Hershey's New Diet

I've had Hershey in my home now for about 4 weeks...and I feel that I've learned alot since then! My research led me to the knowledge about good diets for dogs with arthritis. No corn? No rice? Check, check. My dobie boys have been on a grain free diet with wonderful results, so Hershey was going to be on one even if the grain wasn't aggravating to her arthritis! But then I also found that potatoes, and other plants from the "nightshade" family (such as tomatoes) can aggravate arthritis as well. My first thought was "but grain free diets have potato in them!!!"

That disheartening discovery led me to learn about an ingredient with anti-inflammatory properties; sweet potatoes! So I am in the process of switching Hershey from grain free FROMM, to the limited ingredient natural balance foods that feature sweet potato. It still has potato ingredients, but sweet potato is the #1 ingredient (followed by a protein source of course, such as bison or venison). I hope the sweet potato will override the potato ingredients, and sweet potato has less calories with a hefty amount of vitamins...perfect for a pooch trying to lose weight!

I have yet to weigh her this week, but she only lost one pound over a two week period...so I cut her food back to 3/4 cups twice a day. Besides her food, she chews on cow femurs, and I cut her rawhides to one "mini rawhide chip" per day (but I'm going to switch her to sweet potato chews once her rawhides are all gone...). Other supplements include:

• "Organic Pet Superfood" Joint supplement  http://k9scrubclub.com/organic-joint-supplement-for-dogs.html (I am switching to herbsmith's "sooth joints" soon  http://www.herbsmithinc.com/Home/Canine/Herbs/SootheJoints/default.asp )
• A glucosamine supplement
• a teaspoon of low fat, plain yogurt (once a day...to prevent ear infections!)
• Fish oil supplement   

Eventually, I plan on going to a holistic vet in Muskego WI, and they specialize in holistic diets for specific health problems, so Hershey's diet might change once again, but we'll see how this unfolds from her. One pound gone, 14 more to go! The picture below is how she looked the first week she was with me...what a chunker!

Just so readers are aware, I am planning on seeing a nutrition specialist in the future...but here are some of my sources so you guys know where I got some of this information! I will be looking more into the articles pertaining to arthritis from Whole Dog Journal as well, and I recommend that journal to all dog lovers who want up to date information. I do not want to act like a vet, and I do not recommend that anyone take this blog post as something that they should do for their own dog. I just want people to realize that nutrition can play a large role in various diseases, such as arthritis, and changing a dogs diet can help them for the better!

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/12_9/features/Canine-Weight-Loss-Advice_16158-1.html

http://www.herbcompanion.com/pets/Pet-Corner-Heal-Your-Pet-with-Natural-Arthritis-Aids-41.aspx

http://dogaware.com/health/arthritis.html