I know this will sound selfish, but I CAN'T stand the smell of canned dog (or cat for that matter) food.....yuck!!!
I don't really want to stick with NB Vege...I'd rather homecook and will do so as soon as I can consult with a nutritionist. I really only got the NB to get her on a better food until I am able to home cook....it was only intended to be an "in the interim" food.
Part of the reason I'm researching so much right now is that I'm not into blindly trusting anyone really. Vets, doctors, preachers....no one is perfect, everyone has a biased view, and no one can know everything there is to know. I just like to make sure I'm able to sort of double check (obviously they know a lot more than I do), or at the very least bring up a question about a product/food that way we can discuss what I've learned rather than just disregarding either "theory".
I don't want to stay away from a lot of foods I'm being told to, but I also want Bella to stay a healthy little girl. Since she isn't exhibiting symptoms (unless you count the UTI, which we'll see about....I'm still not convinced it wasn't caused from being dehydrated during her spay??) I really don't want to be extremely strict with her....I still want her to get to lead as normal a life as possible. I mean, there is no way I would be extremely strict with myself if I weren't exhibiting any symptoms....I'd cheat! But then again, I love food! I just want her to get what she needs and wants without going overboard on either side of the coin. Since I'm responsible for her care...she certainly hasn't cooked me anything lately!
...I feel I have a duty to do the best I can for her, but also to know when it's ok to make exceptions. I still have to remember, other than her labwork (and possibly the UTI) she was just fine on the high protein puppy food she was eating before.
Nutrition is so confusing....I'm just trying to do my homework so I have edjucated questions and responses when I talk to the nutritionist, and I'm just trying to get by until then. Thank you to everyone who gives me their side of the story. I really appreciate knowing what I should be strict with and what would be ok in small amounts, etc... Knowing what other people are doing for their liver compromised dogs is making this so much easier, though it isn't easy by any means!