Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - What do you feed your dogs??

Hi - my dog Missy was diagnosed with Canine IMHA on April 7th. She's slowly making recovering on her PCV (she was 36 last Wed - thank GOD)- but I know we're all in the same boat. Question: Any suggestions on what to feed your dog to ensure optimum heath with this desease? My vet recommended Herring and Sweet Potato by California Natural (available at most "heath" pet stores). Does anyone else have any suggestions on brands/foods? I'm feeding her Kibbles N Bits right now and I'd really like to get her on something better. Thanks and good luck to ALL who's going through this...

Angel Atlanta

California Natural sweet potato and herring is a GREAT food! My Tillie is currently on Eagle Pack holistic salmon and anchovy and we have liked it a lot....but I'm considering switching her to California Natural b/c she's been on Eagle Pack for so long. They say it's good to vary the diet once in awhile. I've had samples of CA Natural and it is a very good food. Mrs. Gates

Mrs. Gates Michigan

While none of my current dogs have any health issues (and I hope to keep it that way) I have switched them to Blue Buffalo Life protection formula. Another holistic brand. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Thanks so much for the suggestions. Any advice helps for sure Angel

Angel Atlanta

I have Ginger on EVO as it is supposed to be like a raw meat diet, it is a dry food and comes in a bag and you can only get it a speciality pet stores and it is quite expensive. Here is site you may want to check out http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

Cheryl & Ginger Pinveille PAe

My vet said to keep Toby on his same food (Iams) but to avoid any exotic protein. He said chicken and some beef is ok, too. I was wondering though, he likes these dog treats made with soy. Would that be alright? He doesn't like fish very much. Mary

Mary IN

My 6 year golden retriever mix is in top health and she is on Purina One. My almost 9 yer old golden retriever, KayCee (littermate to Hunter who I lost to AIHA al4 1/2 years ago) has nurmerous problems. unlike Hunter whp had no problems til the PH6 brought on the AIHA and liver damage. She has an enlarged heart chamber, a mal formed kidney and allergies, and has had both knees operated on for luxating patellas. Yet, she passes her physicals, blood work, etc with flying colors. She is on a low dosage blood pressure tab every day and a baby asprin every other day, these for her heart Een tho her kidney is malformed, it works jut fine. Anway, I have her on Taste of the Wild High Prarie. It is grainless and grainless food is better for dogs with arthritis. She isn't shwoing signs, but we know at her age & with the surgereis she must have it. AND I also cook for them. They get about 2/3 of the above and 1/3 of the chicken stew I crock pot cook for them. It consists of 5 pounds hicken thighs, 3 pounds of chicken necks, 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of chopped up beef liver or chicken gizzards, a pound of frozen green beans, 2-3 sweet poatoes cut up, and a couple of apples cut up, and sometimes some squash. Coo it 24 hours in crock pot.

Sandra

thanks again for all the advice! I'm going to try the California Natural Herring & Sweet Potatoe soon. I will post an update on how she does with it in case anyone else wants to try this product...

angel atlanta

I also used to cook Chicken Stew for my dogs. I added it to dry Wellness or Pet Promise. In the chicken stew, I also added carrots, peas, spinach, and a small amount of garlic. My dog with IMHA died last year. We have 4 other dogs. I have since switched their diet to Life's Abundance (purchased from www.healthypetnet.com and Pet Promise (no by-products, rendered products, etc.). We add either chicken or beef to the dry food. One of our dogs was diagnosed with diabetes within the past 6 months. I mentioned the chicken stew ingredients to our vet, and he pointed out that sweet potatoes are very high in sugar, and he does not recommend sweet potatoes for a dog with diabetes. I hope that I didn't contribute to his diabetes, or to him developing diabetes, by feeding him sweet potatoes. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about this? Thank you, Sue

Sue PA

My advice to anyone who wants to feed their pet food that can be bought at a store is to stay away from "food" that can be purchased from grocery stores and the "big box" stores. You are getting so LITTLE nutrition for your money. Any holistic vet can consult with you and come up with a custom nutrition plan for a homemade diet for your pet. And it's not difficult to follow. Then you know exactly what's going in your pet's food. If you don't want to go that route, the next best thing is to pay the extra money for food that you can purchase from pet "spa" type shops and specialty pet shops. These are not places where you can purchase puppies and the like! There are actually so many great brands of food that you can purchase, but you have to READ THE LABEL to know what you're paying for. You want to see whole cuts of meat as the first ingredient (not "meal"), vegetables, and then the grains, if any. You do NOT want to see "byproducts" in the list of ingredients. Byproducts are things like beaks, claws, eyeballs, whatever -- the things that we would not eat as humans. Evo is a good brand, Old Mother Hubbard, Merrick, Halo, and on down the line. Pick up "BARK" magazine or one of the better holistic pet magazines at Barnes & Noble and see what they've got advertised. Just visit one of the specialty shops and check out the labels. Also, a lot of these salespeople are knowledgeable about what is in their products. Another WONDERFUL reference for you is the Whole Dog Journal which you can purchase now on Amazon. Every year I believe twice a year they come out with a list of pet foods. They do not endorse the products, but they will sure give you what's in those products. That alone is worth the price of the subscription. And the WDJ keeps one informed about pet products and training tips that may be of interest. The WDJ does NOT accept money for advertising by manufacturers and the like. Just remember that when you're switching from one food to the next, be sure to make that switch VERY GRADUALLY so as not to cause stomach upset. No switching cold turkey, or you may just be dealing with severe diarrhea of several days that will probably send you right to the vet's office.

Jean Colorado

we were put on a no corn, wheat, soy, etc. diet and started on a fish & potato dry food that the vet sold. I'm not sure of the brand but I have heard very good things about the diet. The vet also mentioned that I could get ground turkey from the deli and things like that. Good luck to you both.

Kathy N.C.

If your pet/breed is predisposed to the building up of cooper in the liver, I found that Canidae Platinum (dry)for senior dogs has the lowest cooper level among quality dry foods. Cooper build up can affect a dogs liver. My dogs likes the food, especially with fresh chicken broth drizzled on top. Ann Marie

Ann Marie FL

This thread was discussed between 25/04/2008 and 29/04/2008

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