Zoe By My Side- Our Journey with Cushings

So the raw food diet you bought wasn't supposed to be raw? It doesn't sound like it was complete and balanced either. Hmmm? I just changed proteins from chicken to lamb for all eight dogs with no issues at all. Nobody skipped a beat. My four have had duck but aren't partial to it. We still have venison and rabbit if the lamb doesn't work out in the next few months. Buster has been chewing on his back feet again and his facial staining has gotten really bad again. Thought I'd try lamb and filtered water to see if that helps.

It is complete and balanced but it is just meat no bone, is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO for all dog stages and is a complete diet. It contains no fruit or veggies. I add 1 tablespoon of Honest Kitchen Embark which is turkey, potato, flax and fruit and veggies. This diet was given to me by a holistic vet. May Strauss just told me in an email since the diet is enhanced with vitamins and minerals, I don't have to worry about switching proteins. I asked her what happens if I cook it and she said I won't ruin the vitamins and minerals though I may lose a few vitamins. It has synthetic vitamins, calcium, minerals. It is meant to be fed raw but you could also cook the diet because it has no real bone in it.

I have a love/hate relationship with it. The love side of me thinks maybe the raw diet is why with Zoe's high cortisol and other hormones maybe her symptoms are not as bad and that is why her blood work is all normal now.

The hate side worries that her colitis is worse because she can no longer handle the raw diet.

I have grilled Mary Strauss about the diet last year and she thinks it is complete and Zoe is maybe lacking in some Omega 3 from it but that is all. I am again having a conversation with her about it as I know all the research she has done. I read all her articles.

So there you have it. I sure don't want to send Zoe into a major problem which could result in the metronidazole not even being enough to help her. I am disheartened that she could not even handle the little bit of freeze dried beef.

Her food is Nature's Menu Lake Geneva Wisconsin. I will look for a link.

Hugs,
Addy

Dear Addy
NOw you are a doctor and cook, a therapist, etc.
:eek::D
I could use a crying icon also.
Can't give you much input on the food.
Hugs Sonja and Apollo

Yup, Sonja, quite the resume:eek::rolleyes:

Get this, yesterday I forgot to give Zoe her melatonin in the am but she had it last night. Her poos were fine last night. I gave her no new anything and this morning her poos were mush.:mad:

WHAT? Because I skipped a dose of melatonin? Really?:confused::mad: WHAT? I don't get it, I never got it and I still don't get it. Zoe's colon makes no sense to me AT ALL:eek::eek::eek:

Failing medical student Addy who is not a good dietitian either

Dear Addy
You are doing the best you can. I sometimes can't remember if I have given Apollo which medication or supplement and then have to accept that it is okay.
I have my sweetie resting his head on my arm, holding him very tight.
We just lost another, little Otis. :( My other friend just put her dachie down two days ago. And boy am I crying.:(
Will try to close the cushing drawer over the weekend.
Hugs Sonja and Apollo
At this stage of the game every day is a gift with these angels.

Hi There Miss I Wear all Sorts of Hats of Everything,

I can honestly say I do not miss having to wonder about dog food or any of the stressing out about it, but I do feel really bad for you having to go through this.

My stress was I just lost my Mother last Thursday. She battled a lot of things, but she couldn't fight any longer. She was 82 so she got to experience a lot of life, just not such a good life these past couple of years, but she always seem to pull through....:(:(

My family also had our annual trip to Mammoth and Maddie had gone with us the past 5 years, so a little sad to see the places we would walk. The picture of her is from our trip 2 yrs ago. She loved the snow....:D:D I don't see how they tolerate the cold on their paws...:confused:

Well, I hope you finally figure out the diet situation and both you and Zoe feel better.:):)

Hi There Miss I Wear all Sorts of Hats of Everything,

I can honestly say I do not miss having to wonder about dog food or any of the stressing out about it, but I do feel really bad for you having to go through this.

My stress was I just lost my Mother last Thursday. She battled a lot of things, but she couldn't fight any longer. She was 82 so she got to experience a lot of life, just not such a good life these past couple of years, but she always seem to pull through....:(:(

My family also had our annual trip to Mammoth and Maddie had gone with us the past 5 years, so a little sad to see the places we would walk. The picture of her is from our trip 2 yrs ago. She loved the snow....:D:D I don't see how they tolerate the cold on their paws...:confused:

Well, I hope you finally figure out the diet situation and both you and Zoe feel better.:):)

You can tell I am out it because of it didn't send fast enough the first time and BAM it sent again....technology....it is so funny to reread the text that go through with auto correct....on the cellphone

If you want a laugh go to www.damnyouautocorrect.com it is hilarious some of the text that go through.

Marie,

I am so sorry about your Mom. I am so sorry to hear this news. I can't even find the right words for you. My deepest sympathy to you and your family. My mom will be 87 later this month. I know, it gets hard.

I thought you were busy with work so did not check in on your post to say hi.:(

Not sure what I will do with Zoe and her food. Mary Strauss thought I should try a bit of the Zeal, not retry the Carnivore treats. Since speaking with her I have calmed down about the bacteria and not rotating proteins. We have been seeing more people and dogs outside and the snow is melting. Zoe has had on again of again, softer poos with what I think is mucus (could be fat) this week. Not sure if she is lickiing stuff off her paws or stress from seeing more strangers and dogs as she is reacting to them again. She was so calm for awhile. Maybe her tummy hurts again from the not so great but not awful poos. She has been sleeping all night with us in bed this week. She only does that when she does not feel good.

I am going to cut back a bit on her food. I think hubby is sneaking her extra cooked turkey when I am not home:rolleyes: Maybe she is getting too much food. Her tummy is pretty round and I don't want her to put on too much weight.

Funny how the problems keep switching, for 2 months she was losing weight, now she is gaining weight.:eek::eek::rolleyes: I have not changed the amount of food through all of this.

Thanks for stopping in Marie. I posted o your thread. And I just want to say again how very, very sorry I am to hear the news of your Mom.

Love,
Addy

Just checking in how you and Zoe are doing.
Don't know what to say about the food. For me I am giving Apollo more treats just to get him to walk and now I have to worry about him gaining weight. He is also licking his front paw and still has gas.

Sorry about Maria's loss of her mother. My mother is 79 and it gets harder.
Hug Sonja and Apollo