Archive for September, 2008

Is menadione sodium bisulfate complex really as bad as people are making it seem? Are there more companies taking it out of their ingredients?

There is no scientific proof it is beneficial. Wise choice choosing switching to a more natural kibble!

fish meals, liver and green plant supplements (e.g. alfalfa, kelp and other seaweed, nettle leaf, blue-green algae, spirulina) are rich sources of natural vitamin K.

Actually, here are some adverse affects:
causes cytotoxicity in liver cells

causes formation of radicals from enzymes of leucocytes, with the consequence of cytotoxic reactions

considerably weakens the immune system

possible mutagenic effects

damages the natural vitamin K cycle

has no effect on coumarin derivatives, which are often present in commercial food due to mold contamination (toxic when ingested)

causes hemolytic anemia and hyperbilirubinemia, not just linked to large doses disturbs the level of calcium ions (Ca2+) in the body, which is an important factor fibrinolysis
is directly toxic in high doses (vomiting, albuminuria), unlike natural vitamin K builds up in tissue and has been detected in eggs, meat and milk of animals supplemented with menadione derivatives
causes irritation of skin and mucous membranes
causes allergic reactions and eczema

Dog Food Reviews of Blog Posts

Week in review…

We’ve found some more great blog posts on comparing dog foods you might like to take a look at:

  • Dog Information – What You Need To Know – This dog food comparison article informs the reader that there is both misinformation and lack of information on the subject. The author states that some brands sold at local stores are of poor quality and that the Bones and Raw Food …

  • Comparing Your Dog Food Options: Because Your Dog Is Worth It. – The price tag is not going to tell you that the food is healthy knowing what to avoid will be one of the keys when you do your dog food comparison. Just like with human food, reading the ingredients is key. …

  • Your Dog Trusts Which Food You Put In The Bowl – The price tag is not going to tell you that the food is healthy knowing what to avoid will be one of the keys when you do your dog food comparison. So, read all the ingredients. Are most of them natural? Do they have a lot of additives? …

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http://dogfoodguide.blogspot.com/2008/06/diabetic-dog-food.html

Yes grain free is probably better. If you check out Merrick dog food they have some that are actually labeled "low glycemic".
Example:
http://www.merrickpetcare.com/store/detail.php?c=15&s=21667

And Merrick is very good super premium dog food too.
I don't feed it to my dog because I feed some other good stuff but the stuff I feed might not be for diabetic dogs.

Also, where do I purchase this dog food? I have an 8 year old greyhound couch potato and a 2 year old rambunctious lab.

The most recommended dog food is lamb and rice. you might want to look at joining some Yahoo dog groups.

http://groups.yahoo.com/

I currently feed my min pin (dry) small bites by Natural Choice by Nutro. We are thinking of changing his diet mainly becasue of what we have recently read on Menadione Sodium Bisulfate… mixed in the Nutro. Blue Buffalo is quickly making its way to the top of the list. Would this be a wise move? Also, the Nutro first ingredient is Lamb meal. BLUE's mall breed is only in a chicken based. My dog is not allergic to chicken. Would a switch of food with a different main ingredient be good for him?

Blue Buffalo is an excellent choice if you have minpins. You could feed the fish and sweet potato and get great coats and skin. My four pins, my manchester, and all three of my herding dogs eat Blue. People often remark how shiny and healthy my pins look. It also keeps up with their energy level.

One of the first things that a vet may do to treat a pet with allergies is use steroids. According to Dr. Michael W. Fox as quoted in the Norman Transcript this can cause more problems than it is solving.

Dr. Fox states: “Steroids make the symptoms go away for a while and give short-term relief for animals who are scratching and chewing themselves raw and bloody. But all too often, when the medication is tapered off, the symptoms reappear, and the animals are put back on corticosteroids. This can mean cystitis and diabetes for cats, and a host of other drug-related health problems for dogs, too — most notably Cushing’s disease.

“This is increasingly common in dogs and is due to the adrenal glands becoming hyperactive as a result of prolonged use of corticosteroid medications. Afflicted dogs may look obese, have thinning coats, experience muscular weakness, become potbellied and increasingly lethargic and show increased thirst and urination. Secondary bacterial infections and poor wound healing are also common consequences.

“My advice to all pet owners is to avoid any long-term steroid treatments when allergies are diagnosed or suspected and to do their best to find out, as you have done, the root cause.”

A much better approach is to find the root cause of the allergy which is most likely pollen, insects, mold, dog food, other animals or people.

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I just found out my yellow lab has a food allergy to the Purina food she eats. I was just wondering if anyone knew if there was a cheaper hypoallergenic dog food on the market. Money is kinda tight and I can’t afford $40 for a bag of dog food :( Thanks for any help!

Here is a site that will show you which dog foods are the best and the worst. I suggest that you get any one of the dog foods that are top rated.
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/
Most of grocery store dog food formulas, like IAMS, Pedigree, Science Diet, Purina,and etc contain “meat and bone meal” which has been known to contain dead dogs and cats that were euthanized in animal shelters. Their bodies are picked up and bought by the truck load by “rendering plants” , that also pick up road kill, dead live stock, and etc. They are shredded, and boiled. They skim off the fat on the top of the “soup” and collected it and sell it to pet food companies as “animal fat”, the rest of the animals’ remains are crushed up, dried and sold to dog and cat food companies as meat and bone meal.
You can read more about it here.
http://earthislandprojects.org/eijournal/fall97/fe_fall97petfood.html
Here is an article where the owner of a rendering plant talks about it. He says that cremating the dead shelter animals would cause pollution, and that rendering them is good.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_12_26/ai_115041999
Here is further information on what you shouldn’t see in the ingredients list in your dog’s food.
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients
Top rated dog foods like Canidae contain good healthy ingredients.

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I am looking for a brand comparison chart to canned dog foods. Not a company specific site that is out to sell its brand. Do does anyone know where to go for one?

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/

Hope you can find the information you are looking for!

Sorry, I just realized this was for dry dog food. It may be helpful, though.

We have a Tibetan Terrier with allergies. Can anyone suggest a good, chemical, by- product free, dog food? Thanks
Look into Nutro dogfood, I used to work part time for them and learned more about dog nutrition than I ever knew! The dogfood is only sold in pet stores but not all pet stores carry it so you’ll need to call ahead. Nutro is an awesome food for dogs because it’s made with no chicken by-products (like beaks, heads, feet and guts). It’s perfect for dogs with allergies because it’s ingrediants are chicken meat, wheat flour, ground whole wheat, rice bran, poultry fat for vitamin E, corn gluten meal (no hulls), etc. Do you know what your terrier is allergic to? If your dog is allergic to wheat they have a no wheat formula too. Another thing I like about the company is that they are a small family owned business from California and they have stayed privately owned. They formulate everything in their kitchens and still have the same dog chef from their beginning days. I’ve had my dog on Nutro since I got him and he’s got a beautiful coat, less hair shedding, small less odorous stools and I get comments about his bulk all the time. Check it out!

You can buy diabetic dog food through your vet. I know they make a canned variety and imagine there is a dry type also. It will be pricey but it is important to get the proper food for your dog with a medical condition like diabetes. Good luck!

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