A natural food diet for Addison’s dogs
Posted: September 9, 2009 Filed under: Diet, General, Treatment 22 Comments »Addison’s dogs have a compromised immune system; it goes without saying that you should feed your pet the most nutritious ingredients available. By providing your dog with a home-made diet, you’ll avoid some of the shocking ingredients found in commercial food, including euthanized animals.
After reading Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food
These products were found to contain pentobarbital:
- Pro Plan Beef and Rice Puppy
- Nutro Premium
- Ol’Roy Krunchy Bites & Bones
- Ol”Roy Premium Formula with Chicken
- Ol’Roy High Performance with Chicken
- Ol’Roy Meaty Chunks
- Ol’Roy Puppy formula
- Ol’Roy Lean
- Trailblazer Chunk Premium Quality
- Trailblazer Bite Size Ration
- Dad’s Bite Size Meal
- Weis Value Chunky and Moist
- Weis Value Puppy Food
- Weis Value Crunchy
- Weis Value Gravy Style
- Weis Total High Energy
- Super G Chunk Style
- Rich Food Chunk Style
- Rich Food Gravy Style
- Rich Food High Protein
- Pet Essentials Chunk Style
- America’s Choice Krunchy Kibble
- Ken-L-Ration Gravy Train
- Heinz Kibbles and Bits Jerky, Puppy, Lean, Beefy
- Champ Chunx Bite Size
- Kibble Select Premium
- Pet Gold Master Puppy
Are there Euthanized Animals in Your Addison's Dog's Bowl?
Note that the FDA didn’t test every dog food. In fact, they just took samples from one store. So just because your brand isn’t on there does not mean it doesn’t have euthanized animals in it!
You can try a vegetarian dog food for your Addison’s dog, like Nature’s Recipe Vegetarian Dog Food, which provides complete nutrition. It’s the only vegetarian product recommended by R.M. Clemmons, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology & Neurosurgery for the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Florida, who specializes in the nutrition of immune compromised dogs, such as those dogs with Addison’s disease. You’ll be guaranteed of no euthanized animals in your pet’s bowl. But that may not rule out moldy grain and other nasty by-products.
If you want to feed your Addison’s dog a more natural diet, Dr. Clemmons recommends the following complete diet for dogs:
- Basic diet: (1 serving size equals 1 can of commercial food, provides 1160-1460 calories per serving, and feeds a dog approximately 30-50 pounds)
- Boiled, baked, or fried (olive oil), chicken (20z)
- Tofu (4oz)
- Long Grain Brown Rice (3 oz, prepared in 6 oz water)
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (2 oz)
- Molasses (¼ cup)
- Boiled and cut up Carrots (2)
- Cooked Spinach (1 cup)
- Chopped and Steamed Green Bell Pepper (4 Tbs)
- Boiled and Chopped Broccoli Spears (4)
The above ingredients can be frozen for up to one month, and defrosted before serving. Before serving, add:
- Dry Ground Ginger (1 tsp.)
- Crushed Raw Garlic Cloves (2)
- Dry Mustard (½ tsp)
- Bone Meal (1 tsp)
Dr. Clemmons recommends that you weigh your dog while following this diet, and feed more or less each week depending on whether your dog is losing weight or gaining weight. Make sure to introduce the new food gradually into your dog’s diet.
Tofu, Dr. Clemmons states, is full of flavenoids and other ingredients to promote overall health. Garlic and ginger are natural anti-inflammatory substances, antibiotics, and anti-fungal agents. Ginger also calms the stomach. Mustard improves digestion and bowel function.
I have a two year old german shepherd mix that I adopted from the humane society. Brodie, was only 7 weeks when I brought him into my life and at his young age he was fixed. Do you think the young age has anything to do with him getting this disease? I found this “all natural food” by nature’s Recipe. What is your opinion on this particular brand? Thank you for your time. Hope to hear from you.
-Mary
Mary,
The only thing I know about Nature’s Recipe is that the vegetarian formula is recommended by R.M. Clemmons, DVM, PhD Associate Professor of Neurology & Neurosurgery
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Florida for dogs with Addison’s. I don’t know about the meat-based formula :/
I haven’t come across any research at all that suggests Brodie may have Addison’s because of the young age–but being at a humane society surely must have come with some stress…and while stress has been shown to have brought Addison’s to the surface it isn’t a cause of the disease itself.
Sorry to hear that Brodie has Addisons but I do hope you find some useful info here,
Stephanie
Does red meat antagonize Addisons?
RM Clemmons, DVM recommends pork loin chop and other good cuts of meat for immune compromised dogs, so I don’t think there’s any evidence against red meat. We feed our dog a vegetarian diet recommended by Dr. Clemmons because 1/we’re vegetarians ourselves and 2/even if we ate meat, we couldn’t afford to feed pork chops to our dog at every meal!
Penny, it depends on what you mean by red meat. If it’s part of a balanced diet, then red meat like pork chops wouldn’t be a problem. If it’s part of commercial dog foods, then yes, it could be a problem. See: http://www.addisonsindogs.com/articles/a-natural-food-diet-for-addisons-dogs/ Hope that helps! Stephanie
Hello,
I’ve been on the internet all day since yesterday my 7 lb. 2 year old, Chihuahua/Jack Russell
was diagnosed with Addison’s.
I’ve been feeding him Wellness brand,
with some boiled chicken to make it appetizing. Is that ok? The natural recipe you posted sounds amazing. But I don’t have time to cook all that. Will he really
thrive on that recipe? I don’t know what to do. Help!
I personally use Nature’s Recipe vegetarian dog food, and Shakti loves it (and looks great)!
Good luck with your little one!
Mary,The only thing I know about Nature’s Recipe is that the vegetarian formula is recommended by R.M. Clemmons, DVM, PhD Associate Professor of Neurology & NeurosurgeryDepartment of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Florida for dogs with Addison’s. I don’t know about the meat-based formula :/I haven’t come across any research at all that suggests Brodie may have Addison’s because of the young age–but being at a humane society surely must have come with some stress…and while stress has been shown to have brought Addison’s to the surface it isn’t a cause of the disease itself.Sorry to hear that Brodie has Addisons but I do hope you find some useful info here,Stephanie
+1
My 7 year old yellow lab came down with Addison’s this August. She has had two instances where she loses her hair in chunks and has sores on her skin as well. Is this the side affects of the Predisone alone? Is there anything else I can do to alleviate this condition before I start pulling my hair out? The Vet gave me an antibiotic just incase it was a fungus but nothing grew or changed color in the petree dish. I’m also looking for any other sources of information on this disease and what more I can do for her…food wise and snack wise. I bought the book and that explains the disease well. Thanks!
My dog’s hair fell out in chunks until I reduced her pred dosage. It *could* be the problem but if you do decide to reduce her dose (I did it AGAINST my vet’s advice), then keep a close eye on her.
my bedlington whippet cross has just been diagnosed and is on 1 steroid and her addisons pills now but will her personality return it is like having a strangers dog? and will she get more energy?
She will return to being your buddy again once her hormones are back in check. This should happen with in a few weeks if she is on the correct dose.
I have a 6 yr old True Hairless Chinese Crested, and she developed Addison’s, I and 4 vets didn’t know what was wrong they thought poison , it cost me thousands and they told me to put her down as she was dying!!
I had her at work with me, as she was dying any minute, and an angel came out of nowhere , i run a wheelchair store and this old Vet came in and saw my Loocee, he said have her tested for Addisons and he left the store I never saw this man ever again…That night I had her tested and sure enough full blown Addisons…!!
I have to inject her with Percorten V every 26 days, she goes down hill fast if not as she is only 7 lbs. The weight goes off fast and she needs prednisone to keep her appetite up also. Is there a cheaper injection as this stuff is 300.00 every 6 months for her, I love her and if this what it takes, then so be it, but i wish i could find holistic ways also…thanks for the ear , Tam and Loocee
Cinnamon is a good spice to add to the diet as well. And ground turkey. My dog was diabetic as well as having Addisons. She always does better when adding these items. Also consider that you can use other vegetables as well as yams. Thank you for this website. It has much needed information!
Hi, I just have had my Shitzu/Lhaso mix, 6yrs old diagnosed with Addison’s disease & IBD (Irritabowl Disease). He is on prednisone now, but will soon start on the Addison’s meds. I am looking for a Natural Homemade diet I can put him on. Any suggestions?
I had no idea so many sweet dogs have this disease. Anyone? how long do they live with this?
Carol,
I make lots of suggestions in my book, but basically one of the best foods out there is nature’s recipe vegetarian dog food.
Good luck!
My 5 year old Labradoodle has addisons we are just in the process of getting his dose right, 12 florinef and 1 prednisilone per day, it seems like a hell of a lot of pills in one day nut fingers crossed we get it right soon.
Hello. I have a 2 year old Canary Island’s Mastiff who was just diagnosed w/ Addison’s. He has been lethargic, an extremely picky eater ( sometimes going a couple of days w/ eating nothing ) and slightly underweight since he was a pup. I’ve brought this up to several vets in the past and was always told that he was fine and that was just his personality. I’ve read that these are all symptoms of Addison’s, is there a good chance that now that he is on treatment that he will become more active and have a better appetite ? Also, is it possible to obtain Percorten V and do the injections myself ( $200 per month not including the office visit etc. is kind of rough )
Thanks
Scott, yes — you can do the injections yourself but it really won’t save you much (see the section in my book about obtaining cheaper meds). You’ll need an ACTH test to diagnose Addison’s — don’t give PErcorten until your pup has been tested. Stephanie
I ordered Percorten V 25mg/IM 4 ml vial. that means 4 doses, from Pet Meds n more,Inc. It was about $180. You have to get a written RX from your vet, mail it in to them. Get refills also. That is about $45-$50 every 3 weeks.
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My 4 year old golden lab, Kiki, is still in the process of being diognonsed
The internet description is perfect, but
she has to feed being elevated, will this
ease off when they have definately diognosed her. It’s such a worry.
Thanks