Dr Bruce Syme

Probiotics are the cornerstone of good health, and their benefit cannot be under-estimated. The primary rule of a probiotic is that it cannot be pathogenic (cannot cause harm), so it is always safe to try a probiotic. The dose rate will depend on the potency of product (number of bacteria per gram), a safe dose is 2.5-5g daily. A really good quality product will be freeze dried powder, refrigerated or frozen. I have been getting amazing results using a product called "Entralive", and information can be found at entrapro.com.auProbiotics & Healthy Pets.doc

Hi Lasarenia, Sorry for delay. Yes, the Health Booster is like a multi vitamin that we would take. None of the ingredients are synthetic, all whole natural sources. People feeding the Complete Mix dont need to use the Health Booster, unless they had a lactating bitch who they wanted to boost up, as it is already added into it. Health Booster is great for people making up their own diets at home

Hi Dasiy.Tea, responded to your PM, but each 'life stage' Complete Mix has the appropriate supplements added. The Adult/Senior has our Joint Formula mixed in with it.

Hi Rally Valley, We are redesigning the puppy packs. I will PM you with some information :) Thanks :D Could I please have some info PM'd to me as well- we are having litters at around the same time :) Sent :)

Yes, the 24 hrs is ideal, unless its the middle of summer then 12 hours is usually adequate. Fermentation happens much quicker in a warmer environment. The hot water is not recommended for every feed, but if you do sometimes forget to prepare the complete mix then soaking in warm water for an hour will get you by.

Hi Donatella, I will bring this up with Bruce, however the raw and rolls are a bit more smellier than straight roo meat, as the grains have begun the germination process with the moisture from the roo, so the smell can be quite different. The adult varieties have green lipped mussel etc added as well, which has a strong smell. All combined it does make for a unique smell!

Hi Rally Valley, We are redesigning the puppy packs. I will PM you with some information :)

I have had real trouble finding a local supplier for VAN (we are in Nth Suburbs of Melb) and have emailed VAN wondering why they cant have a better system of supply for Victoria - they are still working on it. When I have found a store with even a 5kg bag of VAN available it is full retail price but has been over in the eastern suburbs and too far to travel. Very frustrated as if I lived in NSW I could collect the goods from Stefmar for only $6.50 for the whole order.... Wish VAN could set up something like that in Victoria...... my last order was over $500 and would have been happy to drive down and collect from a depot. I have been buying 3 or 4 x 15kg bags at a time online - which if I can find VAN thru any local store they usually only carry 1kg or a 5kg bag - Initially brought thru Greenpets which is the group on the VAN website, however they charge full retail price plus postage, so adds a fair bit to the cost. Have found an online shop which sells the product for less but the postage is higher - although still cheaper than recommended retail. www.stefmar.com.au example: Price for 15kg bag of Complete Mix Greenpets QLD : $135.00 + postage to Victoria $18 - postage to Tasmania $40 Stefmar NSW : $118.57 - postage to Victoria $26.70 - postage to Tasmania $30.70 Hope this information helps. Is Castlemaine too far for you? We could organise for you to pick up as many 15kg bags as you need from Bruce's vet hospital.

Hi Rally Valley Sorry for the late reply, yes Bruce's recommendation is to swap to puppy formula (so 70:30 meat to mix ratio, not the normal 60:40)and feed to her weight like she is a puppy. Towards the end of her pregnancy she should be on meals double the size and when lactating, depending on litter size, she could be eating up to triple her normal meal.

Hope you find out the cause of the irritant. Have you tried a high level omega 3 supplement along with the probiotic?

Hi, Petbarn in WA stock VAN rolls, and the prices do vary between the 'normal' rolls (adult, puppy, cat) and the 'functional' rolls (sensitive skin, joint health ect) A good gauge to test the quality of a roll is to microwave a slice for a few minutes. If it has no expanders or fillers it should just cook, if it melts, or the gelatin leaks out, then you will see just how much of it is filler. The VAN rolls don't cube up as well as other rolls for training treats, but that's because they're not the consistency of a traditional roll. Any store (or vet clinic) can order the rolls in and many independent stores are stocking them, along with Petstock and Petbarn. The VAN rolls have a shorter use by date than what roll buyers would be used to, so they can be frozen to improve storage options. They are pasteurized at a low temperature to protect nutrient availability, which doesn't give us a long shelf life.

Hi Tara, You will receive a reply asap, apologies as enquiries are at a record high, and Bruce is o/s at the moment. Feel free to PM us on here as well :)

Sorry for delay Donatella. I was waiting on a reply from Bruce as to the youngest he would move a Pom onto adult. Bare minimum he'd shift is 9 months. Main differences is the adult has joint formula added, and whole grains for faecal bulk to assist with anal gland stretching.

Hi Kitkatswing PM sent, but if you would like to chat with Dr Bruce Syme on the phone, or better still if you are anywhere near to Castlemaine he would be happy to look at Maui, not cost of course. If he was on dry food prior it can take awhile for the gut to repopulate with the healthy bacteria needed to break down raw and semi raw food. PM us back if you would like to chat with Bruce.

Hi Donatella, yes, with Poms the Raw76 is a good option. When making the Complete Mix many either make up bulk supplies and freeze, or each time they feed they just start soaking for the next feed. We advise feeding bones once or twice a week but this is more from a dental health aspect. If your Poms teeth are looking clean then you can feed bones more as a treat or environmental stimulation. Dogs saliva is able to start breaking down raw food very efficiently so you shouldn't have dental issues if they stay on a raw diet. If feeding twice daily then split the recommended daily amount in half. The best guideline for the correct amount is their body weight, so monitor them over the next few weeks and adjust accordingly.

Have a read here Labradork Grains If you look at the menu along the top of the website you will find the articles section. A wealth of info with many questions answered.

Thanks :) I'm one of those people who have a problem with handling raw, bloody meat. Do you sell it in chicken or lamb? Or just kangaroo? Just kangaroo. Bruce really likes chicken and lamb as protein sources, if they were not so intensively farmed. Kangaroo is essentially organic and free range.

Maybe a diet of straight roo could be too lean, but that's why diets like VAN have added beneficial oils. Labradork, you are correct. Omega 3 has anti inflammatory properties and Omega 6 has pro inflammatory properties. The problem with processed dry foods is that omega 3 is broken down at relatively low temperatures, much lower than the temperatures required for extrusion. To say oils are added can be misleading, sure the oil is added prior to processing but what is left after processing? Its a question many manufactures don't test or answer.

Hi Labradork, The rolls are pastuerised, so not 100% raw, but not completely cooked either. The Raw76 is still our number 1 recommendation (or Complete Mix made up at home) just with so much feedback that handling bloody meat was a deterrent for people to feed raw, we saw an opportunity to provide a hydrated product which didn't handle like raw meat. With so many dogs still being fed tin food and cheap rolls we are also trying to target the average supermarket buyer with a better quality option.

Hi Clash, Yes, megan is right. The feeding guidelines are for an average dog. The best guide is always your dogs waistline, so if he is becoming a bit fat then reduce the feeds a little, until he gets to the size you want. As he is a growing puppy just gradually reduce the amount until he gets to the desired body mass then slowly increase it again as he reaches maturity.

Congratulations kitkatswing! Sue will help you with selecting what products will suit your dog :) Keep us informed how your dog does on the VAN range.

I asked this yesterday - they are available to go to the NT but as yet no wholesalers have placed an order to go direct to the NT. We suspect wholesalers will most likely pull stock out of QLD if orders are placed. If you would like to try the rolls please ask your local supplier to enquire about an order.

Hi MelissaS If your interested in reading about bacteria & raw feeding have a read here

Yes, you can have them as the complete diet. Bruce still suggests bones twice a week for dental health

Sorry, I missed your question. Yes, keep the ratio's the same and increase like you worked out. The ratio of mix to meat changes when your dog matures. What breed do you have?