[zcRiley]

First, stop feeding that food immediately. Order from Chewy.com “Primal Pronto Nuggets”, they deliver in 2 days. It’s freeze dried, just crush squares and let a bit of warm water soak in. No freezer mess. i highly suggest avoiding vet prescription foods at all costs.

[zcRiley]

ZiwiPeak, any formula. Try a small bag from Chewy.com. The less processed the food the better for your pup.

[zcRiley]

Zignature Zssentials duck is really tasty. Free of more than just grains. Get a small bag from Chewy.com. Other single proteins as well. My pups thrive on their multi-protein formula!

[zcRiley]

Stop everything asap and go back to that puppy food. Don’t add water, can cause bloat. Puppy food can be given slightly pass the 1st year, it won’t kill her. If she stops eating that then it’s time for a full exam and blood work. Check for worms. Dogs may not like a certain ingredient in a kibble, especially if it upsets their stomachs. You can start rotating foods after you do an allergy panel to learn more about her food intolerances. Order food from Chewy.com, great selection of higher quality dry and wet formulas. Free fast shipping of $49 and over. I feed Zignature Zssentials now after my pups became allergic to Orijen Adult kibble.

[zcRiley]

Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM as a daily supplement, it’s the best because your dog will actually show signs of better mobility. And Zignature Zssentials for dry kibble. One of my pups has partially torn ligaments, no surgery and you’d never know he’s crippled. My other baby has sports injuries once in awhile, too. Just follow a suitable exercise regimen for your type of breed while considering age and weight.

[zcRiley]

Esbilac puppy milk powder and Orijen puppy food. Small amounts, 4 times a day. One of those times will be in the middle of the night, 2 or 3am. Lots of fresh water & something safe & soft to chew. So glad you rescued him from the consequences of a $20 fee.

[zcRiley]

An adult female lab roughly weighs between 55 to 70 lbs. Your pup should have a waist, go by look and feel, slope to the the stomach, etc. Take into account muscle weighs more than fat. With her running, lessening the amount or caloric intake would be crazy. Perhaps your vet needs to lose a few pounds.

[zcRiley]

Orijen started building its new facilities 2 years, stating it couldn’t meet the demands for the US and shipping costs were rising, etc. After 3 years of rotating high quality dog foods, I’ve learned that the smallest change can wreak havoc on a great dog food. The look and smell or a bad reaction from my pups (gas, diarrhea). Kentucky is not Canada no matter how you slice n dice it. See if your pet does well on Acana now, if yes, you’ll eventually get a bag made here in the states. My babies were thriving on Orijen Adult until they made a tweak in the ingredients resulting in tons of vet visits. We are now extremely happy on Zignature Zssentials and Halo Vigor and ZiwiPeak.

[zcRiley]

Read the ingredients for Zignature Zssentials multi protein formula, on Chewy.com. It also lists what it doesn’t contain. Purina should be banned, my opinion, of course.

[zcRiley]

They need lean protein and lots of it. And a whole lot more exercise. My boys walk, frisbee, fetch and swim daily. ZiwiPeak lamb formula is a complete raw diet that my AmStaffs thrived on. No mixing or freezing or adding supplements.

[zcRiley]

Stop the Prozac, find a new vet and do an allergy panel testing on her. Also, anxiety is caused by something in her environment that does not make her feel secure. Only you can figure out what’s that cause in your home. More exercise and playtime is vital for a more balanced canine. Not drugs.

[zcRiley]

January 29, 2016 FYI FYI FYI FYI FYI FYI

Those who buy Canine Caviar know what it looks and smells like. Very small round dark dark brown kibbles, smells like aromatic herbs. I’ve been buying a lot for rotation since mid 2015, no issues with the Coconut, Coconut Oil, Anise Oil, Thyme Oil formula. My pups loved it, I loved smelling it.

I opened a new 4 lb bag yesterday, back upper left of bag printed “BEST USED BY 11FEB17 EW2 0150821972 233 15:08 MO”. This was what I found:

It smelled just like when you open up a bottle of synthetic vitamins. Each kibble shape was similiar to a soft contact lens, but a flatter cupped saucer, nickel/dime size. Hard, dry, gray beige in color. Crumbled like plaster when I broke it in half with my fingers. To me, it looked and smelled like they ran out of venison meat and the oils and the production just kept cranking it out. My 1st strange, brow raising experience with a dog food bag.

I did not give it to my pups to eat. I’m being sent a replacement bag but before I toss it out, of course I’ll compare batch #’s and the contents.

[zcRiley]

You can contact rtechlabs.com to see if they analyze dog foods. When that happened to my pups the 1st time, I found out their food’s ingredients had changed (sourcing) but the label listing stayed the same. Then I did a full allergy panel after a 2nd bout to find out what my pups became intolerant to. After that, I just stopped whatever I was giving them immediately and gave them something else. Of course, each time had a vet visit for testing to make sure it wasn’t anything more serious than food poisoning.

[zcRiley]

KEY NOTES: Not enough liquids consumed during the day is “probably” the most common cause for those benign struvite crystals being observed in your dog’s urine. A basic pH urine encourages struvite crystal formation, urine with a pH greater than 7. It might also be possible for pets forced to eat a bizarre vegan-type diet that supplied only plant proteins to produce basic urine that was more likely to precipitate struvite crystals. Example: diets that rely primarily on soy protein and beans rather than MEAT to meet the pet’s protein requirements – never a good idea.

ZiwiPeak is better than puppy food; I’m sure Cookie loves that you keep it around as treats or sprinkled on top of her meals! Buy it in small bags so it doesn’t dry out or go stale/mold on you. The word “puppy” in front of the word “food” is a whole marketing issue I won’t go into.

Royal Canin, Iams and Hills all have by-products and/or bad grains. If this was all that was left on Earth as dog food, I’d switch to human food. Of course, my opinion only. Chewy’s will refund your money on everything, just press the “Chat Live” button.

I forgot if I suggested ZIGNATURE ZSSENTIALS to you, also for your perusal on Chewy.com. It’s affordable ($9.99/4 lb bag) and:
-Grain-free and multi-protein formula
-Gluten-free diet
-No potato, chicken or eggs
-No guar gum or carrageenan
-Complete and balanced diet for all life stages.
My pups have been on it for over a year after becoming diarrhetic to Orijens Adult. They are now 75 lbs of lean, mean, loving machines LOL. And yes, they get urine tests done twice a year.

Also to add more moisture to Cookie’s diet (put on top or to the side of dry, the case of 12 will last a looong time, refrigerate an opened can):
Canine Caviar 95% Venison Grain-Free Canned Dog Food OR
ZiwiPeak Daily-Dog Cuisine Lamb Or Beef Canned Dog Food

Affordability, long term health issues, ingredients plus either “striving on” or merely “surviving on” certain foods are all controversial topics that these forums help further our insight.

[zcRiley]

Just get everything from Chewy.com after you read the 4 or 5 star food listings on this site. Super fast free delivery & very competitive prices. The ingredients are listed for everything with reviews. The good stuff is not in the commercial chain stores, unfortunately. It’s also good to be aware of which company bought whom, a change in facilities or ingredients and recall history.

[zcRiley]

Zignature Zssentials on chewy.com

[zcRiley]

Purchase a small bag of ZiwiPeak lamb from Chewy.com. Once you get it, start feeding it immediately. Stop everything else, the Purina, the additions, the antibiotics, the supplements. Your pup was just born and her system is being overwhelmed, plain & simple. Make sure she doesn’t chew or swallow the ice cubes. After 2 weeks, go to another vet, the other one should be fired. Keep her warm & have lots of play time. I cured a dog of crystals I was baby sitting this way. Plus my own pups used to have a slew of issues the vet couldn’t help with.

[zcRiley]

Of course, anything that causes diarrhea stop feeding immediately (and to the vet if more than a few days). Your pup can’t have “too much protein” as the body excretes what’s not needed; however, it’s probably one or more of the other long long list of ingredients that’s causing an intolerance (gassy, loose stools). You can pick great food within your budget by reading ingredient lists, isolating proteins to see what helps, less is more and make sure it has vitamins/minerals.

We switched to Zignature Zssentials (4 stars) when they became diarrhetic to Orijen’s after the company tweaked their ingredients. It also states all the bad stuff it DOESN’T contain.

You can read all the ingredients for everything under the sun on Chewy.com. Fast and free shipping for $49 or more. I have not entered any pet store for anything since I discovered their website.

[zcRiley]

I dog sat a 10 yr old with half missing/bad teeth. I put the kibble into our Ninja blender & pulsed it to a chunky powder. No water needed, easy to eat. Is your Pap’s mouth in pain? Dental cleaning helpful? C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste nightly does wonders. Also check for allergies/diseases for the diarrhea, it may not be the wet food causing it.

[zcRiley]

Zignature Zssentials is a budget friendly food that worked for all of my AmStaffs’ ailments for a year now. Nothing else was working due to their allergies, diarrhea, dandruff etc. It’s their main entre but I rotate their side dishes of dry & canned for nutrient variety. Read the ingredients on Chewy.com. They offer free fast delivery. Also, Aroma Paws Honeysuckle Jasmine all natural shampoo is specifically for dry skin & dandruff. I bathe once every 2 weeks.

[zcRiley]

Zignature Zssentials or ZiwiPeak lamb. Yeast and all other ailments disappeared, I kid you not.

[zcRiley]

The pups need a complete and balanced diet. So if you’re not adding the right vitamins and minerals to that yummy stew, than all that “cooked” food is not doing much for them. The personal reviews of foods is just that. The editor’s ratings is to guide you towards higher quality dog food formulas. So time to ween the other way, the stew should just be a topper on either kibble or wet food.

[zcRiley]

In the meantime, before the blood and fecal test, have Lennon go thru a small bag of ZiwiPeak air dehydrated. Cures everything until you know more. Expensive but worth it and your pup is so tiny. Plus stick to grain free. Chewy.com has the best prices and fast free delivery.

[zcRiley]

Yes, dogs can “have” wild squirrel. However, I think the pet food companies aren’t taking that exotic road just yet. It’s similiar to rabbit, which is already hard to find.

Dogs wouldn’t go out and specifically hunt squirrel; but if they decided to take a few bites of one, it won’t kill them. If your dog has a healthy immune system, they’ll survive through the rare intestinal parasite they may acquire. If you hunt it, deep freeze the squirrel meat (like you do any wild game meat) for at least 30 days to kill any parasites/larvae. You didn’t mention if you prepare it raw, dehydrated or cooked to your pet. You can make Kentucky Burgoo for them, stews make great toppers.

The proteins my pups got allergy tested for were as follows (no squirrel though!):
beef
buffalo
elk
goat
kangaroo
lamb
llama
pork/ham
rabbit
venison
yak

[zcRiley]

It would definitely be easier to feed; however, the puppy has to have “puppy” food for proper growth at least up to a year. The rest can eat the same food but different amounts depending on how active they are & if they’re not allergic to certain ingredients. Orijen is the best though, followed by Acana. Avoid limited ingredient formulas, not enough protein. To make all the dishes seem the same, you can put the same topper on all dishes.

[zcRiley]

My pups were allergic to Orijen and Acana as well. I still wanted the same quality but way less ingredients. I found Zignature Zssentials and they thrived on it. Still do.

[zcRiley]

It’s your pups’ intolerance to certain ingredients, not because it’s grain free. Mine got such a bad chronic case of loose stools that I stopped cold turkey on a certain food before they died of dehydration. Finishing a bag or slow transitioning is not for what’s not working. I immediately switched to Zignature Zssentials. Read the ingredients & what it DOES NOT contain. And stop driving, Chewy.com delivers super fast.

[zcRiley]

Don’t think canines would be hunting for green tea in the wild. It’s all marketing & if you fall for it. Try ZiwiPeak air dehydrated. It wiped away all my pups’ ailments in days. Just read the pure ingredients.

[zcRiley]

Nexgard is an tasty oral square chew. Once a month. I flea/tick comb them once in awhile, nothing. Buy online, it’s cheaper.

[zcRiley]

I’m so sorry for your loss. As you remember the good times with your precious pup, realize it’s equally important to continue good times with your new pup (short of getting her a new companion). It might be the smells/reminders of Lex. Perhaps replacing the old bowls, toys and linens with new ones. Place the bed in a different area. Introduce a new activity and a new food! Add some wet food on top to spice things up. Things will soon be A-Okay.

[zcRiley]

My pups became allergic to Orijen Adult and I switched to limited ingredient formulas to guess my way thru causes (before I did the allergy testing panel). They lost too much weight and still had reactions. I was told one protein diets are not enough for dogs unless they are severely allergic to other major proteins. Then I found Zignature Zssentials, has 4 proteins & not much else that can upset their digestion. Now they’re healthy, lean & muscular. It cleared up other issues as well. I add 2 side dishes with it for variety, some wet & some dry, I don’t mix it so they have fun with new flavors.

[zcRiley]

Just be careful choosing “senior” dog food formulas. It’s a marketing myth, nothing else. It’s like a slow starvation when lowering protein, calories/fat or quantity. You’re on the right track though, think healthy for your dog’s weight, activity and any ailments. I’d rather the dog not finish than cleaning the bowl hungry.

[zcRiley]

Some dogs don’t do well on raw or an all wet diet. Unless your dog has a severe allergic reaction to the 4 proteins used in Zignature formulas, it’s probably the best on the market because it excludes chicken, egg and potato. I switched my pups overnight to Zignature Zssentials after intestinal issues with Orijen Adult. If they have a bad reaction to any food, I stop it immediately. Cleared up every issue they were having in 48 hours. Side note: their canned food’s not that great, so I use Weruva and ZiwiPeak for soft. The new Zignature Kangaroo formula is a hit as well!

[zcRiley]

ZiwiPeak dehydrated raw, lamb formula. Best price and ingredients listed on Chewy.com. If not within your budget, just go through one 11 lb bag before you decide on the right kibble (I use Zignature Zssentials). Your current food should be stopped immediately so your pup can start healing right away. That’s what I did!

[zcRiley]

You’re welcome, Leslie! I’m sure they would lick you to death. Zignature isn’t well known, such a shame. I didn’t try its limited ingredient formulas because they starve on just one protein. Plus they hate fish LOL. Side note: their line of soft canned is not great, they wouldn’t touch it. I use Weruva and ZiwiPeak canned.

One thing I did do was the hair and saliva allergy test with http://www.glacierpeakhollistic.com. I should be getting the results next week. It’ll help me decide on new rotation food without guessing my way into a black hole.

[zcRiley]

I switched my pups over to Zignature Zssentials when they became allergic to Orijen Adult (ingredient change probably). I decided to avoid chicken, egg and potato which was near impossible to find. They lost weight but in a good way, the baby fat, bloated bellies and gas disappeared and they’re nice and lean. The poop is more but firm and healthy. They’re 75 lbs each and eat 3 3/4 cup each, not including soft canned as a topper. Since birth, I’ve never fed them grain food.

[zcRiley]

ZiwiPeak dehydrated raw, lamb formula. One protein complete balanced diet. A food allergy testing kit might be worth your while, too!

[zcRiley]

Orijen puppy food was a hit in my boys’ 1st year. They liked warm milk, too, between meals. ZiwiPeak is a raw dehydrated food that is easy to digest & easy to chew (tiny thin squares like soft jerky). Good for the night time feed. Side dish of soft canned would be Weruva or ZiwiPeak, like a few spoonfuls.

[zcRiley]

Thanks, pitlove! Yep, those are my (crazy, untrained) baby boys. I’m getting excited about the allergy tests as I wait for them to arrive, really really hoping it’ll give me some insight to perfect their dietary needs. I’ll post it in the future when I get the results.

[zcRiley]

I’m truly sorry to hear about your loss. There are no words that could ever make it right but the memories will.

I’m sure you already know, canine acid reflux most often happens after your pet has eaten a meal that is very high in fat or eats too much and his/her stomach is very full (gee, sounds like me). Lesser known causes would be a post surgery symptom or hiatal hernia at birth. Could any of these pertain to Bailey? Did your vet perform an esophagoscopy? I apologize if you’ve posted details before and I didn’t read it.

I think focusing on the cause of Bailey’s irritated esophagus/stomach will overshadow the controversial Sorbitol, in which subsequently, the pup doesn’t need. If the symptoms came back after it was administered that week, it wouldn’t matter how much longer you could have given it.

[zcRiley]

Well Kevin, I bit the bullet and just ordered 2 allergy panel tests from Glacier Peak Holistics. My curiosity won out LOL. In the meantime, I ordered a bag of “starchless” Wysong Epigen 90 to rotate with the Zignature food (they have limited ingredient formulas as well).

Wow, your poor little girl but I’m sure she’s a tough cookie. Did your vet recommend surgical excision of the benign tissue growth if the mass hasn’t regressed within three months?

The 250 Q&B is good, she weighs so little, I’d give it at night before she goes to bed. It may help her sleep in more comfort. Or 125 every 12 hours is even better.

[zcRiley]

I had to subtract all ingredients except peas ( the only filler they’re ok with) and found one formula only. Zignature Zssentials. I put on top ZiwiPeak canned or Weruva canned.

[zcRiley]

Hi Jonathan, just in case you weren’t sure, Nexgard is a pill form, not topical. However I’d like to know the name of the topical that causes loss of appetite, that’s not good.

[zcRiley]

My 2 1/2 yr old staffies love barreling through unkept tall bushes & grass in our L.A. neighborhood. I used topical until one got allergic. Plus it washed off during the bimonthly bath and tons of swimming. I’ve used Nexgard for 3 months now & comb them every day right after their walk. I caught 1 lone flea that was already dying, nothing else since. No side effects no dry skin no vomiting. I give it to them on the 1st every month & Heartgard on the 21st, their birth date (so easy to remember).

I’d give Pepper a half dose to start & watch him carefully, and keep combing. I know it’s hard to switch over from an all natural remedy. However, it may reduce any illnesses that fleas & ticks cause.

They say not to cut the pill in half so….

[zcRiley]

Wild yeast naturally lives on potatoes, so I avoid all potatoes. It also feeds off of/thrives on oatmeal (in foods AND shampoos).

I transitioned for an entire year thru half of the 5 star listing to realize it was all the different fillers being used. Also, limited ingredient formulas may not have enough nutrition (my pups starved on it). I finally took out chicken, potato, tapioca, egg, and weird fruits/flowers. I chose peas as their only food “filler”. I skipped their dinner then switched the food cold turkey the next morning. Results were within days, not months. I do not agree anymore with these long drawn out transitioning periods, especially when their dog is suffering every second of every hour. It’s like you know the food is bad but you keep giving it to them, makes zero sense.

[zcRiley]

Looks yummy! Too bad my pups can’t have it. They don’t do well on potato, sweet potato, yeast extract. Makes them itchy, hot spots. They were born into Orijen until last year. Iall of a sudden, it wreaked havoc on their digestive tracts. Too too many ingredients. I thought about getting an allergy test from Glacier Peak but haven’t yet. $85 per pup, yikes.

[zcRiley]

I agree, I sometimes mix the two together. Zignature Zssentials is 27 lbs for $59.99 on the website “chewy.com”. Fast & free shipping. They have very competitive prices on high quality dog foods. Ingredients are listed as well. I now get everything from there & it’s at my door in 2 to 3 days. Anyway, our vet visits are now a thing of the past.

[zcRiley]

Yep, I went through the same thing and then some with my 2 staffordshire terriers mix during the 1st two years. I spent a fortune until I found ZiwiPeak Lamb dehydrated and Zignature Zssentials. And Aroma Paws jasmine honeysuckle all natural shampoo. I removed all of the controversial ingredients with these 2 foods and I’ll never go back.

[zcRiley]

My pups lost weight on ZiwiPeak which is a raw dehydrated clean food of just different parts of the animal and vitamins. Took all the allergen guess work out and easy to digest. Other symptoms disappeared as well.

[zcRiley]

ZiwiPeak Lamb formula, raw dehydrated. Requires no mixing or freezing. Has zero fillers, balanced vitamins.

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