Holistic vet care

[Joe Bob]

My two litter mates have food allergies to varying degrees. It's pricey and not really effective.

Anyone go down the alternative path that would care to share their experiences?

[GH85Carrera]

Witch doctors?

Maybe Voodoo?

Wasting money on alternative medicine my make you feel better that you are doing something. Since it done to animals I doubt there are any regulations unless it get cruel and I know with certainty you will not do anything cruel to them.

Sorry your dogs are suffering.

[island911]

Pets are not cheap. But at least there are MANY choices of pet foods to address what ever the allergens may exist.

[Joe Bob]

Yeah, once we ID'd the allergies we switched foods.

However they both scratch to varying degrees and the drugs were are purchasing give them some sort of relief but I am exploring other treatments. The puppy seems to just piss and crap and eat anything....like my weird Uncle Donny....

[island911]

Not all Vets are the same. Some simply throw antibiotics and/or steroids at the problem, or claim 'mystery allergy.' Some vets specialize in skin diseases.

IOW, getting a second opinion (on solutions) might not be a bad way to go.

[911 Rod]

I was at a pet Expo earlier this year and they had a psychic there that could communicate with and tell you everything about your pets personality/feelings.

Her rates were very reasonable.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by island911

Not all Vets are the same. Some simply throw antibiotics and/or steroids at the problem, or claim 'mystery allergy.' Some vets specialize in skin diseases.

IOW, getting a second opinion (on solutions) might not be a bad way to go.

We lucked out on our vet here. Smart, attentive, caring, very nice. I guess that as much dough as she has gotten out of us, she ought to be. She tried to buy my last dog from me for about 10 years. Never asked me, but asked my wife every single time. That vet cried more than I did when the dog finally died.

Derm stuff can be hard to figure out sometimes.

[NoRush993/951]

Rodney Habib at Planet Paws. Search on Facebook for him.
His dietary work for animals is fantastic. Most of the skin irritations are food related.
Start making your own food for your dogs and you will see immense health improvements.
Once you get started it's easy and worthwhile. Your dogs will thank you.

Chicken can be a culprit. My little guys don't respond well to chicken in their diet. But turkey is ok.
Salmon, beef, bison, and pork. There are lots of good protein options to mix with peas, carrots, rice, etc.

If you can't imagine making it. Improve the quality and use a brand like Fromm.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by NoRush993/951

Rodney Habib at Planet Paws. Search on Facebook for him.
His dietary work for animals is fantastic. Most of the skin irritations are food related.
Start making your own food for your dogs and you will see immense health improvements.
Once you get started it's easy and worthwhile. Your dogs will thank you.

Chicken can be a culprit. My little guys don't respond well to chicken in their diet. But turkey is ok.
Salmon, beef, bison, and pork. There are lots of good protein options to mix with peas, carrots, rice, etc.

If you can't imagine making it. Improve the quality and use a brand like Fromm.

This is the ticket. Cooking for your dog is the best plan but I'll admit that I'm too lazy to do it. Probably cheaper than good dog food as well if you do it right. What I've heard is that you basically make a big pot of beef stew w veggies and meat in it, (carrots are great). You freeze it in portions and then just microwave the dog's meal every day. Only have to cook maybe once a week and it gets easy once it's a routine.

If I ever get another dog, this is the plan. I always had good luck w high quality dry food, (no human food other than meat and rice occasionally), but cooking is the way to go.

[rusnak]

Try talking to pet groomers. I swear they seem to have more practical knowledge than many vets.

My main problem with vets is that they are so over the top and dramatic, and they all think that they are the star of "ER".

[NoRush993/951]

Originally Posted by speeder

This is the ticket. Cooking for your dog is the best plan but I'll admit that I'm too lazy to do it. Probably cheaper than good dog food as well if you do it right. What I've heard is that you basically make a big pot of beef stew w veggies and meat in it, (carrots are great). You freeze it in portions and then just microwave the dog's meal every day. Only have to cook maybe once a week and it gets easy once it's a routine.

If I ever get another dog, this is the plan. I always had good luck w high quality dry food, (no human food other than meat and rice occasionally), but cooking is the way to go.

+1
It's easier than you think. The first time is the hardest. Use large pans and basically make big thin meatloaf. Cut into little squares the size of a meal. Use a scale to weigh them and determine the correct portion size. Then freeze to use as needed. Either defrost or microwave. Makes them healthy and extremely happy to eat. Take care and invest in your little buddies and it will extend their lives. Ours all go over 18+ years in great health. Get their teeth cleaned and ease up on vaccinations as much as possible and they will love you for it.

[rusnak]

Beef will tear the stomach up in some dogs. Boiled chicken is a bit safer.

[Joe Bob]

Unfortunately the tests show that they are allergic to chicken and beef.

[rusnak]

Check out the Costco Nutri-nuggets. I think there is a Lamb one. It has no corn, which is actually what more pets are really allergic to.

[RKDinOKC]

Had a golden with allergies. She was the runt of the litter, but the best dog in the world.

When she had a reaction she would run around itching and scratching and her skin would swell up like a Sharpee. Took her to the vet and he gave her Benedryl shots. Said I could just give her the pills from over the counter but wouldn't act as fast. Got a syringe of benedryl from the Vet to keep in the glove box. The syringe gave her relief from the itching real quick, then I followed with benedryl pills for a day.

Vet said I could get her allergy tested and treated like they do people and it would be around $2500. He said didn't have a very high success rate but I could try it. Through trial and error found She was mostly allergic to soy in the dog foods and other stuff like hot dogs. Switched her to Eukanuba because a friend used it for his bird dogs and it worked great. Eukanuba was about the only health dog food back then. They also eat and poop less with it. She like the lamb and rice stuff, but not the beef.

Then every once in a while she would have a reaction to something out at our farm. Vet examined her and said it was fleas. He pointed out fairly good size sores above her tail. Said they got big because of her reaction to the flea bites and that was where fleas typically bite dogs. Got a double Nylon collar and made a slit in the back and filled between the nylon pieces with strips cut from a cattle flea and tick ear tag. Worked GREAT! Replaced the strips of ear tag every year. Used about 1/3 a tag. Worked a lot better than any of the other flea and tick stuff.

The benedryl syringe really did the trick to stop her itching really fast. I think it was like $8.00.

My current golden won't eat hardly anything except for Purina One. And it has rice, corn, and soy meal in it.
Sure glad she doesn't have an allergic reaction to it.

[rcecale]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Unfortunately the tests show that they are allergic to chicken and beef.

A few others have posted here on cooking your own food for your pups. That's what I do.

Every Saturday I boil up a mix of boneless chicken breast, cubed sweet potatoes, sliced carrots, a can of peas and a couple of cans of plain, unsalted diced tomatoes. Toss in a couple tablespoons of olive oil, some parsley and some oregano and boil for a couple of hours. Remove and shred the chicken, drain the vegetables and mix it all together in a bowl. Then throw in a few cups of cooked brown rice. Lasts all week, my dog LOVES it.

You might try the same with turkey...?

edit: P.S. Stay away from onions, but fresh garlic is really good for your dog. (Not the minced kind that comes in the jar, but actual pressed cloves...there is a difference)

Randy

[scottmandue]

We are looking to cooking our own pet food also (but for cats) can anyone recommend a good book with recipes? (sorry for the slight hijack)

[Rikao4]

most often the dog is allergic to the saliva of the flea..
steroid shot takes care of this in mine..

food..
do it your self ..sure..
but there is really good stuff available now..( pricey at times)..
if your doing your own..
and microwave it later..
just start buying ALPO..
using the micro IMHO destroys anything of value..

Rika

[island911]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Try talking to pet groomers. I swear they seem to have more practical knowledge than many vets.

My main problem with vets is that they are so over the top and dramatic, and they all think that they are the star of "ER".

Yeah, groomers vs 8 years of veterinary medicine and weeks of continuing education each year. Yeah, listen to the whackadoddle with the shears.

Seriously, the makers of pet food are very scientific about it all. Soooo many different mixes exist, to meet special dietary restrictions.

[rusnak]

^ You sound like one of them.