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Linda Arndt ~ Canine Nutritional Consultant
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Dog Feed Program for Wobblers Syndrome

Introduction to Wobblers Syndrome

This feed program is used by many of the top breeders in large and giant breeds in the USA and overseas. This program has 25 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 offers suggestions for nutritional support and other


Gold Bead Implants have been shown to be very beneficial for epilepsy and wobblers syndrome and well worth investigating for your pet.

Support information about Wobblers.

Information on Gold Bead Implants for Wobblers

Permanent Acupuncture with Gold Bead Implants

Gold Bead Directory of Veterinarians (NEW!!)


I always recommend acupuncture and chiropractic work for orthopedic cases. I have used it on my dogs with very good results. To locate a vet practitioner in your area click here for a directory. Dr. Durkus who does the gold bead implants in Marion, Indiana also does chiropractic work.

American Holistic Veterinary Site

http://www.ahvma.org/referral/index.html


Click Here: New Help for Paralysis and Wobblers Syndrome


The Basics Program

This program is a comprehensive and consists of several components and it can be purchased in a supplement kit format from www.FirstChoiceNaturals.com

Feed Program for Wobblers Support Kit # 9 Orthopedic Support which is a 5% savings buying in a kit format.

FOOD INFO and CONTENTS of KIT # 9

Dog Food -(is not included in the supplement kit#9 ).
Precise Holistic Complete line up has large/giant breed puppy and adult formulas and an all breed Senior food I highly recommend for seniors or dogs with weight issues. Their Wild at Heart line of Duck/Turkey or Salmon or the new Grain Free Pork or Lamb/Turkey are available.
www.precisepet.com

1. Filling N The Wholes -a vitamin and mineral product made from real foods to supplement the body and support the immune, heart, joint and digestive health - it includes beneficial bacteria/digestive enzymes.

2.. NZYMES - dietary enzymes - in chewable Pet Treat or Granular (goes further) used to detoxify the body.

4.Level 5000 Joint Support - necessary for joint support.

5. Microlactin - anti-bacterial, anti-viral and keeps the pH where it should be.

FOR VARIETY ADD - fruits & veggies & Precise Holistic canned meats For a safe, balanced raw option use Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw or for http://www.darwinspet.com Diets Raw Nuggets or Bars.


For Pain:

If there is pain after being on the kit for a month, then try this:

Recovery®SA - a new natural way to manage pain. This is a new type of pharmiceutical, the wave of the future in drugs. I have suggested it's use in two situations and but had remarkable success used with my feed program. Recovery®SA contains Nutricol® a proprietary combination of proven ingredients extracted from grapes and tea. Nutricol® decreases trauma - from chronic lameness, surgery, injury and over-training - by both increasing the cell's resistance to damage & improving it's ability to repair damage. Contact: http://www.recoverysa.com/


Variety Use: Precise canned meat you can use Precise or any holistic canned dog food will work it is for variety I also use Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw (see below)

DO NOT SOAK KIBBLE AND LET SET, OR USE HOT WATER ON YOUR KIBBLE IT WILL DESTROY THE INTEGRITY OF THE NUTRIENTS AND PROBIOTICS - YOGURT LIKE CULTURES ON THE FOOD.


A Word About Lite or Low Protein Diets
Healthy older dogs or growing puppies should NEVER be placed on a lite diet with restricted fats and proteins. The only time an animal should be fed a restricted protein or fat diet is due to a specific disease. For weight loss, 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. For weight loss or diet for elderly dogs see feem programs. For puppies with orthopedic or growth problems (HOD, OCD, Pano) see Puppy Feed Program and for adults with orthopedic problems such as Wobblers, Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Spondyosis, etc see Feed Program for Orthopedic Repair.

Description of Ingredients in Program Kit #9

2. Filling N The Wholes - when I designed this vitamin and mineral supplement I wanted one made from foods so it mimics the foods in the wild that the dogs are missing in their daily feedings. I also wanted support for their heart, joints, digestive tract, skin and immune system so I stated with green foods and built from there. The incorporation of colostrum, carnitine, trace minerals and six different beneficial bacteria and 4 digestive enzymes sets this supplement apart from anything on the market.

To order: 877-343-2704 or purchase online http://www.firstchoicenaturals.com


3. Microlactin -derived from a milk protein and intended to be used as a nutritional aid for the management of chronic pain and inflammatation including musculosketal disorders in pets. www.firstchoicenaturals.com

One pet owner wrote:

"We started the your program and the Microlaction 1 week ago and Maggie thinks this is a gift God sent to her from heaven. Yesterday she went and got a toy because she wanted to play like she sees her brother play. Of course we modified the play, but made a big deal over her and her toy, so she was happy. She has not attempted to play like that in well over six months. We have also been able to reduce the prednisone again. We are absolutely going to keep using the Miocrolactin and supplements in this program...Thanks very very much!!!- Connie D."


4. Dietary Enzymes - in pet treats or granular form

Nzymes - is a Dietary Enzyme in a chewable healthy pet treat or in granular form. I have used it for 30 years because it provides real live food enzymes into a diet that may be cooked, processed, stored dog food. Nzymes provide the body with the right nutrients so the body to make the chemicals necessary to detoxify (clean out) the body and repair itself. I use it for detoxification and fast repair of tissue at a cellular level. It is necessary to prevent vaccine reactions in canines. to order : www.firstchoicenaturals.com


5. Joint Supplementation

There are many joint supplements on the market and I have test feed most of them and have choices Level 5000 Joint Support for my own dogs. It is by far the best on the market and it has optimal support and cross section of items to make a comprehensive product that works.

To Order: www.firstchoicenaturals.com



For Variety - Meats - Fruits - Vegetable

I use Precise or any quality 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 my kibble 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 for the benefits of using a safe raw component along with valuable fruits/veggies. This provides variety and
the best of both worlds for the owner without all the mess of handling a
raw diet and having to worry about whether the diet is balanced or not.

*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 or any of their other products which are carried at www.firstchoicenaturals.com such as Force, Keen, Thrive etc. Sometimes I will use PREFERENCE, which is strictly fruits/veggies and herbs. What's nice is to rotate these as your top dressing, your 10% component. Here are two examples:

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 and Wellnes pet foods are endorsed by the Whole Dog Journal.

To order call - 765 - 343-0724~ 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 AM and PM meal
5 - 6 mo - 1/2 cup AM and PM
7 mo - Adults - 1/2 - 1 cup daily - AM and PM


IF you want to do your own fruits and veggies here are some suggestions
FRUITS &VEGETABLE: 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 or chocolate.

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.


HOW I MIX MY DOG FOOD -

When introducing these components from the Kit #9 to your dog, add each supplement 2-3 days apart to make sure they are used to it.

Day 1 - Introduce Filling N The Wholes
Day 3 - Microlaction and Glucosamine Joint Supplement
Day 5 - Nzymes Granular

I make up some Honest Kitchen ahead of time and pull out a couple of spoonfuls. Then I make gravy of 1/4 - 1/3 cup tepid temp water and canned meat stir into kibble with supplements. Top dress with Honest Kitchen mixture (at least with one meal a day) or your own fruits and veggies. You want the food moist but not floating and sloppy (this is for large/giant breeds, reduce amount for smaller breeds accordingly).

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 1/4 - 1/3 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.

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.

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)


Other Nutritional Support

Heart Problems: If you own a giant breed or one prone to heart problems it is recommended that you use the highest quality protein food and supplement with these components. These are nutritional substances from food sources and do not conflict with medications or each other and are good to use for heart disease. Supplements for Heart Disease.

1) Co-enzyme-Q-10 - 90 mg day 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.

3) Colostrum - this amazing product will regenerate and rejuvenate the immune function as well as heart muscle. It is highly recommended for dogs with cardio.
www.firstchoicenaturals.com



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


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.

If you want a totally natural approach to flea/tick care I recommend these products - Neem Spray and FirstChoiceNaturals has a terrific spray by Liquid Fence.

Do NOT use spray flea repellents containing pyrethrums on your dog- I had it cause nerve damage to a Dane puppy, and it was diagnosed as wobblers. Once we stopped the flea spray and detoxified the dog, the symptoms went away.

 

Special Alert - Other Breeds:

For Collie/Sheltie/Aussie and Sighthound Owners (could effect some Great Danes)

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 heart worm preventative. 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 diarrhea 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

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/


Additional Support For The Adult Dog:

 

Go here for Spay and Neuter information Go here for leaky bladder information Go here for anal gland problems

Go here: For other articles that pertain to Adult Dog Care

 

       

       

       

       

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