GREATDANELADY.COM
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 20 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 of Wobblers. Again, I emphasize each component in this feed program has an important job to do, and is an integral part of the repair process. To use only part of this program defeats the purpose of trying to repair or support the body.This program has been used with success in a variety of breeds, and top breeders in Great Danes, but it is not to be considered "in lieu of" veterinarian diagnosis, advice or treatment. (See A Guide To Recognizing Bone Diseases).


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.

American Holistic Veterinary Site

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

Click Here: New Help for Paralysis and Wobblers Syndrome



HOW TO USE THIS PROGRAM

This program will be divided into 3 parts:

Section A. - supplements, and where to purchase

Section B. - description of supplements - what they do

Section C. - support information - for your puppy

Please print out for future reference and provide a copy for your veterinarian, since most are unfamiliar with how to feed large and giant breed dogs. If they have any questions they can contact me personally for assistance. Please note, I am not a distributor nor a retailer of any of the products used in this feed program. I have used them for years and test fed on my own pets and in some instances, I have done laboratory tests to check quality and analysis and also done my own long term feed trials on many litters. I do not recommend companies that are unethical in their business practices. This information is not to be used in lieu of veterinarian advice, diagnoses or treatment.

Section A. The Basics Program

This program is a comprehensive and consists of 7 major components and this is it in summary form. Detailed info to follow below.

Note: This complete program listed below can now be purchased in a Kit format ask for Kit # 9 Joint / Orthopedic Support from www.FirstChoiceNaturals.com

1. Dog Food - Natural/Holistic Super Premium - kibble and canned
 
2. Filling N The Wholes - whole food multiple vitamin/mineral + colostrum
 
3. Microlactin -a natural anti-inflammatory from milk protein
 
4. Nzymes - Dietary enzymes - natural anti-inflammatory- antioxidants
 
5. Flexicose - joint support supplement
 
6. RecoverySA - a new functional food for repair
 
Options. Variety - canned meats - raw options - fruits and vegetable
Where To Purchase Products

1. DOG FOOD - Eagle Holistiac Line or Eagle Super Premium Line- locate at www.eaglepack.com

2. Filling N The Wholes -a whole food vitamin/mineral supplement with micro minerals and immune, heart, joint and digestive health - includes probitoics/digestive enzymes.

3. Microlactin - is a natural anti-inflammatory for chronic inflammation of muscle/joint areas. www.firstchoicenaturals.com

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

5. FLEXICOSE - joint support supplement (glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and herbs). www.Flexicose com

6. RecoverySA - a new way to manage pain - http://www.recoverysa.com/

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.

Section B.

Description of Supplements - Who - What - Why?

1. Food - Kibble and Canned

My preference is the Natural/Holistic Eagle Pack line of Pet Foods which I have used for 20 years. Choose one of the following or you can rotate flavors on adults. Do not mix any foods or brands of food 50/50 for any length of time, other than transitioning over to a new diet which should only take 3 days on Eagle.. Mixing foods can cause nutritional imbalance. Here are Eagle choices:

  • Eagle Holistic Large/Giant Breed ADULT formula 24% protein - 14% fat
  • Eagle Natural - 23% protein 12% fat - a great basic diet
  • Eagle Holistic Chicken - 24% protein 14% fat - active adults
  • Eagle Holistic Anchovy/Salmon/Sardine - 23% protein/12% fat - skin/coats and picky eaters love this - stinky!
  • Eagle Holistic Duck/Oatmeal - 23% protein 13% fat - allergies
  • Eagle Senior - 26% protein 12% fat - seniors or weight loss
  • Eagle Holistic Lamb/Rice 22% protein 15% fat - sensitive digestion
  • Eagle Original 25% protein 15% fat - working/active dogs

I have provided a list of better food and my criteria for selection, located at this website - if you live somewhere where you can not locate Eagle.

For large and giant breed puppies, after 10 months of age you can safely switch to :

Eagle Large/Giant Adult Formula 24% protein 14% fat
Eagle Original 25%protein 15% fat
Eagle Holistic Chicken 24% protein 14% fat.

I choose Eagle because all products are made with human grade/organic ingredients,a multi-protein source, not grain based, yogurt cultures (probiotics) digestive enzymes, prebiotics, glucosamine HCL for joint support, high quality sequestered minerals which are critical for proper growth and no bone diseases, no ethoxiquin, no BHA,BHT, only naturally preservative, vitamin C and yucca and balanced Omega 6:3 fatty acids. This is the ONLY dog foods ever tested on giant breeds and it was done on several litters before it became available to the public. It has the longest track record for giant breeds of any food on the market. I directed the feed trials on this food 18 years ago as well as the Large and Giant Puppy food feed trials in 2002 so I know these foods work. Eagle owns their own USDA/Aphis approved plant.

To purchase Eagle Dog Foods:

  • Go to their website http://www.eaglepack.com
  • On the Eagle Home page click on Retailers or Purchase Online or International sales
  • Call Eagle - 800-255-5959 - they ship directly to you as well

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.

 

2. Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes

Filling N The Wholes - should replicates the living components found in diets in the wild, and unlike other nutritional supplements, it helps support digestive, heart, joint, ligament and immune functions all in one supplement through the use of green foods vitamins/ minerals, phyto-nutrients, antioxidants, l-carnintine, colostrums, micro-minerals, amino acids, omegas, probiotics (beneficial flora) and digestive enzymes.

To order: 800-937-1104 or purchase online ~ http://www.firstchoicenaturals.com

3. Microlactin - a ntaural anti-inflammatory intended to be used as a nutritional aid for the management of chronic inflammatory conditions 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 (multiple pets)

Nzymes - is Dietary Enzyme in a chewable healthy pet treat or in granular form. Nzymes put the "living component" back into a cooked, processed, stored dog food. Enzymes are heat sensitive and lost in processing/cooking of all commercial foods or making home cooked diets. As owners we must put dietary enzymes back into the diet, in order to maintain proper wellness and not deplete the body of this important resource. 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
  • 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. By incorporating Nzymes into the diet, you are putting back the "living component" into the modern processed and cooked diets. This gives the body the tools it needs for repair and good health.

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

5. Joint Supplementation

I have used Flexicose 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.

SHIPPING OVERSEAS - Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom - more added daily so check with the company to see if they ship to your country.

For more complete information and ordering go to this website: Flexicose


6. Recovery®SA - 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 on my Feed Program for Orthopedic Problems, which includes the Recovery SA product. 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/


Options: For Variety - Meats - Fruits - Vegetable

I use Eagle Holistic 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 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.

*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 these to your adult dog, add each thing 3 days apart to make sure they are used to it before you add the next thing.

I make gravy of tepid temp water and Eagle canned meat and add the Ox-E-Drops to this mixture. (1 drop per 20 lbs of weight).

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)

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

Section C - Support Information - Required Reading

Read this: Does My Vet Understand Nutrition?

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.

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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