QUESTION:
Health insurance blue cross denied me and I am sure all of them will. Help!?
When I was 17 I was diagnosed with a pituatary tumor affecting my prolactin its something that I will probably always be watched for especially when I want to have children. I just applied for blue cross and they denied me I am now 19 the reason why my insurance ended before was because my mom was under low income families and received blue cross trough healthy families a program. I got accepted for free medical last year but they discontinued it for this year I reaply and now I have a share of cost of 456 because I work now and I make more than 600 dollars a month. I make about 1,100 a month I only work part time. What can I do in my situation I need to be seen by a doctor but can not afford to put down 456 dollars a month each month I am seen, and all insurances are going to deny me. Please Help!!!!

• ANSWER:
  I;m assuming your in the US, healthcare here is a b!tch isnt it???? have you asked about emergency medicaid? go to SS dept and tell them you HAVE to see the doctor, and you just cant afford the bills. the worst thing can happen is youll get denied My husband made good money in NYC when we lived there(1000 a week with tips) and he got emergency medicaid to pay his ER bills 3 times for kidney stones,, however the cost of living in NYC is very high compared to other places so I dont know if that had to do with it.

  we now live in SC and he makes 300 a week, I have prenatal medicaid.

  hopefully we'll get a president soon who understands the need for affordable medical care for all citizens.....

QUESTION:
what is a good health insurance for age 19 and up?
at the moment i am 18 but will be turning 19 in 10 days...and i was wondering what is a good health insurance to apply to. i have Anthem Blue Cross Healthy Families. I am looking for something similar or almost similar...if someone could please help me. thank you soo much. ps if this helps i live in california....thank you again!!

• ANSWER:
  The good news is that if you’re relatively young and healthy you’re probably going to find some affordable options. Living in California, there’s a lot to choose from. I wouldn’t want to make a specific recommendation without knowing more about your situation and what kind of health benefits are most important to you. But here are a few things to think about:

  If you’re the kind of person who visits the doctor regularly, consider a health insurance plan with lower office visit copayments and a lower annual deductible. (The deductible is the amount you are required to pay out of pocket before the insurance company begins paying for covered medical services.) A plan like this may have a slightly higher monthly premium (that’s your regular monthly bill), but the lower deductible may make it all work out to your benefit in the end.

  If you rarely visit the doctor and just want some kind of coverage for an unexpected accident, serious illness, or hospitalization, take a look at plans with higher deductibles. Your monthly premium for this kind of plan will typically be lower. This kind of coverage can still be really valuable in case something bad happens.

  It’s always a good idea to talk with an agent who represents multiple insurance companies in your area to get a good idea of what your options are. You can also check out your options for yourself through a licensed online agency, like eHealthInsurance.com, where I work. Through our site, for example, you’ll get free quotes, compare plans side by side, and apply for coverage online. We have licensed agents you can talk to by phone for personal help and advice: 1-800-977-8860.

  Hope that helps,

  Amir M, licensed agent

QUESTION:
Anthem HMO insurance. Price of Nuvaring?
I have a Anthem Blue cross HMO Healthy families insurance. Would you anyone happen to know how much a nuvaring would cost with that insurance?

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
What do you do if you are denied Health care insurance?
I signed up for Blue Cross Blue Shield in Florida. My family was accpeted but I was denied because they said I have been to the Dr with complaints of a stiff neck. So I have been denied Health care coverage that I would pay 1400.00 a month for because I had childhood astama and a stiff neck. I havent had asthma since I was 9 and I am 34 yrs old. Does this make any sense? I am completely healthy and I am denied, this is so messed up. Any suggestions

• ANSWER:
  Go to a local agent, let them find you other coverage with a different carrier. Let them exclude all coverage for the asthma.

  But that stiff neck has to be resolved - that can be a symptom of some quite serious stuff.

  **Ameriplan is NOT insurance. Your monthly payment buys you a LIST, and most providers won't give you the discount. They don't PAY anything, and they don't COVER anything, and they aren't REGULATED.**

QUESTION:
Question about first prenatal visit?
Im going to the dr. next week for my first prenatal visit. Right now i am 9 weeks along. Everything is great, no sickness, just tired and hungry!!
My concern is my health insurance. I do have it through blue cross and blue shield, but i have to meet a 00 deductable before they cover anything! i never get sick, so i never use my health insurance. I don't want to be getting 0-600 dr. bills every month, especially the first visit, they will be testing me for everything. What can i tell them no to? My husband and I come from VERY healthy families.. any input would be great! Thanks
only serious answers please. no rudeness. i have never been thru this before and don;t know what to expect

• ANSWER:
  Oiy...that's a tough one. It sounds like you're going to have the deductible one way or another. You can say no to the HIV test, but the other tests are all pretty necessary. Check with your doctor and see if they'll work out a smaller payment plan until your deductible is paid off. I'm not sure how else to handle it, that seems like an extremely high deductible though. Good luck, hon! Congratulations on your pregnancy.

QUESTION:
Please Help!!!! Insurance questions. Medical is not working out. Pre exsiting condition.?
I was under healthy families with my mother for low income families I was 17 and diagnosed with a prolactinadenoma (tumor in pirtutary). They took my insurance away when I turned 19 since it will only cover me till the age of 18. I went to apply for MEDICAL and they accepted me for free insurance. ( I was not working at the time, my income was my mother and I was living by myself) Now I am working and make about 1,000 a month I pay my rent of 645 and bills. My MEDICAL was disconitnued last year and said I had to reaply. I went to apply and show pay stubs that were a little high. My share of cost came to 456 dollars a month. I can not afford that since for my pituarty condition I have to be seen continuesly one month is follow up next month is checking prolactin levels and next month is MRI so basically I have to pay for everything. I don't make enough for this. I talked to Medical and said there is nothing to do. I am 19 single living alone. I applied for Blue Cross and was denied.
They found my pre existing condition. I have a job now and been there over three months I am going to apply but the carrier is BLUE CROSS I am thinking they are going to deny me due to pre existing condition. Right? I did not have other jobs before. Is there an insurance that does not check pre existing. Medical is telling me either pay for the bills or stop working for free medical. Does Kaiser look into previous pre existing. Please help I need to be seen soon for this but can not afford to pay. I was recently sick and right now I have to give my share of cost and paid over 200 dollars for medicine. PLEASE ANYONE HELP!!!!

• ANSWER:
  The terms of you're health insurance is what's going to determine if they accept pre-existing conditions or not. None of us are really going to tell you, you'll have to ask you're employer and look in the "small print."

  Most bottom of the line policy's will not accept pre-existing conditions as a way to potentially save costs.

QUESTION:
dental insurance?
we are self employed, my kids have coverage through healthy families..and i tried medical, but only qualify for share of cost, which means i have to meet the 2500 deductible. so i have all 3 of my wisdom teeth coming in and my gums are open and my mouth is in major pain. should i just get dental coverage through blue cross or something, where i'll pay 0 a month and go get my teeth done? will i have to wait a certain amount of days before I can do these procedures? otherwise, i'll have to pay 00 for 3 teeth to be removed and make monthly payments. so what should i do?

• ANSWER:
  Hello!
  My husband already answered your question I see!
  Hi, i'm erika, and yes we have a dental plan that is only .95 a month.
  We also have a free 30 day trial period for new members. We can also give a free vacation for 3 days 2 nights including airfare! If you go to the website and check under "Dental Plus" and still have more questions before joining you can call me at 414-897-7471 anytime today! You could then call and set up an appt for tomorrow! No wait period! I hopw I can help you out!

QUESTION:
What is the best PPO plan for married couple?
My wife's 28 years old & I am 39. We currently reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are self-employed (means struggling). My wife is relatively healthy but I have high blood pressure & a history of high blood pressure runs in my family. My doctor has put me on Crestor & Micardis but due to the cost - we have decided to stop purchasing my medications. My wife recently had a urinary infection and went to the doctor's. Her hospital/doctor's bill minus the Blue Cross "help" totalled 00. Now my share of the hospital/doctor's bill 01.77 (of course Blue Cross paid the .77). Now we're swamped with hospital bills are reluctant to even visit the doctor's again. Our premium is approximately 0 per month for both of us. What is a better PPO for us??? Or is it even worth it to have a health insurance? We love children but now are seriously contemplating on not having children.

• ANSWER:
  In my opinion, you should instead consider a HMO plan. While it's true you'll be restricted to seeing doctors in the HMO network, you'll also be protected from facing this type of bill again. This is because the HMO will pay the provider a fee and you will not be balance billed for anything other than your co-pay.

QUESTION:
I need health insurance that will accept my entire family not just the healthy ones. My daughter was born with?
A CLEFT LIP AND PALATE. BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD SAID IT WAS A "PER-EXISTING CONDITIOIN" AN WOULD NOT COVER HER.SO NOW SHE IS TAGGED AS HAVING A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION WHEN SHE IN FACT DID NOT, SHE WAS JUST UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE BORN THIS WAY. I PAY TWO INSURANCES OURS AT ABOUT 350 PER MONTH AND MY 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS AT ABOUT 140 PER MONTH.................I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

• ANSWER:
  Try looking at the links here. Your daughter could be eligible for something like SCHIP which is funded by the government. Would a charity dealing with this problem be able to help correct her lip? Isn't Project Smile interested in this? The Shriners provide care for kids sometimes too.

  If you could be eligible for group coverage through an employer, it would keep the whole pre-existing condition much easier to handle. If that's not an option, though, you might have to look for other help.

QUESTION:
Are there generic equivalents for ALL brand name drugs?
We're trying to decide between two PPO health plans. One (via Anthem Blue Cross) covers brand name and generic drugs, but has a slightly higher premium, the other (through Blue Shield) only generic drugs, but has a lower premium. Otherwise, they have the same coverage, etc. We are a healthy family of five (ages 46, 45, 14, 11, and 10), and don't currently take any medications. (Let's say one of us came down with some strange disease, cancer, etc. --- are there generic equivalents for everything --- or would we have to go broke paying for a brand name drug because there is no generic equivalent?) Are we taking a chance by signing up for a health plan that doesn't cover brand name drugs?

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Opinions??
So hubby just got offered a new job. In regards to health insurance, he will have two choices:

Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO
or
Kaiser Permanente HMO

We will need the family plan...
Hubby... Age: 39, healthy (wears glasses)
me... Age: 35, healthy, have dealt with graves disease in past but took meds, and now levels normal with no meds
First son... Age: 14, healthy
Second son... Age: 6, healthy
Daughter... Age: 16 months, healthy
(We won't be having anymore kids)

So anyway, I am unfamiliar with these particular plans or even what the difference between an HMO and PPO are. I was wondering if anyone has opinions on either one, or can she'd some light on the difference. Which might be better for us? (We live in California)

Thank you!!!
Oh I forgot to mention, hubby has sleep apnea (he has a special machine he has to wear at night) I don't know if that matters or not.

• ANSWER:
  I say go with the PPO. With a PPO you can see just about any doctor and although you will still have in-network and out-of-network providers, the in-network affiliation is really massive. With an HMO you need referrals for EVERYTHING and your doctors for in-network are much more limited (although usually still a good network) and to see an out-of-network doctor will either cost you boku bucks or won't be covered at all. PPO's usually cost more, but are much more worth it. It's less hassle.

QUESTION:
do I qualify for medicaid in new york (confused)?
+ Over 18, Under 21
+ no dependents on me
+ Full time student
+claimed as a dependent on my parents' taxes for financial aid
+ Since I am a full time student my summer employment income doesn't count, mother is currently unemployed (had check for 5 within 30 days), father makes around 00 a month

I'm confused if I qualify for medicaid benefits (applying only for myself, not the whole family). Since I am under 21, my parent's income counts for the household. I do not qualify for Family Health Plus or Healthy NY. I've looked into private insurance options and there's no way I can afford them (I was quoted 1,200 a month through Blue Cross, the only option I qualified for).

I have medical issues that I need treated that are currently going untreated because I have no insurance/can't afford medicine.

Do I qualify? I've tried calling the helplines my county suggested but the people on the phone were very unclear.
To those that have responded. I am not interested in mediCARE but mediCAID (two different programs). My parents lost their insurance, that's why I don't have it any longer.
I've also looked into sliding scale clinics for right now, but I do have some health issues that should be addressed periodically by one doctor. It's not really a problem that can be cured with one visit to a clinic. I need continued treatment.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Will My Insurance Cover Breast Reduction?
I am 20 years old with 36DD breasts. I am a healthy weight, and I have heard many stories of women with much larger breasts, but I have a small frame. My breasts cause bad posture, and strain in my neck, shoulders and back. Although I am at a healthy weight now, diabetes runs very strongly in my family, and I am worried about how I will exercise (aside from eating well) to avoid this disease. It can also be emotionally trying. On the lighter side, I don't have much spare money and most of the bras I can find that fit are ultra expensive..not to mentions it's hard finding tops and affordable bathing suits. My insurance is Oxford but we are switching it, and it might be switched over to Blue Cross by the time I get the surgery.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Is this person at the point in life where she's ready to be trying to have a baby?
Female in her late 20s. Has a bachelors degree from 4-5 yrs ago. Was working in business admin, got laid off last yr, in the meantime has worked business admin temp jobs and waitressing jobs along with returning to school to get certified to teach high school science and math. She is done classes in December, starts teaching in january, and will be fully certified in her state in may 2010. When she's not waitressing or in class, she volunteers at a daycare...the daycare staff thinks she does it to prepare for teaching(even tho she's getting certified for high school, not early childhood edu) but in reality she does it to prepare for motherhood. Her 2 parttime waitressing jobs dont have healthcare benefits, but she has Blue Cross health insurance she pays for herself.

Health: She is deathly concerned about her fertility. Recurrent miscarriages runs in her family, and she's had a few of her own several yrs ago. Mother reached menopause early at age 40. She also has extremely high risk of cancer in her family(mother died from it), esp cervical and breast cancers. Before she emptied her savings paying for grad school, she spent a mint on diagnostic testing at a fertility clinic to make sure she's ok to have kids after her 2 prior miscarriages. Otherwise she is healthy except for high cancer risks.

Finances: Right now she doesnt make much money BUT she has no debt except K in student loans from undergrad college yrs, currently deferred since she returned to school. She hasnt taken out a single loan for grad school yet since she a) hates debt and b) doesnt qualify for much due to last yr's pre-layoff income + having no dependents or equity to her name. Bad part about that tho is shes blown thru her savings paying for grad school with cash. Last yr she paid off her car loan early. She manages her money very frugally. Her credit score is in the mid-high 700s, is never late on a bill. To save money while in school and to hopefully further her relationship, she lives at her bf's house.

Lifestyle: She had her fair share of party days and "playing the field", but she is settled down and conservative now...wants to settle down, get married, and get pregnant asap more than anything else in the world. She doesn't smoke, do drugs, drink(except 1 single glass of wine on rare occasions w/ the bf), nor party. She's very loyal to her bf. Her hobbies include: cooking, decorating the house for holidays, volunteering with kids, playing with her pets, and obsessing about anything pregnancy-related. She is unhappy with her lack of kids or career right now, feels she's been waiting too long, and her biggest downfall is she'll whine about this to her close friends too much.

Family: Her family relationships are rocky at times. Her mom is deceased, she talks to her dad on occasion, but she's frequently outcasted like a black sheep by her siblings + her mom's side of the family(which includes grandma, aunt, and cousins). Her dad's side of the family likes her tho and she has a good relationship with her uncle. Her family + relatives live within an hour of her.

She's not married but has a live-in boyfriend she's been with for 2yrs. Bf is 40, traditional morals, has a stable career in the science field, makes decent income, owns a 3bd home in a nice neighborhood. Bf is an all around good guy and her family esp her dad adores him very much. Bf thinks that it's the man's job to support his wife and kids, and that a mother's #1 job should be to care for the kids...this is in total agreement with her values and ideals. Only concern about the bf is that he is very slow with proposing and gets annoyed when she inquires about babies and marriage, claiming she's "too persistent" even tho she(and her friends) don't think she is that much. Bf has no kids, never been married before, but was engaged at age 25 but it ended very badly so perhaps he is jaded from that and that's why he's slow moving in relationships now(idk maybe?).

Is this girl ready for a baby?
Also, shes a law abiding citizen whos biggest flaw is having a bad attitude about not being pregnant, which she sometimes takes out on her friends. She thinks bums are extremely annoying but on the other hand she donates $$ and cars to charity organizations.

She is a generally nice person who used to be too nice to the point of being used and stepped on by others...but in recent yrs has worked very very hard to learn how to be more assertive and to tell people to "back off". She is almost as obsessed with assertively standing up to people, as she is with wanting to be pregnant.

She reads tons on the following subjects: pregnancy, politics, news/media hype.
cathrl69, if the guy has traditional morals, then that means he DOES think it is ideal to be married first before having kids, so maybe that's part of the reason why he doesn't want to discuss the kid thing?? also, traditional morals includes his belief that although he wouldnt want to have kids before marriage, if it happened, he would marry the girl.

• ANSWER:
  no way..

QUESTION:
Teen birth control, no parental involvement or pelvic exam?
I'm 16, live in NY, and am in a healthy relationship with my boyfriend of 2 years. I want to (he's not pushing me at all) have sex, and I have condoms, but we want to be double sure. I'm willing to pay myself for birth control myself, but I can't put it on our family insurance because it shows up to the primary cardholder (aka my father), so am I required to put down I have insurance or not when I go to the planned parenthood center? I would just talk to my mother, but I'm really afraid of doctors and she'll make me go to a gynecologist and get a pelvic exam and talk over the "options" - when really, this is an adult, mature decision I have thoroughly thought over and decided upon myself in a safe manner. Getting my social security number from them is not an issue, just the health care part (we have blue cross blue shield - is birth control even covered?) Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
My fiance is out all the time and I'm pregnant?
I'm 26, pregnant with my 2nd child, I have a toddler from my previous marriage (my ex husband passed a year ago)-but my fiance has been a great father to my son and now we are expecting a child together. He's always been very social but now that I'm pregnant it seems like he's out all the time. Literally almost every night. Sometimes just for a couple hours, sometimes until very late at night. It's upsetting because it seems like he's drinking more (I quit drinking years ago so I'm pretty perceptive as to how much others drink) and it's making me very uncomfortable. I feel like all I'm doing is nagging anymore. I refuse to raise my children in a household like that. I want us to be a happy healthy family, not daddy staggering in at midnight or later every couple nights.
I am so scared about the future and I'm not sure what I can do at this point. I'm so sad anymore that I cry almost everyday- I feel bad because I'm hoping that my son doesn't notice me being distant sometimes because my mind is preoccupied thinking about my fiances problem.
I feel like I have been talking "at" him until I'm blue in the face-for a while, he seemed to acknowledge the problem and would say that he agreed, he'd try to work on it. Now if I say something, he's defensive and pretty much just heads right out of the door.
What is going on? I am so miserable and it's getting worse. The few times we spend together now, I am still so angry about the previous night or nights of hell that I can't even relax and have a good time with him, I can see how he doesn't want to be around me, but I don't feel like it's really my fault.

What can I do?
Is he freaking out about us having a child? Sometimes I even wonder if he's cheating (I doubt it but sometimes it crosses my mind)
I just want to relax and enjoy my pregnancy and my son- I know that I can't get these years with him back.
Please help!

• ANSWER:
  I am 18 and I feel exactly like you do. I make a chore board and put things that he has to do because I can't do heavy lifting. I go to school full time, come home and clean, then make dinner and dessert and do homework and take care of my daughter (from another relationship). He comes to school with me and hangs out with his friends while I am in class. Then we go home and I do what I have to, he is on his computer. Then he goes out with his friends til one am. I want to go out before the baby is born and this just makes me feel that he gets to have fun while I sacrifice my body. I would talk to my fiance about how I don't like something, even if I was kidding and he flips out on me and yells. Then it's like I did something wrong. I told him he wasn't worth talking to anymore. He stopped that a bit. He would flip out on me when something wasn't my fault at all. It would ruin my time with him because I would still be pissed off at him. After he said sorry, he acted like nothing happened and that made it worse. I was like it's not okay and I feel like we are never going to be okay.

  I have to nag my fiance to do stuff around the house and do things that I can't. He gets mad like it's my fault I am pregnant and I can't carry a couch upstairs. I have to talk at him to get shit done and I am so tired of it. I had to stop it by telling him everything that pissed me off about him and then when he sorta blamed me and didn't get when it was his fault, I told him to leave.

  He got upset and realised I wasn't playing around. Now that you are pregnant with his child, I think he has a feeling that no matter what, you won't leave. That's okay, just let him know that every relationship has an equal part and you won't stand for crap that he gives you and not doing his part. Let him be threatened you will leave and he will shape up.

  EDIT: Last few months of freedom? Me and you already had a child and that freedom was lost a while ago. He needs to see what real responsibility is before the baby gets here. You are going through 40 plus weeks of hell with the body and hormone changes while he thinks he deserves to go out and have fun. See I know what you are going through and I feel bad about going out without my fiance but if us 2nd time moms go out while pregnant, we can actually enjoy something. I feel bad about letting my daughter stay at home with him too. I think it's a guilt thing. No matter what. Make time for yourself while HE does the cooking and watches your child from the previous marriage. He needs the training and he has to get used to being at home.

QUESTION:
How to resolve mother/daughter co-dependency?
I am 24 years old and have been going to counseling for a year to help myself cope with the co-dependent relationship I have with my mother, mostly by creating healthy boundaries. (When I started counseling, my counselor told me that my mother and I had what she described as "blurred identities": that I did not know where I started and stopped, and vice versa with my mom.) Several events happened that affirmed I would need to move out eventually so that my mom could deal with not only my identity as an adult that doesn't constantly involve parental reliance, as well as her new identity that doesn't constantly involve being a caretaker. One of my biggest motivators for moving out would also be to ensure that when my boyfriend and I marry, my mom could have a healthy distance between the two of us (us being myself and her). Otherwise, I think it would be easier for her to wiggle in and cross those "boundaries". My mother is under the impression that I will be living at home until I get married. She talks about how important it is to live at home and save your money instead of "throwing it away". (She also likes to throw in on a side note that families used to live together in one unit b/c it was just too expensive for families to live out on their own...ie, my grandparents did not own a house until they were in their 40s, and lived with my great-grandparents until they bought their house.) I've lived at home for 2 years since I graduated college, and have been saving my money. I feel ready to move out, and have an opportunity at hand to move in with someone I trust and respect in a neighborhood I feel that is safe with rent that is affordable. I would be moving in by June. I am just not sure how to break it to my mom. I know that I cannot control her reaction; I know it will be traumatic for her. For anyone that has been in this situation, or witnessed situations similar to this, what do you advise? If I bring it up casually, she'll throw a fit about how "I'm not going to move out" and that I'll be "wasting my money". If I out of the blue say (and granted, I know that however I bring this up to her, it will be out of the blue), "Guess what? I'm moving!", she'll feel enraged and betrayed. Either way, I know she will be looking for a fight b/c she feels hurt. I know I can't control that, and I don't want to feel guilty about it b/c I shouldn't feel guilty about it. I know that if I waited for my mom to be ready for me to leave home, I'd never be able to leave. I don't want to seem like I am asking for her approval either...this is just a situation where I feel like I am stuck b/t a rock and a hard spot. For more background info., I know no time is perfect, but I would need to move out the same month that my brother (the baby...I am the oldest, and there are only 2 of us) will be graduating high school...super emo. time for moms. Also, a long complicated story in a nutshell, my brother's girlfriend was living with our family b/c her family was evicted and basically left her to fend for herself...they recently broke up and she moved out. My mom was like a mom to her, and she like a second daughter...so she is going thru withdrawal from that. So it's basically a situation where it's really going to suck for my mom. Any advice would be appreciated greatly; thank you! (If you need any extra info, pls. feel free to email. Also, just toss in another detail....we were discussing my brother's breakup the other night, and she was literally *yelling* at me through the door to "open this door right now!" after I told her I did not want to discuss anything and wanted to go to sleep. Imagine being 24 and having your mother yell at you through your bedroom door.....

• ANSWER:
  i am studying counselling and i can understand clearly the type of relationship you have with your mother. you are very correct in saying that you cannot control her reactions, which as much as you'd like to, you cant! I can see that you are quite anxious about this, and hey that is completely normal!

  you are doing the right thing by breaking away from your mother and this unhealthy co-dependancy, good on you for growing as a person and realising that it is an unhealthy dynamic!

  all you can do is sit down with her and tell her that you need to have a chat. when you have her attention, just explain to her that you feel the time is right. Make sure you own your own emotions, always be strong and consistent. Just say something like "Mum, i now feel that i am capable and ready to move out of home. i have my finances in control and this is the way i will be happy to live my life. please give me credit for my life choices, as i am my own person now. i would appreciate if i could feel respected as a person so you and i can continue to have a positive relationship in the future'. if she just starts screaming or throwing a fit, just nod and act like you are really paying attention and be empathetic - say that you really can see the distress, and it must be so hard for her. make sure you stick to your guns and DONT fall into it, as easy as it may be. be compassionate but dont become a part of it. please also know that you are independant from your mother now and you need to have your own best interests at heart. yes you may feel for what she is going through but she is an adult and she is very capable of getting through, this may be better for her then you even realise! you are doing the right thing. just remember be direct, firm and empathetic. dont get caught in emotions or your mothers crap. best wishes to you!

QUESTION:
I need help with a family tattoo please?!?
I am getting a tattoo on my back, so I have a ton of space. I already have a few tattoos by the way. But this one needs to be special. It has to do with my family. A little background and facts: when I was younger I was a runaway and troubled kid always on probation and while this was going on I was losing my father to cancer. My 22 year old sister then had a baby girl that changed our life forever, I became very grown up and stayed out of trouble when this happened. My family became very close, we always have been, but there were a few bumps in the road. I have an older brother, who is the sweetest thing ever, would never hurt a fly. My mother, sweet lady, and so emotional she can always put a smile on your face. My sister, very religious, great mom, sister and daughter. My dad bravest man ever know, love his blue eyes, handsome and strong. We are a Catholic family. Some things we used to enjoy when my dad was healthy was being on the lake AND we always make a trip to Disneyland. We enjoy sports as in softball and baseball as well as motor cross. We enjoy the outdoors a lot. I just need some ideas based on those kind of things, and everything suggested is greatly appreciated thank you.

• ANSWER:
  What a close bond you have with your family. You will always have their love and can surround yourself with photos that you can easily see. Does anyone else in your Catholic family have a special tattoo?

QUESTION:
What on earth could this dream mean?
Before you read it, its important that you know this - I do not EVER want children, so its certainly not simply because I want to be a mother. Because nothing could be further from the truth!

In my dream, I was around 21 years old, and I was around 7 months pregnant. The baby was born at 8 months, and was perfectly healthy. It was a baby boy named Kieran-James. I was out of hospital immediately, and instead of calling my family or the babys father (I have no idea who it is or would be in the dream), I go shopping and show the baby to everyone there. I'm pushing him around in a royal blue buggy with a sea-green criss-cross pattern. He is dressed in a light blue all-in-one baby coat and a white hat.

For some odd reason, I go into a restaurant and while I am ordering the baby simply vanishes from his pram. I am panicking asking everyone around if they've seen my baby, and nobody has – they are acting as if I've lost a pen or something as insignificant as that rather than a newborn baby. I continued searching while calling the police etc.

By the time I woke up, I still hadn't found the baby or any sign of what had happened, and nobody including the police were taking it seriously.

Any ideas?

• ANSWER:
  My dear Rebecca.....

  Well honey...you sure have had a weird dream....but in essence it's just your subconscious thoughts which come up during your dream phases.....all your fears...apprehensions, etc. appear in your dream-world...and....may I congratulate you for the decision NOT to "have children" because they sure are a huge responsibility ...so it's a wise choice of yours !

  Let me provide you with some interesting links which give you more insight to your dreams:

  http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionar…
  http://www.sleeps.com/
  http://www.dreamota.com/
  http://www.newagedirectory.com/dream/dic…
  http://www.dreamsleep.net/
  http://www.edgarcayce.org/dreams/freedre…

  I sure hope the above links give you some enlightening....-smile- Wish you all the BEST for the future (and more pleasant dreams)-smile- Greetings from Germany with all my love, care and concern...your friend....Annette***

QUESTION:
Why do I have varicose veins?
I am 25 years old, I'm skinny and I never been pregnant. I am active and keep a healthy diet. I work out an hour a day plus I take my dog on 3-4 walks a day. I don't keep my legs crossed and I wear compressed socks.

I started getting varicose veins when I was 14. I've always been skinny and so is my family. Varicose veins do not run in my family. My family is pretty healthy. Both sets of grandparents are still alive and disease free. My veins have never hurt but I started getting bad purple, rope like veins that are extremely obvious and unattractive. The older I get, the more I get.

I have talked to a vein specialist and I've been told my varicose veins are not threatening and they are not affecting my health at all. I do not feel any pain but I did get a laser treatment for my veins when I was 23. They told me my insurance was going to cover it in full, so I got it done. However, it was just a cosmetic procedure and they told me my legs will look a lot better, because I have these veins all over my legs and they look hideous. People comment on them all the time, and I don't wear shorts or skirts in the summer. I got the surgery and was told my legs will look stunning after a couple weeks. But the surgery did not work and I am getting more and more veins popping up. My legs are almost covered in these veins and they are getting worse. Not only did the surgery not work, but my insurance didn't cover it but I was told they would cover it in full. I later got billed for ,000. I have since gone back to the doctor and my legs now look like a 90 year old woman's legs. All the doctor could say is that I have no health risks and they don't wanna do the surgery again since it never worked the first time. I was told that is rare for it to not work and the doctor told me I'm a rare case. I look online for laser vein surgery and it apparently works for everyone. I don't know what to do now. I understand I'm not in a health risk but I don't want my legs to look this way anymore. I can't even wear a dress, even with nylons. Everyone can see blue and purple veins through nylons. If people ever see my legs, they are so fascinated by how veiny I am. People comment how it looks sick and it must be painful for me, but it's not. If I wanna scare a little kid, I just show my legs. How can I get normal looking legs and why am I going through this since none of the causes of varicose veins are affecting me at all?

• ANSWER:
  plastic surgery?

  i'm sorry hun i have bad veins too.

QUESTION:
Do you consider any of the adverts to be examples of a good breeder?
Do you consider any of the adverts to be examples of a good breeder?

Beautiful Bullman Pups. Having researched the popularity of this cross breed in America we decided to give our cross American Bulldog/Bullmastiff a litter with our Doberman. Both parents have fantastic tempraments and have been raised closely with children. The litter is evenly spread between father (dobe) and mother. There is a variety of colours,3 Black and Tan, 1 Blue, 2 Fawn and 4 Brindle. Pups will make fantastic pets that will be devoted to the family.

Rottie X Doberman pups soon to be available. Planned Mating. Due to be born anyday so a photo will then be updated. Both parents family pets and around children of all ages everyday. 2 Pups have already been booked. Dad (dobe) is our very own stud dog and is very popular all around the country to selected bitches. Mam is very loyal and she absolutly adores my 2 children this will be her first litter. These pups will make ideal family pets (I will not sell them to anyone who intends to have one for any type of aggression work they are family pets ONLY). Each pup will leave with a Bed, Blanket, Toy and Puppy Pack to get you started. These pups will have the very best care from the moment they are born. Veiwing will take place once im happy with each pup is developing well. Please contact me if you would like any other information on both Mam and Dad. Deposit will secure the pup of your choice.

BEAUTIFUL DOBERMANN PUPPIES, ONE OF THE BEST PEDIGREES YOU WILL FIND IN TH E COUNTRY. SIRE: IS JUNIOR CHAMPION, GREEN STAR WINNER & CACIB WINNER(HIS PARENTS ARE HUNGARIAN & NEDERLANDS CHAMPIONS) DAM: HER PEDIGREE INCLUDES SOME OF THE TOP WINNING DOGS IN EUROPE. ALL PUPPIES BIG & HEALTHY, BLACK AND TAN AND DOCKED.(LEGALLY DOCKED IN IRELAND). BOTH PARENTS ARE GOOD WITH CHILDREN & CATS!!

Superb litter of black & tans and brown & tans. Boys and girls. Champion bred for quality and temperament. Parents here to be viewed. KC registered, puppy pack, 6 weeks free insurance and life long help and support from established breeders for over 28 years. The price for these babies is reduced to £450 as we cannot compete with the prices asked for ILLEGALLY DOCKED PUPPIES.

• ANSWER:
  No - 1st 2 are totally irresponsible & the 3rd & 4th make no mention of health

QUESTION:
I want a baby girl. BAD?!?
I recently divorced my abusive ex-husband when i found out today that I was pregnant with his child. I know I may sound sexist or a horrible person, but I would give everything I have in the world for a girl, but if I found out that I am having a boy, I will be overwhelmingly disappointed. All the male role models I have known in my life; my grandfather, my father, and my ex-husband; are all cold, heartless jerks. If I have a baby boy, just the thought of it, I feel no conjuring of love, and I'm afraid that I might raise another male to become one of the heartless ones that I know.
Yes, I do hear that babies are a gift, and that they're blessings from God. I somehow do not believe that; as long as it's not a boy. My feelings of guilt overwhelm me, but I somehow cannot accept that I have a possibility bearing a boy; another one of those who make up the majority of sex offenders, rapists, and abusive fathers/husbands. To God I hope to have a girl, but if it turns out to be a boy, I might be abusing, neglecting or even abandoning him, and scarring him for life at his very moment of birth. I would resent the entity growing in my tummy, but I would see the baby as surrounded by halos of angels if it were to be a girl. I would simply lay back and give up all hope.

Yes, I am a horrible person; I know, but what can I do to control these feelings? Therapy, counseling, none of them worked. I had an ultrasound schedule appointed and I will find out the sex of my baby in the next five days. Let it not be a boy, pray to God. I want a girl. A girl only. If it's a boy, how would I cope with it?

When a picture of a baby boy comes to mind, I see nothing on the positive side; no angels, no blessings, and most importantly, no love. No cute pink dresses; just boyish, green and blue t-shirts to replace them. No ballet, no real bonding time, and I am not interested in any of the male activities. Such as baseball, football, or whatever men enjoy. This also means no dollhouses, barbie dolls. The non-existent baby girl that I have known might vanish. Men are threatening, dangerous creatures, and what if I were to be bearing one of THEM?

Everyday I fantasize about having a girl; dressing her up in cute little pink dresses, taking her to ballet. having mother/daughter bonding and shopping time, with no other heartless, cruel males in the house. Just me and her. I would adore the little purple crib I will be providing for her, the pink room, dollhouses, and all the dresses. But somehow, when I think of having a boy, what is there to love for him? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. At least not for me. I don't understand how other mothers bond and love their boys to the fullest, but if I were to have one, I would trade anything in the whole world for him; cross my heart I would rather have a mentally ill, cancer-stricken daughter than a perfect healthy son.

Here is the question: What should I do? I don't know how to feel; since most of my ex-husband's side are mostly boys and his genetics are stronger than mine. If I were to have a boy, what should I do? Love him? Impossible. I think all the male role models in my life have affected the way I look upon men in general. My grandfather; a chain-smoker, drug-addict who cheats on his own wife, with women at strip clubs. My ex-husband; verbally and physically abusive, my brother, who is the same as my grandfather; and my father, who is all of these things. I never had the chance to know my uncles, and my other grandfather. My female family members are the complete opposite of them. If I were to bear a son, I will not feel one speck, not one atom, of love connecting between the both of us. Instead, I would view him as a newborn monstrous entity, who will grow up to become just the male "role models" that I know of.

My feelings of guilt overwhelm me, but at the same time I would resent my very own baby son, yet I regret these creeping feelings? As mentioned above, and I cannot stress this enough; counseling, therapy, psychiatrists and everything like that just don't help. At all.

What should I do? How would I cope with the emotional antagonization and resent if I were to have a son?

• ANSWER:
  It's all up to you on how YOU raise your child! If it happens to be a boy you will just raise him the right way and teach him good values and morals! Don't worry. You will love this little baby with all your heart and it's ok that you aren't into all that boyish stuff. If you get him involved in a sport you will be his number1 fan and he will love you! Because if it does turn out to be a little boy you will love him just the same as if he was a girl because he is YOURS! Hope this helps. Good luck!

QUESTION:
Serious dog problem someone please help please please please?
I own a purebred miniature fox terrier.. and live with my family were a family of 6 people..we bought him when he was around 6 weeks old and was the most joyfull puppy we couldnt resist.. but as he got older he began becoming more and more aggressive to the point we have to lock him up when someone comes over to our house because he might attack them and he will not leave them, alone because he sees all strangers as threats.. he even attacks us if we do something he doesnt like.. say if hes barking at the window and we come up and point our fingers at him he would SOMETIMES attack.. but mainly the younger people in the family.. or if we go to pick him up he will attack.. and i mean bite really hard and make us bleed.. he isnt desexed and is around 5 years old now.. still an active dog and is always happy if one of us come home.. he would run up to us jump on us , lick us, but this is the ONLY time he would allow us to carry him.. this problem has really gotten out of hand and before he attacked my little brother because my older brother raised his hand at the dog ( he wasnt going to hit him ) but my dog seemed to panic and bit my little brother on the leg and that was when my older brother gave him a quick smack on his thigh.. lucky the dog was tied up though because the dog would have gone to attack back. This dog has never been abused , only by older brother like ONCE a blue moon when he thinks the dog has crossed the line.. because he says the only way he will become frightened of attacking is if we hit him.. but we just cant do that.. this dog has some anger issues and i cant even train him because he would most likely attack me if i try picking him up or anything.. my brothers telling us were going to get rid of him and my mums starting to agree.. but the rest of the family is against it because he is OUR dog and he would NEVER be able to live with any other family .. and the only option will be to put him down.. hes a happy healthy dog but he tends to think he is the king of the house.. someone please help tell me what i can do to resolve this/??
he actually is happy.. he always brings a ball to me to play with and i can play with him with my hand and he will only play bite and wag his tail.. but again.. if a stranger knocks on the door he will begin to bark.. there have been a few occasions where we have let strangers in the house because they insisted we leave the dog and he did not attack ONE.. he even sat on the lap of one of the strangers that came in and liked him.. but its as if he has two sides to him and they click whenever they want...

• ANSWER:
  The dog is completely untrained and you've now got a serious liability that can have you ending up in court if he does bite a child or anyone else.

  You need a professional trainer at this point. It's gone on so long and you have not indicated any ability to train him, someone else has to do this which means you will have to pay a professional.

  First thing--get him neutered. He's not a show dog, he's aggressive, he is not a good candidate for breeding. It will help tone things down a little.

  Then contact your animal shelter and ask them for recommendations for a dog trainer in your area.

  "Getting rid of him" only dumps the problem on someone else, and I highly doubt anyone is going to willingly take on this kind of problem. Most shelters and most definately animal control would likely euthenize him due to his unsuitability of being a 'pet'. A breed rescue group might take him, but they're all stretched so thin right now that a problem dog like this isn't going to be easily transferred even to a foster home.

  You made the problem. You seriously need to FIX it. Email any 'fox terrier breed rescue' via google and ask about what to do to start retraining him. And get him neutered.

QUESTION:
this is going to be long, but PLEASE read it. i am having major boyfriend/abandonment issues. can you help me?
when i was in high school (7 years ago), i met this guy, Daniel. I had a boyfriend at the time, but Daniel really liked me. We were lab partners and got to know each other very well. At the time, i didn't reciprocate his romantic feelings. The boyfriend and I broke up when we graduated, and Daniel and I remained in touch. We hung out every single day of college. literally. even when i had a boyfriend and he had a girlfriend. the biggest fights each of us ever had with our significant others was about our friendship. we both went through periods of liking each other as more than a friend, but we never crossed the friendship line. During college, 4 people who were very close to me committed suicide and i developed major abandonment issues. i didn't want to be close to anyone, for fear of being left in a terrible, hurtful way. i jumped from relationship to relationship, breaking up with my boyfriend as soon as the novelty wore off. i was afraid of being left, so i left them first. then, through the counsel of my friends (Daniel included), I came to the realization that what i was doing was not healthy. I swore off boyfriends until i "fixed" myself and my issues. I didn't have a boyfriend for almost 2 years. Then, one day, out of the blue, Daniel kissed me. even though i knew he didn't have a girlfriend, i didn't at all see it coming. I freaked out at first and got really mad at him. I didn't want to mess up our friendship - i knew i couldn't be in a relationship without jumping into my old pattern of leaving before i feel like i might get hurt. after about a month of him persuading me, i finally decided to be his "girlfriend." Keep in mind that I have always felt like Daniel is "the one" for me, even way back in high school. he has also always felt like i am the one for him, so he proposed after 2 amazing months of dating. a few months passed and my abandonment issues didn't go anywhere (i became extremely clingy and jealous of time spent with his family and friends and scared that our marriage was inevitably doomed to divorce), so he postponed the wedding until further notice. it was/still is extremely hard, but i know that he was really smart to not marry me right now, with my issues and all. i know good and well that i don't need to get married feeling the way that i do, but at the same time, i know that Daniel is my soulmate, and we are in our mid 20s, and I feel ready to get married. it's now been 10 months since the wedding was postponed, and we've now been romantically linked for a year and a half. we're still best friends and we still have the best time ever together. we both still strongly feel like we are soulmates. the good parts of our relationship are a million times better than the good parts of any relationship he or i have ever been in. the problem is, i feel like the spark is gone, which i know is normal for a relationship of this length. he tells me he loves me far less than he used to (now he "only" says it 2-3 times a day), and he is starting to want to spend more time with his friends and less time just the 2 of us. he doesn't buy me flowers as often as he used to. we don't go on dates as often as we did at the beginning of our dating relationship. i can't help but feel like he is starting to feel less for me than he did at first. i know it's not true, though. i know that he loves me and wants to be with me, but my abandonment issues are telling me to run. because i feel like he is somehow pulling away from me, i have become even MORE clingy and jealous of time spent with his family and i am afraid our relationship is doomed - the entire reason that he called of the wedding in the first place is even bigger and badder now than it was. i have broken up with him several times in the past few months, but he keeps pulling me back in, saying we're meant to be and we're going to get married one day and he's not going to leave me or hurt me. i know this in my mind, but on a daily basis, when he is less mushy than he used to be, my emotions tell me to just get out before i get hurt. i basically keep flip-flopping, going back and forth between breaking up with him and getting back together with him, and it is completely destroying our relationship. i want more than anything to be with him and make our relationship work, but i don't know how to. i know this is my fault and i don't know why in the world he is being so patient with me. it's kind of ridiculous and i know that the fact that he is sticking by my side through all of these breakups should tell me that he's not going to leave me, but i just can't help but feel like it anyway. how can i fix my abandonment issues and restore our relationship? i don't have enough money to go to a counselor, and my friends are no help. i honestly just don't know what to do. at all.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
This is going to be long, but PLEASE read it. i am having major boyfriend/abandonment issues. can you help me?
when i was in high school (7 years ago), i met this guy, Daniel. I had a boyfriend at the time, but Daniel really liked me. We were lab partners and got to know each other very well. At the time, i didn't reciprocate his romantic feelings. The boyfriend and I broke up when we graduated, and Daniel and I remained in touch. We hung out every single day of college. literally. even when i had a boyfriend and he had a girlfriend. the biggest fights each of us ever had with our significant others was about our friendship. we both went through periods of liking each other as more than a friend, but we never crossed the friendship line. During college, 4 people who were very close to me committed suicide and i developed major abandonment issues. i didn't want to be close to anyone, for fear of being left in a terrible, hurtful way. i jumped from relationship to relationship, breaking up with my boyfriend as soon as the novelty wore off. i was afraid of being left, so i left them first. then, through the counsel of my friends (Daniel included), I came to the realization that what i was doing was not healthy. I swore off boyfriends until i "fixed" myself and my issues. I didn't have a boyfriend for almost 2 years. Then, one day, out of the blue, Daniel kissed me. even though i knew he didn't have a girlfriend, i didn't at all see it coming. I freaked out at first and got really mad at him. I didn't want to mess up our friendship - i knew i couldn't be in a relationship without jumping into my old pattern of leaving before i feel like i might get hurt. after about a month of him persuading me, i finally decided to be his "girlfriend." Keep in mind that I have always felt like Daniel is "the one" for me, even way back in high school. he has also always felt like i am the one for him, so he proposed after 2 amazing months of dating. a few months passed and my abandonment issues didn't go anywhere (i became extremely clingy and jealous of time spent with his family and friends and scared that our marriage was inevitably doomed to divorce), so he postponed the wedding until further notice. it was/still is extremely hard, but i know that he was really smart to not marry me right now, with my issues and all. i know good and well that i don't need to get married feeling the way that i do, but at the same time, i know that Daniel is my soulmate, and we are in our mid 20s, and I feel ready to get married. it's now been 10 months since the wedding was postponed, and we've now been romantically linked for a year and a half. we're still best friends and we still have the best time ever together. we both still strongly feel like we are soulmates. the good parts of our relationship are a million times better than the good parts of any relationship he or i have ever been in. the problem is, i feel like the spark is gone, which i know is normal for a relationship of this length. he tells me he loves me far less than he used to (now he "only" says it 2-3 times a day), and he is starting to want to spend more time with his friends and less time just the 2 of us. he doesn't buy me flowers as often as he used to. we don't go on dates as often as we did at the beginning of our dating relationship. i can't help but feel like he is starting to feel less for me than he did at first. i know it's not true, though. i know that he loves me and wants to be with me, but my abandonment issues are telling me to run. because i feel like he is somehow pulling away from me, i have become even MORE clingy and jealous of time spent with his family and i am afraid our relationship is doomed - the entire reason that he called of the wedding in the first place is even bigger and badder now than it was. i have broken up with him several times in the past few months, but he keeps pulling me back in, saying we're meant to be and we're going to get married one day and he's not going to leave me or hurt me. i know this in my mind, but on a daily basis, when he is less mushy than he used to be, my emotions tell me to just get out before i get hurt. i basically keep flip-flopping, going back and forth between breaking up with him and getting back together with him, and it is completely destroying our relationship. i want more than anything to be with him and make our relationship work, but i don't know how to. i know this is my fault and i don't know why in the world he is being so patient with me. it's kind of ridiculous and i know that the fact that he is sticking by my side through all of these breakups should tell me that he's not going to leave me, but i just can't help but feel like it anyway. how can i fix my abandonment issues and restore our relationship? i don't have enough money to go to a counselor, and my friends are no help. i honestly just don't know what to do. at all.

• ANSWER:
  You are wasting your life in fear of what ifs. Get up off your butt and marry him, Would you rather marry him then divorce him. Or would you rather y'all never marry, and you spend the rest of your life without him, wondering if you made a mistake. 40 years from now, your old, warn down, no children, no husband, just you and 47 mangy cats all living in an apartment. And you look in the mirror and say. "I am glad it turned out this way" and "I wonder what Daniel is doing now?"

  Come on get a grip! Wake up! and Get on with your Life!

QUESTION:
What are some healthy dog treats?
I am looking for healthy dog treats. I would like to know what are the best treats to feed your dog. I also would like to know what the best option is for them to chew on. I have heard that rawhide is dangerous. What else should you avoid using? It will all be supervised, he won't be using these chew treats without me watching. I also want to know what treats to use when training him. Thank you!

• ANSWER:
  Our puppy loves baby carrots and ice cubes. His trainer has also suggested pieces of string cheese. I might say to treat your dog like you would your children and feed them similar healthy treats. We use those same treats for training.

QUESTION:
What are the best healthy treats for young dogs?
My dog loves to chew but I don't want him filing up on junk, like rawhide or chewsticks - so anyone got any thoughts on healthy low cal fillings for Kongs or chewable snacks like carrot

Thanks for your help

• ANSWER:
  Raw, meaty bones. I usually just buy soup bones from the grocery store.

  Bully sticks.

  Sams Yams. http://www.frontporchpets.com

  Raw carrots, green beans, celery.

  Dehydrated sweet potatoes or bananas. My food dehydrator is the best thing I ever bought.

  Plug up the small hole in a Kong with a piece of bread, fill the Kong 2/3 full with low sodium chicken or beef broth, freeze until solid. Long lasting treat; especially nice on a hot summer day.

QUESTION:
What are Some of the Best and Healthiest Dog Treats?
and where can I buy them? Thanks!
Btw, I have a 1-year old German Shephard

• ANSWER:
  Try a small local pet store. They generally have healthier, more holistic treats. When reading a treat label stay away from corn, soy, meat by-products, animal plasma, meat broth, poultry by-products, etc. Also avoid treats that add a lot of sugar, it's unnecessary. Absolutely don't use treats that have BHA, BHT or ethoxyquin as these are carcinogenic preservatives, when vitamin E and rosemary extract are perfectly good natural preservatives.

  Treats I like:
  California Natural
  Nature's Logic
  Plato Jerky Strips
  Eagle Holistic Select Jerky
  Wellness Pure Rewards and WellBites and biscuits
  Zukes (Mini Naturals, Jerky and their awesome new biscuits!)
  Cloudstar (their whole treat line is awesome!)
  Sojos
  Natural Balance biscuits, treat rolls and they have a new jerky coming out
  Grandma Lucy's Organics
  Stella and Chewy's Carnivore Kisses
  Mother Nature biscuits
  Blue Buffalo biscuits
  Sam's Yams

  For chews, try bully sticks or piesels. They are tendons and completely digestible unlike rawhide which can cause blockages. Merrick, Western's and Free Range all make bully sticks.

QUESTION:
Best kind of dog food and treats?
What's the best/healthiest, kind of dog food and treats? I heard sience diet...and milkbones? I'm not sure though...do you?

• ANSWER:
  Here are some guidelines for picking a super-premium dog food:

  -make sure the first couple ingredients are whole meat, at least the very first ingredient

  -No corn!(Dogs don't digest it well and many are allergic)

  -No by-products (nasty sludgy left overs)

  -not preserved with BHT or BHA (chemicals known to cause cancer!)

  Research and pick one that is best for you and your dog, Some good ones are Diamond, Canide, Eagle Pack, Wellness, Back to Basics, Wysong, Innova, Flint River Ranch, Pinnacle, Chicken soup...and some more, but these are some of the better brands out there. I would not choose a very "popular" brand like Purina or Pedigree, or even Science Diet, too often these brands spend too much on advertising and not enough on quality ingriedents, some of the lesser known brands like canide etc...stated above generaly have much better ingredients.

QUESTION:
what are the best brands of dog treats or best ingredients to make my own?
healthy, nutritious dog treats

• ANSWER:
  These are the treats i give my dog

  http://www.naturesvariety.com/products/treats/Instinct/fd Nature's Variety Instinct freeze dried raw

  http://wellnesspetfood.com/products.aspx?pet=dog&ft=3 Wellness Wellbars
  Wellness Wellbites

QUESTION:
Lets take a new vote in your opinion whats the best healthy treat to give your dog that he'll or she'll love?
Lets take a new vote in your opinion whats the best heathly treat to give your dog that he'll or she'll love

the best answer shall go to the person that provides the most Full Details to 1.whats the treat name and if know who is it by,2.why do you choose this as the best heathly treat for your dog,3.is it expensive,4.in your opinion where would be the best places or place to get it,5.can you use it daily if so about how many would you figure around that you can feed your dog a day,6.and would you use anything else if you could if so what would be the name to the treat
will be choosing the best answer within 24 hours from when posted and 20 hours at the least good luck to all and happy holidays:)

• ANSWER:
  The most healthy dog treats are homade organic ones. However, I buy my dog her treats at trader joes and they are all natural and made in america. She loves bully sticks and Himilayn Dog Chews too, its Cow and Yak milk with lime. Dogs LOVE them. They are not to expensive. You can buy them online and at higher end dog stores like dog Boutiques. You can use them daily but most likely they wont finish it in a day. Its easy on their digestive track too.

QUESTION:
Are Pig ears for dogs healthy for them? Best treats for dogs.?
Beagle mix!!

• ANSWER:
  No, try www.bestbullysticks.com

QUESTION:
Healthy Dog food and Treats?
I have a Female, 6 month old, 60lb Mountain Mutt. (German Shepherd, Akita, Bull mastiff, Pit bull, Coyote)

She goes through a 5 pound bag of dog food in about 4 days. I've been feeding her Purina One Lamb and Rice Formula.

I would like to find out what kinds of foods have the most packed Protein, Vitamins, Minerals, ect...

I would also like to know of some human foods that are good to mix in with her dry and wet dog food. (egg, cottage cheese, fish oil, ect.)

I would also appreciate a list of healthy, natural dog treats, bones from butchery's, ect.. that are good for puppy's.

I would appreciate food that are natural and organic, i only want the best for my baby girl who is growing very very fast, i want her to be as happy healthy and strong as humanly (dog-ily) possible.

Please be as detailed as possible, i would also appreciate a list of foods to stay away from.

• ANSWER:
  a really good brand is Wellness large breed puppy food and then at one yr old, switch to Wellness large breed adult

  its natural with no corn, by product or fillers
  ( since it doenst contain fillers, dogs tend to need to less kibble to feel full and the food last longer)

  5 star rated brand

  my dogs love it n never looked better

  wellnesspetfood.com for more info and store locater

  and if u join the mailing club, they send out coupons every month

  stay away from chocolate,onions,grapes/raisons,

  mixing veggies and ground beef is fine, but when u have a high quality brand like wellness, adding other food isnt needed unless its to change the taste of the food cuz dogs tend to get bored eating the same thing

  wellness carries great canned food that my dogs go crazy for, and also carry healthy treats

  adding canned pumkin,chicken broth, fish oil, cheese and eggs are great to spruce up thier dinner every once in a while, but again not necessary

  good luck!

QUESTION:
What are the best pet treats?
I have been trying to find the best & healthiest pet treats for my dogs and cats. What are the healthiest pet treats that I can get at Walmart?

• ANSWER:
  I am sorry to say but walmart doesn't have any best/healthy treats. They are all generic brands of treats that I would never fed my pets. If you want premium healthy treats, you have to go to a pet shop. Evo, Nutro Natural Choice, California Natural, Old Mother Hubbard, Solid Gold, and Dogswell or Catswell are healthy/best choices for pet treats. Yes, some of them are expensive, but if you want quality treats that what you have to pay.

QUESTION:
what are the healthiest dog treats?
Treats on the market that have the best ingrediants or treats that can be made?

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
What is the best site for dog treat recipes?
I'm having trouble with finding the right site. I would like a site that tells you everything you might like and need for a healthy and/or delicious dog treat for your dog. And also one that shows recipes and if so, a picture. But picture isn't needed, thanks.

• ANSWER:
  these seem good (: :

  http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/recipe_dogbiscuit.htm

  http://www.thepoop.com/pooppantry/

  this one has alot!:
  http://www.seefido.com/html/dog_food_recipes.htm

  hope i helped!! (: have fun cooking for ur doggie

QUESTION:
best dog treat brands for a chihuahua?
I currently give my Chihuahua Cesar treats. She loves it but I want something that would be healthier and has better ingredients for her. In your opinion what's a good dog treat brand?

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Best treats for my dog?
Something healthy that tastes good to dogs please. Any information can be helpful. Also, what should I look out for on treat packages?

• ANSWER:
  You'll certainly have to try a few things to see what your own dog really loves, but here are some of the treats I use myself and are most popular in my training classes:

  Hot dogs (Dogs generally like them, but they are slimy and should be fed in small pieces - slice them and then quarter each small slice for the right size)

  Freeze-dried chicken breast (I get mine at Costco)

  Jerky treats (I also get these at Costco)

  Cheerios (If your dog really likes food treats, Cheerios are an inexpensive choice that is also low in sugar and sodium. Most dogs love 'em!)

QUESTION:
What's the BEST and HEALTHIEST dog food?
I'm planning on getting a german shepherd and I would like to know the best dog foods and where I can get them, for lowest prices!! Also if you know of and toys, beds, treats, grooming tools, shampoos? PLEASE feel free to list some!!

Thank you verry muuch! : )

• ANSWER:
  Okay there is no "best" dog food. There are a variety of brands that are much healthier than others, but the "best" food is different for every dog, as every dog is different. Here's where you can start selecting an appropriate food for you dog: Wellness, Innova, Natural Balance, Canidae, Orijen, California Natural, Taste of the Wild, and Evo are all very healthy dog foods. There are more brands but these are the brands I am most familiar with and would recommend to other pet owners. Brands to avoid: pretty much anything you can buy at Walmart or the grocery store, including Iams, Eukanuba, Purina, Beneful and all those other brands you see advertised all over TV. (spending money on commercials means less money spent on what actually goes into the food.)

  If you find another brand that looks healthy (read the ingredients its the only way to tell, there should be no corn, wheat or soy, and no byproducts. ) go to dogfoodanalysis.com and see how the food rates. this website has great reviews of just about every food on the planet and it really gives you a good idea of how healthy it is for your dog.

QUESTION:
What is the best dog food to feed my baby male Yorkie?
I am going to pick up my Yorkie for the first time on Friday. I can't wait to get him home, but I am also concerned on what type of food to give him. I want my puppy to be healthy and happy but I want hime to also find his food tasty..and not nasty like most healthy dog foods. The breeder I bought him from has been feeding him Beniful. But he dosen't particularly like it. Any suggestions on a healthy tasty dog food for puppys?
What does your puppy eat and enjoy?

P.S. I also want to give him treats, I figured I would give him fruitloops as a special treat since yorkies are prone to low-blood sugar....is this a good idea? or should i find something else for him?

Any other information on how to keep my puppy healthy and happy is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Oh yeah I am 15 and getting him for my birthday!

• ANSWER:
  A median priced food that was not on the recall lists with the melamine etc. is Nature's Recipe which does not have corn, wheat, soy or artificial dyes. Also doesn't have BHA or BHT and is readily available in large Pet Stores like PetSmart or PetCo. Most other brands sold there have been in multiple recalls for both dry and wet.
  Beneful wasn't recalled, but it has lots of junk in it, allergy causing product. Avoid foods that list wheat, corn or soy in their ingredients.
  When you change food, do it gradually over a week and a half or so. Start feeding the old food (3/4) with 1/4 new food for a few days and if tolerated well, then give 1/2 old and 1/2 new- same progression then 3/4 new and 1/4 old then all new. You can add a few teaspoons of pumpkin pie filling to the food while changing over as it tends to settle a dogs stomach and prevent a reaction like diarrhea which happens sometimes when changing food.
  Royal Canin makes food for the breed and another food called "Baby Dog" but it had been heavily involved in recalls. Unfortunately, many many brands were manufactured at the same plant where common ingredients used in different brands contaminated food.
  http://www.itchmo.com
  I'd stay away from Natural Balance because they were also heavily involved in recalls and recently again had recalled canned foods, this time for botulism. See itchmo.com for details.
  Fruit Loops aren't good for people or for dogs, but a few won't kill him. There are many good treats that are healthy, or at least designed for dogs, to use instead.
  There is a doggie Ice Cream called "Frosty Paws" which many large grocery stores carry like Randall's, Kroger's, Super Target, etc. Call ahead to one in your area and ask if they have this in stock. It's usually in the ice-cream section but is actually made for dogs. Comes in four cups to a box and dogs just LOVE this!
  Also there are freeze dried liver treats you can get from Pet Stores, and Yogurt Drops for dogs that are made in Germany.
  Avoid rawhides because dogs sometimes swallow big pieces they loosen and then get sick and some have formaldehyde in them and the white ones are sometimes soaked in bleach during their processing. BLECCH.
  But Nylabones (inedible kind) and Kongs make fun toys to exercise teeth and gums on.

QUESTION:
healthy dog treat suggestions?
Is this a healthy recipe for my dog? I feed her only the best stuff and I thought it would be fun to make her a healthy treat so is this healthy? other suggestions are greatly appreciated! thanks

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
cup white flour
cup oatmeal
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup milk
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp baking powder

Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. In another bowl, mix together peanut butter, milk, and honey. Then add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix well. Knead dough and roll out on a floured surface to a 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into one inch squares. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool before serving. Store leftovers in a tightly covered container.

• ANSWER:
  Milk? Honey? Flour? Doesn't sound too good at all. I just give my dog frozen peas, she loves them.

QUESTION:
What would you say is the best way to show your dog that you love him?
I have this nine month old Shih tzu that is to me a perfect dog.
He is so good. Housebroken, does not chew on anything, does not jump on people, well mannered, etc. etc. I just love this animal so much. I feed him the best dog food, give him treats, play with him, pet him, hug him, keep him healthy and well groomed, and I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything to let him know I love him for being such a great part of the family and so good. Have I covered it all?

• ANSWER:
  Sounds like you are on the right track. Dogs don't "reason" with feeling loved but more on loyalty and strong leadership.

QUESTION:
Does Anyone Have A Good And Healthy Dog Treat Recipe?
Does anyone have a healthy but tasty dog treat recipe? It has to be something that is good for all breeds of dogs, because I want to make treats for our family gatherings every Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other gatherings! Every time be get together, everybody who has a dog, brings it, and I was thinking, I could make treats for the dogs!
All the dogs that come are a beagle, a large black dog, (not sure of the breed but not a mix) a boxer, and a beagle. Oh, and of course my Rottweiler! So any ideas? 10 points to the person with the best recipe!

p.s. it can include any dog friendly snacks such as milk bones, frosty paws, or anything else.

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
What is the best brand of dog food for puppies?
I have a 3 month old shih-tzu that I bought 2 week ago. Her breeder gave me a bag of Science Diet puppy kibbles which she loves but is this a healthy choice? I've heard some bad reviews on it. What do you recommend. Also what are some healthy treats I can give her?

• ANSWER:
  Science diet,Purina,Iams any puppy food you can find at walmart are bad. I would not feed these to my puppy. Go to pet smart and get Blue buffalo puppy. Stay away from Nutro to some people swear by it but i've heard nightmare storys about it. I highly recomend blue buffalo Thats what i feed my 11 week old puppy best food ever!

QUESTION:
What are the healthiest pet treats?-Revision?
I have been trying to find the best & healthiest pet treats for my dogs and cats. What are the healthiest pet treats that I can get at Walmart? Or, what are some simple and quick treat recipes for both dogs and cats for someone on a tight budget?

• ANSWER:
  Sea jerky is the best treat for dogs, but it is expensive. I've heard amazing stories about how really unhealthy strays were brought back to life by this product and they help with hip and joint heath. Mid range is another kind of jerky (Vitality?) you can get it at Target or pet supply stores, it runs about -7 per bag and is a good product. At Walmart they have another jerky product, I don't remember what it is called, but it has a cowboy hat wearing dog on it, it is the cheapest of the three, but is pretty much just dried chicken. My dogs are picky and they don't like any kind of biscuit or bread like treat so I consider jerkies the best. And for cats, I like Greenies, we have a little non chain dog store in our town where we buy these, they are cheap and my cat is really picky, but likes them.

QUESTION:
What are some healthy treats for training my puppy?
I have a 12 week old maltese puppy that doesn't have many teeth, so soft treats are best for training. I had a lot of success with hot dogs. he seemed to LOVE them, but it gave him massive diarrhea. it was disgusting. Now i'm nervous about trying other things suggested to me, like cheese. What can I give him as a treat that will not make him sick, give him diarrhea, won't make him fat, and isn't soft enough for him to chew?
i meant IS soft enough for him to chew, sorry.

• ANSWER:
  one possibility is boil a chicken breast and break it into small pieces. I'm sure you dog will love it, and its nice and gentile on his stomach as to not give him diareah. Best of luck!

QUESTION:
Are these good ingredients for dog treats?
The treats are called "Healthy Edibles" and the package says that they are all-natural, gluten free, and vet assured. Here are the ingredients:

Ingredients: Wheat starch, glycerin, cellulose, lecithin, potato starch, roast beef flavor, chicken powder, natural bacon flavor, natural flavor, oat fiber, calcium carbonate, soy flour and rosemary oil

Vitamins: Thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin E, biotin, choline, inositol and PABA (:?)

Minerals: Calcium carbonate, ferrous carbonate, magnesium oxide, dicalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, sodium selenite, calcium chloride, zinc oxide, copper oxide, manganese oxide and sodium molybdate

Guaranteed Analysis: Min. crude protein: 1%, min. crude fat: 0.5%, max. crude fiber: 8%, max. moisture: 15%

My dog really loves them, but I only want to give her the best. Not something cheap off the shelf and full of fillers. Are these treats healthy to give my dog in moderation?

• ANSWER:
  The ingrediants should list REAL food. Here is what the treats I buy my dog has:

  Oats
  Barley
  Chicken
  Glucosamine (for good bones)
  Vitamin C
  Carrots
  Garlic
  Rosemary
  Parsley

  Now THAT is a healthy dog treat.

  I live in Canada though, and you can only get them here. But I'm sure you can find some holistic treats at a pet store near you. Just ask the people who work there. Holistic is the only way to go to a healthy, happy animal.

QUESTION:
What is best/healthiest dog food on the market for a 10 yr old male Maltese & also 2 female Chihuahuas?
I have a 10 yr old Male Maltese who weighs 18 pounds (His Grandma feeds him ALOT of treats when she babysits ) and I also have 2 female Chihuahuas one at 4lbs and the other 7lbs, both under a year old. WHAT IS THE BEST & HEALTHIEST FOOD ON THE MARKET FOR AN OVERWEIGHT "OLDER" MALE MALTESE AND WHAT IS THE BEST FOR THE TWO "BABY GIRL" CHIHUAHUAS?? Would

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
What's healthy for my dog?
I am working on a project; I am going to create my own dog treats for my dog, who is a miniature dachshund and about 4-years-old. I would like to know, what types of foods are very healthy for my dog to eat, constantly? (she loves bananas and peanuts the best! are those even healthy for her?)
Please help!, and thanks!

• ANSWER:
  any fruit will cause gas but carrots are good for them helps improve eyesite to and they like them but peanuts are good and so is peanutbutter gives them a shinny coat

QUESTION:
What is the best thing you do for your dog?
Looking for ideas on new ways to show my pup the love, so please be specific! She already gets a wide array of organic raw food, plenty of love and toys and walks, and some good healthy treats, so unless it's a specific treat or toy or something,it's already covered. Thanks!

• ANSWER:
  Your doing a really good job so far!! Im really happy you are showing so much care, there needs to be more people in the world like u
  Please dont give your dog Frosty Paws! Not nessacary for your dog and she will be happy without the healthy treats, there not like kids that will judge by what things look like and what on TV

  Keeping my dogs company and giving them brushes and baths (no more than monthly) and there tennis ball keep them happy. Since there both Australian Cattle Dogs (Blue Heelers) they get treated to herding my cow or my neighbours cattle They absouluty LOVE IT!! Me and my dogs enjoy it as another bonding session
  If u havt guessed- I LOVE MY DOGS!
  I rescued my 12 yr old dog from her previous owners since they were going to put her down with a shovel (!!!) after she was hit by a car and didn't want to pay the vet bills to get to amputated so I bought her and took her straight to the animal emergency! My other 2 (the blue heelers) are only 2 and I found them both as 6 week old puppies in a box at a park!

  Kongs are also good an keep them occupied, which is good when ur not there
  Sorry for all the writing .:S

QUESTION:
What is the best food for an underweight dog?
We have a 2 year old boxer and she's way underweight =(. She weights 50 pound and is very skinny. We feed her everyday but she will only pick at it, she wont actually eat a full bowl and we only put two cups of dog food in her bowl. We use the dog food called "Solid Gold". We just want her to be at a healthy weight. Which food is best for her to gain weight? Is there any tricks, special treats, or anything that can help with that?

• ANSWER:
  I suggest you bring her to see a vet. There may be some underlying condition that is not obvious.

  Another way is try cook your own dog food. Usually it will works because cooked food usually more nutritionous than commercial packed dog food which are really quite harmful if eat for long term.

  People will definitely not want to eat commercially ready to eat canned or packed food for our whole life...so why feed this type of food to a pet for long term? Try a variety of recipe for few weeks to see if it works.

  You may want to get dog food recipes from this site here which is full of guide on dog food and how to buy dog food if we're not into home cooked dog food.
  >> http://www.recipes4pet.com

QUESTION:
Best type of dog treat?
Hi, I am getting puppy soon (Choco lab) and was wondering what type of treat is best for training, as I would be using many of them at once so would also need them to be healthy. Where can I get them from aswell?

Thanks in advance
Dale Q

• ANSWER:
  Pretty much all dog treats are good for training. If you go into your local pet store with your dog and ask them which ones are healthy, then they will recommend you some treats. Some pet stores will even allow the dog to have one to see if they like it. That is what we did with my pup and it worked out great. Best of luck!

QUESTION:
Best dog food for picky dog?
Hi. I have a seven month old maltipoo and I have been feeding him the Science Diet brand of dog food. And he ate it for a good two months, without problem before losing complete interest. Now he has been fed human food from almost everyone in my family(against my opinion) but now I'm almost obliged to feed him human food because he just refuses to eat dog food. He'd rather starve himself then go near his food. He eat's dog treats but that's as far as he goes.

I don't want my dog eating human food as it is generally not good for their system and digestion, so I need a good brand of dog food that he'll enjoy. And something healthy for his worrisome parents.

• ANSWER:
  Well i don't want to come across and sound mean but Science Diet is very bad dog food, just read the ingredients. The first ingredient is Grain Corn, then Chicken By-Product Meal is not very good dog food at all. So with all that said its no wonder your puppy is not eating the food.

  *Here are some healthy and tasty dog foods your puppy will love and you will know you are feeding the best and your puppy will be healthy and happy.

  --Solid Gold Hundchen Flocken Puppy (lamb) -- This is wonderful food, you can buy this at Petco. Here is what it looks like --
  http://images.smarter.com/300x300x15/44/64/176864.jpg

  --Merrick Puppy Plate -- You can get this at Pet stores --
  http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31D7Q7P%2BN%2BL._SL500_AA220_.jpg

  ---Wellness Just For Puppy -- You can get this at Petco --
  http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/images/prod/2012340_lg.jpg

  --Blue Buffalo Chicken & Brown Rice for Puppies -- You can buy this at petco or Petsmart--
  http://www.viewpoints.com/images/review/2008/180/17/1214690739-68908_full.jpg

  And here is the dog food rating site 6 stars being the BEST and 1 star being the WORST. I would not go any lower than a 4 star food. =)
  http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/index.php/cat/1

  *Good Luck and i hope this Helps!! =)

  --

QUESTION:
Clicker-training...what is the best and cheapest treat for the dog?
So far we have used pieces of cheese and broken up bits of banana chips. These work well but I was wondering what other people use. For those who prepare their own liver treats, how do you do it. I want something the dog (golden retriever) will not get tired of and will be healthy for her.
Ummm ice cubes? I need something to put in the treat pouch and she will be getting more than 100 pices during the 1-hour training class plus whatever we do with her during the week.
I agree with dog-trainers comments regarding the waste of time using a clicker; I'd rather use voice commands but this is the method in the class we are paying for and others have highly recommended it. I don't see me using it much after all this is over.

• ANSWER:
  My dogs love ice cubesso I use them in the hot months beacuse it is a great way to get extra water into them.
  I also use liver treats you can just buy liver and cut it up into strips and dry in a food dehydrator and then cut into bite sized pieces.
  The freezed dried stuff will keep longer.
  Good luck and keep working with your dog I am sure your dog loves it and you have a better pet for the time spent training.

QUESTION:
Some healthy dog food help?
I'm currently feeding my dog Purina One Healthy Puppy formula, but I've recently heard that Purina isn't a healthy dog food. I really spoil my dog, and I want what's best for her. Do you know of any super healthy dog foods or dog diets? (Include prices if possible) Also, I give her Cesar brand wet dog food as a treat, but is Cesar healthy? If not, some other healthy wet dog food?
She's nearly grown, and weighs about 25 lbs.
How much does a 15 lb bag of Taste of the Wild cost on average?
What are some suppliers of Taste of the Wild in the Pensacola area and/or within 50 miles?

• ANSWER:
  Purina One Healthy Puppy is not a good quality food. The 1st ingredient is lamb which is good however dog food ingredients are listed by weight. The lamb is weighed including its water content which is about 70%. Then is is cooked and processed, weighs much less, which would put it farther down on the list.
  Then it has brewers rice. Brewer's rice is a lower quality rice product that is missing many of the nutrients found in ground rice and ground brown rice.
  Next is Corn gluten meal which is a concentrated source of protein that can be substituted for costlier animal protein. In many bargain dry dog foods, corn gluten meal provides a large proportion or the total protein in the food rather than more digestible forms of protein such as meat. It is a poor quality protein filler. Garbage!
  Then there is more corn, poultry by-product meal (so it may be chicken, duck, who knows!!!).
  I'm sure your dog would not die from this food. But no it is definitely not good quality and I would not use it.
  I would not feed her Cesar wet food also. I know there are good ones out there but the only one I have tried is Chicken soup for the dog lovers soul.

  Some good brands of dog food are:
  Innova
  California Natural and Evo (both made by the same company as Innova)
  Wellness
  Taste of The Wild
  Blue Buffalo
  Eagle Pack(But MUST be the holistic formulas!)

  ...and many more. I sometimes refer to dogfoodanalysis.com. It gives star ratings on food and reviews regarding the ingredients.

  I would stay away from:
  Purina
  Iam's
  Science Diet...and many more.

  Anything you can buy at a grocery store is not a good quality food OR any foods from Walmart.

QUESTION:
Good Dog Treats?
We feed our dog Canidae. Do they make treats? The 2 places I buy it don't carry any. Right now she has some Blue Buffalo treats...seemed like the best ones I could find @ PetSmart.

Can anyone recommend something good and healthy for her?

She gets about 2 treats a day. (Oh and I have given her dried Sweet Potato treats....and they made her cough both times...any idea?)

• ANSWER:
  Canidae makes "Snap-Biscuits". They have excellent ingredients.
  http://www.canidae.com/treats/snap-biscuits/original.html

  Another excellent quality biscuit is EVO dog treats.
  http://www.evopet.com/products/default.asp?id=1499

  If you're looking for smaller treats for training sessions, here are a few of my favorites to use:

  Zuke's Mini Naturals
  http://www.zukes.com/woof/mini-naturals.html

  Wellness WellBites (these are kind of big, I cut each treat up into 9 pieces)
  http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog_wellness_treats_wellbites.html

  ZiwiPeak 'Good-Dog' Treats
  http://www.ziwipeak.com/Products/ZiwiPeak-Treats/Treats-Family/

  Itty Bitty Buddy Biscuits
  http://www.cloudstar.com//8B85D0640D2843F5A8CD806F241058A0.asp?sc_id=3F67780F8CBE4821986DA9287D084602&pcs_key=AB03C8234B7D40CC95F4A63CD2FE24B3
  .

QUESTION:
puppy with sensitive stomach?
best treats and food for him. He is right now on Blue Buffalo, he is doing good on it too. But I gave him a Cesar Soft Puppy Treat (Potty Training in Progress) and he threw it up. Any healthy dog treats that aren't so rich for his sensitive stomach?

• ANSWER:
  You can try Natural Balance treats. If he can't keep treats down though simply use his kibble.

QUESTION:
milk-bone dog treat is poison?
my aunt tells my mom that milk-bone dog treats are poison for dogs, now my mom wont even let me buy milk-bone treats for my dog because of this, now is this true, because while i am at store it seems milk-bone dog buiscuits are the best healthy n price so whats goin on?

oh and i am told that laser lights give dogs seisures ... any truth to this?

• ANSWER:
  Our dogs have always ate milk bones and so have the many other dogs within the family. None of the dogs were ever poisoned by them. Some dogs may have allergies to an ingredient in them but an allergy is not poison.
  Never heard that about laser lights either.

  Edit: Where are people shopping that dog food is next to pesticides? None of the stores I shop at(Kroger, Publix, Petco, Petsmart, Target and Walmart) keep dog food and pesticies in the same isle.
  I buy my dogs food at the feed store not at the retail stores.

QUESTION:
Are dog treats bad for me?
My dogs got this new kind a treat called "Pup Corn." It's cheese flavored. It is super healthy and stuff. Curiousity got the best of me so I tried one becuase my dogs were eating them by the handful. I liked them. They tasted just like popcorn but without any butter. I am wondering now if I shouldn't have eatan 20 pieces...
They are orange and are shaped like puppies!

• ANSWER:
  There is a subtle but distinct difference between pet treats and people food. For one, the standards used in manufacturing pet treats are not as stringent as with people food. This may not cause any serious harm outside of an upset stomach. The other difference is that a dogs digestive system is very different from ours. They can eat things like weeds and grass, that you and me would not be able to digest well.

  Pet foods generally are geared towards the nutritional needs of your pet, so they may not have all the proper nutritional values for humans, as established by the FDA and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

  While it's o.k. to share some human snacks with critters, it's not always a good idea as it can lead to health problems later in the pets life. One prime example is table scraps. Every now and then it won't do any real harm, but after a time, the higher protien in table scaps can damage your pets kidneys. Candy, especially chocolate, is a big NO NO and NO. In some dogs, chocolate can become toxic.

  As for eating the foods you buy for your pet, while they may not harm you, they do run certain risk because of how hey are made, and the difference in sanitation needs. Be careful, you might end up sick as a dog.

QUESTION:
the best treats for a puppy and best food?
HI im getting a pitbull puppy i well be doing alot of traning with him i wana make him a mean LEAN Dog so i figger i feed it healthy foods and GOOD tasty treats for rewards.. i picked out this food ( http://www.petstore.com/ps_ViewItem-category-Wellness_Dog_Large_Breed_Puppy_15lb_Dog_Supplies_Food_Breed_Specific-vendor-Old_Mother_Hubbard-SearchStr--action-view-idProduct-OH89114-idCategory-DGFDBS.html )

THANK YOU ALL
no i just have wealthy parents and want to make this dog look the best it can look

• ANSWER:
  http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

  This is supposed to be a very accurate list of the best dog foods on the market today.

QUESTION:
my 6 month old dog has very sloppy excrement despite a healthy diet?
Hi, I am hoping someone can help, my 6 month old puppy/dog is on a healthy well balanced diet of dry food but despite best efforts has sloppy, runny excrement. I do not give him too many treats and he rinks plenty of water etc.

• ANSWER:
  This can cause anal gland problems and it must be resolved. I had this problem with my dog. Is it possible that you are giving your dog milk because dogs cannot digest milk. I resolved my dogs problem by giving her grain free dog food, now I could break windows with her stools.
  I have learnt by my mistakes. My present dog had dreadful problems because of the food which I gave her, I experimented with dog food, I tried raw diets, cooked diets and over the years I tried various dog foods. She did not like the raw diets and the dog food that I gave her resulted in diarrhoea. As an experienced dog owner I introduced any changes gradually. Nevertheless my dog still had problems. She was eight years old before I resolved her problem.
  Eventually, because of my researches on the Internet I found that the experts have discovered that GRAIN in our dog’s diet causes many problems. I now know that grain creates acidity in the blood. This causes skin problems, digestive issues, allergies, sickness, diarrhoea, anal gland problems etc.,

  if your dog has skin problems or any of the above problems PLEASE CHANGE THE DIET. Avoid Grain, rice, beef derivatives and dairy food

  I now give my dog a dried food which uses beet for fibre and fish. It’s called Fish4Dogs and I buy it on the Internet. Look on the Internet and investigate yourself. Gluten free dog food is not enough to help our dogs, it MUST BE GRAIN FREE.

  A rapid change of diet will upset your dog; any change of diet must be done gradually. Do please change to a grain free diet. I have had sixteen dogs throughout the years and they have had various problems. Perhaps if I had known about the dangers of GRAIN they would have had fewer problems. .

QUESTION:
The best things to feed your dog from home?
Besides feeding your dog a quality dog food, what other homemade treats and foods are good for your dog? I've heard of the value of a cooked egg, but I was wondering if there were some other things I could cook up or make for my pup to keep her looking and feeling healthy.

Any personal recommendations/experiences or websites would be helpful...and while I'm too lazy and not qualified enough to ever try it, if there's anyone out there who actually makes all their dog's food or treats, let me know what its like and how it works out for you! (purely out of curiosity)

• ANSWER:
  id recommend vegetables instead of something that we eat (apples,pears,kiwis,mangos,and watermelon(in moderation) is very good for dogs

QUESTION:
now there is a fda recall on dog treats, pig ears?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- North Bergen, NJ -- March 23, 2007 -- Petrapport, Inc. is voluntarily recalling pig ear dog treats it imported from a Chilean company during the period August 2006 through December 2006 because the pig ears have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious infections in dogs, and, if there is cross contamination, young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Laboratory testing has confirmed that samples of Full-Cut Pig Ears dog treats sold by BJ's Wholesale Club in 25-count packages under the "Berkley & Jensen" brand with no lot number and only the expiration advisory "BEST IF USED BY 2009" (without referencing a specific month) were contaminated with Salmonella. Additional testing of other pig ear dog treats from shipments during the above time period has not revealed any additional evidence of Salmonella contamination, but Petrapport nonetheless is voluntarily recalling them out of an abundance of caution due to concern that the pig ears imported during this period may not have been effectively irradiated for Salmonella before shipment from Chile.

The voluntary recall includes dog treats sold by BJ's Wholesale Club in its 25-count packages of "Berkley & Jensen" Full-Cut Pig Ears dog treats with no lot number and only the expiration advisories "BEST IF USED BY 2009" (without referencing a specific month) as well as "BEST IF USED BY SEPTEMBER 2009," "BEST IF USED BY OCTOBER 2009," "BEST IF USED BY NOVEMBER 2009," and "BEST IF USED BY DECEMBER 2009."

Also included within this voluntary recall are the following lots of pig ear dog treats sold in bulk by other retailers under the "Petrapport" brand:

ITEM #
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
RECALLED LOT #S

8915
Bulk Low Fat Pig Ears
101808 & 102108

8772P
Two Pack Bulk Pig Ears
101707

8770P
12 Pack Bulk Pig Ears
101707

8774P
24 Pack Bulk Pig Ears
101907

7416
1 lb. Bulk Pig Ear Strips
101907

7425
24 oz. Bulk Pig Ear Strips
5039

Salmonella can potentially be transferred to people handling these dog treats, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Dogs that become ill from Salmonella generally will have a fever and diarrhea that may contain blood or mucus. Affected animals may seem more tired that usual, and may have vomiting. Some dogs do not have diarrhea, but will have decreased appetite, fever and excess salivation. If your dog has consumed the recalled product and is exhibiting these signs, please contact your veterinarian.

While there have been no confirmed illnesses to date, consumers should immediately stop feeding these treats to their dogs. These products have been removed from the sales floors and the sales inventories of all retailers.

Consumers who purchased any of the above-identified pig ear dog treats should discontinue use of the products and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers who have further questions may contact Petrapport at 800-447-3872 extension 110.

####

FDA's Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts Page: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html

___________________________________________________

Thanks for subscribing to the FDA Recalls list.

• ANSWER:
  Thank you for the info.....d

QUESTION:
Does anyone have any good dog treat recipes?
I love to bake and i would like to bake treats for my dogs too but i need some good healthy recipes. it cant have corn in it at all and no sugar is probly best(i mean its bad for them right?) one of my dog is very sensitive skin wise and whe theres corn in it it drives her crazy! any recipies that fall under that are appreciated

• ANSWER:
  Beef liver chopped into bite sized pieces, baked at oh 350 until slightly dried out. Refridgerate these.

  Next week we'll be trying to bake some chicken liver and gizzards.

  The dogs get these raw too, but they make such a mess out of a bait bag raw.

QUESTION:
What is the best snack/treat for my Shih Tzu?
I have a male 5yr old Shih Tzu and he likes to have a snack or two during the day. Ive been giving him Scoobie snacks for dogs but im worried there not the best for him. Does anybody have any suggestions what is a natural healthy snack/treat i can give him?
Thankyou very much.......

• ANSWER:
  I have two dogs that LOVE treats and they are extremely spoiled so they get lots of treats. We usually use goldfish or animal crackers because they arent too expensive and are low in calories so you dont have to worry about your dog gaining weight from them. (our vet recomended we try them)

QUESTION:
What is the best type of food/treats to purchase for a teacup yorkie?
We are currently buying beneful for small dogs because it seems to look healthy, tasteful, and its a good price. The puppy is only 11 weeks old. Please Help!

• ANSWER:
  Beneful is garbage. It's made from very low quality ingredients and almost no meat. A good dog food will have real meat as the first ingredient, and no corn, soy, or wheat. Try brands like Wellness, Blue Buffalo, Solid Gold, or Innova. They cost more, but with such a small dog you won't need to feed very much.

  Good nutrition is especially important for "teacup" dogs because they have all kinds of health problems related to their abnormal size. Teacup is just a label used by puppy mills and other crappy breeders to get people to pay more for a runt. People who breed teacups have no regard for the health of their dogs, and just want money. Your dog will probably rack up some huge vet bills over its short life, but maybe if you feed a decent food you can avoid at least a few issues.

QUESTION:
what minerals and vitamins is my dog craving?
i have a medium size mongrel whom we think is retriever, cocker spaniel and border collie. we got him as a rescue dog as an older puppy - he was 16 this august. he's a very healthy dog who loves life and still demands 3 walks a day and is still very active. he is fed on iams senior dry dog food which is best for his digestive system but also indulges in butchers wet food and pedigree and baker's dog treats. he also eats things such as porridge and eats roast dinners (meat + lots of veg) on sundays. he is a good weight for his age i.e. not skinny but not fat and has a lovely coat but has started to eat soil??? what supplements could you suggest i start to get for him?
Well I can't see soil tasting good and dogs aren't stupid - he knows he needs something from that soil so that is why he is doing it. What I want to know is what it could be.
he is on medication from the vets for his joints but other than that he's fine.

i don't think he's bored either because we take him for walks 3 times a day sometimes more as we all work different hours which also means he's got almost constant attention and is rarely left alone too long.

• ANSWER:
  Many dogs (and human babies, too) will eat dirt. This does not mean that the dogs (or babies) are missing any nutrients ion their diets, it is just something they do sometimes. While many people seem to believe, as you do, that a dog or person eats dirt because it *knows* it needs something from the soil, I'm sorry to say that that is a myth. Dogs and babies eat soil and many other things simply because they can. Some of the things they sometimes eat are quite poisonous, some will make them ill and others can cause intestinal blockages which can be deadly. Texture, taste, aroma, or merely availability invite dogs and babies to eat unsuitable and often indigestible things.

  People and dogs that crave to do this can be exhibiting Pica. You may want to give your vet a call and ask about this. You can also look it up online. Your dog's diet seems quite adequate and I strongly doubt that he is deficient in any viamins or minerals.

QUESTION:
What is the best dog food out there,don't say Iams,or Science Diet,please read completely before answering ?
I've tried new dog food after new dog food until I'm blue in the face.I'm sick of it.Yes I give them time to get adjusted to the new food.I have alot of dogs and I feed my outside large dogs,food for large breeds,and large breed puppy food for the puppies.It works well for them.My problem is my house dogs.I have a chihuahua and 2 Boston terriers in the house.The Bostons are gassy dogs already,I guess the breed is just a gassy breed.But no matter what food I've tried they have gas so bad that if their sitting together if one passes gas the other will leave,at times it can turn your stomach.Both bostons are heathy as horses.Vet checked monthy.I have my chihuahua on Ulto Nutro puppy food,he's only 13 weeks old,the bostons would eat his food if I would let them,but even on Nutro food the bostons still have gas.Instead of going out and trying more food after food,what do you suggest ? What is the best food to feed them ? Which food is less likely to cause them to have gas as bad ? I know corn causes it but Nutro isn't supposed to have corn in it.I have limited places to get food.We have a Scruggs farm supply,a Farm and Ranch feed store,and Petsmart. I'm open to all suggestions.But as I said don't say Science Diet,Iams,or anything you can get at Walmart.Before someone suggests it,no I would rather not mix my own raw human food.My bostons are hogs and would eat till they pop if I would let them,even the slightest bit of human food causes major gas,and I have to be carefull with treats.I can deal with a little normal doggy gas but this isn't normal everyday gas.I know their healthy,my vet suggested food but it didn't help either so now I'm asking you all for help.Please no jerks.Thank you to all answers.
There is nothing wrong with their stomachs.They just love food.They stop eating once they are full,but if I allowed them to over eat,it would upset their stomachs and the gas would be the least of my problems.Yes,I gave them time to get adjusted to each new food,I slowly worked it into their old food.I gave each food a 2 month trial.I would rather not do the raw diet but would be willing to try anything at this point.
Can anyone provide information about the raw food people keep suggesting.I've asked another question about the raw food but no one is answering so far.

• ANSWER:
  You might want to try a more simple diet.. something with fewer ingredients

  California Natural is a brand I'd reccommend

  Fewer ingredients = easier on the digestive tract to digest.

  I know you think that human food also causes it.. but you may want to consider a raw diet as well. My Crested gets an upset stomache easily, but I did try him on a raw diet and he did very well. At least research it a little and think about it. Worst case scenario is that you try it and they still have gas.. no worse than trying different brands of dog food!

  Another thing is you may want to try a product called cur tail.

  Also I hope you are not consistently switching. That makes for upset stomaches and can cause gas. Do allow the dogs at least a month or two to try the new dog food, and if its not working, slowly switch to something else

QUESTION:
Does my dog sound healthy?
She is a Jack Russell/Rat Terrier mix and she will be 1 year old on June 30th, this month and this year. She did gain weight over a course of 3 weeks and has begun to lose the weight.

She did weight about 12 pounds about 3 months ago and now weighs 17 or so.
Her hips and stomach indent to show her muscles and is very active since she's still considerably a puppy. But I want to keep her as healthy as possible. She is spayed and has had her shots and has gorgeous white teeth. I also purchased a Beef flavored toothpaste and her own toothbrush to keep her teeth healthy from my work (a vet clinic). She is up to date on HeartGuard and takes Comfortis for her fleas, which she did have very badly in the Spring. She urinates and poops about 3 or 4 times a day and plays constantly.

She's fed 1/2 cup once a day at 9 AM of Science Diet and gets one Denta-Stick a day, a fish oil pill for her shedding and fur, and a couple of Beggin' Strips a day for training treats after we go over her tricks.

There are no discharges from any orifices and no growths or injuries and doesn't take any medicine unless the fish oil capsule counts as one. And we go to the dog park atleast twice a week for her to exercise.

I know she does sound healthy, or atleast she does to me, but is there anything that I may be doing wrong or anything that works best with the breed of dog or a suggested product I could use to maximize her health?

Thank you for reading this long thing, lol. I appreciate any answers or suggestions you have.
(:

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Best, Affordable Dog Food Available?
I was wondering what the best food would be to feed my dog?
I have a Great Dane/Bullmastiff mix.. She is currently 4 months old.
I have been feeding her the worst possible food there is.. Are you ready? PEDIGREE! I know it's horrible, but I can't find a good food that is pretty inexpensive. I am still in high school so I don't have that much money to spend of the REALLY expensive dog foods like Eagle Pack, even though I know that is good for her.

The reason I am wanting to switch foods really bad, is not only do I know it is not healthy for her, she is beginning to lose some hair from scratching some much (which I am not sure if this is the reason why..) and she has been eating the cat's poop lately (GROSSSSS!), I have read where dogs may eat cat poop if they are not getting the right amount of food they need. Or something like that. Anyways... So that is one of the reason I wanted to switch..

I came here to ask if any of ya'll knew of any dog foods that were good for her, but that were at a price I could afford? Right now I have "Diamonds Naturals Large Breed Adult" dog food in my shopping cart at Amazon, I have not purchased it yet because I was waiting to see if there was any better ones, that are cheaper.

This dog food is about for 42 pounds. I haven't been able to find much better. Any help would be great! Thanks!

Also, have ya'll heard of a treat called "No Grainers"? I recently stumbled upon those while I was grocery shopping with my sister. Harleigh ( my dog. :] ) really likes them. I am pretty sure they are okay or at least better than "beggin strips" or any of those other treats, but your thoughts?

I know this is a lot to ask, but I appreciate everyone who answers and give me advice! Thank you so much!
Thanks for all ya'lls input...
I was doing some research (again.lol) and I found two more foods that have a higher "rating" according to dog food analysis.

Anyways.. those two are..
Chicken Soup For The Dog Lovers Soul
&
Taste of the Wild..

What do ya'll think of these two? And which do you think is best out of all three of these. Taste of the Wild is a little bit more expensive, but I might can manage it. I'm not sure. Thanks.
Is this the one you are talking about Laura?

http://www.amazon.com/Innova-Large-Breed-Adult-Formula/dp/B000S175BS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1245356058&sr=8-3

If it is not could you maybe give me a link of it? If not that's fine!

• ANSWER:
  The very best food I've come across for large and giant breed dogs so far is Innova Large Bites. It comes in a green bag and has a picture of a large breed dog on it (I mention this because the packaging seems to change from time to time). Now, I will warn you - it is about a bag - but there is good news: It is very nutrient-dense (534 cal/cup), so you feed far less. My 6-month old bullmastiff puppy, who is a BIG boy for his age, eats just 2 cups a day. I actually sat down and worked out the dollars and cents of it all and it turns out that Innova actually comes in at less than even bargain brand dog foods that are super cheap, but are just awful for your dog. Another food that is highly recommended for both Bullmastiffs and Great Danes is Eagle Pack. In my opinion, it’s not as good as Innova, but with a giant breed dog, there’s a lot more to consider than just ingredients, i.e. the calcium/phosphorous ration and the protein/carbohydrate considerations, so I provide it to you as an alternative. However, there is only about 320 cal/cup, so you feed more and it, too, is one of the more expensive brands, though it is, at face value, more affordable than is Innova. I round out puppy’s meals with cut-up fruits or veggies and a big of yogurt or pumpkin so his tummy feels full despite the small volume of kibble. I am constantly getting compliments on how healthy my pup looks, and I know he’s in the best of health. Hope that helps!

  Oh, and FYI - if you have a Costco card, the Diamond dog food is actually repackaged for Costco as Kirkland brand. It is affordable, and is a decent food, but you end up feeding more of it. I actually know several bullmastiff breeders who feed Diamond/Kirkland. But, I remind, the more you feed, the less "affordable" the dollar tag is...
  ________________
  I'm new to this whole thing, so I'm not sure if I'm doing this right. That's the food I'm talking about. It comes in bags up to 30 lbs. As with most things, the more you get, the less it costs. Also, Innova sponsors a "Frequent Feeder" plan. You'd have to find a distributor that participates, but every 12 bags, you get one free. This link might help with that.

  http://www.naturapet.com/where-to-buy/

QUESTION:
Will things ever get easier. My dog is sick and so young (please I need some support)?
Okay My 1 year old toy poodle was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis on Tuesday. He will be fine. And able to go back on his normal food in a few days and they treated him with antibiotics.

What I don't get is He eats strictly dog food. No people food no table scraps and he got this.

Well then I read that Poodles are genetically predisposed to Pancreatitis and other liver problems.

We've been told in the past his parents never should have been bred together.

He had one testicle that refused to drop (but finally did) and he has the worst repiratory allergies.

But he was supposed to be here because he has touched so many lives. He saved my grandfather.

But then I have a mutt and she is the healthiest dog I've ever met and obviously her parents never should have been bred together because she is a mutt but it happened and she is very healthy (how can you say a purebred is badly bred but not a mutt)

I just hate that he has been sick and I'm scared that this is going to be a pattern. I will always care for him and make sure he gets the proper health care but I just don't get how this dog, a wonderful dog and one of the best dogs in the world could have problems. They feel this pancreatitis is probably the root of a lot of his small issues but he is so young.

I'm starting to wonder if maybe something was really wrong with the other pup in his litter (the other pup was still born)

Obviously my boy is a fighter. (I just hope the breeder never breeds those two dogs together again. We've been told this time and time again)

Its hard though because he is loved by so many. Not just family and friends but anyone who had met him.

I just need some support Thanks
My husbands grandmother found him at a breeder and assured us that he was coming from a good place. This was before we knew anything about BYBs I don't even remember the womans name. We drove 3 hours to get him.
He has been having stomach issues for months and the last vet (before we moved) didn't really look into it too far and just gave him a pill for nausea and diahreaha and sent him home. The new vet atleast thought to look futher into the issue

• ANSWER:
  More info please...

  Did you get him from a pet store, or from a reputable breeder?

  If it was from a reputable breeder, then you need to let them about about your dogs condition.

QUESTION:
My dog is a kilo or two over weight at the moment...?
....and I want to get it off her before it gets worse. We feed her a fairly expensive dry kibble full of vitamins and extra benefits and she has your average dog treats of the shelves. She does get a small amount of human food to nibble but nothing bad because we are very careful. The only thing is that she doesnt like any raw vegetables or fruit that I can give her instead of dog treats. She likes cooked vegetables and Im wondering if I could substitute some of those for some kibble everyday so shes not taking in so many calories. Any advice or previous experience from anyone would be greatly appreciated. I like to do the best for my dog and want her to be happy and healthy. Many thanks.
I meant to say that otherwise she is very healthy and has a beautiful coat so obviously she is healthy for it to show in her coat. She's next to the snowman in my avatar pic x
Sorry, ive miss described something. I did mean to say can I substitute some of the kibbel with cooked vegetables? Hope Ive cleared that one up. She wont eat raw vegetables so cant give her those.

• ANSWER:
  Yes, you can feed her cooked vegetables to satiate her, replacing a portion (25-30%) of her dry food. The kibble should follow the lower range of the "recommended daily intake" on the bag's label. Vegetables, raw or cooked, should only constitute 25-30% of her diet, as feeding too much vegetables can lead to increased production of carbohydrate digesting enzymes (amylases, for ex.) and decreased production of protein digesting enzymes, proteases, which are required and "more necessary" so to speak for her carnivorous GI tract to digest and absorb protein. The canine GI tract can develop an affinity for carbohydrate, and store more glucose from these simpler sources of energy as fat, contributing to weight gain rather than weight loss.

  Most adult dogs introduced to vegetables must be fed either finely chopped raw vegetables at first or cooked vegetables, as you are doing, to increase their appetite for vegetables. When unaccustomed to veggies, dogs can take some time to adjust to the flavor and texture, as they are accustomed to the inexpensive animal digest and byproducts liberally applied to commercial dog food to increase palatability.

  A healthy coat does not imply good health overall. She could easily have an abnormality that is "festering beneath the surface" and is not obvious to you, but may be evident to her vet. If she is overweight, her joints, heart, breathing, pancrease, urinary tract, and liver could be negatively affected. As part of her regular health maintenance, in relation to her weight, she should have an annual exam to gauge her body condition, range of motion, heart and lung sounds/rates, and blood panel conducted to gauge her liver and kidney health (early disease is easily missed due to easily unobserved symptoms), glucose level, electrolytes, and blood cell counts (RBCs and WBCs).

  Your foresight to address her excess weight now will greatly benefit her health and longevity, and your wallet, as decreasing weight is more effective than any medication to decrease pain, increase activity and metabolism, and decrease risk for weight-related disease and disorders. Be sure to weigh her every 3 to 4 weeks to gauge her weight loss rate and adjust her intake of kibble accordingly. If she "plateaus" in weight loss despite cutting the kibble and adding vegetables, cut the treats completely. Dog treats are extremely high in carbohydrates, which they do not digest well and store as fat in their bodies.

  Good luck with your weight loss plan!

QUESTION:
What dry food is best for my picky dog?
Hello... Okay, first, this may seem INCREDIBLY long, but most of this question is a description that I got online of different dog foods. I have some question-type things. Okay, so my almost 2 year old Cosheltie (collie-sheltie mix) has some weird problems, where, he, first, finds it dificult to chew adult dog kibble, hence, not eating dry food plain unless given as a treat. The only exception to that is our puppy's puppy food, which he is fine eating(?)... I think that he needs smaller kibbles, but I don't want to give him puppy food, so I decided on maybe trying a small breed formula adult food. Right now, he weighs 40ish pounds and is 20 inches tall. His second problem is that he gets indigestion and loose stools almost once a week. I think that COULD be because we give him a majority wet food, but I'm no veteranarian... Okay, anyway, I did some research, and got some good dry foods with, as the companies claim, small kibbles... Here they are, along with a breif description --->

1. Purina Moist n Meaty Lamb and Rice - Real meat—a wholesome, high-quality source of protein— is the #1 ingredient in every Purina Moist & Meaty flavor. As a main meal, special treat or added to dry food, Moist & Meaty is so complete and satisfying you’ll want to serve it every day. Plus, Moist & Meaty’s convenient easy-open single-serve pouch locks in freshness so every bite is tender and delicious.

2. PEDIGREE SMALL BREED ® Nutrition Mini Crunchy Bites - We’re for the little guys. The toy dogs and the terriers, the comedians and the aristocrats. The lively, lovable characters who fit so easily into our laps — and into our lives. Small breed dogs have big personalities, big hearts, and big egos. But, they have small mouths. Which is why we created this Small Breed Nutrition recipe just for them. Not only does it feature smaller, easier to crunch kibble, it has the great, meaty taste little dogs love.

3. Eukanuba Adult Medium Breed Small Bites Formula - There's something nice about being in the middle; you're not too large, or too small. Medium breed dogs need balanced nutrition. Eukanuba recognizes this and designed Eukanuba Medium Breed Adult Small Bite to provide high-quality, complete & balanced nutrition specially formulated with moderate protein and fat levels to maintain their long-term nutritional health. This food has a smaller kibble than our regular Medium Breed Adult for dogs that prefer a smaller kibble. Eukanuba Medium Breed Adult Small Bite also contains an optimal ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids to help your medium breed dog have healthy skin and a beautiful coat.

4. Purina Kibbles and Mini Chunks Beef Flavor Dry Dog Food - Complete and balanced nutrition doesn't have to be boring- Purina Kibbles and Mini Chunks proves it. The big beefy flavor in every bite keeps your dog coming back for more. Crunchy kibbles are great for your dog's healthy smile. And the moist, chewy chunks tempt your dog with great taste and tender texture. Your dog won't know about the complete and balanced nutrition.Just how great Purina Kibbles and Mini Chunks tastes.

5. Purina Little Bites Dog Food - Whether your dog is big or small, there is no denying the big impact that he has had on your life. Your dog’s nutrition should support his good health—no matter what his size. That’s why Purina® Little Bites Dog Food is made with crunchy, bite-sized kibble packed with great taste and nutrition, for your dog’s long, healthy life. - Also for this, I am finding either Purina Little Bites or Purina Little Bits Indoor Complete, are these two the same? My dog loves the outdoors, but stays inside most of the day

Okay, So out of all these foods, which one could my dog like most if he likes Puppy Chow and Beneful for Puppies? Right now, he eats the Beneful Original formula... Ummm... What else should I tell you? I think thats all. Thank you so much for helping me and my dog(Riley)!! You are going to be so much of a help for us! I promise to pick a best answer!

• ANSWER:
  I would not feed nay of that crap. They companies say it is good so you will buy it. If you look at the ingredients, you will find that they are mostly made of corn, wheat and by-products. Not things your dog should eat.

  Try a food made out of meat. There are many that have a named meat (beef, lamb, chicken etc) at least 3 times in the top 5 ingredients.

  Check out http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com pick a 4-6 star food. Your dog will probably like it better and it will be better for him.

QUESTION:
what are the best dog food brands for ddbs?
He has been on 2 really, royal canin large breed puppy, for about 6 months then bill jack large breed puppy, both very good dog foods but he hates them both. i gave up on them both, and put him on something else that he actualy eats cause he was loosing weight ans i hated that but i do want him on a healthier food. i had a few ladies right me from another post i wrote saying they had some ddbs. its just hard finding the right food for them, lol!! mine is so picky, lol!!! the only treats he will eat are the real dried chicken pieces, he def know what he likes and doesnt but he is my baby!!!

• ANSWER:

QUESTION:
My best friends family doesn't walk their 2 dogs!?
My best Friends family doesn't even walk their dogs.
My best Friend says that shes not aloud to walk the dog.
Her Mum Says The Dogs have to stay in the house!

--------------------------------------…
The house the dogs and family are.....A PIGSTY!
The father always smokes most days.
The dogs are kept in the same room, even for sleeping!
The whole room is very smoky but one time
I saw one of the dogs scratching the back door to get out.
It made me really sad.
--------------------------------------…
My question is.... Is this even legal to treat dogs like this?

The dogs used to be healthy but what worries me is that they are only 4 years old.

The Dogs are now sleeping for most of the days.

Unless people kick them to move.

The room is tiny, about the size of an average storage room.

They only get fed once a day

No, I am amazed they didn't pee or poo in the room

Medical issues? Don't know
But, I hear dogs can have Cancer so...

• ANSWER:
  I know it might be hard because its your best friend but you need to call animal control or something. If they are locked up all day in a little room then that is abuse. If they are literally getting kicked then that is defiantly abuse. I'm not sure if its legal or not. It depends on the size of the dog to tell if they should be fed more than once. But every dog should be fed more than once a day. If they are big dogs in a tiny room that could be bad. They probably are unhealthy because of the condition they are in.
  You should do something. Animal abuse is very illegal.
  Help those dogs.