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http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products_dogs.html

ORIGINAL POST

Hey all,

I have a 15yo dog and a 2yo dog. The older one is having some bad issues with gum disease and I am wishing I would have done more to prevent that in his past.

I don’t want to make the same mistake for my 2yo, so what are your tips? I don’t want to traumatize her every day by brushing her teeth ideally.

I heard that there is a water additive that is tasteless and helps with mouth health, this seems like the easiest thing for sure.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated as well as ideas on how to help my older dog right now. He has a vet appointment for next month, but in the meantime I want to help.

Thanks in advance!

10 replies

nessie6x · 3 years ago

Honestly my dogs hated the water additive and made em not want to drink water at all. I definitely recommend the treats greenies that are minted flavored or coconut flavored that help in a way clean your dogs teeth”. One a week is good. Even brushing your dogs teeth every other day(sometimes I forget myself lol). My dogs love the toothpaste arm &hammer flavored chicken. As well as there’s some puppy peanut flavored drops I use to spread around their gums aka let them lick some off and it promotes healthy breath/gums! That could also help. The name of that is called TropiClean oral care gel. I use the peanut butter flavor and my boys love it :)

2 upvotes on reddit

Olorin_The_Gray · OP · 3 years ago

Thank you so much! I will definitely be looking into those.

As far as brushing, your dog just lets you hold open their mouth?

2 upvotes on reddit

nessie6x · 3 years ago

Well since they love the smell of the toothpaste or gel they come near it and I use a high pitch voice and say treat”. To Grab their attention. I slowly just open one side at a time and brush. Obviously not as great because they do move around and lick their lips trying to taste the toothpaste but hey it’s something lol if not I heard groomers can brush their teeth for ya for a small fee or can get professionally cleaned by the vet but that’s costly.

We did it for my one schnauzer mix and it was like $600.. he had to be asleep during it and they removed a bad tooth as well. I guess some dogs are more prone to bad teeth. I wish I knew what I know now to brush their teeth but we started all late. So it’s good your starting earlier with your 2yr old pup!

2 upvotes on reddit

SentientSickness · 3 years ago

Greenies have been really good for my girl

2 upvotes on reddit

Lvl1TeddyBear · 3 years ago

It's slow progress and a lot of effort but it's possible to start your dogs on a daily brushing schedule. For my dog, a dental cleaning was more traumatizing than a toothbrush.

You can start by squeezing dog toothpaste into the bristles of a dog toothbrush and letting your dog lick it while you hold it. After they get used to it, you can progress to brushing morions.

We use arm and hammers enzymatic toothpaste for dogs. They've got a toothpaste for gum care and tartar control. The tartar control one doesn't smell good but my dog enjoys the taste and it keeps her teeth clean.

5 upvotes on reddit

Olorin_The_Gray · OP · 3 years ago

Thank you very much! Looks like I will be doing tooth brushing at y’all’s recommendation. I didn’t know so many people did it lol

1 upvotes on reddit

carona42 · 3 years ago

I would always go with vohc approved products.

And I wouldn't recommend bones they can ~~splinter~~ break in small piece and cause internal blockages, get stuck in the mouth or the dog gets an upset stomach from bones.

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/why-bones-are-not-safe-for-dogs

Start slowly to desensitize the toothbrush and teach your dog it's a nice experience. Or use treats like greenies

6 upvotes on reddit

PrincessJellyfish39 · 3 years ago

Raw beef bones don’t splinter. Stop spreading misinformation please.

0 upvotes on reddit

carona42 · 3 years ago

Splinter was bad wording but bones can break in small pieces and those can cause blockages.

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/why-bones-are-not-safe-for-dogs

https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_do_raw_bones_really_crack

3 upvotes on reddit

rawrasaurous101 · 3 years ago

Tooth brushing doesn't have to be traumatizing! Cooperative care, desensitization, and lots of treats can make tooth brushing time something they look forward to every night.

The VOHC list has tons of great suggestions. They can also chew marrow bones while supervised, but shouldn't be left alone with them.

6 upvotes on reddit

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r/dogs • [2]

Summarize

Has anyone tried dental diets,are they any good?

Posted by That_One_Cute_Cat · in r/dogs · 2 years ago

Saw an interview with a vet dentist recommending dental kibble as treats as part of his oral pet care routine. I did some research and it seems legit because they can't get the VCOH seal without actually proving to be beneficial.

Ps: my dog is healthy, this would be as a preventive measure only if i end up using it.

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thighGAAPenthusiast · 2 years ago

Seek a second opinion if you’d like another opinion on a vet’s recommendation

1 upvotes on reddit

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r/DogFood • [3]

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What to Feed a Dog Who's Prone to Dental Problems

Posted by notdavidjustsomeguy · in r/DogFood · 2 years ago

My dog (35 lb mixed breed) seems to be prone to dental problems. She had a teeth cleaning and had 3 abscessed teeth removed last year. I've been giving her a Whimzee dental chew every day since as a "lunch" so to speak, but when she went in for her annual check-up this year, the vet said she needed another dental cleaning and she ended up needing another tooth extracted. The vet recommended she start eating Hill's Prescription Diet Dental Food to help prevent future problems. Unfortunately, the reviews I'm reading of Hill's (though I'm having trouble finding any reviews of this particular food) seem less than stellar, and when I looked at the ingredient list, I was disappointed to see that the first ingredient is Brewers Rice. I just feel like the first ingredient of a good dog food should be some kind of meat, right?

Does anyone have any experience with this dog food? Any alternative recommendations on how to help my pup so she doesn't have to lose any more teeth in the future? Do I just have to suck it up and take on the responsibility of brushing her teeth everyday with a toothbrush and find a regular, good-quality food to feed her? (I've been giving her Taste of the Wild until now)

Any advice is much appreciated!

3 upvotes on reddit

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https://imgur.io/a/75VUfwR

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send_ur_animals · 2 years ago

Hill’s is one of the best out there. Formulated by DACVNs and other experts who know what they’re doing and know what dogs need. Taste of the Wild isn’t recommended as it’s been linked with DA-DCM and is not formulated by board certified veterinary nutritionists. If my vet recommended Hill’s Prescription Dental, I would have absolutely no qualms about switching.

3 upvotes on reddit

send_ur_animals · 2 years ago

The other commenter has provided some great information and 2 great resources, I’ll link some more here so you have them.

https://nutritionrvn.com/2021/03/23/fillers-in-pet-food-and-why-they-arent-a-thing/?amp=1

https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/companion/our-services/nutrition-support-service/myths-and-misconceptions-surrounding-pet-foods

https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2019/02/human-grade/

https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2019/03/stop-reading-your-pet-food-ingredient-list/

https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2019/12/pet-food-decisions-how-do-you-pick-your-pets-food/?fbclid=IwAR0ErXDaPfyvGXqmX5hjjeGwa-P-5q5M8mENHRUmh6baxoMblgzhidjkEJk

It is absolutely contradictory to what you’ve likely been told - and it probably isn’t your fault! Thank you for looking for more information, it’s clear that you just want what’s best for your dog.

The marketing on brands like Taste of the Wild (Acana, Merrick, Blue Buffalo, Wellness, etc) is specifically done in a way that makes HUMANS feel good. You see “natural, whole ingredients, grain-free” etc and it sounds healthier! Unfortunately these are not balanced diets and can lead to DCM, malnutrition, and other illnesses that come with not getting the nutrients they need.

Hill’s, Purina, Royal Canin, Iams, and Eukanuba (Iams and Eukanuba not in Europe/UK) are currently the only 5 brands that satisfy the criteria deemed important by the WSAVA when inquiring on pet food. They have full time board certified veterinary nutritionists (DACVM) on staff, run feeding trials, publish peer-reviewed research, etc. Science is behind these 5 brands rather than ingredients that make us feel good when buying them and expert marketing ploys.

ANY grain-inclusive prescription or OTC diet from those 5 brands (again, 3 if you are in the UK/Europe) are backed by science and research and formulated by the best of the best in their fields.

3 upvotes on reddit

atlantisgate · 2 years ago

You should trust your vet more than the reviews. They’ve been to medical school. That diet has also been substantiated by the veterinary oral health council.

Ingredients lists tell you nothing about the balance of nutrients in a diet. There is zero scientific reason meat needs to be the first ingredient

But… you should ALSO brush her teeth everyday

5 upvotes on reddit

notdavidjustsomeguy · OP · 2 years ago

I'm sorry, but this doesn't really make sense to me. I would think ingredient lists can tell you a lot about the balance of nutrients in a diet. And I get that dogs are omnivores, but I would think that the majority of their nutrition from meat and vegetables. A dog in the wild would never eat grains, you know what I mean? So it doesn't make sense that a good food for dogs should be primarily rice/grain-based. (I hope I'm not coming off argumentative here. This just seems contradictory to what I thought I knew about dog nutrition, so I'm trying to better understand where you're coming from.)

3 upvotes on reddit

atlantisgate · 2 years ago

It doesn’t! Dogs need nutrients in appropriate amounts, not ingredients. Nothing about chicken being the first ingredient tells you there is sufficient linoleic acid or B vitamins in the diet.

https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/06/why-you-shouldnt-judge-a-pet-food-by-its-ingredient-list/

https://www.alltradesdvm.com/topics/nutrition/how-to-evaluate-pet-food-using-ingredients

A diet having brewers rice as the first ingredient before processing (ie before water weight is removed) doesn’t even mean that’s what most of the diet is! All it means is that prior to processing that was the heaviest ingredients. Obviously stuff like rendered meat, which hills uses a lot of, will be less weighty because water has already been removed from that product

And brewers rice is actually an excellent source of essential nutrients anyways! It’s easily digested, and a great source of nutrients like potassium, calcium, and fiber WITHOUT adding a zillion calories to the diet that make it unsuitable for a pet.

I hear you on it being contradictory to what we have been told as consumers — but genuinely, that “read the ingredients” stuff — it’s marketing from brands who manipulate their ingredients list, often at the expense of proper formulation, to make it appeal to laypeople like you and I. Feeling good about the first several ingredients sounding wholesome is a million times less important than balancing micro and macro nutrients a dog needs to survive.

Hills has invested significant expertise and scientific research into their diets, especially prescription diets to demonstrate they are balanced and actually address or remediate health issues like dental disease. That science is important and tells you more than ingredients lists!

3 upvotes on reddit

Aggravating-Major248 · 2 years ago

Some ideas on dental: Water additives, Topical oral gel, Oral spray, Anti plaque wipes, Plaque off powder, Continue with edible treats, DEFINITELY brush teeth every day if not twice a day (after each meal). If your dog is this prone to losing teeth I’d treat them like a human in terms of how much to brush. To my understanding this is the best method to help.

Some ideas on the food concern: Maybe add something to the diet the vet recommended like freeze dried topper/bone broth/raw goat milk/coconut water. I think there are a lot of mix ins you could do, maybe even do half canned half Hill’s? Just a thought, maybe you can discuss these with your vet. Also, you can also get a second opinion, vets don’t always agree.

1 upvotes on reddit

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r/DogFood • [4]

Summarize

Has anyone tried dental diets,are they good?

Posted by That_One_Cute_Cat · in r/DogFood · 2 years ago

1 upvotes on reddit

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http://vohc.org/VOHCAcceptedProductsTable_Dogs.pdf

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atlantisgate · 2 years ago

Interesting suggestion! Honestly, if your dog has extreme dental needs I'd just go with it as a the full diet rather than treats alone.

Dental care food does work (as you mentioned, having a VOHC seal means it's demonstrated efficacy), but it is pretty pricey (and some are prescription only) - no way I would be buying a whole bag JUST for treats. And it'd probably go bad before you could use it all too if you're not feeding as a full diet.

If you just need regular dental maintenance I'd go with other VOHC products including daily brushing (first and foremost), daily dental chews, water additives, or plaqueoff. But if you're willing to buy a whole bag of the retail kibble and give it a try, it won't hurt.

For anyone coming across this thread and is interested:

2 upvotes on reddit

That_One_Cute_Cat · OP · 2 years ago

Great answer!! I dove in into the oral health food and there's one brand that is just $20 for a 4 pound bag,same as the prebscription one,even other owners have noticed. I do agree that it could go bad before you use it whole, i store kibble in the freezer because of this. I have to check but i don't remember how long dry food last, i think 30 days is the ideal. Dental chews it depends cost wise because mamy if not all you have to give daily,some hsve enough for 30 days,others not and some come up to $25 or more if they are actually VOHC approved.

1 upvotes on reddit

chubbylab · 2 years ago

My dr recommends it and i haven’t been in the field long enough to know but I’ve heard lots of good things for cats! For dogs- they have a million other chews, why spend so much on a prescription diet? Cats don’t want a bone so when they have tartar but not extreme dental dz, T/D is the go to. Obviously if the teeth are painful, they won’t chew it and they need a dental anyways.

1 upvotes on reddit

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r/Pets • [5]

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Calling out some bullshit in this sub about oral health in cats and dogs.

Posted by wintervenom123 · in r/Pets · 6 years ago

Numerous times I have read posts where people claim kibble has no effect on build of tar in cats and dogs. This is usually then supported by some random ass blog post from holistic vets, what ever that even means when it comes to animals. I will present peer reviewed scientific studies that show thr contrary. This does not mean that brushing shouldn't be done I'm just dispelling myths. Oral product are recommended for your cat or dogs teeth and gums, ask your vet and he will confirm. To access these articles without a subscription use sci hub.

Zinc is an essential trace mineral that is often added to diets for its antibacterial properties. It has also been proven to reduce plaque in cats. In association with this, bad breath, also known as halitosis, is reduced.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/089875640101800401

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/089875640502200101

Polyphosphates can be used to coat the kibbles of both dog and cat dental diets.These compounds are effective at binding to minerals, in particular calcium, which would otherwise bind to plaque and harden to form tartar.Kibbles coated with this compound have been proven to prevent the formation of tartar on all teeth, and not just those involved in the mechanical breakdown of food (mainly the molars).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/7574160/

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/089875640502200101

Cats and dogs fed a dry food diet have a greater oral health status, in regards to dental diseases and tartar accumulation, when compared to cats fed a wet food diet.

http://jn.nutrition.org/content/136/7/2021S

Similarly, when cats are fed only, or partially dry commercially prepared cat food as part of their feeding program, there is a reduction in tartar and gingival disease when compared to cats fed home prepared diets. Which goes against common bullshit home made raw diets.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/impact-of-homeprepared-diets-and-home-oral-hygiene-on-oral-health-in-cats-and-dogs/5571ED60972E371C4A323155B9E16988

Advantages of a dry diet are due to the abrasive properties, such as the patterning or texture of the kibble, which mechanically scrape teeth and aid in the removal of plaque buildup.The positive effects of a kibble on feline dental health are achieved in dry pet food formulations, and are not exclusive to diets which focus on dental health.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/089875640502200101

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4494333/

Kibble size is also an important factor when creating a dental diet. Hennet et al. (2007) found that by increasing kibble size, tartar can be significantly decreased.This reduction in tartar correlates to the increased need to chew as kibble size increases.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/089875640702400405

Homemade raw diets that include the feeding of meaty, raw bones to mechanically break down plaque and tartar have proven to be more of a risk than benefit.In addition to risking spoilage due to microbial and bacterial growth, fracturing of teeth is also common.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/089875640502200101

The physical characteristics of dental kibble are very important as they contribute to the mechanical cleaning of the tooth's surface.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195561606001045?via%3Dihub

The kibble need to be large and very dense to promote chewing, as more time spent chewing will aid in the decrease of accumulation of plaque, tartar and calculus. When the kibble is being chewed, the broken pieces rub against the tooth's surface and scrape off the buildup of bacteria that forms the tartar, plaque and calculus.Ingredients that have an adequate amount of carbohydrates and are high in insoluble fibers (typically around 10%), such as soy fiber, wheat bran fiber or cellulose fiber, are added to increase the density of the kibble to assure it does not easily crumble and promotes a texture favourable to scraping of the tooth.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/089875641102800403

Increasing the diameter will also significantly reduce the accumulation of plaque and calculus compared to traditional dog food as it will require more chewing by the molars.

Regular dental check-ups by a veterinarian will assess the health of the mouth and jaw, and advise whether dental cleanings are required. These are all necessary and crucial steps to maintain oral health, and contribute to the overall health of a dog or cat.

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3003575/

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ThreeQueensReading · 6 years ago

I feed my animals 100% preformulated raw, including regular bones. It does nothing for their teeth. Instead I brush every evening, add PlaqueOff to their meals, and squirt a vet approved chlorhexedine mouth rinse in each morning. I can easily see kibble is better than wet or raw, but I don't think anything comes close to daily brushing.

4 upvotes on reddit

wintervenom123 · OP · 6 years ago

Raw diets and bones do next to nothing for teeth as one of my linked studies shows. Kebble, when compared to wet, had a 40 to 55 % reduction in the amount of calculus build up. Obviously this isn't 100% and you still need oral hygiene products and is very dependent on kebble size. BtW raw diets have not shown any benefits when compared to store bought kebble and wet and studies have shown they often are nutritionally inadequate and carry a huge risk of contamination and infection both to the animals and their owners. Yes even store bought raw was found to be Zinc deficient for instance, which means worse breath and teeth. Of course feed them what you think is best, I'm not one to preach a lifestyle.

https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/debating-raw-diets-january-2019/

Another interesting corelation is that only a small subset of vets recommended them and those that did were associated with anti vaxx and anti science stances. It seems its not so much science that supports their view but a mistrust in government regulations.

7 upvotes on reddit

harveykitten · 6 years ago

Raw bones absolutely have been shown to be beneficial for teeth. One such example is here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26814157

1 upvotes on reddit

[deleted] · 6 years ago

It’s just so hard for me to believe that processed kibble is an all around species appropriate diet for any animal. Especially with the feed grade ingredients and high amounts of starches/fillers used in most commercial dry foods. It completely changed my dog’s life when I switched her to human grade high moisture diet, no more hot spots, ear infections, skin infections... I even was able to stop giving her prescription dry eye drops which was the most surprising change. And I tried so many kibbles over the years, both name brand and specialty brands. I’m sure it can help with tartar removal but I would rather brush my dog’s teeth then deal with the other issues kibble created.

3 upvotes on reddit

zeusandzoey · 6 years ago

Correct. I switched to raw with my Boston, i only wish I got around to it before the pittie died of bone cancer and the Sheppard of 'quick onset diabetes due to maybe cancer. Sad. Very. People diseases. But the Boston is 11, she has the energy of the pup she was, the white stopped creeping up on her face, her teeth are perfect... and she loves it.

These are diseases, we are making our pets sick. Not because we don't love them. We all want to do the best for them! We have just been very misguided and misinformed... it's almost criminal.

Now imagine what following that same theory of species appropriate may do for humans... at least bring some of us closer to a normal state of being. Wrong sub though I digress

1 upvotes on reddit

[deleted] · 6 years ago

My little girl is a Boston as well, she’s 12 now and doing better than ever! She is so spunky now that she isn’t feeling sick every day. I’m so sorry to hear about your two that passed early, I’ve lost one before it should have been her time and it still hurts, even though it was over 10 years ago. They were very lucky pups to have found your love in this world. I agree about the misinformation being almost criminal. It’s clear that these companies only care about their huge profits and due to lobbying are able to influence and manipulate what information is released as fact. Everyone’s bought these days. It’s scary and exhausting. I just want to share my story on a thread like this on the off chance one person reading can help their sick pup feel better by a simple switch to a more natural diet. The change in my dog was crazy. Our home town vet was astonished. All I did was give her a different diet and a lifetime of chronic issues slowly went away. It’s been 4 years now with no relapses. I’m so grateful to have found such a simple solution for my sweet girl.

1 upvotes on reddit

dazzleduck · 6 years ago

Thanks for this. I made a comment a few days ago about dry food being beneficial to dog and cat teeth and someone tried to post some links to deny it. I never responded, but glad to know I was telling the truth. I've heard it from dozens and dozens of vets that I work with!

8 upvotes on reddit

aspicyfrenchfry · 6 years ago

Someone once told me that kibble is like eating chips and feeding cats raw is like "eating sushi." Apparently eating sushi/raw food means food won't get stuck in our teeth and cause bacteria build-up ¯_(ツ)_/¯ not sure where they pulled that shit from

2 upvotes on reddit

wintervenom123 · OP · 6 years ago

It is like sushi actually. Most people who eat sushi are infected with parasites, the same risk of salmonela and other nasty infections is present in all raw diets for dogs and cat. Funny how that works, eh. It's an appeal to nature fallacy,raw has no document benefits and is often nutritionally inadequate, evens store bought has been found to have inadequate Zinc for instance. Which btw means bad breath and worse teeth.

3 upvotes on reddit

bennetfoxy · 6 years ago

I had to change food so my cat would actually chew it (and clean her teeth) instead of wallowing it around in her mouth to get it wet and swallow it. I had to find dry kibble that was had bigger pieces than what I was giving her. Chewing hard kibble will help keep their teeth clean.

6 upvotes on reddit

DannyCarmody · 6 years ago

Hill's t/d is their dental care food, and it's also pretty good for hairballs. I mix some into my gang's other food, and leave pieces here and there in the house for them to find.

5 upvotes on reddit

[deleted] · 6 years ago

I appreciate your research and opinion, and have nothing against anyone who chooses to feed their pet processed kibble. I just believe that fresh food that is sourced above “feed grade” is more than “nutritionally sufficient” for my pet. A diet that is convenient and that keeps an animal alive doesn’t prove it’s the healthiest option. And my dog is not some anomaly, UC Davis Veterinary Hospital initially assisted me with creating a homemade diet for her, they have an entire program for dogs just like mine because there is such a demand. Yes, the same hospital that came out with the study on grain free dog food. You can link as many studies as you want but you can’t change the fact that all of my dogs have improved health after eliminating kibble from their diet. Which I did with the advice and recommendation from one of the top veterinary hospitals in the country...

3 upvotes on reddit

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r/dogs • [6]

Summarize

Best food/treat options for a dog's dental health

Posted by coobones · in r/dogs · 4 years ago

I don't know what would be the best option, I hear many recommendations of a dental treat called "Greenies" and it seemed straight forward and simple but then I read the 1 star Amazon reviews and they are basically horror stories that all revolve around their dog defecating blood, I saw an old post requesting the same help I am and it was a prominent one, is it only a certain type of dog that gets these side effects? Like a dog with a certain health problem because people report about Greenies as if nothing is wrong with them. I also saw recommendations of real bones or antlers, honestly it was the most common answer but I thought bones are capable of causing digestion problems if the dog happens to swallow a piece. I just don't know, can I get some help please?

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dawntylr1 · 4 years ago

I believe there was a change in the formula for greenies and is now safe. With that being said, greenies don’t agree with my dog. The first time 8 gave her one she threw up the next morning. Dogs throw up so not a huge deal, in my opinion. A few days later I gave her another and she had diarrhea. So now I’m assuming that they just aren’t for her. I’m currently working off the VOHC list to find a good one. I tried whimsies brushez and she had no digestive issues but seemed to have a bit of trouble chewing the last little nub so I had to take it away as I was afraid she’d choke. I think I’m now going to try the dentalife to see how she does with that one.

1 upvotes on reddit

ZZBC · 4 years ago

Check out the Veterinary Oral Health Council website, they have a list of approved products.

1 upvotes on reddit

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r/dogs • [7]

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What is the optimal food/diet for dogs? [Help] [Discussion]

Posted by chunkymonkeychoo · in r/dogs · 6 years ago

What food/supplements should I be feeding my dog to ensure she has the longest/healthiest life possible? There are a lot of recommendations out there that say what is best: grain-free, raw, human-grade etc, but I’ve had trouble finding scientific research that explains what is actually the healthiest (without being bias from companies promoting their own dog food). What are the most reputable sources for information on dogs health (un-biased, not sponsored)?

EDIT: I don’t understand why people are down voting this. Is it unpopular to want your dog to live a long and healthy life?

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SummerPeach9 · 6 years ago

I feed my dog Merrick, but it’s grain free. I too have seen about how grain free may not be optimal. I’m going to ask my vet about it at my dogs physical next month. What’s your opinion on Merricks grain free?

1 upvotes on reddit

chunkymonkeychoo · OP · 6 years ago

This may be a silly question, but my dog has had diarrhea the few times I have tried to introduce raw food into her diet. Is this common for dogs when they are transitioning to raw dog food? Or is this specific to my dog/ just means raw dog food isn’t the right choice for her?

1 upvotes on reddit

Rhine25 · 6 years ago

That's a completely normal process of the dog's stomach having to adapt from a more basic to an acidic flora. There should always be a transitioning period between kibble to raw. There should be a day of fast to clear the organism of digesting kibble. First, only meat for at least a week. Preferably chicken or turkey. Then meaty bones. Then giblets. You might want to read about it on a specialized website.

2 upvotes on reddit

helleraine · 6 years ago

Tufts.

14 upvotes on reddit

crick2017 · 6 years ago

A vet nutritionist would probably be able to recommend the best diet specifically for your dog. When he/she recommends a brand, ask the rationale for his recommendation and you can get to know more about the reasons why the selection was made.

Royal Canine, Acana and Natural Balance are some popular retail brands recommended by folks. There are some specialized diets and cottage dog food provider services, that you can google based on your location.

1 upvotes on reddit

chunkymonkeychoo · OP · 6 years ago

Is a vet nutritionist different from just my normal vet? I asked my vet for recommendations and he seemed very indifferent/ just said that anything AAFCO approved is fine. I didn’t want to push by bringing up things I read online as I didn’t want to be one of those people whose reads something on web MD and thinks they know more than the doctor

1 upvotes on reddit

crick2017 · 6 years ago

Any vet with ACVN certification can be considered an expert on nutrition.

http://www.acvn.org/

5 upvotes on reddit

thesecondparallel · 6 years ago

I would avoid Acana at the moment, they’ve been one of the brands under investigation for causing DCM in dogs.

7 upvotes on reddit

dwellondream · 6 years ago

Are you receiving compensation? You listed Purina Pro Plan and Merrick's (also owned by Purina) as having "impeccable standards", but Purina adds a ton of fillers and has awful standards. They're known for having dog-killing stuff in their food (methanol, fungus toxins to name a few) and they get meat from all over the world, especially China.

To put Purina in perspective: they also own Beneful.

1 upvotes on reddit

Yourfluffyfriend · 6 years ago

While meat makes up the majority of their diet, domestic dogs also derive nutrients from grains, fruits, and vegetables. ... A good dog food will contain meat, vegetables, grains, and fruits. The best dog foods contain high-quality versions of these ingredients that are appropriate for your dog's digestive system.

5 upvotes on reddit

chunkymonkeychoo · OP · 6 years ago

Is it specific the the dog/breed? How do you tell if it’s a “high quality” version of the ingredient?

2 upvotes on reddit

Squamous_Cell · 6 years ago

I didn't say that they didn't have the facilities, standards or research, rather I just prefer their Pro Plan line better because of the different protein qualities �� For instance, Dog Chow has a variety of different protein sources which makes it difficult to determine which protein a dog is allergic to if the issue arises.

2 upvotes on reddit

See 12 replies

r/DogAdvice • [8]

Summarize

Old dog doesnt want to eat, but vet says shes healthy

Posted by Trick_Scholar6815 · in r/DogAdvice · 2 years ago

My dog is 11 years old, and in the last month she hasnt been herself. She eats way less then she used to, she only wants to eat one type of treats, and other treats she used to eat she just sniffs and moves her head away. I tried giving her her regular food and she eats maybe 10% of it and leaves the rest. I took her to the vet and he took her blood and said there was nothing wrong with her bloodwork, he gave me pain medication to give her because she has pain in her left back leg, he examined her stomach and intestines and said there was nothing unusual. He also gave me supplements to give her which i do every day, but she hasnt been much better since then. She just lays on her bed all day and rarely gets up. I dont know what else to do, the vet says shes healthy but she doesnt seem healthy or happy. Is she just old? I dont know what to do anymore to help her :(

15 upvotes on reddit

12 replies

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12 replies

Snoo-47921 · 2 years ago

How are her teeth? When was her last dental performed and do you know her current dental grading?

19 upvotes on reddit

menelauslaughed · 2 years ago

My dog got pickier with her food as she got older and I started to experiment more with supplementing her food. Nowadays I mix in fresh produce and broth I make with whatever meat I have on hand. It’s literally just meat and water and she ends up eating all her food.

20 upvotes on reddit

AOZ007 · 2 years ago

Same my dog just turned 9 and he went on a hunger strike for 1 day because we didn’t switch his food to something new and different 😂

1 upvotes on reddit

Clear-Cauliflower901 · 2 years ago

Older dogs sometimes don't have as much of an appetite as they did when they were younger. It's the same with elderly people. If the activity level drops, so does the appetite. As long as she's still having some meals and isn't dropping any weight or showing any other symptoms, things should be OK.

13 upvotes on reddit

Trick_Scholar6815 · OP · 2 years ago

Yes i understand that, but i have tried giving her her favourite foods, and she just turns her head away, or takes a really small piece and ignores the rest.. she dropped 2-3kg since her last weigh-in which was around a year ago, but she was overweight so the vet said she needed to lose a few kg. I dont know if she lost the weight in the last few months or was it happening gradually but other than that and a low appetite she has not been showing any other symptoms

4 upvotes on reddit

Nagadavida · 2 years ago

Often when they get older they lose some of their sense of smell which can affect their appetite. Does she have any allergies or seem stuffy? Allergies can get worse in the winter due to dryer air and more dust.

3 upvotes on reddit

Clear-Cauliflower901 · 2 years ago

Has she had a dental check up? And it may be her favourite foods but if her appetite is less then she isn't going to want to eat it. Sometimes you gotta change things up a little. Is there anything else that she might like with that food? Maybe a little cooked chicken to see if that will tempt her?

5 upvotes on reddit

chucklelab · 2 years ago

My 11 year old lab has gone down from two meals a day to only wanting one meal a day, if that. My vet says she’s perfectly healthy. Hope that’s the case here! huggles

2 upvotes on reddit

Trick_Scholar6815 · OP · 2 years ago

Thank you all for the nice and helpful comments, i hope everyone who commented sees this:

I just got back from the vet, he said that her stomach is upset because of the pain medication, he says that type of medicine can generally upset the stomach and told me to stop giving it to her immediately. He says thats why she was eating grass as well. I hope she will improve after this adjusment

8 upvotes on reddit

ricecrystal · 2 years ago

Gabapentin is a super safe pain med that doesn't often have a lot of side effects, in case that's an option.

Does your dog need to be in pain medication for a permanent injury or arthritis?

Eating is the more immediate priority but pain management for a senior dog greatly influences quality of life. I kind of hope you see another vet.

4 upvotes on reddit

Nagadavida · 2 years ago

What pain med was she on? Do you give joint supplements? They can help a lot. We used MovoFlex and Dasuquin with MSM.

2 upvotes on reddit

ricecrystal · 2 years ago

Pain may be making her not want to eat. I don't feel 11 is so old that you just have to let them go - any chance you can see another vet for another opinion? To me it's concerning that the vet is just like, well, whatever. Do you have a veterinary rehabilitation practice in your area? I took my 15-year-old girl to once the last six months of her life or so. She was having a lot of pain and it really helped. I ultimately lost her to lymphoma but they did a full evaluation.

10 upvotes on reddit

See 12 replies

r/animal_rescue_help • [9]

Summarize

🆘 9/1 Urgent Now‼️Journey A572487 is a sweet dog w/ an adorable underbite that is a 5Y old (HW-) Cattle Dog / Lab who was adopted from this shelter (not responding) URGENTLY seeking loving forever home! Dog-friendly! Located at 612 Canino Rd. Houston, TX (Adoptable Out of State)

Posted by Timely_Writer_7359 · in r/animal_rescue_help · 5 days ago

v.redd.it

55 upvotes on reddit

5 replies

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5 replies

Jessicadarlene · 3 days ago

Boosting for sweet Jounree girl 🙏

1 upvotes on reddit

peterthbest23 · 4 days ago

POSTING FOR PUBLICITY!!

BOOSTING FOR THE POOR BABY!!

PLEASE SCREEN ALL POTENTIAL ADOPTERS!!

3 upvotes on reddit

atotalwakingup · 4 days ago

Boost for this very sweet love

2 upvotes on reddit

OkArticle8166 · 4 days ago

Booost!!!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

3 upvotes on reddit

r1Zero · 4 days ago

Boosting for this sweet pup! ❤️

3 upvotes on reddit

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