Orijen Regional Red

[cellanjie]

I'm sure you are right. I forgot that it was Friday when I started the new food. Since it is the weekend and the vet is closed, I assume with my luck that they will all get sick from the food change. :P

In all likelihood, they are all worn out from dealing with the neurotic dog. None of us has had much sleep for days. Now that she's not flipping out, the others can sleep too. Wish I'd had the good sense to follow their lead.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

I really am glad the food is working. I guess anything is possible but normally I don't think food would change behavior much. If she still acts like that again I would look into something for anxiety just until she calms down and get comfortable. It sounds like she needs to build confidence which can be done by training, even just train to sit, lay and such. Please be careful leaving small dogs outside by themselves because they are prey for many animals. I did feed mine both Acana and orijen but she is soooooo picky and the pieces were just to big for her liking and I got tired of breaking them up.

Totally agree.

Jackson has anxiety like crazy with certain things, i.e. loud thunderstorms. I often think he's going to shake and pace himself into a heart attack. The vet prescribed him Trazadone so we're going to see what it does. Xanax did nothing.

[cellanjie]

Originally Posted by Britster

Totally agree.

Jackson has anxiety like crazy with certain things, i.e. loud thunderstorms. I often think he's going to shake and pace himself into a heart attack. The vet prescribed him Trazadone so we're going to see what it does. Xanax did nothing.

Is he worn out after one of these episodes?

[Britster]

Originally Posted by cellanjie

Is he worn out after one of these episodes?

Yes. Stress can definitely wear a body out.

Also, this pup is new? Your dogs would definitely be tired from a newcomer coming in that is neurotic as you say. That would wear them out - any change of routine.

[cellanjie]

Originally Posted by Britster

Yes. Stress can definitely wear a body out.

Also, this pup is new? Your dogs would definitely be tired from a newcomer coming in that is neurotic as you say. That would wear them out - any change of routine.

Thanks. Good to hear.

[cellanjie]

OK... Got it straight from the horse's mouth. My new vet.

Took Audrey in last week for coughing. She had kennel cough. Had to go back in yesterday for a recheck. Went ahead and took the other two to get the started at the new vet. The new vet has three vets on staff that fill in for each other, one of which doesn't do surgeries there. Not sure why. Is there such a thing as a PA program for vets?

Anyway, I had to see the bottom rung vet as the the one I saw last week that is the top dog was tied up with an emergency. She was horrified that I was feeding all three dogs the same foods. She'd never heard of Acana or Orijen Regional Red, but recommended I put Tink on their prescription reduced calorie kibble and the other two on something "dental" that would keep their teeth clean and the pup needs to be on the puppy version. While I wasn't thrilled about it, I thought I'd go along with it as she did highly recommend it and lectured me about the pup needing puppy food.

Then at the end, the vet we saw last week and had the appointment with, came in and looked over all she had done. He nixed the food change and said I am feeding is a high quality kibble and is appropriate for all three of them. (The calories for Tink is reduced by mixing in the Stellas which results in a lower calorie count.) Then he gave me a wink. LOL Needless to say, he charmed the socks off me. I do like him.

I was relieved as I wasn't thrilled about feeding chicken-flavored corn along with a lot of other questionable ingredients including caramel coloring to my Tink as I looked up the ingredient list while waiting for the lady vet to come back with Tink that she took to do labs. I hope I don't ever have to deal with her again. Since the big guy annotated their records of the nix, I am hopeful if I do have to run into her again, she'll see it and not start in on me again to buy the prescription stuff. If she does, I'll have to tell her to check the records. I'm not letting her talk me into it again.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by cellanjie

OK... Got it straight from the horse's mouth. My new vet.

Took Audrey in last week for coughing. She had kennel cough. Had to go back in yesterday for a recheck. Went ahead and took the other two to get the started at the new vet. The new vet has three vets on staff that fill in for each other, one of which doesn't do surgeries there. Not sure why. Is there such a thing as a PA program for vets?

Anyway, I had to see the bottom rung vet as the the one I saw last week that is the top dog was tied up with an emergency. She was horrified that I was feeding all three dogs the same foods. She'd never heard of Acana or Orijen Regional Red, but recommended I put Tink on their prescription reduced calorie kibble and the other two on something "dental" that would keep their teeth clean and the pup needs to be on the puppy version. While I wasn't thrilled about it, I thought I'd go along with it as she did highly recommend it and lectured me about the pup needing puppy food.

Then at the end, the vet we saw last week and had the appointment with, came in and looked over all she had done. He nixed the food change and said I am feeding is a high quality kibble and is appropriate for all three of them. (The calories for Tink is reduced by mixing in the Stellas which results in a lower calorie count.) Then he gave me a wink. LOL Needless to say, he charmed the socks off me. I do like him.

I was relieved as I wasn't thrilled about feeding chicken-flavored corn along with a lot of other questionable ingredients including caramel coloring to my Tink as I looked up the ingredient list while waiting for the lady vet to come back with Tink that she took to do labs. I hope I don't ever have to deal with her again. Since the big guy annotated their records of the nix, I am hopeful if I do have to run into her again, she'll see it and not start in on me again to buy the prescription stuff. If she does, I'll have to tell her to check the records. I'm not letting her talk me into it again.

Just keep in mind for certain things prescription diets are necessary and life saving not evil but pretty much uneccisary in your case. I'm not a fan of dental diets I'm not real sure they even do much. I'm not a fan of pushy vets mine lays out all the options and gives me the facts and answers my questions and let's me decide. Mine is the main vet but they have one or two that fill in on her day off and stuff so what I do is when I make an appointment I ask to get it with her unless it's like an emergency and I need to get in asap. Like I said before you will find lots of vets that don't believe in or like all life sages food my instructor is a big one of those.

[cellanjie]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Just keep in mind for certain things prescription diets are necessary and life saving not evil but pretty much uneccisary in your case. I'm not a fan of dental diets I'm not real sure they even do much. I'm not a fan of pushy vets mine lays out all the options and gives me the facts and answers my questions and let's me decide. Mine is the main vet but they have one or two that fill in on her day off and stuff so what I do is when I make an appointment I ask to get it with her unless it's like an emergency and I need to get in asap. Like I said before you will find lots of vets that don't believe in or like all life sages food my instructor is a big one of those.

I agree completely. That woman was incredibly pushy. If I'd seen her first instead of the main vet, I would not have returned to that office, but looked further.

I have a friend whose dog has to have the easy-to-digest prescription stuff plus homemade and it does wonders for her. If Tink ever has to go on it, I'm not going to even look at the ingredients. LOL Otherwise, I will flip I'm sure.

BTW, the pushy one claimed that if I put the pup on the dental stuff, I would never have to have her teeth cleaned. I highly doubt that statement, but as I've never had an animal on it their entire life, I can't be sure it's not true though.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by cellanjie

I agree completely. That woman was incredibly pushy. If I'd seen her first instead of the main vet, I would not have returned to that office, but looked further.

I have a friend whose dog has to have the easy-to-digest prescription stuff plus homemade and it does wonders for her. If Tink ever has to go on it, I'm not going to even look at the ingredients. LOL Otherwise, I will flip I'm sure.

BTW, the pushy one claimed that if I put the pup on the dental stuff, I would never have to have her teeth cleaned. I highly doubt that statement, but as I've never had an animal on it their entire life, I can't be sure it's not true though.

I doubt even the dental food would make that claim. Teeth are usually determined by genetics not by what you do to them. You could have a dog with bad teeth genetics and brush those teeth everyday and still need a yearly dental. the fact she made that claim is just crazy. My girl has IBD and we seriously tried EVERY food and food type nothing worked so she went on prescription food and does great minus when my dad slips her something she shouldn't have. My one year old has no issues but it's just easier to put them on the same thing. She also gets a handful or chicken when she needs to take her pills.

[cellanjie]

Her exact words after she guaranteed that they wouldn't ever need to have their teeth cleaned were, "You can either pay me now or you can pay me later. A lifetime of food won't equal yearly dental cleanings."

She is something else.

I haven't checked the "dental" food. It might be fine. She turned me off so badly on it, that I didn't bother after the main vet said it doesn't need to be switched. I probably should check it. Even if it's just a bit better for their teeth, it would be worth it provided it's not full of stuff I don't want them to have. Yorkies teeth seem to go bad earlier or at least Tink's did, even with my brushing and yearly cleanings. I just had her teeth cleaned a few months ago and she already has a tooth that has to be pulled. Pretty, clean, white, tar-free canine that has to be surgically removed. :/

I dunno. It's all confusing to me. I wish there were definitive answers, but of course, there are not.

[Britster]

Yikes. Sounds pushy. I would not like a vet that pushed me in either direction. Not a fan of that.

You are doing the right thing. I've learned not to... overthink things too much. It took me a long time though. I suppose I still overthink sometimes, but not like I used to lol.

[cellanjie]

Originally Posted by Britster

Yikes. Sounds pushy. I would not like a vet that pushed me in either direction. Not a fan of that.

You are doing the right thing. I've learned not to... overthink things too much. It took me a long time though. I suppose I still overthink sometimes, but not like I used to lol.

You're right. I'm not going to stress over it.

Thanks guys.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by cellanjie

Her exact words after she guaranteed that they wouldn't ever need to have their teeth cleaned were, "You can either pay me now or you can pay me later. A lifetime of food won't equal yearly dental cleanings."

She is something else.

I haven't checked the "dental" food. It might be fine. She turned me off so badly on it, that I didn't bother after the main vet said it doesn't need to be switched. I probably should check it. Even if it's just a bit better for their teeth, it would be worth it provided it's not full of stuff I don't want them to have. Yorkies teeth seem to go bad earlier or at least Tink's did, even with my brushing and yearly cleanings. I just had her teeth cleaned a few months ago and she already has a tooth that has to be pulled. Pretty, clean, white, tar-free canine that has to be surgically removed. :/

I dunno. It's all confusing to me. I wish there were definitive answers, but of course, there are not.

I'm actually glad I'm taking vet assistant classes it kinda helps in the stuff you should do for your own pets because it explains it better but sometimes it can still be hard.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by cellanjie

OK... Got it straight from the horse's mouth. My new vet.

Took Audrey in last week for coughing. She had kennel cough. Had to go back in yesterday for a recheck. Went ahead and took the other two to get the started at the new vet. The new vet has three vets on staff that fill in for each other, one of which doesn't do surgeries there. Not sure why. Is there such a thing as a PA program for vets?

Anyway, I had to see the bottom rung vet as the the one I saw last week that is the top dog was tied up with an emergency. She was horrified that I was feeding all three dogs the same foods. She'd never heard of Acana or Orijen Regional Red, but recommended I put Tink on their prescription reduced calorie kibble and the other two on something "dental" that would keep their teeth clean and the pup needs to be on the puppy version. While I wasn't thrilled about it, I thought I'd go along with it as she did highly recommend it and lectured me about the pup needing puppy food.

Then at the end, the vet we saw last week and had the appointment with, came in and looked over all she had done. He nixed the food change and said I am feeding is a high quality kibble and is appropriate for all three of them. (The calories for Tink is reduced by mixing in the Stellas which results in a lower calorie count.) Then he gave me a wink. LOL Needless to say, he charmed the socks off me. I do like him.

I was relieved as I wasn't thrilled about feeding chicken-flavored corn along with a lot of other questionable ingredients including caramel coloring to my Tink as I looked up the ingredient list while waiting for the lady vet to come back with Tink that she took to do labs. I hope I don't ever have to deal with her again. Since the big guy annotated their records of the nix, I am hopeful if I do have to run into her again, she'll see it and not start in on me again to buy the prescription stuff. If she does, I'll have to tell her to check the records. I'm not letting her talk me into it again.

This does not surprise me, unfortunately.

During vet school (and after too, btw, at all vet conferences), Hill's spends a FORTUNE on selling to and catering to vet students and vets. It's *exactly* what pharma and medical-bio-tech companies do with our human doctors - same thing.

I would always be highly suspicious of any vet who actually pushes Hills on you. When people push and sell - there is usually a reason behind it that is not rooted in integrity.

That said, there are times when I think Hills/SD can be appropriate for certain health issues. But beyond that, I can't show my support to a company who conducts themselves just like big pharma. Especially when there are soooo many wonderful pet foods out there that don't support this kind of business practice with vets!

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[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

This does not surprise me, unfortunately.

During vet school (and after too, btw, at all vet conferences), Hill's spends a FORTUNE on selling to and catering to vet students and vets. It's *exactly* what pharma and medical-bio-tech companies do with our human doctors - same thing.

I would always be highly suspicious of any vet who actually pushes Hills on you. When people push and sell - there is usually a reason behind it that is not rooted in integrity.

That said, there are times when I think Hills/SD can be appropriate for certain health issues. But beyond that, I can't show my support to a company who conducts themselves just like big pharma. Especially when there are soooo many wonderful pet foods out there that don't support this kind of business practice with vets!

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Techs and Vets have to have a certain amount of hours logged each year for continued education like going to seminars and stuff and Hills has many of these so its easier to find and do it with them then with others. But my instructor said you would be extremely surprised with how awesome their facilities are in fact she will be out of town this week at one of those conference seminar things and we are having our lab instructor fill in for the lecture part. I also have noticed a lot of vets are switching to Royal Canin over hills because it more palatable, my vet only has Royal Canin. The amount of research that Royal Canin, Hills and even Purina put into their foods is amazing. I trust them over other company's any day. Their is a certain amount of nutrition they do go over in school its just not to the extent of say an animal nutritionist.