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Messages - TJApple

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General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Switching from Kibble to Orijen
« on: January 23, 2009, 08:10:30 am »
Thanks for the advice!  Sadie was throwing up, not drinking water and wouldn't eat anything for 2 days.  The morning of the 3rd day I took her to the vet.  They looked her over and said she was suffering from severe dehydration and that she would have to be on fluids for 24 hours.  They ran a bunch of tests and they came back with a bacterial infection.  We asked what would cause it and they couldn't really say.  When we mentioned she was on a raw diet, they figured that could be what caused it.  She had been on a raw diet for over 2 years without any problems.  The vet said that she doesn't promote raw diets because she has seen this type of infection before.  We didn't know what to do and weren't 100% sure it was the food but we switched her anyways.  It was funny though because they put her on an easily digestable food for 2 weeks until her system got working again.  The brand was Medi-Cal and when I read the ingredients, the first item was corn, which I thought they couldn't digest.  We are switching to Orijen because both of them are getting ear and eye infections again and Sadie has been vomitting about once a week.  We felt that with Orijen they get the benefits of raw but maybe it won't be as "risky" as feeding the frozen pucks.  We will see!

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General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Tell me the good, the bad, the ugly of having two!
« on: January 22, 2009, 10:56:15 am »
Growing up, we never had more than 1 dog at a time.  We currently have 2 Goldies aged 2 and 4.  Sadie is 4 and we had her since she was a puppy.  Sophie we rescued at 7 months.  We were torn as to whether we wanted another dog or not because of the work etc.  When we heard about Sophie, we couldn't say no.  She was living in awful conditions and spent her days tied up with a chain to a tiny porch.  Her diet consisted of baby diapers and bacon grease.  The first 2-3 months were awful.  We spent all our time trying to break her old habits.  Sadie was a little put off at first, but now, they are the best of friends.  I am happy to say that a year later, Sophie has done a complete 180 and I can't imagine life without my 2 girls.  It is a lot of work at times and they spend all their time fighting over the same ball, bone, or toy.  Anyone I talk to swears by having more than 1.  I have heard dogs tend to live longer when they have siblings!  GO FOR IT!!  You won't regret it!!   ;) 

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General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Re: Switching from Kibble to Orijen
« on: January 22, 2009, 10:49:59 am »
Thanks for the advice!  I was thinking the same thing, but was talking to someone that said to treat it like a raw food transition and go strictly on the raw right away.

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General Board for Big Dogs with Big Paws / Switching from Kibble to Orijen
« on: January 22, 2009, 10:02:53 am »
Hello all!  I am new here and just wanted some advice.  I have 2 Golden Retrievers aged 2 and 4.  They were both on a raw diet until the 4 year old developed an unknown bacterial infection and almost died.  We switched to a holistic kibble, but they are both developing weight problems and ear problems.  We are thinking of switching to Orijen and I am wondering if I switch them cold turkey like with regular raw food, or if you mix it with their kibble slowly over a 2 week period.  Any advice would be great!  Thanks so much!

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