BichonFrise
05-19-2014, 05:08 PM
A few years ago, I noticed that my Bichon Frise started drinking a lot of water. Even though it was summer time in Texas, it was unusual. She also panted a lot and felt warm to the touch, and she would frequently lie on the cold floor. She seemed more tired even though she was a usually active dog. A trip to the vet and I was told, “It’s summer time in Texas. It’s hot. Also, Colette is just getting older.” Okay, so I figured that was that and to deal with it. I always took her to her physicals and dentals, so no biggie.
Years later, Colette started getting new symptoms. She would wake up in the middle of the night and drink mouthfuls of water. Her skin was feeling looser and she was getting these growths (sebaceous adenomas) along with blackheads. Her joints looked like they were hurting her, and she could not tolerate walks. I took matters into my own hands.
I did some internet ‘research’ (LOL), where I realized that Colette had just about every symptom of Cushing’s disease. So, the first thing I changed was her food, again a recommendation of what I read about the disease. Previously, I mixed wet canned dog food into her dry kibble. With Cushing’s, this was not providing her with the adequate nutrition that good old nature intended. I switched her to a real-food diet LOW IN PURINES. This is very important for a Cushing’s dog. You need high quality protein, not organ meat or by-product meat preserved by salt or starches found in most canned dog food.
You need at least a 50% ratio (preferable higher) of a good quality protein (i.e. chicken, hard-boiled egg whites, ground turkey, low-mercury fish, etc.) you can find purine food tables online. I prefer to cook the meat, some people do raw, but I cook it for safety and I use organic as a preference. For filler, you can use potatoes skins with some potato thrown in, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, apples, blueberries, blackberries (just no raisins, grapes, or chocolate). If you aren’t doing organic, you really need to get a fruit/veggie wash spray that removes pesticides. From time to time, a little cheese, unflavored Greek yogurt, and finely ground egg shells (for vitamins and minerals). Not every food mix has to be perfect blend. Think of it like how we eat a variety of foods that gives complete nutrition. Throw your mixture into a food processor and voila you have wet dog food.
HERE’S THE REALLY IMPORTANT PART!! You need to get premium organic ground flax seed with Lignans, found this at my local store for around $7 for a bag. Do not get the flax seed oil, as this is not going to be effective. Then you need to get Melatonin (I got tablets), were around $5. You will need to sprinkle the flax seed with lignans on the dog’s food (for my dog around 16 lbs I use about 1/4-1/2 tsp in the morning and ¼ tsp in the evening. I crush the melatonin 1 mg tablet and I sprinkle half of the pill in the food in the morning and half in the evening. Sometimes, I give her just a smidge more.
It has been ONLY ONE WEEK. My dog is drinking normally, is not panting, has lost weight, pot-bellied look has gone away, skin lesions are clearing up, saggy skin feels tighter, is moving around more, eyes look brighter and wider, and joints don’t appear to be hurting her. Seeing the change in my dog from this is nothing short of a miracle. I would tell anyone to do this first before resorting to strong medications that can have a plethora of side effects along with extensive vet visits. Save that for when nothing else works. Give this a try, you have nothing to loose but plenty to gain if it works. ;) I will keep posting on Colette’s progress which has grown leaps and bounds in just a week. It’s amazing.
Years later, Colette started getting new symptoms. She would wake up in the middle of the night and drink mouthfuls of water. Her skin was feeling looser and she was getting these growths (sebaceous adenomas) along with blackheads. Her joints looked like they were hurting her, and she could not tolerate walks. I took matters into my own hands.
I did some internet ‘research’ (LOL), where I realized that Colette had just about every symptom of Cushing’s disease. So, the first thing I changed was her food, again a recommendation of what I read about the disease. Previously, I mixed wet canned dog food into her dry kibble. With Cushing’s, this was not providing her with the adequate nutrition that good old nature intended. I switched her to a real-food diet LOW IN PURINES. This is very important for a Cushing’s dog. You need high quality protein, not organ meat or by-product meat preserved by salt or starches found in most canned dog food.
You need at least a 50% ratio (preferable higher) of a good quality protein (i.e. chicken, hard-boiled egg whites, ground turkey, low-mercury fish, etc.) you can find purine food tables online. I prefer to cook the meat, some people do raw, but I cook it for safety and I use organic as a preference. For filler, you can use potatoes skins with some potato thrown in, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, apples, blueberries, blackberries (just no raisins, grapes, or chocolate). If you aren’t doing organic, you really need to get a fruit/veggie wash spray that removes pesticides. From time to time, a little cheese, unflavored Greek yogurt, and finely ground egg shells (for vitamins and minerals). Not every food mix has to be perfect blend. Think of it like how we eat a variety of foods that gives complete nutrition. Throw your mixture into a food processor and voila you have wet dog food.
HERE’S THE REALLY IMPORTANT PART!! You need to get premium organic ground flax seed with Lignans, found this at my local store for around $7 for a bag. Do not get the flax seed oil, as this is not going to be effective. Then you need to get Melatonin (I got tablets), were around $5. You will need to sprinkle the flax seed with lignans on the dog’s food (for my dog around 16 lbs I use about 1/4-1/2 tsp in the morning and ¼ tsp in the evening. I crush the melatonin 1 mg tablet and I sprinkle half of the pill in the food in the morning and half in the evening. Sometimes, I give her just a smidge more.
It has been ONLY ONE WEEK. My dog is drinking normally, is not panting, has lost weight, pot-bellied look has gone away, skin lesions are clearing up, saggy skin feels tighter, is moving around more, eyes look brighter and wider, and joints don’t appear to be hurting her. Seeing the change in my dog from this is nothing short of a miracle. I would tell anyone to do this first before resorting to strong medications that can have a plethora of side effects along with extensive vet visits. Save that for when nothing else works. Give this a try, you have nothing to loose but plenty to gain if it works. ;) I will keep posting on Colette’s progress which has grown leaps and bounds in just a week. It’s amazing.