About Laura Murphy Expertise Do you have a question about nutrition, including which food is best for your pet and which should be avoided? If you’re researching homecooked or raw diets, this is the place. I can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about raw feeding. Do you want to know whether or not you need to supplement your pet’s diet and, if so, which supplements are for you? I can help you with just about any question regarding canine and feline nutrition and feeding. Although I believe in the benefits of raw feeding, I respect anyone trying to do the best thing for their pets and will answer questions on any type of pet food.
I can address many areas of holistic pet care, including illness, homeopathic remedies, herbal remedies, and flower essences. We can talk about everything from vaccinating (and when not to), to skin problems, to cancer. Please note that I am not a veterinarian and any health-related information is from my personal experience and research, but I can be a good resource.
I can also answer your questions about pet rescue, including when to use them and what kind of pet is right for you. And I love controversial subjects like puppy mills and animal experimentation. If I don’t know the answer to your question immediately, I’ll research it for you.
Basically, if you’re got a pet question – fire away. Chances are, I’ll have something you can use.
Laura Murphy
Experience An animal lover and owner all my life, I spent years as a foster parent for a national rescue group and as a volunteer at my local Humane League. Many years ago, I began researching and using natural health care methods to treat both my pets and my family. I have worked with holistic vets to develop and provide custom homeopathic and Bach Flower Essence blends for their clients. In 2002, I started Pets By Nature to give pet owners who are seeking a healthier and more natural way to feed and care for their pets a reliable source of education, support, guidance, and products. Relying on honesty, integrity, and openness with respect to natural health care for companion animals, I am able to provide quality products, services, and information with the intent of helping interested pet owners learn about and practice a more natural method of pet nutrition and health care.
Education/Credentials I am a college graduate and full time Business Systems Analyst. I have written many articles for publication on my web site and throughout the local pet community. I have been a vendor at local dog shows and do public speaking on the topics of pet nutrition and holistic health care.
Past/Present Clients My clients range from new pet owners to 4th generation raw feeding breeders. I enjoy a wonderful professional relationship with several veterinary practices who refer my diets, supplements, and homeopathics to many of their clients. I ship supplements and flower essences all over the world, and provide a quality frozen raw food to the Central Pennsylvania area. Virtually all of my marketing is word-of-mouth referrals from my current clients and I consider them all my extended family.
Question I recently went to the pet store and they didn't have the usual brand of food we get ( Nutro large breed weight management) for our 5 year old English Bulldog. I chose the same brand, but it is a different food for overweight less active dogs (which she is). After a week or so of her on this new food, she has been vomiting and having to go outside to relieve herself more often. I feel terrible because I should have known to mix the old kind with the new food to get her use to the change, but we were completely out of food for her and I didn't think it would harm her. What should I do now? It has been almost 2 weeks on this new food...should I go and try to get the food she use to eat and mix it in with this new food? Should I just keep on with this new food and let her adjust to it?
Answer Shelly,
Don't blame yourself. Many dogs do quite well switching foods like that. I don't think it's so much the change in food as the food itself.
First of all, to combat the vomiting and diarrhea in the short term, buy a can of pumpkin (not the pie filling with the spices, but plain canned pumpkin) and feed her a couple of tablespoons several times a day. She will probably love it and eat it right off the spoon. If not, just mix it in with her food. It will add fiber to her food and will stop the diarrhea within 24 hours. It's perfectly safe to feed her as long as she's experiencing stomach upset.
I would suggest upgrading her to a food with more meat and less grains, especially the grain fragments and fillers that are in so many of the commercial dog foods. Go to a site called www.dogfoodanalysis.com. They do a great job of rating dog foods and explaining exactly what's in them. The Nutro is rated as a 2-star food. If you could upgrade her to a 4-star or higher food, she would do much better in the long run.
She would also benefit from some digestive enzymes. I use Prozyme and I mix it with a probiotic called lactobacillus acidophilus. A good friend of mine has an English Bulldog and she was soiling in the house and having various stomach issues. We put her on my digestive blend and she immediately stopped going in the house and has been fine ever since. This was without a change in dog food. Here's some information on what they do:
You certainly don't have to get them from me. Prozyme is available online and the lactobacillus acidophilus is available at any grocery store vitamin aisle. But they do wonders to help dogs digest the heavy amount of grains that most commercial dog foods use in place of meat, because grains are cheaper.
In short, try the pumpkin to get things under control quickly, consider a digestive enzyme and probiotic, and see what you can do about switching her to a food with more meat and less grains.
