe it’s high protein average fat and low carbs. As dogs forever suggested also that incorporating a little raw would be great. I myself use Stella’s alternating between their raw coated chicken grains free and also grain inclusive. No stomach trouble ever.e My two also are fed freeze dried in different brands with the flavors/proteins which are lower in fat since my one tends to get diarrhea also from the higher fat foods. Just make sure when introducing new kibble or other foods that you go VERY, VERY, VERY slowly. Hope this helps.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Misty K please don’t rely on kibble to keep your pets teeth from decay. It is a BIG fallacy that kibble removes tartar/plaque buildup. Prevention is a teeth cleaning which will prevent tooth lose . Especially as your dog ages.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 2 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Muttjunky is it a possibility that it’s an odor in your home that is causing this? I wore perfume in my teens and one day many, many years ago awoke with hives on neck and swollen, closed shut eye. Night before I had musk oil on. Next was the shampoo with a strong scent caused the same reaction. To this day I cannot be around strong perfume odors. Women I worked with at that time had same reaction after using the SAME hair dye for years. So a sensitivity can emerge from really anything that never caused a problem before.
So maybe eliminate any scented products such as what you bath him in. Or even another ingredient in what you use to bath Also those scented plug in?. Possibly even cleaner on your rugs? Scented laundry detergent used to clean his bedding? It’s a long shot but I know scents can cause a lot of of problems for us humans also being respiratory or migraines.
Really hope he feels better. A Dachshund was our very first dog my kids had growing up. Pookie is still a legend around here.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Kathryn congrats on your new little puppy. The ratings are for the WHOLE of the brand. I stick with enthusiastically recommended for what’s it’s worth. But I only get the proteins/flavors for that brand that have the 5* rating. I use Stella’s and Primal freeze dried with Stella’s kibble in rotation of proteins and grain free and also grain inclusive. I got my two Chihuahuas’ SLOWLY used to this rotation. So if you notice DFA rates Primal enthusiastically recommend even though SOME of the proteins/flavors such as chicken is rated low. I believe it’s because it’s higher in fat. These brands also have lower carbs which I like in a food. Hope this helps.

[Patricia A]

Brenda I try to stretch the freeze dried I use which is Stella’s and Primal with a little kibble .So if they say two nuggets/patties for their weight I use one and add kibble I stick to the DFA 5* ones. I believe the lower ratings are higher in fat. My one Chi gains weight easily even with tons of exercise. . I usually alternate kibble. They really love Stella chewys though. I switch from their grain to their grain free. If I’m making a chicken dish I make sure I have the one extra breast and boil for them.. Do the same with boiled steak, salmon etc. I just add some of the kibble on those days and home cooked as a topper. This allows me to afford the freeze dried which is their primary diet. But I know from their f/b page that there are many who write that their picky dogs actually loves the Stella’s kibble. Hope this helps . https://www.stellaandchewys.com

• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

crazy4cats there are many other foods you can feed maybe even in rotation which have PH.D ventanarian nutrionalists formulate their foods . Haley is correct in stating more dogs die from cancer and diabetes then DCM. This is a statement from WSAVA “While feeding trials help to test for the food’s nutritional adequacy, the use of feeding trials does not guarantee that the food provides adequate nutrition under all conditions.”

• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Amanda B that’s a hard order to fill. There are MANY excellent foods which don’t contain ANY of those ingredients with the one exception of kelp in some form. Most are actually raw or freeze dried . Kibble would contain a starch/carb to hold it together so most contain rice, sweet potatoes etc. This is the only freeze dried I found with no kelp. https://www.vitalessentialsraw.com/dog/all-dog-products/

[Patricia A]

Denise I’m so sad to read this. This is another post on Dog Food Advisors relating to diet who’s dogs also suffer from this disease. Hoping you can find some helpful hints. /forums/topic/diet-for-protein-losing-enteropathy-ple/

• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

anonymous you are being very closed minded. Susan Thixton does NOT endorse ANY dog food/companies. She gives ONLY factual information regarding practices of manufactures, where their food sources comes from, if they are humanely sourced and also feed grade or truly human grade and not road kill. Why don’t you view this video of her and see for yourself how she does this and why. MAYBE you’ll appreciate all her hard work that goes into holding companies accountable and transparent regarding what exactly goes into the food we feed our much loved dogs. VETS DO NOT research pet food. She is working to get companies which the food is FEED quality to have to put that on the bag. DOG FEED . Companies which are using human grade manufactured in human grade facilities will put on DOG FOOD!!!! Big difference between the two . Look it up yourself. This is her video if your interested . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpfWkji64IE

• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

C.S maybe too fast of a transition. Take her to your vet and make sure she’s okay first. Make sure the boiled chicken is white meat only. I’m saying this because dark meat always gives my dog soft poops. Maybe too high in fat. Your doing the right thing by getting off the kibble diet. I have not transitioned mine to what the raw community considered “true” raw diet however, I did go to a high quality freeze dried. I stick to the ones lower in fat and I SLOWLY rotated the proteins/flavors AND also brands. Their stools are great and they are full of energy and last checkup perfect blood work. Some dogs maybe just don’t do well with raw but you can try freeze dried which is the next best thing nutritionally for your dog. Just remember a SLOW transition.
If you are interested in premade in either raw or freeze dried Susan Thixton has her new list out for 2020 with companies she knows to be not only totally transparent of everything that goes into their food but also farmers who are truly humane to their livestock. There is a ton of information regarding the reasons behind why a manufacturer/food makes her list each year. Dr. Becker also respects her list along with thousands of other pet lovers.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Just curious if being Holiday time you have anything in your home such as a Christmas tree, Poinsettia plant etc that you wouldn’t have other times of year? Dogs just as people can develop a allergy to something they never had before. Ditto what anonymous said about poison ivy/sumac in wooded areas.

[Patricia A]

Hi Nadia. I’m so glad to hear how well Lacey is dong the frozen raw. It gives me confidence to to switch over from the freeze dried with my two Chihuahuas’. I know it will be cheaper with the frozen also..But I do like the convenience of not having to defrost. I always forget even to defrost my meat so another thing to remember for me. lol I remember a few years ago when there was a rep from Stella & Chewy’s at my local Pet Supply store with samples of their freeze dried. I didn’t even stop to get a pamphlet. It was so foreign to me to give anything else but kibble. After I saw the film as you did Truth about pet food I tried out the freeze dried. I subscribe to Thixton’s list also every new year. So happy that Tia and Loli are doing so well on the different brands and proteins . Just feel good about feeding them what I feel is a much better diet then kibble or canned.I enjoy their enthusiasm when eating and never any stomach problems. My next step is to stop the kibble base. I only give five or six with the freeze dried. I throw that in after I add warm water to the food so it stays crunchy. . I’m worried they’ll miss the little bit of crunch if I stop. lol
Going to order a small Raw bistro from my pet supply store. Maybe use as treats along with the Bixbi Rawwbles I now use. Happy Holidays to you and Lacey!

• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Nadia are you now using raw frozen food? I know I remember you wrote that you were using freeze dried I believe. Which brand/brands are you feeding? I am giving more primal proteins now then the Stella’s. Primal doesn’t have synthetic vitamins as stella’s does. I also want to try Vital Essentials . My pet supply doesn’t carry this brand so would have to order.
Right now I stick to Primal duck and turkey and sardine. I want to switch up the proteins in Primal to the ones which have no HPP. I know all of Stella’s proteins use HPP and I believe vital essentials also. Not totally against this step since I still think freeze dried using HPP in these brands is better then kibble or canned any day.
I’m quilty of trying to stretch the freeze dried by using kibble at times as a base since I have two. I’m thinking of switching up again frtom Stella & Chewy’s baked raw coated to slowly introducing Natures Logic Distinction. I’m liking that they use no synthetic vitamins, and No corn, wheat, rice, soy, peas, tapioca, or potato with no artificial flavor, color or chemical preservatives.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Katherine don’t know what form the salmon oil is in but I know my two dogs cannot tolerate fresh salmon broiled. I can give them a little when we have it for dinner for only one meal. When I ever gave for two dinners in a row over kibble they would both end up with diarrhea . I imagine the high fat.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Natures Logic has a Distinction line with singular protein. Example below.
Ingredients
Sardine, Sardine Meal, Millet, Herring Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Yeast Culture, Pumpkin Seeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Dried Kale, Dried Kelp, Spray Dried Porcine Plasma, Dried Tomato, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Apple, Dried Carrot, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Blueberry, Dried Apricot, Dried Spinach, Dried Broccoli, Dried Parsley, Dried Cranberry, Dried Artichoke, Dried Mushrooms, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium bifidium Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Dried Pineapple Extract, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract.

[Patricia A]

David can’t find anything on DFA site regarding manufacturing practicing of companies. Only site I found helpful is the Thixton link I gave. (Thixton reports on the manufacturing facilities and supply chains for each brand. Controversial ingredients are flagged.)

[Patricia A]

Anon Helen stated in her post that he is NOT eating his kibble. I should have added that the change over should be VERY SLOWLY with the new freeze dried diet if she goes that route. Stick to one brand and one protein for awhile and then GRADUALLY add more proteins/brands.
Her dog is smart to be looking for better nutrition then Science Diet or any kibble turds for that matter.
Primal
INGREDIENTS:
Turkey, Turkey Necks, Whole Sardines, Turkey Hearts or Turkey Gizzards, Turkey Livers, Organic Collard Greens, Organic Squash, Organic Cranberries, Organic Blueberries, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Celery, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Cilantro, Organic Ginger, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Quinoa Sprout Powder, Organic Ground Alfalfa, Dried Organic Kelp, Organic Rosemary Extract, Vitamin E Supplement.
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS:
Crude Protein (min) 40%
Crude Fat (min) 23%
Crude Fiber (max) 2%
Moisture (max) 4%
Ash (max) 5%
ADDITIONAL PRODUCT INFORMATION:
Turkey 77%
Sardine 10%
Produce 11%
Supplements 2%
Organic Ingredients 11%
Organ Meat 9%
Bone Content ≅ 10%
CA-to-P ratio 1.55:1
NUTRITIONAL FACTS
Calories: 154 per oz.
1 ounce = approx. 4 nuggets

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Well good for him that he doesn’t like junk food. lol. As Has mom said try some freeze dried food. Just add some warm water and it makes a gravy. I imagine a pomchi would be a smaller dog so the freeze dried wouldn’t be too costly. Primal, Stella chewys, vital essentials, Bixbi are all great . I have Chihuahuas’ and they lick their bowls clean.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

A wealth of information also at this site . https://www.petsumerreport.com.

[Patricia A]

I agree joanne with draining the fat in the beef/chicken. I buy 90% lean chop meat. However if I top two days in a row they end up with diarrhea or throwing up. Same with dark meat chicken. I stick now to only white meat boiled chicken and eliminated the chop meat . Little pieces of lean steak or london broil as topper they do fine with. Broiled salmon is also tolerated for just that day as a small topper.
I imagine they can’t handle the fat in these foods that disagree with them. Yet, I feed freeze dried brands which are higher in fat and they digest it well. I’m remembering that with the freeze dried I started with VERY small amounts and even then they had some loose stool. Took several weeks and now stool is perfect and I no longer have scooting and anal gland problems as before with the diet I’m following.
I think some pet owners don’t give the food enough of a chance and switch too soon which further causes digestive issue. If stool is really just diarrhea then just give the chicken/rice until everything calms down and then try another brand.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Sometimes it can take several days or even weeks to get used to a new food. Also pumpkin can also loosen stool that is already soft. “. For a pet that is constipated, the high water and fiber content in the pumpkin will help add bulk and soften the stool.”
My one Chihuahua had loose stools as a puppy. I used at that time Stella and Chewy’s kibble and stuck to just that for many weeks and the stool was not too hard, not too soft after awhile. I still use this as a base in rotation with others and some home cooked and freeze dried
Whatever you buy as kibble just try to stay with that one brand that’s quality for a little longer and not switch to give your pup a chance to get used to it digestively. I like a starting point of the advisors 5 star reviews. Hope this might be an easy solution .

[Patricia A]

I believe that the consensus is out that feeding kibble for dogs whole life is not the best nutrition for them. Don’t believe the true cause as of yet has been found regarding DCM and grain diets. Many companies add a ton of legumes in their food displacing animal protein. When the dog was switched to a food that was high in meat(animal protein) their hearts returned to normal in some cases.
Then you have grain inclusive. A starch is always needed in kibble to hold it together.
This is a quote from a site I frequent. “On the other hand, some plant material such as rice, soybean meal and corn have some, although limited, usefulness in the meat eater’s diet. Corn, wheat, soy, rice and barley are not bad or harmful to dogs and cats. These plant sources are simply not good choices (we do get to choose what we feed our pets, don’t we?) for the foundation of a diet to optimally nourish animals what are, have been, and for the foreseeable future will be meat eaters.”

Best if you feed kibble get your pet SLOWLY used to several brands and proteins and rotate every few bags. Even between grain and grain free. There are many toppers you can add such as freeze dried in various brands. I use Primal, Stella’ , Bixbi rawbbles . Frozen raw is less costly in these same brands. Also, use toppers of home cooked when appropriate. Boiled chicken, string beans, fish, steak etc. when your also eating this.
I don’t believe you can go wrong with a variety of foods that agrees with your dog.

[Patricia A]

I got the same response Nadia. I think I’ll lean toward Primal in the same proteins . Just give the venison blend and rabbit. Maybe even try those in the Primal since it is lower calories. I researched Vital Essentials which got all 5 stars except the turkey and chicken NIBBLETS. Going to slowly introduce that as a rotation.
I’m just so used to giving just a little kibble with their freeze dried. it also stretches the expensive freeze dried since I’m feeding the two. I’ve been giving Stella’s raw coated grain free. But I advisor lowed rating due to all the legumes raising protein level. So last bag I rotated with the Ancient grains recipe. I emailed advisor for a future review of their grain inclusive. No response but now from response we both received I’m thinking he’s not going to review or rate them anymore??? I mean I at least use his reviews as a starting point of what to feed. So I’m afraid that the grain inclusive might be like a 2.5 if he did review it.
I’m looking into rotating with Natures logic kibble as a base also. I’ just feel better just rating the kibble even though they get just a few a day with their freeze dried or home cooked. You know sometimes I spend a few hours researching food and I go in a circle. I really think at lease for kibble it’s like trying to fit a round peg in a square hole. Don’t think any are really good to feed solely.

[Patricia A]

Not sure about kibble but I know raw or freeze dried Primal is all life stages. Their website lets you put in quick info and calculates approx. how many nuggets to feed for puppy of a certain age. https://primalpetfoods.com/pages/feeding-calculator
PUPPIES

In the wild, when puppies reach 4-5 weeks of age, the mother dog will naturally begin to regurgitate some of her raw foods for her puppies to consume. Thus, when domestically reared puppies reach approximately 4-5 weeks of age, you can begin introducing them to Primal Canine Formulas. Puppies should be fed one to two small (1-2 teaspoons) raw-food meals daily in conjunction with either the milk they consume from nursing and/or other foods you may be supplementing. Puppies should always be fed from separate bowls, as competitive feeding can promote overeating and indigestion. Gradually increase the quantity of Primal Canine Formulas foods every 2-3 days until 8 weeks of age, when the puppies are consuming two tablespoons of Primal Canine Formulas twice daily. At this point (8 weeks), the puppies should be fully weaned and can be fed a diet solely of Primal Canine Formulas and raw meaty bones. Puppies 8 weeks of age and older should be fed approximately 4-8% of their body weight daily in Primal Canine Formulas. Factors such as breed, overall health and level of activity play a part in the necessary feeding quantities of all puppies. Please be sure to monitor your puppy’s dietary needs and adjust the feeding quantities accordingly.

[Patricia A]

Mona the only difference in the puppy Stella’s freeze dried is the size which has smaller patties. So the feeding guideline on back of bag is suggestive amounts of patties to feed for poundage of puppy. I accidentally purchased the puppy bag of freeze dried once. I called and asked if it would be okay to feed my adult dog and they assured me that the ingredients are the same as in adult formulas. Just smaller so I would have to give more for the calories she needed. Hope this helps. I also got mine used to Primal freeze dried which they also do very well with. hope this helps.

I also want to add that ALL I believe of Stella’s Chewy’s freeze dried is Hpp processed. Companies that make raw food for pets primarily use two methods to insure the safety of their products. … Raw pet food maker Stella & Chewy’s uses both high pressure pasteurization (HPP) and UV technology to deliver a pathogen-free finished product. The company has patented their system.
Primal freeze dired also uses hpp in some of their flavors. I stick to the turkey/sardine and duck.Primal will be implementing High-Pressure Processing (HPP) into our product line beginning the week of June 6th, 2011 for poultry products only. Poultry products utilizing HPP will be designated by a code date of 070812 or later. Red meat products will not be utilizing HPP. Below is a complete list of products utilizing HPP, as well as non-HPP products.
HPP Products
Canine Formulas: Chicken, Duck, Pheasant, Quail, Turkey & Sardine
Feline Formulas: Chicken & Salmon, Duck, Pheasant, Quail, Turkey
Mixes and Grinds: Chicken, Turkey
All Raw Meaty Bones: Chicken Backs, Chicken Necks, Chicken Wings, Turkey Necks
Non-HPP Products
Canine Formulas: Beef, Lamb, Pork, Rabbit, Venison
Feline Formulas: Beef & Salmon, Pork, Rabbit, Venison
Mixes and Grinds: Beef, Lamb, Pork, Sardine
Raw Goat Milk
Bone Broth: All Bone Broth
Recreational Bones: All Recreational Bones
Primal Treats: All Primal Treats
https://www.stellaandchewys.com/dog-food/freeze-dried-raw-dinners/patties/beef-salmon-puppy

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

I don’t know what the advisor is doing here with these ratings Nadia. I’m now questioning if I can trusts. these ratings since it’s only changing when we question them and I emailed. The freeze dried is supposed to be identical to the raw once rehydrated. So another discrepancy (error) in his ratings .

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