Search found 358 matches

by nanney1
Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:06 pm
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: dog won't drink
Replies: 5
Views: 1505

Re: dog won't drink

You could try flavoring the water with chicken bouillon and see if that helps.

I've read that mushers use fish meal in the water to encourage their sled dogs to drink in cold weather. Not sure where you would find it though.
by nanney1
Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:59 pm
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Female House Dog Coming into Heat?
Replies: 13
Views: 6814

Re: Female House Dog Coming into Heat?

I used to use the snap on device with the pad, but more recently have gone to using my son's old boxer briefs. Similar to the photo above.

Instead of cutting a hole in the back, we put them on backwards and use the front slit for the tail.
by nanney1
Wed Jun 24, 2009 9:11 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Diamond Premium Adult
Replies: 3
Views: 1572

Diamond Premium Adult

In the Green bag. Is anyone using this food for all of their dogs, including pregnant and lactating bitches, and growing pups? Or do you know someone who does?

If so, how long have you used it and how has it worked for your dogs?
by nanney1
Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:45 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: dog not eating
Replies: 19
Views: 6376

Re: dog not eating

Looks like a finicky eater more than eating else, probably combined with the heat as well. On Friday morning, she finished up the last of the Satin Balls mixed with Pro Plan. On Friday night, I put out a bowl of Pro Plan. She looked without sniffing and walked away. Thirty minutes later she had show...
by nanney1
Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:33 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: dog not eating
Replies: 19
Views: 6376

Re: dog not eating

I'll finish up the rest of the Satin Balls by tomorrow morning and then I'll go back to her regular Pro Plan. I'll have the weekend to monitor. Her appetite seems good now. Just a reminder of how this came about. She went around 5-6 days of skipping a meal and then eating half of her normal amount a...
by nanney1
Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:08 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: dog not eating
Replies: 19
Views: 6376

Re: dog not eating

A little over a year old. Hormonal shift is a new one. Hadn't considered something like that. When she was in heat she went off of her food for a few days, but not to the same extent as recently. Her temperament has really calmed down and she isn't as overly playful and exuberant in playing with oth...
by nanney1
Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:35 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: dog not eating
Replies: 19
Views: 6376

Re: dog not eating

For the last couple of days, she continued to eat the frozen Bil-Jac, but only in the evening. In the morning, she would only eat a small bite or two and leave the rest. So, she has been eating, just not much. Last night I decided to mix up a small batch of the Satin Balls recipe. She readily ate a ...
by nanney1
Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:48 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: dog not eating
Replies: 19
Views: 6376

Re: dog not eating

Stool is hard and firm as usual. Even though I witnessed two bowel movements, I am pretty sure some fresh ones I found in the yard last week were hers as opposed to my males. When he goes, a little drops out and then he always turns around as if he's wondering what just happened and then drops the r...
by nanney1
Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:19 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: dog not eating
Replies: 19
Views: 6376

Re: dog not eating

The vet didn't find anything in his examination. He pressed her abdomen but she didn't seem to be in any discomfort. The only foreign thing she tends to try and eat would be tissue paper. It isn't likely to cause a blockage, and my vet said it wouldn't show up on an X-Ray anyway. She was bright-eyed...
by nanney1
Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:37 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: dog not eating
Replies: 19
Views: 6376

Re: dog not eating

The vomit was sort of a beige color, but not a yellow liquid type. Didn't see any food chunks in the vomit. Once she saw me, she trotted over like normal. Her energy seems good and she looks fine otherwise.
by nanney1
Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:35 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: dog not eating
Replies: 19
Views: 6376

dog not eating

My 1 year old Bernese Mountain Dog went off of her food over the weekend. She was eating around 4 1/2 cups of Pro Plan Puppy split between two meals (2 1/4 per meal) a day. Myy 8 year old male was eating Black Gold. However, when I went to get more, the store had not received their shipment of Black...
by nanney1
Wed Jun 03, 2009 6:13 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Need New Dog Food
Replies: 98
Views: 25172

Re: Need New Dog Food

There can be other factors regarding whether a dog becomes too heavy while free feeding. My first Bernese Mountain Dog was free fed and was about 5 lbs too heavy as a young dog. Basically, she was a chow hound. After limiting her food, she leaned up as she became an adult. If I had continued to free...
by nanney1
Thu May 07, 2009 11:57 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Tractor Supply Retriever brand
Replies: 6
Views: 2074

Tractor Supply Retriever brand

Just curious if anyone had tried the Retriever brands of dog food at TSC. I was in there today, and happened to notice it as their store brand. Hadn't really noticed it before. Pretty cheap ($19.99 for 50lbs) and the ingredient list was o.k. (wasn't crazy about a couple of the ingredients). I was lo...
by nanney1
Tue May 05, 2009 6:51 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Food switch
Replies: 5
Views: 1750

Food switch

Decided to make the switch from Pro Plan to Black Gold. I fed Black Gold Performance (Black Bag) with good results for my older male a couple of years ago, but my local supplier quit carrying it for a while. As a reminder, I have Bernese Mountain Dogs. My older male did well with switch as he tolera...
by nanney1
Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:03 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Great results with Canidae
Replies: 11
Views: 3927

Re: Great results with Canidae

Several years ago I gave Canidae a try. I used the all life stages formula. It was so highly touted on another forum I visited (for Rottweilers) that I decided to give it a try. This was the early days of Canidae and no one carried it locally. A distributor in a nearby city was making home deliverie...
by nanney1
Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:43 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: loss of appetite - heat cycle
Replies: 3
Views: 1575

Re: loss of appetite - heat cycle

Ezzy: When I made the switch on the foods, it was a seemless transition. I gradually switched and saw no digestive issues. By the time I completely switched over, the same applied. No problems and good, firm stools. Then, the loss of appetite. Now, in the third week of the cycle, her appetite has re...
by nanney1
Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:15 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: loss of appetite - heat cycle
Replies: 3
Views: 1575

loss of appetite - heat cycle

My young bitch started her heat cycle on Tuesday. For the last few weeks, she and my older male had seemed disinterested in their food, so I started a gradual switch to something else. The switch seemed to make a difference as both returned to be being chow hounds, gobbling up the combination of old...
by nanney1
Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:56 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: White Flour
Replies: 3
Views: 984

Re: White Flour

I think it looked like more of a gain than what it was. She had been 86.5 two weeks ago, and then dropped to 84.5 the following week. This week she was at 89 lbs, so actually a 4.5lb increase in one week, but only 2.5 from two weeks ago. So, water weight, going back to eating normal, and any increas...
by nanney1
Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:52 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: White Flour
Replies: 3
Views: 984

White Flour

How do dogs react to white flour? I made some homemade dog biscuits using white flour (as opposed to most recipes which call for whole wheat). Treated the dogs as normal, adding one biscuit following meals. Weighed my younger dog and she had surprisingly put on around 5lbs. I have large breed Bernes...
by nanney1
Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:42 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Pro Plan Performance
Replies: 4
Views: 976

Re: Pro Plan Performance

Both get plenty of exercise. In fact, the younger one has been getting more exercise than usual of late and she has been the one that really lost interest the most. Perhaps she has plateaued on growing and is slowing down as far as metabolism. The complete lack of enthusiasm is what seems strange. I...
by nanney1
Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:17 pm
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Pro Plan Performance
Replies: 4
Views: 976

Re: Pro Plan Performance

Adult Chicken and Rice is no longer available, and my dogs lost weight on the new Shredded formula. That's why I switched to Performance.
by nanney1
Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:22 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Pro Plan Performance
Replies: 4
Views: 976

Pro Plan Performance

Anyone have a dog that doesn't seem to care for Pro Plan Performance? My two Bernese Mountain Dogs have been on nothing but Pro Plan since my current 10 month old pup was 2 months old. Have fed Pro Plan Puppy and adult Chicken and Rice and both my adult dog and pup ate with enthusiasm. I noticed tha...
by nanney1
Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:41 am
Forum: GDF "Hall of Fame" Posts
Topic: Ivomec ?
Replies: 104
Views: 94720

Re: Ivomec ?

I've been using INTERCEPTOR (milbemycin oxime) and the active ingredient is different from the Ivermectin in the Heartguard. My dogs have been on the Interceptor tablets but I'm about to run out.

Any possible issues with switching to Ivomec? I can get the small bottle at TSC.
by nanney1
Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:09 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Dog's and chocolate
Replies: 22
Views: 4535

Re: Dog's and chocolate

My brother-in-law used to have a couple of Chow Chows. Every now and then the dogs would go through a bad day or two of upset stomach. Eventually, he learned that his elderly neighbor lady was feeding the dogs chocolate brownies across the fence. When he found out, he asked her to stop and she did. ...
by nanney1
Wed Feb 25, 2009 12:18 pm
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Diamond Performance
Replies: 7
Views: 4063

Re: Diamond Performance

I'm not currently feeding the Diamond green bag. I was feeding Pro Plan Original Chicken and Rice and then the new Shredded Blend which I wasn't happy with. So I switched to Chicken and Rice Puppy while I waited on the Original Chicken and Rice to return. However, I have learned that I won't be able...
by nanney1
Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:19 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Pro Plan Original
Replies: 33
Views: 6818

Re: Pro Plan Original

The email I received noted the only change would be that the bag would now say "All Life Stages" just like Pro Plan Performance. I saw a bag of the original Chicken and Rice at the Greenville show and it looked like the old bag, except for the bottom of the bag where it normally said "Adult" and it ...
by nanney1
Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:13 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Diamond Performance
Replies: 7
Views: 4063

Diamond Performance

30/20 in the black bag. Anyone feed this? Back when I was feeding Diamond (Green bag 26/18), I would feed the 30/20 when the local supplier ran out of the green bag. The dogs liked it and seemed to tolerate the switch with no problems. However, I never fed enough of it to see if if was any better. D...
by nanney1
Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:28 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Pro Plan Original
Replies: 33
Views: 6818

Re: Pro Plan Original

I was at the Greenville Kennel Club dog show in Greenville, SC this weekend. It is a large show and the show sponsor was Pro Plan. They had a huge booth at the main entrance and were giving out samples and pushing product. I saw that they had bags of the original Chicken and Rice. I spoke with a Pro...
by nanney1
Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:10 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Pro Plan Original
Replies: 33
Views: 6818

Re: Pro Plan Original

I went to my local Tractor Supply and Petsmart yesterday. Neither had the Original Chicken and Rice back on the shelves.

Has anyone seen it?
by nanney1
Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:37 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Nestle/Purina vs. the Natural Pet Food Industry
Replies: 0
Views: 723

Nestle/Purina vs. the Natural Pet Food Industry

This is a press release sent out by email from Wysong Pet Foods last week. This is their slant but interesting anyway. FYI, I am a Pro Plan feeder so I am not promoting Wysong, just found it interesting. This email has made its way around some other boards. Didn't know if this had been discussed her...
by nanney1
Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:40 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Number of litters for female
Replies: 6
Views: 1706

Number of litters for female

If you have a quality female that produces outstanding pups, how many times would a breeder normally breed her?

After whelping, how many heat cycles are normally allowed to pass before breeding again?
by nanney1
Thu Jan 29, 2009 2:12 pm
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Pro Plan Original
Replies: 33
Views: 6818

Re: Pro Plan Original

I received an email yesterday evening from the Pro Club stating that the Original Chicken and Rice would start arriving at: "Select Farm and Feed stores and most distributors beginning in February Pet Supplies Plus beginning in April" The only change will be to the bag. It will now say All Life Stag...
by nanney1
Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:24 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Pro Plan Original
Replies: 33
Views: 6818

Re: Pro Plan Original

Update: I fed two bags of the new Shredded Blend to my two Bernese Mountain Dogs. Halfway through the first bag, I found that my puppy had maintained her weight even though she had been on a slow, steady gain. No big deal as they eventually do plateau on weight gain and she was around 8 months. A co...
by nanney1
Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:40 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Frozen Semen
Replies: 3
Views: 1506

Re: Frozen Semen

I don't have any experience but am also looking into a European male. I think the donor male must be AKC DNA certified in order for you to register the pups with AKC.
by nanney1
Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:23 pm
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Satin Balls
Replies: 14
Views: 6271

Re: Satin Balls

Fed it to my old (8 years) Bernese Mountain Dog this Spring/Summer. He has always been a lean dog and I can feel his ribs and backbone no matter what I've fed him. If I feed him too much, he won't eat it all and always stays lean. I feed twice per day. Every now and then he will go off of his food a...
by nanney1
Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:18 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Speaking of frozen semen?
Replies: 7
Views: 1945

Re: Speaking of frozen semen?

Is anyone familiar with the AKC's rules on use of frozen semen? What I'm most interested in is the use of frozen/chilled semen from an international dog (from Italy). As I understand it, the semen must be extracted by a licensed vet and the dog (and/or semen???) must be AKC DNA certified. Is this co...
by nanney1
Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:39 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Pro Plan Original
Replies: 33
Views: 6818

Re: Pro Plan Original

I wasn't crazy about the new formula at first. The main concern would be over the soy in the new product, as soy has been thought to be a possible contributor to bloat. Other concerns would be the smaller bags (35lbs), and a possible decrease in metablolizable engergy per lb??? I planned to go with ...
by nanney1
Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:23 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: am I feeding to much ????
Replies: 6
Views: 1508

Re: am I feeding to much ????

I've spoken over the phone with the folks at Diamond several times. And to be honest, they really don't recommend the High Energy. It is not as low in ash as some of their other products. In a nutshell, their recommendation is to feed the green bag 26/18, or if the dog is under stress from hunting o...
by nanney1
Wed Nov 19, 2008 11:02 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Labs - an observation
Replies: 3
Views: 1931

Labs - an observation

Went to a dog show with my kids this weekend and didn't really go to see the labs, but anyway.... I'm familiar with the differences in the types of Labs out there, but it was interesting to see three distinct varieties up close and in person on the same day at the same time. The first thing I notice...
by nanney1
Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:59 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Pro Plan Original
Replies: 33
Views: 6818

Pro Plan Original

I know the email said that the Original Chicken and Rice formula would be back on the shelves by the end of January. However, should it really take that long?

Does anyone think that the big retailers will have it in stock sooner than that?
by nanney1
Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:27 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Pro Plan Shredded vs. PP regular question
Replies: 11
Views: 10393

Re: Pro Plan Shredded vs. PP regular question

A buddy of mine is in his late 60's and hunts and has always had a Lab or two for bird hunting. I asked him several years ago what he fed. He said Purina Dog Chow. And if it was really cold outside, he would add a spoonful of vegetable oil to the food. His dogs always looked great. I knew he had gro...
by nanney1
Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:39 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Bil Jac Select
Replies: 9
Views: 1824

Re: Bil Jac Select

I've never fed the Select, but have friends who have. I have fed the Bil-Jac Frozen and it is an excellent food. I've also used their liver treats.

It is popular among show people. It seems to be good at building coat and putting on weight.

I have always found it to be too pricey though.
by nanney1
Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:56 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: High calorie supplement
Replies: 21
Views: 7701

Re: High calorie supplement

Try the Satin Balls recipe. Just search for it on the web.

Start by giving them meatball size snacks just to make sure that they tolerate it.
by nanney1
Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:17 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Increase food or increase protein/fat%
Replies: 21
Views: 5653

Re: Increase food or increase protein/fat%

Needed to pick up some feed as my current bag of Pro Plan Puppy was almost gone. The decision was easy as my local Tractor Supply was out of Pro Plan Puppy and didn't have any on re-order. They had just gotten in a new shipment and had Performance or the new Shredded Blend, which I didn't want. So, ...
by nanney1
Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:06 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Clumbers
Replies: 4
Views: 1579

Re: Clumbers

crackerd: Thanks for the info and the weblink. I must say that the Clumbers on the opening page of that site look a lot different than the show Clumbers I have seen. The dogs on the opening page of that site have less bone, less coat, less weight, less head, and more snout. Compared to the heavy bui...
by nanney1
Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:25 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Clumbers
Replies: 4
Views: 1579

Clumbers

Are these basically companion dogs? I've never seen one outside of the confirmation ring.
Does anyone know much about therm?
by nanney1
Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:18 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: GSP vs. English
Replies: 20
Views: 6167

Re: GSP vs. English

nanney1 has not responded yet ... is this one of those "opened for discussion/controversy" threads or "looking for advice threads" It was more of a just wondering kind of thread.... Basically, I've seen several people keep GSP's as pets. However, I've never seen anyone keep an English Pointer solel...
by nanney1
Fri Sep 26, 2008 11:10 am
Forum: General Chat
Topic: GSP vs. English
Replies: 20
Views: 6167

GSP vs. English

GSP vs. English Pointer Just curious about the differences between these two breeds. Growing up we had a stray that was either a Dalmation/Pointer mix or possibly full English Pointer. Hard to tell as she was spotted like a Dal but had a solid patch over one eye. We lived in a rural area and she had...
by nanney1
Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:44 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: GSp too skinny
Replies: 54
Views: 25821

Re: GSp too skinny

I have also used the Satin Balls recipe for one of my Bernese Mountain Dogs. He's an 8 year old male that is fed in the morning and evening. Once it turned hot this summer, he would only eat one meal per day. He has always been very lean to the point that I can feel his ribs and backbones easily. On...
by nanney1
Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:34 am
Forum: Health and Nutrition
Topic: Increase food or increase protein/fat%
Replies: 21
Views: 5653

Re: Increase food or increase protein/fat%

MikeB, The thread kind of took a turn at some point. My original question was whether or not an increase in protein/fat/calories can lead to an abundance of engery, i.e. creating a hyper dog that simply burns off the additional calories. The reason that I was looking at the more nutrient dense Pro P...