[pitlove]

Hi LovelyBear-

Maybe someone will touch on all points you’ve brought up but I want to touch on just a few that I feel I can answer.

As far as getting your dogs teeth healthy, nothing can replace brushing your dogs teeth and dentals at the vet. No, they are not simply trying to sucker you for money. Having your dogs teeth cleaned at the vet is just the same as us having our teeth cleaned at the dentist. Between that and brushing is the most effective way to get any bacteria and gunk underneath the gumline. Bones and chews will clean the crowns (what you see), but will not necessarily prevent periodontal disease.

There are a lot of vegans on this site who still understand that meat is a part of a dogs diet. There is no shame in that.

[pitlove]

Correct. We still got fleas, not to mention constantly having to reapply daily. It was very time consuming.

I’m sure some dogs have had negative reactions to oral meds, but any living thing can have a reaction to any type of medication. For me personally, I can not take Tramadol because I vomit and have auditory hallucinations when I do. Does it mean it should be taken off the market because a few people react to it? No. Just means you find an alternative.

I’m a vet tech student, so for me, I see the way pharmacuticals have revolutionized the veterinary medicine field. I’ve studied a lot of drugs and what they do and I have a better understanding of them and I do not worry as much.

[pitlove]

I use a generic oral Ivermectin pill for heartworm and Bravecto oral for flea/tick. Not a single issue with either even for my very sensitive pitbull who we just found out after a recent minor surgery is predisposed to seizures.

I live in the South and we don’t get real winters so it would simply be irresponsible for me not to use a tougher preventative. I’ve tried the “all natural” route with zero success.

[pitlove]

2-4 Milkbones each day add up quickly and those treats are not low calorie. Is there a reason hes getting so many of them? You will probably see a decrease in weight if you remove those from his diet or even just offer less of them. These are the types of things that will be need to be eliminated from his diet if you can not increase his excersize.

Also make sure when using the calculator you are putting in what weight he should be, not what weight he is and selecting “Overweight”

[pitlove]

Thanks for posting. Had not heard of excessive yawning in connection with heart failure.

An excellent dog trainer also explained at a seminar I went to that excessive panting and yawning can be signs of anxiety and fear. Those behaviors, which seem normal to most people who aren’t paying attention to context, can be a precursor to a bite.

[pitlove]

Here is the link for requesting a dog food to be reviewed: /contact-us/suggest-dog-food-review/

As long as the foods have a legal pet food label (GA, list of ingredients etc) Dr. Mike can review it.

[pitlove]

Hi mommy0f3pigs-

If your pittie is already 30lbs at 14 weeks, he will most certainly need a large breed puppy food. Mind you, just because a food claims to be for “all life stages” does NOT always mean it is suitable for large breed puppies.

The two brands your vet recommend are actually the two best brands for large breed puppy foods on the market because both companies are the worlds leaders in research of large and giant breed puppy growth and development. If you truly do not want to use one of their LBP formulas, I would look at Dr.Tims Kinesis, Wellness, NutriSource or Fromm.

He is likely itchy from the environment change from one state to the next. When I brought my pit home from north of my state to south east he devloped a staph infection from the change in environment. It went away with antibiotics and never came back. He may need more time to adjust. Unfortunately feeding him exotic proteins and grain free etc now can’t prevent allergies. I did that too on the recommendation of well meaning but uneducated people I worked with and on here and my pittie developed food sensitivities to duck, beef, lamb and peas. Duck is considered exotic and peas are in almost every grain free food. Unfortunately he is just prone to allergies due to poor breeding. Sometimes these things can’t be helped, especially in pitbulls because of the over breeding problem.

[pitlove]

Hi anon101-

I’m sorry you feel that way. I personally enjoy your posts.

[pitlove]

Hi Gregory-

Happy to hear there was a clear diagnosis now and you can begin treatment. Don’t be too upset with the last vet, human error does occur and sometimes it’s best to get a second opinion. It once took three doctors to figure out I had a UTI. Two wrote my pain off as back spasms. The third doctor was smart enough to run a urinalysis.

Hope your baby starts feeling better soon!

[pitlove]

OMG! I’m so sorry Ryan. That is awful!

[pitlove]

I think people forget to consider that lifestyle, excersize, proper weight, and getting to do what your dogs breed was meant to do likely play a larger role in longevity than diet does. There is far more to consider with longevity than the small vacuum Rodney Habib put Maggie’s story into.

[pitlove]

It depends on what those folks consider the weight ranges for medium breed to be. I’ve heard people call Rottweilers medium size dogs and idk about you but I would consider our Rottweiler a large breed at 130 lbs. He’s not overweight.

[pitlove]

Hi Susan W-

The yeast that you are refering to is actually the yeast that lives in the gut. Could you possibly mean Malassezia? Malassezia is the yeast that is found on the skin of the animal. You can not control Malassezia by eliminating or limiting carbs as it is not a carb loving yeast and does not feed off of it. The only way in which food plays a role in the control of Malassezia yeast overgrowth is if the immune system is weakened by a sensitivity or in rare cases a true allergy to a specific protein source. The body will always produce glucose(sugar) whether fed carbs or not as glucose is needed to sustain life. That is another part of why Malassezia is not treated through limitation or elimination of carbs.

Hope this helps!

Edit to add: Also it is note worthy that all livestock that has been treated with antibiotics MUST by law be held before going to slaughter for the withdrawal time of the antibiotic. This is the time need to eliminate the antibiotic and all residue of the antibiotic from the body. Each drug will have a different withdrawal time. So in fact there are no antibiotics in the food supply unlike the marketing of certain brands being “antibiotic free” might have you believe (implying that livestock given antibiotics will still contain those antibiotics when slaughetered). This is true for both the human and pet food supply.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 5 months ago by pitlove.

[pitlove]

Hi Gregory-

It is nice to see that your vet has been keeping up with current research on LBP nutrition. A lot are still set in their old ways from 30-40 years ago.

Best of luck with Fromm. I agree it is a great company. If you can figure out how to post pics post some of your Presa pup, I love that breed!

[pitlove]

Hi momofGSDs-

Unfortunately the protein myth is just that and there is 20 years of up to date research to back this up. Large breed puppy formulas are absolutely not a gimmic and are formulated far better and properly now than when you first got into dogs. It is often those who have been into large breeds for the longest that have the least correct info. Science is always changing and there is always more to learn, even about something “you know everything about”.

[pitlove]

Hi momofGSDs-

Male GSDs can weigh between 66-88 lbs and females can weigh on average between 49-71 lbs. According to AAFCO a large breed puppy is any dog breed that will grow to be 70 lbs or larger at mature weight and according to veterinary nutritionists a large breed puppy is any puppy that will grow to be 50lbs or larger. I tend to air on the side of caution and follow the advice of nutritionists. So yes I would say GSDs are a large breeed. I would also encourage any GSD owner who has an “AKC” German Shepherd and not a working line to use a LBP formula given the back and hip issues these dogs are facing by being bred for a sickle hock and roach back.

[pitlove]

Hi Ryan-

So sorry to hear about what happened to your dog. I hope the neighbor is footing the vet bill!

As for your question about the food. I like Hills however if you’re looking for a food with a therapeutic amount of glucosamine you will need to use one of their therapeutic diets. Otherwise I would recommend a good supplement like Dasaquin. I would however consider switching to a weight loss food like Hills Small & Toy Breed Perfect Weight. Perfect Weight was clinically trialed and 70% of the dogs lost the weight. Use her glucosamine supplements like treats instead of buying other treats. Or give cooked green beans.

Best of luck to you and your pup!

[pitlove]

Hi Marilyn-

The yeast that lives on the skin is Malassezia, not Candida. It is being created by your dogs allergies as they weaken the immune system and make his system unable to control the yeast that naturally lives on the skin. As anon101 said, environmental type allergies can not be cured, simply managed. I would discuss some bathing regimes with your vet and/or specialist and also ask about medications like Apoquel that can help manage the symptoms.

[pitlove]

It is highly unlikely that at just 14 weeks old your pup has already developed some type of food sensitivity.

All I can suggest is when you go to the new vet give a detailed time line of everything that has happened since you’ve gotten him. I would also contact your breeder and inquire as to if any other people who own your boys litter mates are experiencing anything similar. Changing his food too much right now will likely only cause further problems.

Edit: Also how old was he when you got him?

[pitlove]

Hi Gregory-

Constantly switching your Presa’s food may not be the answer as it may not be related to food. If he has not been tested for parasites like Giardia and Coccidia, that needs to be done. This is one of the most common reasons for diarrhea in young puppies.

[pitlove]

Hi Roberta-

I just wanted to note that “Dogstar” is the name of Champions plant in Kentucky. It is not a company that purchased Orijen from Champion. The plant in Canada is called “NorthStar” and the one in Kentucky is called “DogStar”. Hope this helps!

Good luck with Open Farm! I like the concept of food and that even though it is a Canadian based company they still manufacture the food in the U.S in Minnesota.

[pitlove]

Hi Susie-

Bloat is idiopathic, therefore no matter if you do “all the right things” your dog can still bloat. I know a couple who has had one dog bloat 3 times despite a slow feed dish, 3 smaller meals a day and all the other steps they took to prevent it. Adding water to their kibble will not suddenly cause bloat, nor will NOT adding water help reduce the risk for bloat.

[pitlove]

Hi Samantha-

I went through the same thing when my pittie was a pup. I used to always have to doctor his food with canned etc. From working in the pet retail industry a lot of consumers have mentioned to me that Wellness CORE is not very palatable and from my own personal experience, Wilderness didn’t seem to be either. My pit never did well on grain free foods and never enjoyed eating them. Maybe try the grain inclusive version of Wellness Complete Health? I think most folks here will tell you that as a company, Wellness is far better than Blue.

I now feed all my pets Pro Plan and it’s the first food they all get very excited over and has given me the results I was looking for in their health. Been on it for a year now.

Best of luck with whatever you choose!

[pitlove]

Hi Christine-

I can’t speak for the others, but I personally thought you were asking for advice on what would be best for your pet after a major surgery, not for confirmation that you should continue feeding raw after advised not to by your vet. Clearly you had made your decision before even posting here. Best of luck!

[pitlove]

Hi Amanda-

Two things. First, since your breeder feeds 4Health it is always recommended to continue with the same food for at least 3-4 weeks while your new pup is adjusting to his/her new environment. Sudden food changes while so young and under stress from the move can compound and result in GI upset.

Secondly, the main reason to be concerned about Diamond manufactured products is not so much the reason for the recall, but the amount of recalls, the fact that they spanned most if not all brands they make and/or co-pack, and that Diamond has a very poor way of handling them. Recalls are fine and I actually welcome them because it lets me know companies are keeping on top of testing, but when the FDA has to step in and threaten a company before they recall, I find that unnerving.

Now on the flip side, it has been some years since a recall has come out of the Diamond plant in South Carolina, so maybe they have upped their quality control protocols, but only time will tell.

My suggestion, talk with the breeder about her choice. Ask her why she picked 4Health, how long has she been using it, how does she feel about the numerous recalls, did she even know about them etc. If she doesn’t seem to have much of a good reason to use it other than it being cheap but not so cheap as Puppy Chow, maybe switch to something else after a few weeks.

[pitlove]

Hi InkedMarie-

I can only assume based on context that the OP believed this forum in its entirety was devoted to raw feeding since she was surprised as to having been met with opposition from those of us who do not feed raw. That or she misunderstood that all members of this forum can post in the raw feeding section regardless of if they feed raw or not.

[pitlove]

Hi Christine-

This is not a raw feeding forum. Yes, there are raw feeders who post here, but this website is not dedicated to raw feeding and many of us here do not feed raw.

Your dog just went through a serious intestional surgery and at least until you know he/she is stable, I would use the theraputic diet as recommended and then perhaps in time, discuss crazy4cats suggestion of BalanceIt.com with your vet.

[pitlove]

Hi Blake-

Firstly, congrats on the Ridgeback puppy. They are beautiful loyal dogs!

I do think your concerns about exposing the younger members of your family to Salmonella, E.coli, listeria and other pathogens is valid and justified. This is of great concern to the new arrival as his/her immune system will not be strong enough to withstand any exposure.

The second leering concern comes with the health and development of the puppy. Here is a great article written by holistic veterinary nutritionist Dr. Susan Wynn on large breed puppy growth, development and nutrition. She feeds and advocates for raw and home cooked diets, however not for growing puppies, let alone ones that will reach 50lbs+ at maturity.

Feeding large breed puppies

Consider what she has to say before deciding on this type of diet for your Ridgeback puppy. I would also consult your pediatrician about the risk of raw food to your young ones and see what he/she has to say.

[pitlove]

Hi Olivia-

I too, agree with what anon101 wrote. Now that some of the teeth have begun to decay it’s past the point of no return. Those teeth will likely need to be extracted to prevent more damage and infection. Also, periodontal disease can also lead to disease in other organs especially as they get older.

Raw bones, like many other methods of oral care do not reach the gum line of the pet and therefore can not reverse or prevent periodontal disease. Regular brushing and dentals (when suggested by your vet) are the best way to provide a proper oral health regime for your dogs.

And yes, I would absolutely be concerned about any hard bone cracking their teeth with the state they are in as you describe it.

[pitlove]

Hi Dennis-

I know several large breed dogs that eat Dr.Tims and all do excellent on it. Also comes in 44lb bags on chewy.com

[pitlove]

Hi Ollie-

This list is for puppy foods. Your Corso should be on adult food now.

[pitlove]

Hi Andrea-

Here is a good article written by holistic veterinary nutritionist Dr. Susan Wynn on large breed puppy growth and development

Feeding large breed puppies

I would recommend reading is over and considering what she has to say before continuing on this diet path with your GSD.

[pitlove]

Aimee-

Thank for that articulate explaination of the rewritten article! I couldn’t agree more. What you said is the exact reason I choose foods from the companies you mentioned for my pets.

[pitlove]

Hi Jeannine-

As I said, my information is coming from research and veterinary nutritionists. Apparently that DFA article has been updated recently as in the past it too said the safe upper limit was 1.5:1 and as far as I’ve read, no brand new research has concluded otherwise.

[pitlove]

I don’t know what article that is. My recommendations are based on literature written by several veterinary nutritionists. Not once have I seen 1.8:1 ratio being the suggested safe upper limit for Ca/Phos ratio.

[pitlove]

Hi Jeannine-

Your Ca/Phos ratio should fall between 1.1:1 and 1.5:1. 1.8:1 is far too high! You must also factor in the Ca/Calorie ratio when choosing a food appropriate for a large breed puppy.

[pitlove]

According to my Pharmacology textbook, Vetmedin (pimobendan) is a Inotropic Mixed Dilator and there is only a veterinary label for it. A lot of the drugs in my text do have a human label as well, but it looks as if this one was specifically designed for veterinary medicine.

Karen- There are other Positive Inotropic drugs on the market, but you would need to contact the vet to find out if another drug could be used in place of Vetmedin during the shortage. However, I feel that if that was an option, it likely would have been offered already.

[pitlove]

A customer of ours at work was an anesthesiologist for 20 years and told me blood work is not necessary before each and every surgical procedure. Age and health of the patient certainly is a factor for whether or not blood work should be done of course.

[pitlove]

Susan, I’m sorry, but you’re incorrect. Many of the vet diets can be fed long term.

[pitlove]

Hi Mary-

Veterinary Theraputic diets are made for specific illness and disease processes. They are not intended for healthy pets. Therefore when your vet is recommending one of these diets, its to help manage those disease processes.

Veterinary nutritionists do not use an ingredient deck to evaluate the quality of a pet food as it tells you very little about the food besides what’s in it. It does not tell you the quality of the raw materials, the manufacturing process, how the raw materials are stored and handled, the companies quality control procedures or who is formulating the diet and what credentials they have. Nutritionists prefer to use this set of guidelines when choosing a pet food http://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Recommendations%20on%20Selecting%20Pet%20Foods.pdf

I suggest you start there when asking yourself these questions. It’s great to have discussions like this with friends or as part of a public forum, but the opinions expressed should never be misconstrued as fact.

I personally also feed a vet recommended diet and have found it works best for my pets out of the countless “better” brands I’ve tried.

[pitlove]

20 years of more in depth research has prompted the pet food industry, spefically those companies like Hills and Purina who conduct their own original research, to make large breed puppies foods specifically designed to have appropriate calcium and phos ratios and calcium to calorie ratios. No one who has kept up with current research recommends feeding an adult maintenance diet to a growing large breed anymore. That was common 30-40 years ago when these diets didn’t exist.

I personally can not justify paying 60$ for any size bag of food unless it is a vet diet I need to use temporarily.

[pitlove]

Hi Susan-

Yes, there are certain therapeutic diets that are not intended for long term use and others that are. Without stating which vet diet you were using in 2013, your statement is misleading and meaningless.

I know you are anti-vet and all, but you are playing a dangerous game with people’s animals suggesting they follow your advice over a professional.

[pitlove]

Hi Jeannine-

Osteosarcoma can have a genetic link and pediatric spay and neuter can also increase the risk of Osteosarcoma. It’s unlikely that food played any role in the diagnosis.

When your vet suggested “an allergy” could be the cause of the pink ears, did she make mention of what kind of allergy it could be? Food allergies are not common, especially not in a dog so young.

As much as I like Fromm I do hear an overwhelming amount of complaints about loose stool on it. I would choose a food for a growing large breed puppy based on the guidelines of WSAVA. http://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Recommendations%20on%20Selecting%20Pet%20Foods.pdf

Most diets from companies that meet these standards will have an appropriate large breed puppy food.

[pitlove]

Hi Milena-

If your dog was suffering with diarrhea for months and the W/D is giving him relief I think it is best to continue with the food as the vet suggested. Or speak with him about what commercial diet might be comparable. What we want and what is best for our pets is often different.

[pitlove]

Hi Krista-

Is there a particular reason for choosing such a high priced food like Orijen or Acana?

[pitlove]

Hi Brian –

Serving size is effected by kcals. The higher calorie foods require less to be fed vs lower calorie foods. Perceived quality of a food has nothing to do with this. No two foods will be indentical in kcals, but some will be close enough that the feeding recommendations will not be far off.

Only problem is you have at the very least a large breed puppy if not a giant breed and keeping their weight under control during growth is of utmost importance. For that reason, a low energy density food is recommended by veterinary nutritionists.

[pitlove]

Hi Crystal-

I second what Cannoli said, but also want to mention that if any of your breeders have a grain allergy as you mentioned they shouldn’t be bred. Allergies can be passed down to the litters.

[pitlove]

Hi Rob-

Your vet is not crazy for considering the possibility that the raw food diet caused GI upset for your dog. Raw is not for every dog, my own included. Your dog is trying to tell you something by refusing to eat a diet he once ate and most likely that message is “this food makes my stomach hurt”.

You trying to force him to eat a diet that could be making him sick because you prefer it, is unfair and will only ruin your relationship with him.

[pitlove]

The list is 3 years old and formulas can change in 3 years. As I said, recently another poster contacted Victor and with the values given no food from them was appropriate.

[pitlove]

Hi gmcbogger-

Victor does not make any formulas safe for large breed puppies. Another poster on here a while back got all the calcium and phos values from the company for their puppy and ALS formulas. None were appropriate.

Just because the front of the bag says “large breed puppy” does not always mean it’s safe. Holistic Select and Nutro Max are excellent examples of that. Also at one point Orijen was guilty of the same.

[Author]

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