Eloise went to the Holistic Vet...

amyk

amyk

New member
I took Eloise to the holistic vet today, the vet gave her a chiropractic adjustment, she said one of her vertebrae were out of place and we went over any other issues she's had in her life. For instance she often itches her front paws, I think because they tend to always be wet. She occasionally has mucusy diarrhea, and now her hip issue that is worse on her left. Well the doctor heard all her symptoms and gave her sulfur on her gums. I know nothing about homeopathy, and I was really more interested in doing the chiropractic adjustment. But I figured it probably won't hurt to try.

Does anyone know anything about this? She said that her symptoms may reappear before they get better? Which I thought was weird, since she has no symptoms now?

She actually said it was difficult to find a good homeopathic remedy for her because other than her hips there isn't much wrong with her. I guess that's very good! lol

And she suggested I switch to raw. I'm going to start to read up on it.
 
sarnewfie

sarnewfie

New member
Saddust can help you on raw, i myself would prefer bravo mix, go to bravorawdiet.com
and you can find the list of all the raw diets they offer, i cant afford it, but, i did feed my pregnant girls the bravo raw beef mix.
the calcium ratio was not as high as the chicken or turkey, and being preggy that can cause problems for them.
anyway, i am not sure a raw diet would help with the symptoms she may be having with her hips, but, it may be another option of a healthy diet for her.
i know saddust sells omahs pride.
i think that would be omahspride.com??
 
KatieB

KatieB

New member
If you are going to go raw and do the premade version (we did bravo as we got started on raw with Murphy until we felt comfortable doing it on our own), then yes go with Oma's Pride or bravo. They are expensive especially when feeding a newf or other large dog so we now buy from a local farm through a co-op and do it ourselves. However, we have had much counseling from our breeder and read a few books to ensure all the nutrition is right. There is a yahoo group for raw fed berners....not sure if there is one for newfs also...you could check that out. It has been a wealth of information and help for us. If you do raw smartly and find the cheap local co-ops to buy in bulk from farms then you can feed raw for the same amount you spend on kibble. Check with your breeder if they are a fan of raw as they can be a tremendous guidance and help to you. We switched Murphy at year and our breeder said 'It's about **** time"

Good luck to you and Eloise and if you have questions about raw or want help with anything let me know.
 
NessaM

NessaM

New member
How is Eloise doing Amy? does it seem the chiropractics help? We used to do them for my mom's dressage horses. You could tell the horses LOVED it (I won't elaborate on how you could tell, but let's just say my mom rode boy horses...)
 
amyk

amyk

New member
lol, I think Eloise also liked the chiropractic part. She stayed still for it. She did not like it when the doctor got near her hips or did the tail pull, but the rest she liked. Honestly I haven't noticed a difference at all. She's still a bit stiff when getting up, but she's not limping. But she wasn't limping before going to the holistic vet either.

Her other symptoms of the itchy paws and the occasionally upset stomache haven't reappeared either, but just like the limping, she didn't have those symptoms when she got this sulfur treatment either. I'm not sure I get the whole holistic homeopathic remedy as far as this sulfur, but I may go back the next time anyway, just to do the chiropractic again.

I haven't started with the raw. I'm going to read the books over the next couple months and maybe start in September. I had just ordered 2 large bags of dog food prior to going to the holistic vet, so I am going to use that up first before I think about the raw diet.
 
amyk

amyk

New member
Hmmm, that is interesting. I'm surprised that they still take such a stance against raw. And try to come up with negative reasons why dogs might actually be doing well on raw. I guess keeping Purina in business is good business for the AKC too? lol
 
SheilaT

SheilaT

New member
Did you notice that the study here in my (not so) great state of Florida with the raw meat and the greyhounds was with 4D meat? Not fit for human consumption. Maybe these racing dogs would do better with better food. If a person was to eat the diseased meat, they wouldn't do so great either! I personally believe wholeheartedly in a raw diet, with non-diseased ingredients! I wonder if the meats used in processed dog foods is also 4D?
 
DBaker

DBaker

New member
I would have to question some of the meat used as well. If you ever look at the lables on food/treats it is pretty scary where some of it comes from. That's why it is so important to read those labels. Since the scare with the China contamination. I was reading more labels that read 100% nautural blah blah blah...Well some of those were made with 100% natural chicken from CHINA!!! Lovely!!
 
amyk

amyk

New member
Dona, I noticed the same thing! I had gotten treats for Eloise from whole foods, I mean you figure you pay those prices and Whole Foods, and it says natural, it would be good ingredients. But this stuff was also from China. I threw them out!
 
NessaM

NessaM

New member
The paper was presented in 1997, so it isn't the most up to date - but I thought it was interesting that the same topics were tackled then that we seem to go over and over here now. You'd figure SOMEONE would iron it all out once and for all! *laughing*

Raw meat from anywhere can be dangerous, whether it is 4D meat or not. Bacteria happens. *laughing* Put that on a bumper sticker! Thanks to the short digestive tract of a dog, most of the time it just shoots straight through them. My vet tells me the only reason she cautions people against feeding raw is because it can affect US.

Worms in juvenile stages can also be found in raw meat - I'm pretty sure Nanook got his friend Timmy the Tapeworm from raw hamburger I was giving him. Puts a whole new spin on Steak Tartar! Although if I have a tapeworm, I'm keeping him. Something has to be responsible for my svelte figure, and it sure ain't my eating habits! I will name my tapeworm Fred.

Here's an interesting site also...

http://www.secondchanceranch.com/training/raw_meat/index.html
 
saddust

saddust

New member
Nessa - not denying the research you put in - but the secondchanceranch raw "scare" and myths have been refuted on many sites...

http://rawfed.com/myths/rebuttal.html

http://www.oursweetpuppies.com/RebutaltoSecondChanceRancharticle.html

http://www.bestfrisbeedogs.com/mybluedog2.html

http://www.belfield.com/article11.html

I'm not trying to sway anyone one direction or another as I feel everyone must research this themselves and do what they are comfortable with - but the "Second Chance Ranch" scare tactic has been around for many many years and been refuted by even more - even discussed on snopes - there are statements in there where they claim that corn is the best thing ever to feed your dogs... ;) If you believe that, then Ole Roy is the highest of high quality kibbles. He says corn is one of the most valuable ingredients in kibble. ;)

Just points to ponder - but if you google "second chance ranch" rebuttal - you'll find many links that refute the statements... Oh and keep in mind that they "sell" kibble so they have a monetary reason to not encourage it....

If you are really curious about raw feeding and want to know what its really like from raw feeders with years of experience read the books "Raw Meaty Bones Promote Health" and "Work Wonders" by Dr. Tom Lonsdale - while I don't personally follow his methods - it's a good read and helpful when deciding what you choose to do...

You can find them at www.rawmeatybones.com or www.dogwise.com or www.amazon.com

You can download the book "Works Wonders" for free at www.rawmeatybones.com

A few other informative web sites are (there are many many more out there):
http://www.skylarzack.com/rawfeeding.htm
http://rawfeddogs.net/index.php
http://www.rawlearning.com/rawfaq.html
http://www.rawfed.com/myths/index.html
http://www.naturalrearing.com/J_In_Learning/Diet/Food/InTheBag.htm
http://www.naturalrearing.com/J_In_Learning/Diet/Food/FOODFORTHOUGHT.htm
http://www.api4animals.org/facts.php?p=359&more=1
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/jesse.htm
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/jesse.htm#commercial
http://www.wholisticanimal.com/commercialfood.html

Again - I feel this is a personal decision as to what you are most comfortable doing... but I do feel it's important to not give too much credence to things that may not be what they seem...

Also - for good AND for bad - the meat packing industry has changed considerabley in ten years thanks to advances in technology and research and worms in raw meat are "typically" not a concern - I would still be concerned with meats from "wild game" and anything that may not have been frozen properly, certain types of fish, etc. ... Again... I suggest doing lots of research and doing what is most comfortable to you after that ...
 
ardeagold

ardeagold

New member
Nessa, I'd think that he probably got tapeworms from eating a flea or fleas, either off himself, or from a small mammal, like a mole, vole, rabbit, etc. Has he ever caught anything like that and had it in his mouth?

Granted, he could have gotten a tapeworm from raw beef, but ours get them, and we don't feed raw. They prefer to find their own sources for parasites.
 
NessaM

NessaM

New member
Donna wrote: "They prefer to find their own sources for parasites."

Well, discerning dogs DO...
Dogs of great sophistication prefer to obtain THEIR parasites from the highest order of mammal...the deer flea is in great demand for example.


Saddust - I'm not for or against raw myself - I've been toying with the notion of feeding it for a while. But I do enjoy playing Devil's Advocate. Thanks for all the links, I'm sure they'll give Amy a lot of material to help her make her decision for her Ouiza!
 
luvxl k 9

luvxl k 9

New member
I get Beau adjusted before almost every show so that I know he is moving correctly. Plus he is my Kamikazee Newf so he always has something or other out of place. Since adjustments are part of the Apache Regimen, Apache has also gotten adjusted regularly since he was little. Both the boys treat Dr. Dan like a long lost friend whenever they see him. The absolutely love their treatments and would go everyday if I'd let them.
 
2Paws

2Paws

New member
Karen (Saddust), thank you for providing all of the above links. I have been thinking about raw feeding, reading some books and asking questions. Any other information is so much appreciated. I would have PM'd you but your mailbox is full. (hint, hint)

Karen (luvxlk9), Benson has his first appointment with a chiropractor in three weeks. Can you tell me what we can expect out of this appointment as far as what kind of adjustments do they make? Do they check their gait before making any adjustments? This chiropractor has been highly recommended by other newfie people.
 
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