GREATDANELADY.COM
Linda Arndt ~ Canine Nutritional Consultant
Email:


Blackwatch Feed Program Large / Giant Breed - ADULTS


Ch.Areils Lira Black-n-Owlwatch

HOW TO USE THIS PROGRAM

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.


If you live OVERSEAS (India, Asia and South Africa) here is an alternative for you to investigate. FEED PROGRAM FOR OVERSEAS. If you live in the UNITED KINGDOM you have access to all the supplements in my BLACKWATCH FEED PROGRAMS FOR THE UK.


Section A.
Adult Program - Supplement Kit #4

This feed program is comprehensive and consists of 6 major components that are available in an Adult Program Kit #4 from www.FirstChoiceNaturals.com

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. Ox-E-Drops - help keep proper pH in the gut
 
6. Liquid Health Level 5000 - joint support supplement
 
Options for Variety - canned meats - raw options - fruits and vegetable

Where To Order Products

1. DOG FOOD - Super Premium Precise or Precise Plus (Holistic)

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

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

4. OX-E-DROPS - antibacterial, antiviral, antifungus - keeps pH of the gut healthy www.nzymes.com

5. Liquid Health Level 5000 - joint support supplement (glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and herbs). www.Liquid Health Level 5000 com - (online orders in the new "Adult Feed Program Kit" will have another brand of liquid joint support, that has been approved by GreatDaneLady.com)

6. 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

1. Food - Kibble and Canned - Note To My Puppy Buyers: Eagle Pack was acquired by Berwind Industries in 2007. Wellness was acquired by Berwind in 2008 and the two companies were merge into a single entity called WellPet LLC. Regrettably, due to changes in management, style of management, removal of key personnel, stopping overseas distribution of Eagle, and deep philosophical differences, I can no longer endorse nor feed the Eagle Pet Food product line. After careful consideration I will be using and endorsing the Precise and Precise Pet product line and recommending these to my puppy buyers.


1) FOOD: WHICH PRECISE/PRECISE PLUS PRODUCTS TO USE:

I am now using and endorsing the PRECISE line of pet foods. Precise has two lines - the Precise Plus Holistic line of pet foods and a Super Premium Precise line of foods. If you are feeding an adult dog, you have several choices to choose from in this line AND in the near future the Precise Plus Holistic line will be expanded!

To locate a distributor: www.precisepet.com

NOTE: If Precise and Precise Plus is not available in your area,

Here is my backup brand of pet foods that I recommend .

 

I choose PRECISE PET FOODS because it is a family owned company so all phases of the product are controlled by the company from sourcing of product to production and distribution. All products are made with human grade,a multi-protein source, not grain based, yogurt cultures (probiotics) digestive enzymes, prebiotics, glucosamine HCL for joint support, high quality usable minerals which are critical for proper growth and no bone diseases, no ethoxiquin, no BHA,BHT, only naturally preservative, vitamin C and balanced Omega 6:3 fatty acids. Precise owns their own USDA approved plant with a 100% safety record.

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.


2. Dietary Enzymes

Nzymes - is Dietary Enzyme, not digestive enzyme and it simply puts back the "living component" to a cooked, processed, stored dog food. As owners we must put dietary enzymes back into the diet, in order to maintain good antioxidant levels, detoxify the body and not deplete the body of this important enzyme. 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 or Deramaxx
  • 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.

Website to order : http://www.nzymes.com/ - 877- 816- 6500 - 8:00-6:00 PST


3. Ox-E-Drops - always use diluted in water

Ox-E-Drops is clear a safe liquid that will kill pathogens: bacteria, fungus and virus. When feeding raw meat it is particularly important to use Ox-E-Drops to help prevent problems with the pathogens in raw foods. An added benefit is that Ox-E-Drops Drops does not kill the good bacteria of the gut and helps to encourage the growth of friendly bacteria. I believe Ox-E-Drops is very important component to a diet in the possible prevention of bloat and systemic fungus infections, toxic and leaky gut syndrome, because if it's ability to help keep the proper pH balance in the gut which is important in breeds that have a tendency to bloat.

Ox-E-Drops can be use diluted (1 cup of distilled water + 1 teaspoon of Oxy-Drops) for a solution to clean out ears, eyes, to spray on skin or use as a colonic. It is very beneficial in systemic yeast infections as well.

Dosage - 1 drop per 20 lbs of body weight. Use daily on food, mix with a little water and your canned Eagle meat and use as a gravy. During times of illness - double this dosage.

To order: www.Nzymes.com or 877-816-6500


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 or purchase online at ~ http://www.firstchoicenaturals.com


5. Joint Supplementation

I have used Liquid Health Level 5000 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. For more complete information and ordering go to this website: Liquid Health Level 5000

Note: For kennels or multiple pet families Level 5000 comes in - 32 oz (quart) or even 128 oz (gallon) which lasts longer and goes further, particularly if you have several large breeds.


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


OPTIONS: For Variety - Meats - Fruits - Vegetable

I use Precise canned dog foods* for variety . 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.
For those who want to use raw meat I suggest using Northwest Naturals.

*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


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.

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 new supplements to your adult dog, add each thing 3 days apart to make sure they are used to it before you add the next thing. You can add the supplements in the AM or divide in the AM and PM meals.

I make gravy of tepid temp water and canned meat or homemade soup or low sodium soups or Northwest Naturals Raw and add the Ox-E-Drops to this mixture. (1 drop per 20 lbs of weight). OR Top dress with Honest Kitchen mixture (at least with one meal a day) or your own fruits and veggies.

Water on Kibble: - 1/3 - 1/2 cup water + 3-4 tablespoons canned meat. You want the food moist but not floating and sloppy (this is for large/giant breeds, reduce amount for smaller breeds accordingly).

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)


Nutritional Support For Special Needs Vaccine Reactions:

To help prevent this problem in adults, make sure they are on Vitamin C and Nzymes. I use the Nzymes Product to support the immune system, and prevent vaccine reactions.

Anesthethesia / Surgery:
This is important information about anesthetics and giant breeds. Print out for your vet. Also for any elective surgery, i.e., spay, neuter or emergency surgery such as bloat/torsion. I use Nzymes to detoxify and help with fast healing.

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.



Section C - Support Information - Required Reading

Read this: Does My Vet Understand Nutrition?

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 misdiagnosed as HOD. So, here is info:


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.

     
 

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
 

 

Home |About Us | Album | Interview | Articles | Links | Breeders Showcase | GREAT Great Danes | Linda's Artwork | Email:

Copyright © 2002-2003 GREATDANELADY.COM