Expert: Kaza - 12/20/2009

Question
QUESTION: what is the best food for my bichon i am giving him royal cannin twice a day ,but he has alot of tear staining around his eye.
can you sugest anything good to remove this.also he is chewing alot so i am giving him chews is this a good idea.
if you could advice me please.

ANSWER: RC is useless in my absolute honest opinion with this breed type. Change to raw natural food and all of your problems will be resolved. Chews yes but natural like bulls pizzle and venison tongue only.


for more info

www.eurobichons.com


please take your baby off this food asap

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for answer but can you suggest an alternative to raw food also what about the tear staining he has more than the normal dog.

Answer
Hi there
initially it should always be assessed by the vet in case it is one of many underlying eye disorders that these breeds lean to.
The vet should look at the dogs ears also to rule out infection and or ear mites at the same time as any check up.
I think that your dog is just the typical bichon and being white they tear up lots.
If you want a dried food which is not recommended for Bichons without also having some fresh veggies and meat or protein like pilchards and some cranberry in the diet to reduce tendency to stones crystals and struvites and oxylates.
Dried foods that may be better are

Fish for dogs   http://www.fish4dogs.com/

we use the dried fish skin sticks and blocks for our dogs, also the pouches occasionally and the salmon dried foods.

I would also recommend
http://www.orijenpetfoods.co.uk/

meaty bones help reduce tearing when teeth are coming through, winter times you may also notice the nose getting loss of pigment and looking lighter, this is normal.