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What do you feed your dog

24

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 118 ✭✭Smeefa


    My fellah's epilepsy is set off by artificial colours in food so we feed him what we eat. He got salmon and potato :)

    If there's not enough left for him he gets that dunnes tinned crap.. There's colours and all sorts of E numbers in a lot of dog food - It's actually ridiculous the dog doesn't give a toss what the food looks like!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,132 ✭✭✭Sigma Force


    We feed Burns have done for years, tried other various foods but this works for our lot esp. as one has a sensative tum. It's blooming expensive though but the dogs are in great nick because of it. They get a treat every day (have to be careful with the dodgy tum) Bonio, a carrot, sardines or whatever.

    Their poos are WONDERFUL! lol


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,411 ✭✭✭ABajaninCork


    Mine gets Burns Lamb & Rice or Pork & potato. I've ordered a small bag of the duck variety to see how he gets on with it.

    He also gets hearts/liver/chicken/fish with brown rice to vary his diet. Usually gets a half teaspoon of cod liver oil on his food daily.


  • Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭TYJ


    Food :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 608 ✭✭✭Cocolola


    Orijen Adult, 80% meat and 20% fruit and veg and 0% grain. I order a 7 kg bag from zooplus.co.uk for about €40 and it lasts just over 2 months with my 14 kg boy so it works out at around a fiver a week which is brilliant. It always bugs me when people give out to me about buying such 'expensive' food while they're paying a fortune for a two kilo bag of Pedigree which is gone in no time :mad:

    "INGREDIENTS Fresh boneless chicken*, chicken meal, fresh boneless salmon*, turkey meal, herring meal, russet potato, peas, sweet potato, fresh boneless turkey*, fresh whole eggs*, fresh chicken liver*, fresh boneless lake whitefish*, fresh boneless walleye*, sun-cured alfalfa, pea fiber, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), organic kelp, pumpkin, chicory root, carrots, spinach, turnip greens, apples, cranberries, blueberries, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile, dandelion, summer savory, rosemary, vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, selenium yeast, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium.

    * DELIVERED FRESH, preservative-free and never frozen."


    Oh I hope nobody here is going to burst my bubble and point out something bad about it that I might not be aware of :) he does love it and does really well on it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 117 ✭✭Karma25


    Whites Premium is what I used just changed two months ago when we switched from the puppy food. She was on pedigree chum puppy dry food and her poo's were all sorts of shades of brown. Now there solid and generally stay the same colour.

    For treats, I bake my own peanut butter (without sugar)and honey cookies. She gets choc drops for training.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,736 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    White's Chicken and get on fantastically on it. Had them on Pedigree recently when I ran out of White's and it was awful; hyper dogs, one with a really itchy tail, and the poo doubled.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 810 ✭✭✭ha-ya-said-what


    Arden Grange - chicken and rice

    Tried pretty much every other food on the market (well not the likes of lidl, tesco, pedigree) regardless of price and it's the only one all 4 dogs didn't react badly too and they eat it no bother. Even managed to get the latest edition a spoilt/fussy pekingnese to take to it noooo bother and he loves it more than his old food!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,846 ✭✭✭barbiegirl


    Our two are on Robbies and love it :-)


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  • Registered Users Posts: 90 ✭✭kmmh58


    I have changed my puppy's food to Real Nature, sold in Maxi Zoo. We had her on Burns but she went off this and the poops were messy. She is a red setter puppy by the way.

    It has passed the 1st test, she wolfed it down. Can I get your opinion on this please?

    Ingredients: dried Black Angus meat (min 20%), brown rice, dried Barbary Duck meat (min 9%), whole grain maize, dried Menhaden Herring (min 5.5%), millet, amaranth, fresh green herbs, blended algae, wild salmon oil, blended vegetable oil (cold-pressed), blackstrap molasses, dry peat, Yucca schidigera extract, fennel seeds, bilberries, egg yolk, blossom honey (cold extracted), silica, mussel concentrate, calf bone protein, green mineral earth (Terra Natura), trace elements, vitamins.

    Average analysis: crude protein 28.55%, crude fat 10.90%, crude ash 7.39%, crude fibre 2.77%, moisture 11%, calcium 1.19%, phosphorus 0.98%, sodium 0.36%, magnesium 0.11%.

    Additives/kg: vit A 12,000 IU, vit D3 1,200 IU, vit E 240 mg, vit B1 4.2mg, zinc 144mg, iron 240 mg, manganese 58mg, copper 12mg, vit C 170 mg, vit B2 8.4mg, vit B6 5mg, vit B12 50mg, biotin 250mcg, folic acid 0.42mg, niacin 25mg, pantothenic acid 9.6mg, choline chloride 1,500mg.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19,986 ✭✭✭✭mikemac


    Lidl

    The golden retriever eats anything but always want a change. Eats cat food too
    The border collie will turn her nose up at her dinner unless it's chicken

    There is always spare meat and mashed potato and gravy so they get this too. All mixed up


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,531 ✭✭✭Tranceypoo


    Barking Heads, http://www.barkingheads.co.uk/ my dog is great on it but he seems to be able to eat anything and never have a dodgy tum. Foster dog took a few weeks to sort out and she is mostly fine on the Barking Heads now but still gets a sensitive tum once in a while and might go off her food for a day and have a 'bubbly tummy' but then is back to normal the next day, I can't figure out why except she is a devil for licking bits of ****e off the road when we're walking and she will eat the cats poop out of the litter tray if she gets half a chance. I wonder if she's lacking in something but at a loss to know what so if anyone has any suggestions feel free to post!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,132 ✭✭✭Sigma Force


    I just discovered another food that I'm going to try, am hesitant because Burns works for us but it is expensive and lets face it if something is similar and saves you 20 quid a bag you're going to try it esp. when things are so tight for people atm.
    Have ordered a bag of this http://www.zooplus.ie/shop/dogs/dry_dog_food/markus_muehle


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,055 ✭✭✭✭tk123


    kmmh58 wrote: »

    Average analysis: crude protein 28.55%,crude fat 10.90%, crude ash 7.39%, crude fibre 2.77%, moisture 11%, calcium 1.19%, phosphorus 0.98%, sodium 0.36%, magnesium 0.11%.

    That sounds like a bit too much protein to me - how are the poops on it?


  • Registered Users Posts: 90 ✭✭kmmh58


    tk123 wrote: »
    That sounds like a bit too much protein to me - how are the poops on it?

    We only got it for her today, so a little early to say about the poops, I will let you know tomorrow about that one :D

    Protein: The protein has come down from the Burns we were feeding her was something like 30%-31%.
    We were looking at RC today too and there puppy maxi food was somewhere in the region for 30% also, so we thought the Real Nature looked good.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,950 ✭✭✭✭scudzilla


    Brodi has Royal Canin Boxer, she seems to like it and it does her well. We've got some Red Mills complete, just a small bag, as the pieces are very small and they go in her treat ball to keep her busy when we pop out.

    Another trick i have, is when i go to Tesco/Dunnes, i always check the cheap section of fresh meat, over the last few weeks i've picked up packs of turkey breast down from 4.50 to 1.20, just had to be used that day, bang 'em in the freezer.

    Cook that and add rice and she loves it.

    Also once a week we'll add 2 tins of Sardines to her Canin, ideal for her joints and coat.


  • Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Shanao


    The Real nature is the same food I use and it suits my guys down to the ground. All other puppy foods I've come across have been 28% upwards, and one being a giant i put him on the Royal Canin Giant puppy food in the beginning(34%) and he started pulling his own hair out after two weeks. He's never had a problem on the Real Nature.

    Puppies should have a high level of protein anyway, as long as it is from easily digestible protein sources, so why does 28% seem high?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,047 ✭✭✭are you serious


    scudzilla wrote: »
    Also once a week we'll add 2 tins of Sardines to her Canin, ideal for her joints and coat.

    +1

    For the first time today I used tuna for my Rottie, I mixed it in with his 2nd feed of the day of Select Gold Maxi for puppy's. Normally he will eat it through the day/night sometimes even leaving part of his second feed and not eating it at all.

    Today after I added in the tin of tuna he ate the whole 2nd feed in what seemed like one mouthfull :D absoloutely loved it


  • Registered Users Posts: 269 ✭✭CL32


    Jesus there's some great info here.

    I feed 200 grams of raw chicken wings in the morning, and a bowl of James Welbeloved in the evening (with a little bit of what I'm having because we have a sharing rule) I give her a tin of sardines once a week, and on weekends I substitute the kibble for whatever bones I can get from the local meat factory shop.

    I'd love to go full raw diet but I'd need another chest freezer and don't have room. If I could get power out to a shed I'd do it in a heartbeat. She loves it and I love watching her eat it because she enjoys it so much. She always comes over lip licking and belching and rubs her head off me like a cat would.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,055 ✭✭✭✭tk123


    Shanao wrote: »
    The Real nature is the same food I use and it suits my guys down to the ground. All other puppy foods I've come across have been 28% upwards, and one being a giant i put him on the Royal Canin Giant puppy food in the beginning(34%) and he started pulling his own hair out after two weeks. He's never had a problem on the Real Nature.

    Puppies should have a high level of protein anyway, as long as it is from easily digestible protein sources, so why does 28% seem high?

    A lot of people believe that a high protein diet can cause a puppy to build muscle too quickly and cause problems with bones/joints.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 90 ✭✭kmmh58


    tk123 wrote: »
    That sounds like a bit too much protein to me - how are the poops on it?


    Her poops are solid (which is an improvement) but a little black, what are they suppose to look like? :D
    As stated in another post I started her on this food yesterday, she was feed twice with it yesterday and this morning. I feed her 3 times a day.


  • Registered Users Posts: 90 ✭✭kmmh58


    Shanao wrote: »
    The Real nature is the same food I use and it suits my guys down to the ground. All other puppy foods I've come across have been 28% upwards, and one being a giant i put him on the Royal Canin Giant puppy food in the beginning(34%) and he started pulling his own hair out after two weeks. He's never had a problem on the Real Nature.

    Puppies should have a high level of protein anyway, as long as it is from easily digestible protein sources, so why does 28% seem high?

    So far so good on this food, although I only started her on it yesterday lunchtime. It is a little expensive but currently she is not eating large amounts. Her belly does not seem to be bloating, we have restricted her water around meal times. Setters are prone to bloating, so we want to do anything to ensure her stomach doesn't flip.:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,055 ✭✭✭✭tk123


    kmmh58 wrote: »
    Her poops are solid (which is an improvement) but a little black, what are they suppose to look like? :D
    As stated in another post I started her on this food yesterday, she was feed twice with it yesterday and this morning. I feed her 3 times a day.

    You may be on to a winner then!! The setter we know - his owners could open up a manure plant and power it with the gas he produces! :pac::pac:


  • Registered Users Posts: 90 ✭✭kmmh58


    tk123 wrote: »
    You may be on to a winner then!! The setter we know - his owners could open up a manure plant and power it with the gas he produces! :pac::pac:

    Oh yes she certainly has smelly gas :pac: I really hope we have found a food that agrees with her, my brain is fried trying to source food, protein content, main ingredients etc so much to consider :D pups are worst than babies.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,615 ✭✭✭kildare.17hmr


    My pointer, cocker and geramn shepard are now on raw meat (chicken, beef, bacon, whole rabbits) and tripe mixed with a bit of pasta. they have never been better, loads of energy, they seem much happier and the clean up is very easy. My butcher is sound and i get a few big leg bones with plenty of meat once or twice a week too

    The shi tzu is different tho and gets ceser r somethin!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 711 ✭✭✭dammitjanet


    I was given a big bag of Hills Healthy Developement for my 6 month old pup but he hasn't really taken to it. He loved Multifit junior which the guys in MaxiZoo suggested to me. Shame cause Hills seems really good for him and I can get it for a brilliant price from my uncle (a vet). Currently I'm trying to mix the two together and seeing how he takes to it.
    Anyone any other suggestions? I really want to feed him something that's good for him, but he'll like.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,000 ✭✭✭andreac


    Hills isnt necessarily the best. I certainly wouldnt feed it to my dogs... after my rottweiler broke out in hot spots from it. So dont be worrying if your dog doesnt like it, there are plent of foods out there as good as if not better than Hills.


  • Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Shanao


    tk123 wrote: »
    A lot of people believe that a high protein diet can cause a puppy to build muscle too quickly and cause problems with bones/joints.

    If they aren't exercising enough to work it off then I would be worried about it. I'd be more concerned with the calcium/phosphoros ratio. 26% protein is the lowest I'd put a growing puppy on to be honest.


  • Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Shanao


    kmmh58 wrote: »
    Her poops are solid (which is an improvement) but a little black, what are they suppose to look like? :D
    As stated in another post I started her on this food yesterday, she was feed twice with it yesterday and this morning. I feed her 3 times a day.

    Exactly what my guys' are like as well so nothing to worry about.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,324 ✭✭✭JustAThought


    My dog had a big problem with food when she was a pup and so having tried everything practically the only thing that will suite her is the vet prescription royal canon sensitivity pro. One happy dog. But I'm not working so the cost of it is killing me. BUT. Apparently some vets have a loyalty scheme going with royal canin; each time you buy you get a sticker, six stickers and you get a free bag. At fourth eight euro a bag that's worth ringing around for. Unfortunately my vet didn't have a loyalty scheme and I only found out about another local vet who did operate this scheme by accident... My vet is great for sick- stuff, but for buying he food I now go elsewhere.
    I also discovered that James Wellbeloved which a lot of people speak highly of is also made by Royal Canin; only apparently has less additives in it. And is a third of the price...( thou o know it's ingredients are different) have yet to try it thou I will soon enough.
    bUT. I met a few people who swore by a product called "Best For My Dog". I met up with the sellers at a dog show and did re chr and liked what I heard, and they gave me a lode of samples. They have a couple of different types; chicken based, duck based , fish based etc. My did TOTALLY loved and thrived on one of these ( chicken adult I think) and was in top form. Me being paranoid I took the ingredients to my vet and asked him if they had the right mix/ ingredients and how he thought they compared to RC and he was very happy with them. The d0g LOVES them.
    I kinda stopped buying Best for my dog during the snow cos it was too dngerous to drive to ice them up, but now Royal Canin is discontinuing the Sensitivity Pro dogfood, and is substituting with a e56 a bag Duck based sensitivity food, which dosnt agree with my dig and which she won't eat; nor can I really afford.
    So I thought I'd post this here to let people know there is for super contrary dogs on vets eating orders a viable and , for me, very successful less costly option.
    They now deliver and if you google them they will come up. My dog can't eat Burns, Hills, scienceplan and a few others itjust run thru her :(.
    Anyway, sorry for the long post! Thanks!!!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,432 ✭✭✭mcwhirter


    Dr Jaynes dry food, mixed with scraps every other day,


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6 gerbio


    Has anyone ever properly looked at ingredients of RC. Got the fancy name for E320, which causes hyperactivity in dogs.
    James Wellbeloved has now been took over by one of the big companies and has changed their recipie.
    Eukenuba has crystal preservatives
    Hills has most of the vets tied into them thats all they will recommend
    Burns has been made like a human diet....low in calories
    Pedigree & Bakers & Aldi are like McDonalds to a dog
    Dogs are so pumped full of wheat & cereals nowadays they are intolerant to it, ie the Gluten, though research has shown to date that red setters are the only dogs (scientifically proven) allergic to gluten. Potatoes can cause stomach upset & allergies in dogs, Beef is bad for their liver & blood.
    Get a food that has no additives, colourings etc, contains no wheat and doesnt cost the earth, there are some out there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,000 ✭✭✭andreac


    gerbio wrote: »
    Has anyone ever properly looked at ingredients of RC. Got the fancy name for E320, which causes hyperactivity in dogs.
    James Wellbeloved has now been took over by one of the big companies and has changed their recipie.
    Eukenuba has crystal preservatives
    Hills has most of the vets tied into them thats all they will recommend
    Burns has been made like a human diet....low in calories
    Pedigree & Bakers & Aldi are like McDonalds to a dog
    Dogs are so pumped full of wheat & cereals nowadays they are intolerant to it, ie the Gluten, though research has shown to date that red setters are the only dogs (scientifically proven) allergic to gluten. Potatoes can cause stomach upset & allergies in dogs, Beef is bad for their liver & blood.
    Get a food that has no additives, colourings etc, contains no wheat and doesnt cost the earth, there are some out there.

    Can you name or recommend some please?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 616 ✭✭✭LucyBliss


    Barking Heads was mentioned previously. It's €49.99 for a 12 kilo bag in Petworld which I find manageable for three dogs.

    It's got no additives or colours and has no wheat. My dogs have wheat allergies and what was coming out of them was putrid when they were on the Hill's Science Plan! Eventually we had to switch when one of them started throwing up and the other lad was chewing at his backside and his paws. The wheat content was definitely a factor, despite what the vet said. When a friend of mine started talking about what to look out for in the ingredients, to be honest I was a bit horrified and cross with myself for putting blind faith in dog food products!

    Having said that, there are some dogs who thrive regardless of what you feed them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,658 ✭✭✭✭The Sweeper


    Fed raw for the first year. Switched to kibble for convenience. 10 weeks into kibble, gus got terrible gastro - ended up at emergency vet for fluids and an anti emetic. Makes me v. curious - one of the arguments for raw with cats is how it maintains the acidity of their gut, which helps them digest just about anything. I switch my dog to kibble and weeks later he eats something that makes him very ill. Previously he'd eaten some pretty awful stuff but always dealt with it and was never sick. ( like he'd unearth something from the garden that he'd buried a week previously, but suffered no apparent ill effects.)

    Either way, we're heading back to raw - I find it very hard to keep weight on gus with kibble. (Canidae grain-free and royal canin maxi jnr).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,600 ✭✭✭Cutie18Ireland


    Pup is on Jameswellbeloved turkey and rice puppy. Its great for him and much better than the pedigree puppy he was on.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,432 ✭✭✭mcwhirter


    gerbio wrote: »
    Dogs are so pumped full of wheat & cereals nowadays they are intolerant to it, ie the Gluten, though research has shown to date that red setters are the only dogs (scientifically proven) allergic to gluten. Potatoes can cause stomach upset & allergies in dogs, .

    I have a red setter, so no gluten is recomended then. What diet would you recommend for red setters?


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 8,490 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fluorescence


    :o Didn't realise how crap most supermarket dog foods are until I popped into this thread! Can someone advise me what I should be feeding my old JRT? At the moment she eats Pedigree dry food and a chicken fillet whenever there's one spare. If I were to put her on a raw food diet, what kinds of stuff should I be giving her (is meat enough on it's own or do dogs need different foods too)? Otherwise, what's a good brand-name dog food I can buy for her (don't mind buying online)?

    Feel so guilty now for not realising how bad Pedigree is!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,740 ✭✭✭Asphyxia


    I'm a great lover of Royal Canine but have since fed my dogs Red Mills for the past month, It's a hell of a lot cheaper and my GSD looks so much healthier, he seemed to have been dropping weight but he's just bulked up and looks amazing! I'm going to be keeping them on this and see what happens.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭lorebringer


    :o Didn't realise how crap most supermarket dog foods are until I popped into this thread! Can someone advise me what I should be feeding my old JRT? At the moment she eats Pedigree dry food and a chicken fillet whenever there's one spare. If I were to put her on a raw food diet, what kinds of stuff should I be giving her (is meat enough on it's own or do dogs need different foods too)? Otherwise, what's a good brand-name dog food I can buy for her (don't mind buying online)?

    Feel so guilty now for not realising how bad Pedigree is!

    Some good brands of dog food are (there are loads out there but these are a few):

    Burns
    Royal Canin
    James Wellbeloved
    Orijen (a high protein food so doesn't suit all dogs)


    You describe your JRT as old - most good brands do a "senior" variety of food for the older doggies (usually over 7/8 years). Also, if you buy the bigger bags (say 7.5 kg instead of 4kg) it'll work out much cheaper and because you feed less of the higher quality foods it'll work the same price, if not cheaper, as the Pedigree food.

    www.zooplus.ie is a great site for dog food (and other doggy bits and bobs). The UK site, www.zooplus.co.uk deliver to Ireland and often have things cheaper and/or different offers to the .ie site - they are all the same company so it doesn't matter where you buy from.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 8,490 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fluorescence


    Some good brands of dog food are (there are loads out there but these are a few):

    Burns
    Royal Canin
    James Wellbeloved
    Orijen (a high protein food so doesn't suit all dogs)


    You describe your JRT as old - most good brands do a "senior" variety of food for the older doggies (usually over 7/8 years). Also, if you buy the bigger bags (say 7.5 kg instead of 4kg) it'll work out much cheaper and because you feed less of the higher quality foods it'll work the same price, if not cheaper, as the Pedigree food.

    www.zooplus.ie is a great site for dog food (and other doggy bits and bobs). The UK site, www.zooplus.co.uk deliver to Ireland and often have things cheaper and/or different offers to the .ie site - they are all the same company so it doesn't matter where you buy from.

    That's very helpful, thanks! :) Yeah she's old, about 10 or so. If it weren't for all the grey on her snout though you'd swear she was still a puppy :rolleyes:. I'll have a look at those brands on zooplus anyway and order something decent in for her.

    EDIT: So would this Royal Canin Mini Mature 27 be a good one to go for? So expensive though - €72 for 16kg :( Suppose it'd last her ages though.


  • Registered Users Posts: 49 ohmfg


    Fluorescence
    If you guy weighs in at 10kg and is active, the feeding guide suggests 210g per day. That size bag would then last you about 75 - 80 odd days.

    I've looked on the site and actually it comes as two 8kg bags so yeah, probably worth buying it terms of value.
    Someone else who knows more about the nutrient value will be able to advise about that aspect.

    It works out at less than a euro per day.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 842 ✭✭✭ConTheCat


    Hi, I have a 10 year old Cavillier King Charles Spaniel. He has heart failure and we are trying to give him 2 tablets a day.
    Do you know any foods which would be good for him with this condition or any tips for giving him the tablets? :) Thanks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭lorebringer


    ConTheCat wrote: »
    Hi, I have a 10 year old Cavillier King Charles Spaniel. He has heart failure and we are trying to give him 2 tablets a day.
    Do you know any foods which would be good for him with this condition or any tips for giving him the tablets? :) Thanks

    I'm in the exact same boat - golden oldie with CHF due to MVD, grade 5 murmur. We do the "slip it down the throat" method - place the tablet (or tablets) of the top of your thumb, open the dogs mouth with the other hand and put the pills as far back down the throat as you can, the dog will swallow them instantly. If this doesn't work, of if your dog is very wiggly, try something to coat the pill in so that the dog thinks he is getting something yummy. So, for example, low fat cream cheese, banana, peanut butter, mashed spuds, even a soaked piece of kibble will do the trick for most dogs (tiny amounts of these are needed so you aren't causing the poor pet to put on any weight). I'm assuming it's Vetmedin (and furosemide) you are trying to get into him so if all of the above really don't work, try opening the tablet and putting it into his food (white powder inside) or crush the furosemide and do the same.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭lorebringer


    EDIT: So would this Royal Canin Mini Mature 27 be a good one to go for? So expensive though - €72 for 16kg :( Suppose it'd last her ages though.

    That food would be fine for your dog. It may take her a little while to adjust to the new food so gradually switch over, increasing the new food and decreasing the old food. Buying a huge bag may not be the best idea because it will take your dog such a long time to get through it, the food may start to go off. If it comes in two smaller bags though, as "ohmfg" said, this would be ideal!


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  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 8,490 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fluorescence


    That food would be fine for your dog. It may take her a little while to adjust to the new food so gradually switch over, increasing the new food and decreasing the old food. Buying a huge bag may not be the best idea because it will take your dog such a long time to get through it, the food may start to go off. If it comes in two smaller bags though, as "ohmfg" said, this would be ideal!

    It comes in 2 x 8kg bags so hopefully it will keep. Can I not store the opened bag in an airtight container to keep the food fresh?

    I'll gradually switch her over anyway. Thanks for the advice everyone :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭lorebringer


    Can I not store the opened bag in an airtight container to keep the food fresh?

    Yeah, really good idea - I do this with my dogs food too! I was just saying the if you buy a 15kg bag of food, it'll take you forever to get through (good thing!) and it might not be as fresh as when you opened it on the last day as on the first (not so good) but the two smaller bags are perfect for your situation!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 842 ✭✭✭ConTheCat


    I'm in the exact same boat - golden oldie with CHF due to MVD, grade 5 murmur. We do the "slip it down the throat" method - place the tablet (or tablets) of the top of your thumb, open the dogs mouth with the other hand and put the pills as far back down the throat as you can, the dog will swallow them instantly. If this doesn't work, of if your dog is very wiggly, try something to coat the pill in so that the dog thinks he is getting something yummy. So, for example, low fat cream cheese, banana, peanut butter, mashed spuds, even a soaked piece of kibble will do the trick for most dogs (tiny amounts of these are needed so you aren't causing the poor pet to put on any weight). I'm assuming it's Vetmedin (and furosemide) you are trying to get into him so if all of the above really don't work, try opening the tablet and putting it into his food (white powder inside) or crush the furosemide and do the same.

    Ya I physically would not be able to force it down him :( Just don't have it in me! We were putting it into a bit of bread for the first about 3 weeks, then he sniffed it and walked away. Or walked around with it in his mouth and buried it! He's on two, one is Fortekor and is flavoured but no difference. Can't think of the other. The big problem is he's meant to have it in the evening, but he eats in the morning so we've to try give him something in the evening too and he normally just isn't hungry. Might try varying what it goes into each day. Thank you :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 608 ✭✭✭Cocolola


    ConTheCat wrote: »
    Ya I physically would not be able to force it down him :( Just don't have it in me! We were putting it into a bit of bread for the first about 3 weeks, then he sniffed it and walked away. Or walked around with it in his mouth and buried it! He's on two, one is Fortekor and is flavoured but no difference. Can't think of the other. The big problem is he's meant to have it in the evening, but he eats in the morning so we've to try give him something in the evening too and he normally just isn't hungry. Might try varying what it goes into each day. Thank you :)

    It's honestly not that bad to force them to take tablets and I'd be the same as you, wouldn't like to do something like that but it really is grand.

    The best food I've ever found for giving tablets in is a small piece of raw sausage. Cut a bit off one end, just enough so that the tablet will be covered, stuff it well in and voila! They usually love it so much they just swallow it whole. You can try him with a tablet-free piece first to make sure he'll just eat it without chewing. Hopefully even though he's already fed, he'll still want a piece of sausage enough to eat it in the evenings.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭lorebringer


    Totally off original topic but...
    ConTheCat wrote: »
    Ya I physically would not be able to force it down him :( Just don't have it in me! We were putting it into a bit of bread for the first about 3 weeks, then he sniffed it and walked away. Or walked around with it in his mouth and buried it! He's on two, one is Fortekor and is flavoured but no difference. Can't think of the other. The big problem is he's meant to have it in the evening, but he eats in the morning so we've to try give him something in the evening too and he normally just isn't hungry. Might try varying what it goes into each day. Thank you :)
    Cocolola wrote: »
    It's honestly not that bad to force them to take tablets and I'd be the same as you, wouldn't like to do something like that but it really is grand.

    The best food I've ever found for giving tablets in is a small piece of raw sausage. Cut a bit off one end, just enough so that the tablet will be covered, stuff it well in and voila! They usually love it so much they just swallow it whole. You can try him with a tablet-free piece first to make sure he'll just eat it without chewing. Hopefully even though he's already fed, he'll still want a piece of sausage enough to eat it in the evenings.

    As far as I am aware, Fortekor is a vasodilator so anything salty is a big no no - sausage may no be a good idea. A little peice of chicken or mince or something similar (maybe save a little from your own dinner to give the dog him pills) are probably better options than anything pork (being a salty meat!). Perhaps even a little wet dog food might tempt him into taking the tablets in the evening.


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