----- Original Message -----
Dear Becky,
Take care!
From: Eileen
To: taralabradors@msn.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 10:33 PM
Subject: How are you?
Hope you all are well. I sent you a couple of e-mails and got no reply, then got worried. BUT, it looks like I was using your old e-mail address!
It has been just over a year since we picked up Shadow from you. We are so in love with him. He is so incredibly beautiful, and the most perfect dog for us. He, unfortunately, seems to have some skin sensitivity to insect bites, or something, because he does get itchy after a day trip to the Great Outdoors. Last weekend we took him to Canaveral National Seashore, where he took some hikes and swam in the river. He has a fun life, and we always have more fun when he is with us.
Love, Eileen
RESPONSE: Hey Eileen, what is Shadow eating nowadays? If he is getting any corn products that can cause what looks to be a rash. Something has him torn up, his face is so precious! Let me know what he's eating so I can help with his tummy!
Becky
----- Original Message ----- He told me that if I wanted to feed him a home-made diet, to please wait until 18 months, when his bones would be fully developed. Shadow's skin is never normal, and to be honest, after going through this with my previous dog, I have sworn to never get another Lab. I just can't take the allergies. (The vet blames it on the breed.) I have given Shadow a trial of homemade food for 2 - 3 weeks at a time to see if that had any bearing on the skin, but didn't notice any difference. I changed his bedding, and thought I saw an improvement, but as soon as we take Shadow on a day adventure outside, the skin flares up, and it takes several days for it to quiet down. And it never gets normal. I bathe him once a week with some mild shampoo that the vet says is not likely to irritate his skin. Although I am a doctor, I am not flippant with drugs for humans or for dogs, and have not brought Shadow to the vet in about 6 months for fear that he'll just want to put him on medication. I'd like Shadow to build up his own immunity to things and do not want him on medication, period. I also do not think Shadow is miserable; he sleeps without a problem, is very happy, and does not seem terribly bothered with itching. I think it bothers me more than it does him. I would actually love to hear your input. Have any of your other labs had such a problem? Our house is mostly wood floors and ceramic tile; only the kids' bedrooms have carpet. And it really seems like the problem flares after a prolonged outdoor trip. Please don't rush on the answer - I've waited this long, another few weeks won't make a difference.
From: Eileen
To: taralabradors@msn.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 9:07 PM
Subject: Shadow
Dear Becky,
I'd love to unload on you, but I know that you just had a huge litter, and I'm sure you're very sleep-deprived. But...well...if you insist...
Shadow has had skin problems from the age of about 6 months, I guess. He has been eating Hill's Science Large Breed Puppy diet per my vet. He begged me to feed him this diet because of its calcium-phosphorus ratio that he felt was so important to avoid the hip problems that labs get as they got older.
Love, Eileen
RESPONSE: Rebecca Bailey
Hey Eileen, please don't hesitate to call me ANYTIME. If Shadow were on a raw, cooked food, or quality kibble...anything BUT Science Diet, I would not blame the food, but, I am convinced that is one of the worst foods there is for a dog. Your proof is his skin. Scarlett never has had a skin problem, nor Cyan....Scarlett did have ear infections till I went to raw and a special ear cleaner, but, never a skin eruption of any kind. His immune system is being compromised every day he is on this food. Please, if you must use a kibble, use Nutro Natural Choice, almost any but Science Diet.
Please read these comparisons:
Look at the ingredients in that food. A Labrador should be on adult food by six months of age, FOR kibbles, in that the food for puppies MAKES their bones grow....that's crazy that your vet would have him still on puppy food. Hills is corn based, one of the most allergy causing ingredients to canines, plus all the other deadly fillers Hills uses. In natural rearing circles it is called "death in a bag". Eileen, you can look at his tummy and see that your vet is wrong. He would be better off with your cooked chicken and rice and green beans for the rest of his life....
Please read the above links.
Why does he get bathed weekly? That's too much for his skin. Labs don't get that dirty. If you must bathe him after being in salt water or other water (lake, etc.) just use warm water to wash him down. You are removing his body oils
which help protect him from infections. A real bath every six weeks is enough.
Okay, the highest and best thing you could do for Shadow's skin is feed him a raw meaty bones diet. If you won't do that, please take him off the hills and put him on Nutro...if not that, at least a high quality food that does NOT have corn.
Corn is his enemy, and I hate Hills, for what they are doing to dogs all over the world, and what they have done to Shadow.
Please let me know how you are, how Shadow progresses, and remember I care about all of you.
Love,
Becky
http://www.preciouspets.org/healthypetnet/drjane.htm
http://www.nutroproducts.com/pdf/ncdog.pdf
http://www.rateitall.com/i-24987-science-diet.aspx
----- Original Message -----
From: Eileen
To: Rebecca Bailey
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 9:56 AM
Subject: Re: Shadow
Hi Becky-
Thank you for responding so quickly, but I do feel guilty bothering you when you have so many other things to do. I was very comfortable feeding Shadow my own concocted diet, which consisted of cooked foods. I knew raw bones were essential to the natural diet, and I had too many worries about the raw bones, so I was susceptible to the vet convincing me that the diet I was using was not adequate.
I suppose I could try again using just raw chicken necks, since they are small and easily chewed, and I could freeze them to try to eliminate some bacteria.
What I had been feeding Shadow was a mixture of cooked turkey and chicken, with one-quarter large can of Jack Mackeral per day (I thought I could get the calcium in that way). In addition, he had vegetable puree, yogurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal, rice, canned peaches or pears, and maybe 2 eggs per week.
He never had any gastrointestinal problems on that diet, but I really don't think his skin was any better on that diet. But, I can try again. As far as bathing Shadow- he goes swimming usually once or twice a week in the river or ocean, in addition to getting downright filthy playing with his doggie friends at the off-leash dog park we go to. I am a little bit of a neat freak, and Jeff is the biggest neat freak you ever saw, so keeping Shadow clean is necessary for us all to cuddle up to him, which we love to do. Again, I will try just warm water, at least until I see if I can clear up his skin, and see how that goes. What do you think about what I was feeding him? Anything I should eliminate or add? Maybe you can get Shadow all cleared up before his annual check-up, and I will be brave enough to resist the vet's frowns.
Thank you so much.
Love, Eileen
RESPONSE:Rebecca Bailey
Good Morning Eileen, what you are making yourself for him is great. Eliminate the jack mackerel for right now...some dogs do have issues with it. Simple is best when you are switching. One thing to expect is detoxification of his system...from whatever food to whatever food...it has to happen, and the evidence will be shown on his skin...this can take up to a month....that's why you may not have seen good results when you switched him back to your own program...it can takes weeks for the body to rid itself of the toxins built up by the kibbles he was ingesting. Get through that time frame.
We all have "white coat syndrome".... it's part of our being obedient and "good girls"....don't do it....you know what Shadow needs. Prior to 70 years ago there were NO dog food mega companies out there telling you that you are unable to feed your pet...and there were no cancers, etc. out there in the pet community either. Shadows skin is telling you that something even worse is happening inside him.
You can do this. Chicken leg quarters are easy to feed and have the right bone to meat ratio. Just take him outside and hand him one, he'll do the rest. Turkey necks take a bit longer to eat, but he will be getting the bone that he needs and a terrific teeth cleaning at the same time. Both of these foods need to be RAW if you give the bones, which he really does need. If you cook his food, NO cooked bones. Shadow has gastric juices that will eliminate any bacteria that could possibly be on raw chicken/turkey/beef....he has a very short digestive system, highly acidic, made for breaking down his food so his body can use it.
Some dogs are "allergic" to chicken, if after a month on chicken and he's worse, or not better, switch totally to turkey.
Eliminate one food at a time so you can discern the culprit. My guess is it's the corn in the Hill's.
Unless Shadow is ill there is no need for him to go to the Vet, especially for his approval. Even after you get Shadow well with real food, your Vet will find another reason for the "wellness", he was trained in nutrition by the pet food companies, probably an entire 2 hour course, and probably by Hills, and his school was most probably funded by Hills with scholarships and grants. Buyer Beware, caveat emptor! Vets (unless they are trained in natural methods) learn a myriad of data, no specialties, and nutrition is a specialty. YOU can do this better than he can. Did I give you Kymythy's book on raw feeding? Seems like I did, please re-read it to help bolster yourself.
About Shadow and the water...try to limit his lake swimming until you know what the change in diet provides. There could very well be some issues with bacteria in lake water that are causing the eruptions, especially since they come up after his trips into nature. I can't see salt water doing it...but, lake water, yes, that could be exasperating what the negative diet of Hills is doing to his immune system.
Ok, keep me in the loop, thank you for being pro-active....don't give up....and yes...YOU CAN DO THIS. When my GrandDaughter Ammi was little she was here for a visit most nights and she and Scott would eat pistacio nuts...she kept having little bumps on her face...till she was almost 3 years old, then we realized we were poisoning her with the nuts...took her off nuts and corn (ALL corn products) and never a bump again till she had popcorn at Disney last month (she's four now)....she can eat the nuts again but not the corn. Corn is highly allergenic, and Hill's food IS Corn. Shame on your vet.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Let me know how you are and if you need me.
Love,
Becky
From: Eileen
To: taralabradors@msn.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2005
Subject: Shadow
Hi Becky,
Thank you so much. You have given me hope. I am confident Shadow will be all better in a month's time. I cooked a turkey breast today and gave Shadow some ribs with meat (raw, by the way). I'll get to the store over the next few days and get some turkey necks. I wonder if Shadow doesn't do well with chicken, since that was what his major meat source was when I was cooking for him. Maybe I'll stick to turkey for awhile and add chicken after his skin clears up to see if that's the offending item.
I'll keep you posted, and thanks again.
Love, Eileen
----- Original Message -----
From: Eileen
To: taralabradors@msn.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Subject: Shadow
Hi Becky!
Hope the pups are doing great.
I am CAUTIOUSLY optimistic about Shadow's skin. He has gotten nothing for 1 week except raw turkey necks, some raw ground turkey, plain white rice and green bean mash. I will add chicken, other vegetables, fish and dairy VERY SLOWLY. He had a open, weeping sore under the collar area from his outing to the beach 2 weekends ago, and I was at my wits end with what to do with it. I kept his collar off, but feared he would get out without any identification on him. Anyway, 2 days after I stopped Hill's diet it began to heal, and now it is just a small patch of baldness. I think he has stopped scratching almost entirely, but I am still afraid to be too excited, in case the whole thing starts up again.
I will keep you posted...
Love, Eileen
----- Original Message -----
From: Eileen
To: taralabradors@msn.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2005
Subject: Shadow
Well, things are still going smoothly. I added chicken, so I'll see if things continue to go well. Thank you so much for your advice. Love, Eileen
----- Original Message -----
From: Eileen
To: taralabradors@msn.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 7, 2005
Subject: Shadow
Hi Becky!
Hope all your pups are doing well.
Shadow is PERFECT. I guess he's been on raw food for close to a month, and he will never eat anything else. He's on turkey, chicken, rice, peas, beans and squash so far, and I'm almost afraid to try anything else for fear of "upsetting the apple cart."
I'm thinking either the corn, oats or dairy products are what he had a problem with. He has Scarlett's skin and fur once again. He has no dandruff, never scratches, and can go anywhere in the Great Outdoors without paying for it by itching for the next few days. His fur is growing in on his belly, under his chin, and in his front armpit area.
I almost wish I had taken him to my vet last month so I could bring him in now and demonstrate what happened. He won't believe my testimonial, of course. I have cut down on his baths, and just rinse him with clear water as per your suggestion if he gets filthy. BUT, he doesn't need soap because his skin is healthy, he's not chewing at himself, and he smells delicious all the time. Even his breath smells good. If any of your future lab owners have a problem similar to Shadow's, I would be happy to tell my saga.
I'll send you a new picture in a few weeks when all his fur has come back.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Love, Eileen
We went to the Dog Park the other day and Shadow got a compliment on his beautiful coat. I just beamed.
Love, Eileen
RESPONSE:
Hooray for YOU and Shadow, thank you for telling me. Just got back from the Potomac
and checking all these emails...much love to you all! Keep up the good work Eileen, you
are a dream Mother! you never quit!!!
from Becky
Hi there-
We took Shadow to one of his favorite parks this weekend, and he spent the day running in the brush and swimming in the river. He spent last night SLEEPING, not scratching. This is wonderful.
Love, Eileen
from Becky WOOHOO....Eileen, it was the food tearing him up...thank goodness you took care of
him and you listened! Thank you for letting me know! I think I should take all your mails
and put them together (I hope I saved them all!) and put them on the site for a "lesson"
to those who want to use kibbles!
Love,
Becky
Rebecca Bailey (5-11-05)
Much love,
Becky
Hey Eileen, well, today one of my new families called me...pup is itching, they switched his food...
so,
I got all your mails and made a page.
I need your okay prior to sending it out and posting it on the
site. Let me know what you think, how you are, and how Shadow is...
and, if you have a better photo
of him I will use it instead of the one I have on the page...you decide....
Hi Becky!
Things are still going beautifully. Shadow seems to have a problem with milk products, so I do not give him any of that. I started him on carrots and he got a little red on his belly, so I stopped them. However, I am not sure it wasn't something outside. Anyway, I am going very slow with adding new foods, and if he gets itchy, I go back to turkey, chicken, beans and white rice until I can handle something new.
You may post whatever picture you want; however, I am going to try to send you the "before and after" pictures I promised you. Hopefully, they will come through okay and you will be able to see the difference. Life is completely different for all of us since Shadow is back on raw foods.
Thanks again.
Love, Eileen
We work, plan, educate and inform our puppy parents about our feeding program,
we hope and pray, for the sake of our puppies, that you listen.
If you don't, you can still call me, and I'll walk you through the path BACK to a healthy puppy.
Why not protect what you paid me for, an healthy, raw fed puppy,
and KEEP HIM HEALTHY? You chose me
as your Breeder for many reasons,
I'm positive you know I care about you ALL.
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