Question:
I have two 4-year-old Yorkies that have had severe gastrointestinal problems since they were just a few months old. One or the other was always at the vet because of vomiting or bloody diarrhea. This would occur monthly, if not more often. The only thing that stopped the "runs" was diphenoxylate atropine, which, as you know, is a narcotic. My vet clinic has several vets, and they all seemed to agree that my dogs were suffering from some genetic disorder, thus we had them on various prescription foods. Still, they got sick every couple of weeks.I noticed that the special canned dog food often smelled bad, and the dogs refused to eat it. Aside from the hundreds of dollars in vet bills every month, I was most concerned about the puppies' health, so I decided to try making their food myself.I saute chicken breasts in olive oil with garlic, dice it and mix it with egg noodles and mixed vegetables. I sometimes substitute lean ground beef, remove all the grease and add some olive oil. Other times I'll make their fo
F.C., Moorhead, MN Jan 14, 2007
Answer:
It is deplorable that no veterinarian considered changing your dogs' diet, and that your little canine companions -- and you -- had to suffer for so long. As with our human medical-care system and care providers, we sometimes have to take matters into our own hands. One thing we can do to take control over our health (and that goes for our animal companions) is to see to our diets. Most human doctors are in the Dark Ages on this matter, as are some veterinarians. But those with a holistic orientation would do precisely what you decided to do.The dog-food recipe on my Web site (http://twobitdog.com/DrFox/Dr-Fox-Homemade-Dog-Food) will show you what supplements you need to include; your dogs' diet is deficient in calcium and trace minerals. Do buy organically certified produce, which contains more nutrients than conventional meat, poultry vegetables and cereals. Give tuna only once or twice a month because of the high mercury and dioxin contamination.
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