Bluemoose or Lanie: DOG FOOD HELP!

[Grace]

Hi guys,

My yellow lab Brandy is kind of sick right now. She either ate something she's allergic to or got bitten by some bug outside or something, but she's all covered in hives. She looks like a Sharpe. Poor, poor girl. I took her to the vet and they gave her Benadryl and said she'd be alright in a few days, but now she also has the runs something awful, and has no interest in her food whatsoever, not even dog cookies or treats. She doesn't even want the cheese that I wrap her pills in, which is usually her FAVORITE thing.

I want to cook her some food fresh, as I'm sure it will be more enticing, not to mention if I put rice in it, it will help her "other" problem!

Please, if you have a simple recipe for something I could throw together - I have 3/4 lb of ground turkey in the fridge and rice of every kind, but what to do? And I'd love to throw some veggies in too. Thanks in advance for any help you could offer. I hate when my normally happy and active "babies" are laying there feeling miserable, and I can't do much to help them.

My little one just got fixed last Thursday too, so even though she's doing well now, she was very out of it and miserable last Friday and Saturday.

[BlueMoose]

Grace,
I think it's best to fast her for a day or 2, just make sure she has lots of fresh water, until her system is back to normal. I looked in "Natural Health for Dogs and Cats" by Richard Pitcairn, D.V.M. and he talks about allergies frequently being caused by foods. However, I would talk to your vet or another vet about finding out what she might be allergic to. Pitcairn's book is one that is recommended by many sources.

Sorry I can't make any specific food recommendations, but I'm afraid I'd do more harm than good since I'm not a vet. After she's back to normal, though, I'd be happy to give you some suggestions and recipes.

Good luck!
Chrisi

[RunnerKim]

Grace, call your vet and update them on Brandy's lack of interest in food. Something else could be going on.

Generally speaking if dog (who normally loves to eat) isn't eating - there's a reason and most likely if you get Brandy to eat, because she knows you really want her to, it'll come back up. (She could have some type of intestinal blockage). A dog can fast for a few days without problems (if the vet agrees) - I'd try chicken or beef broth, perhaps diluted if she's not interested in food. Will give a little more nutrients than water.

If the vet gave Brandy a steroid while in the office that can significantly affect her appetite (some dogs get ravenous and others lose their appetite).

Short term you could just cook up some turkey and rice - maybe mix in some broth and she if she's interested in eating that. You don't have to worry about a "balanced" diet over just a couple of weeks.

Kim

[Grace]

Hi guys. Thanks for your replies and concern. She's doing a lot better now, but still very "lumpy"! (Doctor said it could take several days, and to keep giving her benadryl).

I did call the vet when I saw her lack of interest in food, etc. (before I even posted here), and he told me not to worry, that these allergic reactions were one of the most common things they see every summer. His guess was she was either bitten by some insect, or perhaps she ate a bee or other insect (which could account for her "other" problem). He doesn't think it's any real "food" she's all of a sudden allergic to. She doesn't get table food here, except for the occasional apple or something like that, so that was unlikely.

So anyway, I ended up boiling the brown rice in plain water, I cooked the turkey meat up in a separate pan, added some cut up carrots and some fresh parsley, mixed it in with the rice after it was done, and then I let it cool off. Well, she GOBBLED it up! (I only gave her a small portion though). Then, several hours later I gave her another portion, and she gobbled it up too. I think it helped her with the runs, too.

I didn't really want her to fast because she's developed this problem lately that if her stomach is empty, she throws up bile (sorry for being graphic everyone). So I wanted to make sure she had something in her stomach, and I also wanted to get some rice into her. I knew that part of her disinterest in food was lack of energy, and being overly hungry. So I knew I just needed to make it more enticing for her. And it worked! Now I'm afraid she'll never eat her dogfood again!!! LOL

I would still be interested in a basic dog food recipe, Chrisi or Lanie, as I would like to have a really good recipe on hand for when I might need to cook for them in the future.

One funny thing, the food that I did make actually smelled really good, and my husband came out from the office and said, "ooh - what's for dinner - it smells really good!" (and it really did - I was tempted to eat it!). Weird. It was just ground turkey, rice, carrots and parsley. No salt, no spices, no broth, nothing (I've read that too much salt is not good for a dog - so I left it out).

Anyway, Brandy is sitting here at my feet right now, very out of it (the benadryl makes her very drowsy), with a very LUMPY head, but otherwise ok. Her other problem has subsided, and I know she's not starving, so all will be well in another day or two.

Thanks again for your help and concern - I really appreciate it. I know there are other dog lovers on this board, and I always know where to come for help with ANYTHING!!!

[gertdog]

Grace,

Glad your pup is feeling a bit better and eating!

Our dog had something very similar to what you describe a few summers ago. Hives, rash, diarrhea, lack of appetite, vomiting. We took her to the vet and they couldn't determine a cause. But they had us feed her cooked shredded chicken and white rice with a sprinkling of garlic powder for flavor. In tiny amounts at first, then more, then mixing it with her regular food until finally we were back to just her dry food. I can't tell you how disappointed she was when there was no more chicken and rice!

Anyway, the vet did tell us that gradually getting her back to her usual food was important, rather than just switching back when she seemed to be better.

Good luck. Sick dogs are no fun... you wish they could just magically learn to speak and tell you what's wrong.

[browneye]

Grace,
I am so glad Brandy is feeling better. I have a yellow lab too!...I think I recall you have at least two of these magical creatures..

Anyway, I have used these recipes from Dr. Pitcairn's book Natural Health for Dogs and Cats for my dog numerous times.
When she has been slightly ill, it is the only thing she'll eat, and she even recognizes the mixing bowl I use to mix in up in. Whenever I pull out that bowl now she does the Snoopy dance all over the kitchen! Poor thing then realizes I am not making her special dinner. Sad, sad face......

Here ya go- even though she's feeling better, you might want to keep this on hand for future reference. Or if you run out of dog food and don't feel like going to the store!

Quick Canine Hash
1 cup bulgur or whole-wheat couscous
1 cup chuck, hamburger, turkey or chicken
1 1/2 tsp. bonemeal \
Healthy powder or nutritional yeast (sprinkled on top)
Basically, you just cook the bulgur or couscous until done, add the meat and bonemeal and serve.


Quick Canine Oats and Eggs
1 cup raw rolled oates (2 cups cooked oatmeal)
3 eggs
1 tsp. bonemeal
nutritional yeast
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add the oats and turn off the heat, let sit for 10 minutes. Then stir in the eggs and bonemeal. Let the eggs set slightly. Let cool and serve.

This recipe is supposed to be a mainstay of a dog diet:

8 cups raw rolled oats
2 pounds raw ground or choped turkey
1/2 cup Healthy Powder (see recipe)
1/4 cup vegetable oil.
1 cup cooked vegetables, chopped (he recommends carrots, zucchini, corn, peas, broccoli or green beans. )
3 tblsp bonemeal
10000 IU vitamin A
400 IU vitamin E
1 tsp tamari soy sauce ( I use low sodium soy sauce and add a little more, she LOVES it)
1-2 cloves garlic, crushed (optional) I sprinkle in a little garlic powder- she loves that!
Bring 1 gallon of water to a boil, add the oats, cover and turn off the heat, letting the oats cook for 10-15 minutes. Then combine remaining ingredients and serve.

He says it is fine to serve the meat raw, however I always microwave the meat first and then put it into the oats.

Healthy Powder
2 cups nutritional (torula) yeast
1 cup lecithin granules
1/4 cup kelp powder
1/4 cup bonemeal
1000 mg vitamin C (ground)

You'd have to read the book to understand why all these ingredients, but it is well researched and when I am extremely energetic, I make batches of this stuff for Chile. She loves this food.

[browneye]

Bumping this up so Grace might see it.....

[lanie]

just got over my challenged moment and emailed you.......have info for you

Elaine

[lanie]

Hi Grace - here are the Essex Cottage Food threads - I cannot say enough for this food - I love making it and my dogs love it and are thriving - coats, bloodwork, etc. - just amazing.

U.S. Site:
Jan's... www.pegasuspetfood.com

Canadian Site:
Catherines.... www.essexpetdiets.com

ECF ... www.yahoogroups.com
sign in
go to my groups
click on ECF
go to files

[Grace]

Oh thank you everyone for all your help!! I have printed out the recipes and will keep them, as I think with TWO of these monsters around my house, I will need them at some point or another!

My Brandy is getting over her hives, but her appetite problem is still a problem. I will be calling the vet back - yet AGAIN - (I think they're sick of me), to see if they have any suggestions about curing her lack of appetite/vomiting problem. I am very wary of cooking for her too much - as she won't go back to her dog food, I'm sure, and then I'll be stuck cooking for her forever, which is something I don't have the time/energy to do. But I will cook for her today and maybe try mixing at least some of her dog food into the stuff I cook - and wean her back that way. I'm not worried that she'll starve (she's not that skinny!), but she looks miserable and I know she's hungry (keeps vomiting that bile), and I just know she'd feel better with some food in her stomach and some energy.

But thank you ALL so much for your help and concern and ideas.

[browneye]

Grace, you are right, they do have a difficult time going back to their plain ol' dog food after you cook for them. One thing that I have found helps when this happens is this: I put her regular dry dog food in a bowl, then (while she watches so she can see I am really making something special for her;) I sprinkle over some FF low sodium canned chicken broth or beef- then a little garlic powder and sometimes some leftover vegetables from dinner....she chows that down! And we get back to normal pretty quick.
Good luck. Keep us posted with Brandy's progress!

-Major dog lover here....