After a couple of months on Raw Meaty Bones....

[Trudy Harlow]

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post this follow-on to my blog about switching Paddy to RMB.

It's been a mixed bag, but mostly good.  He still has some itching -- although, prior to all the trees bursting into bloom here (and my starting to sneeze continuously), his itching was markedly reduced.  In fact, it had all but disappeared.  With the tree pollen -- which he did not react to on the allergy test we had done last year -- he is itching a lot, especially on his face, and he has his first ear infection in months.  As I said someplace earlier, RMB is not going to help with inhaled allergies except (I hope) by strengthening his immune system so he can deal with them better. Still, last year it was not so obvious that he was allergic to the trees because he was already so itchy.

I have learned that Paddy is still not wild about white meat, but he loves beef (of course, the most expensive stuff!) and, after that, pork.  I've learned that I can just toss him his seal-oil (Omega 3) pills and he'll eat them right down.  He loves tuna out of a can, but feeding that is not my preference; I'd rather feed raw.  This coming week, I'll give him his first beef liver, but only a tiny amount, especially because he's on meds.  He loves chicken livers, so I hope he'll like the beef even better.

Unfortunately for him right now, the medicine for his yeasty ear has caused his stomach to be a little upset, so he is not eating well.  I'm sorta thinking this may be the last time I put him on this anti-fungal.  It's a terrible cycle because I have to give it with food but at the same time, it kills his appetite.

Still, he remains a happy boy and when he desires to eat, he adores, adores, chomping on his meaty bones.  His coat is lovely, his teeth are sparkling white, and his shape is perfect, which it's always been.  The hair on his feet, which used to be mahogany brown, is now nice and cream-colored, like the rest of him.  The discolored streaks in the beard around his mouth are gone.  He continues to have lots of cheerful energy.  I love watching him eat, especially when it's chicken and I can hear him crunching the bones.

More to come as we find our way through the allergies and find balance in the diet...

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

I think Zymox for yeasty ears is wonderful. Gracie my frenchie has had these problems on and off since I have had her, and this is the best treatment - although the problem had lessened since switching to a raw diet, I imagine that her ears will always be her weak spot. I just have to stay on top of it. I would also suggest, that in a dog with allergies, that raw food is an excellent choice, not only because it is a species appropriate diet, but you know what your are feeding and it is much easier to identify and eliminate offending foods. I was quite surprised at what Grace could and could not eat, but also how much healthier and how much her quality of life has improved since switching her diet and finding the foods that she can tolerate. She now eats a variety of foods - bone, protein and  organ meats from 4 animal sources without reacting. Additionally, my other dogs who can tolerate a wider range of proteins look and feel great.

[F, Calla & Luca]

That makes me feel a lot better about my vet, same office but new vet who we've seen once. They automatically switched the doodles to the 3 year vaccines.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Wanted to add that perhaps the difference between the veterinary specialists and the general practice vets' attitudes can be partly attributed to the fact that they don't sell anything; even when they do recommend a drug or food, they don't sell it, you have to get it from a retailer, pharmacy, regular vet, etc. So they have no incentive to push you to feed Rx food or give unnecessary meds and vaccines.

For example, Jack's dermatology specialist was the one who recommended that I have blood titers done instead of vaccinating him every year. She doesn't give vaccinations, period, so her opinion is based solely on what's best for him. His regular vet had never even told me about the three-year vaccine options, never mind blood titers. 

His internal medicine specialist does not want him to have the rabies vaccine for which he is overdue; his regular vet wants him to have it. The regular vet is the one who gives the shot and collects the fee.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Lots of "holistic" vets here now. Both of Jack's specialists (derm and IMS) actually recommended that he see one, as opposed to the traditional vet he's always seen. I do think the specialists who have much more education beyond the basic DVM are much more knowledgable about alternative practices.

[Christine & Camus]

Camus is taking a systemic antifungal, however due to sensitivity issues the dose had to be reduced and I give him 1/2 with his breakfast and 1/2 with dinner.  He has tolerated it much better since making the changes.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Not all veterinary dermatologists are opposed to raw diets. Mine isn't.

[Trudy Harlow]

Andrea, I did order the Zymox without the hydrocortisone and have it for use if/when there is the next time.  In good conscience, I need to finish up with my vet-prescribed regimen (at least 'til midweek) before trying something else -- which I truly think will be getting a referral to a vet dermatologist for skin testing.  That seems the logical next step before putting a lot more stuff of questionable benefit into him.  Not that the Zymox isn't a good product; I just don't know if it will work for him, and I want to get this under control soon.  I know you understand.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have nothing against raw diets though but I just choose not to feed that way. Being in the best of health helps most things so I don't disagree with that either. But I do not think  good health can help allergies except in the straw that broke the camel's back kind of way. That is maybe you have 10 illnesses and allergies push you to the brink mentally. And maybe you could tolerate them better is otherwise you were perfectly fine. But having allergies myself, I know when they are awful there's little consolation except medication. That's why I'm on immunotherapy myself.

[Trudy Harlow]

F, based on my own personal experience, no one can tell me that allergies (or at least the experience of them) don't get better if the rest of the body is in the best of health.  But I know we disagree on the benefits of a raw diet, so there you are!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sherri, that's so true! Jackdoodle's dust mite allergies are the way I know when it's time to change my furnace filter. Whenever he starts to get the least bit itchy in winter (which I'm happy to say is rare), I check the furnace filter, and yep, time for a change!