Diabetic Feeding Program

Before you start this program take a copy with you and discuss it with your vet.

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This feed program is used by many of the top breeders in the USA and overseas. This program has 20 years of success and you must follow this program exactly because each component has a job to do - deleting one of these components compromises the integrity of this program. Do not add other foods or supplements to the program without discussing it with me first. Do NOT add your own raw meats, calcium supplements, I will provide raw options that are safe from pathogenic bacteria and parasites and balanced in their calcium and phosphorus ratio.

This program will be divided into 3 parts:

Section A. - supplements, and where to purchase

Section B. - description of supplements and foods

Section C. - support information - for your puppy

Please print out for future reference and provide a copy for your veterinarian, if they have any questions they can contact me personally for assistance. Please note, I am not a distributor nor a retailer of any of the products used in this feed program. I have used them for years and test fed on my own pets and in some instances, I have done laboratory tests to check quality and analysis and also done my own long term feed trials on many litters. I do not recommend companies that are unethical in their business practices so that is why some of the foods you see on the market are not on my list of better foods. Just because it is listed in Whole Dog Journel, does not meant it is a good product. They ONLY read labels and a label only gives you 50% of the true picture when it comes to pet foods. This information is not to be used in lieu of veterinarian advice, diagnoses or treatment.

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Section A.

This program is a comprehensive and consists of 6 major components and this is it in summary form. Detailed info to follow below.

1. Dog Food - Natural/Holistic Super Premium - kibble and canned

2. 4 in 1 Probiotics & Digestive Enzymes - beneficial bacteria - Digestive enzymes

3. Nzymes - Dietary enzymes - missing in all commercial foods - antioxidants

4. Spark of Life - organic trace minerals

5. Flexicose - joint support supplement

6. Colostrum - research shows great benefits to diabetics.

Optionial for Variety - canned meats - raw options - fruits and vegetable

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1. DOG FOOD - Eagle Holistic Line or Eagle Super Premium Line -locate retailer at this website www.eaglepack.com

2. FOUR-IN-ONE PROBIOTICS & DIGESTIVE ENZYMES - beneficial bacteria, digestive enzymes, Vitamin C & Barley Grass www.firstchoicenaturals.com

3. NZYMES - dietary enzymes - in chewable Pet Treat or Granular (goes further) www.nzymes.com

4. Spark of Life Trace Minerals - trace minerals are critical to the body's metabolic function. www.firstchoicenaturals.com

5. FLEXICOSE - joint support supplement (glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and herbs). www.Flexicose com

6. COLOSTRUM - research shows great benefits to diabetics - www.nzymes.com

7. FOR VARIETY ADD - fruits & veggies & Eagle Holistic canned meats www.eaglepack.com For a safe, balanced raw option use Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw - info below.

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Before We Go Any Further, Let's Talk About Diabetes......

I often get letters asking what kind of diet should be used for a diabetic dog. A few years ago I had a Great Dane that was diabetic in his later years, so I set out to do some investigating of this topic and came to some conclusions regarding his diet and what worked best for him.

It has been my observation that the prescription diets for diabetic animals are generally low protein, which means they are very high in carbohydrates, the last thing you want in a diabetic diet, due to the glycemic index, or the way the body utilizes carbohydrates. Plus a lower protein diet means loss of muscle mass, and the largest muscle in the body is the heart.

These prescription diabetic diets are also low in fat, which is fine to help keep weight down, but dropping below 10% fats makes the coats suffer dramatically; itching, shedding and flaky skin. These diets are also much higher in fiber than regular diets which can be a problem if these diets do not have optional vitamins and minerals present on the food.

The bottom line is there are no holistic prescription diets on the market as of this writing 7/06, there for that means low-end materials, non-human grade food stuffs and minimal nutrients are used on the foods. It is rare that a veterinarian will suggest anything other than these prescription diets, but if they are honest with you, they will tell you they have they have little training in nutrition and depend solely on what they are told by the dog food companies and sales people. That is why I developed this program to assist you and your veterinarian. You do have good nutritional options for your pets.

Diabetes is a disease of the pancreas, therefore we must support the body and repair the body in this condition. It is critical to use a Holistic or Natural Super Premium level food for optimal nutrition because an animal/human that has a disease, has even greater nutritional requirements. Therefore it is important to use a brand of food that utilizes optimal nutrients on the food - especially if it is a high fiber diet, because some nutrients will be lost due to moving through the GI track faster because of the extra fiber in the diet.

The general range for protein in a prescription diabetic diet is from 17 -21% and for fats it is 6-10%, and for fiber the range is very high compared to normal diets (3.5-4%) it is generally 7-10% fiber. With a protein base this low that means it is a very high grain diet and that is not at all what I want to feed a healthy animal, let alone one that is diabetic or has a weight problem.

After careful consideration and discussion with veterinarians with nutritional knowledge, I came to the conclusion using a higher protein - quality usable protein 24-28% range - means less carbohydrates/sugar for them to process. A fat content that is 10% is ideal so the coat does not suffer in the long haul and yet it helps with their weight, and a fiber content around 7% is ideal for weight loss and processing of the food.

If I had another dog with diabetes, I would use: Eagle Holistic Select Senior kibble regardless of age or breed. If you remove the name of the food "senior" and look at it’s components you see this is the ideal food to use. First, Eagle always uses optimal vitamins/minerals on all of their foods - this is first and foremost for an animal in need. Secondly the protein is 26%, Fat 10% and Fiber 4.5%

To bring up the fiber content to a more ideal 7% all I have to do is to add oat beta glucan tablets once daily which you can get at the health food store or Walgreens in the vitamin section.

• 1/2 tablet for toys
• 1 tablet for small dogs
  
• 2 tablets for med
• 3 tablets for llarge
  
• 4 tablets for giants.
  

You can also get Oat Bran from the cereal section of the grocery store and add once daily

• 1/8th teaspoon for toys
• 1/4 teaspoon for small dogs
• 1/2 teaspoon for med
• 3/4 teaspoon for large
• 1 teaspoon for giants
  

Before moving over to the Blackwatch Feed Program please read my article on switching to the Blackwatch Feed Program.

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Section B.

1. Food - Eagle Holistic Select Senior 26% protein 10% fat

I have found a high quality "usable" protein source maintains muscle mass and energy levels so the ill or geriatric will exercise and improve their joint flexibility. Their energy level increases and a feeling of overall wellness is evident on this food, and they do not act as if they are staving all of the time, because they are being provided with the proper nutrients.

Why Eagle Pack Foods Holistic Select and Super Premium Line:

There are several so called Holistic or Natural foods on the market but there is only one other company besides Eagle Pack Foods that owns their own manufacturing plant. That means they do not outsource their food, all aspects of selection of ingredients, making and testing are done at the Eagle APHIS - USDA approved plant in Mishawaka Indiana. Eagle has total control over their foods. I have been to the facility many times and they have state of the art new equipment and their own clean lab to test every batch of materials that comes to the plant. It is a spotless facility not at all like some of the horror stories I have heard from sales reps who have worked for other competitors and witnessed dog food manufacturing plants.

All Eagle products are made with human grade and organic ingredients. They are a multiple protein, meat based diet with no hormones, antibiotics or growth stimulants. The include viable yogurt cultures (probiotics), digestive enzymes, Glucosamine HCL for joint support balanced Omega 6:3 fatty acids, very high quality sequestered minerals (macro/micro) which are critical for wellness and longevity. Eagle contains absolutely no ethoxiquin preservatives, no BHA or BHT because it is only naturally preservative. In addition there is Aqua C (an Ester Vitamin C) yucca and prebiotics to encourage a healthy gut and functional foods such as Inulin, Blueberries, Apples, Carrots and Cranberries etc.

To locate a distributor to purchase Eagle Dog Foods:

Go to http://www.eaglepack.com

Note: You can also call Eagle 800 -255-5959, they now have the ability to ship food UPS from the factory in Indiana. It goes out the day you order it. The cost of shipping will pay for itself over the long haul, because you will have less health care expenses than when you feed an inferior food.

TO PURCHASE EAGLE PACK FOODS ONLINE

Petpals will ship Eagle dog food - will ship anywhere in the US. http://www.epetpals.com/
VIP-Pets will ship Eagle dog food - will ship anywhere in the US.
The VIP phone number is 714-VIP-PETS (714-847-7387).
Waggin Tail's carries Eagle and other foods - located in East - http://www.waggintails.com/

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2. Dietary Enzymes - in pet treats or granular (multiple pets)

Nzymes - is Dietary Enzyme in a chewable healthy pet treat or in granular form. Nzymes put the "living component" back into a cooked, processed, stored dog food. Enzymes are heat sensitive and lost in processing/cooking of all commercial foods or making home cooked diets. As owners we must put dietary enzymes back into the diet, in order to maintain proper wellness and not deplete the body of this important resource. This can be done by the addition to your diet with a product called Nzymes, a chewable pet treat, or granular form which can be sprinkled on the food to replace what is lost. In other words, Nzymes provide the body with the right nutrients to allow the body to make the chemicals necessary to detoxify (clean out) the body and repair itself.

Nzymes helps with the following:

• Allergic reactions
• Natural anti-inflammatory ~ so you can avoid risky medicines like Rimadyl
• Arthritis
• Orthopedic problems ~ HOD, OCO, Pano, Wobblers, Hip Dysplasia, ACL
• Epilepsy and Seizures - due to vaccine reactions
• Vaccine reaction prevention
• Cleanses residual toxins from medicines, flea and parasite preparations.
• Boosting the immune system
• Reduces shedding
• Itchy ears
• Yeast infections
• Bladder infections
• Hotspots
• Reduces healing time from injury, surgery (cropping/bloat/c-sections)
• Reduces recovery time from anesthesia.

Nzymes are from sprouts (food) so they do not conflict with diet or any medications. I have used the Nzymes for 20 years for my animals and I take the human product and have seen remarkable changes our health. By incorporating Nzymes into the diet, you are putting back the "living component" into the modern processed and cooked diets. This gives the body the tools it needs for repair and good health.

Website to order : http://www.nzymes.com/ - 877- 816- 6500 - 8:00-6:00 PST

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3. Spark Of Life Trace Minerals - The body’s metabolic, electrical and chemicals systems need usable trace minerals to run properly. Our soils are depleted of these essential trace minerals, therefore our foods are depleted of these naturally occuring* nutrients, and most pet foods are totally lacking in trace nutrients. Even some of the better foods on the market have overlooked the need for trace minerals in a diet. Now you can restore organic trace minerals to the body's immune and metabolic systems, as well as they help keep toxins from accumulating in the body, and help keep the pH of the body in balance. Spark of Life Trace Minerals are free from insecticide, bacteria, mold or yeast contaminates. www.firstchoicenaturals.com or 800-937-1104

*naturally occurring means they will not conflict with any diet you are on, if the body does not need them it disposes of them naturally in the pet's stool.

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4. Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes

4 in 1 Probiotics - This is a combination 4 friendly yogurt like good bacteria, 4 digestive enzymes, Vitamin C - in and Ester C form and Barley Grass. It fills the "holes in every diet", processed or raw. Do NOT add more Vitamin C to your dogs diet it is already this product.

First Choice Naturals 4 in 1 Probiotics contains:

• Yogurt Cultures - friendly bacteria in the form of Acidophillus and other cultures

• Fruits - Vitamin C in the form Ester C-50 - 500 mg per dose based on weight

• Digestive enzymes, needed when using processed or raw diet.

• Veggies - Barley Grass -your daily salad.

To order: 800-937-1104 Website: ~ http://www.firstchoicenaturals.com

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5. Joint Supplementation

I have used Flexicose joint supplementation with great success on my dogs. It is particularly noticeable when you introduce it to an elderly dog diet - they respond very well to joint nutritional supplementation. The amount of glucosamine in better dog foods is barely a maintenance level dosage, which is why I supplement my dogs. Whereby it is beneficial for all breeds ages and sizes, the large and giant breeds are particularly vulnerable due to their size, rapid development as a puppy and later tendencies toward bone cancer - normally of the long bone or growth plate.

I believe most of these cancers can be prevented with a comprehensive diet and joint support during development. If a dog has had HOD, OCD or Pano as a young dog, I feel it is very important to use the Nzymes product and other "functional foods" with anticancer properties as part of the daily diet, in the hopes of preventing bone cancer as they age.

I start my puppies on joint supplementation at 10 - 12 weeks of age and continue throughout their adult life. With the large/giant breeds their joints have added stressed, so any thing that can help support them as they age, is a positive step in the right direction.

SHIPPING OVERSEAS - Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom - more added daily so check with the company to see if they ship to your country.

For more complete information and ordering go to this website: Flexicose

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6. Colostrum - is the first "pre-milk" fluid produced in the first few hours from the mammary gland of mammals, and it carries all the antibodies to protect the young when the immune system is new and underdeveloped. Bovine Colostrum is often used due to it's rich source of antibodies, growth factors and nutrients and may provide passive immunity to the newborn against various infectious microorganisms, particularly those that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Children who were not breast-fed do not receive the natural antibodies from their mother milk, and often have a lifetime of allergy problems. Likewise young puppies/kittens who do not nurse, are often not protected by the antibodies from mother's colostrum.

Research shows Colostrum will regenerate and rejuvenate the immune function, as well as heart muscle. It is highly recommended for pets (humans) with cardiomyopathy and other heart disease or diabetes issues.

I use Dr. Wagner's bovine colostrum for myself and my elderly dogs, it is guaranteed "first milking". www.firstchoicenaturals.com

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Optional For Variety - Meats - Fruits - Vegetables

MEATS: I use Eagle Holistic canned dog foods for variety (beef, chicken, liver, lamb, duck, fish, puppy).I mix a couple of tablespoons of canned meat with tepid temperature water and make a gravy.

Do NOT use grocery store brands they are full of preservatives and 4D meats (dead, diseased dying and disabled) and they give the dogs stinky gas and are full of unhealthy fillers. NO homemade concoctions of meat/rice combinations that you make up at home, they are very unbalanced in their calcium and phosphorus levels and can cause growth problems.

FRUITS &VEGETABLES:

I think it is important to incorporate some real foods into you dogs diet on a daily basis. Not only is this done for nutritional purposes, but because the dog gets bored eating the same thing day in, day out!! This is a list of recommended foods to use in moderation:

yogurt, buttermilk berries melons, apples, banana, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, oranges, squash, sweet potato, green beans, zucchini - minced/diced/raw/cooked - they love frozen berries and melon balls!! Pulverized fresh veggies are best for digestion.

NO raw onions, grapes or raisins, macadamia nuts.

Linda's Very Veggie Soup - 2 large cans of chicken or beef broth - (low sodium for heart or elderly dogs- or homemade). Add LOTS of veggies - carrots, green beans, wax beans, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and couple cloves of garlic. The idea is to use this as the filler so you want it to be hearty and filling.

OR

6. Variety - A Safe Balanced Raw Meat & Fruit/Veggie - OPTION

If you want to introduce some raw meat, fruits and veggies to your dogs diet, the is is the best way to do it because it is balanced in it's calcium and phosphorus ratios and free from pathogenic bacteria and parasites. This is a freeze-dried dehydrated raw turkey or chicken diet, all you have to do is reconstitute with filtered water, let sit a few minutes and serve. Do not get lazy and simply sprinkle this on the top of their food, make sure you use it reconstituted with water first -so it does not draw all the water out of the dog's gut, causing the dog to want to drink water in excess. The food dehydration process takes place so the ingredient are still considered raw yet done at a temperature to kill any pathogenic bacteria. Enzymatic activity in dehydrated foods is simply suspended until the food is rehydrated with liquid.

The Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw dog food is available in two formulas:

FORCE (21% protein - 14% fat) - Chicken, Flaxseed, Potatoes, Celery, Cabbage, Sweet Potatoes, Zucchini, Green Beans, Apples, Honey, Alfalfa, Kelp,Yogurt, Bananas, Papayas, Basil and Rosemary.

EMBARK 29% protein - 16% fat - Turkey, Flaxseed, Potatoes, Celery, Spinach, Carrots, Coconut, Apples, Kelp, Eggs, Sesame Seeds, Bananas, Cranberries, Rosemary.

The Honest Kitchen dog food and Eagle Pet Foods is endorsed by the Whole Dog Journal. To order call 858-483-5995 ~ www.thehonestkitchen.com

Note: Since you are using this to top dress your dog's food for variety and not as the whole diet, you can use either one of these formulas even for Great Dane puppies. Just use in reasonable amounts so you are not adding too many calories during growth stages.

Honest Kitchen Amounts for Puppies:

• 8-10 weeks - 1 Tablespoon
• 11-16 weeks 3-4-Tablespoons
• 4 - 6 mo 1/4 cup
• 7 - 8 mo 1/2
• 9 mo - adult 1/2 - 1 cup daily

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HOW I MIX MY DOG FOOD

• Put Eagle kibble in a bowl
• add Nzymes (dietary enzyme)
• add 4 in 1 Probiotic/Digestive enzyme
• add Flexicose
• add Colostrum

I add my supplements in the AM just because it is easier to do it all at once. I make gravy of tepid temp water and Eagle canned meat and add the Ox-E-Drops to this mixture.Top dress with a little fruit or veggie or the Honest Kitchen mixture at least with one meal a day. I tend to use my evening meal for the Honest Kitchen - just for variety.

WATER ON KIBBLE - Puppies 8-10 weeks use 1/4 - 1/3 cup water + 1-2 tablespoons canned meat. You want the food moist but not floating and sloppy. For older puppies and adults I will use 1 cup of water per meal along with my Eagle canned meat.

OPTIONAL - Top- dress the dog food Honest Kitchen
Honest Kitchen Amounts

• 8-10 weeks 1 Tablespoon
• 11-16 weeks 3-4-Tablespoons
• 4 - 6 mo 1/4 cup
• 7 - 8 mo 1/2
• 9 mo - 18 months 1/2 - 1 cup daily
• Adults - 10% - 15% of daily diet with Eagle Pack

Do not microwave, soak or use hot or very warm water on your kibble. It will destroy the integrity of the friendly yogurt type cultures and the fragile vitamins/minerals and amino acids on the food.

Water On Food:
Commercial foods need to be fed with moisture so dogs don't over consume water after a meal, and so the kibble does not pull moisture from the dogs system in order to break down properly. Use "tepid" temperature water never hot or warm and never soak your food as it breaks down and destroys nutrients. Mix up and feed immediately. I use approximately 1 to 1-1/2 cups of water for adults per each meal. Adjust accordingly for puppies. If they have loose stools, you may be using too much meat or water than necessary. Adjust that before you panic and think they are sick.

Drinking Water:
It is very important to NEVER withhold water from your dog. This can lead to over consumption and bladder infections. Use common sense, do not let them drink excessively after exercise or dinner. Like a horse, let them cool down and then drink. I have found if I have water available in several places, they never overdo it since they know it is available to them when they need it. That way they drink less amounts of water, but more frequently.

Withholding water for fear of bloat is a myth. Stress is the cause and bloat/torsion is the response. It is much more complicated that simply saying water is the cause of bloat.

(See my article on Bloat and Torsion for details) (See On My Soapbox)

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1) Co-enzyme-Q-10 - What is Co-Q-10

To Purchase: www.firstchoicenaturals.com

2) Taurine and L- Carnitine - Two amino Acids are critical to strengthen the heart -
You can get these from the health food store. Make sure you select a very good brand so they are usable by the body.

Taurine 100 mg a day
L-Carnitine 100 - 200 mg a day

These dosages are taken from the newest textbook Small Animal Clinical Nutrition and would be increased if the dog had been diagnosed with actual cardiomyopathy.

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Section C - Support Information

There are two supplements you can investigate that can help with diabetes 1) Cinnamon, and 2). Chromium Picolinate - search the internet for information on these two supplements and discuss the use with your veterinarian.

 

Read this: Does My Vet Understand Nutrition?

Vaccines

There are several articles and photos of vaccine reactions at this website. You need to know how to prevent vaccine reactions, because vaccine reactions in some breeds will kill your dog in a slow agonizing death known as Immune Mediated Response, which is always misdiagnosed as HOD. So, here is info:

Prevention of Vaccine Reactions

The AAHA recommended schedule for vaccination

Dr. Jean Dodd's Vaccine Protocols

Vaccine Reaction Photographs

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Special Alert - Antibiotic Reactions in Great Danes and Other Breeds.

Sulfonamide Antibiotics
Based on information gained from the National Bone Survey, I do not recommend using Sulfonamide* antibiotics to my puppy buyers because these drugs can cause serious side-effects like sloughing of skin and internal bleeding and HOD-like symptoms including;fever, aching joints, swollen joints, lack of mobility, depression and anorexia. The following antibiotics are sulfonamides.

• Ditrim
• Primor
• Tribrissin
• Bactrim
• TMZ
• TMP/SDZ

Another commonly used, potentially troublesome antibiotics is Cephalexin (Keflex, Cefa-Tabs). This can also produces the same symptoms as HOD (fever,swollen/hot joints, immobility, anorexia) even in adult dogs. I will use Chephalexin, but with a watchful eye and if the dog starts acting lethargic and achy, we stop the antibiotic, since they are sensitive to it. Call the vet for an alternative antibiotic and make sure you are using a good Probiotic product to keep the digestive tract functioning properly.

I will not use Sulfonamides drugs on my dogs. A reaction can happen from 24 hours - 2 weeks of being on an antibiotic. If there is a reaction, my vet recommends Dexamethsone/Azium and discontinue use or antibiotic.

* Research references on Sulfonamides

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Fleas - Heartworm

People ask me what I use for these problems. I use Interceptor as a heartworm preventative and for flea and tick problems I use a topical product- either Frontline Plus or Advantage, Advantix or Frontline products. I do rotate a different one each year. Because these are not systemic products, I feel a bit better about using them and because the dogs/cats and my self are also on Nzymes, which detoxifies the body, I am comfortable with using these products.