Nutritionist
The one thing I questioned was one of the foods she wants to try - Purina Vet Diet for Weight Management. She said the food I have been feeding him does not have enough protein to build muscle he needs - He is also about 7lbs over from where he should be in weight. I am an avid reader of the Whole Dog Journal and this food is not suggested - - from what I have read here and elsewhere, the ingredients make me cringe - -there is a fair amount of corn - - - what do you all think? |
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| I'd be interested in hearing more too. A lot of vets here are suggesting Purina too. |
| Steph...
I think that taking Winston to a nutritionist is a great idea. I know how many problems that poor boy has had and how worried you are about him. I am sorry I don't have opinions on the choice of food, but I am sure there are members that do!!! |
| Hmm, I am not familiar with it. I have heard that that one? or similar ones did have corn.
Does she think you need to change from your current food? Just for weight, or other reasons? Did she mention just cutting back on his current (or similar) dry food and replacing part with RAW? There are real handy formulations that I know 2 other people use (one an OES breeder/vet, and the other my friend Linda with the Samoyeds) who do that. That is a good way to add to the diet some protein without adding a lot of weight. Or if they need weight (Chewie) you can keep the same diet, just add the RAW as a snack during the day. I got some more info at the pet expo I was at this weekend in Mpls. I am ready. Both the above use RAW that is in a frozen patty form, so it is really super easy. I just need to go buy some! |
got sheep wrote: Does she think you need to change from your current food? Just for weight, or other reasons? She is concerned 1st about his weight and 2nd about his joints. He seems very hungry on his current food and that has been a problem. My husband is always worried that Winnie is starving - and then he feeds him more and that doesn't help the situation. The Nutritionist said Winnie should weigh what he did at a year old ( 73 lbs). He weighs 80 right now. got sheep wrote: Did she mention just cutting back on his current (or similar) dry food and replacing part with RAW? There are real handy formulations that I know 2 other people use (one an OES breeder/vet, and the other my friend Linda with the Samoyeds) who do that. That is a good way to add to the diet some protein without adding a lot of weight. We did talk about this - but she was wanting to use this food in conjunction with RAW- - -I just didn't know what to think of the food. Could you let me know where to find the formulations you are talking about? got sheep wrote: I got some more info at the pet expo I was at this weekend in Mpls.
I am sorry I missed this! |
| The pedigree vet food may not be in the Dog Journal because it is a prescription food. I did choose not to use the one my vet prescribed - because of the corn - and we went raw instead.
got sheep wrote: Or if they need weight (Chewie) you can keep the same diet, just add the RAW as a snack during the day. I got some more info at the pet expo I was at this weekend in Mpls. I am ready.
Both the above use RAW that is in a frozen patty form, so it is really super easy. I just need to go buy some! Not to hyjack the thread but way to go Dawn - soon you'll find you are using your own raw grind or just bones (see my Sunday dinner answer:) ) Its a lot cheaper than the Natural Diet (I think that is the patty) |
| What a wonderful resource you have at the U of M! (That's where a close friend went to vet school.)
Hmmmmm, about this particular Purina dog food. As you might have read in other posts, Oscar suffers from IBD, and other autoimmune problems, so we've really tried to learn about food issues. I think you are right to be concerned about the amount of corn (it's the first two ingredients!) in the dry version of the food, as well as the soy (next three ingredients) and the wheat gluten. I am assuming that the protein mostly comes from the soy, in addition to the "poultry by-product meal" and "animal digest", whatever THAT is.  Now the wet version of this food looks a little more palateable, as the first real ingredients are beef, liver and peas, with corn appearing farther down the list.
We have always fed dry food to our animals after years of vets telling us that was the way to go, for better dental health. After Oscar's two bouts of pancreatitis in Nov. and Dec. of last year, my vet suggested we try the canned version of Oscar's food (Nature's Recipe Venison and Rice). His tummy has done so much better on the wet food, it's not even a contest. I still give him the kibble as a treat, but very little. Quite frankly, Oscar never chewed his kibble anyway, so whatever dental health improvements he was receiving from dry kibble were less than minimal. If I were looking at this Purina product for Oscar, with his issues, I would not try the dry food, but would consider the wet food. JMHO Laurie and Oscar |
| I have the info at home, and I am at work.
Let me email Linda and see if she can email the info on the product she is using. It is available locally for us, thankfully. The Expo was good - you would have loved it. I shopped too..... 
Simon got to go alone with me, as we were working in the Basset Buddies Rescue booth. He loved it as well, all that attention for 2 days straight. |
Oscar's Mom wrote: What a wonderful resource you have at the U of M! (That's where a close friend went to vet school.)
Hmmmmm, about this particular Purina dog food. As you might have read in other posts, Oscar suffers from IBD, and other autoimmune problems, so we've really tried to learn about food issues. I think you are right to be concerned about the amount of corn (it's the first two ingredients!) in the dry version of the food, as well as the soy (next three ingredients) and the wheat gluten. I am assuming that the protein mostly comes from the soy, in addition to the "poultry by-product meal" and "animal digest", whatever THAT is. Now the wet version of this food looks a little more palateable, as the first real ingredients are beef, liver and peas, with corn appearing farther down the list.We have always fed dry food to our animals after years of vets telling us that was the way to go, for better dental health. After Oscar's two bouts of pancreatitis in Nov. and Dec. of last year, my vet suggested we try the canned version of Oscar's food (Nature's Recipe Venison and Rice). His tummy has done so much better on the wet food, it's not even a contest. I still give him the kibble as a treat, but very little. Quite frankly, Oscar never chewed his kibble anyway, so whatever dental health improvements he was receiving from dry kibble were less than minimal. If I were looking at this Purina product for Oscar, with his issues, I would not try the dry food, but would consider the wet food. JMHO Laurie and Oscar I am glad Oscar is doing better on the wet food. I read the ingredients in the wet and was suprised at the difference between the wet and dry- - - I agree that the dry doesn't seem the absolute best for Win with his history. How do I bring this up to a Nutritionist? Who am I to question a specialist? |
got sheep wrote: I have the info at home, and I am at work.
Let me email Linda and see if she can email the info on the product she is using. It is available locally for us, thankfully. The Expo was good - you would have loved it. I shopped too..... Simon got to go alone with me, as we were working in the Basset Buddies Rescue booth. He loved it as well, all that attention for 2 days straight. I would appreciate it if you are able to forward the information to me. I bet Simon was thrilled to have his mom to himself to two days straight!!!! |
OK, Linda emailed me back. 
It is Prairie Nature's Variety. They are alternating between the chicken and venison. She said to start slowly with it. Dillon has bee on it for 3 weeks and is up to 1 medallion a meal (still getting some dry food).Linda tends to transition foods uber slow, so I'm not sure how fast you could do it. Dillon is on dietary restriction since he was found to have a huge kidney stone. It was star shaped and made of silica. He had surgery at the U of M this past fall. Now he needs to avoid silica - and it is in LOTS of stuff. He is also older (just turned 10 last week) has some rear leg stiffness and past injuries catching up with him in his old age. He is voracious eater, but is easily overweight too. They went to see a holistic vet in the cities - she strongly recommended raw for him. So, they started this after that visit. She alo said even Gabby likes them - and he is a very picky eater. |
| Stephanie, follow your gut. Specialist or not, there's a reason that vets' and doctors' professions are called practices and not "for sures". I'm sure there is sound science behind this food recommendation, but you know Winston and his health issues better than anyone. I am always discussing my concerns with Oscar's vets (regular, holistic, internist) as sometimes I bring up things they haven't considered, just because I know my pup so well.
So I would simply call the Nutritionist and say that, after reading the labels, and doing a bit of research, you have some concerns about this food recommendation. Hopefully, she is open and receptive to your comments, and can answer your questions. She might even be able to give you another recommendation. But don't feel that you shouldn't have a say in the matter, just because she's a specialist. Winston may be her patient, but you are her client, and his advocate, so she should be open to hearing your concerns about his care. Laurie and Oscar |
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