Why I Feed Raw
I make all my dogs food, I don't have to worry about what is being put in my dogs food, I know. I can feed them according to their health or what health problems they could end up having. I have had to deal with stones, impacted anal glands, dry skin, sensitive stomachs, cancer, allergies to corn and epilepsy in some of my dogs. I have the freedom to change their diet so it's suited just for their health and age.
Butterscotch
In 1995 our wire hair terrier (Butterscotch) had her first seizure, she was about two years old. It was awful, I did not know what was going on and what to do for her. She was rushed to the vet, at that time I was told she had a seizure and was put on phenobarbital. That was just the beginning, let me tell you a dog that is epileptic can be extra work and a lot of vet visits. I did learn that she could be a normal dog. But things would have to get worse before they were better and her seizures would become more frequent. In the meantime her vet upped her medication and did blood work, and I learned as much as I could. In a notebook, that would go with her to each vet visit. I listed medications, doses, shots and when they were given, when blood work was done and the results. Most of all, listed each time she had a seizure like what time, how long it lasted, and if she lost control of her bowels. This was so helpful, I once noticed three months in a row that she had a seizure a day or two right after taking her heartworm preventative. Because of this notebook and my notes her vet and I saw a pattern and her heartworm preventative was changed. She stopped having seizures right after she was given her heartworm preventative.
Butterscotch did pretty good and took her phenobarbital daily for seven years. Then she started having more than two seizures a month. I was told they are under control if she has one or less in a month. Then after seven years of being on phenobarbital her vet wanted to add another medication potassium bromide, her seizures seem to be out of control. I really didn't want to put her on more medication, that was when I heard of a raw diet. I checked into it, could I do this and would it help Butterscotch? I was willing to give it a try and see if it would help, Butterscotch and her seizures. I learned what to feed her, plus what a dog should not eat. But I'm the kind of person that needs a recipe or something to go by to keep her healthy and I wanted to know how much to feed her for her weight. I have had people ask me the same questions that I had. So I'm going to add my recipe's, then you can feed your dog healthy food too.
In 2003 I started Butterscotch on all raw food and treats, that I made for her. Much to my surprise, months later and even years later, she was seizure free. In 2009 at 15 years old she crossed over to the rainbow bridge. She continued to take her phenobarbital, but even that was at a lower dose. Each year during her checkup and vaccines she had blood work done. In her senior years she was having heart failure. I slowly changed all of my dogs over to raw or food that I made for them. They are so much healthier, most only see the vet once a year for a checkup and vaccines, and all are very seldom sick.
I don't know if feeding your dog this way would aid your dog to be seizure free, but it did wonders for Butterscotch and the rest of our pack. I also tried to change her dog food several times and saw no difference until I started feeding her raw.
Butterscotch did pretty good and took her phenobarbital daily for seven years. Then she started having more than two seizures a month. I was told they are under control if she has one or less in a month. Then after seven years of being on phenobarbital her vet wanted to add another medication potassium bromide, her seizures seem to be out of control. I really didn't want to put her on more medication, that was when I heard of a raw diet. I checked into it, could I do this and would it help Butterscotch? I was willing to give it a try and see if it would help, Butterscotch and her seizures. I learned what to feed her, plus what a dog should not eat. But I'm the kind of person that needs a recipe or something to go by to keep her healthy and I wanted to know how much to feed her for her weight. I have had people ask me the same questions that I had. So I'm going to add my recipe's, then you can feed your dog healthy food too.
In 2003 I started Butterscotch on all raw food and treats, that I made for her. Much to my surprise, months later and even years later, she was seizure free. In 2009 at 15 years old she crossed over to the rainbow bridge. She continued to take her phenobarbital, but even that was at a lower dose. Each year during her checkup and vaccines she had blood work done. In her senior years she was having heart failure. I slowly changed all of my dogs over to raw or food that I made for them. They are so much healthier, most only see the vet once a year for a checkup and vaccines, and all are very seldom sick.
I don't know if feeding your dog this way would aid your dog to be seizure free, but it did wonders for Butterscotch and the rest of our pack. I also tried to change her dog food several times and saw no difference until I started feeding her raw.
We hope to have the recipe available soon that was developed for Butterscotch!