Minkas mum

On 27/07/2021 at 12:58 PM, Georgial said:

Hi there,

I have a 7yo working line Shepherd who had quite extensive skin issues when I got him as a rehome. My first thought was diet. I quickly got him off chicken/ chicken by-products/ poultry meal as well as beef. I also eliminated any carbohydrate- rice, potato, plus egg and anything dairy. I researched dry food carefully and found one with the main ingredient being fish and lamb with no poultry meal or carbs. I mix about 1 cup of kibble with the rest of his dinner made up of any combination of fresh lamb, sardines, lamb liver, salmon skin, white fish, pork, Turkey wings, duck feet etc.. I chop and change the raw meats, and add broccoli & grated zucchini. The meat is human grade, and you will find offal fairly cheap at most markets. The only other thing I did in combination with the dietary change is treat him for mites. While a skin scraping did not show them, the vet said they aren't always apparent on a skin scraping. Some dogs are prone to mite issues, they live naturally in small numbers on the dogs but can proliferate in times of stress, causing intense itching and fur loss, esp around the eyes, nose and up the legs. These areas then become infected and weepy. Since I have changed his diet and treated for mites, his fur has grown back and he looks like a different dog. I would have zero faith in a vet who was simply treating the symptoms (cortisone etc) and doing nothing overly useful in terms of figuring out the cause. 

Wow, that's interesting. My dog has what looks like a mite infestation but nothing showed on the skin scrape.  I will go straight to Petstock and purchase the treatment! Fingers crossed!

On 14/05/2021 at 12:08 PM, westiemum said:

 

Snook is completely correct.  I worked at a Vet School for a while a few years back.  Sadly vets have one or two, one-hour lectures on canine nutrition in their six years of training and its usually a pet food representative who delivers the lecture.  Go figure.  Its the same problem as GPs and drug reps. (Independent non-drug company funded studies clearly show drug reps have enormous influence on GP prescribing behaviour). So of course vets come away with the notion that industrially made carb heavy full of fillers dog pellets (I won't even call it food as in my mind its not) are fine for dogs.  But in actual fact they are made solely for commercial profits and for the convenience (IMO) of lazy owners who won't see through their BS. It's a very cunning strategy the dog pellet companies have run - make the highest profit pellets possible full of rubbish, then by controlling both the vets and the supply chain (pay for vet training, control the vets and their training - then they will strongly advocate their cheap nasty nutrition-less pellets for us and our dogs) - and they get happy and rich on the profits. And meanwhile chronic disease, allergies and itchiness in our dogs soars... (fact).  

 

I need to declare up front I'm a completely convinced raw feeder who won't let her dogs touch pellets, who believes we all get strung up and overthink dog feeding to a ridiculous point when as you say OP, they all thrived before the advent of commercial dog pellets and lived long healthy lives.  And funnily enough, like us they ate whole foods, not processed pellets.  I find it fascinating that the disease trajectories in dogs (and in us - increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, cancer, etc etc) are all on the rise since people started feeding (and eating the human equivalent), highly processed dog pellets with no moisture and full of fillers (cereals, grains, carbs, processed waste etc).

 

I find the best person to read and listen to is Dr Conor Brady an Irish animal nutritionist (not a vet) who has finally published his book called simply 'Feeding Dogs' (cheaper than one vet consult) and a page on Facebook called 'Dogs First Ireland'.  www.dogsfirst.ie.  OP if you do nothing else I suggest you have a read of the book and FB and then get on FB and ask him some questions.  He will also do (paid) online consults as well.

 

I've just started reading Conor's book and will always be a raw feeder. I look to balance my dogs food roughly without turning it into a major drama, as I think all this balance to the gram stuff is nonsense in the bigger picture (who balances their diet to such as degree?) and simply plays into the hands of the commercial dog pellet companies who sprout the 'whole food in a pellet' BS.  So here, my raw feeding is a bit of this and a bit of that, whatever is on special or available - seasonal eating with plenty of variety.  No 'Maccas for Dogs' here.  Here it's good healthy whole foods for my dogs - raw meat and fish from a raw supplier for dinner, chicken wings for breakfast, offal, chicken necks, turkey, WW cans of sardines and mackerel for when I forget to get their meat out of the freezer, pumpkin, carrot, swede (raw and cooked), and pure dehydrated liver (Australian made) and raw carrot and swede treats. RMBs for a good ol' weekend gnaw.  And my westies are thriving.  

 

Andy is 15/16 and he looks like he has years left in him yet, touch wood.    I find it easier now there are good raw suppliers popping up everywhere (there are some really good ones in Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills - Pete's Petfoods and Buddies Bites for a start). I buy human grade meats on special when I shop, ensure my westies are well hydrated and I sleep at night.   Found fresh salmon heads and tails at Buddies earlier in the week - and the westies thought they were marvellous - wonderful watching dogs chow down on raw food. - really tucking in and enjoying food as they should instead of becoming addicted to salt in pellets.  And neither of mine are itchy, have allergies or skin conditions that westies are notorious for.

 

Anyway you get my drift.  I know some will vehemently disagree - and you're welcome to.  Just would like you to produce the strong INDEPENDENTLY FUNDED research evidence that shows unequivocally that pellets enhance your dogs health and longevity.  (Bet you can't!).

 

Flame suit on! 

 

 

I have a dog with a terrible skin condition (don't know what's causing it yet) but there is so much conflicting information. I read that fish is a "heavy metal" and shouldn't be given but I also used to give sardines and tuna. What the?

On 21/04/2021 at 12:31 PM, Powerlegs said:

Yes, I own an Apoquel dog who still scratches if she gets into long wet grass. I have to wash her legs/feet.
Obv pred worked. We didn't skip any options. She tried Telfast and Phenergan. Exclusion diets. Liquid Cyclosporine. Cytopoint shots. Omega supplements. Everything.

Oh, and no oatmeal based shampoo.

She's the only dog I've had who was a genuine battle and despite the fact I don't like the idea of forever it's what's best for her. If the Apoquel hadn't worked she'd have been off to the Uni dermatologist. Kicking myself; I should have gone straight to them in the first place but what's done is done.  

Anyone in the same position, I'd say straight out from experience - save money and time and itches by going straight to the specialist. 

 

 

Can you tell me about the dermatologist and/or specialist? I have a dog that is not responding to ANY treatment.