I don't know if this is the right area of the forum to put this in, but this seems to be the most visited and I wanted to share this website that someone shared with me today. It really made me think and I know that I am definitely changing Bailey's food. I have been thinking of it anyway because he has been plagued with dry skin issues for years (and believe me I've tried SOOOO many supplements). But this site confirms my decision. I have always fed Eukanuba and it didn't rank the worst according to this site, but it definitely is lacking stuff.
And also, I think anyone on this board who is dealing with an ill dog would like to read this.
Supplements & Diet

Hi, Audrey-

This was a very interesting website. I know when Shiloh was first diagnosed with lymphoma I did a lot of research and found some really upseting information about pet food in general. My vet recommends feeding a raw diet with some steamed vegetables.

While Shiloh was on chemo I cooked for her...it was a lot of work, but she was well worth it. The worst part of her diet was cooked liver. I'd never really eaten liver before, much less cooked it. The first time I fried liver for her, a friend advised that I fry it outside on the grill. It smelled so bad, I ended up throwing up in the front yard. Shiloh was sitting next to the grill drooling, and I was throwing up...we were quite the sight!

Thanks for the info.
Kathleen

Hi Audrey,
I think the feed has a lot to do with the health of a dog. When I first got Sadie, I had her on a brand that was supposedly good feed, but I read that Dals have kidney problems and do better on a low protein feed. They have a tendency to have a high uric acid content, which leads to kidney stones and kidney disease.
At the time, Sadie was going potty a lot. She also had some problems with her skin. I changed her feed to a lamb and rice feed, which has the lowest protein. And the potty situation improved, although she still had some skin problems. When I got Jake, I changed to a chicken and rice feed. Jake started having skin allergy problems, which is a common trait in Dals.

I ended up changing both dogs to Purinan One lamb and rice and couldn't believe what a difference it made. The skin problems improved for both dogs and they were both healthy. My vet says he rarely sees them make it past 11. Sadie's mother died of kidney problems at 9...I'm not sure about Jake's parents, but Sadie was just shy of her 14th birthday when she passed away. I think if she hadn't fallen, she may have even made it to 15. Her main problems were senility and some arthritis. In fact, I'd just had her at the vet's a couple of weeks before and was told that her heart and lungs were very strong. She still ran and played and had a very healthy appetite. It was even more amazing that she lived so long because she had a seizure disorder and had to be on phenobarbital since she was 9. Jake has always been very healthy and will be 9 this June.

My dogs have very cushy lives, but I attribute their healthiness to the low protein feed I've had them on. Plus, I don't feed them table scraps and few treats. At least, I don't GIVE them people food, not to say that they never stole them now and then. Dals are food mongers....most of them will beg, steal and sneak to grab anything they can get their chomps on! Jake can literally grab and pop the top off of a Tupperware container in a couple of seconds flat without making any noise!!

I think it's important to understand your breed's unique characteristics and to feed them accordingly in order to ensure they get the proper nutrition.

Thanks for sharing that article!!
Carol

Dear Audrey, Thanks for posting this site I book marked it and will go read it some more. I have always fed Eukanuba too as the vet told me years ago it was one of the best. I guess when new foods come along we should give them a try if they are better.
Hugs, Ann

That web site is SO interesting! Thank you for posting it for us all to read.
It really gives great advice on feeding our dogs. It not only mentions cancer, but dogs with diabetes too.

I really liked the section on foods to avoid! I am SO happy to see it list bones as BAD!!! When I worked at the vet, I can't tell you how many poor furdogs were brought in and "stopped up". They couldn't have bowel movements and we had to help clear them out. The vet told each one of the owners that bones (not rawhide, but the bones from meats such as steak, ham, etc.) were bad for dogs. They turned into something thick in the intestines and dogs that ate several were bound to get constipation. I have NEVER EVER given my dogs a meat bone of any kind since then.

Cheri

Thank you, Audrey! This is great site. I printed out the list of Dangerous People Food For Pets and I'm going to put it on our fridge. My husband is often giving the dog all sorts of people food and ask him not to but he thinks it's fine. Especially fat and bones which are definitely not good! Grapes and raisins were the ones that surprised me the most. Sometimes I've tried to give them grapes but they never eat them so that's a good thing!

Thanks,
Jenny

I'm glad you all liked it as much as I did. I too was surprised at the grapes and raisins. Who knew!!??
Jasmine LOVED grapes (and all fruits and veggies). I am a firm believer in not feeding my dogs table scraps...my boyfriend always caved in to their big pleading eyes (they know not to beg)...and I would repremand him. But once a while I would give them healthy stuff like fruits and veggies in moderation of course. With the grapes, I'd only give her like 3 or 4. Ironically, the night she died, I was eating green grapes and I remember so vividly her sitting all pretty and straight with that intense look like "I'll do anything you say if you only give me one!!" So I gave her a couple. From that night on, I had told myself that every time I eat green grapes, I'll think of Jazzy. I know in my heart that it didn't cause her death, but after reading that site, I have to admit in general I started to doubt my parenting....thinking about all the times in her life I gave her grapes...or on Thanksgiving when it was the one time in the year they'd get a full turkey dinner with gravy, mashed potatoes, squash, and any other veggie we had. I guess I"m in the phase of "what could I have done better?" I'm glad I have that DO NOT FEED list too.

Kathleen, I had to laugh at the sight of you throwing up and Shiloh eagerly awaiting her dinner.

In case anyone is interested, I'm switching Bailey to Solid Gold. My coordinator for GSP Rescue (she's the one who sent me that site b/c her dog just got diagnosed with lymphoma!! I feel so bad!) told me she put her Pointers on it and they've done great. I did research and it's all natural and it's the same price as Eukanuba costs where I live. Best of all, it's sold at the same store I go to. This site only confirmed my decision.

Well, along this same topic, I just received my latest AKC newsletter in my email tonight. One of the sections discusses the internet rumors/truths to claims of something being dangerous to dogs. Some are true and some are false. They only discuss a few of them, but one of them actually confirms that grapes and raisins are bad for a dog. It discusses:
Febreeze, Swiffer Wet Jet, Grapes & Raisins and Cocoa Bean Mulch. If anyone is interested, it can be seen on their web site at:
http://www.akc.org/enewsletter/yourakc/200...pril/rumors.cfm

Cheri

Thanks Cheri. That was informative but now I feel ill. Now I'm thinking I could have killed my girl. So I just researched kidney failure in dogs and it seems that even accute renal failure doesn't happen in the short amount of time that Jasmine got ill and died. I only gave her like 3 grapes. It never hurt her before so I have to believe that what the vet said was right...that it was cancer. I have to believe it was coincidental. I mean, Bailey had a few too and he's fine. This is insane. Is isn't as absolute as say, antifreeze. There seems to be linkage/evidence that they're harmful to some dogs. Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking the chance ever again....but I have to believe I didn't kill her. Besides, Jasmine was the type of dog to eat weird things....she's eaten everything from a brillo pad to a blueberry pie to gum to my hair scrunchies and been fine. (She threw up the brillo pad thankfully).

Oh PLEASE don't think you had anything to do with Jasmine's death!
I understand the guilt you feel, this is normal. My Rachael died of cancer and my husband smokes. I could VERY easily blame him for her cancer, but I know there are so many other factors in this world that contribute to the diseases and illnesses that take our furbabies. There is just no way of ever knowing for sure, so it doesn't do any good to try and FIND something that you can blame on yourself.

You gave that girl the VERY best life!!! You loved her with all your heart and would NEVER EVER do anything to hurt her. Since she had grapes in the past and been fine, I'm sure they didn't hurt her in the end. When I read the articles, it seems they can affect SOME dogs, but not all.

Hugs,
Cheri

Thanks Cheri. You're right....I just had a moment of absolute panic. It was like the pieces of my world were crashing down again suddenly. I know you're right, I just got really scared. Thanks again. *hugs*

Hi, Audrey-

I used to feed Shiloh green grapes too. Mostly she just loved to play with them, but every once in a while she'd eat a few. For a while I thought I caused Shiloh's lymphoma by feeding her grapes.

After reading through the Supplements & Diet site and doing a little of my own research, I'm almost afraid to feed my dogs anything from the stores around here!

I found a brand of pet food on the Internet that claims to be the "Healthiest Pet Foods in the World". It's Innova from Natura Pet Products. Does anyone have any experience with this brand? They've got a comparason thingie on their website that lets you compare up to four different pet foods and see what's in them all.

All our dogs have been raised on Eukanuba, and the comparason thing shows it as one of the better store brands, but after reading some of the stuff I've read the past day, if it's not something I'm willing to eat, the dogs aren't getting it either.

If I can't find a food in the stores around here for my "kids" that doesn't have "yucky stuff" in it, I think I'm gonna start making my own.

Tim

Thanks for the info Tim. I checked it out and it seems like a great food. I compared Solid Gold to it and they are very close. There's a few stores that sell Natura around here but they're smaller, as opposed to Pet Supplies Plus where I normally go. Not that Bailey isn't worth it, but since they're so close, I'll just stick to the same store for now.
Isn't amazing how we are all educated dog owners yet all this information we're finding is completely new to me!

Audrey,
Really good info...........I printed the list of foods to avoid and will put it on my fridge, too and pass it along to some dog-loving friends!


Cheri,
Interesting reading about the Swiffer Wet Jet, etc. I had heard those rumors awhile back and haven't used my Swiffer since (I have cleaned my floors, however but with Spic and Span! ). Guess I can get it out again

Thank you.......


Kathleen,
That is so funny to think about Shiloh drooling and you throwing up while grilling the liver!

Lynn

Yes, that AKC article was great too. Good to know what's myth vs truth.
I went out and bought the Solid Gold food today. It's more expensive than Eukanuba but I don't care. It's so much healthier and since I only have one dog now, I wont' be going through the big bags as fast.
Now I'm on a Hollistic kick. So I just spent some time researching natural flea and tick repellents/remedies. I used to use BioSpot topical because I'm not comfortable with internal medicines. But with Bailey's skin, I've not been 100% comfortable with that either, but didn't feel I had a choice. So, I just did quite a bit of research and found some products that seem really good and SAFE.
The products that kept coming up were:
Neem "Protect" Spray
Neem "Protect" Shampoo
and
Doc Ackerman's Flea and Tick Spray
Doc Ackerman's Flea and Tick Oil

The main ingredient in the Doc Ackerman's is this oil called pennyroyal. I had never heard of it so I looked it up and was
able to find a botanical site that listed it as a poisonous plant, used for insect repellent. It's harmful if ingested. It was very difficult to find this info...I kept coming up with sites that sold the stuff but didn't explain it. After reading this, I wasn't too keen on that product....but it's probably a lot safer than using insecticides found in the mainstream products.
Then I looked up Neem. It appears to be a VERY safe product. It's derived from and Neem tree in Asia and has been used for centuries for its healing powers. It's sold worldwide for human use (a GOOD indicator that its safe for animals) and is found in many products. The dangers are very low.
So, I'm sold on the first product, although I'm sure they're both fine. I will be buying from
Mother Nature
It's on sale right now and the shipping is cheaper than other sites I found.
Just thought I'd share my research. Maybe someone else on here knows of a good natural remedy. I did find one site that listed out home made remedies but they have to be applied frequently.

Just thought I'd add a bit more information that I learned today from my vet. I told him that I was switching Bailey's food to Solid Gold, a hollistic food. He said that was fine, but he warned me to make sure that it said somewhere on the bag that it has passed the food test under AAFCO regulations. He said some of those hollistic foods don't have as strict testings as the name brand commercial products. He admitted that it's hard to find food allergies in dogs because it might be the ingredients or the preservatives. The only real way to know is to cook the food yourself, which is very time consuming. But he said to give it 3 months and we'll see how his skin looks. When I got home, I checked the bag and indeed Solid Gold is tested under the AAFCO regulations, so that's good.
I wanted to share this in case anyone else on here was thinking of switching to a hollistic food.
Also, I wound up buying Frontline flea and tick protection from the vet. I was very emotional today going there and the vet had said that since I go into the woods, Bailey should be protected. I got 3 months worth. I may switch to that natural one I found after that, going into the late summer/fall.

I found a place about 30 miles from home that sells Innova. I'll have to double check it, but I'm pretty sure I saw an AAFCO label on the bag too.

I decided to mix this new food with the Eukanuba that Kali is used to to make the transition easier for her. That didn't work out so good. She pushed the Eukanuba out of the bowl and picked out all the Innova bits and ate only that. So when I checked on her there was this mess of Eukanuba all around her bowl and all the Innova was gone. I couldn't help laughing at the mess she'd made. I'd say there's pretty much no question which food she likes better.

The Natura web site says this:


I'll check the bag tonight let you all know if the Innova has the AAFCO label on it.

We've been using Frontline on our dogs since it was first available. Prior to that we always had a huge tick problem. Since using it we haven't found one tick on any of the dogs. I would be interested in learning how well the natural ones work though. It has always kinda bothered me putting chemicals directly on their skin like that.

Tim

Good to know that about Frontline, Tim. I've never used this brand and for the price, it better work! My vet is on the conservative side when it comes to things that might harm dogs. He doesn't even sell the stuff they take orally for flea and ticks. He said he doesn't like putting the insecticide in them. So I was pretty comfortable with buying the Frontline from him. Bailey gets a Lyme disease vaccination but I guess it's better to be safe. And also, even though he's protected, I'm not!! So better off to kill them before they get me! LOL

What you quoted from the Innova bag is exactly what it says on the Solid Gold bag. It's not enough to say that it has AAFCO standards....it MUST say that it passed the feeding tests, which your does, so that's good.
That is TOO funny about Kali! I guess she told you! LOL Yes you are supposed to transition them gradually. On Bailey's 2 cup dinner feeing, I'm only putting 1/4 cup and then 3/4 cup Eukanuba. I'll go 50/50 next week and so on, until the Eukanuba bag is gone. So far he's eaten all of it, although a bit slower I noticed.