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Barnyard Buddies:  Holistic/Natural dogfood  |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 09:39:55 AM
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Anna and Susan Kate, you mentioned holistic or natural dog food in a thread about Buddy. I recently had a problem with one of my dogs, Pal, a border collie. He broke a tooth playing fetch and it became infected. His whole face, neck and chest became swollen and he was obviously not feeling well and of course stopped eating. We took him to an emergency vet and she sent us home with anitbiotics and said the tooth couldn't be pulled until the infection was reduced. Well, then his right leg swelled and he started oozing gunk from one eye, 3 of his feet and from his right armpit. At first, I thought his body was just getting rid of the poison from the infection but then he got even worse. When I called our regular vet, he said the tooth had to come out right now. It turned out Pal was allergic to the antibiotics! So, anyway, after the surgery, the assistants asked us what we fed Pal. We told them and they LAUGHED at us. They suggested we start buying a better quality dog food like Science Diet (they sold it at their front counter). I have already switched my hubby and daughter over to organic foods but never thought about my dogs. Do you guys have recipes for dogfood? How hard/easy is it to make/keep? I don't know that I want to spend hundreds of dollars a month on dogfood (I have another border collie and a pit bull, too) so, I don't really want to buy Science Diet if I don't have to. I wonder, too, if they weren't just trying to make a sale? I really need some input on this. My pit bull, Girl,is getting pretty old and my other border collie, Cody, is only 2, but I want to keep them around in good health as long as possible.
We come from Nature, we go back to Nature; health & happiness in between requires intimacy with Nature. |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
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susan kate
True Blue Farmgirl
109 Posts
susan
Western Washington
109 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 10:23:32 AM
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Hi Lisa,
I hope your border collie is doing better now. I am trying to get out the door to work right now, but I will send some links and book titles if you want to look into making your own. If you don't hear back from me in a couple days, please drop me an email. I'm dealing with some health issues and I tend to not keep up with everything lately.
Susan |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 12:11:03 PM
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Poor Pal! What a crappy thing to go through.
There are some really great natural foods out there, and some that aren't that expensive, really. I have four dogs, one much older and the others within a year of one another and I simply use an adult maintenance, and make sure we all get enought glucosamine for healthy joints as they age. I guess I look for "holistic", but in the end that wasn't what we settled on for reasons below. If you have a Complete Petmart around you, they seem to have more selections in this holistic/natural vein. In fact, they carry things I've never heard of in my life and seem like things I would eat!!!
I have a pittie, too, a german shepherd, a border collie/lab mix and a beagle. They wanted me to tell you that they don't like Science Diet  Our old vet strongly suggested it too (we were feeding Nutro at the time) and another Hills special formula that required a prescription for our cat, who had allergies (turns out that food made it worse!) Our four dogs let that Science Diet sit in their bowls for 3 days without touching it--if I hadn't tossed it, I think we'd still be at an impass. I thought I could wait them out, but it was a hunger strike for sure!
We actually eat Diamond brand foods (lamb maintenance), after trying many different types (Nutro, Blue, Merrick, Natural something or other, Science Diet-you name it, I've tried it). Diamond has no glutensp, and Yes, Yes, I do realize there was a recall a couple of years ago. It wasn't the lamb and rice, nor our plant, and I did stop feeding at that time. But, we went back. I never found a food they all loved, and they love this food. And, I don't think you could find a safer company now, especially. Frankly my dogs have always eaten the heck out of it, and look fabulous--, weight is controlled, coats lovely, eyes bright etc. We don't have any health issues, either (knock on wood). The cats also eat their other company brand, Chicken Soup for Cats, their holistic food. They love it, and guess what? No more allergies.
Good luck. I guess, in all this convoluted stuff, I want to say, there are really good foods out there and they don't have to cost an arm and a leg.
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 1:27:41 PM
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Thanks, girls. There are no stores for 45 miles from here other than a mom & pop which carries the food we've been buying. The next time I'm down in town, I'll stop into PetSmart and see what they have. I would also like the links or names of books that have recipes, too. Pal is much better. The oozing stopped the day after the tooth was pulled and we could visibly see all the swelling go down each day. He just has a little swelling left in his chest and the sore in his armpit (which I keep putting bag balm on it). It was an awful experience for him and us. We thought we were going to lose him or have to put him down. He's actually my daughter's dog and she plans to take him to college with her next year. I couldn't bear the thought of telling her we had killed him. I'm just so glad we didn't have to. Now, to feed him and the others better food and keep them healthy.
We come from Nature, we go back to Nature; health & happiness in between requires intimacy with Nature. |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 5:07:58 PM
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Someone please correct me if this is wrong, but vets don't normally know much about nutrition as it pertains to the actual "stuff" that's in it and how it's REALLY regulated. Not sure what makes Science diet so popular. Might be like drug companies and people doctors who push certain prescription drugs.
Just today I needed to buy cat food. I know they are "just cats", but in recent light, I can't go back to feeding them garbage. I read 4 labels that looked really good, until I got to the gluten part and corn......in cat food! Felines don't normally come across corn in the wild do they?!!? It's just another cheap filler!
So I left the store post haste and went to the all natural place. I ended up getting Wellness brand that has fish meal and fish as the first 2 ingredients. The food smells fishy for sure, but the ingredient list is really good. I'm kind of wary about the use of chicken fat too, so this particular blend uses canola oil and vitamin E.
I'm sorry you have no natural store type resource close by. If it makes you feel better. I drive 30 miles one way for my dog's food. And now, looks like my cats will benefit all around too.
Since you have more than 1 dog, sometimes the smaller companies will give a discount if you buy large quantites. I buy several 50# bags at a time, use my good 'ole vacuum sealer and freeze smaller portions. Kind of like bulking up from the warehouse clubs when you can't make small trips to the grocery all the time.
If we love our pets as we say we do, and they are far more than just fixtures in the back dog lot, the financial sacrifice pays off in longevity and so much more!
Cooking a home prepared meal is easy if you already like to cook.
There are all kinds of resources on the net that can provide guidance and balanced recipes.
I also recommend subscribing to The Whole Dog Journal. Our vet has been great to date, but this publication puts it all in a different light. They also review pet foods twice a year...unbiased like Consumer Reports with no outside influences and adds.
 since you already have adult dogs, I recommend Cloud Star dog kibble. Cloud Star is a private company out of California started by one lady. You can sometimes find their Buddy Biscuits in some of the mail order pet publications.
Cloud Star uses all human grade ingredients. It's not organic, but it is natural. The kibble is also BAKED, so it smells really good and isn't greasy. It's the only dog food I recall EVER sticking my head in the bag, taking a big sniff, and saying out loud, "This smells really good!" They sell 25 pounds for I think 35.00 but also deliver on a monthly basis if thet's what your needs dictate. They even sent a nice card and book when I told them my other dog had died and I wouldn't be ordering from them for awhile. So GREAT customer service too is what will keep me a loyal follower!
I'll wean our 5 month old puppy to this when she is a year.
Sorry for Pal
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MariaAZ
True Blue Farmgirl
203 Posts
Phoenix
AZ
203 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2007 : 8:38:21 PM
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Kim, I love Dr. Pitcairn's book! I've raised quite a few puppies on those recipes, and I've not had any problems.
Visit my blog at www.craftyfool.net |
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Barnyard Buddies: Holistic/Natural dogfood |
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Holistic/Natural dogfood
