[Pitlove]

Ya she should have lost the weight by now, unless there is something else (not medical) thats preventing it. Maybe too many treats? Hard to say. Perhaps checking her thyroid would be worth it at this point.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

Hi Vicki-

A lot of users have asked Dr. Mike if they will ever review treats. I believe the answer was no.

As for dental treats, I prefer those that have a VOHC seal which indicates that they have been trialed and approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council. This can provide assurance that they have been proven to remove plaque and tartar build up. However, just like with humans, the best thing you can do for your dog’s overall oral health, is to brush their teeth!

Also Natural Balance is now owned by Smuckers and according to the NB rep that is for the region I work in (I work at a small family owned pet store), the Smuckers by-out was a step in a right direction.

[Pitlove]

Hi Sadie’s Mom-

Appreciate the update! Glad she is eating well again. Maybe that tooth is the issue!

I don’t own small dogs, however I have quite a few friends/co-workers who do and a lot of them have told me that their dogs are infamous for not always finishing food. I’ve also been told that some of the smaller breeds will portion themselves down to one meal a day.

As for the weight loss- it might just take more time. How long have you been on this regime?

[Pitlove]

Blue Wilderness was the first kibble my pit ever ate. He never really did that great on it and didn’t like it much, so I can’t say. Personally, I think there are much better foods out there (the ones I listed) that are not overpriced like Blue.

[Pitlove]

Hi Sadie’s Mom-

In regards to your question to me, there are a couple things you could try until Tuesday. If its her back maybe elevate her food dish so she doesn’t have to bend over to eat causing pain to her back. If its the tooth, soft food like canned wet food would be a really good option for encouraging her to eat and maybe giving the tooth a break. Just because the vet doesn’t think its a big deal, doesn’t mean its not! I was in a car accicent in ’12 and the EMT’s thought I had a sprain in my wrist, turned out to be broken! The tooth really could be more of an issue than the vet thinks just from talking over the phone. First thing I would definitely try (because of her back) is finding a way to lift her food dish.

Edit: And yes El Doctor is certainly right when he mentioned keeping her lean. Especially with Sadie being a Dachshund and all the back/hip problems they are known for, keeping her at a healthy weight is critical. Make sure you are feeding her for the weight she should be and not current weight. Not too many treats either!

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

Hi Sadie’s Mom-

More often than not, when a dog that was once a very food motivated dog suddenly stops wanting to eat with the same enthusiasim, there is something wrong medically. Sounds like you’re taking the right steps in bringing her into the vet next week for the tooth. It’s probably time to have a full exam and maybe blood work done since she is a senior. Not sure how recently she’s been in for her senior blood work and check up.

Don’t forget- not all dogs will act like they are in pain or something is wrong.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

Hi S B- Take a look at Fromm Gold Large Breed Puppy, NutriSource Large Breed Puppy or Precise Holistic Complete Large & Giant Breed Puppy. If you’d like to go the route of feeding foods that have been feed trialed with large breeds you could try Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy, Hill’s Ideal Balance Large Breed Puppy or Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy.

[Pitlove]

Hi Louis- I second what anonymously said. Also wanted to add that consumer reviews are terrible way to select a food for your dog. It’s far too overwhelming to sift through the good and bad reviews and even at the end of it all you still aren’t sure if the food is good or not.

Looking to what professionals in the field of nutrition have to say about what criteria to use when selecting a dog food and company to use is a much more direct and simple way of choosing a food.

Here is Dr. Susan Wynn DVM (also a nutritionist) guideline for how to choose a food:

1. Does the company employ a veterinary nutritionist? If they simply use consultants as needed, I question their dedication to keeping up with new knowledge in animal nutrition.
2. Has the company a decent track record or are they only a few years old?
3. Do the ads or company representatives make absurd claims about extending lives or preventing cancer and kidney disease, unsubstantiated by clinical trials?
4. Does the company provide clear contact information on the bag or can so that you can easily call them if there is a potential problem?
5. Does the company add to our knowledge of nutrition by conducting ethical research in veterinary nutrition?
6. Is this food appropriate to my pet’s flavor preferences, life stage, lifestyle and environment?
7. Can I provide this food consistently (i.e. am I grossed out by the odor, or is the product consistently available, or is it too much trouble to open cans, etc)?

There are other nutritionists out there with similar, but varied guidelines. I know one of the regulars, Aimee, has a couple other examples so hopefully she’ll post that.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

If you haven’t used this tool before I would definitely recommend it. I feed my dogs a variety of foods that are different calorie amounts (mostly high) and they are not super active, but continue to maintain ideal weight and muscle. Every time I try a new food I use this calculator to tell me how much to feed. Hasn’t been wrong yet!

/dog-feeding-tips/dog-food-calculator/

[Pitlove]

Hi David- This tool on this site has been very accurate in helping me keep both my dogs at an ideal weight. You may find it helpful as well.

/dog-feeding-tips/dog-food-calculator/

[Pitlove]

Hi RebeccaRose-

“We have been on it for 7 months. It is Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach Salmon.”

Glad to hear you found something that is working for your pup! Seems that Pro Plan formula works for a lot of people 🙂 Hope she has continued success with it, however it seems that you have a good list of things to try if she doesn’t!

[Pitlove]

Hi Leland-

Every single Orijen formula is over 450 kcals/cup, which is pretty high in calories. However, as long as you follow the feeding guidelines closely and monitor weight and body condition it should not cause weight gain. Regardless of what food you feed, especially with breeds like Bassett Hounds, watch their weight carefully. Even a few extra pounds is hard on their joints.

[Pitlove]

Hi A K-

You at least need to worry about it until a year old. Some choose to air on the side of caution and feed a large breed puppy formula until 18 months of age. For giant breeds you would feed them as a puppy longer.

You could feed Orijen Large Puppy until a year (or longer if you’d like) and then move to any of the other formulas in Orijen since they are all life stages (including the Adult Dog formula). It should be fairly easy switching within the same brand of food.

[Pitlove]

Hi Huskypup- One thing I can tell you with FreshPet is, if the store you’re purchasing it from is not keeping up with the expiration dates this could be why you’re getting funky smelling rolls. This food does not have a long shelf life and where I work (small family owned pet shop) we check weekly to make sure none of the FreshPet is expired and keep notes on what is expiring soon. Have yet to have any issues of customers saying it smelled funny.

I would try purchasing it from another store. Sometimes smaller pet shops are able to keep better track of expirations than the big box chain stores.

[Pitlove]

Hi Linda- I can’t say for sure if that PureVita Formula is correctly formulated for a large breed puppy. NutriSource does however have a great large breed puppy formula that is. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a 5 star food, but it does have to have restricted calcium so your pup grows properly!

[Pitlove]

When I was out of food for my 6 year old who was not used to eating different foods frequently as he’d been on one food for 4 years, I had to feed him my other dogs food which upset his stomach because of the quick switch. He vomited and had diaherra. After that experience he did not want to eat that food anymore. I added some canned food to it and that encouraged him to eat again. Perhaps she is associating her upset stomach with her food.

[Pitlove]

Suzanne- Sorry to hear about that encounter. Unfortunetly some pitbulls do have some dog aggression issues. I’ve noted that most of those with those sorts of issues are ex-fighters so I can’t help but feel for them and be understanding. I am thankful that mine is not one of those! Glad no one was seriously injured!

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

@ El Doctor- Whoops! Didn’t catch that spelling error in time. Now it won’t let me edit my post

[Pitlove]

Hi Sheryl-

I firmly believe there are two kinds of researching that can be done- researching and “researching”. One is reading peer review research articles published by professionals in the field of canine disease and nutrition and the other being reading consumer reports and opinions of pet parents who may or may not have accurate information. The ladder will cause your head to spin as the opinions change depending on which website you go to, who you talk to, etc.

There very well could be a better option out there for your dog than Iams, but I think that is a decision that should be made by you and your vet or a veterinary nutritionist who is familiar with liver disease and what role diet plays in managing it. You can do over the phone or email consulations with various nutritionists who can help you make an informed decision on what diet would be best.

I know this was probably not the answer you were looking for, but I felt saying this was more helpful than making a guess at a food recommendation.

[Pitlove]

Yes! They do. Ours is a huge baby. He’s wonderful with other dogs, kids, all people, cats, even goats! I love GSD’s as well and actually all the breeds that people think are dangerous! haha.

You’re so welcome. I’m a worrier myself and my pitbull has had so many ups and downs mainly with skin issues, so I feel for anyone going through a medical crisis! Looking forward to your Tuesday update!

[Pitlove]

Hi Suzanne-

I can’t offer much in the way of advice of garlic poisoning, however my Lab did get into rat poison 2 years ago and he’s doing fine. Sounds like you did the right thing while the vet’s office was closed!

Best wishes to you and your pup that she makes a full and fast recovery!

[Pitlove]

Hi Wendeyzee- I won’t speak for DogFoodie, but no I’m not a veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist. That is why I personally provided you with links to research conducted by those types of professionals in the field of nutrition that have studied growth in large breed puppies. I am aware that German Shepherd Dog’s are prone to the development of Pano (the links also support that). No where in my post or in my links I provided did it say otherwise. What was said in those research articles was that Pano is idiopathic, therefore there is no way to know that feeding your puppy a high protein diet was the cause of it. This should actually offer some piece of mind.

Over nutrition does not mean feeding high protein- it is in reference to caloric intake. This is why DogFoodie (and I) mentioned keeping the dog lean and at an ideal weight during the critical growth period (though that can not even guarentee your dog will not develop pano). A puppy that is even slightly (by just a mere few pounds) overweight is at a much higher chance of developing any one of the numerous DOD’s.

No one here critized your pet parenting or assumed you had not spent any time researching the breed. You’ve misconstrued that in your own mind. We simply offered you information that you may have missed while researching.

I’m sorry you found this information offensive. Best of luck with your pup

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

Wendeyzee-

Here is a good overview of proper large breed puppy nutrition. This applies to all breeds.

https://www.msu.edu/~silvar/hips.htm

Here’s a link discussing pano that mentions GSD’s

http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2526&context=iowastate_veterinarian

“The etiology(cause) is unknown, but the disease can be transmitted by injecting into the marrow cavity of susceptible dogs a bacteria free and cell-free Seitz filtrate from the bone marrow of diseased dog”

There was another short blurb I found about Pano that supported the same statment that the cause is unknown. Protein has been cleared (meaning it is not) as the cause of all other orthopedic diseases. While we can’t say for sure it is not the cause of Pano, we can’t say for sure that it is either. More focus should be put on limiting excessive calcium and overnutrition.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

That is your opinion.

[Pitlove]

Hi Aimee- Thank you! Yes, he’s doing quite well. I’m not/can’t home cook so we will have to introduce both together. He said we will talk about over the counter foods I could use. I’ll use whichever dry kibble he suggests. He is not much a fan of the over the counter limited ingredient diets for the reasons you explained, but he knows I can’t afford the rX formulas forever.

El Doctor- I was speaking to him as though he wanted to use a dry kibble and not homecook. You and I simply have two different trains of thought- neither is wrong. It simply depends on what the OP would like to do. Hell, he might not even be interested in a food trial at all. I simply wanted to provide the reason for my vet recommending this food as we did not talk about homecooking since he knows I can’t/don’t do that.

Both Aimee and I agree that “If using commercial foods, use food from the vet office that have been made specifically for this purpose.”

[Pitlove]

Boddy D- I wanted to explain MY vet’s reasoning for wanting my dog to use the Royal Canin prescription diet for his food trial since El Doctor urged you to stay away from it based only on the ingredients.

When a protein is hydrolyzed, they break it down into its component amino acids which in turn makes it harder for the dog to have a reaction to. Now of course if your dog had a soy allergy, he would still react. Other reason for my vet wanting me to use the prescription diet and not an over the counter limited ingredient diet is because, when Royal Canin has their prescription allergy diets manufactured the machine is sterilized after each “run”. It can not be guarenteed that commercial dog foods labeled as “limited ingredient” use those same quality control measures. In fact, I believe it was another poster on here, Aimee, that once said that some over the counter limited ingredient diets had tested positive for proteins that should NOT have been in the food. Cross-contamination is NOT what you want when conducting a food trial.

The reasons my vet and I spoke about that I listed above is why when doing a TRUE food trial to test for food allergies, the prescription diet (while it may be expensive) is the recommended food. However, you’re welcome to think on what both myself and El Doctor have suggested and make your own decision.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

Hi Bobby Dog- The vet wants him on a fish and potato based food next. Not sure what his plans are from there.

[Pitlove]

Hi Bobby D- My dog started showing symptoms of allergies at a young age. One vet said it was partly due to where we live in the south. Recently we started a food trial for him with guidence from his vet, to determine if his allergies were related to food, his enivornment or both. He was put on Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein and has to be on it for 2 months. Within just a few days of feeding the food, I noticed a huge improvement in a lot of his symptoms (he gets sores as well and they all dissapeared). However, I’ve noticed that my boy seems to react quickly to environment or diet change. I’m sure it is not like that for every dog.

If you want to rule out food allergies, I would highly recommend doing a true food trial with a prescription food. I think once we can get the money I will bring my boy to the dermatologist for further testing, but for the moment this was the easier thing to do on a budget and it’s really helping him find relief.

Best of luck!

[Pitlove]

A K- Since you were wanting to feed Orijen, use the Large Puppy formula. They reformulated it a few years back to have lower calcium.

[Pitlove]

James- Yes their Grain Free lines are too small I agree. However the 2 I mentioned are not grain free and are really big.

[Pitlove]

Check out NutriSource. Both their Large Breed formulas have really big kibbles.

[Pitlove]

Hi A K- Regional Red is too high in calcium so that would be off the table. You’d need to send an email to Champion and ask for the MAX calcium and phosphorus levels for us to figure out if the other 2 are ok. My suggestion would be Orijen Large Puppy.

[Pitlove]

Hi Rachel-

Couple things here that could help save money for the moment. Firstly, food is usually the easiest thing to start with (and least expensive for the most part). I find that NutriSource is an excellent food for dogs who have loose stool/digestive issues. And of course, you would want to feed their Large Breed Puppy formula since your boy might be borderlining a giant breed but most certainly is already a large breed and needs a strict diet to reduce the risk of orthopedic disorders.

Secondly, if you’d like to forgo the neuter and do the testing for other parasites I think that would be a fine choice. It’s recommended not to neuter large breeds until they have fully grown so that their growth plates have a chance to fully close and he will not be fully grown at only 10 months old. This also helps reduce the risk of orthopedic disorders. Also, this could allow you to invest more in figuring out the cause of his stomach trouble, which is much more the pressing issue at this time.

[Pitlove]

Star rating is not important at this juncture, but proper growth is. I’d highly recommend looking into NutriSource Large Breed Puppy. It is a great food for dogs with digestive problems.

Edit: I completely agree with Crazy4Cats. I’ve used NV Rawboost and was always dissapointed about the inconsistancy of how many raw pieces I got. Better to supplement your own with meal mixers like Stella & Chewy’s or add fresh foods like C4C said. Always being careful not to tip the calcium scale too far off.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

Hi A K-

Nature’s Variety is a good food, my only concern is that when I look at the link you provided the calcium and phosphorus does not say if that is the MIN or MAX levels. That is something you need to email and find out about. If those are the MIN levels of calcium and phosphorus then that food is far too high in calcium for a growing large breed puppy- however if it’s the MAX it’s on the high side, but you could still feed it.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

As long as you follow the feeding guidelines for the canned food she wouldn’t become overweight. Same as with dry food. A dog can become overweight on any diet if overfed. You can find good quality canned foods that are low fat and high protein to help keep her trim. I wouldn’t totally throw out the idea of canned food IMO. It adds moisture to their diet and keeps them more hydrated, plus is a lot healthier than dry because of it being less processed. Whichever you choose, best of luck in finding something that she can eat!

[Pitlove]

Only reason I ask is because canned food would be an excellent solution to your Doxie’s problem. It seems as though something is causing discomfort when chewing dry food. That can create a negative association with eating that food.

[Pitlove]

My pitbull gets gas every time he eats beef. In his case it is because of a food intolerance. I would suggest swapping him to a protein he has never had before. Fish would be a good one to try if he’s not had it. If it stops- then you’ll know it was something in the previous food. If it continues- compare the 2 ingredient panels and see what matches up and then try to find a food that doesn’t contain the similar ingredients.

[Pitlove]

Hi Angela- Curious as to why you are not a fan of wet canned food?

[Pitlove]

Hi Lewis- Congratulations on your new pup!

There are many reasons your boy could be experiencing diaherra with Blue Buffalo. Though your other Pugs didn’t have issues with immediate switches this one is a new dog with a different GI tract and he’s also a young puppy. Because stress can cause disgestive upset in young puppies after coming into their new home, it’s advised to continue feeding the same food the breeder had him for a few weeks and then start introducing whichever food you’re interested in feeding.

I’d suggest going back to the Eukanuba formula for a few more weeks and then trying to add the Blue back- very very slowly. If he is still experiencing digestive upset then it’s time to consider that one of the ingredients in the Blue Buffalo formula does not agree with him.

[Pitlove]

Thanks for the info Aimee!

[Pitlove]

Hi Aimee-

“The only company I know of that made a raw that went through feeding trials and is HPP and consults with a vet nutritionist is Natures Variety. The current formula haven’t been through feeding trials but carry a feeding trial statement by way of AAFCO’s family rule.”

A different allopathic vet I brought Bentley to said the only raw company she recommends is Primal because they consult with several nutritionists to formulate. I’m not sure if Primal is HPP, perhaps only their poultry is? Have you heard this about Primal?

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

Hi Sally- As someone who works in Great Dane rescue you will be interested in these links. They however do not support the claim that protein (of any level) effects growth in large or giants breeds.

http://portais.ufg.br/up/66/o/Racas_grandes.pdf
http://www.bestfriendsvet.com/pdffiles/BoneDevArticleWa.pdf
http://www.susanwynn.com/Literature.php- Look at the Large Breed Puppy Nutrition link

It’s been known for quite a while now that it is excessive calories and calcium- not protein- that cause disease like HOD, OCD, hip dysplasia etc.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

I have nothing knowledge wise to offer, but I do wish you the best of luck and send prayers to your AmStaff. I have one too and they are just the best dogs ever! Shawna is our resident fountain of knowledge when it comes to KD pups and many other things!

[Pitlove]

Hi Juanita- “The only thing I do not like about Zignature is although it stops the itching and there are no synthetic vitamins it appears it doesn’t have all the necessary nutrients in it but I might be wrong.”

Zignature does use a premade synthetic vitamin pack. There are only 2 food brands (dry kibble) on the market that don’t- one is Nature’s Logic and the other is Carna4. Also Zignature is a complete and balanced food, so it does have the necessary nutrients.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

Hi Kelly- “Puppies need more calcium than an adult dog” Right here is where I need to stop you. Your puppy will be considered a giant breed and while you have been researching a homemade raw diet, you haven’t factored in that you have a dog that will be large. Large and giant breeds do not need more calcium, they need very very controlled levels. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus needs to fall between a 1.1:1 and a 1.5:1 ratio. Anything higher can increase the risk that they grow too quickly and develop devastating orthopedic disorders. I’ve seen the horrible effects of a large breed puppy (specifically a Great Dane) fed a raw diet that was poorly balanced.

I’m sorry, but I have to agree with Aimee on this. I’m not against feeding raw, but for a large or giant breed, optimal growth is the first and foremost important thing. I would absolutely choose a commercial food that can confirm by emailing you their as fed or MAX levels of calcium and phosphorus, that it is safe for your giant breed puppy.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 3 months ago by Pitlove.

[Pitlove]

When giving any type of chew toy be it a Puppy Kong or a regular adult sized Kong or anything else, you always want to monitor your puppy while they are chewing it. This allows you to catch it early if she does start ripping little pieces off and swallowing them. I also would not recommend leaving any type of toy in her kennel if you plan to crate train. You will learn fast what your puppy can and can not destroy and then you go from there.

[Pitlove]

Hi Kelly- The Puppy Kong is much softer than the regular Kong and is designed for a younger dog who does not have jaw strength of an adult dog. That being said, some dogs are much more aggresive chewers than others. Even when my pitbull was very young the Puppy Kong could probably have not stood up to him. He’s always been an aggressive chewer. I’d buy the Puppy Kong first, see how your pup does with that and go from there.

What age will your guy/girl be when you get him/her?

[Pitlove]

Hi Danni A- It was long thought that protein affected the growth rates of large and giants breeds and could cause weight issues and rapid bone growth that lead to horrible orthopedic disorders. Since all those years ago, many nutritionists interested in large/giant breed puppy growth re-researched the subject and found that it was not protein at all in fact that was the cause, but too much or too little calcium.

That being said, so long as you not overfeeding and your dogs are maintaining an ideal weight and you are feeding a food with an as fed calcium to phosphorus ratio between 1.1:1 – 1.5:1 your pups should keep up an optimal growth pace.

If you’re ever concerned that your pups food might not be meeting these requirements, contact the company by email, ask for the MAX levels of calcium and phosphorus and use the calculator tool near the end of this article to check if the food meets your giant breeds needs for safe levels of calcium.

/best-dog-foods/best-large-breed-puppy-food/

[Pitlove]

Waiting for someone to get really angry about this post before realizing its a troll

[Author]

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