Author Topic: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..  (Read 9510 times)

Lyn

  • Guest
Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« on: November 30, 2005, 10:07:30 am »
Poor Bubba. He was doing so well on the DVP Potato & Duck.. but after the 3rd bag he started getting loose poop and gassy again.  :( It didn't help his itching anyway. Turns out he has a flea bite allergy. One bite and he goes crazy.  :( Plus the DVP is expensive..  :-\ He was going through a 30lb bag every 3 weeks.. and at $75 canadian a bag it was adding up.

So I decided to try the Solid Gold Hundenflocken. It's a lamb and rice formula. So far so good, but I'm still in the process of switching him over. I'm crossing my fingers though that this is the LAST food switch.

I've tried everything from grocery store brands to super premium. Just hoping I'd find the food he would do best on. No luck... The list so far totals in order, Purina one (Adult) Pro plan (Large breed puppy) Eukanuba (large breed puppy) Solid Gold Wolfcub (large breed puppy) Canidae (All life stages) Natural Balance (Potato & Duck) and now Solid Gold (Adult, Hundenflocken)

The store I buy all my pet food from also stocks a premixed frozen raw diet (Chicken, lamb or turkey) But it's crazy expensive.. 12 pounds cost $42 canadian. :o I don't think I could afford to feed Bubba that. But if it comes down to it I may look into it a little bit more. 12 pounds doesn't seem like alot of food.. but I have no idea how much he'd need, so it's possible it could equal itself out.  :-\

I also have a question about supplements and vitamins... Bubba has clicking hips. My vet doesn't think it's HD but wants x-rays taken when he's about 18 months to be sure. In the meantime I'd like to try some supplements. But which ones should I buy? My local drugstore has 3 isles of just vitamins and supplements. Any help on which ones and dosages would be awesome.

Thanks  ;D

Offline BabsT

  • Paw-meister
  • **
  • Posts: 583
    • View Profile
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2005, 10:20:00 am »
I use Vitamic C and that is it...I feel that if your dog needs a million supplements then the animal isnt healthy to begin with.  You may want to be careful with lots of supplements because you really dont know what exactly is bothering your dog digestive wise

For allergeries you can try some benedryl 1mg per pound it may help with the flea bites

Also, I know some people are freaked out by raw but have you considered trying a raw diet? meat, bones & organ meat. Then you know exactly what your dog is eating and what he may be allergic too...If you go through a bunch of different meats, then you know it is a grain that is bothering him.  I feed both my dogs raw and am very very happy with it

Just some food for thought
Zero 23mth  Central Asian Ovcharka
Anchara 16mth old Caucasian Ovcharka

Offline shangrila

  • Moderator
  • Golden Paws
  • *****
  • Posts: 2819
    • View Profile
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2005, 07:44:58 pm »
Vitamin C is good. I would also consider using glucosamine.
RIP former BPO

Offline NoDogNow

  • Grand Master
  • ***
  • Posts: 601
    • View Profile
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2005, 07:52:10 pm »
I second the glucosamine.  It will help support his cartilage development.


Sheryl, Dogless and sad

Offline tonyc

  • Veteran Dog Chomper
  • **
  • Posts: 192
    • View Profile
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2005, 07:52:39 pm »
the solid gold food should already have plenty of glucosamine, no?solid gold also has ascorbic acid in most - if not all - of their foods. ascorbic acid == Vit C so...

we found out cody had massive flea allergies after trying to switch food in vain for 2 months as well :( :( :( now we're religious about frontline come spring thru fall...

edit:  (just re-read mordanna.com; no it doesn't seem to have glucosamine nor chondroitin)

Offline GrumpyBunny

  • BPO Guru
  • ****
  • Posts: 1314
    • View Profile
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2005, 08:02:56 pm »
the solid gold food should already have plenty of glucosamine, no?solid gold also has ascorbic acid in most - if not all - of their foods. ascorbic acid == Vit C so...

we found out cody had massive flea allergies after trying to switch food in vain for 2 months as well :( :( :( now we're religious about frontline come spring thru fall...

edit:  (just re-read mordanna.com; no it doesn't seem to have glucosamine nor chondroitin)
From the Solid Gold website...

Here is Hund-n-Flocken...
Product Description
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dry food formula made with Lamb, Millet, Amaranth, Barley and Brown Rice. Ideal for moderately active adult dogs, to maintain total health.

Protein, Min 22%
Fat, Min 10%
Fiber, Max 4%
Moisture, Max 10%
Calories per cup, 367


Ingredients
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lamb | Lamb Meal | Millet | Brown Rice | Cracked Pearled Barley | Oatmeal | Rice Bran | Menhaden Fish Meal | Canola Oil | Flax Meal | Amaranth | Blueberries | Dried Chicory Root | Carotene | Choline Chloride | Vitamin E Supplement | Iron Proteinate | Zinc Proteinate | Yucca Schidigera Extract | Copper Proteinate | Manganese Proteinate | Potassium Iodide | Thiamine Mononitrate | Ascorbic Acid | Vitamin A Supplement | Biotin | Calcium Panthothenate | Sodium Selenite | Pyridoxine Hydrochloride | Vitamin B12 Supplement | Riboflavin | Vitamin D Supplement | Folic Acid |

Here is Wolf King (their large breed food)...
Product Description
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Large Breed Adult Dog Food

Protein, Min 22%
Fat, Min 9%
Fiber, Max 4%
Moisture, Max 10%
Calories per cup, 364


Ingredients
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bison | Salmon Meal | Brown Rice | Millet | Cracked Pearled Barley | Oatmeal | Rice Bran | Canola Oil | Flaxseed Oil | Garlic | Amaranth | Blueberries | Yucca Schidigera Extract | Taurine | Carotene | Choline Chloride | Vitamin E Supplement | Iron Proteinate | Zinc Proteinate | Copper Proteinate | Manganese Proteinate | Potassium Iodide | Thiamine Mononitrate | Ascorbic Acid | Vitamin A Supplement | Biotin | Calcium Panthothenate | Selenomethioni ne | Pyridoxine Hydrochloride | Vitamin B12 Supplement | Riboflavin | Vitamin D Supplement | Folic Acid |

Our guys are currently on the Wolf King, but we supplement occasionally with other brands as well, for variety...  I am always on the lookout for the "best" food, but I think it really comes down to what is best for your individual dog...
*Founder of the Official Suspicious Chicken Fan Club*

Offline Svnt4God

  • Veteran Dog Chomper
  • **
  • Posts: 197
    • View Profile
    • Visit my Website
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2005, 08:22:13 pm »
Also a supplement question..


The supplements I use for my Great Danes (which I am assuming would be the same for a Saint) are as follows:  (Taken from www.greatdanel ady.com)

Nzymes Granules
Nzymes 4 in 1  (probiotics ... includes Vitamin C)
Flexicose  (the most digestible Joint Supplement ... it's liquid ... on the market)

You can find these products on their websites

www.nzymes.com
www.flexicose. com


Lyn

  • Guest
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2005, 11:11:32 am »
Wow thanks all.  ;D

Ok so Glucosamine HCI 'not Sulphate' and Vitamin C for sure. What about MSM and Chondroitin?

My vet recommended putting the advantage drops on Bubba every 3 weeks instead of every 4. It may be killing the fleas, but they have to bite him first before they die. So Bubba is still as itchy as ever.  :( I need to find something that kills them on contact. The damn fleas seem to be bouncing back and forth between my cats and Bubba even though I treat them all with advantage. It's getting frustrating. My the time I get rid of them all it will be spring and they will all be back again. UGH!

Babs, I'm going to look into that pre-mixed raw diet.. I can't find it online.. doesn't help I can't remember the name. But it looks like rabbit pellets. Maybe someone will know which one I'm talking about. I checked all the Canadian raw suppliers and it's none of those. Must be a US company.

Offline newflvr

  • Tail Wagging Champ
  • *****
  • Posts: 3390
  • Cowboy is four years old and Chester is almost two
    • View Profile
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2005, 07:55:52 pm »
I get Cowboy's food through Harmony Farms...can be cooked or raw

Offline clark

  • Gnawer
  • *
  • Posts: 21
    • View Profile
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2005, 08:10:53 pm »
I work with a lady who raises and shows bassets.  She said bathing them with Palmolive dish soap (has to be the original green formula) kills flees on contact.  I asked if it was drying to the dogs skin and she said not as long as you get it completely rinsed out.  I'm going to try it on my guys tonight unless any of you know why that would be a bad idea. 

Thanks for all the good advice - I'm loving this site!
Amy
Jake and Buddy
"The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue."

Offline BabsT

  • Paw-meister
  • **
  • Posts: 583
    • View Profile
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #10 on: December 01, 2005, 08:11:56 pm »
I am not sure of the name but pre-mixed is more expensive than just plain raw meat and bones LOL

Are you sure that it is fleas or not some other biting insect or just something that he is plain allergic to?  Is he allergic to the advantix?

Zero 23mth  Central Asian Ovcharka
Anchara 16mth old Caucasian Ovcharka

Lyn

  • Guest
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #11 on: December 01, 2005, 08:55:07 pm »
I didn't think you could feed just plain raw meat and bones. I thought you had to throw different supplements and what not in there also.

But I have another question about raw now... I called my vet and he said not to feed Bubba raw until after 18 months old. Something to do with growth.. Anyone else ever heard of this?  ???

Forgot to add.. Bubba started scratching in late spring and we had never used Advantage flea drops on him before. He does have some inflamed flea bites on him right now. He puffs up like I do if I get bit by them.
« Last Edit: December 01, 2005, 08:59:26 pm by Lyn »

Offline Fumble

  • BPO Guru
  • ****
  • Posts: 1257
    • View Profile
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2005, 08:32:17 am »
at bj's or costo you can get a huge thing of glucos/chron together.  that's what i give fumble, that an vitamin c, also to help with his coat i put flax seed in his dinner!
"My newfoundlands live my life as passionately as i live theirs"
"I slip the hater of what i've become.  they slip the halter of what they've been, and we live together, passionately, changed"
-Both from "in the company of newfies"

WE REPRESENT THE LOLLIPOP GUILD!!!

Offline BabsT

  • Paw-meister
  • **
  • Posts: 583
    • View Profile
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2005, 08:42:57 am »
Both my dogs were raised on RMB diet.  My female was on it since she was weaned onto food and Zero was since 9 or 10 wks they both get meat, bones and organ meat...Majorit y of the vets no very little on raw diets.  You only need to add supplement if you cook the food.

Where do you live if you dont mind me asking...If it a humid area you dog could very likely be getting hot spots. 

If you really want to look into the diet that I use...Here are some informative sites.  Yahoo is the best raw message board around.  Raw dog ranch is a great place to learn how to start.  Raw Fed dogs is comical and so forth

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfeeding/
http://www.rawdogranch.com/
http://www.rawfeddogs.net/
http://rawlearning.com/

Good Luck!
Zero 23mth  Central Asian Ovcharka
Anchara 16mth old Caucasian Ovcharka

Lyn

  • Guest
Re: Switched food again... Also a supplement question..
« Reply #14 on: December 03, 2005, 01:25:11 pm »
Thank everyone for the info. I found Glucosamine HCI/Chondroitin.. plus I also found one with Glucosamine HCI/MSM. I take it I should get the one with Chondroitin in it??

Babs,  I must have misunderstood about raw. I was under the impression that the supplements needed to be added regardless. That was my main hesitation about feeding raw. I'm going to check out those links you posted. Thanks  ;D I'm betting raw would solve alot if not all of Bubba tummy issues.