itchy dogs/cornstarch/dog food - long again

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/9/03 4:55:49 PM Eastern Standard Time,

shelleyslife writes:

 

> With all the amazing knowledge about pets, I'm still confused about dog

> food. Is there a better brand that has less fillers and more goodness and

> nutritional value? I really need some advice on this as my puppies really

aren't

> puppies anymore and I would love to give them the best food that I can give

> them. Maybe a list of this is best, better, good, ok, not so good? Is that

> even possible?

>

> Shelley

>

 

>>>>>>>>>> If only human puppies were this well cared for.........

 

MJH

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Wow, it's SO cool to see so many people who are in touch with their

dogs health, and really really caring. I wish more owners were like

you guys.

 

Firstly, let me say that the suggestion of arrowroot over corn starch

IS probably better, and possibly even a blend of kaolin and arrowroot

might be good - to absorb the exudate that builds up and can harbor

yeast and bacteria. But I'm not sure if the kaolin would act like a

foreign body in the ears.... The suggestion to use corn starch was an

off-the-top-of-my head alternative to talc - which I WON'T use in a

dog's ears. I have used cornstarch for a while a had no problems in

yeasty ears, and it's what we use to dry up wet legs and such before

bandaging. But the OP is probably correct that it might be food for

stubborn yeasties that don't respond to treatment.

 

As far as food goes, it's an extremely tough choice as you all know.

Most dogs respond to food allergies through itching ear and skin

issues. Once you rule out mites, mange, yeast and bacterial

infection, it's most likely a food allergy. Even allergy testing can

leave one at a loss when they have done everything they can, and the

dog is still in misery. There are a few new foods on the market, the

Hills Z/D diet and the Iams kangaroo diet (though it works, I am just

so horrified at the thought of these animals being used as dog

food...) that strive to introduce proteins that: 1.) dogs haven't been

exposed to allergenically 2.) are processed easily. The Z/D diet is

particulary good for vomitting cats with IBD. I suggest to any owner

of an itchy dog to try a food trial with the various allergy diets to

see if any work. Long term steriods use can take a serious toll, as

we all know. Sometimes, the only answer IS a home-made diet, but

understand these are pretty hard to balance nutritionally. That's the

ONE thing the commercial pet foods have in their favor - nasty corn

and chicken ingredients aside.

 

But the whole pet food industry is something worth looking at.

Reading a food label is a confusing at best. They try to make it look

like they have many different ingredients, but the reality is that

chicken meal and chicken digest are probably just ground up chicken

feet. You would be surprised and horrified at what they consider to

be allowable protein sources... And as one who is VERY sympathetic to

the cause of chickens in the commercial chicken industry (talk about

gross) I try to lean away from that. But cats are OBLIGATE

carnivores, meaning they NEED meat to survive - unlike dogs. Ugh.

Throw some serious nutritional health issues into trying to find the

best diet for your pet, and it will leave your head spinning. I

totally sympathize with you all who have tried to puzzle this out.

There just isn't an easy answer.

 

I commented on raw diets, and I hesistated to say more because I don't

want to make any list members uncomfortable. Raw diets were perfectly

appropriate for animals who lived in the wild and were forced to hunt

for themselves, but these wild animals also had extremely high

malnutrition and death rates. In captivty, feeding raw food can lead

to a number of complications, such as bacterial disease, periodontal

disease, malnutrition etc. Dont' even get me started on people who

feed their dogs raw bones.... :/

 

So where does that leave a concerned pet owner? There are a plethora

of " natural food " diets on the market, some good, some bad. Some jack

up nutrient levels and cause the animals to have falsely high serum

calcium levels. This then sends the vet off on a cancer hunt....

Some include high levels of garlic and can cause a Heinz-body anemia.

 

Some are good. Some aren't.

 

Unfortunately, this leaves us with the difficult task of figuring it

all out on our own.

 

Adressing the EO issue, I am not so terribly concerend with those of

you who have carefully used diluted oils on a dog. Since most

transdermal application of medicine needs a vehicle to pass through

the skin into the bloodstream (or skin patches, or other form of

occlusion,) I'm not so alarmed about topical application on dogs. I

_doubt_ it enters their bloodstream unless they lick it off or inhale

great quantities (remember the guy in the piney bath tub study?)

though I have no proof to back this up. There have been no studies on

how easily EOs absorb through animals skin that I have seen. I am

more concerned with the people who insist that EOs have worked so well

for them, that they must work on animals in the same way, and force a

poor cat, dog or rabbit to submit to [oregano] oil baths, or diffusion.

 

The " it works for me, so must for my pet " thinking needs to be stopped.

 

Again, I hope I'm not offending anyone. I made a commitment long ago

to be the advocate of the ones who had no voice. They are my first

priority.

 

Respectfully,

 

JenB

[Guest guest]

With all the amazing knowledge about pets, I'm still confused about dog food.

Is there a better brand that has less fillers and more goodness and nutritional

value? I really need some advice on this as my puppies really aren't puppies

anymore and I would love to give them the best food that I can give them. Maybe

a list of this is best, better, good, ok, not so good? Is that even possible?

 

Shelley

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

> With all the amazing knowledge about pets, I'm still confused about

dog food. Is there a better brand that has less fillers and more

goodness and nutritional value? I really need some advice on this as

my puppies really aren't puppies anymore and I would love to give them

the best food that I can give them. Maybe a list of this is best,

better, good, ok, not so good? Is that even possible?

>

> Shelley

 

 

If Chris will forgive the off topic posts, I think it's important to

talk about it on list for everyones' benefit. I can't get to it

tonight, but I have some really good notes on deciphering pet food

labels in my garage. I'll try to dig them out this week and post some

ideas for all of you who want to know more about how to read these

very confusing labels.

 

JenB

[Guest guest]

Wow, Jen...That would be so wonderful and it appears that I'm not the only

person that would greatly appreciate it.

 

I certainly don't mind being e-mailed off list about this either, if you want.

 

Thank you so much...

 

Shelley

 

 

-

nsorcel

Sunday, November 09, 2003 5:33 PM

Re: itchy dogs/cornstarch/dog food - long again

 

 

 

If Chris will forgive the off topic posts, I think it's important to

talk about it on list for everyones' benefit. I can't get to it

tonight, but I have some really good notes on deciphering pet food

labels in my garage. I'll try to dig them out this week and post some

ideas for all of you who want to know more about how to read these

very confusing labels.

 

JenB

 

 

..

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,

 

As far as I'm concerned - this thread is not at ALL off topic. We're

here to mainly discuss .. and that etc includes all sorts

of nutritional issues, health issues, vaccine issues, lifestyle issues

that affect our well being - and the well being of our plants and pets

(and even the feral flora and fauna we live amongst) is just as topical!

 

Please do inform folks about what the deal with pet foods are! I've

known for years and it is just plain SCARY (and quite gross even ) :-p

 

Keep it going!

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

PS - I've eaten kangaroo before myself - not bad tasting

 

 

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

 

 

If Chris will forgive the off topic posts, I think it's important to

talk about it on list for everyones' benefit. I can't get to it

tonight, but I have some really good notes on deciphering pet food

labels in my garage. I'll try to dig them out this week and post some

ideas for all of you who want to know more about how to read these

very confusing labels.

 

JenB

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thank you for that, Chris...and about the kangaroo thing...OMG!!! ;O)

 

Shelley

 

 

-

Christine Ziegler

Sunday, November 09, 2003 6:33 PM

RE: Re: itchy dogs/cornstarch/dog food - long again

 

 

 

Hi Jen,

 

As far as I'm concerned - this thread is not at ALL off topic. We're

here to mainly discuss .. and that etc includes all sorts

of nutritional issues, health issues, vaccine issues, lifestyle issues

that affect our well being - and the well being of our plants and pets

(and even the feral flora and fauna we live amongst) is just as topical!

 

Please do inform folks about what the deal with pet foods are! I've

known for years and it is just plain SCARY (and quite gross even ) :-p

 

Keep it going!

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

PS - I've eaten kangaroo before myself - not bad tasting

 

 

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

 

 

If Chris will forgive the off topic posts, I think it's important to

talk about it on list for everyones' benefit. I can't get to it

tonight, but I have some really good notes on deciphering pet food

labels in my garage. I'll try to dig them out this week and post some

ideas for all of you who want to know more about how to read these

very confusing labels.

 

JenB