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Originally Posted by ally173  my dog's vet is recommending the purina EN wet formula. however i noticed the following ingredients which can be toxic, especially for a dog with IBD and digestive issues.
Copper sulfate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex and sodium selenite; these ingredients can be toxic and cause vomiting and are not meant for long term use. however the vet said she might be on this diet for a long term if not her life.
can anyone please tell me more about these ingredients, why are they added to this formula and how safe are they? thanks |
Here is my experience with Purina EN. We adopted an approx 7-8 year old yorkie almost 6 years ago. (so she's about 13 or 14 now). Tina was a mommy dog from a puppy mill and was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis a few months after we adopted her.
We've managed her pancreatitis with a low fat diet. We gave her a home made diet for most of time, but still have had flare ups every 12-18 months. After her last flare up, the vet suggested we try out a few brands of the prescription food. She gave us a few samples, dry and canned, and the only one that Tina would eat at all is the dry Purina EN. We've had her on that for about 8 months. (I add water about 15 mins before serving to soften it up) Her pancreatitis has not re-appeared. The only draw back has been that her skin has become flaky. When I talked to the vet about it, she recommended supplement her food with a bit of fish oil.
I did some research on this site, and another member whose dog has chronic pancreatitis recommended California Natural Lamb and Rice Small Bites. In comparing the labels, the CN has about the same protein level, and even lower fat, which is very good for pancreatitis. So I've been mixing her food about 30% of the CN and 70% Purina EN, with the hopes that the CN will help her coat, also.
In our case, I know there may be some risks associated with giving Tina such a low quality food, such as Purina EN, and especially since it contains some questionable ingredients. But pancreatitis flare ups are extremely painful, and can even be fatal. It's so important to keep this under control. So I feel that whatever risks there are with the Purina are offset by the reduction in her symptoms. Tina is an older dog, so this is an easier call to make.
Why did your vet recommend the Purina EN? Does your dog also have a chronic condition?