westiemum

Hi Jules Unfortunately you have a sample of one - so you won't prove anything. But having said that, the fact you are even suspicious and asking the question suggests to me that switching back to a raw diet where you are confident in everything Renae eats would be a good thing - even if just for a while. And then get the vet to repeat the bloods and see if there has been any improvement. Are you ever in town? If you are, you could pop in and see Karina at Adelaide Dog and stock up on her and Bens raw formula - it's wonderful and $4.50/kg. But you do need room in the freezer. I use their food all the time and the westies do very well on it - and if you bulk it up with black and gold frozen mixed veg (not Coles or Woolies - they're yuck), or fresh veg, then you'll be surprised at how cheap it is. Would be worth the experiment even if just for a month I reckon. Hope that helps. , :)

No not a problem here. The westies are perfect. :D

Thanks everyone - I really appreciate your help. I have bought a small just over a kg bag of the VIP grain free from the Supermarket and will give it a whirl, mixing it with the last of the TOTW I have and see how we go. Will report back in a few days! (The good thing is that I'll know fairly quickly if Sarah is going to tolerate it).

Yep sure is - and I thought the photo was beautiful of them both...

A sneaky way I keep the westies well hydrated, particularly in this heat, is to soak their dry food in about half a cup of water - works everytime...

I have the real mccoy too. Easily copes with 30kgs of very excited westies for years :)

Here... Just stumbled across this great story... way to go Jacob and GAP! Its on page 5...

I'm on my second one - the first one I sold when I down-sized the car. Works brilliantly - the westies love it. And so do I knowing they are safe. :)

.Hmn... good question. I'm absolutely sure she's very vulnerable to yeast infections ('doggy thrush' - black skin disease, marked increase in the itchies and yeasty smell after antibiotics, yeasty and itchies at other times. And many grains cause blood sugar spikes which can produce increases in thrush symptoms. The effect of the pizza crust was really obvious on Saturday night - up to that point she had only had her usual raw diet and a raw bone. So I suppose I'm tending to keep her completely away from anything with grains or yeast. But open to other thoughts? Gluten is the usual culprit with yeast infections but better safe than sorry I suppose. You could always try her on some left over rice to see how that goes. That's a good idea. Thanks HW. :)

I think its simply the 'grain free'?

Yep I'll double check the VIP bag in the supermarket this afternoon and then give that a go I think - at least in the interim. kayla where did you order the Artemis just out of interest? I got it from the Natural Pet store here. Very quick delivery too. :) Thanks kayla :)

Do you have a salon here in SA? If a groomer is not supposed to use a choker slip knot what are they supposed to use? This is out of interest cos I have a Puli and he is taken to the groomers and I just want to make sure this does not happen to my fur son. Maybe I just wont take him anymore and learn to do it myself. I am absolutely terrified now. I'll leave it for crickets to answer your questions but I just wanted to say that I know her and she grooms my boy and I trust her completely. :) Crickets doesn't do my westies but that's only because I met her years after I started going to the Spoilt Dog, who have been fabulous too. Crickets has an excellent reputation and I would certainly trust her with my westies without a second thought. :)

Manuka Honey worked a treat here. The cough was gone in three days - and my girl westie thought it was the best treat! I had no idea of honey dosages so I just gave her a teaspoon full three times on the first day then twice a day for the next two days and she just licked it off the spoon. But I did use the high powered one - expensive but not as high as vet fees. My Vet and I discussed ABs - and for old dogs or dogs with compromised immune systems they can be useful in preventing secondary infection. But generally in younger dogs I wouldn't even consider them. Just get some Manuka Honey - your dog will feel much better very quickly! :)

.Hmn... good question. I'm absolutely sure she's very vulnerable to yeast infections ('doggy thrush' - black skin disease, marked increase in the itchies and yeasty smell after antibiotics, yeasty and itchies at other times. And many grains cause blood sugar spikes which can produce increases in thrush symptoms. The effect of the pizza crust was really obvious on Saturday night - up to that point she had only had her usual raw diet and a raw bone. So I suppose I'm tending to keep her completely away from anything with grains or yeast. But open to other thoughts?

Yep I'll double check the VIP bag in the supermarket this afternoon and then give that a go I think - at least in the interim. kayla where did you order the Artemis just out of interest?

Interesting comment that i have wondered about also.... Yep I find that a very interesting question as well - as it was for yeasty ears in my very old boy westie and for severe itchies in my girl that I decided to give away over ten kgs of BH!

I actually think BH is a great product for dogs that tolerate grains. Unfortunately, my westies don't - my girl westie in particular - so I can't use it. That doesn't mean I dislike it or wouldn't recommend it. I have recomennded it in the past and still do. Its a case of find what your dogs do well on and stick with it IMO. :)

Thanks Jules and Stans Mum - will have a look at the Woolies around the corner this afternoon. :) I really desperately need something that is more affordable/better value to tide me over - the money is just pouring out at the moment - and its going to be like this for the next 4-6 weeks.

Yep same here RS. My old boy westie occasionally gets a bit of a yeasty smelling ear (he only has one) yet since I went grain free I haven't noticed it since - and he's not scratching his ear. My girl westie seems to do much better on grain free as well. Just a matter of finding a good one that's affordable long term. Interested in the holistic select grain free as well and have just emailed an online supplier to see when it might be available. :)

Due any day now apparently. A pet store owner I spoke to was expecting it before Xmas. I have been feeding VIP grain free from the supermarket. shock horror. No complaints so far. Poppy's coat has improved and she was getting super premium before. Thanks Jules - will have a look when i'm next at the supermarket. Who stocks VIP? Is it usually only Woolies or Coles do you know? :)

Ah! Thanks for that LD. Didn't think of it in those terms - was thinking more subjectively. That's useful - thanks. :)

Hi All, Apologies all - I know I've asked about grain free before - but with a major building project (hopefully) about to get underway, and money being tight, I'm wondering which of the grain free dry foods people prefer from a cost perspective? How good are the cheaper grain free brands? Is there one you would recommend? I only use it as a back-up but with life in chaos here (working full-time, packing, moving to a house sit, etc etc) I want to have a bag on hand... Sarah has done well on TOTW salmon grain free - but it is expensive. But I do need a grain free - so what do people consider good value for money/cheaper (relatively - I know grain free is expensive overall)? Its really interesting - Sarah found a big piece of pizza crust on the ground at a party on Saturday night and wolfed it before I could get to her to grab it off her and she was madly scratching soon after, yet the boys (who of course joined in!) showed no reaction... so I'm sure its yeast and wheat that she is allergic to... so I'm very keen to keep her on a doggie and yeast free 'gluten free' diet - and that includes 'emergency' meals. Appreciate your comments and recommendations. TIA :)

Thanks PM - its a new form of discrimination!! :laugh: I think I'm going to start a movement to boycott any company that only communicates via FBook! (And I really need another communication channel like a hole in the head!) :)

sorry PF! The westies all three have just been to a party with me (they were invited too) - they were perfect! :D

Old man groans and snuffling from the 13.5 year old Westie here- but at his age he's entitled! :)