meluchja

Funny I came across this thread, when I came on to post a thread just like it. I'll be very interesed to read what other members have to say. I'm thinking about converting back to feeding 100% dry, as my boy seems to become very fussy if offered either Raw or Canned food. I had received a great sample of the BH dry, and my boy seems to really enjoy it, but he always does at the the start when I try and give him something new. But I'm thinking about sticking with the dry, as I can keep giving him the same bowl of food I have taken away from the meal before if he wants to be fussy and not eat it. I'm sick and tired of throwing away perfectly good food that has soiled because he won't eat it for days on end. I'm really happy with the ingredients of the BH so I think I might stick with it. And to be honest, I didn't see any improvement in his condition when I took him of kibble to a diet of raw in the first place. I guess though all dogs are different. But very interested to hear from other dog owners on their experiences.

I'm glad your rant is over, although I agree RMB would be a better option. Some people choose to give their dogs Rawhide or Schmakos or whatever, for their own personal reasons. Just because YOU believe that a piece of meat is better or a RMB is better, doesn't mean everyone else has to agree. My parents dog can't have raw meat as it doesnt agree with her dog anymore. So does that make them bad owners as THEY CHOOSE to give their dog rawhide for dental health, or as you put it CRAP. Get a life and stop worrying about so much as to what other people choose to do.

I totally agree. I have had many a phone call returned by Susan or Rod. I recently rang to find out how much fish oil to give my dogs based on their weights. At the time they had no idea I was a regular customer but still returned my call within a few hours and talked me through it. They got nothing out of it but it sure helped me. That's the kind of vet I'm after, one that isn't all about taking you for ride with your money. Am definitely going to give them a call. Thanks.

How is your boy going? It must be very hard playing the waiting game. I hope he gets better real quick. Which Proplan did you end up putting him on?

Thanks heaps, I will definitely be giving them a try.

Grain Free Salmon version user here. My boy loves it. He has only been on it for 5 weeks, but so far so good.

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good vet in the Brisbane Area. So far I have been to two, one was o.k. but very expensive and the other seemed to be taking me for a ride with my dogs itching condition. If anyone has used a vet that they have been very happy with, I would love to know which one. As I also feed mostly raw, I would like to see a vet that supports this option. Thanks in advance. P.S. I'm prepared to travel (within reason) to see a good vet.

I recently had my 20mth old GSD visit the dermatologist. In the end it would have been cheaper to have gone there right from the beginning instead of persisting with the vet for the last 18mths and spending $2000 on drugs, special diets, creams etc, guessing whether it was skin, food or environmentally related Yip I agree, paid the vet loads of money and the dog got no relief until we saw a derm. What I would do is just go to the derm for a diagnoses and then take it from there, you dont have to do all the testing etc all at once. I agree, I have given up on all the vets ideas, suggestions, I'm over the guessing game. DH and I have already decided that if he gets worse again, or if doesn't continue to get better, we will take him to the derm. But for the moment, he seems to be getting better fast. That's why I'm holding off. To be honest, I have always thought it was just a case of puppy dandruff. It wasn't until I started reading this site, that I thought it was anything but dandruff. Then I spoke to the vet about it, allergies etc. I swear their eyes went bling bling with dollar signs, because that was when the 'ideas' for a cure started. Anyway during all this, the treatment for dandruff got over looked, and now I'm treating it, it seems to be getting a lot better. So that's why I'm hoping that's all it is. It's not costing me anymore money now, I'm just to continue on with what we are doing now and see if he continues to get better until his skin in normal. If not it's off to the derm we go, if DH likes it or not. I'm refusing to spend any more money on trial and error products. thanks again for all your help. But like I said, I'll give it another 3-4 weeks, if it hasn't fixed his problem all together or if he shows any signs of getting worse, I will make the appointment for asap.

Thanks, I agree. My DH does mean well, he just got a bit of a shock when I told him about the costs involved. Even though I thought they were very reasonable and a small price to pay for his relief. But at the end of the day, as long as he improves that's the main thing.

Thanks, I'll try the shampoo on it's own first then, and I think I might email them directly as well, just to be sure about the conditioner when I start using it. He had his first clip about 4 weeks ago, so cute and what a big difference it made.

Yes, that is exactly what the lady said I spoke to. She said make sure you blow dry after using it to help it penetrate the skin. Although she did recommend the conditioner to help with the poodle part of his coat. She said to use it in small amounts on the more poodle coat areas (being mainly his back) which isn't wear he is experiencing the worst of his problems, so I guess that works out well I'm really looking forward to it arriving so I can start using it, I have such high hopes

Sorry that it has taken me so long to let you know, internet problems. Well to cut a long story short, we didn't end up at the derm. My DH wasn't impressed at the idea of spending more money, (yes it ended in a big fight) but we decided that I will keep going with what I had started for a few more weeks, and if we still haven't seen success then or if he got worse again, he would then be happy to pay for derm visit. Anyway after doing yet some more research I found out that it not uncommon for puppies to have puppy dandruff. Or also underactive sebaceous glands, its called Seborrhea Sicca. They usually out grow it. But until then there are a few things I could do to control it. Using a Sulfur and Salicylic acid based shampoo with help to remove the scale and reduce the scale production, it will also help reduce itching. I read that it wouldn't dry out the skin like other medicated shampoos, I was told to avoid, and it was cheap, so we gave it a try and to my surprise, it seems to be working for him. Huge difference really, no more dandruff, less itching, only rarely now, which is such a relief to see. However his skin on his belly does still seem to a little dry, but much much better. I have discovered a product called Groomers Evening Primrose Oil Shampoo. I have just ordered it today, the lady I ordered it through is fantastic, very very helpful with selecting which of their products would be best for Bobby's condition, and how to often to use it, etc. They weren't that expensive so I thought I might be a good option to try improve his skin condition, now that the dandruff seems to be under control. So thank you all for your help and support. I was so upset when my DH cancelled our appointment, but feel so much better now that I see him itching less and his skin improving. Fingers crossed it is just this Seborrhea Sicca and it will continue to get better and he will eventually out grow it. My gut feeling had always told me, it is just a dry skin issue, and not a food allergy or contact allergy etc, he just seemed to young at 8 weeks to be suffering from either of these. I don't know, I'm no expert, but I hope I'm right about this one.................... Thanks again for all your help.

Yes, I have just found out about this product. It's a very very very good product to help eliminate dandruff and to help keep it under control. My 5 month old schnauzer poodle mix puppy, has had major problems with dandruff ever since we got him at 8 weeks old. Have tried many things to help his condition. He was due to go to the derm last week, but a long story short, my DH wasn't impressed and after doing some more research I found out that it not uncommon for puppies to have underactive sebaceous glands, its called Seborrhea Sicca. They usually out grow it. But until then there are a few things to do to control it. Using a Sulfur and Salicylic acid based shampoo with help to remove the scale and reduce the scale production, it will also help reduce itching. It will not dry out the skin like other medicated shampoos. And it works. Now I have discovered the Groomers Evening Primrose Oil Shampoo. I have just ordered it today, the lady I ordered it through is fantastic, very very helpful with selecting which of their products is the best for your dogs condition, and how to often is best to use them for your breed of dog, etc. I have also ordered some of their Tropical Creme Conditioner. Hopefully they will help to keep his dry itchy skin under control.

I don't know much about large breed diets, but just thought I'd pop into say, I think your giving him a great start. Artemis is a great food, and as long as you stick to the large breed variety my guess is he would be fine. I also feed a combination of a good quality kibble in the morning, and barf patties at night. With either turkey necks or lamb flaps during the day. I would ask the breeder if you have any further questions. I bet he is adorable, what colour is he?

I have not long changed my 19week old puppy from EP to Canidae. He has nearly finished his first 2kg bag, and have just had a delivery of the 13.6kg bag yesterday. I buy the Grain Free Salmon one, my boy loves it, it's nice and oily, smells great. Stools good. But it's a little too early yet to see if it improves his skin. (his is only a puppy and has always had very dry, itchy, flakey skin). But it has the best Omega Oil levels out of ALL kibbles I have researched. Oh and you have to feed less than other Premium Kibbles I have tried.

Thank you, so do I. It's very strange, there is no rash, just flakey, itchy and now patchy skin. My vet wanted me to try a few more things before going to the derm, like an Elimination Diet on the Eukanuba Salmon Kibble (but someone told me on here, it's almost impossible to dot that on any kibble diet) but I have had enough already, and want a specialists opinion, after all they know best in this area.

My 19 week old puppy is off the derm for the first time tomorrow morning. I'm hoping that after the consult, we will finally have some sort of plan to treat my puppies very dry, dandruffy, and very itchy skin. He is starting to go patchy under his belly, the inside of his legs, and around his throat now as well. It's so upsetting to watch after all that I'm doing to try and avoid it. His itching is breaking my heart. So hopefully we can get some help. I'm still optimisitic, that he just has a bad case of Puppy Dandruff, from underactive sebaceous glands. And that the specialist will say, that the Omega blend I have started already, along with the Aloveen and Alpha Kerri Oil, will be enough to help it until he out grows it, preying anyway, I'm still hopefull. :p Thank you to all of you that have helped me with your own experiences, advice and ideas. My boy "bobby" says a big thank you as well. I will let you know how he goes tomorrow.

O.K just had a thought, if I keep the food in an air tight storage container, I'm thinking I may be able to get 1-2 months of life out of it once the BB date passes. What do you think?

O.K well I just received an email back from the manufacturer and get this Quote "It is best to use our food within 1-2 months from the time you open it. If you have a small dog it would be best to buy the 5 pound or 15 pound bags to insure the freshness of the food. After the date of expiration the food can lose it's freshness and cannot guarantee nutritional value. Please let me know if you have any other questions." This has blown me away, I'm thinking I may return the bag to get my money back. Not sure. Still deciding, will think about it.

I think my hibiscus will like that idea lol. I worked out to feed the lesser amount of kibble it will be about 3-4 months out of BB date, so I think this should be o.k. I'm curious to know though what the manufacture says.

O.K I have just emailed them to find out.

Thanks. That's what I thought, but how long after the BB date do you think it can be used for until it's finally old enough IKYWIM weeks, months, several months etc??

I was just wondering how long a kibble will last after it passes it's best before date. Does the nutrients start to breadown or something? I know with some dried products made for human consumption, after still good for months after the BB date has passed, but curious to know what effect it will have on Kibble. The reason I'm asking is because I have a 13kg bag of Kibble that I have not long ago opened, but recently I have decided to increase his Raw and decrease his kibble. And I worked out I will not use it all up before it passes the best before date. So how long do you think I could continue to use it until it is pretty much had it. I guess if it's only a few weeks I might have to continue to feed at the old rate of dry/raw until I'm done with this bag then start buying the smaller bag, even though it makes it more expensive I think I may email the manufacturer tonight to find out, but though I might ask in here in case someone has already been there done that. Thanks.

This is UA (the GB was different to this but I can't remember if it was bigger or smaller). If you email the company that makes it they will post you two small sample packs of both UA and GB. ETA email for company to get samples http://www.lauckemills.com.au/enquiries43.html Thank you so much for doing that for me. It looks nice and moist. Thanks again for your info and help

can anyone who feed UA or GB, post a pic of the kibble please. I have a small dog, and I'm not sure either will be too big for him. I have tried to feel it through the bag, and it seems rather big.