MVD and Vegetarian diet?

[107barney]

I never thought of trying whitefish but I could do that. I've used salmon and tuna she could not do that either. I do give milk thistle (we use the Marin product). I forgot about egg whites. I have never frozen cooked egg whites but I guess I could try. She loves egg whites! Maybe I could make an egg white/oatmeal loaf in mini muffin trays and freeze then like that.

I would have to consult with someone on the supplementation for her. I've got it down for the two dogs without medical problems but for her, I'd be starting over pretty much.

[Ellie May]

I'd say Ellie gets 2-3 pounds of whitefish per month and 12-18 sweet potatoes and 1 giant thing of oatmeal plus about 10 tbls. of olive or canola oil and 3V fish caps, so she is fed for $30-$40 a month or a bit more.

Egg whites do freeze but it wouldn't be appetizing to people.
You can cook them up separately about every three days.

We use Balance IT K and it is very easy.

[107barney]

Oh the 1/2 frozen watermelon sounds so delicious, I'd like some myself! I do freeze chicken broth cubes that I make when I pressure cook chicken for my other dogs and she loves those. I also freeze yogurt with blueberries and she loves that. I bet watermelon would be a big hit. I also just ordered a food dehydrator so I'll try to dehydrate some things for crunchy snacks.

Thanks for the ideas!

[107barney]

What is Balance It K?

[AmyChristine]

Originally Posted by 107barney

I never thought of trying whitefish but I could do that. I've used salmon and tuna she could not do that either. I do give milk thistle (we use the Marin product). I forgot about egg whites. I have never frozen cooked egg whites but I guess I could try. She loves egg whites! Maybe I could make an egg white/oatmeal loaf in mini muffin trays and freeze then like that.

I would have to consult with someone on the supplementation for her. I've got it down for the two dogs without medical problems but for her, I'd be starting over pretty much.

I personally wouln't use salmon or tuna. The whitefish seems to work really well with alot of mvd dogs. I steam mine with low fat, low sodium chicken broth and a touch or rosemary. I reuse the extra broth when I am done in the puree and to moisten my sweet potato. The dogs get excited when I am cooking the fish I just cook eggs every couple of days, they are so easy and fast to cook. But if you're really busy I bet it would work well in the muffin tins.

[AmyChristine]

Originally Posted by 107barney

What is Balance It K?

It is a supplement with amino acids and vitamins that is just for the homecookers it is much easier than figuring it all out individually. You can order it online, that is what I did.

[107barney]

Is it called Balance It Canine? It seems there is one for dogs and one for cats...is that correct? If so, I will order it!

[AmyChristine]

They have a "Balance It Canine K" and they also have a "Balance it Canine"

[107barney]

Thanks, I'll order it. I can play around with all the other ingredients. I will also give whitefish a try. Do you use a particular kind of whitefish of just "whitefish" the fish??

[TLC]

Roxy does best with Cottage Cheese as her protein source. She can handle a little chicken from time to time, but I mostly stick to the Cottage Cheese I buy the Friendship Brand 1% - No Sodium Added. She also gets Sargento Reduced Fat Shredded Colby-Jack Cheese added to the top of her mixture - she loves her food some much and is really doing well on it. It still amazes me how her anxiety level goes thru the roof EVERY time I am preparing her meals

[Ellie May]

I don't really like the Balance IT Canine because they added menadione.
You have to place an order to see the K option. It is made just for dogs with liver and kidney issues. You may need a prescription for it though and you have to talk to a nutritionist about how much to use.

[107barney]

Ok I contacted the BalanceIt people about the product and whether they formulate a diet for MVD.

What's the problem with menadione for the Balance IT canine?

For those of you that do cook for your MVD/LS dogs, did you have a diet formulated by a veterinary nutritionist or did you make one up on your own. I am sure I could create one but I am not sure of the protein requirements.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Ok I contacted the BalanceIt people about the product and whether they formulate a diet for MVD.

What's the problem with menadione for the Balance IT canine?

For those of you that do cook for your MVD/LS dogs, did you have a diet formulated by a veterinary nutritionist or did you make one up on your own. I am sure I could create one but I am not sure of the protein requirements.

Menadione is a synthetic vitamin K that has supposedly been linked to some diseases. It is used in Royal Canin LS 14 though and if you have to use it, you have to use it. However, your Yorkie should be on the Balance IT K anyway.

Your vet can order a low protein recipe for you (these aren't available to everyone) but they will probably stick you with the regular Balance IT. Also, I had Ellie vet do it and they were saying to use raw egg. We both decided a big no on that one, so I ended up contacted a nutritionist again.

[107barney]

I was thinking about using the Balance It canine for my other two dogs. Right now I cook for them, using bones for calcium and then adding some supplements and EFAs to their food. Their diets are very diverse so they get most of their requirements for food. Years ago I would worry that I was not supplementing correctly and I would have my vet run bloodwork. I have gotten over that, but if there is a product that does it all in one scoop, it seems easier.

As for my MVD dog -- that is what I'm worried about -- my vet is simply not that informed about the MVD diets and the specialist just recommends L/D and gave me that diet I posted yesterday.

Do you happen to know if Cornell does the diet formulations? I could easily take her there as my mom lives in NY and I'm there alot.

[TLC]

Originally Posted by 107barney

I was thinking about using the Balance It canine for my other two dogs. Right now I cook for them, using bones for calcium and then adding some supplements and EFAs to their food. Their diets are very diverse so they get most of their requirements for food. Years ago I would worry that I was not supplementing correctly and I would have my vet run bloodwork. I have gotten over that, but if there is a product that does it all in one scoop, it seems easier.

As for my MVD dog -- that is what I'm worried about -- my vet is simply not that informed about the MVD diets and the specialist just recommends L/D and gave me that diet I posted yesterday.

Do you happen to know if Cornell does the diet formulations? I could easily take her there as my mom lives in NY and I'm there alot.

My Vet/Pet Nutritionist is from Cornell University. I absolutly LOVE him
We communicate via email. I created Roxy's diet based on what she likes and what I like. I sent it to him along with her info, and he balanced it for me using human grade supplements.

I also give her Hepato Support and Vetri daily, along with Cosiquin and Aloe Vera Gel.

Do you want his contact info? (my diet in 8/08 cost $140 - but well worth it for Roxy as she LOVES her food and is doing very, very well)