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Genesis | 3 months ago
Hello! I Was Listening To A Lecture On Animal Nutrition, And It Brought Up The Topic …

Hello! I was listening to a lecture on animal nutrition, and it brought up the topic of grain-free diets. I used to feed my dogs the blue wilderness grain free diet. But is grain free safe for my dog? Should my dogs have grain in their diet? They are currently eating team dog and that has grains in it. Thank you!

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I avoid grain free. I don’t think there is likely any benefit to it while there is still a risk of heart issues. So I just don’t recommend it. Why worry about something that is avoidable?

  2. Laura

    There appears to be a link between diets using legumes to boost protein and dilated cardiomyopathy. Whatever you feed, I would avoid anything with peas or other legumes high in the ingredient list.

    Furthermore, if I’m feeding kibble, I have seen actual stool changes between grain free and grain inclusive. The latter seems to produce smaller, more solid stool than the former. My dogs have all done better on grain inclusive. I have found Purina’s Pro Plan to be the best for my specific dog’s gut – she has had almost no loose stool since we started her on it.

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Sandee | 11 months ago
Anyone Have Thoughts, Suggestions And/or Recipes For Homemade Dog Food That Provides Complete Nutrition For …

Anyone have thoughts, suggestions and/or recipes for homemade dog food that provides complete nutrition for large breed dogs, specifically lab mixes. I am interested in exploring what feeding homemade food would look like from both an ingredient and time commitment perspective. Thank you in advance.

1 Response

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  1. Laura

    I would say get your vet involved, and/or a veterinary dietician if there’s one near you. There’s a lot more leeway with dogs than with cats, but I’d be very careful about making sure they get the right balance of nutrition without overdosing them on anything.

    Oh, avoid legumes. There’s a link between heavy legume inclusion and dilated cardiomyopathy, which is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

    Lots of folks go with a raw diet. This seems to be somewhat controversial in vet circles (Dr. Magnifico will weigh in on this when she sees it), but it’s another feeding method that requires a lot of research first.

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Ted | 1 year ago
Hello Community. I Have A Wonderful 7-YO Spayed Female Snowshoe Named Poppy. Poppy Has Been The …

Hello Community. I have a wonderful 7-YO spayed female snowshoe named Poppy. Poppy has been the picture of perfect health since I first got her with her litter mates. at 7-8 weeks. She is an indoor/outdoor cat who leads an active social life, and has always had a healthy appetite powering her Alpha status in the household of 5 cats. She and her housemates only get the best food possible and carbs were cut out completely about 1.5 years ago. She currently eats Dr Elsey’s wet food (Turkey or Duck/Turkey), Stella & Chewy’s freeze dried raw morsels, along with some lightly roasted chicken meat with a multi-organ/glandular freeze dried blend for added nutrition.

Last week I noticed Poppy had a hard lump on her left hind leg on the outside of the upper thigh about 1 inches below the hip joint and just outside the leg’s leading edge. It is a hard mass about a dime in size, raised and moves with your finger just a little bit. It is under the hide and above the muscle and feels attached to the muscle or sinew tissues. I took her to her vet last week and they attempted to aspirate but got no fluids, and so have recommended surgery to remove the cyst and biopsy the tissue. While I await their cost estimate I got a second quote from a local board-certified surgeon and that came back at $2500-3000 not including any imaging, biopsies or panels.

I am asking if anyone knows what a likely market price is for such a surgery or has recommendations on alternative treatments? Poppy is behaving normally and has had no change in diet or activity, and does not react at all to touching the cyst. The cyst was first noticed about 10 days ago, and I am constantly handling this cat so it has developed very rapidly. I had first thought it must be from a playful bite from one of her wrestling matches with my 2-YO male, but there are not external signs of any such play. Any insight is appreciated. Especially a means to get this cyst removed and biopsied at a price much more reasonable than that already quoted.

1 Response

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  1. Autumn

    Hello!
    Unfortunately lumps and bumps are a case by case scenario… some may not be worrisome while others seem to change drastically.
    Cost all depends on everything being done and the severity of the case.
    I am glad your kitty is doing everything normal and overall a healthy fur baby.
    Removing lumps can give us answers and hopefully lead us to ways that can help treat.
    Hope this helps some,
    let us know.

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Alexandra | 4 years ago
Best Diet/nutrition For Cats. Advice

Hello,

I have two 4 year old cats who are brothers and I want to ask your opinion on what the best diet is for them. Both of them have spurts of throwing up after eating their food too fast (they both have been to the vet recently and had a normal exam) and I just want to give them the best diet possible so they can live a long healthy, happy life. What dry foods do you recommend? Grain free vs with grain? Should I also be incorporating wet food as well? What do you recommend?

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    There is not a “one diet fits all” advice. I have four cats and. Feed science diet. Canned and dry. But I know the health status of all of them. Please ask your vet, the person who knows your cats health status best, what their thoughts and advice are.

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Sharon Kim | 5 years ago
My Male Cat Is 2 Yrs Old And He Has A Small History Of Urinary Issues. He …

My male cat is 2 yrs old and he has a small history of urinary issues. He went in for not being able to pass urine in May 2019. Vet #1 suggested prescription wet food(hills c/d multicare) and perineal urethrostomy. While he was hospitalized with a catheter and IV fluid therapy I did my research and the surgery seemed risky and I wanted a second opinion. After my boy was discharged I went to vet #2. Vet #2 reviewed urinalysis and bloodwork and didn’t see reason for surgery at the moment as cat was passing urine okay. Vet #2 said to continue with the food and gave dasuquin supplements.
Fast forward to present day April 2020 almost 1 year later he’s still on the c/d wet food, hasn’t had any blockages since. I want to change his diet to Open Farm which is a higher quality food and I am a bit nervous. Should I get another urinalysis or bloodwork done before making the transition? Is it necessary to make an appointment and ask my vet? The c/d is ranked below average for nutrition and ingredients from what I have read and I don’t want to be paying for food that’s not the best but it has a high price tag! I currently feed him 1 can/day and add salmon oil.

3 Responses

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  1. Sarah

    Good morning????What does your vet say about the food change? Is this food a recommendation from them? If your cat is doing well with their current diet, I personally would stay, unless of course the vet feels change is necessary. Just coming from the mindset that it is working so I wouldn’t mess with anything. I know that lately there are a lot of pet food brands vying for our attention- some of them are valid, but a lot of designer pet foods are just flash. The fda does have a list of information on pet food and regulations as well as a listing of pet foods that consumers might want to be wary of (ones that have been linked to cancers, heart disease, etc.) that might interest you. Very best of luck to you both ????????

  2. Laura

    I’d LOVE to be able to switch my cat back to his normal food, but the veterinary diet he’s on is keeping him as healthy as possible. I pay more to keep him healthier.

    Yes, you need to ask your vet about this. Don’t change foods without their involvement.

  3. Krista Magnifico

    I agree with Sarah and laura. You are sooo lucky that your cat has done so well and soo tempting fate and a 2500 PU surgery if you change food. Stick with what works. I have seen this happen too many times to ever recommend changing diets.

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Pawbly | 7 years ago
Has Anyone Had A Kitty That Developed An Autoimmune Disease Where Their Body Attacks The…

Has anyone had a kitty that developed an autoimmune disease where their body attacks the plaque on the teeth causing extreme pain and inability to eat? I have 2 now that have developed it and have had to have all their teeth extracted. I’m having such a difficult time making sure they get the nutrition they need. Looking for sugggetikns and possibly an explanation as to why this happens to cats. I just want to make sure I’m not doing anything that caused it.

2 Responses

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  1. Anonymous

    Are the cats related in any way?

  2. Krista Magnifico

    I think you are referring to stomatitis? I have seen it most often in young cats.. even whole litters.. in most cases the only way to resolve it completely is to remove all of the teeth. I know it sounds terrible but these cats are so much happier afterward.. I have done many of them. I have also tried every other conceivable treatment option. At this point I tell my clients to save their money on all of the other stuff,, like steroids, anitbiotics, and just pull the teeth. Often we do it in stages. All of the molars first. As these are what are most commonly affected. Canine teeth last.

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Pawbly | 8 years ago
I Have A Great Dane Puppy Who Is Almost 4 Months. When He Arrived He…

I have a great Dane puppy who is almost 4 months. When he arrived he had a few little wart-like bumps speckled across The back of his neck and the top of his head. Over the past eight weeks since he’s been with me the bumps are spreading and they seem to be growing bigger in size.

He’s not losing hair and the bumps are not pussy. They are dry and flaky. The breeder says that she’s never had puppy mange in any of her dogs and that she thinks it’s a bacterial infection. The vet wasn’t sure and just said to keep an eye on it to see if he started losing fur.

My puppy doesn’t seem to be in too much discomfort. He’s eating and drinking well. I feed him Diamond brand large breed puppy food. That’s what the breeder fed him and the nutritional levels are right on par with what you suggest on your website. Sometimes I feed him cold apples or carrots from the fridge, to help with teething. It seems like his gums are driving him crazy so I also give him bully stick to chew on.

The bumps have spread all down his side and his leg and even on the skin by his genitals.

1 Response

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  1. Anonymous

    Did the vet do a skin scrape?  

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
This Is A Serious Question, I’m Curious. I Feel That Pet Food These Days Isn’t…

This is a serious question, I’m curious. I feel that pet food these days isn’t that nutritious, and dogs and cats should be hunting for their own food instead of being given this crappy foul tasting “wet food”. In the future, I wanted to buy rabbits, mice, and rats and put them in an enclosure with my dogs to teach them to hunt. Would this be legal? Because I don’t see anything wrong or inhumane about this seeing as people buy live mice for their snakes to eat. So why don’t we do this with dogs and cats? Surely wet food isn’t as good for them?

8 Responses

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  1. Anonymous

    instead of buying them from pet stores, look into reptile supply.  they will sell frozen/thawed.  i also cannot say this would be a nutritionally complete diet.  better to fully research raw feeding and put meals together that ARE nutritionally complete.  besides, your house pet does not need to learn to hunt…and depending on the breed of your dog(s), they may fail miserably in this task.  feed a high quality kibble or feed raw, do not feed live rodents.

    and yes, this is considered inhumane, especially considering how it’s basically one step away from animal fighting.  can’t you see how that is problematic?

    it’s inhumane to feed live to reptiles, too…inhumane and irresponsible, as the rats are just as likely to do serious damage to the animals they were intended to feed.

    i cannot fathom why you would only give wet food to your dog.  does your dog have a lot of missing teeth?  or is there a medical reason you’re feeding wet?  

  2. Anonymous

    oh, and another thing: cats are an invasive species, especially in the UK. they already kill too many animals for sport. they do not need to be encouraged to kill for food.

  3. debra yuhasz

    A domestic dog is not a wolf even though they may have ancestry in common. A domestic dog does not have the digestive tract of wolves. Raw fed dogs are fed raw meat but they are not expected to kill their own. Personally my dogs eat what I eat as I feel that pet food is sadly lacking. This includes meat, fish, vegetables and a small amount of pasta and rice. I do not eat rats or mice and I wouldn’t give it to them either. Of my seven dogs only two have a small amount of prey drive. I can’t imagine any of them would know what to do with a raw kill. As for snakes….they are a wild animal. I did have snakes many years ago and they ate live rats and mice because they wouldn’t eat anything else. Dogs are not wild animals.

  4. ポプシクル

    I’m sorry, Laura, I don’t understand where you’re coming from with the whole “inhumane” thing. It wouldn’t be animal fighting purely for entertainment, no. I wanted a hound or working dog to help me to hunt rabbits. Animals are subjected to awful, cruel torture in the meat industry, so I wanted to kill the animal myself. God knows what the chickens in the supermarket experience before they end their miserable lives. Hunting isn’t “inhumane”, it’s natural and incredibly humane compared to the torture that humans put animals through. I feed my dog wet and dry food, but it just seems so nonsensical to me. Hunting would be entertaining for me and the dog.

  5. Anonymous

    It wouldn’t be for entertainment but it would be for entertainment.

    Your ethics are in question. Be glad I lack ban powers. People who justify allowing their animals fight for their personal amusement disgust me.

  6. ポプシクル

    There’s nothing wrong with enjoying hunting, is there? It’s nature, we’re omnivores. So cats disgust you because they hunt birds? I’m not saying I would go out and maim an animal for no reason. That’s sick. Why would I get banned just because we have different opinions? I really don’t see what’s wrong with it, honestly.

  7. Anonymous

    cats should not be outside. they are an invasive species and have hunted many native rodent and bird species to the point where they are endangered. letting cats outside is irresponsible, plain and simple.

    you said you wanted to do this for your entertainment as well as that of your dog. THAT IS PROBLEMATIC. how can you not see this?

  8. ポプシクル

    I’m sorry, I don’t understand. As a person with aspergers, I find it hard to understand other people’s points of view. Stopping a cat from acting out its natural behaviours is cruel. Hindering it from going outside would be like keeping a dog inside. It seems ludicrous to me. Whereas it’s instinct that cannot be stopped for cats, humans are more of an invasive species that hunt thousands of animals to extinction.

    And I am sorry, but I still don’t see how it’s problematic at all. Being out in nature and killing and sharing a meal with my dog is better than eating processed meats is all I’m saying. Sorry if I seem blunt or rude, I’m really not good with communicating. I don’t want to offend anyone c: