morbid obese english bulldog- p/u today

tack77 · 03-28-2009, 07:55 PM

Thanks for yor reply cshellenberger, can you recommend a good Low Carb food?

InkedMarie · 03-28-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tack77

Please keep us updated on how your dog is doing. Im currently having the same problem with my 5 year old male English Bully. He weighs 77 pounds and climbing. Ive had him on a strict 3 cups of Iams for the last 6 months, and hasnt lost a pound. This last trip to the vet, they checked for hypothyroidism and test came back neg. Now he is on Hills R/D, which is really expensive, but hopefully something gives. He sheds horribly, has dermatitis, has bad ear infections often....he really needs to drop some weight.

I'm going to offer some advice, hope it's okay and you're open to advice! Get him off the Iams. If your dog has dermatitis and ear infections, he *may* have a food allergy/sensitivity. I have a list of ingredients, from a friend who got it from Tufts, of ingredients to avoid, unless you want to do allergy testing. The ingredients to avoid are chicken, soy, corn, wheat, rice & flax.
The foods I found that do not have these are

Calif natural herring & sweet potato
Solid Gold's holistique Blendz
Timberwolf's ocean blue
Taste of the Wild's Pacific Stream

I would start with a food change. 3 cups per day is TOO much. If you tell us what food you'd like to try, we can help you with the amounts. Watch treats. Check them for ingredients. Use green beans with his food as a no cal filler. Exercise should increase.
Hope this helps

cshellenberger · 03-28-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tack77

Thanks for yor reply cshellenberger, can you recommend a good Low Carb food?

I like Evo, but there are several good ones on the market. Look at the smaller pet supply stores as they often have the best selection. Be SURE you do the transition SLOWLY otherwise you'll upset his system.

InkedMarie · 03-29-2009, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tack77

Thanks for yor reply cshellenberger, can you recommend a good Low Carb food?

are you looking for a food with grains or grainfree? I have a link to grainfree foods and they tell you which are low or moderate carbs

cshellenberger · 03-29-2009, 12:50 PM

Marie, could you post both links?

tack, I'd go grain free Low Carb just to be sure you don't get something your EB is allergic to, very rarely a dog will allergic to rice as well.

tack77 · 03-29-2009, 01:21 PM

Thank you all for you help. marie, id be interested in those links.

After doing an online search, I found a feed rite not so far away that sales the taste of the wild and the Calif natural herring & sweet potato. Are these foods low in carbs and grainfree?

Thanks again everybody

I just went and bought a 5 lb bag of the Taste of the Wild's Pacific Stream. Hopefully after weaning him onto it I see some results. Im also going to try and track down some green beans today.

InkedMarie · 03-29-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tack77

Thank you all for you help. marie, id be interested in those links.

After doing an online search, I found a feed rite not so far away that sales the taste of the wild and the Calif natural herring & sweet potato. Are these foods low in carbs and grainfree?

Thanks again everybody

I just went and bought a 5 lb bag of the Taste of the Wild's Pacific Stream. Hopefully after weaning him onto it I see some results. Im also going to try and track down some green beans today.

FYI, out of the three TOTW's, the Pacific Stream is moderate carb, not low.

www.dogfoodproject.com
on the left, you'll see a link for grainfree foods. (if this doesn't work, just do www.dogfoodproject.com

tack77 · 03-29-2009, 06:15 PM

good grief, back to the feed store it looks like

InkedMarie · 03-29-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tack77

good grief, back to the feed store it looks like

if you havent' opened the bag, see if they will take it back. I forgot to say in my earlier post, Cal Nat is NOT grainfree, don't know bout the carbs. It's what worked for my dog so I stuck with it. He does great on the TOTW fish one, but if your dog is overweight, you may want to try low carb. You could also stick with the TOTW you have, while it's moderate carb, it may work for awhile, you can then try the other two formulas. I know many people who feed it and rotate and/or mix

tack77 · 03-29-2009, 07:59 PM

I already opened the bag, but fortunatley I just got the 5 lb bag. The dog seems to love it so far so ill use this stuff up and then wean him on the low carb one,,,at least maybe this will start to help with the allergies.

Snow and rain here in Michigan today, hopefully tommorow is a better day for exercise!

cshellenberger · 03-30-2009, 09:28 AM

It will take two to three weeks to really start seeing results on the allergy front. Go ahead with the green beans too(canned no salt is fine) I'd make about 1/4 of his feedings green beans, it will reduce the caloric intake no matter what you feed. Also, be careful of how many treats you give, if you must give treats use carrots cut into bite sized peices (my dogs LOVE them).

tack77 · 04-05-2009, 08:24 PM

Just wanted to say thanks for all the advice. My EB is seems to be doing much better already and has only been on this new diet for a week now. I swear I can already tell a difference in his coat. Though weather is still very iffy here in Michigan, we have enjoyed a walk everyday for the last 4 days. I just hope he sheds some weight.

Thanks again

tack77 · 04-11-2009, 05:12 PM

UPDATE

As I said at first, I started my EB on Tate of the wild pacific stream, but I immediately began to wean him on TOTW High prarie becuase it's low carb. My dog is acting great, I can tell a huge difference in his coat and character,,,in addition, weve enjoyed a walk everyday.

For the last 2 days, He has had real mucousy stool, with a little blood. Im wondering if maybe this food is a little too much protein for him, or is this something that will settle in time?

Any help appreciated

Thanks

MoonStr80 · 04-11-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosemaryninja

Be sure to not just add green beans to the food, but decrease the proportion of kibble that she's getting. Upping the exercise will help a lot, too, but be sure to take her only as far as she can go.

That's good point. Also find a quality dog food that is Hypoallergenic or/and grain-free dog food might help as well plus look at the fat/protein % content. The range would be perhaps 7-12% fat, & cut the intake of food you put in the food bowl

Independent George · 04-12-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

For the last 2 days, He has had real mucousy stool, with a little blood. Im wondering if maybe this food is a little too much protein for him, or is this something that will settle in time?

I wouldn't worry about the loose stools, but if there's blood, I think you should consult your vet immediately.

Kathyy · 04-14-2009, 09:04 AM

When my dogs had colitis pumpkin fixed the mucous and bit of blood in the stools and they were fine. When my younger dog had mucous and blood in his stool when starting raw a bit more bone fixed that. From MY two experiences more fiber/roughage seems to help the problem.

Colitis is irritation of the colon. New food can cause this. If it gets bad then I reset the system by doing the sick dog diet of 12-24 hour fasting, overcooked rice/chicken food then gradually back to the regular kibble.