laffi

:p ;) I think Culture Clash is so much more informative that any of the Jan Fennell's books.

Thank you so much. I would really appreciate it So how long does it take for her to recover after eating something she is allergic to? I always thought they would be OK after a day , so after your post I have to now rethink about all that I have been giving them!

Update: I started the treatment last friday, I bathed them twice in the vet grade one and from now on it will be the regular EPO shampoo. I made sure I blow dry their paws (thanks for the tip). They are also on the EPO supplement (10ml/day). Their skin looks so much better: I don't see the red, itchy spots any more and my golden retriever's fur is getting less orange on her elbows, armpits and paws. It is possible that it's working so fast? (not that I am complaining )

Following that logic all the grain free (low carb) dry foods that are high in protein should be OK for puppies. Not all protein was created equally What do you mean by that? I do agree that proteins from grains are very different than the ones from meat. But if you compare raw diet (let's say 80% RMB) and dry grainless food (70% meat) we still have the same proteins coming from meat. The way ingredients are written means it's pretty hard to interpret the percentage of protein and what that ends up meaining. I don't think all meat protein sources were created equally either. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cl...p;articleid=702 http://www.thepetcenter.com/imtop/protein.html Protein quality Every protein source contains different levels of amino acids and each protein is different in its ability to be broken down into amino acids. So not all proteins are created equal. Some are better for pets than others. The ability of a protein to be used by the body and its amount of usable amino acids is summarized as protein quality (biological value). Egg has the highest biological value and sets the standard for which other proteins are judged. Egg has a biological value of 100. Fish meal and milk are close behind with a value of 92. Beef is around 78 and soybean meal is 67. Meat and bone meal and wheat are around 50 and corn is 45. Things like hair and feathers would be very high in protein but would be down at the bottom of the list for biological value. The actual composition of individual proteins as well as the utilization of amino acids is very detailed and beyond the scope of this article, but in summary, we see that all proteins are not created equal. Sure, I understand. But are you saying there is a difference between raw chicken protein and dry food chicken protein? (apart from the fact that one is processed)

Following that logic all the grain free (low carb) dry foods that are high in protein should be OK for puppies. Not all protein was created equally What do you mean by that? I do agree that proteins from grains are very different than the ones from meat. But if you compare raw diet (let's say 80% RMB) and dry grainless food (70% meat) we still have the same proteins coming from meat.

Well the information I read on EP Duck was about 60 days to see change yet I do know if I will actually get to see assistance from the food specifically as Benson and i have been to see a homeopathic vet and he is giving him a mixture to try to fix his immune system. So regardless at this point in time I kind of am at the point with his allergies that I don't care what is the fix but i just want my baby all better! With these puppy/adult issues I always wonder: wolves eat the same stuff regardless if they are young or old. I doubt they say: "you lilttle ones you need more calcium have this bit". I sort of eases my mind a little and just makes me realize one more time how little we know about all this diet thing.

Looks great! I think you can achieve the same goal if you put big rocks in the bowl. (Big enough to they don't think about eating them )

Interesting. Just speaking to my vets about this now, he was saying that he was well aware of wheat being an issue but heard much regarding corn just yet. Our theory though is that wheat used to be the main grain used in foods, particularly supermarket brands, so because dogs were being exposed to it, they were suseptable to developing allergies. Perhaps now with the use of corn in most foods, that is why there is a higher incidence of problems with corn. I wonder if something such as oatmeal or barley was to eventually be used more due to issues with corn and wheat, would we start seeing dogs with issues with these also? This is a very good point. I think there is still a lot of research to be done to really determine what's the ideal diet for dogs. Esp the long term effects of all of these diets.

Following that logic all the grain free (low carb) dry foods that are high in protein should be OK for puppies.

FTPO: I totally know what you mean. I find the commercial ploys very confusing and slightly irritating as they always make you feel that until today you didn't know anything about dog nutrition but now with their amazing discoveries it's all going to change. Stormie: I always wonder how much vets actually know about the canine nutrition. I was talking to my friend who is a vet and she admitted she didn't know much about studies showing that corn or wheat can cause problems in dogs: things that are published in scientific papers that somehow didn't make it to the vet textbooks. I actually am a postodc doing research about cholesterol-lipids interactions so I do end up reading heaps of stuff about fats in diets etc.. so I end up knowing more than my vet friend who thinks that Eukanuba is the best dog food you can get. She is a great person and a great vet but it just shows that maybe the vet education is not up to date?

I have had him on EP large Breed Puppy up until just the last couple of weeks. Excuse my ignorance but the following is the break down of the large breed puppy formula. Could you please explain the 1:2:1 thing over the 2:1 - thank you Crude Protein - Min. 23.0%, G9, Crude Fat - Min. 12.0%, Crude Fiber - Max. 3.5%, Moisture - Max. 10.0%, Calcium - Min. 1.5%, Phosphorus - Min. 1.0%, Vitamin A - Min. 22,000 IU/kg, Vitamin E - Min. 300 IU/kg, Omega 6 - Min. 2.9%*, Omega 3 - Min. 0.58%*, Glucosamine - Min. 800 ppm 82 mg/cup*, 389 ME (Kcal/cup) In the large puppy you have Calcium - Min. 1.5%, Phosphorus - Min. 1.0% so 1.5:1 In the other one it was Calcium - Min. 1%, Phosphorus - Min. 0.55% so 1:0.55 (or close to 2:1)

I think that's a great idea!!! :D

I have a golden retriever too and I have to say that the stages 4-6 months and then 9-12months were the hardest. She is very independant and can be quite naughty. I think you should persevere with your training, exercises and kong/bones. They do get better :D. You have to remember that retrievers (labs or goldens) are very boisterous little terrors. They mature into beautiful dogs though. I find that be best way to stimulate my dogs is clicker training (tricks, obedience, agility, flyball... whatever you want). We train everyday for about 5 min. But after that they go straight to sleep LOL. ETA At 4 months he is teething. He needs a lot of bones! Laffi was mouthing too. We would just say "no" and ignore her (by that I mean just walk away from her, don't look at her). It worked very well for us. But I do realize that it might not work for everybody.

What breed is your dog? What did you try? Do you walk him (or her?) Do you train? Do you give him things that can keep him busy (like stuffed kongs or bones)? Your puppy is only 4mo, I totally agree with Kavik, it's too early for the hardcore solutions (like the ones you mentionned on both threads).

I wouldn't use them either. IncrediJack you seem to go from one extreme to another. Maybe we should start from the beginning: - what specific problems do you have with your dog? - is he pulling, barking, digging, destroying stuff? Maybe we can help you how to deal with this rather then send you or your dog to a boot camp ?

As title says: which fruit and vegies do you give your dog? which ones does he like the most?

Laffi is like that too :p and she is a golden retriever, you would think she is just going to gulp it down :p

Mine eat it but are not crazy for it . They loooove cooked baby carrots (which they had for the first time last Sun at agility). I just love giving them new stuff and varying it more because they are so much more responsive

I will try apples this Sunday at agility

Wow dried goat!!! How lucky are you?!?! Is it a local source? Do they post? Is the rest of your list OK for Beans? I just don't want to experiment too much with Midge esp that she has been much less itchy recently.

FTPO just emailed we this website: http://www.thepetcenter.com/imtop/protein.html

:p It's great that she has such a variety now I clearly have to learn about the 'raw treats cuisine' so don't mention this thread to Laffi and Midge as they might stop working for the old piece of carrot lol.

So chunkers and 4 legs are OK for her? Mine is very sensitive too so I was wondering if these would be OK for her. Oh and by chunkers do you mean the VIP ones?

[translates from South Australian] Fritz is devon. Thank you! I was wondering what fritz was

That's a very impressive and imaginative list!!! I am sure my dogs will love that! How big are your pieces of uncooked sweet potato or pumpkin?