Food to put weight on my Husky

[RedyreRottweilers]

Cranberry is noted NOWHERE as having any benefit to kidney health.

Cranberry has unique properties that can prevent the adhesion of bacteria (which cause urinary tract and bladder infections) from adhering to cells lining the urinary tract. There is also some thought that they can help prevent kidney stones from forming.

It is important to make sure that information one posts to bulletin boards in regard to diet, supplements, etc, is CORRECT as many people can read these boards and incorrect or incomplete information be harmful in some cases.

http://www.squidoo.com/benefitscranberryjuice

http://www.cranberryinstitute.org/news/PR/PR111506.htm

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=145

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

In humans or in dogs?
Systems are different and things good for us aren't necesarily good for them.
I'd love to see somewhere it says that cranberries are good for a dogs kidney.

Lew Olsen, PhD natural health, recommends Cranberry for dogs with urinary tract issues.

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/utis/

 

[sisco16]

Very nice looking dog That sounds like an okay weight. She doesent look overly skinny.I just feed strictly canidae know and koda seems to love it.

 

[Dekka]

Yes freeze raw meat before feeding.. I forget the actual organism that can be carried in raw muscle meat, but it is killed by freezing.

Satin balls are in addition to a good diet.

What are the cal per cup in Candidae?

 

[OutlineACDs]

Dekka, I don't remember what it is called either, but from my understanding, at least in the US, we don't worry about it anymore. I thought it was mostly found in pork, but the organism has been eradicated from pork so we no longer worry about freezing meat before it's eaten. Unless someone else has any info that I don't know.

 

[maple]

Trichinosis is probably what you're talking about, but it is essentially eradicated in North American pork. Any grocery store bought meat is very *very* unlikely to have it. Apparently its been over 15 years since there was a case of it here in Canada.
If I was feeding something a little more 'exotic' like bear or wild boar, then I'd freeze it (solid!) for at least a few days, but its not something I can get my hands on here. Although my two LOVE venison, but its a delicacy i can usually only 'find' in the fall.

 

[OutlineACDs]

^^^^ Thank you Maple!

 

[Tazwell]

I fed Kenna about a half of a Satin Ball patty today. She LOVED it. But The vet's going to talk to me again on Monday, to let me know how much of a fatty diet she should be able to safely handle. But she's not eating her Canidae food with vigor anymore.

She looked like she's lost weight since she's come to my home, and that really scared me. I weighed her today, and It seems that she's gained a pound. I think she's just gaining muscle mass, rather than fat, because she's playing with Bruno so much. You can see every rib on her side, even through that thick coat.

At her old foster home (I've had her about 10 days now), she had virtually no exercise. Here, she is crated for up to 10 hours a day (Not at one time, and not including while we're sleeping.) and the rest of the time is spent playing with bruno, with her toys, etc. She still doesn't have nearly enough energy as she should. Maybe I shouldn't let her play with him so much.

Another issue I've had is regurgitating. Bruno did this when he came to my home, too, never have been crated before. He's over that now. She was always free-fed, and had access to water 24 hours a day. Here, she's crated for up to 6 hours without water, and gets fed twice a day (Though she only wants to eat once.) So when she does eat or drink, she does it a LOT. Too much for her shrunken stomach. So she'll regurgitate water and undigested food in little puddles shortly after drinking.

I dont' let her drink all at once, and I can't cut her Dry food meals down into small portions throughout the day-- she'll only eat once (though that's not a problem with Satin balls.) and that's helping a lot.

Is this right, or am I doing something wrong? She should be able to be crated without water, right...? Or maybe I should forget that theory and give her water in her crate, too?

 

[Dekka]

No it wasn't Trichinosis, it was found in beef. Arg..If I remember I will post.

 

[SizzleDog]

and had access to water 24 hours a day. Here, she's crated for up to 6 hours without water, and gets fed twice a day (Though she only wants to eat once.) So when she does eat or drink, she does it a LOT. Too much for her shrunken stomach. So she'll regurgitate water and undigested food in little puddles shortly after drinking.

In my experience, it can take awhile for a free-access dog to get used to not having snackies and sippies all day. I crate mine without water (Ilsa spills it, and Ronin drools in it).

Maybe start by putting a small amount of water in the bowl when she's out, so she can't gorge. Or PM Sada - her setter has a drinking problem too, and she takes special measures to prevent him from vomiting up his water intake.

 

[Tazwell]

Ok... I need some more Chaz expertise.

I spoke to the vet today, and he recommended Science Diet. Not even a prescription, just Science Diet because Home made foods aren't balanced. Too much work on the kidneys. He also spoke to Hills, and they recommended some of their homemade foods... I haven't gone in to pick up the information sheet yet...

I'm just upset because she's doing SO well eating the satin balls- her energy level has increased to completely normal, a HUGE improvement-- and she's eating them with vigor, and I'm sure she's gaining weight. She won't eat enough of any dry food to get her anywhere. She's still at such an awful body condition.

I don't know what to do. I mean, he doesn't even know what's in the food I'm feeding her, so I don't know if that's a completely valid point, or not. How do I know it's any better or any worse than the commercial food I'm trying to get her to eat?

ETA: My cat was just diagnosed with Inflammatory bowel disease, or so we think. He wants me to feed him either a senior, or hairball formula, with more fiber. He wants me to feed him Iams, Eukanuba, or Science Diet-- All "Wonderful foods with fantastic results," and I simply asked for what kind of crude fiber level I want, so I can pick one myself. My cat's eating Felidae. He says there's no reason not to feed the above listed Grocery store-bought type foods, the others are no better than that.

I told him my cat does better on Felidae, coat and weight wise. He says there's no reason that would be true. Iams is just as good.

 

[SizzleDog]

*sigh*, vets and Science Diet again... sheesh. What's so balanced about peanut hulls anyway?

IMO Satin Balls aren't for long term use - they're a good supplement, and good for temporary use to put weight on a dog.


... sounds like your vet isn't someone I'd go to for nutrition advice.

 

[2dogmom]

Just as a side note, I'm not overly find of the molasses in the satin balls. There are some alternative recipes in case anyone is interested.
http://www.holisticdog.org/Nutrition/Satinballs/satinballs2.html
This same page also has recipies for some seriously fattening treats.

 

[Gerald]

Hills and Science Diet?? BAD> Are all vets brain washed by Science Diet? No, wait, they make lots of money off it. My vet sells it, but never pushes it at all.

 

[Gempress]

Yuck. Don't listen to your vet. From what I understand, many vets actually have a pretty limited understanding of canine nutrition. And a lot of what they do know is taught by "seminars" provided by traveling Science Diet reps.

Science diet is NOT the way to go. There are so many foods out there that are much better. I don't know much about specific brands, but I'm sure there are people on this board who can give you more info. And there's nothing wrong with home-prepared foods (like raw) if you know what you're doing.

Here's a MUCH better site to get nutrition information from. The site's author, Mordy, really knows her stuff:

www.dogfoodproject.com

If it helps any, I used to feed my dogs Natural Balance. It's not as good as Innova EVO, but is still one of the better foods out there. And you can find it at Petco.

 

[Tazwell]

Right. I know plenty about choosing a dry food, and I would avoid Hills at all costs. The only issue for me right now is Choosing a food that:

1)Kenna will eat
2)Won't overwork her kidneys
3)Will put weight on her


I've read that Everything in the satin balls are pretty much digestible. If there's not much waste, then doesn't that put less load on the kidneys?

I can't feed both the satin balls and dry food, because she simply won't eat both. Otherwise I would. Like I said, her energy and weight have both increased dramatically since I've been feeding her the satin balls on Friday...

 

[ihartgonzo]

Arghhh... I don't mind that some Vets recommend the prescription foods they carry, but when they trash-talk QUALITY foods without knowing anything about them, and push SD/whatever as the pinnacle of all dog foods, that is just wrong. D:<

I would not listen to him, whatsoever, as far as what kibble to feed... just based on that advice. Satin Balls should not do any damage to a dog, when used as a supplement. I know plenty of people who feed full Raw diets to dogs who previously had kidney problems, with awesome results. Why can't you feed both kibble and satin balls? You could mix the kibble into the satin balls, couldn't you?

 

[Tazwell]

I fear that to get the right amount of kibble into the satin balls, she would pick through it, spit out the kibble. True, I haven't tried it yet, but I know her-- She's SO picky...

But for breakfast tomorrow, I think I'll try to mix it for her.

 

[2dogmom]

I am NOT a dog food expert by any means. But it is my understanding that the problem with dogs that have kidney issues is the amount of phosphorous. If that is true, then you want a kibble with a low phosphorous content and then guess what, the S/D doens't look so bad after all.

This list is old but it's the only one I'm aware of.
http://www.raingoddess.com/dogfood/phos.html

 

[Shadow945]

Here's a good list of dry and grain-free foods at Whole Dog Journal -

http://www.geocities.com/rottndobie/wholedogjournal.html

TOTW made the list as well, which is nice since that's the brand I know best.