Nutrition for my mangey mutt :)

[rij73]

Hi all... So, I've had Hudson for 1 month now. He came to me with demodectic mange, and within a couple of days developed a very bad skin infection. He had a 104.5 fever and he had pussy bumps all over his skin. Some of the bumps were bleeding. He was so lethargic too. He was one sick doggie. I was totally freaking out!

I'm happy and proud to say that after this month in my care, he is free of mange mites, his coat looks fantastic, and he is an energetic happy dog! People who see him now say he is a totally different animal from one month ago.

I know a lot of his improvement is due to the medication he's been taking (Ivermectin), but I can't help think that it has to do with his nutrition too.

Sooo... I thought I'd share what I've been feeding him in case anybody is looking for tips on getting a sick doggie healthy.

He gets two meals a day. He weighs 34.5 pounds. Each meal consists of 1 cup of dry Natural Balance Fish and Sweet Potato with 2 tablespoons of the same thing canned. I mix into that 1 teaspoon of Missing Link (vegetarian) and 1 teaspoon of Only Natural Pet Super Daily Vitamins and Enzymes. The vitamin powder has all kinds of vitamins plus digestive enzymes and probiotics.

I also give him an Echinacea liquid supplement.

For treats, I stick to good, all-natural vegetarian things like Wet Noses Dooces, Zuke's Minis (peanut butter), and Sam's Yams Sweet Potato Rawhide.

He has gained 2.5 pounds since I got him, and the vet says he looks perfect. So, I'm going to increase his exercise a bit now that he's feeling better so he doesn't start to gain fat.

So, anyway, that's my story...

 

[Adrienne]

Do you have a link to the sweet potatoe rawhides? Never heard of those! Sounds like you guys are on the right track. Similar to what Gunnar gets since he had chronic ear yeast infections. So glad to hear that he is healing up so nicely, must be quite the relief!

 

[rij73]

Hi! Yes it is a relief... The sweet potato chews are at http://www.frontporchpets.com/

Hudson eats them pretty fast, but they do keep him occupied for a while, and it just seems healthier to me than rawhide.

 

[Poppy]

Here are some links for you to review
http://www.abchomeopathy.com/forum2.php/51509/
http://www.jeanesholistics.com/artDemodex.html
http://www.akitarescue.com/treating demodectic.htm

These may give you some ideas. I personally like using astragalus to build/moderate the immune system. I also like adding organic plain yogurt, and a raw food diet with good quality protein. Or, you can look into one of the grain free foods available, I just feel the less aggravating factors in the food the easier it will be for the body to recover. Or, another good food is California Naturals. For treats you could give raw chicken or turkey necks, ox tails, RMB's are good as well. Try to stay away from overly processed foods, rawhides and do not vaccinate, you can do titer tests instead
Good luck.

 

[Herschel]

Make your own dehydrated sweet potatoes! Dr2little makes them in the oven--we just use a dehydrator. Our puppy loves them and they are cheap, non-staining, and totally natural.

 

[rij73]

Thanks for the links and the sweet potato idea...

I wonder how to dehydrate sweet potatoes in the oven! I'll research it or ask Dr2little...