monosylabik

yup, best to get some advice

vomiting causes dehydration very quickly. i'm no expert, but i think vomiting 15 times in an hour is enough for the vet, or at least a phone call.

previous thread

maybe tshirt material or a sun vest(!) might offer the protection and less mess. doggy hats!

i don't think you have a choice really for the ears, they'd have to have some zinc.

have a look at this thread for some previous discussion and dry food ingredient lists.

Also, in this thread, lots of brands have been rated and discussed.

there are a few varieties of eagle pack, holistic and regular, but all have loads of added supplements (glucosamine, omega oils etc). they have high dehydrated meat content ( i think that's how you say it!) and no meat by-products.

i have a whippet and i feed her the purple bag eagle pack (lamb), chicken necks, veges, bones etc. she does really well on it and her overall health is fantastic. from coat condition to energy levels it's very good.

i think royal canin is up there in terms of quality dry food so if it's working for your dog just give smaller quantities. GSD's tend to drop and put on weight a lot though, don't they? GSD people will probably give you more specific opinions.

I'd be looking for another Vet. That kind of attitude toward something he knew nothing about (and also the way in which he spoke to you) doesn't signal appropriate care for animals to me. If it's convenient, have a look at other vets in your area.

not having a dig at anyone at all who uses it, but am i the only one who cringes when, in the ad, katrina squishes it between her fingers to show us how 'tender' and 'full of flavour' it is?

i wouldn't feed that crap to my dogs, no way. i think the less processed a food is the better a dog will do on it. disregarding specialist dry foods (eagle pack etc). same for humans.

Looks like there are definitely a lot of bad vets out there

Like others have said, feed your dogs what they do best on. But think about it, they are an animal. What would they eat if humans didn't exist? Mostly raw food.

This site has loads of different opinions and reviews on food and diets, especially in this thread. Have a look in there, and give some of the brands a try. Obviously you have to change diets slowly as it upsets the dogs stomach, so check for recommendations on how to do that.

I feed my dogs a mixture of Eagle Pack dry food and a raw BARF diet. They do really well on it. Less poo, less farts(!), better breath and better health. Which, for the most part, all equals less vet bills. Bones are also the cheapest dental care you will ever buy.

Bad breath can be one sign your dog's food is not working for them, just as an example.

Good luck and remember to check all the threads and ask questions, it's what this sub-forum is here for!

well done for being a responsible, caring dog owner and researching food for your dogs! good luck. remember to give them big meaty bones to chew on, it cleans their teeth. be sure to never cook bones, esp chicken. raw only or cooked meat bone free. raw is best, as the others have said above.

i'd recommend going to a good pet food store (one that does not sell live animals) and asking them for advice. there are loads of better options for your dog than supermarket food.

also, this is a good thread to see what different foods are available and what brands rate highly or poorly with pet owners and breeders alike.

haha that must look hilarious, stephen!

bridgie cat - our JRT never ate them, only liked to kill them. i can just imagine the look on your dogs face after he'd finished his meal! haha!

i remember as a child my father tied a dead chicken that our Jack Russel had killed around his neck for a few hours. he never killed one again. we had a terrible time with him on our property killing chickens.

quite a strange memory. i wouldn't recommend that at all, though.