Yonjuro

I think this is a very good post :)

Dr Bruce has a chinese herb for kidney function that I can't remember the name of. You just call the clinic, they should have it in stock. The explanation of how it worked/helped was quite interesting. Dr Bruce does sound like someone who could certainly help putting a diet together. I wonder if he can do something via phone or email if one submitted blood panels? I would love to hear his thoughts on the subject.

You are most welcome :) I know some people poo-poo holistic vets but I wonder if there is a good one near you that you can get a diet opinion from. I think they specialise more in diet than traditional vets? Which is all very nice but do they specialise in diets for an everchanging disease? That, as I said before, is the problem with homemade diets. They have to change as the values change. I would have though someone who specialises in diet - whomever this yes, is would be able to modify the diet according to the progress of the disease? Based on your reasoning, please tell me how a static product like K/D copes with an ever-changing condition. I haven't poo-pood KD I am simply offering suggestions. It sounds like jaybeece is certainly capable of doing the required research and also more than capable of discounting any suggestions I have made. Yes, she is. :laugh: nuff said hey? But seriously, you brought up an interesting question but seem to be contradicting yourself - how does the branded food you recommend account for an ever-changing condition?

You are most welcome :) I know some people poo-poo holistic vets but I wonder if there is a good one near you that you can get a diet opinion from. I think they specialise more in diet than traditional vets? Which is all very nice but do they specialise in diets for an everchanging disease? That, as I said before, is the problem with homemade diets. They have to change as the values change. I would have though someone who specialises in diet - whomever this is would be able to modify the diet according to the progress of the disease? Based on your reasoning, please tell me how a static product like K/D copes with an ever-changing condition. I haven't poo-pood KD I am simply offering suggestions. It sounds like jaybeece is certainly capable of doing the required research and also more than capable of discounting any suggestions I have made.

My maltese terrier - Sarah lived to 17 years :)

Great stuff and well done to you for taking this step for you and Didi

You are most welcome :) I know some people poo-poo holistic vets but I wonder if there is a good one near you that you can get a diet opinion from. I think they specialise more in diet than traditional vets?

I have to agree that the ingredients in the k/d do look pretty cheap and nasty, but if the dog does well on it and it appears that many do actually do well on it then it is a no-brainer. Assuming of course that you can afford it. It is just a shame that the price is so high when the ingredients are pretty low cost. It has been around for long enough now that research and development should no longer dictate over-the-top pricing

I am sorry to hear of the trouble you are having with your dog and kidneys, here are some recipes that may be useful - I don't really know though, but I suppose if you wanted to go down the path of preparing your own then I am sure that there will be quite a lot of information available. I think there are also help forums on feeding dogs with kidney disease. Diets for Management of Chronic Renal Disease in Dogs The following diets supply nutrients for a medium-size adult dog, and provide about 10 percent protein (135 percent of needs). Chicken fat improves palatability. Increasing dietary chicken fat decreases the protein percent, however. The diets are all low phosphorus and provide 50 to 75 percent of vitamin D requirements. Some diets contain minimum amounts of sodium and some are low in sodium. Some animals loose excess sodium with chronic renal disease and in such cases iodized salt is used for flavor (one-tenth teaspoon iodized salt can be added). Depending on needs diets contain normal, low or high amounts of potassium. Potassium depleted animals can be fed a low potassium diet if one-fourth teaspoon potassium chloride is added. Magnesium is available to meet required levels. Some diets are low in vitamin B12 which is probably unimportant unless they are fed for many months. Substituting chicken or ground beef for eggs enhances flavor and provides more B complex and B12 vitamins. A vitamin B12 supplement can be given occasionally. The diets are balanced with respect to all other nutrients. Feeding a diet matched to needs can restore phosphorus, potassium and sodium to normal. Blood chemistry panels are done to monitor plasma concentrations. With normal blood levels dietary mineral levels can be modified. It may not be necessary to continue feeding a very low phosphorus diet; doing so may result in deficiency. To increase dietary phosphorus substitute bone meal powder or tablets for calcium carbonate tablets. For example, to one of these diets providing 45 percent of the phosphorus needs, adding bone meal powder in place of 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets increases dietary phosphate to meet NRC requirements. Normal calcium levels are maintained. At the end of each recipe directions are given for restoring normal phosphorus levels. Eggs and Potato Low Protein, Low phosphorus, High Potassium, Normal Sodium 1 cooked whole egg, chicken 3 cups potatoes boiled in skin (369 grams) 1 tablespoon chicken fat (14 grams) 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets (600 mg calcium) 1/2 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet provides 600 kcalories, 15.1 g protein, 18.5 g fat supports caloric needs of 18 pound dog provides phosphorus 53%, potassium 322%, sodium 114% of a dog's daily needs. To feed this diet with a normal amount of phosphorus substitute 2.5 grams bone meal powder for the 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets Chicken and Potato Low Protein, Low phosphorus, High Potassium, Low Sodium 1/4 cup cooked chicken breast (72 grams) 3 cups potatoes boiled in skin (369 grams) 2 tablespoons chicken fat (28 grams) 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets (600 mg calcium) 1/2 multiple vitamin mineral tablet provides 689 kcalories, 18.9 g protein, 26.8 g fat supports caloric needs of 21 to 22 pound dog provides phosphorus 45%, potassium 301%, sodium 54% of a dog's daily needs. To feed this diet with a normal amount of phosphorus substitute 3 grams bone meal powder for the 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets Beef and Potato Low Protein, Low phosphorus, High Potassium, Low Sodium 2 ounces (raw weight) lean ground beef, cooked (57 grams) 3 cups potatoes boiled in skin (369 grams) 2 tablespoons chicken fat (28 grams) 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets (600 mg calcium) 1/2 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet provides 737 kcalories, 18.6 g protein, 32.5 g fat supports caloric needs of 23 to 24 pound dog provides phosphorus 43%, potassium 293%, sodium 54% of a dog's daily needs. To feed this diet with a normal amount of phosphorus substitute 3 grams bone meal powder for the 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets Eggs and Tapioca Low Protein, Low phosphorus, Low Potassium, Normal Sodium 3 cooked whole eggs, chicken 2 cups tapioca, cooked, (125 g dry before cooking) 1 tablespoon chicken fat (14 grams) 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets (600 mg calcium) 1/2 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet provides 779 kcalories, 19.3 g protein, 28.9 g fat supports caloric needs of 25 pound dog provides phosphorus 40%, potassium 30%, sodium 216% of a dog's daily needs. To feed this diet with a normal amount of phosphorus substitute 3 grams bone meal powder for the 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets Beef and Tapioca Low Protein, Low phosphorus, Low Potassium, Low Sodium 4 ounces (raw weight) lean ground beef, cooked (114 grams) 2 cups tapioca, cooked, (125 g dry before cooking) 2 tablespoons chicken fat (28 grams) 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets (600 mg calcium) 1/2 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet provides 845 kcalories, 19.9 g protein, 37.2 g fat supports caloric needs of 28 pound dog provides phosphorus 18%, potassium 29%, sodium 55% of a dog's daily needs. To feed this diet with a normal amount of phosphorus substitute 4 to 5 grams bone meal powder for the 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets Egg White and Tapioca Low Protein, Low phosphorus, Low Potassium, Normal Sodium 3 whites from whole chicken eggs, cooked 2 cups tapioca, cooked, (125 g dry before cooking) 1 tablespoon chicken fat (14 grams) 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets (600 mg calcium) 1/2 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet provides 610 kcalories, 14.1 g protein, 13 g fat supports caloric needs of 18 pound dog provides phosphorus 6%, potassium 33%, sodium 269% of a dog's daily needs. To feed this diet with a normal amount of phosphorus substitute 5 grams bone meal powder for the 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets Chicken and Tapioca Low Protein, Low phosphorus, Low Potassium, Low Sodium 1/2 cup cooked chicken breast (143 grams) 2 cups tapioca, cooked, (125 g dry before cooking) 2 tablespoons chicken fat (28 grams) 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets (600 mg calcium) 1/2 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet provides 763 kcalories, 20.8 g protein, 27.3 g fat supports caloric needs of 24 to 25 pound dog provides phosphorus 20%, potassium 22%, sodium 55% of a dog's daily needs. To feed this diet with a normal amount of phosphorus substitute 5 grams bone meal powder for the 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets Eggs and Rice Low Protein, Low phosphorus, Low Potassium, Normal Sodium 1 cooked whole egg, chicken 2 cups cooked rice, white polished, long-grain (320grams) 1 tablespoon chicken fat (14 grams) 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets (600 mg calcium) 1/2 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet provides 721 kcalories, 15.2 g protein, 31.4 g fat supports caloric needs of 23 pound dog provides phosphorus 40%, potassium 30%, sodium 90% of a dog's daily needs. To feed this diet with a normal amount of phosphorus substitute 3 grams bone meal powder for the 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets Egg White and Rice Low Protein, Low phosphorus, Low Potassium, Normal Sodium 3 whites from whole chicken eggs, cooked 2 cups cooked rice, white polished, long-grain (320 grams) 2 tablespoons chicken fat (28 grams) 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets (600 mg calcium) 1/2 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet provides 693 kcalories, 18.8 g protein, 26.8 g fat supports caloric needs of 21 to 22 pound dog provides phosphorus 27%, potassium 43%, sodium 208% of a dog's daily needs. To feed this diet with a normal amount of phosphorus substitute 4 grams bone meal powder for the 1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets http://dogcathomeprepareddiet.com/diet_and_chronic_renal_disease.html

:laugh: My wife just rolls her eyes at me.

great thanks Mim!

..maybe you have a sensitivity to the active ingredient. My family only use the brown betadine liquid from the chemist. Our vet also sells it in plain bottles for far cheaper than the branded stuff.

Aww C'mon, my six year old daughter doesn't complain about Betadine on her grazes :laugh:

I personally would dump the food causing the upsets straight away, any new upset from new food is likely to be short lived anyway. It is probably the lesser of two evils :) FWIW the couple of occasions I have needed to do immediate food change overs, I mixed up some slippery elm tea and gave a dose before the feed and all was sweet - probiotics are also something I do during any times of health stress or change. Like anything food and health related, it really is a case by case proposition.

THanks Mim, Also got to agree from personal experience that peroxide doesn't sting anywhere near what apple cider vinegar does.

Its bloody annoying what other states is it legal in?

Sounds good and keep an eye out at your local fish mongers if they are a reasonable price as the fresh ones are a great addition to a meal. Bloody dog eats better than I do :laugh:

Do you use 3% or 6% H2O2 or another strength?

Oh yes, they are great! I bought a couple of kilos the other day for $5kg fresh in shell they were not too big, maybe slightly bigger than standard mussels. I shuck and feed 2 with a meal 4 times a week. I freeze them in 2s or 3s. I have bought the sunday pets freeze dried ones too, they are good but very expensive for what you get. I have run out of fresh so might have to go back and get some more :)

Hi all, I was just reading on an international Husky forum a post from someone who has just bought a 6 week old Husky x Malamute from a pet shop in Brisbane - I thought this sort of thing was illegal here. Does anyone know if this is okay in QLD? I know the name of the pet shop and happy to post if this is okay.

Lickety Stik :laugh:

Great work

I will keep this method in the memory bank, as huskies are prone to hot spots, thankfully Ronin hasn't had one yet - thanks for posting :)

Ouch! As someone who has put apple cider vinegar on my own minor wound/rash I can tell you it stings like buggery. I would imagine the listerine would as well?? I would be more inclined to do a swab with some calendula tea followed by the drying and keeping the hair out as excellently advised above. Keeping it dry is the main challenge. I wish Bailey a speedy recovery.

Excellent news - I am so please for you! and yeah it is bloody messy. I only have to pop the lid on mine and Ronin gives me the pleading eyes :D We use it now as a super high value treat when I can't get him to come in late at night when all else fails!