My dog Smokey is 10 years old and had been eating ole roy for a long time. It was cheap for my parents to buy. He recently started limping really bad and I found out that he was arthritis in his left elbow. My vet gave me some tablets and we tried those but they didn’t help. So my dads gf got him some liquid medicine called finish line. I started doing research and found out about all the stuff he should have in his diet. So I have been giving him Chicken Soup for the Dog lovers soul (senior dog formula) I mix his finish line(2 table spoons) with the canned chicken soup with the dried chicken soup in the mornings. I wanted him to have more Glucosamine and Chondroitin. He really likes the dog food with the canned, but wont eat much of it when it just plan dry. He hasn’t been on it long, but he does have Diarrhea. Is is because of the switch of food. I did mix the chicken soup with ole roy so it wouldn’t be a total switch. Has anyones dogs benefited from Chicken soup? I want his elbow to get better. Please any advice or personal experience??
I just switched not even a week ago. Also i didnt switch gradually witch wasnt good i guess. I just poured the left over old into the new bag.

I feed based on the 1/3 ratio of cooked fresh meat and cartilage, veggies and starches.

I feed whole grains i.e. brown rice, teff and tubers like potato (with skin) and carrots. They are cooked prior to eating usually by steaming.

He eats fresh and cooked veggies and fruits with a handful of nuts.

He chews on beef bones and gets liver or other cooked meats for treats. He also takes a canine multi-vit and glucosamine supplement.

I know he is meeting his caloric requirements which can be hard because they change based on his work load. He is trim without fat, well muscled, bright eyes and shiny coat.

He used to drink 3- 5 bowls of water a day eating dry kibble and now he is only drinking 1- 1.5 bowls. Is this a normal decrease in water needs based on water already in the food?
Yes, feeding human food has the consequence of the dog gaining weight if you continue to feed dog food. Timber hasn’t seen dog food in 8 months. I travel and camp a lot and sometimes to places where I won’t be able to get dog food at all much less his brand.

I don’t have children and I do cook for my dog everyday. I eat meals that are very close to what he eats. So it is simpler. For instance in the mornings I cook potatoes and eggs for us and then I change the portion (he eats more then me) and add an apple/ berries/ etc for each of us plus something green and bob’s your uncle.

I already know he is healthy and his vet has assessed his menu and said it is great for him. My own doctor and nutritionist have cleared it for me.

I was just surprised the only time he wants water is when he is working hard or at the park. I fill the water bowl at home in the morning and keep emptying it and replacing the water but it is barely touched.

Does this sound like a good diet? My dog is currently on a BARF diet, but now that she’s older I want to cut down on the raw meats as her immune system might not be up to be par to handle it.

ZiwiPeak Dog Food is a complete natural diet, for daily vitality, prepared with care beneath the Bay of Plenty’s celebrated peak, Mt Maunganui.

The peak health of dogs depends on the sustenance they get from meat. ZiwiPeak Dog Food is formulated on the same balance of meat ingredients, that dogs would find by hunting in the wild. ZiwiPeak Dog Food allows you to feed your dog the diet nature intended with the nutritional excellence of a healthy, meat diet containing essential vitamins and minerals. ZiwiPeak Dog Food ingredients are ranch-raised (free of antibiotics and hormones) on New Zealand’s green fields and fished from its clear blue waters. With no colors, preservatives, fillers or grains, ZiwiPeak Dog Food is suitable to feed your dog at any stage of life – from puppy to mature adult. Most importantly, they love the taste!
ZiwiPeak Dog Food Benefits
- Gently air-dried meat jerky style pieces
Offer better nutrient quality than kibble which is cooked at high-heat and formed at high-pressure.
- Matches your dog’s digestive system
Over the centuries dogs have evolved their own anatomical specialization, especially in relation to digestion. It is evident in the ratio of gastrointestinal tract to total body length which is considerably lower than the omnivorous pig or the herbivorous sheep. This specialization particularly suits a diet high in protein and fat and low in carbohydrates.
- Avoids weight control difficulties
Recent studies in the United States reveal that as many as 40% of the nation’s dogs may be obese. The most common (but not only) reason is that they are eating over-large portions of higher carbohydrate foods and not getting the exercise they need to burn off the calories. Nutritionally sound, meat-based diets require less food intake by dogs.
- Fully complies with regulatory standards
ZiwiPeak Dog Food is formulated by animal health professionals to ensure it fully complies with industry requirements (AAFCO) as a nutritious diet for dogs.
- Reduces flatulence and stool volume
Unlike grain-based diets, dogs can more fully digest ZiwiPeak food, thereby reducing the flatulence and stool volume associated with high carbohydrate diets. This is particularly advantageous for dog owners living in more confined urban environments such as apartments.
- Free of any preservatives, fillers or grains
A good number of cheaper dog foods contain high levels of carbohydrates in the form of low quality grains and grain by-products. Add to this the popular use of preservatives, various colorings and a rich assortment of fillers and you have a large line-up of commercial foods that are more likely to be hindering, rather than helping, your dog to achieve optimum energy and health.
- Provides readily usable essential vitamins
Dogs are unable to produce minerals and can only produce some vitamins. They cannot, for example, synthesis sufficient Vitamin D to meet their requirements, so this vitamin needs to be incorporated into their diet. This is achieved by including foods in the diet that are rich in Vitamin D, such as liver and fish oil.
- Contains valuable ingredients
Joint problems are more evident in some breeds of dogs than others. Ingredients like New Zealand mussel, and venison connective tissue (which provides digestible levels of Chondroitin and Glucosamine) are included in ZiwiPeak ‘Cuisine’ products to nutritionally support long-term joint health.
- Offers your dog wider nutritional benefits
As dogs hunting in the wild would eat virtually the whole animal, and derive the nutritional benefits of consuming items like the liver, heart, kidneys and stomach lining (tripe), these should also form a small part of a naturally healthy diet as they do with ZiwiPeak Dog Food.
- Retains the original nutritional value
For dogs to derive the most benefit from their food, it is important to retain as much as possible of the original nutritional value during the processing of the dog food. Air-drying the product to reduce the moisture (and thereby naturally preserving it), then sealing it in an airtight package, is an effective way of retaining the nutritional value of the protein and vitamins for your dog.
- Mirrors a ‘wild’ hunting diet
Despite parting evolutionary company with wolves over 10,000 years ago, dogs still thrive on the sort of natural, predominantly meat diet they would ingest if they were hunting in the wild. A diet that stimulates optimum energy and good health. Highly processed foods and high levels of carbohydrates, on the other hand, cannot be easily metabolized by dogs. ZiwiPeak Dog Food Details

ZiwiPeak LAMB Dog Food
The ranch-raised lamb used in ZiwiPeak Dog Food is a pure source of high quality protein and fats. Lamb provides these essential proteins and fats that dogs

I was wondering if any1 can point me in the right direction for some holistic care for my very special dog.
Ok, my dog is 7y/o and I have recently seen her getting stiff–limping after hiking in the woods or after she’s asleep for awhile. I did get a veterinarian diagnosis…pain meds, and glucosamine. I have started feeding her dog food w/ glucosamine in it, actually its "large breed 50+lbs" my dog weighs about 55bs.
But, I don’t want to cover her problem up with a dose of pain meds, so I declined the pain meds from the vet. -she doesnt seem to be in pain, more like stiff. If need arises I will put her on some but I want to do more for her.
I don’t have holistic vets in my area, and when I asked my vet about holistic care..he gave me a strange look.

I was hoping to get some answers from some of you that are treating your dog with holistic care.
What type of products do you use/reccomed? and do you see the benefits from it?
Can you link me to your favorite holistic web site?
Anything else you would like to add about your experiences with your "stiff" dog and holistic care?

I know this product is not holistic, what do you think of them?
Glyco Flex II -soft chews http://www.entirelypets.com/glyco2soft120.html

Here is a pic of my cute Rae-Rae
http://www.care2.com/c2c/photos/view/13/480926465/Snowy_Daze/100_7396.jpg.html
and one more…
http://www.care2.com/c2c/photos/view/13/480926465/Views_from_a_Wolf_Dog_001/creekerz.jpg.html

Thanks.

I WILL NOT EVER GIVE MY DOG IBUPROFEN….That will KILL my dog..if I wanted pain management then I would get previcox or other similar product.

PS..Jonsey Buffered Asprin is the ONLY human pain med that can be used on dogs.