[Tucker]

Has anyone used Nupro? It is a nutritional powder you mix into your dog's food (add warm water to make a gravy) that is also supposed to add flavor. We have occasionally added it to Tucker's food when he has one of his picky eating spells - overall it does usually increase the chance he will eat more. Just wondered what other's experience with it have been and if you use it every day has it improved your dog's health? Thanks!

[ThreeLittlePitties]

Yes, I've used Nupro. I like it. I've actually tried a few supplements and even make my own some of the time. Nupro is recommended in two of my books written by veterinarians so I don't think you can go wrong with it.

I never did have to make it into a gravy. My dogs love the smell and are happy with the powder sprinkled on their food.

The tough part about supplementing is that you can't always see the results for quite a while since they work from the inside out making things better that you can't see first. Then one day you realize that their fur is softer or their dandruff disappeared or they haven't scratched for a long time. Stuff like that.

The reason I use different supplements is variety and cost. I have 5 dogs - all over 70 pounds so nothing lasts for long! I hope you have noticed a positive difference in your dog too.

[Tucker]

Good to hear from someone who has had positive results. My dog, Tucker, gets lots of supplements due to having hemangiosarcoma, but any additional nutrition can always help I'm sure. The main reason I had tried it was to encourage him to eat when he goes through picky phases. It worked for awhile but then he turned his nose up at that too Right now he is on a bland diet due to diarrhea but maybe that would be a good thing to try again now since he isn't getting his regular diet.

[ThreeLittlePitties]

Darn, I'm sorry Tucker has hemangiosarcoma. What are you doing for that? What kind of diet is he on? Is he on homemade dog food? I am so curious. Inquiring mind wants to know.

[Tucker]

Originally Posted by ThreeLittlePitties

Darn, I'm sorry Tucker has hemangiosarcoma. What are you doing for that? What kind of diet is he on? Is he on homemade dog food? I am so curious. Inquiring mind wants to know.

There is a humongous thread started last March about all the ups and down we went through figuring out what to give Tucker titled Hemangiosarcoma Diagnosis. It would take forever to read through it so here is the condensed version:
He is on a high protein/high fat/grain free diet: we feed Evo, plus I home cook proteins such as chicken thighs, beef heart, beef chuck, chicken livers, hamburger etc. along with veggies such as broccoli; we also add cottage cheese, plain yogurt and eggs to his food

supplements include fish oil, L-glutamine powder, vitamin E, mushroom blend capsules, milk thistle, yunnan baiyo (Chinese herb capsules that inhibit bleeding recommended by the oncologist), Animals Apawthecary Constitutional Blend; he had been on Berte's Immune Blend which contains lots of beneficial supplements in powder form but he needed a couple tablespoons a day and there was no way to mask the flavor - he was refusing his food because of it so had to stop using it unfortunately.

Anyway, he was diagnosed last March, given 3-4 months to live with surgery and maybe another month or so with chemo so we opted to build up his immunity as best we could and allow him to hopefully be able to enjoy the time left to him, without the stresses of surgery/chemo which were not adding much time. He has luckily been able to do this My main hope last March was that he be able to swim again and he has far surpassed that hope! He has lost some weight in the last month and gotten pickier eating as well as getting diarrhea so we are having to get more creative in the foods we give (the reason I was trying out the Nupro) but his spirit is still great - .

[ThreeLittlePitties]

Anyway, he was diagnosed last March, given 3-4 months to live with surgery and maybe another month or so with chemo so we opted to build up his immunity as best we could and allow him to hopefully be able to enjoy the time...

Holy smokes! I am so impressed. Sounds like you really studied your options and made some wise choices. I really like your attitude and your dog dinners.:-D

I just want to bring up something just in case it didn't come up in the long thread you graciously condensed for me. Have you ever heard of Dr. Martin Goldstein or his practice Smith Ridge Veterinary Center?? Now I have no idea about your situation other than what you told me in the last post, but Smith Ridge is in South Salem, New York. Since I live in Georgia, you seem practically next door to the clinic.

Dr Goldstein uses both conventional and holisitic medicine but seems to lean toward holistic and has had good luck treating many cancer patients with diet (like yours) and homeopathy. His book The Nature of Animal Healing is wonderful.

Just thought that might interest you.

[Tucker]

Originally Posted by ThreeLittlePitties

Have you ever heard of Dr. Martin Goldstein or his practice Smith Ridge Veterinary Center?? Now I have no idea about your situation other than what you told me in the last post, but Smith Ridge is in South Salem, New York. Since I live in Georgia, you seem practically next door to the clinic.
Dr Goldstein uses both conventional and holisitic medicine but seems to lean toward holistic and has had good luck treating many cancer patients with diet (like yours) and homeopathy. His book The Nature of Animal Healing is wonderful.
Just thought that might interest you.

Thanks for the info. on Dr. Goldstein but unfortunately he would be a little far for us - we are in the suburbs of Washington D.C. in Virginia - His book sounds interesting though - I will see if I can get hold of it at the library. I was able to speak on the phone with a canine nutritionist who recommends many holistic supplements but have not actually used a holistic vet. If I had known of one in this area who combined conventional with holistic medicine like he does I would have definitely gotten in touch.

He is still hanging in there - actually eating really well 3 times a day and now is loving the Nupro again and I think has regained the weight he lost when he had diarrhea so bad - he literally licks the pan until it rattles and then goes back and licks it some more