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Linda Arndt ~ Canine Nutritional Consultant
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Blackwatch Feed Program for PANO

 
 
 
 

Pano is known as Wandering Lameness or Eosinophilic Panosteitis, and is due to rapid growth.... and it also happens in fast growing children, particularly males.

Pano is a self-limiting disease and will have spontaneous recovery in time. If left too long without a change in diet to reduce the pain there will be muscle wasting, something we want to avoid. The age for this condition can be from 6-14 months in large and giant breeds, with most cases seen from 9-12 months.

Pano or Panosteitis is the least threatening of the developmental orthopedic diseases. Pano is due to excessive growth rate which effects the long bones of the legs and often switches legs from day to day. This is from consuming too many calories than is actually needed by the body, or eating a diet with poor quality minerals, a mineral imbalance or lacking micro minerals. We can stop this condition quicker by slowing the growth rate with an appropriate quality food in measured amounts, adding MSM-Nutritioinal Sulfur to the diet to help with malabsorption issues, and Dietary Enzymes to help with inflammation.

ALERT:
An allergic reaction Chephalexin or the Sulfonamide antibiotics is often misdiagnosed as Pano in young AND adult dogs. True Pano does not happen in dogs after the growth plates are closed at 18 months but an allergic relation to antibiotics can happen at any stage of the dogs life and mimic of Pano

Please do not use Rimadyl or Deramaxx on this breed. They are fragile enough without compromising their liver functions.


Pano Program Summary

This program is a comprehensive and consists of 5 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. MSM - Nutritional Sulfur
 
4. Nzymes - Dietary enzymes - missing in all commercial foods - antioxidants
 
5. Flexicose - joint support supplement
 
Options for Variety - canned meats - raw options - fruits and vegetable

Where To Order Products

1. DOG FOOD - Eagle Large/Giant Breed Puppy Food or Eagle Natural Pack - 23% protein 12% fat 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. MSM-Nutritional Sulfur - not all MSM is alike - important for large breed dogs that often have issues with metabolic nutrient malabsorption of their diet. www.firstchoicenaturals.com

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

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

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.


Description of Supplements - Who - What - Why?

1. Food - Kibble and Canned

My preference in food is the Eagle Pack line of Natural/Holistic dog foods. I think the best food to use for your puppy is:
Eagle Natural 23% protein 12% fat
OR

Eagle Super Premium Large/Giant Puppy Formula 23% protein 12 %fat .


I can not correct growth problems on any other food so it is really important to make an effort to use these foods.

If by some chance you can't get Eagle write me first, if I am not available and you are in a rush to get food or change a diet due to growth problems - pick a company from my list of better foods and pick something in the 22- 24%protein range and 12-15% fat range.

Eagle Holistic Fish and Oatmeal is and adult food and not suitable for growing dogs and I do not recommend straight lamb rice diets for growth you need a multiple protein(meat) source in your foods to build good muscle mass.

After 10 - 12 months of age you can safely switch to :

Eagle Super Premium Large/Giant Adult Formula 24% protein 14% fat
Eagle Original 25%protein 15% fat
Eagle Holistic Chicken 24% protein 14% fat
Eagle Holistic Adult Large/Giant Breed 24% 14%

It is not necessary to switch, but some dogs need more calories at this age to hold weight.

I choose Eagle because all products are made with human grade/organic ingredients,a multi-protein source, not grain based, yogurt cultures (probiotics) digestive enzymes, prebiotics, glucosamine HCL for joint support, high quality sequestered minerals which are critical for proper growth and no bone diseases, no ethoxiquin, no BHA,BHT, only naturally preservative, vitamin C and yucca and balanced Omega 6:3 fatty acids. This is the ONLY dog foods ever tested on giant breeds and it was done on several litters before it became available to the public. It has the longest track record for giant breeds of any food on the market. I directed the feed trials on this food 18 years ago as well as the Large and Giant Puppy food feed trials in 2002 so I know these foods work.

To purchase Eagle Dog Foods:

  • Go to their website http://www.eaglepack.com
  • On the Eagle Home page click on Retailers or Purchase Online or International sales
  • Call Eagle - 800-255-5959 - they ship directly to you as well

HOW MUCH DO I FEED?

See chart below at bottom of this information or click on link and printout for future reference. AMOUNT TO FEED CHART


2. Dietary Enzymes

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


3. MSM - Nutritional Sulfur - there are many brands on the market but the one with the longest track record is the Vita-Flex brand that has been around for 25 yrs. MSM Corrects malabsorption of other nutrients such as minerals whose imbalance relate to problems such as osteochondrosis (HOD, OCD, Pano). It also helps with the pain and inflammation relief associated with developmental orthopedic diseases. www.firstchoicenaturals.com


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


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


Options: For Variety - Meats - Fruits - Vegetable

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. Then I top dress with one of the HONEST KITCHEN - an organic dehydrated raw meat /fruit/veggie mixe. I use about 10% of this in combination with my Eagle kibble.

*Do NOT use grocery store brand of canned food 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.

The Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw dog food is what I use to provide a 10% raw component to my dogs Eagle kibble. It is balanced in calcium and phosphorus ratios which are very important in growing and elderly dogs!

I use the EMBARK which has a raw organic turkey, fruits and veggies and sometimes I will use PREFERENCE, which is strictly fruits/veggies and herbs.

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

PREFERENCE
: 12% protein 5 % fat - Alfalfa, sweet potatoes, cabbage, celery, apples, spinach, organic kelp, coconut, bananas, zucchini, and honey.

One- 4 lb bag will make up to 17 lbs of moist meat/fruits and veggies and if used to top dress your kibble you can see it goes a long way. The Honest Kitchen dog food and Eagle Pet Foods are endorsed by the Whole Dog Journal.

To order call 800-937-1104 ~ and to order online go to www.firstchoicenaturals.com

Amounts I use of Honest Kitchen :

8-10- weeks - 1 Tablespoon each meal
11-16 weeks - 4-Tablespoons divided AM and PM meal
5 - 6 mo - 1/4 cup AM and PM
7 - 8 mo 1/4 - 1/3 cup l AM and PM meal
9 mo - Adults - 1/2 daily - 1 cup Divided AM and PM


HOW I MIX MY DOG FOOD

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 .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.

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)


Section C - Support Information - Required Reading

LEARN WHY GIANT BREED GROWTH IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER CANINES:

Understanding & Preventing Developmental Bone Diseases - Large/Giant breed Puppy Growth

PUPPY CARE GUIDELINES: is part two of this important information for your puppy. Click on link and print out. For information on appropriate crates, toys, bedding, collars, shots, ear taping, vaccines, puppy health issues etc. Puppy Care Guidelines - this is Part 2 to this program and a MUST to read.

COMMON SENSE TRAINING: The Puppy Toolkit


OTHER VALUABLE INFORMATION - HOMEWORK!

Read this: Does My Vet Understand Nutrition?

Common Puppy Problems hiccups- demodectic mange - puppy acne - vaginitis - picky eaters etc.

When do I spay or neuter?

Cropped Ears Or Natural Ears? If you have a puppy and intend to have have it cropped, make sure you read these articles. Should I Crop My Dane Puppy? and Anesthesia Guidelines For Croping. If your dog is already cropped, here is info for taping and aftercare.

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 misdiagnose as HOD. So, here is info:

Prevention of Vaccine Reactions

The AAHA recommended schedule for vaccination

Dr. Jean Dodd's Vaccine Protocols-2006

Vaccine Reaction Photographs


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. 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


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 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.


AMOUNTS TO FEED LARGE/GIANT PUPPIES

This chart is base the assumption that a dog may be crated or less active during the day while the owner is at work. Use this guideline to help prevent growth diseases in puppies. The most sensitive time for growth problems is from 3-6 months of age. Giants (Danes, Newfies, Pyers, Irish Wolfhounds etc.), start with the low - mid range amounts to start with - this is a guide- but I have found it is pretty accurate.

Note: Large breeds such as (Labs, Boxers, Collies, Goldens, Shepherds, Dobes, Rotties etc.), should be fed the low end amounts on chart up to 5 months, then at 5 months and up they tend to hold around 5-7 cups of food, unlike the giant breeds - so hold in this range of 5-7 cups -increase or decrease according to activity levels. You want them well covered, but with the last rib showing slightly.

2 months 2-4 cups per day - (divided into 3 meals daily)
3 months 3-5 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)
4 months 4-6 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)
5 months 5-7 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily
6 months 6-8 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)
7 months 7-9 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)
8 months 8-10 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily
9 months 9-11 cups per day - (divided into 2 meals daily)

 

Puppies: These amounts are based on a moderate caloric food (350-385 Kcal per cup). This is only a general guideline so they do not consume too many calories before 6 months of age, disrupting their growth patterns causing accelerated growth and potential bone problems. Keep the puppy lean, but not skinny. On a dog with a smooth coat, I want to just barely see the last rib if the dog is standing. That is the perfect weight for growth. If he is too lean, feed 1/2- 1 cup more per day. You have plenty of time to get muscle on them as the mature - show people are the worst at wanting them heavy to get them in the show ring. Just relax, you can't force an acorn to become and Oak tree over night.

NOTE: If your puppies seems absolutely starved on these amounts you can add a little more food as long as their legs don't start to turn left/right or bow out..or you can a homemade veggie soup component to the diet and it will not add too many calories.
Linda's Very Veggie Soup

2 large cans of chicken or beef broth - (low sodium or homemade) - NO MEAT . 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.

 

Adolescents: Young adult male great Danes may want to eat as much as 12 cups per day until mature. If this is so, you should switch up to a higher protein for example use a 25% protein 15% Fat and they will have to process less food. Once they are over 10 months of age you can move to the Eagle Holistic Chicken or the Eagle Adult Large/Giant Breed.

Adults: I feed my mature bitches(giants) approximately 5- 6 cups per day and mature males approximately 6- 7 cups per day. Older dogs and bitches approximately 4-6 cups per day.


Why do they go off feed?

For a couple of reasons - Hormones play a big role in your dog backing off their food - coming into season, the false pregnancy, teething around 5-7 months of age, and inactivity all have a hand in them backing off eating. Food consumption can be directly related to the amount of free exercise your dog gets on a daily basis. I have 2 Great Danes at home right now, 3 and 4 yrs of age - intact male and spayed female. Normally, the female at 125# eats 5 cups total a day of Eagle Adult Food, divided AM and PM. The male is 165# and in good weight on 6 - 7 cups a day. On my adults I also rotate Eagle Foods (Chicken, Duck, Fish etc). I open one bag, finish it out then switch to another, just because I want them to have variety. I also use the Eagle canned foods for this as well and added fruits and veggies. For details see the Adult Feed Program.

A pet owner writes:

"If we try to offer more food, it just gets left behind and they don't eat all of it."

As long as your dog is not running a fever, lethargic, vomiting, distressed or has diarrhea and you KNOW they are not sick, then it is normal for them to back off on their feed regardless of weather. This is natures way of telling you they do not need it - regardless of their weight, they are eating a nutrient dense diet and they need to take a break from it. Remember, in the wild, dogs would never eat on a daily basis, so they are telling you.."Mom, I don't need it - take it away!". They are not usually food driven like people who eat for a variety of other reasons; celebrations, misery, nervousness, pleasure etc. ...well, that is most dogs aren't. My Pug on the other hand, well that is another story!

How I Handle This:

Every week on one day I cut back on the amount by 1/2 cup each meal or 1 cup per day total - IF THIS IS A DOG THAT SELF REGULATES INTAKE and starts walking away from their food you may have to do this more frequently. My male is like clockwork...once a week he turns his up his nose and I would have to throw out half his food, if I didn't cut back once a week...then the next day he is ready to eat again.

Weather is a Factor:

Right now is July and we are in the heat of the summer (Indiana) which means humidity and horseflies, so my dogs are only out long enough to do their "business" a few times a day, then they come right back in the house until the sun sets.

Although they live in an in air-conditioned environment my male will drop down from 7 cups a day total to eating only 5 cups a day total --- and female will normally eat 6 cups a day total, will drop down to only 4 cups a day total consumption. This is because they do not get the free exercise they would normally get in good weather, so their intake is directly related to the enegy they expend. Less exercise means they need less food intake.

The only real exercise they get in the dead of summer is at night when the sun goes down, out the go to play. Their actual expenditure of calories is not as great in the heat or the dead of winter for that matter because of the decrease in exercise - so if you just remember that their intake is directly related to how much exercise they get you will realize you need to cut back at certain times.

If you don't remember they will let you know..they will walk away from their food. During this kind of weather it is not at all unusual for my males to eat half rations, by his own choice, for about 3 days, then back on full rations. This tells me he did not need the calories due to the fact that he is not expending much energy in extreme weather.


Lite or Low Protein Diets Older dogs and growing puppies should NEVER be placed on Low Protein or a lite or restricted protein/fat diet. The only time an animal should be fed a restricted protein or fat diet is due to a specific disease. Cut back the amount you feed rather than switch to a lower protein and lower fat. They need the nutrients and their brains, organ
functions and coats will suffer dramatically.

Special Alert:

For Collie/Sheltie/Aussie and Sighthound Owners
For those people who own Collies, Shelties, Sighthounds, Aussies, Border Collies, any breeds with Collie background or mixed breeds with any of these dogs in them, it is critical that you know there are certain medications your dogs CAN'T take. Do not leave it up to your vet to know this..YOU must print this out and know it - it is a matter of life or death.

These dogs have a sensitivity to Ivermectin (Heartguard Heartworm medication. Only use Interceptor. Other related drugs you can not use on these breeds or there will be neurological damage.

Other related drugs you can NOT use:

Metronidazole (which is used for diarreah and giardia)
Flagyl

Torbutol
Butorphanol
Morphine
Acepromazine
Ivermectin - Heart Guard

There are many different types of drugs that have been reported to cause problems in Collies, ranging from over-the-counter antidiarrheal agents like Imodium® to antiparasitic and chemotherapy agents. It is likely this list will grow to include more drugs as our research progresses.

Drugs that have been documented, or are strongly suspected to cause problems in dogs with the MDR1 mutation:

Ivermectin (antiparasitic agent)
Loperamide (Imodium®; over-the-counter antidiarrheal agent)
Doxorubicin (anticancer agent)
Vincristine (anticancer agent)
Vinblastine (anticancer agent)
Cyclosporin (immunosuppressive agent)
Digoxin (heart drug)
Acepromazine (tranquilizer)
Butorphanol (pain control)
Potential Problem Drugs

The following drugs may potentially cause problems when given to dogs that have the mutation. Biochemical studies have shown that this gene has the potential to act on over 50 different drugs.

Ondansetron
Domperidone
Paclitaxel
Mitoxantrone
Etoposide
Rifampicin
Quinidine

Morphine

Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory
PO Box 2280
Pullman, WA 99165-2280
(Phone/FAX 509-335-3745)
VCPL@vetmed.wsu.edu

 

Here is the link for more drug information


 

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