Help Please

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by Beabble

Question, do you guys think this would be a bad idea considering how sensitive Mags system is? She has a compromised immune system as well.

Honestly, I wouldn't do anything with Mags until you talk to your vet. I would see how they feel about it since they know her history.

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by BabyGirl Rosie

Honestly, I wouldn't do anything with Mags until you talk to your vet. I would see how they feel about it since they know her history.

I know doc isn't gonna like this change at all, but I'm sure in the back of his mind, he knows I have to do somethin, he knows how I am about my furkids and I'd put money on it he's just waitin on my phone call....

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by Beabble

I know doc isn't gonna like this change at all, but I'm sure in the back of his mind, he knows I have to do somethin, he knows how I am about my furkids and I'd put money on it he's just waitin on my phone call....

Oh no. Maybe he will see the benefit in the long run. But honestly, if it was me and it was worse to change her I don't know what I would do. Good luck with that tomorrow. We will send prayers you get the answers you need.

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by Beabble

I know doc isn't gonna like this change at all, but I'm sure in the back of his mind, he knows I have to do somethin, he knows how I am about my furkids and I'd put money on it he's just waitin on my phone call....

Need to correct myself up there. He isn't gonna like the change for Mags, cause of what her system has done in the past. He liked the change when I home cooked for Isaiah years ago.

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by BabyGirl Rosie

Oh no. Maybe he will see the benefit in the long run. But honestly, if it was me and it was worse to change her I don't know what I would do. Good luck with that tomorrow. We will send prayers you get the answers you need.

Thank you very much, I appreciate it tons!!

[Prince Toby]

Originally Posted by Beabble

I'm at my wits end here. With all the dog food recalls going on with the Diamond Pet Food company, I've pretty much had it, I can't even tell you the crap our furkids have been through going from food to food, and what my boxers are now on, I'm really ashamed to say.... Now with Wellness having been added to the recall, I'm tossing in the towel, I want to start home cooking for our furkids. I need to start researching home made dog foods and any vitamins and stuff I may need to add. But I'm also worried about Mags, she has a compromised immune system and doesn't handle food changes very well at all. When she was 2 years old and I tried to switch her to Wellness's adult dog formula, she ended up in the ICU with IV's in her. I just now FINALLY (after 4 months) got her totally switched over to it, and now they have recalls and I'm no longer comfortable feeding this to her or Jazzie. Furthermore, are the yorkies more prone to pancreatitis? (sp) I am so scared, I don't want to do anything to hurt any of them, but I really feel that home cooking would be best for all of them. Do any of you home cook for your furkids? If so, do you have any recipes, do and don'ts you'd be willing to share? Links are appreciated to. I won't do the BARF diet though, just not comfy giving raw meats. Thanks so much in advance.

I know you are scared with the recalls. I have been out of my mind with worry everytime someone offers Toby a treat, but I do not have to worry about his food. You might want to look into Fromm they have different varieties and they have never had a recall. Everything is done within their plant and all ingredients are made in the USA. I spent a lot of time researching food, and I found a local boutique that sold this and once they showed me a photo album of testimonials of dogs that had skin and health problems and then was put on this food and did 100% better I was sold, and now I have my own testimonials with my Golden Retriever and Toby my yorkie. Fromm is a little pricey but the benefits far outweigh the cost. Not trying to push you one way or the other, just telling you what has worked for us. I wish you the best of luck.

[KimInMD]

Originally Posted by BabyGirl Rosie

I was scared when I first switched to home cooking. It really is something to think about. I used the Petdiets.com and I am so glad I did switch. But with that said, I have also used members here for support as I needed it. I will ask them questions because they have done it longer than I have. I really think it is important to have someone to direct the questions to. Mikki still eats kibble for bedtime snack. I was feeding TOTW which she loves. Bought Blue Buffalo this weekend and she will not touch it. So off to find something else. I am thankful that my situation is just finding a snack and not the main meal with all these scary recalls. Home cooking has been good for my girls. I think it was a good choice for me to change over.

petdiets.com Thank you so much. I can't wait to check this site out! Oh my goodness, I have so much to learn!

@Tracy- Keep us informed as to what you decide to do. Hugs to Mags!

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by Prince Toby

I know you are scared with the recalls. I have been out of my mind with worry everytime someone offers Toby a treat, but I do not have to worry about his food. You might want to look into Fromm they have different varieties and they have never had a recall. Everything is done within their plant and all ingredients are made in the USA. I spent a lot of time researching food, and I found a local boutique that sold this and once they showed me a photo album of testimonials of dogs that had skin and health problems and then was put on this food and did 100% better I was sold, and now I have my own testimonials with my Golden Retriever and Toby my yorkie. Fromm is a little pricey but the benefits far outweigh the cost. Not trying to push you one way or the other, just telling you what has worked for us. I wish you the best of luck.

Thank you so much for your input, it is greatly appreciated. I'm gonna have to research this.

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by KimInMD

petdiets.com Thank you so much. I can't wait to check this site out! Oh my goodness, I have so much to learn!

@Tracy- Keep us informed as to what you decide to do. Hugs to Mags!

I sure will Kim, and please, let me know how your kiddos are doing as well!! I went to that site to Kim, LOVE IT!!

[107barney]

I've been a home cooker now for my dogs for 12 years. I would never formulate a diet for a dog w/ a problem all by myself. I am experienced at this and probably could write my own diet of ingredients including supplementation but I don't. I consult with Dr. Remillard veterinary nutritionist and Diplomate of the ACVN and let her guide me. As much as I know about this topic from 12 years of doing it, I will never come close to knowing what she knows. I'll give you an example -- my dog Daisy is showing some very early signs of kidney disease. It is so early that it was picked up in her urine. Naturally, I want to slow the progression as much as possible. I took her to my vet, and then to her internal medicine specialist. Both of them had some diet suggestions. To be thorough, I emailed Dr. Remillard with whom I have a long relationship. She made a minor adjustment to Daisy's diet that no one else thought important to make. She is a specialist....to think I could ever come close to someone with all her experience who has worked in a large urban boston hospital that sees 40,000 animals per year and now at a large university vet school.....I could never do my dogs that injustice of leaving their nutritional needs to me and me alone.

Just my thoughts, take what you want from them.

[dwells1959]

I started cooking for Harlie when she was 18 months old, she stopped eating ANY bagged kibbles. She loves grilled chicken or roasted turkey, white rice and green beans or sweet peas all mixed with a teaspoon of puried pumpkin. The pumpkin makes for perfect poopies with little pink bows on them .

[Beabble]

Well, I talked to our vet today, and yes, doc does recommend a supplement if I choose to switch to homemade for the furkids, which they do sell there at the vet, it's Pet tab Plus, by Pfizer. I did a quick search on it and AM NOT happy with what I found. If you do a search on "Pfizer Pet Tab Plus Warning On Lead Poisoning," you'll come up with all kinds of warnings on this supplement. Not one I would choose now.... :-( Is ANYTHING safe now days?? As for Mags, as much as I didn't want to hear it, he doesn't recommend changing her diet AT ALL, but said the final decision is mine. He said he knows how sick she was last time we tried to change her diet, brought up that she has a compromised immune system and her system doesn't handle change well AT ALL. I knew he was going to say that. The formula I have her and Jazzie on hasn't been recalled yet, but another formula by Wellness has, and since the company lied to me, I don't trust them anymore. I seriously don't know what to do. I feel like either way I turn is a no win situation. Just sick to my stomach and totally discusted here....

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by Beabble

Well, I talked to our vet today, and yes, doc does recommend a supplement if I choose to switch to homemade for the furkids, which they do sell there at the vet, it's Pet tab Plus, by Pfizer. I did a quick search on it and AM NOT happy with what I found. If you do a search on "Pfizer Pet Tab Plus Warning On Lead Poisoning," you'll come up with all kinds of warnings on this supplement. Not one I would choose now.... :-( Is ANYTHING safe now days?? As for Mags, as much as I didn't want to hear it, he doesn't recommend changing her diet AT ALL, but said the final decision is mine. He said he knows how sick she was last time we tried to change her diet, brought up that she has a compromised immune system and her system doesn't handle change well AT ALL. I knew he was going to say that. The formula I have her and Jazzie on hasn't been recalled yet, but another formula by Wellness has, and since the company lied to me, I don't trust them anymore. I seriously don't know what to do. I feel like either way I turn is a no win situation. Just sick to my stomach and totally discusted here....

I am so sorry. You have a tough decision on your hands. I wish you would consider talking to Dr. Remillard at Petdiets.com. I am currently emailing her over the dry dog food issue. She is great to work with you. And is aware of pups with medical issues. She is a specialist where your vet is just a general vet. I also wish you would ask about the BalanceIt supplement. I have had such good luck with it. Just a thought. Maybe talking to a specialist will help ease your mind and help you in making a decision. I know how hard it must be! Hugs to you!!!

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by BabyGirl Rosie

I am so sorry. You have a tough decision on your hands. I wish you would consider talking to Dr. Remillard at Petdiets.com. I am currently emailing her over the dry dog food issue. She is great to work with you. And is aware of pups with medical issues. She is a specialist where your vet is just a general vet. I also wish you would ask about the BalanceIt supplement. I have had such good luck with it. Just a thought. Maybe talking to a specialist will help ease your mind and help you in making a decision. I know how hard it must be! Hugs to you!!!

As much as I hate to do it, my husband and I talked and I'm going to have to keep Mags on the Wellness. I CRINGE at the thought of this, but I also cringe at the thought of switching her and her getting so sick and possibly losing her. For now, she isn't sick, and we're praying to God that the formula she's on doesn't get recalled. I don't know what else to do, all I know is right now she's healthy, and if I switch her food, she's not going to be. With her and the others all just getting over kennel cough very recently, I don't think she could handle being knocked down so badly from a switch in her food. I pray to God I'm doing the right thing.

[ladyjane]

One of my pups, Cookie, has lymphangectasia, a protein losing enteropathy and also IBD; and I consulted with a vet nutritionist and I am home cooking for her. She is doing fantastic....that condition is managed with proper diet. I have exact amounts that I cook for her each day...everything is drawn out for me including the supplements. I don't make this up on my own. It is not hard to do and, as I said, it has saved her life. She was very, very sick in December and is thriving now.

A couple of years ago I had consulted with a vet nutritionist for another pup who has since passed. He had pancreatitis and also renal issues so all of the dog foods were a problem for him. The home cooked diet I was given was great for him and kept him alive for much longer than he would have been without it.

I encourage you to go to American College of Veterinary Nutrition and really consider a vet nutrionist consult.