[rudy g]

Thx for the information. No veggies. My GSD (Khaleesi) is 1 year and 1 month old. My timber wolf shephard is 7 weeks old. You mentioned Blue is not the food you recommend.

What food do yall recommend for both?

The pup came with Diamond for large breed puppies. Is it better?

I also only have a Petsmart in town….what do yall recommend from there?

Any vitamins?

thx.

[LexiDog]

I am curious as to why everyone seems to love Dr. Tim’s. Is it the price point? I am not sure. When reading the ingredients for their Kinesis GF formula, it seems to have a lot of ingredients that I would not want to give to my dog. Most of the ingredients are dried. It has beet pulp, salt and canola oil. It has a very long list of added vitamins and minerals at the bottom…I understand that some vitamins and minerals have to be added to make a complete and balanced diet…but it just seems like this food has more supplements added to it than good ingredients in the food with the natural occurring vitamins and minerals.

I haven’t fed my dog this brand but don’t really see why I would want to. I have seen people suggest this food to others as a good quality dog food and can’t figure out why.
****this is NOT an attack on Dr. Tim’s****I just want to know why it is so highly recommended. Am I missing something?

I feed my girl Orijen, ACANA, Primal and Stella and Chewy’s. I know that a rotational diet is good for dogs so I have been trying to find another brand that I think is as good as Orijen.

What are your thoughts?

[Suburban Gal]

As for the ingredients of Greenies being bad for dogs, just took at the ingredients for their competitors:

Nutri Dent dental chews:
Wheat Starch, Glycerin, Powdered Cellulose, Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Chlorophyll, Parsley & Soy Flour. Vitamins: Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B-6, Folic Acid, Vitamin A. Vitamin E, Biotin, Choline, Inositol & PABA. Minerals: Calcium Carbonate, Ferrous Carbonate, Magnesium Oxide, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Chloride, Zinc Oxide, Copper Oxide, Manganese Oxide & Sodium Molybdate. Omega Fatty Acids: Omega-3 Fatty Acid & Omega-6 Fatty Acid.

Milk Bone brushing chews:
Rice, Modified Food Starch, Chicken By-Product Meal, Powdered Cellulose, Water, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Bone Phosphate, Calcium Sulfate, Gelatin, Animal Digest, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Sorbate (Used As A Preservative), Smoke Flavor, Titanium Dioxide (Color), Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Yellow 6, Yellow 5, BHA (Used As A Preservative).

If you look closely enough, some of the same ingredients in Greenies are ALSO used in that of their competitor’s dental chews.

I took the liberty of checking the ingredients of Zuke’s Z-Bones. While the ingredients looked a lot better than the ingredients in Greenies, Nutri Dent and the like, I still think something like Zinc Propionate can’t be very good. Heck, I don’t even know what that is! (Would someone care to enlighten me?)

To be quite honest, it’s better to give your dog something than nothing at all and, as expensive as dental chews are, at least someone is making a good effort even if it’s not as good as Zuke’s Z-Bones.

I can’t wait for Zuke’s Z-Bones to receive the VOHC® Seal of Acceptance. IMHO, that means a little more to me as a pet owner.

[Charlotte M]

I would like to nominate Nature’s Logic (Chicken & Sweet Potato) dry dog food. All vitamins come from food ingredients rather than vitamin additives. Is there a reason this brand didn’t make the list? Also curious about Merrick and comments on this brand. Please advise.

[Bobby dog]

Hi Jakes mom:
It’s an awsome download you can find on Steve Brown’s website. I do want to purchase his book, but as you read above I probably will never go completely raw for various reasons. I downloaded his PDF a while ago and it explains very easily how to enhance any kibble (from Ol’ Roy to 5 stars) with vitamins through whole foods you can buy from the grocery store. I highly recommend it for $2.95, it is more than worth it! Here’s the link:

http://www.seespotlivelonger.com/home/sll/page_41/see_spot_live_longer_the_abc_way___electronic_down.html

[Barbara F]

Please check out Natures Farmacy. My dog was having stomach issues. I decided to try probiotics before going to the vet. Well, for less than a vet visit I ordered Probiotic Max 1 lb size with shipping. It has worked wonders on my dogs. It has enzymes in it too. I called first and they have wonderful customer service. They sell vitamins and all kinds of animal products. My dogs love the taste. Im buying the 3 lb next!

[DogFoodie]

I love them both. The kibble sizes are very similar, both tiny, perfect for everything from toy breeds on up. I use the CC Lamb & Pearl Millet and Chicken & Pearl Millet; and all of the Nature’s Logic products. I like that both use gluten free pseudo grains and choose both over grain free products that contain legumes. I’m OK with peas, but try not to over do them. My sensitive pup cannot do chickpeas or lentils. CC is a great more limited ingredient product. I love that NL is a whole food product with no added synthetic vitamins or minerals.

All that said, I can now no longer use either for my sensitive dog who cannot do fish, fish meal or fish oil and apparently, his newest sensitivity, garlic, which is in the CC formulas I was using. NL contains sardine meal. I’ll tell you, is very hard to find a fish free food – CC is fish free. I’ll continue to use both for my dog with no food intolerance issues. The fact that my dog can no longer eat either, in no way diminishes my opinion of either.

[neezerfan]

I love Nature’s Logic products. They don’t use any synthetic vitamins or minerals and I think that’s a good selling point.

[kim b]

If your dog has severe allergies with watery eyes, sneezing, constant scratching where the skin is broken and oozing, etc., I have a tip for you! After multiple vet visits, hundreds of dollars, many trips to the pet store trying limited ingredient diets as well as a significant amount of online research, I found Answers fermented Goat Milk. Evidently fermented goats milk, unlike pasteurized cows milk, contains many vitamins, probiotics, minerals, omega fats, etc. that are preserved with the centuries old fermenting process. Even the Bible describes goats milk as “white blood” meaning its the elixir of life. Answers Goats milk is sold in locally owned natural pet stores (the answers website provides you with a list of stores sold throughout each state) in quart sized milk-like containers and is sold frozen. I buy 4 or so at a time and throw 3 in the freezer while defrosting 1 in the fridge given that it last about 2 or so weeks. To make a long story short within 2 days my little guy was scratching noticeably less and within 5 days his scratching is almost non-existent. I can’t believe it; it all disappeared right before my very eyes. My vet told me the allergies was caused by something he was eating however, it appears that his allergies were caused by something he wasn’t eating meaning he must have had some type of vitamin or mineral deficiency. My research on goats milk led me to learn that many US studies conducted in the 1960’s determined that human consumption of fermented goats milk cured many diseases and has even been shown to reduce tumors in both humans and animals. The Answers website contains much information on the milk so go ahead and learn about the many diseases it will eliminate or reduce. If your beloved pet is battling cancer or other diseases such as kidney disease, stomach irritations/diseases, etc. try the goats milk.

I hope this helps especially since allergy season is upon us. Let me know if the milk works for your pet.

[KPC]

Hello, all!

I recently aquired a pup (Kaiser) & am feeding 4Health puppy formula. My adult dog (Jinx) is on the 4Health Salmon & Potato currently.

I was wondering if there was a distinct advantage of feeding formulated for puppies food over adult, or all stages. The caloric count is about 20 higher on the pup formula. I entered all the ingredients into a spreadsheet & there was only one notable difference (besides the different meat products) which was Chondroitin Sulfate, for joint support apparently.

So, the question is, should I keep feeding puppy formula or perhaps add supplements or vitamins to an adult formula for him?

(His mother is 50lbs, father unknown; just for a size/growth reference)

Thanks, all!

[Susan]

What have been the best Dog books you have read & helped you with how to prepare Raw & cooked meals, What foods can cause Health Problems, What vitamins to add, Best foods for certain illnesses etc..

[RescueDaneMom]

I’m not that savvy with evaluating vitamins and minerals. It looked like a lot to me. I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t overkill and there wasn’t anything added that shouldn’t be. I’ve never heard of the company before but the owners of Woof Gang Bakery in Apopka (my new local pet store) rave about this food. It is somewhat local, made on the west coast in FL.

Thanks for the input, Patty. I really appreciate it!

[Susan]

I went to my vet the other day & she told me about Dermoscent Essential 6 spot-on for dogs its a unique blend of essential fatty acids & essential oils that reduces odours & moisturises dry skin & maintains coat & skin health.. Google: “Dermoscent Esssential 6 spot-on for dogs” for more info, it comes in a 4 or 6 pack.. 0-10 kilos 10-20 kilos & so on, you apply once a week for 8 weeks then once every 2nd week, I dont like giving my dog to many oils or vitamins as he has tummy problems, that’s why I like this product u put it on the back of neck inbetween their shoulder blades, I went to my Pet Barn this morning to buy a packet but they had run out, so they had to order more in or u can buy online..

[theBCnut]

Some dogs can’t handle brewers yeast, but if your dog does well on it, it is a source of B vitamins, which are great for skin and oat.

[Naturella]

Several, actually! You could really help us out by letting us know her breed, age, weight, and maybe hair length.

Also, I know fish oil is another supplement widely used by forumers to help with skin and coat issues. So are canned (or raw) sardines. Coconut oil is a great supplement, I use it myself, but you may need to adjust the amount depending on her weight. Fish-based foods are also known to help skin/coat issues.

As for my Rat Terrier mix (13lbs), I give him a teaspoon of coconut oil every other day, a canned sardine once a week, a bath every 2 weeks, and I “condition” him while he is still somewhat damp with a mix of coconut, olive, and sunflower oils, in which there are vitamins A, D, and E dissolved. So I rub that on his coat, trying to reach the skin until he doesn’t feel greasy and it makes him super soft and shiny. Also, he is currently on a fish-based food, so that will probably be good, but he has no particular issues to begin with. I did think he was excessively dandruffy when I brushed him, but that was supposed to be normal as I elevated all his dead skin by brushing him. Otherwise I don’t see any flakes.

Excess dandruff may be due to an allergy or something too, or just be how your dog is – sometimes, even all measurements do not quite help resolve the dandruff issue.

Hope others chime in with more advice or corrections of anything I may have misspoken about! 🙂

[USA]

Hi Guys and Gals

A few years ago when it became clear that there was a problem with the Chinese Jerky I started to make my own jerky treats. I use only free-range chicken for my chicken jerky and wild caught fish for my fish jerkies. My treats have only one ingredient, meat fish or poultry. I use fresh meats from local supermarkets like Whole Foods so all of my treats are human edible. I gently dehydrate the meats to make jerky. I vary the drying times so I can make a more chewy treat or a crunchy treat.

Since dogs are designed to eat a diet high in meat and low in carbs plus they absolutely love jerky treats I wish you guys would make your dog’s treats with more meat and less carbs. You don’t need to use flour or a lot of starches if you make jerky type treats. You can use whole meats, fruits and vegetables or you can grind up mixtures of meat and veggies or fruits and dehydrate them. You can make them in an oven at the lowest temperature or you can use a dehydrator. Veggies and fruits will add antioxidants and vitamins while meat will supply the needed protein and fat.

Even though I call them treats the jerky I make is designed for a carnivore like a dog and since dogs absolutely love meat based treats it is a win win situation!

[Jackie T]

The other issue is identifying if your dog has a gluten intolerance. There are several grains that do not have gluten and have not been so genetically modified that the body no longer recognizes it as a good grain. Rice is gluten-free and there are more choices than just brown or white, red rice is very good with a lot of good nutrients, also Millet, the only alkaline grain, Quinoa, Teff and Buckwheat (which is not a grain but a seed) are some other sources for grain options.
Cooking for your pups is not only time consuming and expensive but its tricky, determining the balance on the protein, carbs, fat and fiber plus getting all of the nutrients, vitamins and minerals and trace minerals, that your dog needs daily is a science project, until you get the right balance and daily amount to feed for your pet’s nutritional needs. And going to the other end of the dog, you need to determine what percentage of nutrients are being absorbed by your dog and how much is passing through the gut without being utilized.
With so many options for fresh/frozen/freeze-dried, kibble or canned foods available now, it takes the guess work out of whether your pups are getting the proper nutrients and K/cals from the food you are feeding. Although these foods are not inexpensive, with the help of this website and forums, you can stay informed about any problems or recalls on the prepared foods.

[Susan]

My boy has Chronic Pancreatitis & IBD & Allergies, Ive been doing alot of reading about Pancreatitis. Ive read that kibble isnt good as the Pancreas has to work harder digesting kibble putting more strain on the Pancreas, have you thought of cooking.. I’ve been boiling chicken breast & pumkin & an egg, I freeze the chicken breast in meals sizes & I freeze the little bits of pumkin, I take out the night before & put in the fridge for breakfast, I boil a egg every second day cause I only give him half boiled egg at breakfast, I shread the chicken & mash the pumkin & mash the egg all together so its all mushed up, easier to digest, also make sure any vegetables or grains are well cooked to make them easier to digest. I then warm in micro wave.. At night I give his kibble only..this has helped the chicken pumkin & egg his pain has gone that he was having under his right rib cage, he’s not coming over to me no more for me to rub his side like when I just had him on kibble.. I’d say that she’s having pain then not wanting to eat. maybe try a low fat can food if u don’t want to cook but I havent found a can food that is low enough in fat, thats why I cook..Ive read that Diabetes & pancreatitis are closely linked, Dogs with Diabetes are often prone to Pancreatitis & vice versa..here’s some Low-Glycemic vegetables you can cook with chicken breast or lean low fat ground beef broccoli or cauliflower, cabbage, summer squashes zucchini, dark leafy greens mustard greens & spinach.. I mite try adding some zucchini, I dont know about spinach I always was told if ur constipated eat spinach…Im reading a book called “Raw & Natural Nutrition for Dogs” by Lew Olson PhD.. it has easy recipes for Pancreatits, diabetes, bladder, liver, heart, cancer etc, she explains what not to feed when ill..also what vitamins to add, excellent read.. the book cost about $11 online..

[pugmomsandy]

Just because a dog is “senior” doesn’t mean it has these problems. All those problems can potentially happen at any age. I’ve fostered many dogs under 5 (even as young as 1 yr) with joint/eye/digestion/ear issues and have needed hip/knee surgeries and prescription eye and ear drops. A healthy senior can eat regular food (adult, maintenance and all life stages, puppy food). I have a 14 yr old with no active health issues. He is blind and deaf which he was already when I got him last year at 13. He is not on any medications and eats the same foods as all the other foster dogs I have. I use 3.5-4.5 star kibble and top it off with 5 star canned foods which is normally at least 43% protein. He even gets some raw food which I usually make without any plant matter. The dogs get joint supplements and vitamins, antioxidants, supergreen supplements and fish oil. My personal dogs don’t get chemical pesticides which has been linked to some cancers nor do they get unnecessary vaccines. You might want to research “over vaccination”. Try looking up Dogs4dogs dot com, b-naturals dot com, wholedogjournal dot com, dogsnaturallymagazine dot com. These are just a few of the sites pertaining to more “natural” care of dogs. If one of my dogs had late stage kidney disease, at that point I would change the diet, but I wouldn’t change the diet just because they’re a senior in general. Some things possibly connected to cancer is chemical laden commercial kibble, vaccines, the constant application of poisonous pesticides (heartworm and flea/tick meds, fertilizers), even air pollution.

http://dogs4dogs.com/

[T]

A commercial raw diet may be the easiest way for you to try a very low carbohydrate diet for your dog. The major brands are relatively easy to feed (frozen patties) and contain all the vitamins and minerals to sustain life long-term. For example, Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw frozen patties have very low carb content.

Tabitha

Here’s an article on my blog about a few brands of commercial raw food:
http://naturalalternativesvet.com/cooked-and-raw-dog-food-comparison/

[RescueDaneMom]

I moved a few months ago and the new pet store I go to carries a brand of commercial raw called “Genesis Raw” made by Maverick Pet Foods- http://www.yum4dogs.com/genesis-rawreg.html

I was wondering what the experienced raw feeders think of this food. I got a small 2lb brick for Max to try and he really liked it, but I didn’t want to buy more of it until I did a bit more research and got some feedback. Here is the ingredient list for the turkey:
Ingredients: Fresh Turkey with Ground Bone, Fresh Turkey Hearts, Fresh Turkey Gizzards, Fresh Turkey Liver,Carrots, Spinach, Celery, Apples, Parsley, Garlic, Coriander, Thyme, Ground Ginger, Rosemary, Salmon Oil, Olive Oil. Apple Cider Vinegar, Flaxseed, Vitamin and Mineral Complex: http://www.yum4dogs.com/uploads/2/8/8/5/2885547/vitamin_and_mineral_assay-genesis_raw_06-19-11.pdf

My only reservation was the vitamin/mineral complex. They do state on their website that all of the vitamins and minerals they use are sourced domestically (US only), but it seems like overkill to me. Thoughts?

[Susan]

Just found the page Lew olson says, much of the time the problem can be tracted back to carbohydrates, When dogs digest grains, reserves of important bacteria in ur dogs intestines become depleted, causing essential vitamins like vitamin B & K to be passed with the faces, When a dogs eats another dogs stool he may be trying to get back the bacteria & enzymes that are missing in his diet…Carbohydrates are more difficult to digest & may pass thru the dogs system only partially digested this may also make stools more tempting to ur dog. ..So what can u do? add digestive enzyems, beneficical bacteria & a B complex vitamin to the dogs diet may help curb his drive to eat stools, Reducing or eliminating carbs can also produce smaller less “appetizing” stools in which the food is more completely digested. A diet of raw meat & bones on the other hand, produces smaller, drier, & less smelly stools.The fewer grains ur dog eats the more benficial enzymes & bacteria remain avialable to ensure stools are well-formed & almost odorless. Unripe Pineapple & papayas are rich in the enzyems ur dog needs to break down proteins, & the bromelain in pineapple can also help with inflammation & the uptake of other supplements.
If ur dog is on a grain free kibble it may have potatoes which are carbohydrates…. This book ‘Raw & Nutual Nutrition for dogs’ is an excellent read Im learning so much, explaining heaps of health problems & what to feed ur dog.. good easy recipes Raw or cooked..

[Dori]

Definitely rotate within the same brand but you need to find at least two other brands and rotate brands as well as proteins with all brands. A lot of people seem to have some problems with their dogs on BB. Remember, not every food is for every dog. Once you’ve done the complete transition to Merrick and his stools are fully formed then you can experiment with different proteins within the same brand, then begin to experiment with a different brand that has ingredients that your dog does well on. Slowly transition. Once that’s done and you’ve fed all the proteins on that brand, you’ll be in search of a third brand. Switching up within the brand is good so that you dog isn’t always eating the same protein and can possibly develop an intolerance to that protein. It’s also important to switch brands because even though the ingredients may be similar to the Merrick or whatever else you find, the proportions of proteins, fats, carbs, minerals, vitamins, essentially everything will be a little or a lot different from brand to brand so this way you can insure that your dog is getting a good balance. Also rotating is really very good in case there is a sudden recall in a brand you can immediately switch your dog off that food onto one that he’s already accustomed to. The more you rotate your dogs meals the easier you can move from food to food. Much much healthier for your dog. Healthy dogs will tolerate illnesses and minor recalls much better than an unhealthy dog. Hope I’ve answered your question and not babbled too much. Gotta go. Today is dog grooming at my house. I’ve done two of the girls, I’ve just got one to go. I’ll check in later.

[DogFoodie]

Hi Jake’s Mom,

If you order from Swanson, they have excellent prices on all of their products including coconut oil and they have a huge selection: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/q?kw=+coconut+oil.

Swanson has various promos including percentages off when you sign up for emails, BOGO, free shipping for order over a certain amount, etc. They’re an excellent company. I placed a huge order at Christmas and made up baskets of Bob’s Red Mill products (Swanson has a huge selection), dried fruits, other foods and goodies for a few Christmas gifts.

[Naturella]

Akari, I looked at both foods, and they do look fairly similar. One thing is that the vitamins and minerals in Pet Botanics may or may not be chelated, which helps with their absorption – so why don’t you go ahead and get the food, it is a good price after all – and maybe see how Bentley does. If he really is showing progress with Pure Balance, you could maybe mix the two foods?

[Naturella]

I think (and this is mostly an assumption), that the younger you start switching foods (protein types within a brand and brands too), the easier they take it. My Bruno is around a year old and he has been switched a bunch. It takes about a week to do a switch with no diarrhea or any other problems.

I think it also depends on the individual dog (maybe?) – some may have more issues than others with switching even if it is done very slowly.

But it is definitely good for them. Different proteins – different amino acids; different brands (read recipes) – different composition of vitamins and minerals. Variety is always good! I mean, chicken with steamed veggies is good for you, but is that ALL you’d ever want to eat your WHOLE life, breakfast/lunch/dinner? 🙂

[Naturella]

I use Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap – Almond on all of us – myself, the man, and the dog, lol. For Bruno, I dilute it 1:1 with water and wash him. It has many essential oils in it and is supposed to wash without stripping. It also gives a nice, lasting, natural-almond-ish smell to his coat. For conditioning, I brought an oil-based solution of vitamins A, D, and E, and I just mix that with some slightly warmed and melted coconut oil, smear it on my hands and then rub Bruno’s still slightly damp coat until my hands are dry and his coat doesn’t feel like it leaves a greasy film when petted. I usually give him a bully stick or something of the sort to chew on while doing this, otherwise he tries to run away and just roll on the couch/bed.

[theBCnut]

It can be a few different things. There are certain vitamins and minerals that can affect the quality of the coat, including how much it gets sun damaged. Thyroid can affect whether or not a coat sunburns. Age changes can. Kidney disease can. And there are more.

[CSollers]

Our old vet prescribed Hills when one of our Pugs, Minni, had Struvite issues. After a bit of research, we switched her to prepared raw with absolutely no more problems. Both Pugs have been on a raw diet for around four years and are thriving. We rotate proteins and manufacturers to ensure they get all of the different macro-nutrients. The AAFCO standard is a minimum standard, and does not differentiate for bio-availabilty of nutrients. Low quality food with nutrients/vitamins that cannot be absorbed by the animal’s GI tract may meet the standard.

[losul]

Hi Darcy, just wanted to say that kidney/urinary tract bacterial infections can bring on on a higher PH in themselves, as these bacteria produce enzymes that create a more amenable alkaline environment for themselves.

Just some other thoughts you might investigate, not sure how much basis they have, l’m also wondering about the liquid kelp. Don’t know how much you are giving of this, but I imagine it would be a concentrated form of kelp, and much more bioavailable. Not sure if/how high iodine amounts and thyroid activity can effect PH, but I would also imagine the liquid form would also be very high in calcium and magnesium, 2 minerals that are very alkaline.

Excess vitamin D/A could maybe be a factor also?, not sure how much cod liver oil you are giving. I prefer to use small amounts of whole meat liver (5 to 7%, from quality sources for A, D, and B vitamins) in the diet, and then use other fish oils (sardine, krill, anchovy, salmon) for omega 3’s.

Lastly what quantity of ground eggshells are you adding to a pound of meat?

[Jasmine W]

I have a greyhound mix who seems to have the same things your dog has but not as bad. Leo had very bad hot spots though. A friend told me chicken allergies are super common in dogs. Seemed ridiculous but apparently since many dog foods contain beaks feet and feathers aka “chicken by products” or “fillers” well dogs who’ve eaten these dog foods even once can develop a chicken allergy. When I had Leo on a grain free chicken free formula he had loose stools and a runny nose still but less itching and no swelling around tick or flea bites. He got so much better that I let him have chicken treats. This seemed ok so I bought the grain free blue buffalo wilderness chicken formula and now he’s sliding back again. He even got some hot spots again and hadn’t had any for years. So we’re going back to no eggs no chicken no duck no turkey, no poultry of any kind. Try that and let me know. Also dairy products even yoghurt can cause a runny nose and “runny rear.”

Leo gets a homemade dog food meal separate from his kibble meal. He gets a pound of ground beef freshly cooked and drained of fat plus a quarter can of “tripette” green tripe and “Solid Gold Seameal.” He’ll take a bit of ground up frozen peas with this meal but if I put too many peas in it he won’t eat. I’m concerned he’s getting too much protein. He won’t eat pumpkin. I’ll try the beet fiber. I know the tripette is making his coat soft because that’s what it did for my friends dog and before eating tripette Leo had a rough coat. Tripette is amazing stuff. I don’t really know what good the Solid Gold Seameal is doing but its filled with vitamins and minerals.

[Darcy W]

Hello! I need some input on my homecooked diet. I have 4 dogs. They are all healthy and very active. They are ages 3 and 4. I had urinallisis done on two of the dogs, and they both had a high ph (one was 8, one was 8.5).
These are the things i hve tried so far-
-tested my water ph and it was high(8). I had been giving them Brita water but I switched to spring water.
-started giving them cranberry (natural factors brand 500 mg 36:1)
-started giving them 500 mg ester-c vitamin
-started giving them water with their food.
Here’s what I normally feed them (2x per day)
-1/2 cup ground beef
-1/2 cup chicken thighs with skin
-1/4 cup brown or white rice cooked til mushy
Ground eggshells for calcium
Cod liver oil (EPA Dha vit. D)
Coconut oil
Ground flax seed
Vitamins e,b
Liquid kelp
Does anyone have any thoughts on what to add or leave out to lower the ph of the urine?
Thanks in advance.

[mountainhound]

There’s really no need to add vitamins if you feed commercial food since it’s already fortified. You can add whole foods like raw eggs or fish oil, but giving synthetic ones like the tablets you see sold at big box stores can lead to vitamin overdose.
there are some holistic premixes that also incorporate whole foods like flaxseed and kelp, I would use those instead.

[Bobby dog]

Hi Shasta:
Too funny, I don’t know if you will ever acquire a taste for it! Bobby is used to it now and does not seem to notice it in his food. When I do use ACV I only need about a ¼ teaspoon myself so I don’t bother mixing it with anything.

I am not sure if you want to use ACV regularly for yourself, but if you do I just found out, thanks to Sandy, that they make ACV capsules and Bragg’s makes ACV drinks. As TheBCNut wrote in a DFA comment section, the capsules probably wouldn’t be of benefit for acid reflux because you need the ACV delivered to the top of your stomach, but the capsules would be good for all the other ACV benefits. Here’s a link for the capsule info:
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/q?kw=apple+cider+vinegar

[Susan]

I saw a new vet this morning for a second opinoin as Patch isnt getting better, he’s well for a while then he’s in pain & vomiting & sloppy poos again.. He said it sounds like Patch suffers from Pancreatitis, even thought his blood test came back fine last yr. He said that Patch may of been bettter when bloods were taken, he was better when blood was taken..a waste of $230 dollars.. He said that he’d like the kibble he eats to be under 9% fat.. Then he said it sounds like he has IBD as well & his skin problems & would like to put him on Presdnisone, I just looked up side effects from Prednidone, vomiting, heartburn, thirst…also he bought out the bags of kibble, Science Diet Z/D & another ?/D & Royal Canin low fat & Hypoallergenic that patch has been on & made him worst the Hypoallergenic is 19% fat.. I said NO these are all rubbish & read out by-products etc, I said, I read on the net how these foods are no good, he said thats just other companys saying that so u buy their food.. I didnt bother to argue with him as vets believe in science & have too see the science in everything, thats why they believe in Hills Science diet.. then I said what about home cooking he said YES…. give him JUST boiled chicken for 1 month & nothing else, see how that goes then introduce something new for the next month like pasta, I said what about his vitamins he said we’ll discuss that later if it works.. I know Patch can eat chicken…
I dont know what to do no more, I hate seeing Patch in pain after he eats his kibble every morning some day worst then others…Does anyone else have a dog with Pancreatitis & what are they feeding & what meds were prescribe & did the meds help.. I dont like pills. Patch also gets stomach acid reflux.. I asked for something stronger then Zantac & he said once we change his diet he wont need any ant-acids.. I said that i’ll try the food first & see how we go..I use a Cortisone cream on Patches skin & it does work & he said, see it will work the Presdnisone.. Ive taken Presdnisone for my C.R.E.S.T & it made me feel like crap, I felt awful…..

[Susan]

Dander is doggy Dandruff, dry flaky skin, he needs more omega 3 in his diet, also instead of just giving his 1 sardine a week, give him 1 sardine a day, Oatmeal shampoo for dogs is best for dandruff, ur local pet store would sell it, when u shower him once a week shampoo & conditioner with the oatmeal shampoo & conditioner that way ur moisturizing his skin. The shampoo + condictioner ur using is probably drying out his skin..also brush him once a day this promotes oil production. he needs a good diet with vitamins & minerals including fatty acids which will help moisturize the skin & stop the flaking…

[Deby G]

Hello, I am new to this forum and I am so glad I have found all of you. I recently rescued a 6 year old poodle mix. She weighs all of 7 pounds. Marley was in a foster home for about a month and was fed Dr. Harvey’s miracle food. It is dry grains and vegetables and is mixed with boiling water to make a consistency similar to oatmeal. 4ounces of protein and a small amount oil are added to supposedly make a “perfect” diet. I feed Marley twice a day. For protein I add either human grade chicken, beef, or salmon. I have never feed any of my dogs “people” food. Her foster mother also added cooked veg. and sweet potato. She doesn’t like sweet sweet potatoes when I add them but will eat cooked string beans. She is so tiny and her teeth are not the best so she needs a soft diet. She also doesn’t eat a lot at one time and keeps going back to her bowl. I am petrified of processed dog food. I have used Merrick, etc. but with all the recalls I will not buy any canned food and she can’t handle dry. Can I get some advice on the diet I am feeding her? Has anyone heard or have experience with Dr. Harvey’s? He also makes a grain free which I guess I should have ordered. I do notice she appears to strain a lot so a few days ago I started to give her a tsp of pumpkin to see if that will help. I also don’t want to over do on vitamins. This is all new to me. Help! I will appreciate your guidance. Thanks. Bunny

[Mom2Cavs]

One of my favorites is from Nature’s Farmacy….order it online at Naturesfarmacy.com.
It’s called Dogzymes Ultimate. They also have Ultimate Complete now, which contains probs/enz, vitamins, minerals, joint health ingredients. This vitamin smells really good and the dogs love the taste.

[Jjennilee]

I try to vary the meats from beef to chicken etc… sometimes i can get some wellness core kibble in them if i mix egg with it …. but i know alot of the major dog foods have like the fatty acids and other vitamins to keep them healthy … But i am done with purchasing any dog food persay as they eat it for a few days then they tire of it and i am back to square one… so figured if there was a vitamin at least i would know they would have solid foundation… wish there was a food pyramid like for humans lol

[Jjennilee]

Is there a good trusted well balanced multi-vitamin or combination of vitamins for dogs that dont eat dog food

[pugmomsandy]

They are fairly common products and you can even find them at the big chain stores or online. But here are some examples you can look at:

http://b-naturals.com/by-condition-c-23/senior-care-c-23_4/bertes-immune-blend-1-lb-p-17.html?cPath=23_8

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-probiotics-dr-stephen-langers-ultimate-16-strain-probioticwith-fos-60-veg-caps

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-ultra-anti-gas-enzyme-170-mg-90-veg-caps

[Susan]

I was at Pet Stock yesterday & I was looking at the EarthBorn Ocean Fusion, then I met a Nutro Natural Choice rep, I told her how Patch has IBD & Colitis & how he’s on Eukanuba Intestinal & I want to put him on something better..I also told her that Patch cant have a high fat or fiber or Protein diet, she explained that “Nutro” isnt the same company as the “Nutro” in America & the Chicken & ingredients all comes from Australia all home grown & made…Chicken is from Country Tamworth, Lamb is from New Zealand & fish is from Tasmania then she gave me samples of the Adult Chicken & rice Formula.. I need help with these ingredients here they are…… Chicken, Ground Rice, Rice Flour, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavours, Sunflower Oil, Iodised salt Essential Minerals (including potassium chioride,zinc sulphate, iron sulphate copper sulfate Potassium iodide selenium) Natural Antioidants then the list goes on with vitamins & Marigold Meal.. the fiber on this kibble is 5% fat-13% & Protein-22%..dont forget Patch has a sensitive tummy so I need the low Protein. & this kibble seems as close to his Eukanuba Intestinal minus the corn grites & other junk.. Im worried about the Dried Beet Pulp being the 4th ingredient its in his Intestinal but its 6th ingredient, Im just worried this is a fiber being 4th will there be alot.. Im ringing Nutro tommorrow to get the % on the Chicken, Dried beet pulp, what else should I ask Nutro???…He loves the kibble as Ive been giving some just as a treat, poor thing being on a limited diet, he’d eat anything.. I cant get alot of the American kibbles that are Limited ingredient ones, so its either Nutro, Canidae or Earthborn but the Earthborn has flaxseed & Potatoes something I dont want..

[Codex]

I’m looking for recommendations on probiotics, oils, digestive enzymes and glucosamine & chondroitin supplements. I have a 20 pound dog with no known allergies besides possibly vaccine(s).

So far this is what I’ve picked up for my dog but I’m looking for advice. I’m new to supplements. Any and all advice is welcome!

Digestive enzymes–I got really yucky smelling digestive enzymes but apparently the smell is normal. I already opened the bottle so I guess I’m stuck with that. I haven’t used any yet…I’m letting the bottle air out.
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-premium-digestive-enzymes-180-tabs

Coconut oil–Planning on adding 2 tsp every day to morning meal. Right now she’s getting 1/4 tsp.
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-organic-certified-organic-extra-virgin-coconut-oil-54-oz-1-53-kilograms-solid-oil?otherSize=SWF035

GLUCOSAMINE & CHONDROITIN–Natrol Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM (She’s going to get 2 tablets daily for the first seven days. After that she’s going to get 1 tablet a day.)
http://www.natrol.com/p-50-glucosamine-chondroitin-msm.aspx

Probiotic–Lifeway Kefir–About a tablespoon added to meal every other day.

• This topic was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by Codex.
• This topic was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by Codex.

[InkedMarie]

I use human joint supplement from SwansonVitamins.com. It’s called joint mobility plus. It has all kinds of stuff that is important for joints. Salmon oil is also good. I assume you’re feeding grainfree; am I correct?

[pugmomsandy]

Look into a premix. It has the veggies/vitamins in there. Just add your own meat and oil. Some premixes are Urban Wolf, See Spot Live Longer Dinner Mixes, Grandma Lucy’s and The Honest Kitchen.

For homemade from scratch, you might consider “Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats” or “Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet” recipe books.

Also dogaware.com has a homemade diet section.

[Jjennilee]

Do the pre-mixes have all the vitamins , minerals etc they need to keep the food balanced.?

[Shasta220]

I’ve never done home made diets, so I’m terribly sorry – I’m not much help. I completely understand though, I have a cat who is ultra picky. She will not touch ANY type of commercial food (we’ve tried dry, canned, flaked, pouched, refrigerated, you name it, she’s turned her nose up at.). We tried offering her nothing but cat food for a week straight, and she probably would have completely starved herself, she would NOT touch it.

She’s picky about her food now even, so she doesn’t get the nutrition she needs, and it’s showing sadly… I’m jumping on this thread to see what some suggestions might be.

The only way I could think of hiding extra nutrition into their food is by grinding it. I know organ meats and raw bones are important in a balanced diet. Maybe buying a supplemental powder (just general vitamins probably) and try adding that, maybe start with just 1/2 day’s worth, as many animals can detect the smell of it and refuse. Omegas are always one of my favorite additions. My dogs get it with fish oils (salmon, sardine, krill, I think even algae would work), and raw eggs – your dogs may prefer the taste of cooked.

Just play around with how much you can get in there without it being too detected. Possibly try coconut oil as well, it has tons of benefits. Try offering them a teaspoon of organic extra virgin cold-pressed coconut oil. It’s great for their skin, fur, teeth, digestion, and pretty much everything else! Most dogs like it, too.

Hopefully you’ll be able to figure out something that works out perfectly. Have you tried commercial dehydrated, refridgorated, or raw foods? They already have balanced nutrients, so you wouldn’t need to worry about many supplements.

And yes, dog nutrition is very very confusing. Research and reading forums seems to make it worse, as everyone has their own opinions and experiences… Plus, every dog is different, so what works miracles for my dog might do absolutely nothing for yours. Just keep trying to gain information though, I’m sure you’ll slowly start figuring it out. (I’m new to nutrition myself, but the more I’m on here, the more I learn!)

[Sharon Buchanan]

In the numerous raw topics and posts here on DFA and in particular, this topic on recipes, great attention is paid to supplementing raw meats/poultry with veggies, vitamins and others. In reading articles elsewhere on feeding whole prey, we’re told that dogs don’t eat veggies (of course, I’ve never seen a dog take down a cow either), so making sure they get the whole chicken over time or the whole rabbit over time, among others, should provide them with a balanced diet. These two diet/recipe concepts seem contradictory.

Now, I do supplement with coconut oil, curcumen, a c-complex and garlic for reasons I’ve stated elsewhere, in addition to the obvious ones. I’ve taken the advice of Patty and finally found a grocery that carries kafir (which may be hard to continue because the smell gives me indigestion and Mystery reeks of it all day), and I give Mystery a whole egg occasionally – cracked over a coarse grind with the shell.

If I may, I’d like to list the raw meats I have on hand and get some suggestions on the best way to combine them, add to them, improve something or another. I’m hoping to get half a cow in a few weeks from a local farm, but until then I’ve been ordering from MPC. So here’s what I have right now:

Ground Beef Tripe Supermix
Ground Whole Young Beef
Coarse Ground Whole Rabbit
Coarse Ground Whole Chicken
Whole Turkey Necks – they’re huge
Duck Necks
Chicken Feet
RMBs – emphasis on RM
Marrow bones from my local grocery

Mystery’s adult healthy weight averages 85 lbs. (UK Kennel standards (not AKC) for English Creme Golden Retrievers). I had to take my kitten to the vet yesterday and took Mystery with me to get his weight 56.4 lbs – exactly what he weighed at the beginning of January. He’s grown longer as his breed would but his ribs, while not visible, are easily felt. He’s 11 months old. Talked it over with the vet and she wondered if he was a runt – we wondered together. I’ve been feeding him just under 3 lbs. a day over two meals.

So, I guess what I need to know is how to balance the foods listed, whats missing from my raw “pantry”, as well as any ideas on how to bulk him – not a lot, but more than he is. I expect him to reach full growth at about 18 months.

Thanks in advance! Seems the more I know, the less I know.

[Evonne]

I have a three year old cockapoo, Charlie. He has been eating Blue Buffalo Grain Free Turkey and Potato for awhile now. He loves it, and that is saying a lot because he is super picky. This is the first food that he would scarf as soon as we put it in front of him. He has been having issues with yeast and dermatitis. We decided to have him allergy tested. I got the results back a few days ago. He is allergic to fish mix, potato, wheat, and green beans. He is borderline on lamb, venison, oats, beets, apple, banana, and tomato. I fed him a trial of lamb at one point and he reacted by turning bright red on his underbelly. So, I think that is more of an allergy than something that is borderline. I want to avoid feeding him anything that is on his borderline list. I am having a hard time finding him a commercial dog food. For the last few days, I have cooked for for him. I just used things that I had in the house. I used eggs, brown rice, carrots, and pumpkin. He loved it. I am not opposed to cooking for him, but I want to make sure that he is getting the right vitamins, proper carbs and protein. I am just a little nervous about all of this. I am not even sure what amount to feed him if I am cooking for him. I have been giving him a half of a cup of the stuff I made up twice a day. He is a little over twenty pounds. I have two other cockapoos with no allergy issues or health problems. They are also on the Blue Buffalo Grain Free Turkey and Potato. Since they are doing well, I will keep them on it. I just really need advice on what to do with Charlie! Any tips would really be appreciated.
Thank you!

[Evonne]

I have a three year old cockapoo, Charlie. He has been eating Blue Buffalo Grain Free Turkey and Potato for awhile now. He loves it, and that is saying a lot because he is super picky. This is the first food that he would scarf as soon as we put it in front of him. He has been having issues with yeast and dermatitis. We decided to have him allergy tested. I got the results back a few days ago. He is allergic to fish mix, potato, wheat, and green beans. He is borderline on lamb, venison, oats, beets, apple, banana, and tomato. I had fed him a trial of lamb at one point and he reacted by turning bright red on his underbelly. So, I think that is more of an allergy than something that is borderline. I want to avoid feeding him anything that is on his borderline list. I am having a hard time finding him a commercial dog food. For the last few days, I have cooked for for him. I just used things that I had in the house. I used eggs, brown rice, carrots, and pumpkin. He loved it. I am not opposed to cooking for him, but I want to make sure that he is getting the right vitamins. I am not even sure what amount to feed him if I am cooking for him. I have two other cockapoos with no allergy issues or health problems. They are also on the Blue Buffalo Grain Free Turkey and Potato. Since they are doing well, I will keep them on it. I just really need advice on what to do with Charlie! Any tips would really be appreciated.
Thank you!