TRIPAWDS: Home to 22974 Members and 2152 Blogs.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG

Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.

JUMP TO FORUMS

Join The Tripawds Community

Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:

Instant post approval.

Private messages to members.

Subscribe to favorite topics.

Live Chat and much more!

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
Member Since:
25 March 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
18 February 2022 - 6:23 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Took Maggie to the vet today and the vet told us to stop feeding her grain free foods/so called healthy foods because of the following issue that could develop: Dilated Cardiomyopathy: a potentially fatal disease. The only foods she recommended, also recommended by the WSAVA (worlds small animal veterinary association) are the following: Royal Canin, Science Diet, Purina Proplan. All other brands of foods they say are Boutique brands, Exotic proteins, and Grain Free foods. The Other brands of foods apparently have not been properly tested and there seems to be a problem for the animal with a poor absorption or blocking of nutrients. The information from the vet also states that food allergies are uncommon. 

We have had several dogs and one cat that had allergenic reactions to regular food. Maggie had a skin irritation and since changing to a grain free /fish diet, her skin has cleared up and she does not lick as much. I'm wondering if anyone else out there has heard of this condition. It also seems weird that there are only three brands approved. Also, the vet said that these foods would also be a prescription food. 

Any input and/or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Dave & Maggie

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
19 February 2022 - 7:46 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

For the best possible information, consult with a board certified veterinary nutritionist.

Disclaimer: we are not vets, but have interviewed many of them. Find many grain free articles in the Tripawds Nutrition blog .

Don't miss:

Grain-Free Dog Food and DCM Link Still Unproven

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet


Member Since:
22 August 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
21 February 2022 - 9:57 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory sp_QuotePost

The main culprit in these diets appears to be the pea protein including lentils and chickpeas. In order to make a food grain free some companies increased the use of these legumes to bind the food together. The problem with this is that dogs are carnivores and require more meat as their protein source because plant proteins do not contain taurine which is an amino acid that the heart muscle needs to function. Not all dog food companies add taurine to their diets although since this study came out more are doing it now.

Your vet is right that not all pet food companies balance food properly; many do not even have a nutritionist on staff and do not do their own feeding trials so sometimes the ingredient list looks good but micronutrients are missing. If you like to feed a more natural food I do like Fromm which has been around a long time (but avoid the lamb and lentil diet) and Purina Pro Plan has some good diets without byproducts but you need to look at the ingredients list. I like the Sensitive Skin and Stomach salmon and rice diet and have fed that to my own dogs. I tend to change brands and formulas to give a variety.

Some dogs are allergic to corn and wheat but are able to eat rice/barley/oats/quinoa and if you really want grain free consider one with potatoes which I think is safer than the lentil based diets. Some peas in a diet may be okay but too many seems to be the problem. They are still trying to investigate the link between the pea-based diets and actual heart failure/DCM since not all dogs eating these diets go into heart failure. I have personally had a few clients with dogs eating these foods develop DCM and die at very young ages which is sad if it was preventable. My dogs used to eat grain free and  I stopped feeding any diets with high pea protein just to be on the safe side.

Pam

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
21 February 2022 - 11:53 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Wheee! Thank you Dr. Pam, it is SO PAWESOME to have your feedback on this one. DCM and grain-free diets are such a tricky thing these days. I just spoke to someone whose pup is on DCM medication that I believe they said costs something like $100 a month! I'm with you, if I'm going to feed kibble I'd rather play it safe and choose something with a long-term track record like Fromm or Victor. 

We appreciate your insight as always!smiley10

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Member Since:
25 March 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
21 February 2022 - 6:13 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Great information and food for thought. I will be looking into Fromm, Purina ProPlan, etc. Thanks Dr. Pam. 

Dave & Maggie

Forum Timezone: America/Denver
Most Users Ever Online: 946
Currently Online: schoonerandnelson, Julie_14
Guest(s) 259
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1268
Members: 17735
Moderators: 6
Admins: 3
Forum Stats:
Groups: 4
Forums: 24
Topics: 18610
Posts: 256809
Administrators: admin, jerry, Tripawds
Tripawds is brought to you by Tripawds.
HOME » NEWS » BLOGS » FORUMS » CHAT » YOUR PRIVACY » RANDOM BLOG