Mobile Bay Reef Keepers

Whenever I say "rat terrier" I feel like I need to take a bath.

She is on Science Diet, large breed puppy food.

If you saw him you would want to take a bath too because he is always nasty from rolling around in the dirt. My brother has a Lab and my mom's Rat Terrier is in love with the Lab. So I joked if they had puppies they would be "Lab Rats".

We used to feed Bava Nutro, but switched to Canidae, then Diamond and Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul.

We took him off the Nutro because we didn't want him to grow too fast and put stress on his little joints (well, they're big now) and they made his poops look funny and they were much softer.

http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/ here's the link for the food.

The Nutro Large breed puppy formula is 28% protein, was too high for giant breeds and felt like there was too much filler.
Don't like science because of all the corn filler, Hill's uses a ton of corn in their foods.

Am very impressed with the ingredients in Chicken soup for the pet lover's soul, and canidae as well. The Solid Gold foods look really good but didn't want to gamble with how well bava would tolerate alternative protein sources.

my 2 cents.. But Am VERY glad Java is coming home and hope she's feeling well soon.. Bava sends licks & sniffs.

Just feed them Ol' Roy !!!!!

Most of the high end pet foods now use human grade meats, and more digestible grains....they are definately worth it, especially for animals with immune system issues. They are a bit more expensive, but the difference is amazing. Science diet is fine for lots of animals, but they do use alot of filler and chemical based preservatives that are really hard on sick or weak animals systems.

You might also want to consider her shots, at least till her immune system gets stronger. Just don't let them give her more than one at a time, as each shot is really hard on them and all the shots at once can really overload their immune system.

You just have to think a little differently with her for awhile, watch what chemicals she comes in contact with, foods and medicines, etc. until her immune system has a chance to get stonger.

I'm sure she'll be a happy pup to get back home!

So I am confused.... Science Diet isn't good for the dogs immune system?
I am willing at this point to do what ever I need to, to make her better and to help her gain weight.

She had just finished her puppy shots, the Friday before she got sick, approximately a week before- but we are going to discuss the issues with repeating her immunizations. Vet thinks that we will probably have to.

As for chemicals well the house and part of the yard has been decontaminated with bleach and lysol. I am not sure what the effects of bleach and grass are but ummm I would much rather have dead grass than her reinfect herself.

Will keep you up to date.

Well personally I don't like nor will I feed my dogs anything that contains chicken (or any other animal) by-products. Chicken by-products are the heads, feet, and intestines....pretty much the left overs that are not suitable for human consumption....not a good source of protien. And if I'm not mistaken, Science Diet contains chicken by-products. There are several good higher quality foods that contain human grade meat products. Corn is not a good thing in dog food either. The dog foods that you can buy at Walmart or any other grocery store are not good quality foods.

Your bleaching my grass ?

Yep

Science Diet has a lot of filler aka "shit" to be blunt. The feed store in Robertsdale sells the Chicken soup for the petlovers soul dog food, Also, Pet Supplies Plus or whatever the heck the pet food store is on Hillcrest.

I'd go for a premium dog food for a dog with a compromised immune system.....if she gets diarrhea, boiled hamburger and rice are supposed to be good for their belly's. Can she tolerate yogurt? for the live bacteria?

She's not gonna be like doggie in a bubble is she? Like a giant hamster ball?

Well she is not quite herself but we are just glad to have her back with us.

She looks like she feels "ikky" but kinda has that "it's good to be home" look.

Science Diet also uses chemical preservatives, which aren't so bad normally, but are rough on a sick animal's system. No need to push it.
It's not too much the "doggie in the bubble" thing, but it sure seems like it at first! You get used to it after awhile, it's like any "kid" with health issues.....watching what goes in....and what comes out.....

I've had a number of cats with immune system disorders over the years (Feline Aids, Feline Lukemia, FIP) and it's really amazing the things you learn about this stuff if you're willing to try. There are some good books out there that help alot. I can honestly say I've learned alot about life from those experiences, and if I had the chance to do it over I'd do it in a heartbeat.

I hope she continues to do better, and I'm sure she will, being around those that love her, it makes a huge difference.