Question:
Senior Innova–Innova is great food, and senior appears to be especially light on calories (my bitch lost 15 lbs on it). n, Sandi Shrager _/ | _ School of Social Work /’ `’/ University of Washington <~ .’ _/ | _/ `.`. ____/ ‘ __ | |______
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Pat, When my dogs look a little "chunky" I cut back on their regular food (raw or kibble, if you feed that) and add things such as green beans, squash or pumpkin. These foods are low in calories and help them to feel full, less deprived. I also give them more fruits, such as apples and bananas. My mother used to rely on science diet for her dog to lose weight- then she tried this and felt a lot better about it- like she was treating her dog as opposed to depriving it. After all- the first ingredient in science diet’s diet formula is ground peanut hulls! Good luck! PS_ add some flaxseed oil or other essential fatty oils to the food to help with the dry coat and skin. Also consider a check-up to see if she could possible be hypothyroid. Weight gain and dry coat are indicative of that disorder. Kristen Bell-Sprouse, PIA-Certified Aromatherapist, Member National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy Featuring "Aromadog" natural products & remedies for canine ailments based on essential oils and Aromatherapy: http://www.divinedog.com My Goldens: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/9713/
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I want to thank all of you for your help! Pat
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I use Nutro Max Special. It’s a high-grade food with low protein and low fat, designed for overweight, less active, and senior dogs ( my Lucie tends to be all three). She is losing weight on this, with some increase in exercise. I tried Nutro Natural Choice Senior and Lite, and they both gave her gas. But she loves Special, it agrees with her, and she is losing weight. I recommend it. >Hi, >Since you’re talking about dog food, I need some advice. I have a 3 >year old Golden female and she is overweight. Can you recommend a high >quality diet brand? I’m afraid she’ll continue to gain weight over the >winter if I don’t do something now. She is not a total couch potato but >not especially active either. Her coat is thick but dry and fly-away >and she recently got her first hot spot – a very bad one. Anything >special food or supplement to help the dry skin? >Thanks very much, >Pat
– Our lives begin to end the day we are silent about things that matter. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Her coat is thick but dry and fly-away >and she recently got her first hot spot – a very bad one. Anything >special food or supplement to help the dry skin?
This reminds me–I started with the Nutro partly because the feed store manager (a friend) said Nutro is especially good for skin and coat. And that seems to be true. — Our lives begin to end the day we are silent about things that matter. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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>This is the BEST diet food I know of >Keep your dog on your regular dog food BUT use 1/2 the normal amount and >make up the other half of the dog’s meal with green beans, carrots, stewed >tomato or canned pumpkin or squash. The veggies add the bulk the dog needs >and limits the calories nicely. Skip ‘cookies’ and substitute raw veggies
. I agree, but make sure it’s canned pumpkin 100% and not pumpkin pie filling! Also, if you use canned veggies (Veg-all, etc.) make sure they are sodium free. . As for hot spots, the veggies might build up the immune system, and you can also try adding some (a tablespoon) of good quality oil to the food (not low cal, of course). I can’t remember which is the best kind of oil – canola? . kassa
Response:
Hi, Since you’re talking about dog food, I need some advice. I have a 3 year old Golden female and she is overweight. Can you recommend a high quality diet brand? I’m afraid she’ll continue to gain weight over the winter if I don’t do something now. She is not a total couch potato but not especially active either. Her coat is thick but dry and fly-away and she recently got her first hot spot – a very bad one. Anything special food or supplement to help the dry skin? Thanks very much, Pat
Response:
Pat, While it’s not marketed as such, Solid Gold Hund-n-flocken can have a diet food effect. It has a terrific ingredient list, all human-grade. It was my first foray into a more natural food by a smaller manufacturer, great product line/catalog (if a little alarmist). However, one of my older German Shorthaired Pointers lost weight while on it, which he didn’t need to do; this has been echoed by other users I know, that it can have a diet-food effect. If one is feeding H-n-f, Solid Gold strongly suggests supplementing with their SeaMeal, which contains *excellent* trace minerals, enzymes, and vitamins; while most dog food manufacturers add vits & minerals to their formulation, much of the effectiveness is diminished or erased altogether in the high-heat manufacturing processes required of commercial food. For the coat, you might look into a fatty acid supplement; there are many good ones on the market. I use Veterinarian’s Best for my boys. It’s a liquid formulation, which I prefer to use, and they like the flavor. (They out&out refused another one, and promptly vomited up a third.) Linatone is well thought of by some folks I know. Pill or capsule form include DermCaps, 3V SkinCaps, and many more. Because H-n-f is rather low in fat (8%, if I recall), I usually recommend that you supplement with a fatty acid, but especially given your description of her dry coat, it’s worth a try regardless of food. Tracy Landauer
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This is the BEST diet food I know of Keep your dog on your regular dog food BUT use 1/2 the normal amount and make up the other half of the dog’s meal with green beans, carrots, stewed tomato or canned pumpkin or squash. The veggies add the bulk the dog needs and limits the calories nicely. Skip ‘cookies’ and substitute raw veggies or rice cakes instead. add in a little extra exercise and you should have a slimmer dog pretty soon Nancy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, > Since you’re talking about dog food, I need some advice. I have a 3 > year old Golden female and she is overweight. Can you recommend a high > quality diet brand? I’m afraid she’ll continue to gain weight over the > winter if I don’t do something now. She is not a total couch potato but > not especially active either. Her coat is thick but dry and fly-away > and she recently got her first hot spot – a very bad one. Anything > special food or supplement to help the dry skin? > Thanks very much, > Pat
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I’ve been held up a couple of times by funerals with substantial processions at a slow walking pace. On Sundays, everyone drives to church and parks on the road. You can just get one car past but if there’s someone coming the other way as well… — UK Aromatherapy Information and Products: http://www.celtic-flame.co.uk