Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

[DoubleStar3]

I just read this review about the dog food that my vet has currently prescribed to my dog, and found it very disturbing. I thought I would share since I know PD w/d is given to many of us here.

What I don't understand is how a dog food with very low nutrition and a carb of 64% is actually going to help a diabetic dog. Perhaps its just me.

Then again I've look a couple of different reviews (I'll just post one), but they all have basically said the exact same thing.

Here's a link:

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-fo...wd-canine-dry/

[jesse girl]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

actually this food is probably good for many diabetic dogs because of the carbs insulin seems to be strong for many dogs at the beginning and the carbs may help with that and insulin gets weak after 6 hours and the carbs get out of the system faster so it helps with that to but it depends on the dog

does the ingredients justify the price probably not but it is a specialized product and cost will rise on that aspect

we decided to go with a homemade diet and happy with that I know jesse enjoys it

[Judi]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

That is Jenny's food too. I read those reviews when she was first diagnosed and quizzed my first vet (Jenny's her whole life) but he was adamant, he wanted lower protein, lower fat and high fiber so he wanted this.

When we went to Jenny's opthamologist, I asked her. She said the corn isn't as awful as everyone makes out and she is fine with it except most dogs hate it. She recommends the Purina OM because more dogs like it. Jenny has Cushings so she'll eat anything right now but my other dog only likes the WD, go figure.

Jenny's 2nd vet, our current one, is also fine with this food. I do know another diabetic toy poodle. His vet recommended one of the Nutro foods. It is in the Silver bag or can. I was hoping I could use that so I wouldn't have to buy my food at the vet's office but Ranger hates it.

I can attest to the fiber in the WD, the amount of waste coming out of my 2 poodles is astronomical.

Every time I consider attempting a natural food diet change I remember that it took us 2 months to get Jenny's blood sugar out of the 500's. So, I'm sticking with it for now and her blood sugar is good.

[Shellie]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

*sigh* As if I didn't have enough trouble figuring out this food thing! Am about ready to give up and toss in the towel and just let the booger eat cat food! But then...the cat food is probably bad too!

Looks like I'll be spending tomorrow at the pet store perusing labels and attempting to educate myself. One big question tho....the requirements for diabetics are? Low fat... ??????????

Shell

[Judi]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

low fat high fiber.

I went to Petsmart and Petco

Petsmart recommended Blue Buffalo's grain free (90+ percent meat) and told me to add some canned pumpkin and/or veggies.

Petco recommended the Nutro brand or Ultra, I forget which. I bought 3 or 4 cans, took them to my vet and he said the fat content was too high in all of them.

The real diabetic dog foods are only sold at the vet.

good luck, the food thing overwhelmed me and I'm just using canned food. I am in awe of the folks here who provide better for their doggies

Judi

[Shellie]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

What about protein? So could do low fat, high fiber and high protein?

Shell

[Cebe]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

I have my dog on food that I think us fairly high in protien, but only because I need a limited ingredient food. Unfortunately cuz of her allergies, I can't focus on diabetic food for Zoe.

However, I don't get the use of w/d with diabetic dog's. Seems this food wouldn't have enough substance to stick with the dog long enough to match the insulin, but I guess that depends on the dog. And my understanding of all this is limited.

[Judi]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

What about protein? So could do low fat, high fiber and high protein?

Shell

The protein question is the first one I asked here! If you go to the very first page of jenny's thread there is a discussion about protein.

The food that Harry's Mom recommended is one I just bought yesterday to try to get my non diabetic picky dog to eat Blue Buffalo weight control

Let me know if you get it all figured out! Then I will steal your info

[Shellie]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

I have my dog on food that I think us fairly high in protien, but only because I need a limited ingredient food. Unfortunately cuz of her allergies, I can't focus on diabetic food for Zoe.

However, I don't get the use of w/d with diabetic dog's. Seems this food wouldn't have enough substance to stick with the dog long enough to match the insulin, but I guess that depends on the dog. And my understanding of all this is limited.

Well..that is another worry I have. Hank has allergies...not sure to what but that is why he was on the pred which probably led to his diabetes. What food are you feeding your dog?

Shell

[Cebe]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

Currently, Pinnacle trout and sweet potato. But I'm not sure it's working for the allergies, as she is having a slight reaction. But the reaction could be from her diabetes too. Her body is going thru a lot.

We had the most success with California Natural herring and sweet potato, but she seemed to have a reaction to the last bag, including incessant itching. Again, it could be from the new dx of diabetes and her body adjusting.

Before CA Nat, we were on hill's presciption d/d but I stopped that bc of cost, not that these others are cheap, just a bit cheaper. She started on hill's z/d ultra, but the d/d worked even better.

Oh I wanted to note just in general that I consider excessive pooping a symptom of Zoe's food allergies. I think that was mentioned below re: the fiber content in the w/d.

[Shellie]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

Hank usually has no trouble during the winter...but last year I fed him mostly Hill's z/d and only chicken based extras...no beef as it was suggested that might be a culprit. I'm really not wanting to treat him for the itching at this point...with all his body is going thru I'd rather just concentrate on one thing at a time.

Atopica is the next suggestion medication wise for him from my vet. He's not thrilled with the idea nor am I since it IS a heavy duty immune suppressent (which, oddly enough, I've had my cat on for over year and she does well and she's got severe food allergies.). The pred worked for his allergies so beautifully...except for the weight gain. And of course...the diabetes. Poo!

Shell

[janspack]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

Hi Shellie,

I'm afraid that when the vet suggested the diabetic diets, I refused. I just can't afford the astronomical price as I'm disabled myself and on benefits.

At the time she was diagnosed, I was feeding raw diet which I think is the best food for dogs and cats but I realised that because you have to vary the food so much with raw, to ensure a balanced diet, that I might have to concede and go back to kibble. I now use a kibble that is 18% protein and my vet has been pretty happy with that.

Cat food is much higher protein than dog food so definitely not a good idea with a diabetic. Cats need a high protein because their digestive tract is far shorter than in dogs (and people) so they can't absorb all the nutrients they need in a low protein food.

As Hank has allergies, I think it is just as important for you to feed him something he can tolerate well as it is to use a prescription diabetic food. If IMHO his allergies are not controlled properly, that could make it even more difficult to regulate his blood sugar.

As long as you find something he will eat, doesn't make his allergies worse and you stick to that one food, then I believe you will be able to manage his blood sugar well given time.

I've probably horrified lots of people on the forum now!

[Cebe]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

"Atopica is the next suggestion medication wise for him from my vet. He's not thrilled with the idea nor am I since it IS a heavy duty immune suppressent (which, oddly enough, I've had my cat on for over year and she does well and she's got severe food allergies.). The pred worked for his allergies so beautifully...except for the weight gain. And of course...the diabetes. Poo!"

Shell, if you don't mind me saying, that's a lot of consequence from the predinsone. But if you were using z/d then I'm not sure of a food based solution. The food I get for Zoe is about $60 a month, which is a lot for me right now. I'm considering cooking for her myself and hoping that might reduce my food costs to $30-$45/mo.

But I guess what I'm suggesting is that solving the itching issues may be really important and you shouldn't give up. I would keep investigating what works and doesn't work, to see if you can find a happy medium.

[DoubleStar3]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

Well..that is another worry I have. Hank has allergies...not sure to what but that is why he was on the pred which probably led to his diabetes. What food are you feeding your dog?

Shell

My friends dog had allergies (more of a seasonal type), and the vet put the dog on zyrtec. Seems to be doing the trick.

Does your dog have a food allergy or seasonal allergies?

[sheureka]

Re: Prescription Diet W/D -Disturbed by Review

Rowlf was on W/D for about 18 months and then my local vet changed and we switched to Royal Canin. She's a bichon, and very prone to skin allergies. For some reason she's had far fewer allergy problems since we switched. She'll eat anything so that's never been an issue with her.