What we do for our pets...about food
What we do for our pets...about food
Has anyone ever had a homemade diet made up for their dog? At 10, I really don't want Winnie to have to have another surgery for bladderstones. I saw a website, which looked good, and he will customize a diet, based on breed and medical history. The fee doesn't bother me, just wondering if that option would be better than a commercial prescription food.
i'm with Traci...any one that thinks he/she can make a
diet particular to one breed is whistling Dixie...there can be diets for coats, stamina, etc but not specific for breeds but there are formulated diets for kidney stones of different types...these diets have been worked out through years of research and a lot of it done at Cornell and other vet school...stick withthe proven stuff.
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I think I am too chicken
Convincing is easy to do, evidence and truth are another. If he has the proper credentials, experience, training, research, references and some validity to the claims, there might be something worth looking at, but otherwise, use caution on the net. (especially breed profiles and nutrition)
..........Traci
I know that site. My only concession to that person is that Labs do need fish in their diets to maintain their coats.
Depending on what type of stones you're dealing with, you can tweak a diet to combat the stones. While I am not suggesting you completely follow this person's suggestions, she does have some good ideas that you can run by your veterinarian. http://b-naturals.com/Dec2002.php
I hope its ok Traci that I include that link. If not, PM me and let me know and I'll take it out.
Depending on what type of stones you're dealing with, you can tweak a diet to combat the stones. While I am not suggesting you completely follow this person's suggestions, she does have some good ideas that you can run by your veterinarian. http://b-naturals.com/Dec2002.php
I hope its ok Traci that I include that link. If not, PM me and let me know and I'll take it out.
I do have a problem with their comment on acidifying diets. Owners must be aware that if already using an acidifying diet or precription diet for that purpose, then supplements and additional acidifiers can actually exacerbate the problem, not to mention the potential of oxalate stones as a result of over acidifying.
If the owners of that site are serious, they might want to followup on some recent research on a few of their comments (supplements, over acidifying, indirect/insufficient evidence of high amounts of vit. C, etc) ... A simple example, overuse of supplements in an already properly formulated diet, may completely defeat the purpose.
JMHO.
If the owners of that site are serious, they might want to followup on some recent research on a few of their comments (supplements, over acidifying, indirect/insufficient evidence of high amounts of vit. C, etc) ... A simple example, overuse of supplements in an already properly formulated diet, may completely defeat the purpose.
JMHO.
..........Traci
That thought crossed my mind, too, Traci
I think we will go with the IVD, and maybe switch to distilled water.
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LM
I make one of my dog's food
Leilah had cancer, and after a few diet consults with of a couple of holistic vets, she's now on a homemade diet and doing great. It is specific to her and her needs. I wouldn't give it to my other dog, Copper, on any regular basis (though he loves it as an occasional treat!). Leilah's bloodwork has been the best it's ever been on it - because of the cancer she's checked several times a year. I can't know if it's actually helping prevent the cancer from returning or not, but this diet is definitely agreeing with her. Not only internally, but she really REALLY loves the stuff. Can't beat that!
For Copper, who had urine crystals, I got a urinalysis and bloodwork run periodically, especially when I first made any changes. He just needed some vit C for the problem and it's worked well. He was on a homemade diet for quite a while too, hoping it would help a particular skin problem, but since didn't really help, either his skin or test results. So, he is no longer on much homemade food.
Homemade diets should be tailored to the particular dog I think, probably not just by breed. Copper, an aussie, needs lower fat and protien, but I bet lots of individual aussies would be more like Leilah (who's not an aussie), who gets much higher protein than Copper. It's not easy to decide what they need!
Just be sure to get blood and urine tests done after you make the changes to make sure they are working, and not hurting something else.
For Copper, who had urine crystals, I got a urinalysis and bloodwork run periodically, especially when I first made any changes. He just needed some vit C for the problem and it's worked well. He was on a homemade diet for quite a while too, hoping it would help a particular skin problem, but since didn't really help, either his skin or test results. So, he is no longer on much homemade food.
Homemade diets should be tailored to the particular dog I think, probably not just by breed. Copper, an aussie, needs lower fat and protien, but I bet lots of individual aussies would be more like Leilah (who's not an aussie), who gets much higher protein than Copper. It's not easy to decide what they need!
Just be sure to get blood and urine tests done after you make the changes to make sure they are working, and not hurting something else.