The Incredibly Insane Dog Post

Tonight’s post is going to focus on my doggies. I love them so much. They are my two children! I have been doing a lot of research into their nutrition and what kind of things are good for them to eat and what supplements I need to get. See, I have a Great Dane and I have been pretty “aware” of his health since we first got him. I’ve done countless hours of research online trying to find the best food and nutrition for him. Great Danes average a 7-8 year lifespan, you could possibly get a few extra years out of them if they come from an excellent blood line and if they are fed and cared for properly.

Due to it being such a short lifespan and due to the illnesses they are prone to (Hip Dysplasia, Bloat, Heart Disease, etc.), there are some special things they need in order to live the healthiest and happiest life they can live! Below I will discuss some of my findings. These things are not just for Great Danes. I have an Australian Shepherd/Heeler mix that is going to be on the same diet.

First and foremost I’d like to thank Linda Arndt for her EXTREMELY informational website. Her website has helped me to understand doggy nutrition and give my two babies the best life that I can give them. I understand that there are dogs out there that have lived to be 20 years old and lived off of Ol’ Roy dog food their entire lives but I am completely against the stuff. Yeah its edible but it is SO bad for their digestive systems and their overall health. Below are some things that I am going to start my dogs on within’ the next few weeks.

See, when I first got Astro (Summer of ‘05) I immediately started him on Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul dog food. I continued on using this dog food up until today. However, his doggy flatulence has gotten a bit out of control. Not only that but Emma (the Aussie mix) has become quite flatulent as well and I think it may be the lack of enzymes and nutrition in their diets. I feel awful for this as I used to feed them meals with yogurt and fresh fruit but have since became pretty lazy about it :( I am starting them back on a nutritious diet ASAP! Below are the things they will be eating every day for now on:

Eagle Pack kibble – They have a holistic and super premium line of foods. Both are acceptable and I will be feeding whatever I can find in my local feed store. I think they run about $35-40 per 33 lb bag. A little more than the Chicken Soup variety I am feeding now ($32 for a 35 lb bag) but worth the change! By the way, I totally recommend the Chicken Soup brand dog food. The food has been awesome and the dogs love it. However, their digestive systems just don’t seem to do well with it lately. After I get through my billions of cans of Chicken Soup food, I will be buying the Eagle Pack brand from then on. I usually listen to Linda’s advise and make a “gravy” out of the canned stuff to top dress the kibble with.

The Honest Kitchen – Will be top-dressing the food with this stuff. It is 100% human grade dehydrated dog food. A 10 lb container will reconstitute as 45 lbs of dog food. I am excited because I ordered this stuff today and it should be in the mail soon! I am excited to see my dogs eat it because I know they are going to go bonkers over it!

NZymes – This is the second thing that will be supplemented. Back when Astro was about 8 months old, he had a few joint problems. He would limp around and we could not figure out why! I ordered some of the NZyme granules from this website and started supplementing them into their diet. He was better within’ just a few days! I love the stuff and want to start supplementing in every meal.

Ox-E-Drops – These ox-e-drops are pretty amazing, from what I read. Have not tried them yet. You can mix them in with your dog’s food, use them to clean their kennels and bedding, use as a deodorizer, drink yourself, etc. I’ve read many testimonies stating that they have helped with illness in human and dogs! Read the website for more information on their exact purpose.

4-in-1 Probiotics – Will be supplementing this as well to help with the health of their gut. Great Danes are extremely prone to Bloat (as well as any other deep chested dog) and it scared me many months while he was a puppy. I spent SO much time constantly keeping an eye on him to check for symptoms and signs of bloat. These also help with their immune system and joint related issues.

Flexicose – This is the last thing I will be supplementing. This is a glucosamine product that will help with your dog’s joints. If you have a dog that has issues right now with arthritis or any other joint problems, I would try this stuff! I’ve read incredible testimonies regarding it online. I will post a follow up after I try it and let everyone know. Right now Astro does not have any real joint issues that I can see but I know he will in the future because of his breed and size, so I want to do whatever I can right now to help reduce his risk of developing hip Dysplasia down the line.

I know people think I am crazy to go through such a hassle to take care of my dogs like this but my dogs are my children and I care about their health very much. I talk to them like they are people and I respect them as if they were people. However I do maintain the “master” roll in our household and they definitely know who to answer to! But.. I think they should eat great food and be happy because their lives are a lot shorter than ours are :) I also plan to supplement fresh fruit and veggies into their daily diets for variety.

It is going to be expensive to stock up on all of these supplements that I need. I am going to estimate around $250 total because I do plan to buy in “bulk” to save some money in the long run. It is totally going to be worth it though.

One more quick note.. If you have a Collie, Australian Sheperd, Heeler or any dog that is mixed with these breeds, please read this website.  My veterinarian has tried to get me to put my dogs on Heart Guard in the past and I am glad I never did because I would have NEVER known that Emma was susceptible to this kind of reaction. All I can really say is that if your vet ever recommends anything, please research it thoroughly before just “Trusting” them. Veterinarians know a lot but there is an EXTREME amount of things that they do not all know!