Should I be giving calcium??
Submitted by 2bds2010 on October 28, 2010 - 7:21pmRoxy has been acting....not herself....Started yelping as she was getting up from laying down. This morning she did it again. She seems to be in pain. Well, took her to the vet since I had the day off. Took some xrays and they say it arthritis....Really......She is 4.....What is so strange is that it came on suddenly. Well, to me anyway. She hs been eating raw since mid July. Usually chicken parts and a small amount of organs with each meal. sea meal and an omega pill. Thats it. I feel like this is my fault. Is she not getting enough calcium?? Should I be adding eggshell and how much?? The gave me some deramaxx to see if that would help. From what I have read its horrible on the liver and kidneys. We will give that a try but would like to supplement naturally.
do the chicken parts have bone?
generally speaking, as long as you are pretty close the the 80-10-10(meat-bone-secreting organs) ratio, you don't need to add extra calcium.
What did the vet say about it? And have you thoght about giving glucosamine?
Cathy and Audrey
yes
Yes, I feed the whole bird. Ground up. I know its probably a little high in bone but they are doing perfect. They also get other boneless meats but not as often as chicken. I figure in about 2TBS of liver/kidney mixture daily. That is my 10% I didnt tell the vet about feeding raw. Im chicken....Im going to give this medication a shot then pick up some glucosomine. What is the dose?? Im also going to up the omega's to 2x a day to see if that will help. That will be total of 2000mg.
Poor baby
We use to give our Shepard Husky mix 1500 mg a day of glucosomine his last year but he was 12 years old and very stiff. His vet said to first start with half that and for his tough days do the 1500. We used Schiff
http://www.schiffvitamins.com/product_detail.asp?id=90
Skasqueeeeeeakaaay!!
Katie & Chumlee
Did you have any blood work done?
In the book, The Nature of Animal Healing, Dr. Goldstein recommends vitamin c. "an arthritic pet almost inevitably will show a high level of alkaline phosphatase, the telltale sign of an overtaxed adrenal gland. A body's pH factor is its balance of alkalinity and acidity; to reduce a high alkaline count, I'll give substantial doses of vitamin C in the ascorbic acid form."
I would not add calcium. There is an incredible array of beautifully balanced nutrients in a raw diet. They are fresh and easily assimilated.
I buy glucosamine tablets at Sams. Glucosamine with condroiton and MSM. The tablets have 1200 mg of glucosamine and I give Kofi one a day. She weighs 54 pounds.
If you have not had blood work done, that's something to consider before you add supplements....other than fish oil vitamin c and e.
Let us know how things turn out.
Thank you
No blood work was done. I do have to go back in 2-3 weeks for a re-check. Should I spill the beans about raw?? and request a CBC??
I would definitely ask for a blood panel,
but then I might find a vet who is open minded about feeding raw.
I am taking Kofi to a new vet on Monday to get a complete blood panel. He is not opposed to raw feeding.
You could tell your vet, and see the reaction, but if he blames the problems on feeding raw, then you might want to look around for a new vet.
Anxious to hear.
Hugs to your guys!