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zcRiley

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Viewing 17 posts - 251 through 267 (of 267 total)
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  • in reply to: Maybe it's time for a diet change? #44840 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    Hi Akari 32! I know it’s frustrating & expensive when your precious pooch has signs of a miserable existence. I’ll be very brief as I want to throw out FOUR key items to attack and most importantly resolve the origin of the problem. Spend the money, keep the routine simple (stop adding things), be patient for results. Malaseb Shampoo. The Miracle Pack (Probiotic Miracle & Enzyme Miracle for a healthy digestive system). Brothers Complete Advanced Allergy Care (Dry Dog Food). As a reminder, a lot of raw food or canned food is NOT a “complete” diet, which in turn you have to start adding things (more money). Maybe you can save some money for a full blood work panel testing in the near future if all else fails. I wish you & your pups the very best of luck.

    in reply to: Orijen ingredients #44594 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    In other words by 2016, we won’t be getting the Canadian version of Orijen/Acana. We’ll be getting the Kentucky version of it. Which defeats the whole “from Canada” taste/quality aspect. Which means I’ll be switching brands as of a minute ago.

    in reply to: Orijen ingredients #44592 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    “A wide range of fruits are grown commercially in Canada, including apples, tender fruits (peaches, nectarines, pears, plums, prunes and cherries), grapes, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries and raspberries. A number of these fruits are native to Canada such as cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, saskatoons and the labrusca grape. Canada’s fruit industry has adapted well to our cold climate and short growing seasons, with Southern Ontario and Southwest British Columbia, which enjoy about 180 frost-free days every year, producing much of the fruit grown in the country, while regions of Quebec and the Maritimes also have significant fruit production, despite having only about 120 frost -free days per year.”

    “Canada’s fruit imports from the top ten supplying countries. In descending order (by the share of total import value in 2009), these were the United States (44 %), Chile (7%), France (7%), Italy (6%), Mexico (5%), Australia ( 4%), China (3%), Costa Rica, Argentina and Ecuador (each 2%).”

    However, Orijen doesn’t use that many fruits but that would definitely be back-up if they absolutely ran out.

    “Free Range” only applies to the barn if the poultry has access to the outdoors. The term has nothing to do with cages or grassy pastures. Refrigeration only helps for so long & of course freezing is not considered fresh. Ice fishing is fine, they go where the particular fish are & open holes to get them. Orijen’s high prices reflect increased high quality ingredients (in the 1st 5 listed) per formula. But unless they’re producing in small batches, that’s a lot of food that we’re assuming is constantly “fresh”. How would we know if they snuck something into a freezer for a month, ha! Just kidding.

    in reply to: Probiotics & Enzymes Causing Massive Diarrhea #44503 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    UPDATE: The pups have been strictly on Natural Balance Synergy Dry for only 2 days (while still taking their antibiotic for campi bacteria). And wouldn’t you know, their stools became perfect the next day. For the 1st time in a very long time. I’m kinda in shock as I stare at what I eliminated all at the same time: the 2 types of Orijen, the omega supplements, the calming chew, the Cosequin DS, the antioxidants, probiotics & enzymes, all the treats. I guess I have to start adding things back into their diet one at a time…..

    Nancy C: Dr. Tim’s Pursuit sounds great, crossing my fingers for you!

    Case: Thanks for the Orijen super sleuthing. All the fish they use being year round available, that’s interesting…. anyway, just tossed my bag of Orijen 6 Fish out the window. It started smelling funny.

    in reply to: Looking for a food with specific ingredients #44404 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    Orijen Adult (Dry)
    Brothers Complete Advanced Allergy Care (Dry)

    in reply to: Probiotics & Enzymes Causing Massive Diarrhea #44403 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    You’re absolutely correct, Case, EF is in Orijen (hence my temporary switch to Synergy). Perhaps not much and the strains are probably dead. However, the wrong strains used or overkill can cause various diseases or urinary tract infections. I guess my dogs are different considering thousands of people are shoveling that daily packet of bacteria down their pets’ throats & swear by it. Your dog is beautiful BTW. I want to put up a pic of Zoli & Cylus but I can’t seem to find that option in my settings.

    Anyway, thank you crazy4cats for your suggestions. I wrote it all down!

    in reply to: Probiotics & Enzymes Causing Massive Diarrhea #44368 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    Thanks, guys. Sorry I wasn’t more specific. I have two 1 yr 2 mo old AmStaff mixes. They’ve been great on Orijen Dry Puppy Food (adding NutraMax Lab’s Cosequin DS for glucosamine much later). I used to mix in Horizon, Merricks or Acana for some zing; that was until I started doing major research on ingredients/hi end fillers, recalls etc. The Giardia & Campi was diagnosed with only 1 of my pups (the one that always had a digestive issue). At that point, I started mixing in Orijen 6 Fish with a crumble of Dr Foster & Smith’s Omega 3 chews. After the Giardia was taken care of, his behavior went down the tubes, I cried during that time thinking was it me, was it his brother, is he dying of something? After $600 doing the full bloodwork panel, fecal float, fecal ELISA & the fecal culture, it was the culture that found the Campi bacteria. 2 shots later & a slew of antibiotics per dog, it was time to add some “help” to their tummies. I got the Purina Veterinary Diets FortiFlora (not knowing that animal digest & Enteroccoccus faecium was bad) & Nzymes (which has soy sprouts). I stopped immediately after four days of small doses/horrifying results, thus initiating the deeper ingredient research I should have done before. I’m now waiting for my new order of Nusentia’s Probiotic Miracle & Enzyme Miracle. During this wait, the pups are switched to Nature’s Balance Synergy Dry Dog Food (has prebiotic & more fiber). AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ELSE ADDED & no treats. The rice & boiled chicken routine doesn’t sit well with them either. I DO add tons of kisses & hugs as to how sorry I am for making them worse.

    in reply to: Acana Puppy & Junior #44167 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    Try going back to chicken or beef (grain/gluten free). The exotic lamb, duck, venison variety may be a little much for your terrier. Orijen’s 6 Fish is outstanding. Probiotics is a must for any diarrhea issues.

    in reply to: Merrick Issues #44163 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    A few months ago, I got Merricks (a 2nd time) to mix with my constant Orijen. Massively dried out & stale with a weird smell. I almost killed my pups & will avoid Merricks from now on.

    in reply to: Orijen ingredients #43793 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    Best place to ask is to call Champion Petfoods LP themselves: (780)784-0300. Then let us all know!

    in reply to: Puppy Food Recommendations #42898 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    Compare all ingredients within the 5-star foods. You’ll see some surprises. Orijen is still the best.

    in reply to: Full Moon Freeze Dried Chicken Treats #42897 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    I stay away from anything freeze dried. If it wasn’t done properly and it’s still raw, then sits on the shelf for eternity, NO WAY. I don’t care what ingredients are in it.

    zcRiley
    Member

    Get Orijens. Switch slowly, decrease amount slowly. Lots of exercise (a walk around the block does not count). Add Nzymes for better food absorption. Don’t worry about the amount of poop, worry about what it looks like. Link: http://www.waltham.com/dyn/_assets/_pdfs/resources/FaecesQuality2.pdf

    in reply to: Orijen dry – too "rich" ? #42895 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    Two myths. A food is “too protein rich” & loose stools is directly related to a food. Your dog will urinate out the extra protein he doesn’t need. Either feed canned or dry, different types of food digest at different rates causing imbalance in his tract. Check for Giardia. And do not leave any kibble “out at all times”. I’m sure you wouldn’t leave your breakfast cereal “out at all times”.

    zcRiley
    Member
    in reply to: Need Ideas to Supplement Raw Food Diet #42892 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    Supplementing a raw diet (especially one of the best like Darwin’s) is not a good idea. Different types of foods digest at different rates, so tossing in a bit of this and that will unbalance their digestive tracts. Stop counting calories and instead monitor your dogs’ muscle growth & energy levels. You must feed more Darwin’s to get them to a healthy 12 lbs. Increase the Darwin’s per meal, when they get to 12 lbs. you decrease and maintain. There’s nothing quick & easy about feeding a pet. Darwin’s opened pouches are good in the fridge for 48 hours. Throw the pouch into a well sealed glass container like a large mason jar or a rubber sealed food container.

    in reply to: Orijen Puppy not working for my 5mo BC #41840 Report Abuse
    zcRiley
    Member

    Try Acana Singles. One protein source (& one source of fruit) as opposed to five of each. Tummy sensory overload. I’d stay far & clear from Purina, or anything 4-star and under. Why? Always look for controversial ingredients that could trigger your dog because it’s not the protein amount. You can do an allergy testing on your pup to be sure (especially if vomiting is involved).

    If your dog eats too much protein, some will be excreted in the urine and the rest will be used as calories or converted to fat – causing your dog no harm. However, if your dog has an EXISTING kidney problem, high protein diets are not recommended. High protein cannot cause kidney disease.

    My AmStaff pups were born straight into Orijens. Sometimes, I mixed in Merrick, Horizon & Evanger’s to keep it fun. Now at 1 yrs of age, I mix in a little 6Fish (they love that strong smell) & I sprinkle in Cosequin or Omega chews. They are very strong & agile, zero fat, all muscle.

Viewing 17 posts - 251 through 267 (of 267 total)