Expert: Kaza - 5/20/2009

Question
tizzy is three years old she is always chewing and licking her feet. the fur is a dark brown colour.we have taken her to the vets to make sure there is nothing wrong with them.how do we stop this as sometimes she makes them sore.we feed her boiled chicken as well as leaving down dry food could this be the reason

Answer
Hi Jackie
this is clearly an intolerance to something she is eating or walking on, it could be commercial foods and or carpet freshener.
This is what I suggest, start an elimination diet, remove the dry food as this is usually the main culprit.
Start by giving her food in this manner :
Morning
grated carrot
oats as oatmeal or porridge oats
mix with salmon oil (www.bichonhotel.co.uk)
1 small tin sardines, or mackeral or similar oily fish in brine or sunflower oil or olive oil.


Fresh water throughout the day NO OTHER DRINK

Last meal

raw minced chicken or natural diet freeflow based by www.prizechoice.co.uk
I would suggest the tripe, poulty necks, heart chunks chicken wings.

these can all be given directly thawed

Her meat should be about 160g per day if given like I suggest.
Her veg and fruit makes up about 50 g daily.


Contrary to popular belief dogs do not require carbs, but, as a filler I would only suggest oats or ground oatmeal, or a tsp bran for fiber and to assist her anal sacs.

Supplements I suggest for the bichon breeds are as follows.

Lutein and eye bright  6mg 2 weekly  (for cataract supporta nd prevention)

Cranberry tablets 1 daily (for urinary tract support, these dogs are prone to all types of stones, struvites and oxylates)

Fibre diet pill 1 per week  (anal gland support )

Omegas 3,6,9 and Glucosamine and  chondratin 2 per week (to support patella , and skin )

All of these are readily available from Holland and Barratt.

For a more informative look at how Bichons should eat please feel free to join my global health site www.eurobichons.com

Those who now follow our recommended diets have noticed a marked improvement in their dogs some as old as 16.


K
(cucumber, sliced, apple slices , carrot batons as snack)