[nagdu] possibly switching dog food, advice would be welcome

Thu Mar 20 13:46:32 UTC 2014

You certainly don't need a big freezer to feed raw. I live in an
apartment with a roommate, and our freezer is above our fridge. I
think it's something like 4.7 cubic ft. Believe it or not, I can fit
about 50 lbs of dog food, in addition to roughly 15 lbs of meat for my
roommate and I. And there's room to spare. A mini fridge's freezer
wouldn't be sufficient, but a small freezer definitely provides enough
space for a month's worth of food.

On 3/20/14, Vivianna <irishana at gmail.com> wrote:
> I agree with Raven.
> when i got my dog she had loose and sloppy stools.  i took her to the vet
> who quickly proscribed antibiotics.  needless to say, she was on 3 different
> courses of the antibiotics and still had sloppy stools after 8 months.
> finally, i gave up on the vet and the super expensive science diet food that
> they had me giving her.
> i went with herbs and natural remedies and switched to, taste of the wild,
> as, i was living in an apartment and had only a small freezer.  but, i knew
> where i would be going with this dog.
> so, next, she got an ear infection o.o, and, yes, while i had her at the vet
> for that they noticed that her anal glands needed expressing.
> that was only a couple months ago.
> her stools had firmed up a lot but were still not like they should be and, i
> was not thrilled with the constant health issues.
> i have moved and now have a big freezer and, 2 days after i moved i started
> switching her to raw.
> for the veggie part of her diet i give her those raw patties with tripe and
> veg in them once or twice a week.  they are kind of expensive but, she loves
> em.
> Vivianna
>
> On Mar 20, 2014, at 2:39 AM, Raven Tolliver <ravend729 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Kathy,
>> The truth of the matter is that many of the more expensive dog food
>> brands lack those ingredients that cause health issues in dogs, or are
>> just downright toxic. A dog's diet should not include msg, salt, soy,
>> grains, or carbohydrates of any kind. And many sources even say that
>> out of all the processed dog foods, kibble is the worst. Too, many of
>> those premium brands are still unhealthy and unnatural.
>> http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/canine-nutrition/dog-food-carbohydrates/
>> The canine is a carnivore species. Look at their dentition and their
>> digestive tracts. First, dogs do not have flat molars, and dogs' lower
>> mandibles do not move from side to side to allow for the proper
>> crushing and chewing of fruits and veggies. Instead their teeth are
>> pointed and come together in a scissors bite. This is why it is
>> encouraged to chop up fruits and veggies before feeding them to a dog.
>> Also, if you read any diets that promote the feeding of fruits and
>> veggies, you will see that they encourage steaming, pureeing, or
>> preparing fruits and veggies in a way that breaks down the outer layer
>> of cellulose. Why? Because a dog does not possess the digestive
>> enzymes to break this down in order to obtain nutrients. So feeding
>> green beans or carrots does provide fiber, but those things are just
>> fillers and do not provide nutrients unless you prepare it. Guess who
>> cooked for dogs when they were out in the wild?
>> Furthermore, digestion for dogs starts in the stomach, not in the
>> mouth. This is why dogs do not chew their food so finely as we do.
>> Chomp, chomp, chomp, swallow. And the food is down. The stomach acid
>> will take care of the rest.
>> http://rawfed.com/myths/omnivores.html
>> In addition, the cooking process destroys nutrients. If you want
>> proof, look at the list of ingredients for your dog food of choice.
>> Then answer this question: why do they have to add a gamut of vitamins
>> and minerals to the meats, fruits, and veggies listed? Answer: because
>> all the nutrients for those foods were destroyed during the cooking
>> process, so a vitamin premix must be sprayed on. Oh and most of these
>> premixes or many of their ingredients come from China or India.
>> https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/why-kibble-harming-dogs/
>> Kibble is also laden with toxic chemicals such as molds, carcinogens,
>> and flame retardants.
>> https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/kibble-never-a-good-option/
>> Oh, and want to know what else is in kibble? Various dead and diseased
>> animals, and farming/manufacturing waste.
>> http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/shocking-truth-about-dog-food/
>>
>> http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/animal-by-products/
>>
>> http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/dog-food-grain-by-products/
>>
>> http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/helpful-dog-food-articles/
>> Now why do many people feed raw? The better question is why don't
>> people feed raw? Tell me what's better than having complete control
>> over the ingredients in your dog's food. What's better than knowing
>> that your dog is eating a species appropriate diet, day in and day
>> out, and is reaping the benefits, cleaner teeth, fresher breath,
>> easier digestion, and absorbing every part of their meals as
>> nutrients. Raw fed dogs also have smaller, less frequent stools
>> because their is little waste material passing through their digestive
>> systems, which means the dog is consuming nutrient-rich foods and
>> absorbing nutrients. Healthy raw-fed dogs generally poop once a day,
>> some, such as the Golden Guy, even poop once every 2 days.
>> As for how I even switched. I used to be on the kibble train. I didn't
>> even know that other types of dog food existed, other than canned
>> food. I was lied to by the guide dog school, and told that kibble was
>> better than canned food because it cleans a dog's teeth. Okay, don't
>> even get me started.
>> http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/dry-dog-food-cleaner-teeth/
>> So I fed kibble. First, it was the anal glands. They needed expressing
>> every 6 weeks. I would always ask what things I could do to minimize
>> or eliminate the need for this. All three vets I went to informed me
>> that some dogs have this problem and others don't. Okay, so what was I
>> supposed to do?
>> Then, the chronic ear infections. First every other month, then none
>> during the winter, then a monthly infection from April to October. I
>> went to three different vets again, looking for the solution to my
>> problems. All of them kept saying well, it could be seasonal
>> allergies, or food allergies, or a yeast overgrowth. Okay, so I needed
>> to switch his food. I embarked on a search for different dog foods on
>> my own. Why? Because every vet I went to said Iams was a good dog
>> food. Anyone who claimed that did not have my dog's best interests at
>> heart.
>> So I went through some top notch dog food brands after getting off
>> Iams, which is what the school fed their dogs. I went from Acana, to
>> Canidae, to Wellness Core, and I even tried a couple different recipes
>> within each brand. I knew that systemic issues took time to clear up,
>> so I gave each formula about 3 months. But I still researched
>> furiously, trying to figure out what on God's green earth was causing
>> the ear infections and the anal gland issues! It was driving me up the
>> wall, and I could not imagine what the Golden Guy was going through.
>> I looked into feeding canned dog food, dehydrated, freeze-dried, and
>> even cooking my dog's food. It was too much. The calculating,
>> preparation, and work involved. I threw in the towel on process dog
>> food, and I have not looked back. And you know what? No ear
>> infections, and no more scooting or anal gland issues. I feed my dog
>> as nature intended, and it is easy and stress-free. I don't have to
>> worry about recalls, contamination, harmful chemicals in the food, or
>> a change in recipe. I am done playing with fire and burning my dog.
>> I tell this story because I want to save people from going through
>> what I went through. These issues are so minor, and so easily fixed.
>> Sometimes, it takes minor and/or major health problems to persuade
>> people to feed raw.
>> If your dog is experiencing chronic ear infections, your dog is trying
>> to get rid of toxins in his body. One of the primary ways to get rid
>> of toxins is through the skin, note things like anal gland issues,
>> allergies displayed through the skin and coat, and ear infections.
>> That stuff has to come out somehow. Probiotics will not help you if
>> you continue to put the very same toxins into your dog that your dog
>> is trying to get rid of. It's like solving a vitamin deficiency by
>> taking a multi vitamin while consuming a diet of junk food, or
>> unhealthy food in the least. It doesn't work. Trust me, I tried it my
>> sophomore year of college. Change the diet altogether. Feed your dog a
>> diet that promotes good gut flora, then perhaps add in probiotics if
>> you still feel it is necessary. Probiotics are not necessary in a
>> healthy dog eating a species appropriate diet.
>> If you want to learn more about raw vs. kibble and why raw, check out
>> the links below:
>> http://rawfed.com/myths/index.html
>> www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com
>> www.rawlearning.com
>> http://www.rawmeatybones.com/petowners.php
>>
>>
>> On 3/20/14, Tai Blas <taiablas at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi! My dog gets ear infections once a month. I have only had her three
>>> months and she has had an infection each of those months. Can you
>>> recommend
>>> a probiotic? C
>>>
>>> Tai Tomasi
>>> J.D. Candidate, class of 2014
>>> Email: tai.tomasi8 at gmail.com
>>> Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse my brevity and any grammatical
>>> errors.
>>>
>>>> On Mar 19, 2014, at 10:47 PM, Brandy Pinder <bdpinder at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I am all for taste of the wild. It's grain free, on the less expensive
>>>> side. For some reason pinta had that smell that has either subsided
>>>> from
>>>> switching to wellness grain free or the numerous dry shampoo and wipes
>>>> I
>>>> have discovered.
>>>> Kathy I switched to quote unquote more expensive food because I feel,
>>>> especially for my dog who has had past ear infections, is healthier
>>>> over
>>>> all. Dogs do not eat grain such as corn in the wild and grain can cause
>>>> many allergies. Also, I have found I pay the same price because on
>>>> foods
>>>> like purina and iams I would be feeding at least three cups whereas
>>>> with
>>>> wellness she is eating two cups. I noticed when I switched my previous
>>>> dog
>>>> to blue buffalo as opposed to euk she didn't seem hungry at all between
>>>> meals and didn't start asking for her dinner extremely early. The quote
>>>> unquote more expensive brands and especially grain free have higher
>>>> protein whereas the quote unquote less expensive have more
>>>> carbohydrates
>>>> which I'm sure every one has noticed eggs keep you more full in the
>>>> morning as opposed to oat meal. Lastly, my main reason at first is that
>>>> I
>>>> lived alone and though I could pick up purina from my grocery store
>>>> sometimes they didn't have it or I went to the one closer to home which
>>>> only carries small bags. When I went on pet food direct and pet flow
>>>> five
>>>> years ago blue buffalo was fifty two a bad. Purina was forty five while
>>>> at
>>>> the store it was thirty five so I'm thinking for seven dollars more I
>>>> can
>>>> get a much better food, however if a grocery store is convenient then
>>>> yes
>>>> those brands would be cheaper. Raven will explain this much better.
>>>> Smile.
>>>> I am in no way saying that a person who feeds the less expensive brands
>>>> are bad. Do I think my dog will live longer eating a grain free food?
>>>> Not
>>>> really. Do I think anyone feeding iams is bad? No of course not. This
>>>> just
>>>> works for me and I can't deny the fact that my school let me know she
>>>> had
>>>> had numerous ear infections and was I ok with that and when I brought
>>>> her
>>>> home she had one, in the last seven months nothing. I strongly feel it
>>>> is
>>>> the grain free food and the probiotics
>>>>
>>>> brandy pinder
>>>> Alumni Council -  second vice Chairman
>>>> Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc®
>>>> and America's VetDogs®, The Veteran's K-9 Corps Inc®
>>>> Providing "Second uSight"® since 1946
>>>>
>>>> 371 E. Jericho Turnpike smith town ny 11766
>>>> Cso: 866-282-8047
>>>> Email: brandydp at verizon.net
>>>> Cell: 304-685-4499
>>>>
>>>>> On Mar 19, 2014, at 10:42 PM, "Kathy Davis" <kdavisnfbf at cfl.rr.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hello all,
>>>>>  This is Kathy Davis and I am new to the NAGDU list. I have received
>>>>> all 5 of my dogs from The Seeing Eye. I now have a handsome Black male
>>>>> Lab
>>>>> by the name of Wade who will be three in mid July.
>>>>>  I have had wonderful luck with Purina Pro Plan after feeding my
>>>>> previous guides Neutro. Wade does great on this food and I wouldn't
>>>>> even
>>>>> consider changing. It is a reasonable cost and is carried by Pet
>>>>> Supermarket, Petmart and no doubt on line as well. I am wondering why
>>>>> so
>>>>> many of you are choosing to use some of the more expensive brands of
>>>>> food
>>>>> and why others are opting to feed raw.
>>>>>  You have some interesting discussions and I think I'll enjoy the
>>>>> list. By the way, I should tell you that I am a board member of FLAGDU
>>>>> and
>>>>> have been very active in the NFB of Florida for many years. I reside
>>>>> in
>>>>> Ormond Beach just north of Daytona Beach.
>>>>>  I'm looking forward to getting to know some of you better with time
>>>>> and I'm happy to put in my two cents worth when the topic at hand
>>>>> could
>>>>> possibly benefit from my input.
>>>>>
>>>>> Kathy and Wade the wonderful
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Vivianna
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 6:10 PM
>>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] possibly switching dog food, advice would be
>>>>> welcome
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi.
>>>>> Try this website;
>>>>> www.chewie.com
>>>>> they have loads of dog foods to look through with lists of
>>>>> ingredients.
>>>>> if
>>>>> you ring them up they will give you advice and, top that off with free
>>>>> delivery.
>>>>> i personally am using Taste of the Wild in the mornings and feeding
>>>>> raw
>>>>> in
>>>>> the evenings.  i am switching to a RMB diet completely.
>>>>> but, that's not for everyone, i am aware of that.
>>>>> HTH.
>>>>>
>>>>> Vivianna
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mar 19, 2014, at 4:54 PM, Laurel and Stockard
>>>>> <laurel.stockard at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hey all,
>>>>>> I don't post much, but occasionally, I need advice. I've got my guide,
>>>>>> a
>>>>> female labrador in great health, on natural balance duck and potato
>>>>> along
>>>>> with my family's pet labrador, also in great health. My guide is 5 and
>>>>> a
>>>>> half and our pet is a little over 2. I've got to switch Stockard my
>>>>> guide
>>>>> as
>>>>> well as our pet dog off the natural balance because it's running 60
>>>>> dollars
>>>>> a bag of late and I can't really afford that. I'd like to know what
>>>>> brands
>>>>> you use, and what you find affordable, like under $50. Keep in mind,
>>>>> my
>>>>> dogs
>>>>> are labradors. Specifically, I want your thoughts on a few brands.
>>>>> Eukanuba
>>>>> (especially whether or not I should think about large breed vs.
>>>>> labrador.
>>>>> Is
>>>>> one better than the other, does it matter?) also, royal canin, nutro,
>>>>> Kirkland from Costco, and Iams. Is there another brand that's
>>>>> affordable
>>>>> that I should consider? Are there any websites where I could order in
>>>>> bulk,
>>>>> say 5 or 10 bags at a time, and save money?
>>>>>> Thanks for your thoughts on this matter.
>>>>>> Laurel and Stockard
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Raven
>>
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-- 
Raven