This month the topic is Addison’s and Cushing’s Disease, which are adrenal diseases that affect dogs. The content will not be all-encompassing, but rather will focus on diet considerations for both of the diseases with reference links containing additional information for those who would like to learn more.
I haven’t written on kidney disease in quite some time, so this month I want to address some of the common questions regarding this disease. Question: What is kidney disease (also known as renal disease)? Kidney disease is when the kidneys lose their ability to function at 100%. Most often,…
How often do we see dogs with dry flaking skin, thinning coats, runny eyes, chronic inflammation, excessive foot licking, hot spots, chronic diarrhea, and hyperactivity, the inability to gain weight, have mood swings and go through other changes? To fix these issues, we try different dog foods; make multiple visits…
While I have written on this topic numerous times, this health condition still raises the most questions on the K9Nutrition Facebook page and in private consults. IBD generally starts with the dog having diarrhea. Then it occurs more frequently and sometimes with urgency. Occasionally vomiting occurs and eventually weight loss…
Vaccinations Information and technology has come a long way in regard to vaccinations. Some years ago, all vaccinations were killed viruses and needed a series of repeat shots to give good immunity. With the advent of modified live vaccinations, immune response can be achieved with one or two vaccinations and…
I have attempted to write this article several times, but stopped. This is partly because in many cases, the causes of epilepsy cannot be determined and the treatment options available are not very good. It is probable that most causes of epilepsy are genetic, however to date; no genetic tests…
I started breeding dogs in the late 1980’s and I have shown dogs in AKC conformation and performance since 1974. I did not get real interested in breeding dogs until I had learned a lot more about my breed at the time, which was Rottweilers. At that time, I was…
Lew has been writing monthly newsletters that contain valuable information on natural diets for dogs and canine nutrition for many years. She has also written the book Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs that takes a common sense approach to feeding your dog a natural diet with easy to…
Other than questions regarding various skin issues, the most common questions I am asked by dog owners are ones that pertain to digestion problems. The questions range anywhere from chronic diarrhea issues to poorly formed stools and digestive issues resulting from diet changes to concerns about whether their dog is allergic to chicken, beef or other foods.
With the vast array of supplements available on the market today, it isn’t difficult to get overwhelmed and confused as to which supplements are best for your dog. With all the vitamins, oils, herbs and digestion aids to choose from, which will provide the best results? There are magazine articles with provocative headlines that make the most tried and true supplements sound deadly and we are bombarded with advertisements for exotic oils and herbs that promise to cure cancer, viruses, bacteria and every ailment that medical research has somehow missed. We read on the Internet on how a single nutrient helped someone’s dog recover from cancer, renal disease, and parvovirus and liver problems with just a few doses. The information is so overwhelming, yet also so convincing, that we find ourselves dosing our dogs with 10-20 different supplements each day, hoping we have found just the right combination to cure their health issue or to keep one from happening.
