My Dog

[Erny]

Just saying (for anyone who knows our story and wants to know the update) .... I still work hard for Mandela's digestive issues but they seem to have stabilised for the best part, since being on his current diet (which he has been for in excess of 12 months now). Still difficult to gain and maintain weight but at least marginally improved and spits the occasional dummy in terms of a skin eruption here and there, but overall, things have steadied considerably when I compare to what we were experiencing up until 12 months or so ago. Poops are good :).

One of the really good signs for me is that his annual thyroid level check showed his thyroid levels increased. His thyroid medication (which he's been on for 4 years) has now been reduced by one third (ie 600mcg down to 400mcg daily) which to me is a pretty big reduction.

Followed through with another test 2 months post medication dosage reduction and the levels are holding good, so seems like this lower dosage is now what he needs and that the spike wasn't just a coincidental 'one-off'.

Diet has to be doing something right :).

Edited August 3, 2013 by Erny

[luvsdogs]

That's good to hear Erny. Can I ask what diet he's on?

[Erny]

I have been using what I call the "full blown" Augustine Approved diet. That comprises of :

Roo mince (human grade; preservative free)

A combination of certain amounts of vegetables : broccoli; carrots; zucchini; beetroot; lentils. All these are pureed.

Coconut Oil

When all the pureed vegetables are mixed and coconut oil added, I include the AA SuperBoost powder (which is a combo of different herb powder, including tumeric and others).

Since being on this diet, apart from his stools being the best they've been since his problems first became apparent at 7 months of age, he's also eating with tremendous gusto. This compared to when the problems started and I spent half my time coaxing him to eat at least part of his meal or, at best, him finishing his meal in very slow time. Now it's a case of he's finished his meal by the time I return to the kitchen to put the kettle on :D.

The only treats he gets are pieces of sweet potato, which he loves.

In addition to the above and as a consequence of having a hair-DNA test done, there are a few other natural herb-based supplements he's on. I couldn't tell you exactly what they comprise of off the top of my head but one is for "De-tox", one is for "Radiance" and the other is for "Immune" support. In addition I'm adding some pro-biotic powder at each meal. These powders can change from time to time, depending on how he's going and what further test results dictate.

That's pretty much it. :)

I do suspect the things such as broccoli and some of the powders which would supplement iron intake would be helping to make the difference to his thyroid levels.

Edited August 3, 2013 by Erny

[persephone]

that's a lovely update, erny :)

[Salukifan]

Lovely to hear from you Erny!

Great to hear that Mandela is doing well. :)

[dancinbcs]

Great news Erny.

You might be interested to hear that my boy who turned allergic to fleas, grass etc and had food issues after having the heartworm injection, is now back to being a normal dog. After two years of many different Chinese Herbs, including one to adjust the immune system, he is itch free and off all medications for his skin. The only supplements he he still on for skin are Krill Oil and coconut oil. Diet wise I had him settled on mostly turkey with veges and a little Black Hawk, and that seemed to be the only thing he could handle without developing the runs. At one stage he was on a small daily dose of Scourban for several months, I couldn't give him the coconut oil and any change in diet was not possible. Imagine my surprise then at the side effect when I decided to try him on Rose Hip Vital Canine for his back pain that seemed to be worrying him a bit, following a fall. The surprise was that his gut immediately settled down and I now have him back on his old very varied diet of mostly raw with a little dry food and the coconut oil and he is fine. So no itches, coat growing in nicely, normal digestion and a much brighter and happier dog since putting him on RHVC.

[Staffyluv]

That is great news. Glad to hear he is doing well..

[Erny]

Thanks peeps :). Good to 'see' you again. Haven't spoken in ages.

Dancinbcs - that's a great update on your boy!

I'll look into the RHVC. Must admit I'm reticent about adding too much outside of what I'm already doing because the 'rotten bits' aren't happening as often and if they do, they are at least less severe, large or widespread - but always looking with open mind at things. I can't do the Black Hawke - tried that and it simply didn't suit him. Stools were off and he went off the food completely, which was common for each of the food types and brands I tried.

We still have concerns - he certainly is a bit of an odd bod and no Vet has conclusively diagnosed anything in particular, but the suggestions are it relates back to the immune system. And so my focus has always been to support the immune system as much as possible by keeping his internal body as clean and as suitably well nourished as possible.

He does still have [what I call] gum ulcers - although these aren't really "ulcers" per se. Our Vet wasn't sure about them either and so he consulted with a dental specialist at the Melbourne Zoo and it turns out that the 'ulcers' relate to a condition where the gum is hypersensitive to protein. Apparently "it happens" (not commonly) and there's not much that can be done but I'm told it doesn't cause much problem and they are not related to cancer or anything else particularly sinister.

I did at one point a few months back re-introduce him to chicken - although this time, organic. He went well on this for the short time I had the small supply of organic chicken. I'm trying to source some organic chicken down my neck of the woods. His diet is expensive enough. Organic chicken is expensive enough. Add the travel (1 hour trip each way) and it made the whole exercise overly expensive and time consuming. But I do feel he could manage a little bit more fat in his diet, if it shows his digestive system can cope with it.

So - anyone know where to get organic chicken down Berwick, Victoria way ??? :)

[Erny]

Came back here to give a small (milestone) update.

For the first time in at least 2 years, Mandela accepted a lamb bone ..... and ATE IT!! That was this morning.

Touch wood, no ill effects. In the past, if he accepted a lamb bone at all (he'd eagerly anticipate it, go to take it and then spit it out) he'd either bury it or most times leave it to the crows. This was after and since he went off all meat protein sources and before being on the AA diet all this time. If he had eaten any of the meat, even the smallest amount, he'd show with upset stomach by way of posture fairly quickly. But today he not only accepted the bone but chewed and ate the whole lot with flourish, all in one sitting.

As I said ...... touch wood, touch wood, touch wood .....

In re-visiting this thread I've realised I'd forgotten all about the RHVC. Will look further into it.

ETA: I've been working with and through Mandela's myriad of problematic symptoms since he was 10 months of age. At one stage we'd reached what I felt to be the end of our run in terms of what food I was going to be able to feed him, leaving me in doubt as to whether he'd make his 3rd birthday. Mandela has come a long way since then - he's still a doofus head and a pushy pants .... and is turning 6 years old in 5 days' time :D.

Edited June 6, 2014 by Erny

[trifecta]

Thanks for the update, Erny, it's wonderful to hear that Mandela is still on the improve. It's good to read about other people's experiences, we still have so much to learn about dogs!

[persephone]

i well remember teh heartache and effort ...

this is a fantastic update - BUT - we need pics :p :D

[Staffyluv]

Super update - yep, pics needed :)

[Airedaler]

So pleased Mandela is still doing well Erny. A credit to your devotion and persistence.

Does he have any bones or kibble as a rule or just the AA with roo mince?

[Erny]

Thanks all. Will try for a happy snap. In fact, I went to take a quick video via my iPhone this morning, when he was being a doofus head and was doing short leap runs up and down the veranda length (his attempt at getting my attention to remind me he hadn't had his breakfast yet). His "kangaroo" imitation. As Murphy's law has it, my phone decided to throw a dummy spit and I missed the opportunity.

I will post photos as soon as I can. Warning though - he is still lean and there are areas I'm not happy with (e.g. - hip bones/back end) but I do think this relates to a skeletal/muscle issue. I know that something's not right (have known for a long time, but no-one's been able to pin-point problem) as he's pulled up sore in a shoulder muscle a couple of times recently after a run/zoomie down at the park.

I'm waiting for a poop to happen (he might have snuck one out when I wasn't looking) to make sure the bone content he ate has moved its way through ok. I'm not totally convinced yet that his system is able to properly digest/break-down bone. He was also a little bit restless for a short period last night, which could indicate there was a small amount of abdominal discomfort, but nothing major.

Edited June 6, 2014 by Erny

[Erny]

Thanks for the update, Erny, it's wonderful to hear that Mandela is still on the improve. It's good to read about other people's experiences, we still have so much to learn about dogs!

Ain't that the truth. It is and will always be a continuous learning curve from one dog to another to another ......

That's what makes it fun or challenging :).

[VizslaMomma]

Thanks for the update, Erny, it's wonderful to hear that Mandela is still on the improve. It's good to read about other people's experiences, we still have so much to learn about dogs!

Ain't that the truth. It is and will always be a continuous learning curve from one dog to another to another ......

That's what makes it fun or challenging :).

I agree with both of you.

Great thread too.

So happy for the ongoing success for Mandela with his eating habits.

Must remember to look at Coconut oil myself.

[dancinbcs]

Great to hear that Mandela has continued to improve. I have recently found something else that works wonders with digestion in dogs and humans. This Kefir probiotic is easy to make fresh every day. The dogs and us are all taking it. I use cows milk to make it but you can use goats milk or several other liquids. I bought my starter grains from this Ebay site and am now giving it to friends as it keeps growing.

Kefir

[Polgara's Shadow]

Hey Erny, just saw this thread. So pleased to hear Mandela is doing well on the Augustine Approved. It's so heartbreaking when they are not thriving. I hope you have continued success with it!!

[Erny]

Slight glitch since eating lamb bone. Don't know if the lamb bone was or is the culprit though (that's the hard part in all of this - deducing as to what did what, as effects/affects are not immediate) but Mandela has seemed to be a bit more uncomfortable (paying attention to his feet); he did become a bit more 'tucked' than I'd have liked; and he's carrying thin. Weight loss, or at least the appearance of weight loss, is not unusual per se.

So, I'm not convinced that he's ok eating a lamb bone. Serve myself right for celebrating by posting good news. Never ceases to jinx me when I do that :laugh: .

BUT, in the past, eating a lamb bone would have thrown him into a bust out of hives all over his body and his poop would have gone soft and mucous-y, amongst other more obvious and more severe symptoms than he's revealing at the moment. So there's definitely an improvement.

I won't be feeding a lamb bone again for a while. Let things re-settle and see how we go.

I'd love to be able to chuck my dog anything to eat and not have to worry and hover with eagle eyes to watch for signs of discomfort (and then treat them). Think my next dog will be a lab, lol. But hey .... things are not as bad as they used to be :D .... for that I'm happy.

[Airedaler]

sorry to hear Mandela is not doing so well after the lamb bone. It does make it so much easier to have one that will and can tolerate absolutely anything. I've only ever found one thing my boy does not eat with relish and that is rabbit. As the likelihood of me feeding rabbit is remote it's not a worry.

Hope you get on top of this latest episode soon Erny. He is a lucky boy to have someone who cares so much about his welfare.