Food recommendations....

Rough_Collies2008 · 02-05-2010, 02:50 PM

Angel has been put on Potassium Bromide for seizures (her Neurologist believes she does have epilepsy).

I have been doing some research about gluten, and other food products that can attribute to the problem, so I am thinking of switching her to a grainless diet.

Any foods you would recommend?

StellaLucyDesi · 02-05-2010, 04:27 PM

There are alot of great grain-free foods on the market! Some of them are:

Not in order of importance....

Orijen
Acana
Wellness CORE
EVO
Nature's Variety Instinct
Horizon Legacy
Taste of the Wild
Solid Gold Barking at the Moon
Natural Balance LID's
Blue Buffalo Wilderness (the original had oatmeal, but I think they've taken it out...also, they are coming out with..if they haven't already..a Duck flavor without oatmeal and a Salmon flavor without oatmeal)
Canidae Grainfree regular and fish
Merrick BG (note..all formulas contain chicken)

And I know there are even more that I haven't listed. There are also some wonderful pre-made raw foods on the market as well as dehydrated raw and freeze dried raw foods. Some of these are:

The Honest Kitchen (dehydrated)
Nature's Variety Raw patties and medallions (premade and freeze dried)
Primal (premade)
Bravo (premade)
Ziwi Peak (freeze dried)

Again, there are more that I haven't listed, I'm sure. Good luck! IMO, a more natural diet, either raw or without grains, certainly wouldn't hurt your baby!

Enhasa · 02-06-2010, 09:22 AM

Hi,

What is the difference between freezed dried, dehydrated and premade raw foods?

Thanks!

StellaLucyDesi · 02-06-2010, 11:00 AM

No problem...

PREMADE: Companies like Primal, Nature's Variety, Bravo, etc. make raw diets that come frozen. Some of their food is complete and balanced with raw meat, ground bone, veggies/fruit, vits. and minerals. Some of their food is for supplemental feeding only with raw meat, ground bones but no vits./ minerals added. You treat these foods just like any raw foods and wash hands/bowls and use sanitizing procedures. Most of them come in nuggets/medallions or patties like hamburger patties. They will come in a variety of meat flavors, like chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, venison, etc.

FREEZE DRIED: Some of the companies mentioned above, like NV, also carry their raw food in a freeze dried form. All the moisture is taken out, but it still looks like "chunks" of food. You can feed it as is, or I guess, add some water. I have never used the freeze dried foods. These will have the same ingredients as their premade raw foods and can be used when traveling or as treats. They are more convenient because you don't have to observe, as closely, the sanitizing procedures.

DEHYDRATED RAW: Companies, like The Honest Kitchen, make these kinds of foods. Again, the water is removed. But, unlike freeze dried, you have to rehydrate with water before you serve it to your animal. Again, they are very convenient. They come in different formulas, like herbs, veggies/fruit that you add your own meat and water to and complete formulas that you add nothing but water to. They tend to have the consistency of "gloppy oatmeal" LOL. Instructions will be included on how much water to add for rehydration. Some are grain-free and some might contain grains. The meat might be turkey, chicken, etc.

All of the above foods tend to be a little more pricey than plain ole kibble, though sometimes it's worth it. Sometimes, to save cost, they can be used in conjunction with kibble diets for consumers that want "raw benefits" for their animals but don't want to go "whole hog" (hahahahahaha) into the raw feeding world.

I hope this helps a little

Darkmoon · 02-06-2010, 11:13 AM

I have nothing to add, sorry but I did want to stop by and say I DEMAND updated photos of your 2!!! Sorry to hear about Angel. That little girl just can't catch a break.

Rough_Collies2008 · 02-06-2010, 12:14 PM

Thank you so much for the links and suggestions.

Work was slow last night, and I spent the better half of the evening looking up the different brands!

I am thinking of starting the Nature's Variety Raw plan......just to start at least.

Darkmoon, How are you?!

Will this do for now?

I took this with my camera phone yesterday morning of Angel at her vet appointment. I am telling you, if she got any more attention out and about, she would float away...her head is so big

And, just for kicks.

Riley at Thanksgiving time showing the girls his 'paw shaking' skills LOL . Notice his eyes are on the food.....

Darkmoon · 02-06-2010, 12:39 PM

I guess that will do! Man has she gotten so big! Both look great!

HersheyPup · 02-06-2010, 08:57 PM

OMGZ!!! Your collies are so beautiful! I have always loved colllies, both the rough and smooth coats...hmmm...my wheels are turning! Perhaps my next dog??

Oh, I wanted to add that I feed Natural Balance LID (grain free), their Sweet Potato and Venison and now the brand new Sweet Potato and Bison. Love this food, despite the low protein content. Excellent results...A+++++!

I also feed the Honest Kitchen Embark (which is grain free), Petcurean "Now" which is grain free and Stella & Chewey's prepared raw. The other things I feed are direct from the supermarket and consist mainly of raw meat and bones.

GypsyJazmine · 02-06-2010, 09:09 PM

The Thanksgiving pics...LOL!...Now there's a dog that can multi task!

Masterjedi688 · 02-06-2010, 11:21 PM

Hopefully with the change in food Angel will be better and seizure free for good. I loooove collies myself because of LASSIE. Your Collies are gorgeous. Good Luck with the new food.

LazyGRanch713 · 02-07-2010, 10:38 AM

I wish I had suggestions for you; I hope the potassium helps her.
Your collies are drop dead gorgeous!! (I'm very partial to collie types..

InkedMarie · 02-08-2010, 08:01 PM

First of all, I want your dogs.
There, now that I got *that* out of the way, let's talk foods LOL

I'm an Honest Kitchen fan, been feeding it steadily for the last year & half to my three, before that, off and on for five years.

Their Force is grainfree, chicken based and wheat & gluten free
Keen is NOT grainfree, is low gluten
Thrive is NOT grainfree but is gluten free

It's not cheap, I use it at breakfast for my trio, they do extremely well on it. I've found the company to be wonderful to deal with, if you're interested, go to www.theHonestKitchen.com, give them a call or email and tell them you're interested in the food and ask for a sample or two. For anyone reading who feeds THK, did you know they now have a frequent buyer program? Check their website, if you're on FB, they are too!

LazyGRanch713 · 02-08-2010, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InkedMarie

First of all, I want your dogs.
There, now that I got *that* out of the way, let's talk foods LOL

I'm an Honest Kitchen fan, been feeding it steadily for the last year & half to my three, before that, off and on for five years.

Their Force is grainfree, chicken based and wheat & gluten free
Keen is NOT grainfree, is low gluten
Thrive is NOT grainfree but is gluten free

It's not cheap, I use it at breakfast for my trio, they do extremely well on it. I've found the company to be wonderful to deal with, if you're interested, go to www.theHonestKitchen.com, give them a call or email and tell them you're interested in the food and ask for a sample or two. For anyone reading who feeds THK, did you know they now have a frequent buyer program? Check their website, if you're on FB, they are too!

Well Hi Marie, I remember you from the CBB!

I haven't tried Honest Kitchen; unfortunately I can't find anyone near me who carries it, and ordering is a pain for me, but so far my papillons are doing great on merrick BG's, and Auz is doing super on TOTW.

InkedMarie · 02-09-2010, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LazyGRanch713

Well Hi Marie, I remember you from the CBB!

I haven't tried Honest Kitchen; unfortunately I can't find anyone near me who carries it, and ordering is a pain for me, but so far my papillons are doing great on merrick BG's, and Auz is doing super on TOTW.

Hey Jenny!
I know you too! I lurk every once in awhile on the CBB, I became one of the "unfavored", lurk there when bored.
I know alot of people who can't find THK locally, you can order but beside it being a pain, I've found it's alot more expensive that way. Your crew doing well?