July 2007

Apache

Just to be completely transparent, this testimonial is written about a dog of one of the principals of RED Dog Food. Although it may be seen as biased, I feel my personal experiences with Apache simply provide further support of the whole raw food methodology.

Apache is one of three German Shepherds that have provided me joy by sharing their lives with me. Unfortunately, he is the last of the three still with me. I lost his half-sister and my first GSD, very much before her time and very unexpectedly, just 2 months before her eighth birthday and Apache’s littermate brother Boss passed in June 2007, just after his 10^th birthday. Both were taken by the same undiagnosed condition, a haemangiosarcoma. (Unfortunately this is currently a very common condition in the GSD).

Initially, Apache was very healthy, my “sucky boy” and the one I dedicated the most time to, training on a broad level. I had thought of potentially breeding him, as he had such a calm disposition, however the day I received confirmation of his hip clearance from Guelph, (age of 2 years), I noticed that one of his eyes appeared to have a white “scuff mark” on it. I immediately took him to my vet, who sent me urgently to an eye specialist. Apparently he had a congenital “drop out” in one small section of each eye, which basically means that the blood circulation in that area is reduced, and therefore that area doesn’t regenerate the cells as quickly as the rest of the eye. The specialist advised me that he had less than 10% thickness left in the one eye, and that he was in serious danger of losing his eye, just from the inside pressure pushing out at the thinned area.

After exploring the options with her, I chose to medicate the eyes with crèmes and cyclosporine drops, an Elizabethan collar and a complete cessation of all physical activities. We dropped out of fly-ball and he had to go on full leash walks, but two weeks later, I was told that the medication was actually working and that the very extensive surgical “fix” was not going to be necessary, however the cyclosporine drops would be a life long requirement.

Then at 6 years old, both Apache and his brother Boss both developed another congenital problem called Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency within a week of each other. (Also an apparently very common GSD issue). Had I not pushed the vet for the appropriate blood tests, they both would have gone undiagnosed and died. This problem involves the reduced production of the enzymes necessary to break down and assimilate all fats, proteins and carbohydrates in the upper intestine. Without immediate and life-long supplementation with these enzymes, the dog starves to death, no matter how much food they eat.

The vet was more that willing to provide me with the necessary enzymes, but his cost was $100.00 per week, per dog. I immediately began looking for alternatives. I negotiated with my local health food store and began buying the supplements in bulk at a cost of about $10.00 per week per dog.

Supplementation was only a band-aid, as it didn’t do anything to address the actual cause of the reduced enzyme production and it was a constant battle to maintain Apache’s weight.

Apache hated to eat dry food and I had to try everything, including games and hand feeding just to get him to eat. His coat was dry and brittle, his teeth were yellow and his stool was still mucousy and very loose. At that time, I was feeding kibble mixed with canned wet food and it was a constant balancing act to provide the correct amount of supplementation to permit him to absorb what he would eat.

There were still many messy, gooey and smelly accidents in the basement, but that didn’t matter, as long as my dog was still alive and “healthy”.

When Chris and I met, we were both having difficulties with our dogs not wanting to eat dry. In late 2005 we began to investigate the concept of feeding raw. By late 2006 we were making our own diets and here we are.

Apache's eyes are clear and healthy, without any cyclosporine drops – the “drop out” appears to have healed itself. His teeth are now white and clean and his breathe no longer knocks me over. His coat is now thick, soft and shiny, his ears no longer caked with black waxy buildup , and his stools are formed, firm and regular. Although I still provide him with some supplementation of enzymes, just to ensure stability, the quantity has been reduced to about 1/8^th of what was necessary with kibble diets.

Even though he is now just past ten, he still has the energy to play Frisbee, chase geese in the pond and squirrels in the pines. He thoroughly enjoys his raw bone days and shows no signs of old age.

I honestly believe that had I not switched to a raw diet when I did, he would not still be with me today. I savour ever minute I have with him.

After Boss passed away, it took a long time before I could consider another Shepherd but Maggie seemed lonely without a companion. So, we found Jack and started him right away on the raw food. He is goofy and energetic but hasn't quite mastered the swimming thing yet. 

It took me a long time to get over the loss (do we ever actually get over it?) But the time comes when the loss of no dog in your life is greater than the loss of the one that you miss. And so, Duncan came home in December 2008.

Again with the support of his conventional veterinarian, I took Duncan to see Dr. Cynthia Harcourt DVM who recommended the raw diet be started right away to ensure optimal nutrition, especially during his growth period.

I know that I have made the right decision to ensure that Duncan has a very long and healthy life.