Nutrition question

doxies13isenough · 03-25-2008, 04:30 PM

I have a dachshund that was pacing the walls mouth hanging open and drooling constantly starting last October. We thought she had liver problems, infection, we tried antibotics, science diet food recommended by the vet everything we were told to do. She was starving to death could see her backbone her hip bones, ribs even her temples were boney it was awful.
I made the appointment to put her down on the first Friday of March. Well on Wed of that week I could not take her starving any more so i fried her some sausage and feed her nothing but sausage all day. They next day no drooling no pacing no mouth hanging open. She was acting like a dog for the first time in months. so I have continued to feed her nothing but cooked sausage and she has gained about two pounds can not see her back bone, hips, ribs nothing. She looks and acts great.

My question is... Is she getting all the nutrition she needs. I do not want a set back but I want her to get all the vitimins and mineral she needs.
She is going back to the vet tomorrow so he can see the great progress, but I wanted to others ideas on this.

Thanks ahead of time for all your imput.
Carol

Mdawn · 03-25-2008, 05:35 PM

She won't eat anything but cooked sausage? Have you tried different meats? Just the sausage won't give her everything she needs...maybe you could look into switching to raw feeding since she likes the sausage?

Wimble Woof · 03-25-2008, 06:16 PM

I too would suggest home cooking atleast, something more nutritious than sausage.
If you were to consider raw feeding, that would probably be the best bet (IMO) as even the most picky dogs usually take to raw well.

Did you ever find out what was wrong? Was it liver problems?

doxies13isenough · 03-25-2008, 08:17 PM

We never did find out what was wrong. We took her to three vets they all had different ideas from allergies, gastro problems, neuro problems or liver problems. I am guessing some additive or something in bought dog food was making her sick. She absolutely will not even eat dog food now. when I feed the others she does not even go over to sniff.
I just tried to give her beef she spit it out. seriously she will only eat pork, I feed her ham and she would eat it. She will eat some potatoes.

When you feed raw do you only feed meat? Do you feed any grain or veggies? Like I said I just want to make sure she is getting all the vitimins and minerals she needs.

bumping this up I really would like some input and ideas please
thanks carol

briteday · 03-25-2008, 09:55 PM

When you feed raw you need to balance the phosphorus (meat) with the calcium (bone). If you aren't feeding bone then you need to supplement. I think most people use bone meal, but I'm not sure as I feed the real bones to my dogs.

Some raw feeders give fruits/vegt/grains...some do not. I don't feed any grains (one dog is intolerant) and they only get fruits/vegt if there is something about to go south around here. Any vegetative matter must be pulverized or blended because dogs lack the enzyme to break down plant cell walls. So they can't get to the nutrients inside the cells if you don't break it down for them.

There are some good raw feeding websites in sticky posts at the top of the food forum.

Also, there are some pre-made raw foods. They are a bit pricey but it is a balanced diet.

doxies13isenough · 03-25-2008, 10:29 PM

briteday thanks for the information. I am going to take this information with me to the vet tomorrow to get his recommendation. I will update after the visit.

Willowy · 03-26-2008, 12:34 AM

Be aware that most vets don't know much about nutrition. They do take a short nutrition class in vet school, but it isn't much. He'll probably recommend Science Diet, LOL. Hill's sponsors a lot of vet school nutrition classes.........

But yeah, your doggie does need more nutrition than just sausage. Calcium, especially. You'll need to do some research into feeding a raw or homecooked diet, to make sure you get all the nutrition balanced just right. I'm glad your dog is doing so much better. Most store-bought dogs foods are junk

.

luv4gsds · 03-26-2008, 08:15 AM

I would hold off on the raw diet until you know what is going on with your Dachshund. You probably can look into a home cook diet for now.

doxies13isenough · 03-26-2008, 02:47 PM

Hershee just got done at the vets. He was amazed. At her sickest when you could see every rib and vertibrea she weighed 9.0 lb (end of Jan) today she weighed 13.2 lb so she has gained 4.2 pounds. He said he was going to do some research also on supplements that would be good for her. I am going to try to find some pictures of her to add.

Here is hershee in Dec or first part of Jan. Dont she look bad