Thanks Connie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Pitcairn's was the one that started me (and many of my friends & clients) onto this approach too actually. Have you read the Food Pets Die For Book? Its kind of tops it all off... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

There are also several really good organic pre-mixes on the market as well as some that are human quality but not organic (a little cheaper of course). A few of the brands I recmmend include: Dr.Harvy's, Noah's Kingdome, Monzies Organics, Sojourner Farms, Essex Cottage......

Something else you may look into if the whole RAW thing is not of interest is the dehydrated foods. They're not quite as good as formulating balanced raw diet on your own but they are very quick and easy and are much better than most commercial food. The one I like is called N-R-G (its a Canadian brand)... there is another called The Honest Kitchen (its American & I believe Ed carries this line actually so you may speak to him about it). I like the deydrated in that its more portable for travelling than the raw... before I found dehydrated I used to bake muffins (out of my dogs 'raw' rations) and freeze them so when I was on the road or need to back stuff into my SAR pack I'd have something other than a pile of raw goop in my rucksack <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Anyway just another thought for you.

 Quote:

Thanks Connie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Pitcairn's was the one that started me (and many of my friends & clients) onto this approach too actually. Have you read the Food Pets Die For Book? Its kind of tops it all off... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Yes. I agree with you.

I'm so glad I started with Pitcairn, because its guidance was so reassuring -- it stated the problems but also was clear about the answers. And it was so interesting that it paved the way (for me) for many avenues of research. There's a brand-new 2005 edition, I just noticed, and I'm thinking about checking out whether it has many changes/additions.

The Food Pets Die For made me *furious* -- it put an exclamation point on all the doubt and worry about the bill of goods the giant commercial food companies were selling vets and the public. And there does seem to have been improvement since 1997, too: I don't feed commercial foods, but there actually are some acceptable, human-grade, top-ingredient choices now........especially some made by smaller regional companies, I've noticed.

Hmmmm, didn't realize there was a 2005 edition out on the Pitcairn book... will have to check that out (thanks).

Yes there are many good quality commercial foods on the market, some smaller some larger (started small but growing) companies out there. I like Canidae, Innova and Go Natural best, but there are many other good brands out now. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> We have a 10-Step evaluation on our website that we include with all of our puppy packages so that any pups that are not being continued on the raw will hopefully be fed high quality food. Not everyone wants to change, but many are very willing once they see what their looking at. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

But back to the original topic... I hope that this information has been helpful to Julia. Any news on your mum's dog? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

We sell the Pitcairn book here at Leerburg (as well as a few others Connie mentioned.)

On topic, my dog Rixi, who is the office dog at Leerburg was diagnosed yesterday with this very problem.. her liver and spleen were enlarged a month ago but due to her age and the fact that she has had 2 strokes in the last 4 months we opted not to do an exploratory surgery...

Her tumor (or tumors) have grown dramatically in the last 4 weeks. She feels good, plays and eats and chases the cat so until she tells us otherwise it's life as usual. She will be 13 years old next Thursday. Rixi

Maybe you all could say a prayer for the old girl, that her passing is peaceful and pain free. the vet said she could have a week left or 6 months, these things are hard to predict.

dogs just don't live long enough <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Cindy... Does Leerburg Sell tissues? These sorts of things just hit me in the gut. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I will say a pray for your Rexi and you.

Me too Cindy. I hope that you and Rixi are able to enjoy the Christmas Holidays without worry. My thoughts & prayers are with you both.

thank you....the folks who will take her passing the hardest are the great staff we have in the office. Rixi has been a permanent fixture in the Leerburg Video office for the last 4 years. She spends most weekends and holidays with Caya and is the official "order inspector" . Many times Rixi will place one of her old toys in a box with an outgoing order, and try to swap it for a new tug or orbee ball. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

She keeps everyone on their toes, and the orders all need to be double checked before they are taped up...

Just last Christmas she unlatched her kennel gate and ate 4 10 lb. bags of chicken leg quarters in one sitting...we had them in tubs to thaw for feeding the dogs the next day.... That darn dog never even got diarrhea or an upset stomach...

you have to love a creative old dog...and these memories will always be with us.

 Quote:

.......my dog Rixi, who is the office dog at Leerburg was diagnosed yesterday with this very problem.. her liver and spleen were enlarged a month ago.......

I'm so sorry.

My Luna had to be put down a year ago with a large and aggressive tumor. Her age and health history precluded surgery, too.

I want to tell you that it can go pretty well until the end. She was playing and eating and eliminating, and in no apparent pain, on November 9, 2004, and on November 10 she refused her food, for the first time ever, and spent the day cuddled with me. On the 11th we put her down.

I hope very much that it can be this way for Rixi (and for Julia's mother's dog, too, if it turns out that the prognosis isn't good).

GREAT UPDATE: They have determined the tumor is not cancer so they are keeping him one more day on intravenous antibiotics and then surgery tomorrow to remove the spleen then a couple more days on Antibiotics until he his out of the woods. They are still being so vague about the root of his infection. They aren’t sure if it is a complication of his tumor or a separate issue.

I printed a lot of the information about the dangers of commercial dog food and gave them to my mom she was pretty disappointed. She said her Vet has been the one pushing Iams and now she wondered if the vets do this to line their own pockets by treating the illnesses and complications these foods are causing.

I will share with her The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs for a Healthy Life by Ian Billinghurst and Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats after I have read them.

In the interim… would Wellness be a good replacement for the Iams? Any feedback to get this young 8 year old back on track is appreciated.