Dog Owners

**Windex** · 07-17-2019, 12:42 PM

Currently own two dogs and considering a few more (mostly leaning towards Husky, Shepard, or Mastiff). Always bought dog food as the kibble from store.

Looking at trying whole food nutrition approach for the new dogs - organ meats, butcher leftovers, rack of lamb, chicken, rabbit, duck, filet mignon, etc.

Anyone follow a similar diet program for their dog? any best practises / recommendations based on their experience?

**ghettoboyd** · 07-17-2019, 01:29 PM

I have a co-worker who does just that with her Dobermans and one dies every 5 yrs or so and she dosent think its the diet...ive suggested it but I cant get her to listen to reason and maybe try kibble on one of them and see how long it lives...I doesn't seem like a coincidence to me but I am not a vet so idk...just my 2 cents brother...

**almostgone** · 07-18-2019, 08:32 AM

I know mastiff owners that feed a raw diet, but personally feel that if it isn't done properly, it shorts the dog nutrient wise, especially the large and giant breeds.

You really want to feed large and giant breeds properly....not too much when they are young; don't starve them, but don't feed them do much that their are overgrowing their bone and frame development.

On the other hand, as they reach mid- life, you want to be feeding them the foods that promote joint longevity.

I would stay away from most of the Hills products except for their food that is for dogs that are prone to forming kidney stones from a high purine diet, it is good stuff.

We've had mastiffs off and on for the majority of the last 25+ years and even though they have had a recall, Blue Buffalo was giving us good results and healthy "kids".

Our last mastiff weighed a tad over 270# and he was as agile as most hunting breeds.

**Couchlockd** · 07-18-2019, 12:20 PM

Blue buffalo

**songdog** · 07-18-2019, 05:15 PM

Got a Bulldog and the Vet said Purina ! I give 1/2 can 1/2 dry and hhe does great but is ready to eat anytime.

**Windex** · 07-18-2019, 06:48 PM

Thanks for the info.

Went down a rabbit hole and saw all the anti kibble propaganda. My dogs turn 15 this year and wanted to add a few pups to the family. Always done Purina myself but heard a lot of good things about Blue Buffalo.

My "neighbour" is on the raw food from the local butcher and he's going to be 12 this year.

**Couchlockd** · 07-18-2019, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by songdog

Got a Bulldog and the Vet said Purina ! I give 1/2 can 1/2 dry and hhe does great but is ready to eat anytime.

Don't feed that thing Purina.

**Obs** · 07-18-2019, 11:53 PM

This dog could not stand yesterday. Parvovirus almost got him even after vaccination.
We are caretaking these labs while the owners are on vacation.

The vet put the white dog on amox which was simply stupid. Broad range antibiotics kill good bacteria and weaken the immune system. The white dog clearly took to vaccination and has the parvo antibody present in its system. The amoxicillin was a preventative measure that really is senseless.

Fist off, antibiotics dont touch a virus. Secondly, it is up to the dog that has been exposed to parvo to fight it off via its own immune system after vaccination.

So why weaken its digestion and natural probiotics with a broad range antibody?

These veterinarians need to go back to school.

**Obs** · 07-19-2019, 12:01 AM

I must give the vet credit for sending IV's home though.

Most lethal infections are cureable via electolytes, saline, (in an IV drip sub q) and probiotics.

If your animal has a serious intestinal infection, do not leave the vet without an IV.

I have administered hundreds of iv fluids to cattle, digs, and cats.
I just lost a cat simply because I had no IV and the vet was closed.

Vets get to doing things on a boring day to day basis and overlook the simplest things. Most fatailities in dogs and cats due to illness involve a dehydration.

If it won't eat and has diarrhea then it should get an electrolyte and saline iv.

It can only help.
Dogs especially are very very strong suited in fughting intestinal infection. If it gets diarrhea, something is bad bad off.

**Obs** · 07-19-2019, 12:20 AM

I guess the most important thing in a digs nutritional program is a healthy probiotic balance.

This dog would not touch the pro bios food the vet recommended. This hotdog was the first thing he touched since his diagnosis.
If he keeps it down he is out of the woods.

This dog isn't mine but I like the little guy just because I like helping sick animals. Especially with something as deadly as parvovirus.

**Obs** · 07-19-2019, 12:24 AM

Also... This dog is one of the greats.
Even so sick that he could not stand he would not piss inside. His sister pissed and shit on everything and he had diarrhea accidents and vomited but only pissed when we took him outside. He could control that so he did.

If I was gonna train a dog this one would be it.
He holds tight to his rules even on deaths door.

**almostgone** · 07-19-2019, 03:04 AM

Originally Posted by Windex

Thanks for the info.

Went down a rabbit hole and saw all the anti kibble propaganda. My dogs turn 15 this year and wanted to add a few pups to the family. Always done Purina myself but heard a lot of good things about Blue Buffalo.

My "neighbour" is on the raw food from the local butcher and he's going to be 12 this year.

FYI, I wouldn't advise feeding dry and canned food in the same meal to any breed that has a deep chest. It thought to be a cause of bloat/stomach twist in the larger breeds.

**AR's King Silabolin** · 07-19-2019, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by Windex

Currently own two dogs and considering a few more (mostly leaning towards Husky, Shepard, or Mastiff). Always bought dog food as the kibble from store.

Looking at trying whole food nutrition approach for the new dogs - organ meats, butcher leftovers, rack of lamb, chicken, rabbit, duck, filet mignon, etc.

Anyone follow a similar diet program for their dog? any best practises / recommendations based on their experience?

Had dogs all my life.
I just stay with expensive dogfood. They are good enough.
My last GD experienced a serious stomach twist at the age of 6. Had to be very care full with diett. But we used the most expensive dryfood the vet could offer, and it gave him 4 more quality years.
Actually i think he could had lived even longer, but in nigth, he ate all of my wifes chocoladecake, and he got sick and vet said it was time.

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**almostgone** · 07-21-2019, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by Obs

This dog could not stand yesterday. Parvovirus almost got him even after vaccination.
We are caretaking these labs while the owners are on vacation.

The vet put the white dog on amox which was simply stupid. Broad range antibiotics kill good bacteria and weaken the immune system. The white dog clearly took to vaccination and has the parvo antibody present in its system. The amoxicillin was a preventative measure that really is senseless.

Fist off, antibiotics dont touch a virus. Secondly, it is up to the dog that has been exposed to parvo to fight it off via its own immune system after vaccination.

So why weaken its digestion and natural probiotics with a broad range antibody?

These veterinarians need to go back to school.

You'd be amazed at some the idiotic vets will try. A family up the road lost most of a litter of German shorthaired pointers to coccidiosis.

Without any testing their vet prescribed a diuretic, withhold water and food, no electrolytes.
Umm....no, no, no, and no.

**Obs** · 07-21-2019, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by almostgone

You'd be amazed at some the idiotic vets will try. A family up the road lost most of a litter of German shorthaired pointers to coccidiosis.

Without any testing their vet prescribed a diuretic, withhold water and food, no electrolytes.
Umm....no, no, no, and no.

Holy shit!
The cause of death with coccidiosis is usually dehydration. I would have sued the sob.
If a vet cant see its coccidiosis pretty much from looking at the feces immediately, then they probably dont need to be a vet.

All they have to do is scope a sample at 400x to see the oocytes.

**Obs** · 07-21-2019, 09:29 AM

Black dog is back to his old self now btw

**almostgone** · 07-21-2019, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by Obs

Black dog is back to his old self now btw

Nice!!!

**almostgone** · 07-21-2019, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by Obs

Holy shit!
The cause of death with coccidiosis is usually dehydration. I would have sued the sob.
If a vet cant see its coccidiosis pretty much from looking at the feces immediately, then they probably dont need to be a vet.

All they have to do is scope a sample at 400x to see the oocytes.

I agree he should have spotted it immediately. Even with immaculate kennels, that's one of the most frequently seen issues when the pups and Mom are fairly isolated.

**Charlie67** · 07-22-2019, 03:31 PM

I use Eukanuba 30/20. Expensive, but my dogs health is outstanding.

**i_SLAM_cougars** · 07-25-2019, 12:26 PM

All my dogs have lived to be pretty old so I have to say... it doesn’t really matter. I’ve fed them regular food, I’ve fed them expensive food... they’d still rather go eat some animal they’ve found that’s been dead for 3 days

They’d also rather drink water out of a mud puddle, that purified water out of their dish.

I think it has more to do with exercise and love with Dogs. They tend to hang around longer if they feel like they have a reason to, and it helps to keep their hips as healthy as possible.