I have a 35 lb. bc mx.-male-pushing 18yrs.old.
Last week his blood work came back with some alarming results.Anemia-renal compromise & pancreatitis.
Externally, he's showing no signs of illness, discomfort, change in habits-good appetite.Still keeping himself busy with all his 'work'- you know those bc's...
This has been his vet for all these nearly 18 yrs. He's never been sick- so the diet issue never came up.
When she asked me & I said 'raw natural diet'-she as much said that I'm killing my dog-he needs to go on Science Diet kd- I'm sure you know the guilt trip flying my way.
She didn't even ask any details about what I feed him.
Certainly, I don't take lightly what I feed my dog-I'm always open to more information, but, I just can't bear to think of force feeding him spackle wrapped with a dog food label.
He is his usual happy self, I know the years are there-but changing the diet of a dog at his age...?
His chiropractor thinks he is in amazing condition, & supports the raw diet, but he's not a vet , so he can't really openly disagree with her prescription.
At this point I'm going to give him more raw green tripe to cut back the protien somewhat.
He is on fish oil & E---synoviG3- & vit. supplements-
I know this is a touchy topic-ultimately I hope to make the right decisions--If I didn't feel this was the best way to feed my dog-, I would readily change--but,
I appreciate any input& opinions--thanks

I think a change to "spackle" at his age would certainly hasten his demise.
Eighteen is a pretty good age for a dog, it sounds like you are feeding him just what he needs. If I were in the same situation I would continue to feed raw and let the dog be happy in his old age.
This vet probably is not a nutritionist.

So let me get this straight....Your dog is 18, and his diet is killing him?! Wow, if you had been feeding him that crap in a bag all along, he might have lived to be 40....

I don't have any details to help you, but lots of old dogs with these issues are still eating RAW. Don't give in to guilt, you know what is best for him.

Maybe lower fat, more red meat? Old dogs need much less bone than young dogs also. Pancreatitis is aggravated or brought on by too much fat. Red meat and liver have more iron.

I'm sure the experts will chime in soon. Keep the faith!

Good luck.

So... 18 year old dog which is looking great, acting healthy without the pain associated with pancreatitis, and otherwise happy should be switched over to a food you likely can't get him to eat anyways (have you smelled KD?) without starving him because of a blood draw that said his kidneys don't work so well, his blood isn't quite as rich as it used to be, and what likely is some pancreatitis in the works as a result.

Im not a vet or a vet tech but to me you answered this question pretty well yourself. If it were my dog and my decision I wouldn't change a thing except maybe a few suppliments to help with the anemia which is more than likely age or maybe cancer related and let him live out the time he has left with the joy he's lived the last 18 years with. Count yourself lucky that you'll know the signs to look for when it gets close to that time which is the end for him; excessive water drinking, lethargy, and abdominal pain.

It's like me telling my 92 year old grandfather that he can't have a bacon sandwich for breakfast. I love him and want him to stay here forever but he's earned the right within reason to live the rest of his life with joy in every bite, every step, and every laugh.

I do feed him just a tiny bit differently than my younger dog in terms of the bones- & only boneless skinless white meat in the chicken for him..He does have powerful jaws, so I remove the skin from a couple of wings-semi crush the bones, so he can enjoy some chomping.
Also-1-)eggs, no shells for him
2)sardines-mackeral-smelt
3) lean cuts of beef (london broil)& pork (loin)w/fat trimmed--gr.turkey-rarely-lamb-duck or rabbit if I'm using a prepared raw diet in a pinch.
4)-beef liver& other organ meats-2 spoons every other day
5)-chicken feet-1 a week
6)raw green tripe-sometimes w/ trachea & gullet- or a blend w/muscle meat & ground bone.
He has always been free-fed & weighed the same every day of his adult life. Definitely, I would never think of free feeding my lab mx.She would probably blow up.
That's all I can think of for now-
thanks for the comments & input-

Thanks to Cindy & Ashley who got me back on this board today, I was unable to log in-due to my ineptness-but, they helped me.
The vet said that the raw diet is too hard for his body to process now & receive the nutrients he needs.She does really believe that, I'm sure she wouldn't want to harm him .I did say calmly as possible, that I don't see how he could stay healthy on corn & flour being a carnivore.
I considered cooking for him, if , as she claims he cannot process the raw--but that would change the food & he'd have to have different digestive enzymes for that-do you think?

 Quote: sherry lester

I considered cooking for him, if , as she claims he cannot process the raw--but that would change the food & he'd have to have different digestive enzymes for that-do you think?

He would have to have MORE enzymes to digest the raw as cooking destroys the enzymes that are already there, so his body would have to work harder to get the nutrition he needs.
It sounds like you are taking wonderful care of your dog.

I wasn't sure how to scientifically explain what I was thinking, but you got my drift.Cooking the food would destroy the enzymes, so his body would have to adapt to that-seems that would put a strain on his system.

Your vet said that you were killing your dog for having him on a raw diet? I've personally been to a food processing factory that processes dog food and other crap(knew someone who worked there and gave me a late night tour). You know what I saw in there? A bunch of dead cows and road kill stacked up in a corner. It stank like death in there. Every time I walk into the freezer that stores euthanized dogs(I work at an animal shelter), the stench reminds of that place. Maybe I should arrange a tour for your vet.

Most vets recommend science diet. Its a rule or something. Just ignore it.