Ask Susan Peters - Pet Care
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These pages are dedicated to improving the life of your dog and cat.
Flea and Tick Information
- Flea and Tick Prevention and Treatment
- Fleas In The House
- My Dog Has Fleas with Video
- My Dog Wont Quit Scratching
- When Is Flea Season?
- Winter Flea Treatment
Funny Stories
- Breaking and Entering Pet Sitter Gets Caught
- Cat and Dog Pictures of The Week
- How Much Money Can You Make With Hub Pages
- Pet Sitting Pitfalls
- Purina Dog Food Diet For People
Magazine Reviews
- American Kennel Club Family Dog Magazine
- Animal Wellness Magazine
Pet Care
- Christmas Pet Dangers
- Dog Bows
- Dog In Season
- Dog Moles
- Do I Need To Express My Dogs Glands?
- Do My Dog's Nails Need Cut?
- Gift Ideas For My Dog And Cat
- Gotta Go!! Gotta, Gotta, Go!
- Heartworm Information Is Your Pet At Risk?
- Holiday Pet Dangers-Valentine's Day
- Home Made Dog Food and Cat Food Recipes
- How Often To Cut A Dogs Nails
- How Do I Treat Clipper Burn?
- How to choose a good Groomer
- How To Clip Dog Nails Information Video
- Inside The Grooming Shop
- My Dog Wont Quit Scratching
- Paw Licking
- Pet Food Recall Class Action Law Suit
- Pet Food Recall What About Our Dead Pets And Vet BillS?
- What is Clipper Burn?
- What Is Gland Expressing?
- What Is In My Pet's Food?
- Why Does My Dog Shake His Head?
Pet Food Information
Class Action Law Suit Filed Against Pet Food Companies
Del Monte Pet Foods Information
Flint River Ranch Information
How To Join The Pet Food Class Action Law Suit
Purina Pet Food Information
Three Dog Bakery Information
Pet Food Recall Information
- Brands Recalled
- Cat Food and Treats Recall List
- Cat Food Recall Is Your Cat Sick?
- Class Action Law Suit Filed Against Pet Food Companies
- Dog Food and Treats Recall List
- Dog Food Recall Is Your Dog SICK?
- How To Join The Pet Food Class Action Law Suit
- In Memory Of My Best Friend
- Pet Food Poison Alert
- Pet Food Products In The News Up To The Minute News Release
- Pet Food Recall Class Action Law Suit
- Pet Food Recall What About Our Dead Pets And Vet BillS?
- Safe List - Not Recalled
- What's In My Pet's Food?
- What's the Recall All About?
- What's being done
- What is the Pet Food Recall Really About?
- What's in the pet food to make it included in the Pet Food Recall
Pet Food Review
- Pet Food Ingredients
- Pet Food Nutrition
- Cat Food Ratings
- Cat Treat Ratings
- Dog Food Ratings
- Dog Treat Ratings
Videos
- Bathing A Cat Video By Ask Susan Peters
- Cat Hair Cut Video By Ask Susan Peters
- Dog Bow Making Instructions Video
- How To Clip Dog Nails Information Video
- How To Use Dog Bows Video
- My Dog Has Fleas
- Preparing To Bathe A Cat
- More videos being added
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Comments
Please get the work out there. my sammy, nine years old, eat whiskas pouches. i am so grateful he is home now with three medications a day. he would up in the emergency clinic with poisioning. Do Not Feed Whiskas pouches. no matter what the manufacturer says. i love my sammy very dearly...
In the lists of recalled foods..
the two that I give my cat wre not mentioned ?
Iams and Eucanuba
Do you have any information on those foods
Thank-you, Susan
Susan,
Both of those brands are listed on the recall sheet. Follow the links to find the recalled product codes.
Susan Peters
Pet food recall
My 10 year old healthy cat became very sick with kidney failure after eating food from a new bag of Science Diet feline light. I have checked and this product is not on the recall list. Have you heard of anyone else having a problem with this product of Hill's.
Hill's Science Diet hasn't done very well in the reviews and ratings. Hill's has a number of recalled products. This is a very expensive, poorly made product to feed your kitty. Given the cross contamination issues I wouldn't use it to feed my cat.
Go to my Class Action Page - Contact Cathy MacIvor (listed there) she is going after all the pet food companies for poorly made products (not just recalls).
Susan Peters
I continued to feed my dog Pedigree (Ground Chicken with Chicken Chunks) because they weren't on the recall list and their website assured people they were safe. Suddenly, my dog is sort of listless and has lost most of her appetite for any dog food. It's as if she knows she'll feel sick if she eats it. I checked the can of food and, sure enough, it has "wheat gluten" in it!! Anybody else having a problem with Pedigree Ground Chicken? I'm taking my dog to the vet anyway.
Yes, people are having Pedigree problems.
Susan Peters
I have 3 dogs and so far I have been feeding them Science Diet dry food with a little bit of Pedigree canned food mixed in it. Science Diet has had bad reviews, and I am not entirely sure about the safety of the canned food either. I am on a very tight budget. Can you recommend any if possible reasonably priced brand I could switch to?
Thanks
I looked at the food I feed my dog (Pedigree Little Champions) and it had a rating of 5/10. Not very good huh? I've heard good things about "goodlife" dog food, would you recommend it?
Thanks
Bruce,
Sorry I was so slow getting back to you. I was out of town for a couple of days. The Goodlife is far from being "Good". You should look at the review I gave it. Goodlife doesn't have any recalls but does have a Class Action Lawsuit against it for false advertising.
Oh, don't forget that June 17 - June 23 is the National Pet Food Boycott. Too many pets have died due to these pet foods and we are standing up to the pet food producers. Feed a jar of baby food if you don't have time to cook. That should hold you over until the boycott has passed.
Susan Peters
Hi i have a 4month old little 2.6 pound baby shitzu.I wonder if i can feed her any table food?
Tom,
You may feed your Shih Tzu table food. Please make sure this isn't packaged food like from McDonalds or from a box, etc. Little guys like your Shih Tzu can't take preservatives. Believe me or not dogs like fruit, veggies, etc. There are a few cautions when feeding from the table. No chicken bones, chocolate, onions, garlic, chives, avocado, grapes, raisins and macadamia nuts can all cause illness when eaten by pets.
Susan
i have a 6 month old chiuaha, that is the most loving pet ever. when i feed her chicken or any table food (which we are trying to cut back) she will grab a bone and walk around and whine. its like she's trying to find a place to hide it or bury it. but it never fails with in minutes of eating this happens. any ideas?
Deb,
This is a very common action when a dog gets a bone. I remember my Mom saying to me the best way to keep from getting bit is to never bother a dog with a bone.
Susan
I have a boxer that is 2 years old and has become sick in the last 3 days he shows no signs of sickness except being extremely lazy and a low appetite. I'm pretty sure he never got into anything bad for him and he just turned sick do you have any ideas on what it might be. it also happen very suddenly good one minute bad the next. thanks Stu
Stu,
What brand of pet food are you feeding?
Susan
royal canine for boxers trying to switch to Orijen meat based local product from a reputable pet store should I switch back?
Stu,
Royal Canine has issues with recalls. I have done reviews on Orijen. http://hubpages.com/hub/ORIJEN_ADULT_Dog_Food_Acan Keep an eye out and see if maybe this new food was just a bit rich for your dog compaired to what he has been eating. I would trust the Orijen, myself. Keep me advised.
Susan
Stu,
I should add to my above comment that your dog will probably only eat about a 1/4 of the amount of dog food because you have switched to a much better quality pet food. Reduced appetite is not the same as not having an appetite.
Susan
my sisters dog was fine earlier today, and we just brought her in from outside and shes moaning in pain and throwing up, i dont know whats wrong
Aaron,
Get him off the dog food he is eating! Switch to something homemade or with a quality list of ingredients. What is your sister feeding?
Susan
I Susan,
I have given my dog the Masters Choice Country Stew, along with Pedigree dog food (dry). My dog loved it. I now see the recall - my dog didn't receive that much in one sitting, but she did receive some twice per day. Is the amount I gave her safe, or should I be taking her to the vet? She seems fine.
Just wondering about canned pedigree (Chicken and rice)...I mix with either dry pedigree and just started her on kibbles n bits and she's been in the vet hospital since Mon. She's eaten the canned pedigree forever but just bought the pedigree dry and kibbles n bits within last 3 weeks. Have not seen a recall on either. She's been so ill and finally today when I called, she has not thrown up or diahrrea. I'm probably looking at Fri. before she's better? They are thinking its HGE ( Hemorrhagic Gastro Enteritis) but I'm still wondering about the food? Anyone else having problems with Pedigree/dry and wet or Kibbles n Bits dry? This has been such a horrible experience and I don't want anyone else to go through this.
Has ther been a recall on Kibble N Bits - Original savory chicken & beef?
Valerie,
Be sure to provide a safe food for your pet. Symptoms usually appear in 3 days so you may be okay for the short term. If in doubt you should take her to the vet asking for a blood work up. Keep a watchful eye open.
Susan
Cathy,
Just because a company didn't wish to be included in the recall (this was not a forced recall) doesn't mean the pet foods are safe. The two brands you have mentioned are responsible for countless pet illness and deaths. Both of these brands are involved in a Class Action Lawsuit for pet deaths.
Susan
Linda,
No recalls for Kibbles N Bits, the company did not wish to be included in the recall. Kibbles and Bits continues to be responsible for countless pet illness and deaths and the company continues "business as usuall" without letting the public know their product is killing our loved ones.
Susan
Hi Susan. My beloved companion just passed away this past monday, july 23, 2007 of kidney failure. His favorite food was mighty dog and thats what he ate up until we heard about the recall in april. It was too late because he spent the last year with several uti's and began leaking his urine to the point that we had him in diapers. My question is: Is it to late to join the class action lawsuit? I would like to do this in Snoopy's memory.
Janet
Janet,
No, it is not too late to join the Class Action. In memory of Snoopy and for the all the future pets we must protect from the trash pet food companies are sell for us to feed, here is the link. http://www.mflegal.com/
Susan
I moved in may next to a walmart.My cats were doing fine.They were eating drinking and active.I started feeding them special kitty dry cat food since wal-mart has it.They were eatting it fine until July when I bought a small bag of.They would eat a little at time then just stopped eatting it so I tried other brands.Anyway,I had three cats,one just stopped everything all together and died july 17th,the other one did the samething and died aug.2nd.The pet food dry was not on the list.What is the best thing I could feed the remaining cat.
I sent a question to you a month or so ago and saw my response which makes perfect sense. But.... my Crickett doesn't care if you remove the bone or pigs ear from her when she whines after eating. I just wondered if this is some kind of fear of not getting enough food. Sorry, what she does is after she has eaten people food which is only chicken and vegs and gets full, she grabs one of her chewies (not a toy) and walks around trying to hide it. She seems to hord food or chewies after she is full.. Could this be something from her first 4 months before we got her or is it really a normal behavior to try to hide and bury food. She doesn't go outside unless supervised but loves to dig, and thats what she tries to do with food or chewies after she is full. I am sorry I didn't be more clear with my request before. Thank you again for all the wonderful information you provide. It has been so very helpful. Deb Mickler
Martha,
Stay away from any pet food with Corn, Wheat, or Soy. There are other cautions but this should be a good place to start.
Susan
Deb,
I am glad the information I provide is helpful to you. I don't think the hiding of a bone or chewy is anything odd, most dogs show this type of behavior. My dog, after going to the bank (the doggy bone - drive through), always "plants" her bone in the car some place. She usually has it secured by the time we get home but has no interest in eating the bone. Should another dog or child get into the car at a later date my dog is always checking on and protecting that darn bone, which she has no plans of eating. I think it is just a doggy thing!
Susan
I have a beagle with kiver disease..Hes been on SOLID GOLD HOLISTIC...I heard SOLID GOLD was proseesed in the same Machines at DIAMOND as the recalled stuff..Can there be crossover contamination of this brand.. Thanks Carolyn
Susan, I was unable to find either Nature's Recipe Adult Chicken Meal and Rice Recipe or Purina Cat Chow Complete Formula on the Recall list OR the Safe to Feed list. Do you know the status of these two cat foods? Thanks, Lori 8-20-07
Lori,
Nature's Recipe is not included on my safe list due to so many reports of pet deaths and the Class Action Filed against this company do to pet deaths. This company decided not to be included in the recall, the pet food recall was not a forced recall, and hope people wouldn't notice thier products are killing pets.
Susan
Dear Susan can you answer this which dog food companies DO NOT import there ingreidents ?
In other words SAFE DOG FOOD.
If dont want to answer here email me
Thank You!!
Robert,
A "Safe" pet food is pretty hard to determine at this time. My best advice is to make sure the food you select does not include Corn, Wheat, Soy, By-Products, Animal Digest and "Meat". "Meat" is rendered pets, road kill, etc.
Good luck,
Susan
Susan, I have a two year old Shih Tzu who has started throwing up yellow bile about once a week. I feed him Nutro Ultra Small Breed Adult, sometimes he throws up in the morning I was wondering if I should change his food. I would also like to make homemade dog food, can you suggest a good recipe. Thank you for your help.
Jennifer,
The FDA has classified Nutro Brand pet foods as Poisonous, Nutro has a mile long list of recalls, and there is a Class Action filed against the company for the thousands of pet illnesses and deaths the company and it's products have caused.
What you have described is exactly what the other pet owners have reported.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Home_Made_Dog_Food_Recipes You can look through these recipes and see if anything appeals to you.
Susan
Susan, Thank you for the information on Nutro Ultra, I thought the recall was only for canned and pouch food not dry food. I tryed the link above and it said that the hub does not exist anymore is there another site I can look at.
Jennifer,
Thanks for the "heads up" on the link. Try this http://hubpages.com/hub/Home_Made_Dog_Food_Recipes
Susan
I recently bought nature's recipe dry dog food lamb&rice, I have 3 German shepherds and a Great Dane they have been on it for 2 months they did fine on it ,until this last bag I just bought on Aug 24,07 ,I opened it on Saturday morning to fed them, by that afternoon they all had diarrhea real bad, I thought it was supposed to be good for them?
Susan--Do you happen to have any reviews on Timberwolf Organics? I cannot seem to find any reviews anywhere. Thank you in advance for any info or help you can provide me on this product!
Susan,
Which is the best dog food and cat food that you recomend? Please e-mail me later today if you can, this is going to be in a little newspaper, sorry for such a late notice :)
P.S. Please tell me the price of the food, I can probably look it up anyway though,
thanks :)
if you can't see my e-mail its madmarmas@yahoo.com
MMM,
Here are some links to the safe pet foods. Just because these pet foods are listed as "safe" doesn't make them the best. http://hubpages.com/hub/Cat_Food_Safe_To_Feed_Afte
http://hubpages.com/hub/Dog_Food_Safe_To_Feed_Afte
There is a rating system for each of the foods mentioned. Click a couple and you will see how they did in my reviews.
I will work on getting a review for Timerwolf done this weekend. I've had several requests for reviews on this product.
Thanks,
Susan
Susan,
We are in the process of adopting a 4 month old Manx Kitten, I would love to get your advice on the best kitten foods. Thank you for your guidance, it is greatly appreciated.
Daveg
Dave,
Great, I know you are excited. I'm not sure what pet foods are available in your area so I have sent a link to two lists. The first list is of safe cat foods. The second list is of cat food reviews. Please select a 10/10 (or as close as you can get to 10/10) and make sure it is listed as "Safe".
Good Luck!
http://hubpages.com/hub/Cat_Food_Safe_To_Feed_Afte
http://hubpages.com/hub/Cat_Food_Review
Susaan
Do you know of any website or videos that sghow how to make the double loop dog bows? Also how and what to use to stiffen and keep the ribbons from fraying on the ends? Thank you.
Judy,
I don't know of another site which does the double bows. I know of a couple of ways to do the double bows but I don't feel like I'm ready to make a video on them. What most people do is make a single loop, glue it into a circle and place it on top of the bow I made in the video. If you include the cirlce loop you just made in the rubber band you will get the double bow effect.
To stiffen the bow and protect the edges there are several products offered in the craft sections at Hobby Lobby. Check with a sales clerk and see what they suggest for the type of ribbon you are using.
Susan
I have a Cocker Spaniel who just turned 7 about 6 months ago I noticed a small mole forming on his ear but it has gotten bigger should I take him to the vet or is this normal?
Stephanie,
Moles on Cockers is fairly common. When ever in doubt have a vet check it out. It sure wouldn't hurt to have it looked at.
Susan
Dear Susan,
I have a maltese and he loves canine carry outs.
I just found out that Canine carryouts has been recalled. (I live in Seoul, Korea)
Is Canine carryouts safe? I'm still feeding it to my dog.
Please advise me what you think. I have no information on its recall.
Regards,
James
James,
In the States this treat is made from Corn, Wheat, or Soy. The company has pulled the product from our shelves due to the large number of dog deaths. Check your packaging to see if corn, wheat or soy is included in the ingredients. These three grains are very toxic to dogs and cats.
Good luck!
Susan
I would like to see you rate Taste of the Wild dry dog food. My dogs love this and from the looks of the ingredients, it's probably 10/10
George,
I'll have reviews for you on Taste of the Wild dog food starting tomorrow.
Thanks,
Susan
hi i have a question.i have a 3 month old pug and she's barely going to get her first vaccines.She's been throwing up some type of clear liquid and I have no idea of what it can be.Thanks.
Ruby, I need more information before I can try to help. How many times, how often, etc. does she throw up? Has she been wormed recently? When does she get sick ... after meals? What does she eat?
Susan
Ruby, I need more information before I can try to help. How many times, how often, etc. does she throw up? Has she been wormed recently? When does she get sick ... after meals? What does she eat?
Susan
I attended a symposium on cat food with veterinary specialists where one vendor compared this cat food to others such as Azmira, Triumph, Wild Kitty, raw bones diet aka barf. Gourmet Pet Chef was rated best. My cat has been given a new lease on life, thanks to this food, that is good for renal kitties too. To make ANY cat food better for renal failure cats, cut the protein by adding more fats and carbs, such as feline friendly veggies and olive oil. Both cooked and raw menu choices plus tapas. Never any chemicals or cheap vitamins.
Henry's Mom,
I wish I could have attened with you. Thank you so much for the insight on the different foods. I'll work on getting a review done on the Gourmet Pet Chef foods.
Thanks for the information,
Susan
Henry's Mom,
Could you provide more information on Gourmet Pet Chef foods? I don't seem to be able to find it on the internet. Who makes it, etc.
Thanks,
Susan
hello my dog passed away 0n 6/7/06, I started him out on IAMS and later in life to Science Diet, also he had been prescribed in L/D science diet. His liver was high and he was switched to L/D for a short period of time and then I went back to the regular science diet, he developed a cyst on his gum and I had it surgically removed and his teeth was cleaned also, about 3 weeks later he would not eat and became dehydrated, he was given fluids by IV, antiboitics because his kidneys were shutting down, the diagnosis was liver and kidney. I wonder even to date what happened. He was 15 years old.
Sabrina,
I don't know how Science Diet was made back in '06 so I can't tell you what I think happened then but I can tell you what I think if it would have happened in '07 or now.
If you were to tell me everything you have just told me and said it happened this past week or so I would tell you it is, without a doubt, the pet food.
I've seen so many pets come into my shop with cysts and kidney and liver swelling....I advise all my clients to change dog food and get the pets off of corn based diets. Corn based diets kill pets.
Susan
My boyfriends dog has become more and more sick recently. He is a Greman Shephard and is about 12 years old. The past few months he was drinking lots of water and would pee around the house. He has been throwing up every day or every other day. Now today we are extremely worried. Hes been moaning and wimpering and thrrowing up. I got home from work and there was throw up and he hasnt stopped only hes to the point where he hs nothing left to throw up and hes dry heaving. Please Help we are worried and dont know if its just somthing he ate.
Kerrin, It is his pet food. Check it, I promise you it has corn in it. The corn is killing him.
What ever you feed him must not have corn, wheat, or soy. These three grains are like feeding anti-freeze to cats and dogs.
Please keep me advised. Dogs should live well into their 20s
Susan
Susan, one of my cats had a seizure this past friday for no apparent reason. Vet ran some blood/pancreatic test and could not find anything. The only different thing, was a fed them with soft treats Whisker Lickens CRAB flavor (I usually give them Chicken or something like that). My other cat had a diarrhea the same afternoon..... reading in some newsgroup, I found one that their cat had seizures with the same kind of treats but Salmon flavor.Have you heard anything related to this kind of treats?.
Jaime,
You have described grains poisoning. Corn, wheat, and soy will cause seizures, fever, ear aches, ear infections, tumors, warts, hot spots, excessive shedding, weight gain, bad breath, drooling, dental problems, bloat, kidney inflamation, liver inflamation, heart conditions, deafness, blindness, abnormal nail growth, arthritis, and death.
Just feed antifreeze in small doses and you will get the same results. Corn, Wheat, and Soy are cheap fillers used by pet food companies in pet foods and pet treats to reduce the cost of production. These three grains will kill your cat or dog!
Susan
After the recalls last year, I switched my 10 yr old shitz/bichon from Science Diet (canned) to Medi Cal gastro (available only at Vet office). I have not been able to find info regarding foods only sold in Vet offices. Are they safer then the others?
Dorothy,
I'm checking.
Susan
Dorothy,
I haven't done a full review on Medi-Cal but from the looks of it you would be just as well off with Ol'ROY.
Susan
Dorothy,
Your original question was if Medi-Cal is better than Science Diet. The answer is yes. Science Diet scored much less than Ol' Roy and Medi-Cal scored the same as Ol'Roy. Your vet is making a fortune!
Your vet is getting you coming and going. Shop harder for a vet and dog food.
Susan
i have 13 cats, 2 dogs, and i try and feed the best food i can find, and also make my own raw, but i also have to have other types when i cant make my chicken, and also have a few cats, that are determined to not eat the raw, i feed california natural dry alot, what is going on with them? please advise, also solid gold? thanks vickie
Vickie,
California Natural has a class action filed against it due to the large number of pet deaths and illnesses associated with feeding this substandard pet food. The claim against California Natural is false advertising by stating their products are healthy for pets.
Solid Gold still looks to be a good investment.
Susan
Hi,
I recently changed my westies diet to Life's Abundance instead of Pedigree. One westie which is about 3 years old was constantly breaking out in some type of skin rash, sneezing and biting himself all the time. His rear end was raw from biting and licking. The vet said it was just allergies. He was given a vaccine, antibotics, and an oral medicine called cyclosporin to use daily. I didn't feel good about him taking that kind of medicine the rest of his life. Not knowing what it would do to him in the long run. Even with the prescription he was taking he was still breaking out every 30 days or so. Then I changed their diet to Life's Abundance after researching about the hidden facts of the dog food industry. I was appalled at what they put into the food they sell us for our pets. It's all about $$$.
Do you know anything bad about Life's Abundance? The bag lists only natural ingredients. Anyway my westie has stopped licking his paws and biting and scratching. Plus he has no new outbreaks. He's been on the new food for about 4 wks. Of course the vet doesn't agree that his problem was food related, but I decided to go it alone with the change of their food. So far it looks like they are doing better with their skin.
Thanks,
Eva
Eva, What you have described the effects of corn, wheat, and soy. I'll bet money your vet sells Science Diet....loaded with these grains. We have a couple of vets in our area who tell their clients that grains are not harmful to the pets. 9/10 of the pets we see daily in our salon have these same symptoms.
Life's Abundance uses beet pulp and potatoes as their fillers. I've noticed in the ingredients Life's Abundance uses what appears to be the end of a beer run from a brewery. http://hubpages.com/hub/Lifes_Abundance_Premium_He
You might be interested in another page, too.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Effects_of_Corn_In_Dogs_Di
Susan
I just put down my 8yr old shar-pei(brick) he ate pedigree his whole life and i just found out about the case against them yesterday.I hope the system makes these corperate pigs pay for the grief that we suffer.Good bye Brick you will never be forgotten
Brian,
I am sorry about your wrinkled fella. I would like for you to leave a message to Brick on my Dog Food Recall - In Memory Of My Best Friend page http://hubpages.com/hub/Dog_Food_Recall_-_In_Memor
I hope these companies start helping our pets and stop killing them!
Susan
I USE TO FEED MY DOGS OL"ROY ,THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I EVER MADE!!! THE DOGS HAD BAD TEETH, HAIR FELL OUT, BIG BOILS, EARS SMELLED , CANCER, KIDNEY FAILURE, WELL, YOU GET THE PICTURE. THIS PRODUCT WOULD KILL A BUZZARD!!! HOW CAN THIS KEEP GOING ON??HOW DO THESE PRODUCTS GET AN APROVAL TO REACH THE MARKET??SO IF THE VET TELLS YOU TO RUN ALLERGY TEST AND GIVE SHOTS TO STOP THE SCRATCHING , TRY ANOTHER FOOD , IT WORKED FOR MY DOG BEFORE HE DIED, AND A FRIENDS DOG I TOLD TO TRY ANOTHER FOOD.WE ALL HAVE LOSSES AND FEEL LET DOWN BY THE PEOPLE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRUST!!!
LLB,
Ol'Roy is not the only pet food which will cause all these symptoms. Corn, Wheat, and Soy are the reasons for the allergies. I'm sorry for your loss. I, too, feel the pet food companies should be forced to make changes. Trusting a name brand should be anything but a death sentence for our pets!
Susan
I have been reading alot of these hubs and without a doubt diet has such an influence on our dog's health. I have never had any issues with my 6 month old choc. lab. She started on eukanuba from my breeder. i switched her to ORIJEN Large breed pup and she is doing amazing. it is grain free and the only grain free suitable for Large breed pups. my breeder has even switched. it is pricey and hard to find but so worth it . you can get it on line also.. web is www.championpetfoods.com
Jen,
Thanks for the link
Susan
My concern is I fed both my dogs Pedigree canned dog food last evening, within 10 to 15 mins, my pup had seizures he's never experienced that ever, and my 2 year old Rott was vomiting last night and the runs this morning. When i called the vet they at fisrt said my pup may just have seizures but when i told them both dogs had problems they told me to contact pedigree cause both dogs having problems from same can. It was possibly the food. Well i called pedigree and they told me they would send me coupons for more food, i said no didn't want that what would they do if my vet said their food did this. And she told me it was a process, i said no my question is what will pedigree do, and i don't mean after it's too late. She wasn't helpful. Try to tell me my dog was stressed that's why he vomited. I don't have any of the food left only the can, I purchased it from Walmart, and the lady told me well we don't have any recalls. So what can i do???? Can i make them pay for vet bills, once proven or what?
Amber,
Corn, Wheat, and Soy will cause the conditions you described with both of your dogs. Just because these grains might not be listed on the label doesn't mean the grains aren't included in the recipe.
I am sorry that I can not answer your question about the vet bills you will need to contact an attorney to answer those types of questions.
Susan
Can you tell me what the best choice of dog food for a big German Shepherd 8 years old? Also, the best snacks.
I am trying to find Orijen, but she was on Science Diet and I just switched to Nature's Recipe - both bad.
She is on pain pills and antibiotics now. She's had surgery on her hip and knee and hair is falling out, ears infected, sores all over her and she smells. She has been to 2 vets and they say she needs to prescription diet, but that has bad stuff, too.
Is peanut butter bad?
Can I give her Lactose free milk?
Thanks,
Barbara
Remove all corn, wheat and soy from her diet and all the smell, hair loss, infected ears, oily coat, scratching and itching, panting and fever will be greatly corrected in three weeks time or less.
No milk! One weaned milk is toxic to an older pet.
Why the peanut butter? Dogs really should not have peanut butter because nuts cause problems for them.
Oh, change vets. The one you are using knows everything I am telling you but enjoys your money more than the health of your dog.
Have you looked at this site? Great information here http://hubpages.com/hub/Cushings-Disease-Starring-
Some vets are telling their clients their pets have Cushings Syndrom when it is all in the pet food.
Susan
I saw that site - that's how my dog looks at times.
I feel so bad and I try so hard to make her better, but nothing was working. I know more now. NO more milk of any kind and No peanut butter.
Thanks. What do you feed your dog? Orijen and what else? I have to stop so many snacks and foods I feel like there's nothing safe.
Barbara
Barbara,
I spend so much time on the internet you would think I could find time to order pet food, huh?
I cook for my dog and cats. After my dog developed a number of the symptoms your dog has I quit feeding pet foods because I was afraid she was going to die. One day she hid under the sofa and did not come out for three days. I saw personality changes, her hair fell out, she stunk, she was bloated (looked like fat) so I knew it was the pet food.
Susan
I would really like to cook her food now, too. I just keep finding more and more that I can't give her. I just read no rice, no potatoes, and no egg whites. I guess I am just trying to get it right. Any recipes or ideas would be so much appreciated.
Thank you for your help.
Barbara
Barbara,
Brown rice is ok and so are potatoes if you know they are ripe and fresh. I use a bit of potatoes at home for mine. I've found too many companies do not inspect their potoatoes so I choose to tell people to stay away from them in packaged foods.
I give my pets pretty much everything I eat. I cook from scratch so there are no preservatives in my food. But as an "in the mean time", like when I am not eating at home, I boil a chicken and save all the broth.
Now just have fun loading in with apples, peas, carrots, green beans, squash, etc. You can cook the stuff with the chicken or you can toss it all in the blender when you have finished removing the bones from the chicken (very important!). Chicken fat (from home) and grissle are good things to leave in the mix. I add enough brown rice to thicken the mix just a bit. I get vitamins at the store (color and preservative free) and toss one in the pot. I usually get the stuff adults would use, nothing fancy just good ol' basic vitamin. I like to toss in a couple of eggs, too. I am not worried about home eggs because we use the whole egg and not something called "egg product" and we know our eggs are good.
I use small throw away tubs (washing and keeping them anyway :0) or zip lock type baggies to put my mix in. Once in the bag I drop 'em in the freezer.
Don't be alarmed if your pets eat just a 1/4 cup or less because it won't take much to make them full.
I watch for turkey to go on sale or brisket (not at Wal-Mart) without the preservatives. Use just about anything that is fresh or frozen and you should be in good shape.
No nuts, corn, wheat, soy, milk, grapes, rasins, avacados, garlic or onions.
Susan
Thank you for your time and help. I want my dog to get better.
Here is a site I found with info, too. http://www.risingwoods.org/OURFAMILY/THEDOGS/known
Not sure if you agree with their findings or not and you seem to know what is best.
Besides the beef treats you freeze - do you bake or dehydrate any treats?
Barbara
Barbara,
I make treats in the oven from the recipe I told you about. I don't add back the broth until later. I add just enough rye flour to thinken the mix until it looks like corn meal. I roll the dough out on a flat cookie sheet 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick then use a pizza wheel to cut into little cubes. I place the cookie sheet in the oven @ 350 degrees for about 1/2 hour. The little cubes fall right off the pan. These treats I put in a plastic jar on my counter for handy access. The treats seem to last for ever!
You should hear my little dog ask for these. She goes crazy over them.
I'll check out the link.
Thanks, Barbara.
Susan
Barbara,
I agree with everything on the list except I have changed my thoughts of table scraps since our pet foods are so sub standard! I should have mentioned the vitamin - iron free.
I may be wrong in doing so but I like to add a bit of fat to my pets' diet so I leave the fat on the meat. I know the old timers used to feed fats in the winter to their pets to increase their warmth and promote shedding in the spring. Fats also help reduce dry skin.
Fats do store toxins so if the animal was not well (the beef, chicken, etc) these toxins will be passed on through fats.
Great link. Thank you.
Susan
You said you make treats in the oven from the recipe you told me about. Do you mean the meat, fruit and veggies cooked. That doesn't sound like it would stay on the counter even after baked. It doesn't spoil? I will try that. Thanks again. You are a wealth of info and help.
You need to write a book.
Barbara
Barbara,
I use just the meat and all the other goodies - hold the broth, to make the treats. I sometimes add more brown rice or rye flour to thicken the stuff to look like corn meal.
I cook in a 350 degree oven until firm or just crispy (depends on what type of treat I am making). Only 30 minutes baking time.
Lasts for ever in a plastic jar on the counter. I tried to leave the treats in a candy dish but my pets figured out what I was doing and fund 'em. Treats didn't last long at all.
I like to add a Tablespoon of nutmeg and cinnamin and a dash of all spice to make the treats smell like Thanksgiving! Pets don't mind the spices and they smell so great!!!
A book, huh? LOL Hmmm, let's see....what to call the book. :-)
Susan
Well, my Elsie I', sure will thank you as she gets better.
I just got back from the store and have the chicken on boiling. I have to keep stopping myself from adding salt and garlic - I use garlic in all our food.
I got apples, carrots, potatoes (can sweet potatoes be used?) and can celery be used? and what about cranberries? figs? I bought the rye flour and brown rice. It was hard to find the vitamins without color and no iron, wheat, soy, or corn, but I bought them in the pet aisle.
I will de-bone the meat and play with a concocktion I hope she will like. I have no more can dog food so wish me well. I don't think she will mind eating our food.
Barbara
And are banannas ok?
Barbara,
Banannas are great. I like to get the ripe ones that need sold right away.
They don't carry pet vits. where I live. Good job!
I am like you with the use of garlic. I put garlic on my fried eggs, good thing I'm married or I'd be single all my life from the use of garlic! Not Odie, Angel, and Boots...they don't get garlic.
You asked about figs. I am a bit unsure of the figs. The figs have such an odd texture which makes me think they are on their way to fermintation. Celery, cranberries, etc all is fine. I watch to "sell quick" area of the produce section and buy nearly all the stuff there. I don't like to use acorn squash because the stuff is so darn hard but butternut and summer squash is often in that basket. I usually leave the peal on my fruits and veggies unless they are really ripe. Bananas I peal.
I think you will have fun cooking for Elsie.
I fix food for my girls (chicken or roast) and have to have a sandwich out of the stuff. I didn't know food could taste good without garlic - it does! :-)
Susan
Now you tell me :) Thanks again, great idea for next shopping trip. Also, next time I leave the peel on.
I just finished the first batch so we will see today how she likes it. I think I have to practice more, but it smelled great.
We are growing squash in our garden, but may need to plant more. I think we are growing okra, too. Can't remember - too tired.
Thanks for helping us help our dog and I have already shared the info with relatives who may do more for their dogs.
Talk to you later, Barbara
Do you have cats and/or dogs?
Elsie loves the food I made her.
But I goofed up the treats. I didn't make them thick enough and they crumbled into small pieces. SBut she likes them.
I am working on another batch. I hope it's better.
Barbara
How fun!
Try adding the smell good spices just for you.
I really dreaded making my pets' food but once I started thinking of things to put into the recipe it was a lot of fun and doesn't take all that long. The treats do take a bit longer but they are fun too. I have decided I am treating myself to a stand mixer with a pasta roller (for making treats, of course!) for my b/day. I can't wait to get that. I'm going to try the meat grinder attachment with the treat recipe then bake the little "strings" and see how that does for "dry" food to take with us when we travel.
Susan
Hi Susan,
Cushing's Disease has got to be the last straw. What kind of drugs must they
"prescribea" these poor animals? Pet owners: Please ask these media people just where is the MEDICINE in those "prescription" foods, and to please have somebody justify the PRICE of it after having reviewed the INGREDIENTS?!
Apologies for this long post, but pet owners must really speak up once they realize they've been deceitfully conned and their trust so blatantly betrayed.How sad is it that we MUST DEPEND ENTIRELY on the Internet to be remotely informed, when Brittany Spears' every breath is force-fed us every waking moment? Veteinarians are telling their trusting clients to feed that which makes the pets SICK(ER) because of a profitable conflict of interest. Just what does a pet parent do if they have no Susan Peters/Internet to ask for the facts?? I urge everyone who has had pets on "prescription formulas" suffering from various, chronic ailments only to be drugged up (Cats on Insulin; dogs on Steroids ...antibiotics for urinary and stone issues...) to submit news tips http://www.nbc11.com/contactus/index.html; , contact Animal Lawyers who would investigate, and please file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission to end the deceptive, fraudulent conflict of interest which is veterinarians "prescribing" and selling food which has been proven to be detrimental to the species' health? There is NO medicine in those cheap fillers. This is FRAUD (just READ those ingredients to confirm this -- NO MEDICINE AT ALL), and violates consumer laws in many states which prohibit misleading consumers with utter falsehoods. And note what unknowing pet owners PAY for a bag full of sawdust, soy and corn -- believing their pets will actually get better!! Look at all the DRUGS your pets are on!!https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_C
WalMart and all those other stores, which supplied foods which killed pets, got sued. Now just who PAYS WalMart for their trusted medical treatment, advice and guidance? We can provide all the evidence in the world on these posts proving that these foods are pet killers, but what good is it when veterinarians are still telling everybody differently -- and everybody will, of course, believe them because they trust them?! My own SISTER still feeds dry -- despite the fact that her pet happens to be a feline -- a strict carnivore!Can doctors sell cigarettes to Cancer patients? Yet how can a vet NOT know a feline is obligatory carnivore! Those "vets" keep DIABETIC cats on dry cheap filler-laden food when such "diet" is WHAT caused the DIABETES IN THE FIRST PLACE! ").WWW.CATINFO.ORG; WWW.YOURDIABETICCAT.COM; WWW.DOCTORMWFOX.ORGHere are Attorneys Specializing in Animal Law:Mr. Adam Karp: adam@animallawyer.com Attorney Beckstead (also the Mayor): sbeckstead@animallaw.comAttorney Fennessy: rfennessy@fennessylawoffices.comRobert Newman: theanimallaywer@aol.com Jon Rankin: jon@animallawoffices.comAttorney O'Quinn: abelm@oqlaw.comAttorney Wagman: bwagman@shiffhardin.comAlso write to Attorney C. Maclvor (Susan has informed us.: :>) cmaivor@mflegal.comThe MEDIA needs to know that it is our right to be informed, and the Internet is required for a consumer to remotely have a clue. I also request that they ask a vet who is selling this "food" the nutritional benefits of peanut hulls, sawdust, soy and by-products (google for gory details of the "4 Ds.)These people need pressure put on them to do their JOBS and inform! (They have all the facts! on silver platter already; I have sent them resources along with links.) Following are a few of the NEWS Investigative Teams/Channels; News Radio; and Newspapers so far emailed who could probably use a push as they MUST have viewers/readers who own petsIf you'd like to shoot one (or more) a line or two, maybe they'll get the hint? Pet owners need to fight for our right to be informed, instead of having Brittany Spears force-fed us every waking moment! The mainstream media has advertising revenue from those pet food companies, which may have something to do with their reluctance to provide this information. Either that, or they have McVets they, themselves, trust -- instead of having a good veterinarian who has no NEED to be a salesman because he's just too busy being a DOCTOR! (Our family's wonderful veterinarians before we moved never, ever pretended to know about diet and never, ever became aggressive sales-people instead of Doctors.)
news-tips@nytimes.comnytimesnews@nytimes.comEditor Bernard, top dog at WSJournal: d.bernard@wsj.com; d.bernard@dowjones.com (Sometimes I get the emails back because his box is full.) investigators@kvoa.comjsnyder@thehill.com (Mr. J. Snyder; the Hill is a DC paper which Congress reads)newsdesk@wavy.cominvestigators@newsnet5.comhooper@wmar.comKeith King, Investigative. Reporter: investigators@nbcactionnews.com5investigates@kpho.comnewsdesk@express.co.ukdavid.lazarus@latimes.combobgrant@wabcradio.comMr. Sayre: msayre@klastv.combill.dedman@msnbc.comcarr@nytimes.com (Mr. Carr)news@upi.com (united press internat'l)Top Editor for philadelphia enquirer, Mr Marimow: bmarimow@phillynews.comiteam2@wfsb.comnews7@wdam.comRalph Nader: editor@newscenter.orgcongresswatch@citizen.orgnewstips@kyw1060info.comDr Sachs, Radio Host on Sirius: oneworld@sirius-radio.comknbc.news@nbcuni.com gknapp@klastv.com-Deceived and Defrauded Companion Animal Owners
D&D,
Wow! What a powerful voice you have! I am going to write an article reflecting all you have stated. Please feel free to post on any and all of my pages so other readers will hear you.
Thank you so much for your sage sound off and fantastic links and email addresses.
Susan
Hi Susan,
Thank you for allowing me to post.
I don't know why the links to the people got squished together -- sorry about that. (I had them on seperate lines, but, perhaps the post was just too long?)
You're wonderful, thank you :>)
D & D,
How have you come about all this information? I would love to hear your story. Care to drop a line to me at my email asksusanpeters@hotmail.com or you may post your story here.
Thanks!
Susan
D & D,
Forgive me....I took the liberty of this http://hubpages.com/hub/Pet-Owners-Deceived-and-De
Susan
Thanks D&D for all of the information.
God Bless people like you and Susan who woke me and I hope other pet owners up. I was killing my dog. I am so happy to think she is now on the mend.
Susan, I am still afraid to add stuff to Elsie's food because I am so worried about it being wrong. I want to give her variety, make it healthy, and no dangerous ingredients. Like spices, veggies, meat, fruit? I need to keep adding to my lists of good and bad.
Thanks for everything.
Barbara
Barbara,
I'll write an article to help you and others with what to include in pet food and what to avoid.
Thanks!
Susan
Here's the begining of a series on pet food recipes, ingredients to include, ingredients to avoid, instructional video (filmed in my salon kitchen) on how to make pet food and instructional video on the making of pet treats. http://hubpages.com/hub/Natural-Dog-Food-Recipe-Ea
Thanks,
Susan
Barbara,
How is the new diet going? Have you noticed any personality changes, yet?
Susan
She is still having problems - hair loss and licking, raw, hot spots. But I am not feeding her from my plate and she loves her food so I expext changes soon. I may have to take away all of the dry food even though it's better than that Science Diet.
Barbara
Barbara,
Do NOT continue the dry food! Remove it. Would you feed antifreeze but add a little water until she gets over it? Take it away!
Susan
Thank you so much Susan and Barbara :>)
Barbara, I noticed you said that both vets you took her to pushed the disease-in-a-bag. Do they have your dog on any drugs by any chance?
I'm with Susan and like Wellness (Core) canned with your homecooked. Dogs will stick their noses up at first because, like children sticking their noses up at a nice healthy dish, they will always crave the McNuggets :>) (Just thank God she's not a cat! Those critters are the most stubborn junk-food addicts ever and some are almost impossible to wean off their dry junk food!)
Our dog was a real pain, trying to get him to eat the health food.
Trust me when I tell you this please; You may have to drive farther, but see if maybe there's a Holistic vet you may take her to? If not Holistic, an old fashioned Doctor who is not affiliated with commercial foods in any way, as they are a different breed of vets altogether in our experiences. These more "old fashioned" - no frills" guys with their own more humble-looking practices will give very thorough physicals in comparison and tend to have a keener eye for seeing things during Physical, than more "fancy" mcvets depending almost entirely on test machines and feigning "food" knowledge.
Just our consistent, first-hand observations. Don't know how many others may have noticed this. We have found that the suburban vets (in my area, at least) go with the "more disposable income" perception, while back in our inner city we used to live, there are more Doctors down there just being doctors and aren't out to "milk it" so much. Due to now living in this suburb, my family, for the first time in their 70 years, have no dog. The good vets are down in the city, and they never want to go through what they've went through ever since moving away. Rushing dogs down to the city to finally get a proper diagnosis when it's too late was too much heartache.
Good luck with your baby. Susan thanks for letting me crash your asnwer :>) I see those two nasty words (SD) and just boil. I have seen the trend with the food connection, and it's all for the sake of convenience these stay in business.
Barbara,
Has your dog been tested for Thyroid -Hyperthyroidism (Think I botched the spelling.) F oods also cause that (my dog had it) and he had all the stuff your dog does. Hope you find a different vet who would probably see this as a strong possibility at first exam and promptly test for it.
D & D,
You are a breath of fresh air! Thank you so much for your though and informed answers.
Susan
PS Sorry for that long first post. I went back and read Barbara's original post,
and it sounds exactly like my dog who had Hypothyroidism. It freaks their skin out big-time. I didn't see Thyroid meds in the original post, so my money's on this.
Please have a new vet test right away, Barbara, if none was done initially :>)
Thank YOU, Susan!
I can't resist chiming in, since we've had so, so many dogs over the years (always adopting/strays) that, odds are, we've had a dog with just about every ailment under the sun.
Susan and D&D,
I changed the dry food to Maxximum adult recipe lamb and rice and Nature's Recipe for healthy skin and no more Science Diet when I first started this site. I also took away treats, because I thought it would be ok until I ordered the Orijen. Should I not order Orijen either? I do not know what Wellness (Core) canned is.
Elsie would eat her wet and leave her SD dry food a lot and eat it as a last resort when she got hungry. I didn't understand.
I make her wet food and treats except the Merrick ones you said were 100% safe. She's 130 lbs. and needs more food. She hasn't stuck her nose up at what I gave her at all, but I don't want her to be hungry.
I will do what you think is best.
I didn't buy beef from Wal-Mart either.
As for her vet and surgeon - they're not bad. REALLY. They each have their own private small business. When I call and ask for antibiotics they called them in to Kmart for me. Same with the pain pills. He knows I can't drive and Kmart is closer and cheaper.
They never pushed Science Diet - that was my husband. His thoughts were PetsMart safer and more expensive is safer.
When we learned the metal put in her knee broke the first time - the surgeon re-did it with heavy metal and no charge. But that metal caused her to get worse skin problems and the surgeon took it out for free.Then sent everything for testing at no charge.
I had Elsie on allergy shots and I stopped them when I thought it was making her worse. I also know she got worse when she was on Clavamox after her surgery and said no more.
Elsie was checked for Thyroid problems a while ago, but he said that wasn't a problem.
We live in a small town not a big city.
I appreciate your help. Thanks for everything.
Barbara
Barbara,
Elsie will do much better on your home cooked meal than any commercial pet food. She is not going to be hungry because you are not putting any fillers into the recipe. Everything you have used to cook with her body needs. If you feel Elsie needs something hard for her teeth - visit your butcher at the meat department to get her a nice bone. A large bone will keep her busy and help her with her desire to chew. Many of Elsie's health conditions should clear up while feeding her your home cooked meals.
Remove all commercial pet foods from her diet. Feed your diet for three weeks then tell me if the paw licking and other conditions remain. You will find that the limping, etc. will be much improved. Three weeks - that is all I am asking. If things do not improve we will adjust the diet accordingly.
Susan
Hi Barbara,
I'm sorry that I took original post the wrong way.
I saw "2 vets, they" and "needs prescription diet" in the same sentence and the red flag went up right away before even thinking further. They do sound like wonderful doctors.
It was insane finding the right thing for our dog, too. Much trial and error. Thank God for Susan!@!!
Susan and D&D,
OK, since I will not give her bones - they scare me.
I decided to use the treats I made - broken into pieces - as her dry food and use the wet food I made.
Her treats can still be the 100% safe treats from Merrick that you rated - does that work?
Thanks for everything.
Barbara
Barbara,
I have rated only one brand which rated 100% in the Pet Food Danger Gauge and that product is not available in the states. Anytime you feed anything commercially produced you run the risk of side effects.
I must alert you that even if a product scored well in the reviews for the ingredients listed on the package does not mean the actual ingredients are the same as the listed ingredients. In the pet food industry they call this "cross contamination". The pet food producers do not clean the vat or change the mix between products. If the batch made just before a "grain free" recipe had corn, wheat, and soy - so will your "grain free" selected product.
Susan
this is what I am talking about
Ask Susan Peters - Merrick Beef Filet Squares Healthy Dog Foods?
Pet Food Danger Gauge 100% Safe
I realize this is a dog treat so is not required to be of any real value to the dog's health. I have to say I'm not sure how to rate feeding a cow lung to a dog.
Nothing wrong with the ingredients in this snack since the only ingredients is beef lung. Hmm. Interesting.
How do you suppose Merrick came up with the name "Beef Filet" ?
Barbara,
Hehehe, I forgot about that one! I think you should be alright with feeding this treat. How could I have forgotten about lung? LOL
Susan
Great. Then today she had a GOOD food day.
She thought it was great eating people food :)
I hope she shows improvement soon. I want to see her healthy again.
Thank you for all your help.
Barbara
oops, sorry I posted twice and couldn't erase it.
Barbara,
She will begin to show signs of improvement you would never think were diet related. The first thing I noticed was my dog's personality.
Susan
I was in and out of the hospital so couldn't write.
Elsie is still on her GOOD food. Her blood-red sores are now healing. I hope this continues and she gets better. It does seem to be working. We are happy to see her improving already.
Are there any veggies she can't have - black-eyed peas, peas,limas, okra?
Any fruit that is bad - melon, citrus?
I want to keep it healthy and I want her to like it.
Thanks, Barbara
Barbara,
You've been in the hospital? I'm so sorry. I thought you were enjoying the weekend or an early 4th. I'm sorry.
Elli is showing signs of improvement? Wonderful!
The fruits and veggies you mentioned are all good. No avocados, nuts, grapes, raisons, corn, wheat, or soy (no white flour). Tomatoes are ok but make sure to remove the stem (like you wouldn't, huh?) because the stem of tomatoes and apples are bad. No seeds. No onions or garlic.
Please keep me updated! I'm going to be on vacation beginning today (July 1st) through the 10th but I will check back from time to time to make sure all is well. The 4th is my birthday and I am going to enjoy some time away. I hope to get a few videos completed on the homemade pet food mini series.
Susan
You deserve a break.
Happy early Birthday.
You've been a lot of help.
Thanks, Barbara
Barbara,
Thanks!
Susan
Hi Susan,
Hope you had a great birthday.
I wanted to pass along this site - http://murphydogs.wordpress.com/2007/12/14/food-th which says Broccoli is toxic to dogs.
And http://www.dog-first-aid-101.com/toxic-foods.html says Nutmeg is a popular spice at Christmas time, especially for egg nog.
It shouldn't be popular with your dog, however.
High levels of nutmeg can result in his death.
Symptoms include seizures, tremors, central nervous system problems, and death.
Barbara, Happy Get Well! Glad you and Elli are both better :>) Great links.
Happy (belated) Birthday, Susan!
D&D
D & D
Thanks!
Barbara,
Great links! I had a wonderful b/day and really enjoyed my time with family and friends, thank you. I signed up for the monthly news letter from Dog First Aid 101. How are things going for you?
Susan
Hi Susan,
I had a return to the hospital, but seem to be on the mend now. I hope, anyway.
Elsie is doing well. She still has problems, but is still on homemade food and loving it. I need to bathe her and then I can get a better idea of where she is.
Sad news about my mom's dog. She has learned her dog has congestive heart failure. She is now cooking homemade food for her and trying to make her comfortable. I hope her dog lives longer than expected.
I'll catch you later.
Thanks for everything.
Barbara
Barbara,
I'm sorry you have spent so much time at the hospital. Everything okay? My Mom's dog, a cocker, has CHF but home cooked meals seems to ease her symptoms.
My prayers are with you all,
Susan
Susan,
Can the dogs have oatmeal?
What about deer meat? We gave Elsie deer jerky a while back - not recently, though.
Back surgery a couple years ago, constant pain and most recent spinal fluid leak - all well for now.
Barbara
Barbara,
I'm sorry to hear about your back pain and leakage although I am happy to hear things are going well for now.
Oatmeal is fine for dogs. I count off for oatmeal and overuse of grains in the reviews but not in the home recipe. Deer is fine. Jerky needs to have been smoked and not have any preservatives added.
Susan
What about pig ears?
Barbara,
I think pig ears are great for the dogs.
Susan
Hi Susan,
When I say jerky, we use beef or deer and make it on a dehydrator or in the oven. We have a smoker, too, however, just never smoke jerky. Elsie loves it, but I stopped giving it to her.
Is pork bad for dogs? Heard some dogs are allergic to pork?
I didn't know rice would stop Elsie up so now I am making a batch of food without rice and with sweet potatoes to help her out.
I am trying to learn and don't want to harm her. I do not feed her anything except what I make so I have to make sure she gets what she needs.
Barbara
http://www.ehow.com/how_12697_make-homemade-dog.ht what do you think of this site?
Barbara,
I like the fact that they have their recipe posted but I don't feel there is enough information. The essence are good but the through instructions seem to be lacking.
Susan
Barbara,
I'm getting there with further instructions. I have had an unexpected pair of house guests from Germany so this has taken up quite a bit of my time. I'm so sorry.
I've not heard of anyone else having trouble with the rice. Not to say it couldn't happen... I just haven't heard any reports of this.
Since you have made the jerky and you know that is was dehydrated and not salt cured you should be good. I've noticed many people do not use pork for the dog food but I am not really sure of the reason pork is not used. I've not tried pork, myself. I've stayed with beef, turkey, and chicken.
Susan
No problem. We spent many years in Germany in the military, miss some things we use to buy there. Hope you had a great visit.
As for the jerky we made Elsie - I just dehydrated the deer meat - no flavor or curing or anything - it was gone so fast it didn't matter. I just wanted to be sure deer was ok to give her. Sorry for all the confusion.
I have given Elsie somew pork in the past as well. I wasn't sure what the problem was either.
As for the rice - I think I may have used too much. My mom's dog got stopped up as well. But no problem that can't be fixed.
I want the diet to be balanced and everything she needs.
Hi Susan,
We gave Elsie a bath and she is raw again. I am so confused. I have not resumed commercial dog food. I continue making it myself, but she is eating grass in the yard and has red sores all over her. I am resuming her antibiotics to see if that helps her feel better. I have not given up. She is allergic to something and I have to find out what it is.
Take care,
Barbara
Barbara,
You are right that she is allergic to something. Begin with the basics. Try boiled chicken or turkey. Feed this and only this until she clears up. She might be allergic to the chicken. What I want you to do is try one thing at a time until we find the cause.
I haven't forgotten you. I've had company from Germany (goes home tomorrow) and I've been working on my new site. PetFoodQuestions.Com
Susan
I decided to make a batch of food with ground beef instead of chicken this time. And I am still using the meds. There are a couple things that may have caused the problem - we did a turkey batch of food, and we gave her some pork and we gave her some deer meat. So we have to not mix it up and stop the sores again. I hate it when she it raw. I hate it when it seems we don't take care of her. Right after her bath she was gross again. I lay sheets on the floor for her which I change constantly to keep her sores clean and I spray her sores. I want to scream and cry. But I will do whatever it takes.
Thanks for being there.
I have been trying beef instead of chicken with no luck. Elsie is still having problems. I now wonder if I caused her problems by starting to add oatmeal in her food. I am going to stop using it and see if that helps. I will go back to using brown rice only.
I also wanted to tell you about this free poster:
http://curecaninecancer.org/poster.php
Barbara
Can anyone tell me, is Innova Reduced fat cat Food good for your cat?
How could you say Wellness Dry Dog Food is so good when it contains rye flour. I have gone to sites where it says never buy dog food with any kind of flour in it?
Please do not feed your dog Pedigree small crunchy bites as my beloved dog Bandit just passed away. Please read his story here: http://www.awaitanswer.com/banditsick
AskSusanPeters says:
18 months ago
Dog Food Review pick a product with a 10/10 or a 9/10 rating. Things should get better for you and your dog.
Susan Peters