Aa
My sick little pup
I have a bassador who is about 6 years old. About 10 days ago he started vomitting. We got him to a vet as soon as possible and they took x rays of his stomach and found nothing. They then hospitalized him for severe dehydration and put him on fluids over night. When we got him back home he refueses to eat any food. We did chicken and rice and beef and rice, But he turns his head. Then the vet injected a steroid to help incourage him to eat. But that hasn't worked either. We are afraid that this is leading to him having to be put to sleep. We really don't want that to be an option. We need some advice?
His symptoms sound like he may have an intussusception. When a dog has an intussusception, part of the intestine has telescoped back over itself. Vomiting, refusal to eat, elevated white cell count, your puppy is showing all the signs. Hopefully the surgery is successful and he comes back good as new!
When he's home from the surgery, rather than feeding the puppy a food that is nutritionally poor, it would be a better idea to supplement him with something like NutriCal until he starts eating again. NutriCal is an EXTREMELY high caloric paste that comes in a tube and is recommended by vets for pets who are either not eating their full rations or not eating at all. The amount fed depends upon the amount of food they are actually eating, so since this little guy is not eating at all, he would get the highest dosage for his size. NutriCal is available at your vet's office but if you purchase it from the vet it is usually about $10 a tube. You can also purchase it at places like PetSmart and PetCo and in those places it is about half the price. Between NutriCal and a nutritious food like Prescription A/D made by Hills, it should be easy on him to digest following surgery. I would mix the two together since the A/D has a very puddingy consistency and let him lap it up.
Please post as soon as you have news. You're in my thoughts.
Ghilly
When he's home from the surgery, rather than feeding the puppy a food that is nutritionally poor, it would be a better idea to supplement him with something like NutriCal until he starts eating again. NutriCal is an EXTREMELY high caloric paste that comes in a tube and is recommended by vets for pets who are either not eating their full rations or not eating at all. The amount fed depends upon the amount of food they are actually eating, so since this little guy is not eating at all, he would get the highest dosage for his size. NutriCal is available at your vet's office but if you purchase it from the vet it is usually about $10 a tube. You can also purchase it at places like PetSmart and PetCo and in those places it is about half the price. Between NutriCal and a nutritious food like Prescription A/D made by Hills, it should be easy on him to digest following surgery. I would mix the two together since the A/D has a very puddingy consistency and let him lap it up.
Please post as soon as you have news. You're in my thoughts.
Ghilly
Well, at least your second vet seems more pro-active and has something of a diagnosis to work on, which is good. Fingers crossed for the surgery - I'll be thinking about you and Toby today. Tony
Thanks so much for the update.
I hope they find the problem, and things go well with surgery.
Connie
I hope they find the problem, and things go well with surgery.
Connie
We have an update on Toby. We took toby to another vet for a second opinion. She ran his blood work again and they found that his electrolites we down some and his white blood cells were way to high. So she believes there is an infection and something is blocking his digestive track. So we have put him in the hospital to go for surgery. We hope all goes well with him.
Morning everyone.....Sorry if I caused any confusion.....Didn't mean too, it's just sooooo many people are not aware of what their putting in their dog's mouths.....And welcome to LittleBit667... We're glad your here...Your right, any food is better than none....It's my understanding that this particular food comes in very small bags, so you wouldn't end up wasting funds to try it.....
Bigbadrets: What were the xrays taken of? Did they look for blockage with them? Do you have a copy of his bloodwork? Is anything off?
Do you live in an area with Ticks? I'm wondering about this....
Tony & Connie are correct......You must try Green Tripe! It's full of nutrition and digestive enzymes....Maybe something he can keep down till you figure it out......Because of the digestive enzymes, the body does not have to work as hard to digest the food.....I'm hoping then, he won't vomit it up....Unless of course there's a blockage......I buy it in cans & it's probably my dog's favorite food!
A good pet store will have some....You might have to ask for assistance to find it.....Solid Gold makes one, there's one call "Green Cow", Ziwi Peak makes 3, but hard to find......There is one more brand, but I can't think of the name...Most stores will sell at least one kind.....Not only is the the healthiest food on the planet IMO, like Mark said, it smells really bad to humans, but dogs can't resist! Watch out with the microwave......I overcooked some once & the house smelled like a Barn for days!!!!! ;)
Keep us updated.....Again, what has your guy been eating? This is important.....There have been product recalls lately & they're serious.....Please, list (When you have time) any packaged food & treats you have been feeding......Your doctor will not recognize this.....
Good luck and come back....I'm wanting to help & I too, will also pray for a miracle! Karla
Bigbadrets: What were the xrays taken of? Did they look for blockage with them? Do you have a copy of his bloodwork? Is anything off?
Do you live in an area with Ticks? I'm wondering about this....
Tony & Connie are correct......You must try Green Tripe! It's full of nutrition and digestive enzymes....Maybe something he can keep down till you figure it out......Because of the digestive enzymes, the body does not have to work as hard to digest the food.....I'm hoping then, he won't vomit it up....Unless of course there's a blockage......I buy it in cans & it's probably my dog's favorite food!
A good pet store will have some....You might have to ask for assistance to find it.....Solid Gold makes one, there's one call "Green Cow", Ziwi Peak makes 3, but hard to find......There is one more brand, but I can't think of the name...Most stores will sell at least one kind.....Not only is the the healthiest food on the planet IMO, like Mark said, it smells really bad to humans, but dogs can't resist! Watch out with the microwave......I overcooked some once & the house smelled like a Barn for days!!!!! ;)
Keep us updated.....Again, what has your guy been eating? This is important.....There have been product recalls lately & they're serious.....Please, list (When you have time) any packaged food & treats you have been feeding......Your doctor will not recognize this.....
Good luck and come back....I'm wanting to help & I too, will also pray for a miracle! Karla
Discounting problems with the liver, kidneys and pancreas is good news. At least you have eliminated some of the most serious complications at this stage. Connie suggested green tripe, which I think I may have suggested a while back on another thread. A dog that refuses almost everything else will often eat this. Important you get GREEN tripe, not the type usually sold for human consumption. It is often available in the freezer at pet stores, coming in blocks that can be cut down to size before cooking. Warning ... it stinks when it's being cooked (I use the microwave - 10mins on 30 per cent setting), once cool, just give on its own or mixed with a little cooked white rice.
Do let us know what the vet says. I;m hoping everything goes well. Tony
Do let us know what the vet says. I;m hoping everything goes well. Tony
Have they checked his blood or stools for parasites...?
I will be praying for a miracle for your dog....!
Best wishes...
Please let us know how things go at the vets today...
Connie
He has vomited everything we've given him. He refuses peanut butter, cheese, bread (all of which we have been using to try and get him to take his meds). The vet DID do a blood panel and x-rays and determined the pancreas, liver and kidneys to all be fine as far as he could tell. Toby is drinking water just fine, we're worried that it might be a blockage in his intestines/ cancer, but we just don't have the funds right now to go exploring every option. He was on Gastralieve to help keep his food down but has finished that, also an antibiotic. At this point, we're praying for a miracle. We'll be seeing another vet today to see if there's something else we can do, but things are not looking well. Thank you for all your replies, they have been very helpful.
No, I was not upset..just tired and should have waited to post. I understand the need to feed the dog a good food. But, if they are not eating at all, I felt any food that will work is better than no food. Once they start eating, of course, you would try another one.
If this were my dog, I would be grateful for both of the comments from the ladies, and give the dog food a try....If the dog will it eat, then some nutrition is better than no nutrition.
Now..if the dog will eat it,....then, at least he is eating, and with the information that Karla has supplied, I would do my best to start to wean the dog off of the Chef Michaels, by mixing it with a better quality food.
So..I would say Thank you to both of you.
I would like to add, that I have heard of others who have a difficult time getting their dogs to eat. Many of them have said that something called Green Tripe works great. From what I have read, most dogs love it, and it is suppose to be very nutritious. You should be able to buy it at a Pet Store.
Many dogs also Love Sweet Potato.
Cook some Chicken Baked or Boiled, and give with Sweet Potato instead of rice.
You dog might also eat the food if you hand feed him.
The most important thing is your dog....He is only 6 years old and if he is not eating, something is very wrong.
If your dog has not had blood work done, please do so....before you even think about having him euthanized.
Some simple blood work can help detect any underlying conditions that might be giving him nausea.
Best Wishes to you and your dog...Connie
Now..if the dog will eat it,....then, at least he is eating, and with the information that Karla has supplied, I would do my best to start to wean the dog off of the Chef Michaels, by mixing it with a better quality food.
So..I would say Thank you to both of you.
I would like to add, that I have heard of others who have a difficult time getting their dogs to eat. Many of them have said that something called Green Tripe works great. From what I have read, most dogs love it, and it is suppose to be very nutritious. You should be able to buy it at a Pet Store.
Many dogs also Love Sweet Potato.
Cook some Chicken Baked or Boiled, and give with Sweet Potato instead of rice.
You dog might also eat the food if you hand feed him.
The most important thing is your dog....He is only 6 years old and if he is not eating, something is very wrong.
If your dog has not had blood work done, please do so....before you even think about having him euthanized.
Some simple blood work can help detect any underlying conditions that might be giving him nausea.
Best Wishes to you and your dog...Connie
Hi. Im sorry if you took Misfits4me's comments the wrong way, but the advice and information she gives on this site is second to none. The info given above about the dog food you suggested is invaluable for other dog owners trying to decide what they should be feeding their friends. I realise you may have suggested it without knowing the facts, and your suggestion may have been purely to help Bigbadrets find a food that their dog will eat. Please don't be offended, just appreciate that all information is useful and the more information we have the better we can look after our dogs.
Sorry to read about your dog. I, like Karla, wonder if any blood word was done and any stool samples tested. I would want to know about kidney, liver and pancreatic test results. I hope the dog is drinking and staying hydrated. Did the Vet mention possibly giving Pedialyte? Did your Vet possibly mention giving him something for nausea? There are OTC ones that you can use at home but always go on the advice of your Vet. What was the dog eating before?
Karla gave you good info on the food but, at this point, I think I might try about anything to see if the appetite could be stimulated. You might try picking up some canned Evo food like fish and sweet potato that may tempt him.
Please keep us posted and good luck.
Karla gave you good info on the food but, at this point, I think I might try about anything to see if the appetite could be stimulated. You might try picking up some canned Evo food like fish and sweet potato that may tempt him.
Please keep us posted and good luck.
This is nothing against the above poster.....I just want to make you aware of how poor (Nutrition wise) this food is.....This rating is from DogfoodAdvisor.com.....
Chef Michael’s Dog Food (Dry)
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
Chef Michael’s dry dog food receives the Advisor’s LOWEST rating of 1 star.
The Chef Michael’s product line includes two dry dog foods, each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
Chef Michael’s Filet Mignon Flavor
Chef Michael’s Rotisserie Chicken Flavor
Chef Michael’s Filet Mignon Flavor was selected to represent both products for this review.
Chef Michael's Filet Mignon Flavor
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Beef, soybean meal, soy flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of vitamin E), brewers rice, soy protein concentrate, corn gluten meal, ground yellow corn, glycerin, poultry by-product meal, ground wheat, animal digest, salt, pearled barley, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, natural filet mignon flavor, dried potatoes, dried green beans, added color (red 40, blue 2, yellow 5, yellow 6 and other color), sulfur, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, potassium chloride, l-lysine monohydrochloride, manganese sulfate, vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, calcium iodate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), biotin, sodium selenite
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Although it is a quality item, raw beef contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
Which brings us to soybean meal. Soybean meal is actually a useful by-product. It’s what remains of soybeans after all the oil has been removed.
Soybean meal contains 48% protein. However, compared to meat, this item is considered an inferior plant-based protein providing a lower biological value.
The third ingredient is soybean flour, a high-protein by-product of soybean processing.
Compared to meat, soy proteins have a lower biological value. Yet both of these soy items are capable of raising the protein content of this food.
The fourth item is animal fat. Animal fat is a generic by-product of rendering, the same high-temperature process used to make meat meals.
Since there’s no mention of a specific animal, this item could come from almost anywhere: restaurant grease, slaughterhouse waste, diseased cattle… even euthanized pets.
We do not consider generic animal fat a quality ingredient.
The fifth ingredient is brewers rice. Brewers rice represents the small grain fragments left over after milling whole rice.
This is an inexpensive cereal grain by-product and not considered a quality ingredient.
The sixth item lists soy protein concentrate, what’s left of soybeans after removing the water soluble carbohydrates. This plant-based ingredient contains about 70% protein.
The seventh ingredient is corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate washed out of it.
Compared to meat, glutens are inferior grain-based proteins lower in many of the essential amino acids dogs need for life.
This inexpensive plant-based ingredient can significantly boost the total protein content reported in this dog food.
The eighth ingredient is corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any dog food.
After glycerin, we find poultry by-product meal… a dry rendered product of slaughterhouse waste. It’s made from what’s left of slaughtered poultry after all the prime cuts have been removed.
In a nutshell, poultry by-products are those unsavory and inedible leftovers deemed “unfit for human consumption”.
This stuff can contain almost anything… feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs… you name it.
We consider poultry by-products slightly lower in quality than a single-species ingredient (like chicken by-products).
On the brighter side, by-product meals are meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh poultry.
We’re always disappointed to find artificial coloring in any dog food.
Coloring is used to make the product more appealing to you… not your dog. After all, do you really think your dog cares what color his kibble is?
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With four notable exceptions…
First, garlic oil may be a controversial item. We say “may be” here because we are not certain of the oil’s chemical relationship to raw garlic itself. Although the majority of experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.1
However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).
Next, this Chef Michael’s product also contains menadione, a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.
Thirdly, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.
Chef Michael’s Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Chef Michael’s dog food appears to be a below-average kibble.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 32%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 42%.
And both products in the line appear to demonstrate the same nutrient percentages.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbohydrates when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Yet when you consider the presence of multiple plant-based protein boosters (like the soy products and corn gluten meal), this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a modest amount of meat.
What’s worse, it’s difficult to ignore the abundance of so many Red Flag ingredients.
Bottom line?
Chef Michael’s is a plant-based dry dog food probably using only a modest amount of chicken or beef as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 1 star.
Not recommended.
Chef Michael’s Dog Food (Dry)
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
Chef Michael’s dry dog food receives the Advisor’s LOWEST rating of 1 star.
The Chef Michael’s product line includes two dry dog foods, each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
Chef Michael’s Filet Mignon Flavor
Chef Michael’s Rotisserie Chicken Flavor
Chef Michael’s Filet Mignon Flavor was selected to represent both products for this review.
Chef Michael's Filet Mignon Flavor
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Beef, soybean meal, soy flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of vitamin E), brewers rice, soy protein concentrate, corn gluten meal, ground yellow corn, glycerin, poultry by-product meal, ground wheat, animal digest, salt, pearled barley, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, natural filet mignon flavor, dried potatoes, dried green beans, added color (red 40, blue 2, yellow 5, yellow 6 and other color), sulfur, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, potassium chloride, l-lysine monohydrochloride, manganese sulfate, vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, calcium iodate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), biotin, sodium selenite
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Although it is a quality item, raw beef contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
Which brings us to soybean meal. Soybean meal is actually a useful by-product. It’s what remains of soybeans after all the oil has been removed.
Soybean meal contains 48% protein. However, compared to meat, this item is considered an inferior plant-based protein providing a lower biological value.
The third ingredient is soybean flour, a high-protein by-product of soybean processing.
Compared to meat, soy proteins have a lower biological value. Yet both of these soy items are capable of raising the protein content of this food.
The fourth item is animal fat. Animal fat is a generic by-product of rendering, the same high-temperature process used to make meat meals.
Since there’s no mention of a specific animal, this item could come from almost anywhere: restaurant grease, slaughterhouse waste, diseased cattle… even euthanized pets.
We do not consider generic animal fat a quality ingredient.
The fifth ingredient is brewers rice. Brewers rice represents the small grain fragments left over after milling whole rice.
This is an inexpensive cereal grain by-product and not considered a quality ingredient.
The sixth item lists soy protein concentrate, what’s left of soybeans after removing the water soluble carbohydrates. This plant-based ingredient contains about 70% protein.
The seventh ingredient is corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate washed out of it.
Compared to meat, glutens are inferior grain-based proteins lower in many of the essential amino acids dogs need for life.
This inexpensive plant-based ingredient can significantly boost the total protein content reported in this dog food.
The eighth ingredient is corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any dog food.
After glycerin, we find poultry by-product meal… a dry rendered product of slaughterhouse waste. It’s made from what’s left of slaughtered poultry after all the prime cuts have been removed.
In a nutshell, poultry by-products are those unsavory and inedible leftovers deemed “unfit for human consumption”.
This stuff can contain almost anything… feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs… you name it.
We consider poultry by-products slightly lower in quality than a single-species ingredient (like chicken by-products).
On the brighter side, by-product meals are meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh poultry.
We’re always disappointed to find artificial coloring in any dog food.
Coloring is used to make the product more appealing to you… not your dog. After all, do you really think your dog cares what color his kibble is?
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With four notable exceptions…
First, garlic oil may be a controversial item. We say “may be” here because we are not certain of the oil’s chemical relationship to raw garlic itself. Although the majority of experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.1
However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).
Next, this Chef Michael’s product also contains menadione, a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.
Thirdly, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.
Chef Michael’s Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Chef Michael’s dog food appears to be a below-average kibble.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 32%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 42%.
And both products in the line appear to demonstrate the same nutrient percentages.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbohydrates when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Yet when you consider the presence of multiple plant-based protein boosters (like the soy products and corn gluten meal), this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a modest amount of meat.
What’s worse, it’s difficult to ignore the abundance of so many Red Flag ingredients.
Bottom line?
Chef Michael’s is a plant-based dry dog food probably using only a modest amount of chicken or beef as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 1 star.
Not recommended.
Ok, I know you may think this is strange. But, having said that a friend of mine is fostering a chi who would not eat and was too small to miss a meal. They are used to fussy eaters and nothing they tried worked. The rescue group leader that they got the chi from..brought them purina chef michael's canine creations and promised it was like crack for dogs and she would eat it. Guess what...she is eating like a champion. providing there is not a true medical reason for your baby not eating...you might give it a try. My friends were dumbfounded that it worked, when even their concoctions did not.
http://www.chef-michaels.com/?DCMP=KNC-CM-T08-Goog-ChefM10&HBX_PK=chef+michaels+dog+food&HBX_OU=50
http://www.chef-michaels.com/?DCMP=KNC-CM-T08-Goog-ChefM10&HBX_PK=chef+michaels+dog+food&HBX_OU=50
Hello & welcome.....Did they do a blood panel or any other tests? How was the dehydration diagnosed? Blood test I suppose? If that's the case, were there any other values OFF on his test? Also, how are his teeth? Any mouth odor? Anything else you can think of will help.....
Oh yes, What do you feed this guy? Let us know......Karla
Oh yes, What do you feed this guy? Let us know......Karla
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