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Dog Food (Canine Diet and Nutrition)/Questions Answered by Expert Laura Murphy
| Subject | Date Asked |
| dog on science diet c/d | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: My 7 yr. schnauzer mix spayed female was diagnosed with struvite crystals and was put on science ... A: Susan, The best thing I know to combat struvite and oxalate crystals are homemade diets formulated ... | |
| Weighing the pet food options | 12/23/2007 |
| Q: I hope this message finds you well and I hope that you are enjoying the holiday season. I know that ... A: Emily, EVO is a very good food - I generally prefer canned to dry, but it's really up to you and ... | |
| Doggie bad breath | 12/21/2007 |
| Q: ..I meant to send you this question but for some reason it went to Labman and other than telling me ... A: Alli, LOL. Yes, my fellow expert and I definitely have polar-opposite ideas about canine nutrition, ... | |
| dog food | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: My 3yr old lab/golden is on Science Diet and I want a better food but not to expensive. Any ... A: Jen, Personally, I hate Science Diet and Pro Plan about equally. They are only considered "top" ... | |
| will not eat | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: We have a 2 yr old Papillon and he just won't eat. I have tried just about every dry food and wet ... A: Nancy, Sorry for the delay - If you Papillon is partial to tuna, try some homemade diets using ... | |
| dog food | 12/14/2007 |
| Q: My 3yr old lab/golden is on Science Diet and I want a better food but not to expensive. Any ... A: Jen, Take a look at a site called www.dogfoodanalysis.com. Check out the Science Diet and you'll ... | |
| food | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: She is going to the bathroom about 3times a day so the vet said to change to reg science diet ... A: Jen, Your dog is itching and scratching because of all the grains in the Science Diet. I would ... | |
| raw diet | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: But what do I have to do to wheen him out of his kibble. I read an article on line that said to just ... A: Oscar, Congratulations on your puppy and your desire to feed him a healthy raw diet. I switched ... | |
| Puppy Food | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: Can you please recommand a good puppy food, I'm currently feed my beagle puppy Science Diet because ... A: Danielle, Of the ones I found at the Petco site, Natural Balance would be one of the better ones. ... | |
| Puppy Food | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: Can you please recommand a good puppy food, I'm currently feed my beagle puppy Science Diet because ... A: Danielle, I just spent a few minutes going through Petco's website to see what foods they offer ... | |
| correct puppy food for my siberian husky | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: i have a 6 month female siberian husky i have been giving her iams she will have somedays with the ... A: Olivia, First of all, I am a raw feeder and believe that raw chicken with bones as well as other ... | |
| Dogs and Chicken | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: My dog loves chicken, and I was wondering is chicken ok for him to eat? A: Ashlyn, Chicken is perfectly great for him to eat. He can even eat it raw. Just make sure he ... | |
| changing dog food | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: I recently went to the pet store and they didn't have the usual brand of food we get ( Nutro large ... A: Shelly, Don't blame yourself. Many dogs do quite well switching foods like that. I don't think it's ... | |
| My Jack Russell Terrier | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: ANSWER: Jessica, What are you feeding her now? Laura Murphy Pets by Nature www.petsbynature.com ... A: Jessica, I believe Pedigree to be an extremely poor quality food. Unfortunately, Purina has a lot ... | |
| Change in eating | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: My dog does not seem to be very interested in his food and he does not seem to be eating as much, is ... A: Charlotte, There are a number of reasons a dog can go off his food. Dry foods are prone to ... | |
| homemade food | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: My 13 yr old yellow lab was put on a I/D canine diet for diarrhea. The vet recommend it for the ... A: Sandy, Ack! I/D food for the rest of his life? That's awful! Hills Prescription diets are ... | |
| my German sheppard | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: My German shepherd is having allot of problems with his weight. the vet did blood work and ... A: Susan, Sorry for the long delay - I was out sick last week. I'm a little concerned that your vet ... | |
| Canine diet | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: What would be the normal amount of food to feed a 25 lb. cocker spaniel - She is 15 years old and in ... A: Many dogs are food-motivated and constantly act as though they're starving. My guys are no ... | |
| Itchy skin | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: I have an 18 month make Chesapeake Bay Retriever he has been chasing his tail incessantly and biting ... A: Jill, You mention the vet prescribed steroids, but what was the diagnosis? Did the vet seem to know ... | |
| Lab Feeding | 11/27/2007 |
| Q: I would like to know how much dry science diet food to feed my 75 pound lab that I got from the ... A: Congratulations on adopting a dog. I am a raw feeder. My guys get only raw meat, bones, and ... | |
| Switching Dog Food | 11/27/2007 |
| Q: I have a three year old dog that I'm going to be switching her food from Pedigree (wasn't my choice, ... A: Lindsey, Thanks for my favorite kind of question. First, let me congratulate you for making the ... | |
| food | 8/26/2007 |
| Q: I'm trying to improve my dog's diet and started feeing him home cooked meals (can't bring myself to ... A: I don't see any problem with doing home cooked when you can and the EVO when you can't. It's a good ... | |
| BARF ;) | 8/23/2007 |
| Q: How does someone go about feeding a raw food diet for their dogs and cats when they only make 25,000 ... A: Savannah, I feed a raw diet for far less than I was spending on dry dog food years ago. I get my ... | |
| Feeding Elkhound | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: My Elkhound is almost 11 months old. She gets about 2 - 3 hours of exercise every day. We feed her ... A: I love your question -- (keeping her girlish figure!) I would not consider the elkhound to be a ... | |
| yellow lab dog food | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: Laura, do you have an opinion about a suggestion for a dry food we can switch to that would help ... A: Sorry, for the delay -- I'm going to have to go offline here for a while and have been trying to ... | |
| Chihuahua puppy | 8/21/2007 |
| Q: I have an 8 week old Chihuahua and a few days ago he started pooping soft with blood in it. I seems ... A: I know many people disagree, but I believe that Hill's Products (Science Diet) are among the worst ... | |
| Food | 8/20/2007 |
| Q: I have a german shepherd and rottweiler. I have decided to change their food as the german shepherd ... A: There are a lot of different opinions on the best way to feed a dog. Like everyone else, I have my ... | |
| Raw Food Diet | 8/20/2007 |
| Q: After doing some research in response to the wonderful information you've already given me, I am ... A: You'll hear a lot of conflicting opinions on whether or not you should mix a raw diet with a ... | |
| Post bladder stone surgery diet | 8/15/2007 |
| Q: My 8 year old bichon/poodle had surgery last week for bladder stones. The analysis says they were ... A: Struvite stones are very common. My Brittany had them for 3 years. He was on Vitamin C supplements ... | |
| Homemade food for dog with struvite bladder stones | 8/15/2007 |
| Q: My ~30#, 9 year old miniature schnauzer mix has had surgery for struvite bladder stones twice, and ... A: Struvite stones are very common. My Brittany had them for 3 years. He was on Vitamin C supplements ... | |
| feeding my maltipoo | 8/15/2007 |
| Q: My maltipoo is 6 pounds.I feed her some dog food, but mostly chicken or beef. How many times a day ... A: Bernadette, Sorry, I missed the part about the teeth. I don't know how old your dog is. If it were ... | |
| feeding my maltipoo | 8/14/2007 |
| Q: My maltipoo is 6 pounds.I feed her some dog food, but mostly chicken or beef. How many times a day ... A: A 6 pound dog needs 200-250 kilocalories of food a day. Beef is approximately 55 kilocalories per ... | |
| Dog ate magnets | 8/13/2007 |
| Q: My dog ate a 1/2 inch by an inch magnet off of a fridge door magnet. Will this harm her? She is a ... A: The magnet might be small enough to pass through without any difficulty. I would keep a close eye on ... | |
| boil like bumps on my dogs lower belly | 8/12/2007 |
| Q: I have a 4mth old Weimraner, every now and then she will have a bump about one inch above where she ... A: You can send me a pic at laura@petsbynature.com. For more information on the type of food I feed, ... | |
| upset stomach | 8/12/2007 |
| Q: My puppy has an upset stomach and I was wondering what I can do or give him to make it better. Also, ... A: I'm a huge advocate of natural diets. My personal favorite is a raw diet consisting of at least 75% ... | |
| weimaraner skin | 8/12/2007 |
| Q: My five month old weimaraner has in the past few days come up with this, hive like skin problem. ... A: It's probably not something that anti-biotics would cure. It sounds to me to be more like an ... | |
| My Chihuahua | 8/11/2007 |
| Q: I give my chihuahua science diet food brand, because the vet. told me too. i gave her some food and ... A: Your chihuahua is vomiting up the science diet because there is arguably not a lower quality food on ... | |
| boil like bumps on my dogs lower belly | 8/10/2007 |
| Q: I have a 4mth old Weimraner, every now and then she will have a bump about one inch above where she ... A: If they keep coming back, I doubt it's a hair follicle. The skin is the largest organ and the first ... | |
| feeding my 11mo. old maltipoo | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: I feed my maltipoo chicken and some beef. She won't eat her dog food. Is this ok? A: It's not a bad start, but if you could get her to eat a more varied diet, it would better in the ... | |
| Rednose pitbull | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: i have a 1year old who constantly has skin infections over her mouth, tummy & underarms which look ... A: Sorry for the delay. I really don't think the problem's diet related. You're feeding a good diet and ... | |
| Possible bladder stones in my 7 year old cock-a-poo | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: Recently I took my dog for her yearly exam..she's a 7-year-old cock-a-poo. Her vet feels that she ... A: You're right - I don't think $300 in tests is warranted at this point if she has no symptoms of ... | |
| pedro!! my love | 7/19/2007 |
| Q: i have a chihuahua .. i love him like a child .He is a little large for his breed. Is there any way ... A: Your dog's skin (and coat) is the biggest organ in his body and the quickest one to react to ... | |
| knuckle bone | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: .. Can you please advise the best way to roast a beef knuckle bone(temperature and length of time) ... A: sorry for the delay. I'm just not sure on this one. I've only ever fed bones raw and wouldn't feel ... | |
| bad dog breath | 7/14/2007 |
| Q: I have a 10 year old dachsaund/ chihuahua mix that has recently developed unbearable bad breath. ... A: I get this question a lot. First and foremost, you should have her checked by a vet. Most 10-year ... | |
| Flint River Ranch - Good choice? | 7/13/2007 |
| Q: I have two dogs, both herding mixes, who I would like to switch to a more natural/organic feeding. ... A: First, congratulations on trying to find a better food for your companions. I believe that a ... | |
| Puppy excitement with food | 7/13/2007 |
| Q: I have a Weimaraner puppy that is 12 wks old. Every time I go to feed him he goes crazy, like he ... A: I have to admit that one of my guys is the same way and has been all his life. Some dogs are just ... | |
| knuckle bone | 7/13/2007 |
| Q: .. Can you please advise the best way to roast a beef knuckle bone(temperature and length of time) ... A: Actually, the best way to give your dog a beef knuckle bone to avoid splintering is raw! (As a ... | |
| Pet Smells | 7/11/2007 |
| Q: Laura, I have a 1.5 year old cairn terrier. I love my little guy to death, but he smells really bad. ... A: Okay, tough one, but here goes -- My first comment is that the skin is a reflection of the overall ... | |
| chronic skin disease | 7/10/2007 |
| Q: I have a two year old red nose pitbull and when he was smaller he use to break out with rashes and ... A: First, let me say that allergic dermatitis is an extremely frustrating condition but one I think can ... | |
| Dog Food | 7/9/2007 |
| Q: I have my 13 year old Greyhound and 4 year old Labbie on Wellness food. Both are experiencing soft ... A: Wellness is actually one of my favorite commercial foods (and for a devoted raw-feeder, you don't ... | |
| cat food | 7/9/2007 |
| Q: I have a 6 mo old chihuahua 3.3lbs that had 2 seizures a day apart I took her to the vet and he said ... A: Melissa, There is some literature that links taurine overdose to liver failure, but it's not 100% ... | |
| Extra supplement for puppy eating adult food | 7/7/2007 |
| Q: I have a 4 month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for 2 months now. She thrived on her food when I ... A: Many will disagree with me, but I don't believe that the commercial puppy formulas are any more ... | |
| Best food/bad breath | 7/6/2007 |
| Q: My Yorkie is almost 6 months old. When I firt purchased him, the breeder had him on Pedigree so ... A: There are several raw food diets in Maryland. It depends on where you live. Here's a link to all the ... | |
| Best food/bad breath | 7/6/2007 |
| Q: My Yorkie is almost 6 months old. When I firt purchased him, the breeder had him on Pedigree so ... A: Yes, bad breath is definitely diet-related. There are a couple of things you can do to help. First, ... | |
| dog food | 7/2/2007 |
| Q: i own a 3 month old labrador male pup.i am planning to raise him up as a vegetarian.i wud b happy if ... A: Sorry for the delay, but I wanted to research this before giving my answer and I'm glad I did. ... | |
| how much food? | 6/30/2007 |
| Q: I have a 6 year old female cairn terrier that needs to lose 2 pounds...how much food should I feed ... A: That's really hard to say, because no two dog foods are the same and I don't know what you're ... | |
| Seizures | 6/29/2007 |
| Q: I have a 11 y/o female Min Pin. My dog starting having slight mini seizures about fiver years ... A: Sorry for the delay - I was unavoidably away from the computer for a couple of days. Intermittant ... | |
| Crystals in Great Dane's urine | 6/29/2007 |
| Q: Scooby, my 4 year old Dane has blood in his urine. Xrays do not indicate bladder stones. ... A: Scooby sounds exactly like my Brittany, Dixon, did for the first three years of his life until I ... | |
| Natural Food | 6/28/2007 |
| Q: Laura, We are planning on switching our 16 month old male Lab to a more natural diet. We have been ... A: My favorite processed dog foods are as follows: Dry: Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul C&P's ... | |
| Overweight dog | 6/26/2007 |
| Q: I have a 6 year old mixed breed dog (he looks mostly Doberman--possibly hound mix and a little ... A: Betty, I think it's much easier to get a dog to lose weight at a healthy rate when you make your ... | |
| feeding | 6/25/2007 |
| Q: Is it ok to put human food in with there dry food ? A: Julie, Absolutely, in fact, I highly recommend it, provided it's good food and not something they ... | |
| puppy won't eat | 6/24/2007 |
| Q: I have a 8 week old pup, we have had her for 4 days.....she started getting diarrhea and now won't ... A: First of all, you can see if she will drink some beef or chicken broth (I use the low-sodium type). ... | |
| food to feed a female chihuahua ince having puppies | 6/24/2007 |
| Q: my female chihuahua just had a litter of 5 puppies on 6-21-07 4 survived the runt died today, i am ... A: All my clients who are breeders feed a natural raw diet and simply increase the amount fed while the ... | |
| eating grass | 6/23/2007 |
| Q: my 1year and nine month old german shepard-weimeramer has been eatign grass lately. Hes crazy for ... A: I have found that some good digestive enzymes can help with this. The foods they're eating are ... | |
| Worms found in Dog Food | 6/21/2007 |
| Q: Will these worms harm my puppy Corgi (9 months old) and why are there worms in the dog food (dry) ... A: Yes, they will harm your puppy. Worms in any form are not something you want him to ingest. They ... | |
| dog food question | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: I have a 5 yr old Shih-Tzu who just recently has had issues with bladder stones. We just had surgery ... A: My Brittany used to have a huge problem with bladder stones, as well, and it wasn't resolved until I ... | |
| my shi tzu | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: i have a 6 month old shi tzu dog. he refuses to eat his own pedigree puppy food from the bowl and ... A: You could try switching to a canned or semi-moist food. He might find that more palatable. You could ... | |
| dog refuses to eat | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: I have adopted a 5 yr old Chihuahua who turns his nose up at all foods. The foster mom gave me what ... A: There are several things you could try to get you adopted baby interested in food again. First, you ... | |
| Dietary Problems or serious health problem? | 6/20/2007 |
| Q: OK, I have had my dog, Oscar for about 3 years. He is an Australian Shepherd Mix, looks more like a ... A: The first thing I would do is to add digestive enzymes and probiotics to his diet. A good digestive ... | |
| PUPPY FOOD | 6/18/2007 |
| Q: HI THERE I HAVE A YELLOW LAB MIXED WITH COLLIE AND MY QUESTIONS IS SHE IS 3 1/2 MOTHS OLD AND I DONT ... A: I assume you're feeding her some sort of dry dog food. If that's the case, the directions should be ... | |
| cannot find suitable, affordable dog food | 6/17/2007 |
| Q: i have two dogs; 9 yr old mixed rescue dog and an 8 yr old german sheperd who have been battling ... A: I'm sorry you're having such a tough time with your dogs. Unfortunately, all the cheaper dog foods ... | |
| Raw bones (again!) | 6/15/2007 |
| Q: It's me again. The one with the rabbit dog (beagle)who's only reason to live is running rabbits. I ... A: Have you thought of auditioning her to be the new Energizer Bunny? I think she would be outstanding! ... | |
| Food | 6/15/2007 |
| Q: I have a dog, she's about one and a half years old now. I recently took her off Purina Puppy Chow, ... A: Your dog is old enough for an adult food, but Purina wouldn't be my first choice. Basically, ... | |
| Flea Control | 6/11/2007 |
| Q: I have always used Advantage and HeartGard on my two dogs over 55 pounds. . .I see that Revolution ... A: Flea and tick season is upon us and everyone's thought turn to keeping those little critters out of ... | |
| Dog food | 6/11/2007 |
| Q: I live in India and i have a GSD of 14 months , my question is that the food : Pro pac availaible ... A: You are doing a fantastic job of reading those labels and trying to get the best possible food for ... | |
| human grade herbs and supplements | 6/7/2007 |
| Q: I want to make a raw diet for my dog. I need to use things like bone meal and flax seed oil. The ... A: I think it's great that you want to feed your dog a raw diet. For the most part, the pet sites are ... | |
| Raw Dog Food | 6/7/2007 |
| Q: My mom is trying to switch her dogs to raw food after several years of commercial crunchies and the ... A: First, my congratulations to your mom for trying to improve her dogs' diets. Most dogs accept a raw ... | |
Dog Food (Canine Diet and Nutrition)
Answers by Expert:
Laura Murphy
Top Expert on this page
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.
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