Quote: Patty Hopmann

Wow you guys are great! All this advice just leaves me with more questions! I have heard of probiotics but I don't know how much to give an 80 something # dog. What is kiefer. How much fish oil and vitamin E. I have been afraid to add anything new because he has reactions to anything new added. What is Thuya? Again thanks for the advice and support! I'm just trying to keep up!

Always learning

Ive got an allergic itchy runny smelly dog, and have been around the block with her, so what i share is directly from my research and experiments with her! Im happy to share because i know how frustrating it is!!!

Kefir is similar to what they call farmers cheese, but it is smooth and supposedly drinkable...but bleck!!
They do have fruit flavored ones but I havent tried it yet.

I dose the probiotics like i would a human, and use larger than stated doses at first. I am prone to yeast (TMI im sure!!), but i take double the recommended amount at certain times and it helps

They get Kefir or yogurt everyday, and seem to really enjoy it, pumpkin from time to time as a treat because they really like it too. Or when tummies need balancing.

Mine love bananas as well so sometimes I blend up bananas pumpkin and kefir and fill their kongs with it then freeze. Great for upset tummies and hot summer days.

I give Loki who is 75 lbs 5 1000mg geltabs or Omega 3 fish oil, and 3 little Vitamin E gels. They pop them like cavier and pick them out of their food and eat them first ROFL

While you are there, you could pick up the natural E and the fish oil.

You will probably want to get something long-term like Grizzly Salmon Oil from Leerburg, but if you can't get that right away, I'd go for the pharmaceutical people-kind, such as Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Liquid (which is fish oil from anchovy and sardines).

In the long view, the liquid is cheaper than the capsules. Remember that if they are 1000-mg caps, he will need eight. But that's only about 1.5 teaspoons of the liquid oil.

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

I give Loki who is 75 lbs 5 1000mg geltabs or Omega 3 fish oil, and 3 little Vitamin E gels. They pop them like cavier and pick them out of their food and eat them first ROFL

Mine do too.... it's like they are the best thing in the bowl, and I can't believe I used to pierce and squeeze the darned E-caps!

Patty, if you post tomorrow and let us know when your vet appointment is, then it will be easier to figure out what food to give (because of how long it will be).

My own suggestion is that you pick up some poultry breast (boneless skinless) to poach and feed a little with some very overcooked white rice "gruel." Balance is not as important as soothing that gut right now. Also, the missing calcium (from no raw bones) is going to be replaced to some extent with the plain yogurt, and the missing fat (Omega 6s, most of which are inflammation-promoting) will be partly made up for with the long-chain Omega 3s in the fish oil. Omega 3s are inflammation-reducing.

Connie,Jennifer,Debbie

A BIG THANK YOU for all your information and advice. I am going to take your advice. I also am going to make an apt. with the only homeopathic vet in this big city Houston,TX. I need someone that is on the same page as I.

Love you all,
Always learning

 Quote: Patty Hopmann

Connie,Jennifer,Debbie

A BIG THANK YOU for all your information and advice. I am going to take your advice. I also am going to make an apt. with the only homeopathic vet in this big city Houston,TX. I need someone that is on the same page as I.

Love you all,
Always learning

Holistic will work ..... homeopathy is a specialty that falls under the holistic umbrella, but holistic is what you're looking for, IMO.... especially with some nutrition knowledge.

I found my fish oil capsules at Target on sale for 12.00 for 1000 capsules regularly i think they were 20 something.
They are target brand but had good reviews...i am more apt to trust target brand than say walmart or that best choice stuff.

Loki doesnt get quite the recommended amount, but he gets really gassy and it smells like fish if i do anymore than that for very long.
I used to peirce and measure and weigh everything. After a while i have become much more relaxed wit most things.

The only thing better than than oil capsules is canned green beans, Nico goes batty over canned green beans so i let her have them from time to time.. no added salt of course!

Thuja is a homeopathic remedy, it worked wonders for nico, and my new vet gives it routinely with shots...which gives me warm fuzzies!!

Pm me if you like and Id be happy to pass some along with the information about them, as I have more than I need of it...I went on a remedy spree not long ago when wild oats had them all on clearance.

P.S. I understand that Giardia can be hard to spot on fecals sometimes so sometimes another round of treatment is warranted even if the stool was clean.
And has he been tested for coccidia, and other parasites?

Patty
When you make any food changes remember that a sudden change may cause loose stool, it doesn't automatically mean he's allergic to the new food, so a gradual change is probably the best way to go. If you feed raw make sure you feed it at a different meal than cooked meat or kibble as they digest at different rates (raw digests much faster than kibble and cooked).
The probiotics will really help the gut adjust to new foods as well as helping him assimilate what he has eaten.

Please keep us updated on his progress and what you find at the holistic vet visit.

Also, I gave my dogs their first taste of fresh green tripe the other day. I had one dog who I discovered at meal time was very sick. When I gave her the meat she looked at it then turned away (she never turns down food), I gave her the tripe and she immediately ate it, I gave her some liver and she sniffed it then turned away, more tripe and she ate it, I also gave her some of my favorite herbal remedy. When I checked on her again in a few hours she was back to normal. So... tripe must be some powerful stuff, maybe it would also help your dog.

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

The only thing better than than oil capsules is canned green beans, Nico goes batty over canned green beans so i let her have them from time to time.. no added salt of course!

That is so funny -- I have two who love canned green beans, too (no salt).