When Erin isn't happy

[ibcycling]

I so agree with you Elk on the vets and their recommendations. Similar to human doctors they don't get a lot of training on nutrition. It's a small part of their studies and Science Diet puts enough money into vet schools to make sure they're supported as being a great food. Thanks to the recent food scare more people are paying attention to what they feed and doing their own research instead of blindly taking their veterinarian's advice.

I was so thrilled when I started researching vets here after we moved. There is a clinic here that focuses on nutrition and wellness instead of just prescribing drugs. When I took my Dane in for elbow pain we discussed his diet, exercise, supplements, and options and he never mentioned Rimidyl. He's also checking for underlying problems though we're pretty sure it's a genetic thing. I'm very happy to have found them and have more options than the "regular" vet.

Hopefully we'll end up at the same ride and can chat about dogs and nutrition someday Elk. I'd really enjoy that!

Lora

[elk]

Smiling Cat
If you can find a clean source for chicken I wouldn't worry too much about salmonella....When you buy ground meat, you can be getting the parts of 100 different animals, but if you grind your own, you know the source and handle it carefully, you should be fine....and YES, you need to add things. ( my friends and I who feed raw were wondering about the tainted gluten the chickens got fed....)

When a cat kills a bird or a mouse and really eats it, it will eat the whole thing..including the stomache which contains...green matter etc.

But I know a lot more about feeding dogs. I can get you some links you can trust where you can find the answers.

http://www.blakkatz.com/natural.html

http://www.fatpet.com/elvessa/natural.html ( have had long conversations with this woman...and she's got alot of knowledge and experience.)

The only good thing to come out of that tragedy is that people are re thinking what they are feeding...and the next generations of pets will be healthier.

So sorry about Murphy... and

gotta go walk the beasties....I'll be back..

[elk]

I so agree with you Elk on the vets and their recommendations. Similar to human doctors they don't get a lot of training on nutrition. It's a small part of their studies and Science Diet puts enough money into vet schools to make sure they're supported as being a great food. Thanks to the recent food scare more people are paying attention to what they feed and doing their own research instead of blindly taking their veterinarian's advice.

I was so thrilled when I started researching vets here after we moved. There is a clinic here that focuses on nutrition and wellness instead of just prescribing drugs. When I took my Dane in for elbow pain we discussed his diet, exercise, supplements, and options and he never mentioned Rimidyl. He's also checking for underlying problems though we're pretty sure it's a genetic thing. I'm very happy to have found them and have more options than the "regular" vet.

Hopefully we'll end up at the same ride and can chat about dogs and nutrition someday Elk. I'd really enjoy that!

Lora

NIcely put, IBC! I'm so glad you found a vet who will look at your dog's pain from more than one view point. I hope you will be successful!
Where do you live? Are you here in Oregon?

[elk]

Here is a book that is highly recommended by people I trust. Seems the author has a website too..

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0312358016?...6RWZC19Z194P2&

[Tuckervill]

I sure admire you folks who have the gumption to grind up whole organic chickens for your cats enjoyment!

I have indoor/outdoor cats who see the vet only once a year for their annual stuff. My two sons each have 3 cats a piece, all indoors, all huge and fat and who make regular trips to the vet for various ailments, usually involving regurgitation. I guess it's the occasional squirrel heads my cats score that keep them so healthy? lol. (I don't know why the only eat the heads, but that's all that's ever missing.)

Karen

[ibcycling]

I sure admire you folks who have the gumption to grind up whole organic chickens for your cats enjoyment!

I have indoor/outdoor cats who see the vet only once a year for their annual stuff. My two sons each have 3 cats a piece, all indoors, all huge and fat and who make regular trips to the vet for various ailments, usually involving regurgitation. I guess it's the occasional squirrel heads my cats score that keep them so healthy? lol. (I don't know why the only eat the heads, but that's all that's ever missing.)

Karen

While outdoor kitties face dangers that indoor kitties don't you're probably right on the food/health aspect. I'm sure they chow down on a mouse, bird, squirrel, ?? on occasion and are getting some nutrients that the packaged food is missing. Mine, however, just like to take a trip to the barn and sneak the junky kibble that the 2 barn kitties are fed. The barn kitties aren't mine but I may start buying them better quality food since I have 2 kitties that sneak down there when they want junk food. LOL!

Elk - I'm in the Tri-Cities area of WA so about 2.5 hours from Portland. Last Sat. I rode a loop from Hat Rock Park (Hermiston) to Pendleton and back. Very pretty ride! If there are any good rides coming up let me know.

Lora

[sundial]

I hope your kitty feels better. It's no fun when the furkids are sick.

[elk]

Elk - I'm in the Tri-Cities area of WA so about 2.5 hours from Portland. Last Sat. I rode a loop from Hat Rock Park (Hermiston) to Pendleton and back. Very pretty ride! If there are any good rides coming up let me know.

Lora

I've done dog shows up there... I'm still a baby rider....but working away...and there are tons of people from there on TE... someday in the not too distant future I hope!!

[bmccasland]

This thread has been busy while I was gone. Apparently while Erin was a guest, she got 100 cc Ringer's daily, wet food, and the dry kibble I provided. She's still on antibiotics, an antihistimine, and soon will be on L-lysine. The office forgot to give me the antibiotics when I picked up the kitties yesterday, so went by today to get them, and was told I need to continue the IV therapy every other day. Since I live alone, and she's getting more difficult to "stick" I asked to get a lesson (again) - Dr. M said to come in for the meds, and bring Erin. They gave her the IV, her evening dose of antibiotics, and while talking it finally sunk in to Dr. M how long Erin has had the sniffles. So now the theory is that Erin has a Herpes virus, and she'll be started on L-lysine tomorrow (when it comes in). I've researched chronic sinusitis in kitties on the net, so knew about the L-lysine therapy, but when I looked at Whole Foods, they were big pills - big pill, little cat, and I couldn't figure out how to give it to her. Apparently there is a liquid form, so that's what we're wait for. Will give it a try.

Nala the dog is bugging me for a walk....