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Okay, Grissom went back to the vet today and it was the most productive visit of all time.
Guess what's wrong with him? CARBOHYDRATE INTOLERENCE! Even on high quality kibble, the carbohydrates are too much and are left undigested and are the perfect breeding grounds for all kinds of nasty bacteria. If I leave the carbohydrates in the iet, the issue could spread ll the way up the digestive tract and into the stomach. So obviously something needs to be done. The carbs in his dog food are going to kill him!
The vet recommended steroid shots every two weeks, and the MAXIMUM dose of antibiotic for his size. (a dose so high I was told to watch for lack of depth perception, uncoordination, and inability to walk straight like dragging hind legs) Also, some RX eukanuba low residue diet.
He advised against taking diet into my own hands, but he said everything I needed to hear. To me it makes more sense to simply eliminate the high amount of carbs in his diet and put him on a species-appropriate diet, and avoid steroid shots and lifetime antibiotics altogether, right?
Now, I've read various places that it can be dangerous to feed raw meat to dogs with a compromised immune system. I know he has immune issues (hence the mange) and I know raw is more nutritious, so can someone please tell me it's perfectly ok to still give it to him raw despite his weak immune system so I can lay my doubt to rest?
I can not express what a relief it is to finally have the source of the problem pinpointed. I never expected to have the vet fix it, just diagnose so I could find a holistic solution. Wow, months of stress and doubt put to rest, and now I can FINALLY help my boy. :biggrin:
Guess what's wrong with him? CARBOHYDRATE INTOLERENCE! Even on high quality kibble, the carbohydrates are too much and are left undigested and are the perfect breeding grounds for all kinds of nasty bacteria. If I leave the carbohydrates in the iet, the issue could spread ll the way up the digestive tract and into the stomach. So obviously something needs to be done. The carbs in his dog food are going to kill him!
The vet recommended steroid shots every two weeks, and the MAXIMUM dose of antibiotic for his size. (a dose so high I was told to watch for lack of depth perception, uncoordination, and inability to walk straight like dragging hind legs) Also, some RX eukanuba low residue diet.
He advised against taking diet into my own hands, but he said everything I needed to hear. To me it makes more sense to simply eliminate the high amount of carbs in his diet and put him on a species-appropriate diet, and avoid steroid shots and lifetime antibiotics altogether, right?
Now, I've read various places that it can be dangerous to feed raw meat to dogs with a compromised immune system. I know he has immune issues (hence the mange) and I know raw is more nutritious, so can someone please tell me it's perfectly ok to still give it to him raw despite his weak immune system so I can lay my doubt to rest?
I can not express what a relief it is to finally have the source of the problem pinpointed. I never expected to have the vet fix it, just diagnose so I could find a holistic solution. Wow, months of stress and doubt put to rest, and now I can FINALLY help my boy. :biggrin: