Homemade Dog Food For Gallbladder Disease

Gallbladder Mucocele In Dogs

A gallbladder mucocele is an abnormal accumulation of bile within the bile ducts that results in a bile duct obstruction. The mucocele can lead to inflammation, tissue death, or rupture of the gallbladder as it expands. The condition may be inherited in some breeds, for example, Shetland Sheepdogs.

Underlying diseases can also predispose dogs to the condition. Some mildly affected dogs can improve with medications alone however, most will require surgery to remove the gallbladder. Liver biopsies are often taken during surgery. Antibiotics are usually necessary for 46 weeks after surgery.

Why Homemade Instead Of Purchased Dog Food

Myths and misconceptions abound on the Internet regarding homemade dog food. Also, there are a myriad of conflicting nutritional recommendations ranging from the 30-70% carbs found in commercial dog food to raw frozen foods that contains no carbs. Some owners feed raw meat and bones and say their dogs thrive.

However, many raw materials that are unfit for humans are legal for dog food. These may include spoiled supermarket food, slaughter house waste such as organs, heads, hooves, beaks, feet and other appalling ingredients. Ingredients often have vague names such as animal by-product meal and meat by-product meal. Read the article, The Shocking Truth About Commercial Dog Food by Dog Food Advisor. It will convince you that making homemade food is a safer alternative to much of the commercial food.

Before commercial dog food, dogs ate table scraps real food. During the Great Depression dog food companies marketed their products as an economical alternative. To boost their market, dog food companies advertised that their food was required for good health. Table scraps and real food suddenly became harmful. Pet food companies stepped up the onslaught and began using veterinarians to endorse their products.

Dogs Affected By Gallbladder Disease

When New York resident Christine Aiello rushed her 13-year-old Cocker Spaniel, Coco Chanel Bella, to the emergency veterinarians office, she had no idea her gallbladder had ruptured.

She threw up three times on this day, and when I got home, she wasnt acting like herself. Aiello recalled. She was shaking a lot. She threw up two more times and we rushed to the vet.

Sadly, that would be the last time Christine held Coco in her arms outside of the hospital. Bloodwork revealed elevated liver values, and an abdominal ultrasound was consistent with a ruptured gallbladder mucocele. The fluid was leaking into Cocos bloodstream from the rupture, consistent with bacterial leakage and a septic abdomen.

Removal of the gallbladder and a liver biopsy led to a lengthy stay in the hospital. Coco received aggressive treatment with antibiotics, supportive care, and had an uneventful surgical recovery. On the day she was due to be discharged, things took a turn for the worst.

Abdominal drain production increased and Coco spiked a fever. Fluid removed from the abdomen with a needle was consistent with sepsis, so Coco had exploratory surgery to see what was happening.

A tear was found in the midportion of her common bile duct, but everything else was intact. Her blood pressure dropped and medical attempts to help it stabilize failed. Thirty-six hours after this second surgery, Coco became extremely distressed and agonal, and the decision was made to help her pass peacefully.

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Prognosis For Dogs With Gallbladder Disease

Since there are several different diseases that can affect your dog’s gallbladder, the prognosis will be related to which specific condition the dog was diagnosed with. When these diseases are left untreated, rupture of the gallbladder can take place . This is a serious condition that requires emergency surgery to treat, but if caught in time, the dog can live comfortably afterward with medications supervised by a veterinarian. However, in cases specifically involving gallbladder cancer, treatment options ultimately may not be effective.

Inflammation Of The Gallbladder

Inflammation of the gallbladder can be caused by bacterial infections, cancer, trauma to the liver, gallbladder obstruction, or blood clots. In some cases, the gallbladder wall is damaged, and bile leaks into the abdomen, causing severe abdominal infection and inflammation, which can be fatal. Loss of appetite, abdominal pain, jaundice, fever, and vomiting are common signs. The dog may be in a state of shock due to abdominal inflammation.

The inflammation can also spread to the surrounding branches of the bile duct and the liver. Diagnosis is based on blood tests and ultrasound findings and can be confirmed by biopsy for bacterial cultures and tissue analysis. Treatment usually consists of the removal of the gallbladder and appropriate antibiotic medication to treat the infection. The outlook is good if surgery and appropriate antibiotics are started early but is less favorable if diagnosis and treatment are delayed.

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What Causes A Gallbladder Mucocele In Dogs

From a super highly technical perspective, A recent study found that many of these dogs have a mutation in the gene that codes for ABCB4. ABCB4 is a protein within hepatocyte cell membranes that is necessary for the transfer of phospholipids from the hepatocyte into the bile ducts. Without the protective effect of phospholipids, bile salts cause chronic irritation of the gallbladder wall and lead to increased mucus production. Thus, potentially leading to a mucocele.

Some dog health conditions are believed to contribute to gallbladder mucocele formation: hypothyroidism, Cushings disease, and hyperlipidemia.

In the report from MSPCA by Dr. Johnson, it is noted that about 75 percent of dogs with gallbladder mucoceles have an elevated ALT, ALP, and GGT on bloodwork.

In addition to mucoceles, the gallbladder of a dog can become obstructed by:

• Cancer in a variety of areas, including but not limited to, the pancreas and liver
• A high-fat diet that may result in supersaturated levels of cholesterol in the bile
• Excessive amounts of fat in the blood caused by pancreatitis
• A motility problem in the gallbladder whereas gallstones may occur
• Hereditary, as some breeds noted above, are more prone to gallbladder mucoceles

When I asked about a dogs weight and fatty diet, he agreed that may contribute as well.

Gallbladder Disease In Dogs

Dr. Bartley Harrison is a veterinarian with more than 15 years of professional veterinary experience treating dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, birds, and small mammals, with a specific focus on Emergency Medicine. Dr. Harrison is part of The Spruce Pets veterinary review board.

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Nestled in between the lobes of the liver, the gallbladder is a small organ that holds fluid within the body of humans and some animals. While this organ usually works quietly next to the liver, gallbladder diseases and problems can develop that negatively affect dogs. If the gallbladder is not able to function properly, bile may back up, the gallbladder may rupture, or other serious issues may occur. Dogs can become very sick or potentially die if gallbladder issues are not addressed in a timely manner. Because of this, it is very important for dog owners to have a basic understanding of these potential concerns and to know what they can do to help. Owners can also be aware of potential causes like diet, liver disease, or abdominal injury to help prevent gallbladder disease in their dogs.

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Yams Must Be Cookedcooked

Yams are cooling so more suitable for dogs that overheat easily. They are known to strengthen the spleen and pancreas which makes them one of the very beneficial foods for dogs. They are a good source of dietary fibre, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, magnesium, potassium, copper and manganese.

Should You Cook Your Dogs Food

Is cooking dog food at home really better for your pup? While there may be claims made to that effect, theres no hard scientific evidence to support it.

Owners are told by many sources that homemade food is superior to commercial products. However, there is no proof to support this claim, says Dr. Larsen.

Larsen cautions dog owners to be aware of fearmongering within the pet food industry. This is often driven by myths about ingredient quality. While there are no scientifically-supported benefits to homemade diets, whole ingredient-based diets are better in the long term. Commercial foods are made to be complete and balanced, adds Dr. Bartges, albeit not the most exciting of meals.

Think of it as eating the same highly processed food for every meal, day after day, for years, he affirms.

Put that way, feeding your dogs a variety of whole foods makes a lot of sense. In fact, there are a multitude of reasons why you might want to prepare homemade foods for your dog, according to Dr. Larsen and Dr. Bartges.

These include gaining control over your dogs diet, appeasing picky eaters, combatting food intolerance issues, concern over food recalls, or simply for the bond-building joy of preparing a home-cooked meal for your dog.

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Safe Herbs And Spices For Dogs

Remember, follow your veterinarians directions and precautions carefully when adding herbs and spices to your dogs diet. Stop using any items if you notice any changes in your dogs behavior or any gastrointestinal symptoms develop, like vomiting or diarrhea.

NOTE: Smaller dogs should receive the lower serving size, and the upper end of the serving size is for larger dogs.

A Diet For Dogs With Hyperlipidemia

Keely, a five-year-old Miniature Schnauzer, is owned by Gail Roper, of Tucson, Arizona. A year ago, Keelys right eye turned white. Her ophthalmologist diagnosed her with corneal fat deposits due to hyperlipidemia, which is common in Miniature Schnauzers, and advised putting Keely on a low-fat diet. Within a month, the deposits were gone. Here is Ropers report of what she feeds her dog now:

Keely is an agility dog who weighs 19 pounds. She gets a lot of her food during training, so her meals are small. For training, I use chicken breast and London broil , and non-fat feta cheese, which she loves. I boil the beef, then cut it up into quarter-inch squares and freeze it. Ive had trouble finding heart, but my grocery store said they could order it for me, so I will be using that as well.

Breakfast foods include non-fat yogurt and cottage cheese, hard-boiled eggs, sardines, 93 percent lean turkey bacon , and chicken wingettes with as much skin removed as possible. She gets 1/3 of a strip of bacon once or twice a week, one sardine twice a week, 1/2 hard-boiled egg three times a week, a tablespoon of cottage cheese and yogurt three times a week, and chicken wingettes once a week.

Treats are EVO grain-free dog treats, Merricks dried beef lung, and homemade chicken, beef, and turkey jerky. To make jerky, I boil the meat, then cut it into thin strips and bake on a cookie sheet at 250 F until dehydrated. For recreation, I give Keely raw beef bones with marrow removed.

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Avoid Giving Your Dog Medications Unless Prescribed By A Veterinarian

Some medications can be harmful to the liver and should only be given to your dog under the guidance of a veterinarian. This includes over-the-counter medications, supplements, and even certain herbs and natural remedies.

It is important to follow your vets instructions and avoid giving your dog any medications or supplements without their approval. If your dog is already taking medications, your vet may need to adjust the dosage or switch to a different medication to protect their liver health.

Common Symptoms Of Gallbladder Problems In Dogs Include:

As you can see, these symptoms also occur in other canine disease processes. Time is of the essence, so if your dog is showing signs of distress of any of these symptoms, seek urgent veterinary care immediately.

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What Should I Feed My Dog With Canine Liver Disease

Many dog owners opt to feed their pup a homemade liver disease diet as this is the only way to know exactly what youre feeding your dog. Many commercial dog foods contain unnecessary ingredients that will not improve your pups liver condition but some are better than others. Your vet can guide you towards which ones are best. Raw food is also an option, although whether raw food is actually the best choice for your pups health is still debatable. If you do decide to change your pets diet, the change should happen slowly and gradually. Most of us have made the mistake at least once of trying to change your pups diet too fast and dealing with an upset tummy as a result.

You should feed your dog several times a day if possible, ideally, you should give them four to five small meals a day. This might be tricky if you work during the day so you may need to ask for assistance from a family member or hire someone to stop in during the day. This may seem excessive but it is ideal for dogs with canine liver disease as its easier on both their stomach and their liver.

Improve The Function Of Your Dog’s Gallbladder With A Raw Diet

The gallbladder is an organ situated between the lobes of the liver, with a primary function of storing, concentrating and releasing of bile. Bile has many functions. It is important to your pets immune system, killing substances such as fungus and bacteria. It also serves to neutralize potentially toxic stomach acids and has the important work of stimulating food to move down the small intestine for processing. Due to the necessary functions of bile, a blockage caused by gallstones can lead to serious complications for the health of your pet.

The liver right nearby secretes bile, a substance that assists with digestion and absorption of fats and with elimination of certain waste products from the body. Bile is stored in the gallbladder and is released into the small intestine through the bile duct.

Jaundice is often the main sign of diseases of the gallbladder and bile duct. An exception is cancer of the gallbladder, which may not cause jaundice. There are quite a few diseases that affect the Gallbladder: Obstruction of the bile duct, Inflammation of the Gallbladder , Gallbladder Mucocele, Gallstones and rupture of the gallbladder or bile duct.

How can we help our dogs be healthier and happier throughout their lives? We want our dogs to live richly, but this seems much harder to achieve when diagnosed with a complication, such as a gallbladder problem.

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Choosing Ingredients For Our Turkey And Veggie Dog Food Recipe

When creating our dog food recipes, we research which ingredients are best for dogs to eat and digest. Then, we create the recipes and test them on our own dogs. Once we know our dogs are satisfied, we give the recipes to our friends and families and try them out on their dogs. Finally, we share the recipes with the Skinny Ms. community. That way, your dog can also enjoy wholesome, clean-eating dog food and treats.

After doing our research, we selected lean, ground turkey for this Turkey and Veggie Dog Food recipe. We also added in a few nutrient rich vegetables to boost your pets health and wellness. As an extra bonus, we included olive oil in the mix. It not only provides essential fats for your dogs healthy diet, but it also gives your dogs coat the shine it deserves.

NOTE: Check with your veterinarian before making any changes to your pets diet. Also, please be aware of any allergies your pet may have to specific ingredients. Always avoid ingredients which have caused reactions in your pets in the past. If you are unsure about a specific ingredient found in one of our dog food recipes, introduce the food to your pets in small amounts first.

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Keep your dog healthy and fit with this easy peasy homemade recipe its cheaper than store-bought and chockfull of fresh veggies!

I never thought I would be one of those dog owners who made homemade human food for their pups. Not in a million years.

But when Butters recently fell sick with an upset stomach, our vet advised us to feed him a bland diet chicken and rice without any kind of seasoning. So thats what we did we poached a chicken, shredded it in a food processor, and mixed in some white rice and fed him this bland diet for 3 days.

Thats when I started to do some research on homemade dog food, and I have been so amazed as to how many different kinds of vegetables dogs can have. And with the help of Balance IT, you can create so many different recipes for your pup!

Now the best part about making homemade dog food just like making anything at home is that you know exactly what is going into the dog bowl, and not any of that questionable gelatinous gunk from the canned food.

But its important to note that dogs have different nutrient requirements than humans for their proportional body size, such as:

Now this recipe here has a balance of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains, but the ratios can easily be adjusted to suit your pups breed and/or needs.

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Lets Talk Dog Nutrition Six Essential Nutrients Dogs Need

Here is a link to an article regarding Dog nutrition, originally published in Dogster Magazine in 2017. You can also link to the article by clicking on the picture below.

Diana Laverdure-Dunetz, M.S., is a canine nutritionist and co-author, with M. Jean Dodds, D.V.M., of two books including Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health. Their online course, Complete Canine Nutrition can be found at myhealthydog.dog.