|
|
Post by alfiemummy on Feb 28, 2017 21:06:26 GMT
Good job we're there for three days - plenty of time for chatting  Glad things are looking more positive today! |
|
|
|
Post by orpheous87 on Feb 28, 2017 22:27:56 GMT
Glad you're feeling more positive today barley  I was having a look at the various essential oils etc. used in zoopharmacognosy and there are a few things that directly say they're commonly selected for kidney problems. You could try searching for practitioners holding workshops in your area that might need demo dogs. That way he'd get the treatment without you having to pay a fortune. Having said that, some practitioners seem quite cheap compared to others. |
|
|
|
Post by barley on Mar 2, 2017 13:56:59 GMT
I've think I've decided to go down the homecooked diet route so am waiting on a vet referral to a nutritionist to help figure out a diet suitable for Alfie and his kidney/pancreas/skin issues!
In the mean time I'm feeding Hills k/d tinned.
Yesterday Alfie had no dry food whatsoever, just the Hills tinned, and last night was the first night in weeks that he didn't wake me up to go and pee in the night, so he obviously hadn't drank as much during the day. Might be a fluke, but he's definitely not having any kibble ever again.
|
|
|
|
Post by caz2golden on Mar 2, 2017 14:53:04 GMT
Hope it was not a fluke so that you and Alfie can have an undisturbed nights sleep from now on.
|
|
|
|
Post by barley on Mar 2, 2017 19:21:48 GMT
Hope it was not a fluke so that you and Alfie can have an undisturbed nights sleep from now on. An undisturbed sleep, what's that?! I love Alfie dearly but it's been like having a newborn of late! I have been reading tonnes about a home cooked kidney diet and I really cannot wait to get him started on it (I won't until I've seen/spoken to the nutritionist). I actually feel really quite guilty to be honest. Alfie has eaten predominantly kibble for his whole life and I can't help but wonder if this has damaged his kidneys. When I first got him I didn't know much about dogs/nutrition and he had Purina Beta for a couple of years!! Dare I admit, I think he was actually on Bakers for a short while too! I then learnt a bit more and he went onto the middle of the road type foods (JWB etc) and he stayed on these for years as he seemed to do well on them. It's only really in the last couple of years that I have learnt more and he's started to have wet food, bits of raw etc too. Damage is done now (literally) but I still feel bad about it. Home cooked kidney diets seem to include lots of low potassium fruits & veggies like squash, blueberries, apples, carrots and green beans with white rice or pasta, then high quality/ low potassium protein like the leg meat of chicken/turkey, tuna, cottage cheese and eggs. Green tripe is meant to be great too. Then a probiotic and fatty acid supplement, so I am sure he will love all that |
|
|
|
Post by caz2golden on Mar 2, 2017 19:56:23 GMT
Please do not think that barley. Then again I should look in the mirror, always thinking I am making mistakes with mine! We all do what we think is best for our dogs to the best of our knowledge at the time. |
|
|
|
Post by barley on Mar 5, 2017 16:59:02 GMT
Just had an email from the nutritionist my vet referred me to, he's a Hills one! Argh, not quite what I wanted. Somehow I can't see them advising me on home cooked. Back to the drawing board and time wasted, grr!!
|
|
|
|
Post by barley on Mar 5, 2017 17:30:28 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by barley on Mar 5, 2017 17:51:11 GMT
And these guys have been recommended on the kidney disease Facebook group. www.elmoskitchen.com/about/In London but wouldn't mind traveling, or they seem to do phone/email consults. |
|
|
|
Post by caz2golden on Mar 5, 2017 19:59:36 GMT
I have no idea at all Barley. I would have said if the latter one is mentioned by the kidney disease Facebook group then I would have thought that would be a good place to start. The one close to you also looks that they offer advice on multiple types of feeding. Think you probably have found two good ones |
|
|
|
Post by barley on Mar 5, 2017 20:14:46 GMT
I have emailed both so will see what they both come back with Sorry almost thinking out loud posting everything here.... so much whizzing around my head, just helps to write it down! I had to laugh at myself today though. It got to lunchtime and it dawned on me I hadn't seen Alfie drink since early yesterday evening (and water bowl in bedroom is small & was totally untouched overnight)... so I tempted him to drink with a tiny splash of milk in his water bowl. If I'm not worrying about how much he's drinking, I'm worrying that he isn't drinking enough! Seems the tinned food is definitely helping his hydration levels and he hasn't been asking to go out in the night at all since starting it. |
|
|
|
Post by barley on Mar 6, 2017 20:07:13 GMT
I heard back from Elmo's Kitchen and they couldn't have been lovelier, not heard from the other one yet but think I'll go with EK anyway. They've asked for all his blood results and have sent a very detailed questionnaire for me to send back so definitely seem to be taking things seriously. She said I sounded a step ahead with his diet anyway But I thought he needed low potassium and low phosphorous, but apparently definitely not to low potassium as dogs with kidney disease can be deficient in it. I mentioned it to my mum and she said she thinks I should just home cook with 1/3 each meat/rice/veg as it's a lot of money (£140 for consult & 1 month email support) but I think I could do more harm than good just going into it blindly? Like with the potassium thing I had got wrong. The Hills k/d tins are like £25 for 12 tins and he's eating a tin a day, so I don't know, will probably kinda pay back itself after a few months? |
|
|
|
Post by caz2golden on Mar 6, 2017 21:08:18 GMT
Does sound like a lot of money!
Though you are paying a professional to help you.
Guess it depends how much you think you will gain from it be it confidence or information.
Can you find any decent info online or from a book about kidney diets?
It will be a little more complex than 1/3 each of meat, veg and starchy carb source!
For example calcium which I think can be provided by supplement or finely crushed egg shell. Can a diet for kidneys contain offal (source of lots of vitamins etc)?
|
|
|
|
Post by cazypops on Mar 6, 2017 21:09:13 GMT
Sounds like your doing all the right things with the Hills k/d. but I agree it is expensive and a home cooked diet would be cheaper. Is there any chance that now you've taken Alfie off the dry food and put him on wet the condition could reverse itself? And don't worry about posting everything your thinking, it's also helpful to us in case we have to go through the same thing in the future. |
|
|
|
Post by barley on Mar 6, 2017 21:31:44 GMT
Does sound like a lot of money! Though you are paying a professional to help you. Guess it depends how much you think you will gain from it be it confidence or information. Can you find any decent info online or from a book about kidney diets? It will be a little more complex than 1/3 each of meat, veg and starchy carb source! For example calcium which I think can be provided by supplement or finely crushed egg shell. Can a diet for kidneys contain offal (source of lots of vitamins etc)? My mum isn't really a doggie person at all so is just trying to help with her suggestions (to save me money)... but yes I imagine it will be much more complex with that. I know it's expensive for the consult but I think in the long run the diet will be cheaper than the Hills k/d tins  (which he cannot stay on long term as he's already starting to paw lick)... fruit & veggies can be really cheap from places like Aldi, white rice is pennies, chicken thighs are a cheaper cut of meat and I can get tripe free. I am not sure about offal, I haven't seem it mentioned. Green tripe is meant to be very good though and that was one of Alfie's favourite things but he's not had it since pancreatitis episode. There are a few different recipes online for kidney diets, on YouTube especially, but again, I'm scared of going wrong - they all say that the homemade diets should only be used under vets guidance and really my vet is as much use as a chocolate teapot when it comes to dietary management of conditions. Hills z/d was his answer for Alfie's skin, Hills i/d for his pancreatitis and now Hills k/d for the kidney issue... you get the idea! Sounds like your doing all the right things with the Hills k/d. but I agree it is expensive and a home cooked diet would be cheaper. Is there any chance that now you've taken Alfie off the dry food and put him on wet the condition could reverse itself? And don't worry about posting everything your thinking, it's also helpful to us in case we have to go through the same thing in the future. Thank you It won't reverse itself, the damage is done & irreparable unfortunately  But it could help slow progression and keep him healthier for longer What makes this all easier to deal with is, once again, Alfie hasn't got the memo that he's poorly He's bright & happy, full of it on his walks (even acted as The Fun Police to a couple of Cockerpoos who were running in his direction on the field this evening!) and whilst 99% of stuff I read online says the Hills k/d is unpalatable, Alfie loves it  I threw away the remaining bit of his old kibble from the storage tin this evening and I've got the binbag by the front door ready to take out when I take Alfie out to pee tonight as it's bin day in the morning. Alfie keeps going to the binbag, huffing & puffing and then coming back to whine at me in the lounge. Sure he's trying to tell me I've thrown his food out, and how very dare I! |
|
(which he cannot stay on long term as he's already starting to paw lick)... fruit & veggies can be really cheap from places like Aldi, white rice is pennies, chicken thighs are a cheaper cut of meat and I can get tripe free. I am not sure about offal, I haven't seem it mentioned. Green tripe is meant to be very good though and that was one of Alfie's favourite things but he's not had it since pancreatitis episode. 
