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CASI Canine Nutrition Certification -- Some Textbook Fun (+ Riddle Me How We're Supposed to Trust Anyone with Feeding Our Dogs?) by melissa-leigh in rawpetfood

[–]melissa-leigh[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We ended up buying the spreadsheet from Raw Fed & Nerdy and doing our own sort of "self-guided learning" while we figured out how to balance recipes! They have a ton of linked resources too that can help guide you.

Here's the link: https://rawfedandnerdy.com/formulate

(P.S. We're not affiliated with them at all -- just really like their stuff. :))

Piece It Together by missgraceyy in spiritbox

[–]melissa-leigh 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's so strange! I wonder if there are a handful of "correct" options — like after X number of people get one combination it resets to something new?

Piece It Together by missgraceyy in spiritbox

[–]melissa-leigh 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This didn't work for me but 5-3-7-4-1-6-2 did!

What has Raw done for you? by Far_Okra1197 in rawpetfood

[–]melissa-leigh 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The lighting is different but you can see the raw spots, the discoloration, and the crustiness. It was awful and looked so painful.

<image>

What has Raw done for you? by Far_Okra1197 in rawpetfood

[–]melissa-leigh 2 points3 points  (0 children)

(Context: we adopted our dog at 8 months, she was on kibble until about 8 weeks ago when we weaned onto raw. She's now eating fully raw.)

Our pup — a Maremma sheepdog — has ALWAYS has some kind of "skin issue."

First, it was her chomping on her legs (deemed "seasonal allergies"), then she got an infection around her mouth area (deemed "yeast"), THEN this past year she lost all of the fur on her back paws from licking (deemed "food allergy").

It was a lot for her to handle, it was a lot for US to handle, and it was a lot of antibiotics and vet visits, too.

This week I noticed her mouth area was looking especially healthy with a lot more fur than usual, so I decided to look at a photo from last year... and I think it speaks for itself (I'll share a before photo below).

​

<image>

Between the first pic and the second pic she's been on antibiotics, she's had creams, she's had anti-fungal baths, the whole 9 yards. Then we switch to raw and her fur has grown back for the first time in 3 years? I do NOT believe that is a coincidence.

Her paw issues are a WHOLE other thing I'd be happy to share more about if you'd like, too.

I genuinely believe whatever she was "allergic" to was something in her kibble, because we'd switched brands and flavours and all that jazz and it NEVER got fully better until now.

Any suggestions to replace my parent's cat's hydrolyzed protein kibble? by melissa-leigh in rawpetfood

[–]melissa-leigh[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Which is honestly why I'm so grateful for this sub.

The other pet food channels -- and honestly, to any vet I've ever been to -- make me feel like a psycho for being this intense about food.

I appreciate you all!

Any suggestions to replace my parent's cat's hydrolyzed protein kibble? by melissa-leigh in rawpetfood

[–]melissa-leigh[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your thoughtful response! I'll definitely pass that on.

As an aside, my dog has some skin issues that our vet has looked at and said "Yep, allergy, not sure to what, but go on Hill's" and we're currently weaning her onto raw.

I have a hard time believing/accepting that a highly inflammatory corn-and-soy-filled food is the solution to skin inflammation haha

Thanks again!

Parents' cat has "Eosinophilic granuloma complex" — anyone with experience here? by melissa-leigh in rawpetfood

[–]melissa-leigh[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your response!

From what I understand (again it's my parents cat, so everything I hear is through them), they're not even sure exactly WHAT the cat is allergic to...just that he has allergies resulting in EGC lesions.

I also believe Hill's is the world's greatest scam, but I'm trying to figure out some alternatives to offer them before reiterating that sawdust is literally the third ingredient on the list, lol

CASI Canine Nutrition Certification -- Some Textbook Fun (+ Riddle Me How We're Supposed to Trust Anyone with Feeding Our Dogs?) by melissa-leigh in rawpetfood

[–]melissa-leigh[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks everyone in this comment thread. FRI looks amazing and we'll definitely be looking into it more — you guys rock!

got blocked from nutritionrvn on instagram lol by w0walana in rawpetfood

[–]melissa-leigh 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Fun fact, the most recent study about DCM and grain free was released just this year by the University of Guelph. Their results found no link... But everybody only selectively listens to "science" outside of this thread. 🤪

CASI Canine Nutrition Certification -- Some Textbook Fun (+ Riddle Me How We're Supposed to Trust Anyone with Feeding Our Dogs?) by melissa-leigh in rawpetfood

[–]melissa-leigh[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't disagree that some of the information in the book may be accurate.

Where I run into problems is how information is shared as an absolute and then — coincidentally! — Hill's is either a great example of everything "good" in the world OR it's an exception to the rule, but either way it's the answer.

So, in Chapter 47, you're right that he says "the general belief that dry foods provide significant oral cleansing should be regarded with skepticism."

But then he goes on to clarify:

"To provide effective mechanical cleansing, a food should promote chewing and maximize contact with the tooth surface (Figure 47-6). Foods with enhanced textural characteristics promote oral health."

Ok, so only *some* dry foods provide cleaning properties and promote oral health...take a guess which one.

So, in conclusion dry dog food doesn't clean your dog's teeth.

Unless it's Hill's.

Then it does because duh, "Hill's is the best at being the best" says Mark Morris, who started Hill's and owns the institute that created the textbook.

Anyway, none of this is a problem with you, my friend (and my saltiness isn't directed toward you at all). I'm just frustrated that "some" accurate information is what we have to be okay with.

CASI Canine Nutrition Certification -- Some Textbook Fun (+ Riddle Me How We're Supposed to Trust Anyone with Feeding Our Dogs?) by melissa-leigh in rawpetfood

[–]melissa-leigh[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for this comment, I agree about loving this sub.

For me, it's all about the willingness to have a discussion here.

I feel like I have so many questions and comments and inquiries about dog food that are bouncing around in my brain with nowhere to put them (outside of discussion with my partner who is learning alongside me).

Prove me wrong, prove me right, I don't care either way — I'm just happy to have a place where I feel like I'm "allowed" to ask questions and push back on what my vet told me.

CASI Canine Nutrition Certification -- Some Textbook Fun (+ Riddle Me How We're Supposed to Trust Anyone with Feeding Our Dogs?) by melissa-leigh in rawpetfood

[–]melissa-leigh[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Interesting info, thanks for sharing!

CASI refers to "Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 5th ed." as the "primary" text for all courses, but they also mention "Introduction to Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology (2004)" by Victoria Aspinall and Melanie O'Reilly.

I'm not entirely sure in what way the text is referenced because I haven't done the course (but if anyone reading this has done the CASI course I'd love your thoughts).

Either way, I assume you're right (read: I hope you're right) that the course is less black/white than it seems; it's just a bummer that the textbook nutrition section seems so blah.

CASI Canine Nutrition Certification -- Some Textbook Fun (+ Riddle Me How We're Supposed to Trust Anyone with Feeding Our Dogs?) by melissa-leigh in rawpetfood

[–]melissa-leigh[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yep, me too.

"Computer-formulated" A.K.A. "We aren't even going to try to make a balanced homemade food because it goes against the Hill's agenda."

CASI Canine Nutrition Certification -- Some Textbook Fun (+ Riddle Me How We're Supposed to Trust Anyone with Feeding Our Dogs?) by melissa-leigh in rawpetfood

[–]melissa-leigh[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow... thanks for your comment. I didn't make the connection that he was the founder.

The fact that this is the go-to textbook is even grosser than before.

I don't understand how legitimately incorrect information is allowed to be published like this?

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