1
Dog foods / Re: Markus Muhle and other cold pressed dog food
« on: Jan 12, 2021, 18:08 »
I just checked the Chicken and sweet potato one and it comes out at a 69% rating.
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
2
Feeding dogs with health problems / Re: Loose stools
« on: Jan 08, 2021, 18:23 »
I fed that very successfully for a time. I never had any issues with loose stools. I only stopped in the end before of the lower shelf life and the fact that it wasn't available in smaller bags at the time. I only have one small dog. There were cold pressed foods available in smaller bags but they didn't seem to suit my dog as well.
3
Feeding dogs with health problems / Re: Loose stools
« on: Jan 08, 2021, 07:38 »
Hello and welcome to the forum. All excellent advice from Dottie. I just wanted to share something I have personally found useful for digestive discomfort. My dog doesn't tend to get loose stools so it is to a much lesser degree, but she can have bouts of lip smacking and pacing indicating some form of discomfort. After watching her eat lots of grass at such times, I was a bit worried what would happen in winter when there isn't any available. She is particularly fond of chewing wheat grass so I got some powder and add half a teaspoon to her food every 3 days and extra if she seem driven to find grass. I am sure it won't be a cure but may aid healing. It appears to have reduced the incidents I have with my dog and it definitely calms her if she is pacing.
4
Dog foods / Re: Feeding guidelines in cold pressed food
« on: Dec 22, 2020, 18:45 »
Hello and welcome to the forum. I have found that feeding guidelines need to be tweaked depending on the dog.
Having fed both guru and gentle in the past, I would say their guidelines were pretty accurate for my dog. I am not sure why the other are so different. Maybe the moisture content is a factor but I would have thought this was pretty consistent in cold pressed foods. The best way to gauge is to keep a close eye on body shape. See feeding guide
It can be hard to assess genuine hunger in dogs as many just like to eat. My dog will always be looking for food but if I have changed foods in the past and she has been truly hungry, she has started eating earth and other things she wouldn't normally eat so I have upped portions a little or added more cooked veg or cooked oats to bulk it out.
Having fed both guru and gentle in the past, I would say their guidelines were pretty accurate for my dog. I am not sure why the other are so different. Maybe the moisture content is a factor but I would have thought this was pretty consistent in cold pressed foods. The best way to gauge is to keep a close eye on body shape. See feeding guide
It can be hard to assess genuine hunger in dogs as many just like to eat. My dog will always be looking for food but if I have changed foods in the past and she has been truly hungry, she has started eating earth and other things she wouldn't normally eat so I have upped portions a little or added more cooked veg or cooked oats to bulk it out.
5
General dog chat / Re: DNA testing for sensitivities and allergies
« on: Dec 10, 2020, 20:32 »
Hello, does your dog have any other symptoms other than those of the reflux? I am not sure that allergies would be responsible for causing reflux although certain foods may exacerbate the symptoms just like with humans.
Generally the only way to see if anything causes a reaction is to find foods with the least amount of ingredients possible in and see if there is an improvement. Once you feel there are no symptoms, you can start adding foods one at a time to access if any cause a reaction. All treats should be avoided while you do this.
I haven't had experience with testing so can't really comment on that but from what I have read, it has its limitations.
Generally the only way to see if anything causes a reaction is to find foods with the least amount of ingredients possible in and see if there is an improvement. Once you feel there are no symptoms, you can start adding foods one at a time to access if any cause a reaction. All treats should be avoided while you do this.
I haven't had experience with testing so can't really comment on that but from what I have read, it has its limitations.
6
Introductions / Re: Newbie in need of advice re treats suitable for dog with early stage kidney dise
« on: Dec 09, 2020, 20:32 »
I tend to keep a packet of rice cakes with no salt or anything else added, on hand for treats. My dog seems to like them and because they are mostly air, I hope she feels like it is more substantial than it actually is. They are dry though which shouldn't be an issue if your dog is drinking well. Raw carrots also make a good treat if your dog likes them.
7
Dog news / Re: Pet flea treatments poisoning rivers across England
« on: Nov 20, 2020, 17:01 »
A worrying report although I do wonder if some of these chemicals are still used illegally as pesticides.
8
Raw feeding / Re: RawSAFE
« on: Nov 20, 2020, 16:58 »
Thanks for the information Seaweed. This is reassuring to me as a for raw feeders.
9
General discussion / Re: Rainwater
« on: Nov 09, 2020, 19:52 »
My dog seems to prefer rain water too. I don't let her drink from puddles by the road side in case they have any car fuel or antifreeze in. Something to be wary of when the gritters have been out too. However I don't worry too much if we are away from the road.
10
General discussion / Re: Introduction - Hello!
« on: Oct 28, 2020, 17:25 »
Hello and welcome to the forum. Hopefully you will find lots of information regarding, the sometimes complex , business of feeding your dogs.
11
Introductions / Re: Newbie here
« on: Oct 28, 2020, 17:22 »
Hello and welcome to the forum. There is lots of information on here regarding food in relation to various health issues. Hopefully you will find it useful.
12
General discussion / Re: What is logic of reducing number of meals as the puppy ages?
« on: Oct 16, 2020, 19:02 »
Personally I wouldn't reduce to one feed. I know that when I first got my dog, she was bringing up foamy vomit around five o'clock. I am pretty sure it was due to an empty stomach so I started giving her a small biscuit around four an hour or so before her evening meal and it all stopped. She was having a meal in the morning as well. She does fine on two meals and a small snack.
13
Dog news / Re: Pet food is harming the planet
« on: Oct 12, 2020, 20:14 »
I live in hope that there will be a way to produce a healthy food without harming the environment. 
14
Feeding dogs with health problems / Re: The itchy/scratching dog (allergic dematitis)
« on: Oct 12, 2020, 20:11 »
Some great information there.
The main issues I have had with itching have been the paws and this always tends to be from July to September. Although we or the vet haven't seen any obvious signs of harvest mites, I suspect it may be linked to these. If not some kind of allergy to something in the environment. She does tend to lick them too which will make things worse. In the early days, she had steroids from the vet which worked well but they did tend to flare up again as soon as the course ended. I didn't want to keep giving her steroids as she is prone to stress. For the last few years I have made sure that her feet are washed after every walk and at the first sign of itching, I add a capful of hibiscrub to her foot wash and give her loratadine, (check dose with vet). This has mostly worked well and calmed things down.
The main issues I have had with itching have been the paws and this always tends to be from July to September. Although we or the vet haven't seen any obvious signs of harvest mites, I suspect it may be linked to these. If not some kind of allergy to something in the environment. She does tend to lick them too which will make things worse. In the early days, she had steroids from the vet which worked well but they did tend to flare up again as soon as the course ended. I didn't want to keep giving her steroids as she is prone to stress. For the last few years I have made sure that her feet are washed after every walk and at the first sign of itching, I add a capful of hibiscrub to her foot wash and give her loratadine, (check dose with vet). This has mostly worked well and calmed things down.
15
Feeding dogs with health problems / Re: Yeast infection in mouth and feeding guide
« on: Oct 04, 2020, 13:29 »
Hello and welcome to the forum,
If your dog is struggling to eat properly, I would be seeking the advice of a vet again at this stage. I would imagine that raw would be good for prevention of yeast infections, as carbohydrates, especially those from over processed foods, have been linked to such infections.
If I was going to use a dry food, I would perhaps look at one with a healthier source of carbs like wholemeal grains or grain free. However raw is very low in carbs which suggests they may not be the trigger in your dogs case.
What types of treats does he have? Some of the popular ones can be quite high in ingredients which may be more likely to trigger yeast infections.
If your dog is struggling to eat properly, I would be seeking the advice of a vet again at this stage. I would imagine that raw would be good for prevention of yeast infections, as carbohydrates, especially those from over processed foods, have been linked to such infections.
If I was going to use a dry food, I would perhaps look at one with a healthier source of carbs like wholemeal grains or grain free. However raw is very low in carbs which suggests they may not be the trigger in your dogs case.
What types of treats does he have? Some of the popular ones can be quite high in ingredients which may be more likely to trigger yeast infections.