bradpattison.com

Hi Y'all:

I'm curious as to whether any of you guys give your dog supplements, i.e., fish oil, etc. If so, what are the supplements for?

Now that we're feeding Jessie raw, I'm wondering whether we should also be adding anything else in her diet, since she's 8 months and still growing..

Cheers,
Leah

I think it depends... how's that for not very helpful?

My dog eats raw but refuses all veggies and a few types of meats which made me wonder (she's pretty fussy). As far as I can tell (from various raw lists and my vet with an issue my dog had with her coat not being as nice as usual), basically watch the dog for any signs it might be missing something. If her skin is dry or she doesn't seem as energetic or gets ear or eye infections, she may need either an adjustment to the diet or some supplements. Some raw feeders do supplements regardless. What they give depends a lot on their belief system and their dogs.

I make sure my dog gets at least 3 tins of salmon a week (she won't eat any other fish except sardines which a vet highly recommended as being good for their coats) to get her oils. I tried her on a vet multi vitamin for a while but it didn't seem to do much for her so we stopped that.

As long as your dog is getting a variety and the basics, she should do really well without supplements because good whole fresh food has an awful lot going for it.

My dogs aren't currently on raw (although they have been in the past). I feed them premium kibble and top dress with decent canned and/or canned tripe. I like to drop dress with the wet hoping that it helps the kibble digest. Kibble stays so long in their system compared to homemade or raw etc.

I've given fish oil, hemp oil, canola oil, olive oil, flax oil etc. Currently my male's kibble + wet has his coat so shiny, I'm not adding anything except his daily glucosamine (preventative).

My female is on premium kibble (grain free) and glucosamine too. (preventative and theraputic as she's had both canine cruciate ligaments repaired).

Their coat may get a little dry in the winter with the heat coming on etc., and I'll probably supplement with an oil (or give them sardines or herrings).

If I do give oil, I like to mix it up, fish with one feeding, vegetable based oil (like hemp or flax) in the second feeding.

I'm grooming more diligently which brings a lot of shine to their coats too. I will use the furminator which helps a lot with the loose dander but mostly a rubber curry brush (think rubber horse grooming brush) combined with a bristle brush to flick off the loose hairs. Both of mine are short coated. One is mostly black and he's getting very glossy. You can check out the clearance pony brush bin at horse tack shops for small curry brushes. I got mine for .99 at a local Greenhawks store.

Dorothy

I've started giving Bayley Missing Link. Seems to be working very well and she likes it.

p.s. I purchase the glucosamine with chrondroiton preferable from the vet.

Often many of the formulas on the shelves in pet stores have other anti-inflammatory products mixed in, but I'm just looking to give them the glucosamine with chrondroiton (HCL version).

Off topic...it also helps to keep them well exercised and toned. My female blew both her cruciates when she was young, chasing the ball HARD was her favourite pastime, and she had put on a few extra pounds. Not a lot, but enough since she's not that tall. These days, I keep both of them pretty toned. Your vet clinic will likely have a pictoral that shows obsese, desirable and underweight. Or you can ask your vet their opinion, I do.

Cheers,
Dorothy

pattymac wrote:

QUOTE:
I've started giving Bayley Missing Link. Seems to be working very well and she likes it.

It has a huge following. What did you notice when you started giving it to her? They have a plus formula for joints.

Cheers,
Dorothy

Her coat is definately nicer and she seems to have more energy...just what she needs Right now it's hard to tell with her coat, she's been slimed a few times over the last few days at the dog park...gotta love Labs..they have to be about the worst slimers!!

My two lab mixes don't need the energy They're bonkers enough as they are.

I'm interested in it for nutritional value. Lots of folks swear by the product.

Do you use the vet formula or from the pet store?

Cheers,
Dorothy

I got mine from the pet store. I don't think my vet carries it

I am new here so bear with me. We have an 8 month old male German Shepherd named Link. We recently started him on Top Hand full meal patties for breakfast and kibble for supper. We are switching in the next week to 100% RAW and I was wondering what the people feeding RAW are feeding? Are they patties or the traditional chicken parts? We do give Grizzly Salmon Oil with the patties and his poops are 100% better than on kibble alone.