Vionate - any suggestions please

Morning all. As most of you know we have bees struggling with Sophies ahem digestive system. It is looking more and more that she is a celiac doggie. Since putting her on a diet of purely chicken, potato, peas and carrots at the end of May, she has had a perfect tummy. Absolutely no upset tums and no sickness.

On the 24th July, I expressed a concern to the vet that she may not be getting all her food groups and he suggested adding Vionate to her food. It is a vitamin/mineral supplement. She has had it for two days and was sick three times this morning. The same as previously, green phlegm and bile.

There is no allergy advice on the tub but it does say it contains cereals. Being a Saturday, the manufacturer is closed. Would you think the 'cereal' base could contain wheat or gluten?

We have spoken to the vet nurse who advised we stop giving it to her. We will try reintroducing it in a week and see if the same happens.

http://www.petdrugsonline.co.uk/site.aspx?i=pr183204

It may be complete coincidence but any thoughts or experience of this product?

I'd say it's a strong possibility.

. Have you thought about starting a raw diet?

I would expect a product with cereal to contain either wheat or gluten as one of the main ingrediants.

it does contain degermed cornmeal but that is gluten free from what I can make out (note that not 100% but certainly looks like it *)

Ingredients: Degermed Corn Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Ferrous Carbonate, Magnesium Oxide, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium, BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene (Preservative)) DI-Atocopheryl Acetate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Manganous Oxide, Cupric Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cobalt Carbonate, Folic Acid, D-Activated Animal Sterol (Vitamin D3), and Cyanocobalamin (B12).


*im no dietian, just having "food" on the label is enough for me

Hi Caryll, I have had or lived with dogs most of my life and never gone down the 'raw' line. I have always understood dogs should not have bones because of the splintering/choking hazzard and have never feally got past the (says one who choked on a fish bone as a child).

I will look into it though, having said that Sophie is very content on her current diet. ><

Sorry I have no experience of the product you tried to give Sophie but I would follow the veterinary nurse advice and stop giving it at least for the time being.

bobs wrote:Hi Caryll, I have had or lived with dogs most of my life and never gone down the 'raw' line. I have always understood dogs should not have bones because of the splintering/choking hazzard and have never feally got past the (says one who choked on a fish bone as a child).

I will look into it though, having said that Sophie is very content on her current diet. ><

Raw bones are ok, cooked bones should never be given.

If you're interested, have a read through these...
http://rawfed.com/myths/
http://www.rawmeatybones.com/petowners/whatisrmb.php
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t14787-raw-diet

One of the reasons many people switch to raw feeding is because their dog has some sort of digestive problems from pancreatitis, coeliac to just plain sensitive! Although it sounds complicated to start off with, that's just because your mindset needs a bit of reordering! Once you understand the basics, it's a very simple (and cheap) way to feed - and you'll know exactly what's in the food you're giving to your dog.

Looking at the ingredients, it doesn't look like it's got wheat/gluten in it but it does contain grain.

I suspect she has a complete grain intollerance like my lab has as if I remember rightly she didn't do too well with rice either?

If I were you, I'd be slowly introducing a grain free kibble/wet food if you don't want to go down the raw route.

Good grain free kibbles to look at are Orijen, Applaws, Fish4Dogs, the grain free Acana & Taste of the Wild.

Some good grain free wets are Bob & Lush, Lilly's Kitchen & Natures Menu.

And there's Ziwipeak too.

Many thanks for that ><

We have some fish4dogs free samples which we will be introducing in the next couple of days. It sounds daft but we are going to use it initially for 'treats' when training. Since we have stopped virtually all foods from May her training has slipped as we have been at a bit of a loss as to what to give hr treat wise and she is slipping into naughty habits.

If she tolerates it ok, we will definitely consider putting her on it permanently.

BTW good memory, you were right about the rice

I would personally try a raw diet, as you know exactly what your dog is eating.

Bones are completely fine for a dog to eat as long as they are raw.

Many thanks, will let you know what route we take ><

Not daft at all

I often use kibble as treats, albeit fairly low value ones for round the house and garden

Galadriel wrote:Not daft at all

I often use kibble as treats, albeit fairly low value ones for round the house and garden

I actually use Fish4dogs as treats as well!

Caryll wrote:

Galadriel wrote:Not daft at all

I often use kibble as treats, albeit fairly low value ones for round the house and garden

I actually use Fish4dogs as treats as well!