The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Brand Comparisons
Posted by Swhit (Los Angeles, Ca) on 06/02/2012
★★★★★
After going through all the trouble of making our own organic dog food for years I finally gave in and researched on line. I found Blue Mountain for our 7wk old Border Collie and have fed her that for the past 1/2 yrs. Her eyes are bright, teeth are white, she shines from head to paw and sorry to say too alert ( more than a normal BC). The vet complimented us on how good she looks and wanted to know what we had been doing. She will eat all (organic) fruits and veggies except raw zucchini for some reason but she loves orange juice of all things.
Brand Comparisons
Posted by Katmjef (Gaylesville, Alabama) on 05/27/2012
I have been reading this site because I have two Great Pyrenese and I am treating them for their hot spots, fleas and after effects of vet treatment of mange. I just tried the ACV today and will update later.
The reason for my comment is that several people are on here arguing for diffferent brands of dog food and slamming purina. I have been feeding my dogs purina for years and have had no problems. I did go to http://www.dogfoodscoop.com/dog-food-recalls.html and am reporting back to all of you who want people to change dog foods that every single one you have suggested has or is being recalled for ecoli or salmonella or just poor ingredients/ practices in production. NOWHERE on this site is there one thing about PURINA. I do pay a little more for purina than some foods, but I am not going to feed my dogs human food because, and I don't mean to shock anyone but, they are not human.
Thank you for the advise for the uses of ACV.
Food Recall
Posted by Prflgrl (Tampa, Fl, Usa) on 05/25/2012
My dog was affected by this recall. I am done feeding her kibble. I am cooking rice and either turkey or chicken along with a few veggies. My vet recommended a good multi vitamin to help supplement her food.
I wanted to let others know that humans have been affected by tainted dog food.
Here is the CDC link with information
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/dog-food-05-12/index.html
Reader Feedback
Posted by Angelatx (Austin, Tx) on 05/23/2012
My cat has suffered UTI's pretty much her entire life and then I did my on research and the ash in her food is what causes it! I switched her food to ash free and we have been UTI free for 3 years. Then my other cat that is older started losing weight and after vet visits and nothing again did my own research. Come to find out she is allergic to something in the Ash free food. Now she is back on the original. Now this is where I may lose my mind. Sheckie the one that has to have Ash free I cannot keep her out of the other food. Everytime I turn my back they work together so she can have it. I need a cat food that is both Ash free and my other cat can also eat. She is on Purina One. I am trying to find the ingredients on line to compare with the Meow Mix. See what is comparable and may see what she may be allergic too. Once I took her off of the Ash free my other cat Misti regained her weight in a month and started playing again.... The simple things. Now if they just wouldn't be a pain! Lol... Smarties! I ran out of Sheckies UTI free med and when I went to purchase more it is a whole lot more expensive. After I drop my child at school I am going to get some ACV!
Food Recall
Posted by Dan (Earth Clinic) on 05/06/2012
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Just wanted to take a moment to make sure pet owners had seen the latest pet food recall. It's a voluntary recall of kibble products from one particular company and a few of its products.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Piotr (Dunedin, New Zeland) on 04/11/2012
Hi there, I love the EarthClinic site - I think that it is great that knowledge about natural remedies for people and animals can be shared widely despite the Big Farma's hegemony.
My cat Figaro is an old boy (18/19-years-old) and was diagnosed with the renal failure several months ago. At that time my vet suggested special diet and medication against the possible intestinal ulcers. Figaro was vomiting quite regularly at that time. I went against the vet suggestions and got him on the semi-raw meat diet (the leanest beef mince mixed with canned food). He seemed to improved greatly for several months but recently started vomiting again and has been losing weight. I went to see my vet again and this time I gave in and have put him on the kd renal formula biscuits and wet food. He refuses to eat the wet food but has been eating lots of biscuits but consequently much less of the semi-raw wet food. He also has been losing weight since the change of the diet. I am worried that since he enjoys the biscuits he is less interested in wet food which is probably not that great for a cat with kidney problems.
I also have been rubbing into his neck apple cider vinegar (diluted) every day and adding the Aloe Vera juice to his drinking water (though he is a bit reluctant to drink it). He seems in a better space over the last several days. I am realistic and appreciate that 18/19 years is pretty good re cat's age but I would like to make sure that I have tried everything possible to keep him healthy and comfortable. I would appreciate your suggestions/comments regarding my approach. Best wishes. Piotr
Reader Feedback
Posted by Mkepp (Blythewood, Sc) on 03/15/2012
I have an 8 yr old 60 lb shepherd mix that has developed a problem with overeating. She receives 3 cups of a high quality dog food daily and acts likes she is starving all the time. She spends a couple of hours a day searching the backyard for dead bugs, worms, whatever to eat. When she is off of her radio collar she will bring home whatever dead animal she finds in the woods to eat. Vet has ruled out cancer/tumor, blockage, parasites, other major problems. Nothing has changed with her home routine. Her stomach is visibly bloated. Anyone experienced anything like this with their dog?
Reader Feedback
Posted by Suzanne (Glace Bay, Nova Scotia (ns), Canada) on 02/09/2012
Hi, I want to thank you all for the excellent advice for dogs with diarrhea, I tried the white rice with boiled chicken & it worked! I just can't believe it, white rice & boiled chicken! Boiled hamburger will also work for bad diarrhea & vomiting but if nothing works take your fur-sib to the vet. Thanks Akita lover from cape breton
Raw Food Diet
Posted by Jr (Coloma, Mi) on 02/07/2012
Lokismum... I've been feeding my dog raw now for a couple of years. When I started I fed raw bones but then the homeopath that was treating the dog said, "no bones" unless she catches the animal herself. She said that carcasses we get from the grocery store already have rigor set in and can splinter and cause trouble. Since you have been feeding raw for so long, what kind of bones do you feed? Do you feed vegetables?
Raw Food Diet
Posted by Lokismum (Banbury, Oxforsshire England) on 02/06/2012
★★★★★
Please please feed your dogs raw. Both my dogs now seven and nine have been fed raw since very young pups. There is much advice online out there, and good books to read. It is so much less expensive than ccommercial so called food. Would a wild dog naturally eat cereals? Would a wild dog naturally eat processed cooked food? No, so why do humans think processed carbohydrates are good food for dogs? Feed as close to nature as you can and you will have happy healthy dogs. Raw meat, raw chicken carcasses with the bones, raw green tripe, offal, meaty bones, whole rabbits, and whatever you can get. Let them eat grass when they want. Supplement with a good brand of seaweed. If you love your dogs then you will feed them this way. Do please get as much good advice as you can. I now find that even the vets who always told me I was wrong, are now recommending raw!!!
Barf Diet
Posted by Bob (Beijing, China) on 02/06/2012
Love your site. Would suggest added a topic in the pets for dogs at least for raw, 'barf', bones natural diets.
Researched this for a long time, tried home cooked and slowly but finally, fully converted our two 7yr old schnauzers...Absolutely amazed at the effects!
Realized that my biggest obstacle was human psychology about 'raw' and 'bones'. Must say the first few tens of times prepping the raw foodstuffs took getting used to and the watching of swallowing of bones well made me hold my breath many times initially! But, once over the prepping, and getting the raw bones to the right size for our kids..... It has been absolutely wonderful for all of us!
1 dog year is said to be 7 human year ratio, so now our in the '50's mid to older age adult dogs look and feel like they are teenagers again!
Wish I had tried sooner... Both had already lost several teeth over the years.... So now stemming that problem and hope to share our good experiences with others!
Cheers
Reader Feedback
Posted by Suzanne (Glace Bay, Nova Scotia (ns)) on 02/05/2012
My name is Susan I live in Cape Breton, N. S. Canada, I adopted a 3 year old full bred Akita she is now 4. I took her off of commercial dog foods & started cooking steak, kidney livers, & just pkg liver with organic baby food veg, fruits, & sweet potato & she loves it but this is day 4 on her new diet & I think I pulled her old food too fast!
Last night she started having what I call explosive diarrhea she only vomited a tiny bit no more then 3 times last night, so the big concern is the diarrhea! (DEHYDRATION) She has never had this before & I am so terrified I am going to lose her! Last night I ran to the grocery store & picked up gatorade, water, & kaopectate, she started eating & drinking water today but still has diarrhea but it has slowed down. Does anyone know what I did wrong? The last thing I gave her before she got so sick was liver that wasn't cooked all the way, & steak that was cooked rare with a tiny bit of garlic powder ( I was told that her food is better if not cooked all the way) with organic baby food peas, carrots, blueberries & apples along with some organic sweet potato over a period of 2 days. Please keep in mind she runs over 80 lbs. PLEASE HELP! DID I GIVE HER TO MUCH TOO SOON & NOT COOKED ENOUGH??. FR: terrified Akita lover in cape breton.
For anyone that has a dog with itchy dry skin use cod liver oil human vitamin it works great with my Akita I also give her omega 3 fish oil vitamins- very inexpensive. Thanks, susan
Pet Food Recalls
Posted by Gwen (Denver, Colorado) on 12/30/2011
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
I'VE 3 LITTLE DOGS & ALMOST LOST ONE LAST WEEKEND. USED EC TO PULL HER THROUGH BUT SHE WAS ALMOST DEAD. STARTED THEM ON RACHEL RAY SUPER PREMIUM DOG FOOD. LOTS OF VOMITING.
PLEASE CHECK GOOGLE FOR NEWEST DOG FOOD RECALLS. SURE ENOUGH, NEWS FROM REUTERS & TODAY SAYING IN HUMAN FOOD, "AFLATOXIN". PLEASE RESEARCH & POST (THIS QUICK POST), CAUSES SEVERE LIVER DAMAGE INCLUDING LIVER CANCER. NEARLY KILLED MY DOG!
Mineral Salt
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn Usa ) on 12/21/2011
Got 6 Rhode Island Red Hens and and now feeding them mineral salt so they will drink lots of water and lay lots of eggs. Can anyone improve on this?
====ROBERT HENRY============
General Feedback
Posted by Peter (Calgary, Ab.) on 12/12/2011
If a dog licks up alot of her own blood will it make the dog sick?
Raw Food Diet
Posted by Diamond (Salisbury, Usa) on 10/02/2011
I just adopted two seven year old cats, they are so beautiful, but they have been on an iams diet for that amount of years, they have ended up way over weight & one is so big I can barely see her feet, the other isn't quite as heavy and very out going, today I have been searching for a rich but low balance food. I hope to help these cats back to normal health & save their lives, before they get any sicker.
Here is some thing really great I would like to share; I read during my search, I have read this many times before from different people/pet lovers/owners etc.
http://www.rawlearning.com/worming.html
There is so much more of the truth out there on how we are treating or allowing our pets to be treated by vets. "Please read"I am for sure going to make greater changes for my pets now.
Also no animal has to have all these shots after a certain age. I do believe two shots ARE rabies & distemper. "AND those shots most times if they are subcutaneous they can be bought at agway and/or any feed & grain store, its just a light pinch on surface skin & inject fluid. I save so much money from all of this rather than the run around like a merry-go-round.
I recently mentioned to my vet via a phone conversation if he could give me a little bit of advice over the phone as to what & how to rid a cat of mange(?) he says bring her in and I will check her thyroid(?)it just doesn't make any sense to me.
During the time when every one lost their pets due to iams products, every one of mine died; I never knew that friskies or 9 lives was an iams product, now I try my best to find the best food ever to save my pets, and those that care to. I find that most raw food diets are as affordable as iams, or any other low grade products, I feel my animals deserve that much. Thank you all.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Polly (Liverpool, Merseyside) on 09/25/2011
My sons dog pee's on the grass which leaves brown burn patches. His friends all seem to have the some problem. He bought something to add to his food. That's no help so he wants to find something nautral, reading the post on the pet clinic there was something on acid.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Jordan (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) on 09/17/2011
Well, the ideology presented by Ted seems rather logical. Despite how it may sound, the argument is not backed by science and actually poses many flaws that will be harmful to your pet. I do agree that the mainstream pet food sold to owners is actually biologically contradictory to their needs, but they are much more balanced and safe than a fish and salt water diet. Felines did not and do not naturally consume sea food of any sort. See a lot of big cats in the ocean? This notion began during the Great Depression, because it was a cheaper alternative. Since cats aren't biologically engendered to eat fish, this results in vitamin deficiencies and a disease caused by an inability to properly break down a form of the fat found in high concentrations. As for salt water, it is the same scenario. Felines have never been salt water consumers during any point of their evolutionary path. It is potentially hazardous for humans and animals. If you're determined to add something to your cats water, add a tsp or half tsp of apple cider vinegar to their water.
