Do I really need to buy Science Diet J/D?

 Nancy; I do the same as you and add a human joint supplement to Jessie's food. The ingredients in the Wellness are so much better; I say if your dog's doing well, no need to switch foods.

When Babe became older her vet suggested glucosamin, they wanted me to buy thiers and I explained that it was to expensive, so they finally admitted that over the counter reg human grade was just as good.

You conventional vet probably gets kick backs for selling so much of a certain kind of food.

Stick with what your doing if it works.

I agree, Sooner, and I'm glad to her that my vet's dog is doing well. In my case, my dog is not on NSAIDs, which totally shocked my conventional vet. But she went on and on about these miracle-like benefits of J/D until I began to worry and feel guilty. I really like that I've focused on my dog's immune system (human-grade and carefully chosen supplements), to help him manage his OA issues, and as a result of careful work, he's doing well.

Really, though, I think most conventional vets are shocked by my dog's issues--his gait, his ED, HD, and back problems--and they don't know what to say to me. And I keep thinking they're trying, but really, they need to not try so hard--my dog has what he has (the short straw in his physical life) but he's doing well and is as able now, at age 5, as so many other dogs are.

Thanks for rallying, everyone. I really dislike the guilt! And I bring it on myself. And, should my male dog worsen to where nothing much more is helping him, then I would try J/D, though I'd worry because most dogs gain weight on it (corn-based).

Vets can sure complicate things!

LAST RESORT FOR ME.  IF HE WAS ON REGULAR BFOOD AND NSAIDS AND BTHE J/D WOULD GET HIM OFF THE NSAIDS, I WOULD SAY GO GOR IT, GIVE IT A TRY AND IF IT WORKED, STICK WITH IT,  BUT IF HE STILL NREQUIRED NSAIS, BACK TO OTHER FOOD.

 THE R/D DID GET TH WEIG OFF MY GOLDEN, KAYCEE FOLLOWING A REAR AND HALF OF BAD KNEES, SURHERIES, RECOVERIES, AND SHE NEVER PUT THE WEIGHT BACK ON AFTER GOING BACK TO HER REGULAR FOOD.  AND THE K/D BUCK WAS ON FOR B3 MONTHS TOOK CARE OF HIS KIDNEY PROBLEM AND IT NE=VER HAPPENED AGAIN.  HOWEVER NEITHER OF THEM REALLY CARED FOR IT AND I WAS HAPPY WHEN THEY COULD GO BACK TO THEIR REGULAR FOOD. THE PRESCRIPTION FOODS DO HAVE THEIR PLACE--BUT I9 WOULD SAVE THEM FOR LAST

It's practically impossible to put enough supplement in a food to offer a therapeutic level - as you noticed many dogs gain weight when fed anywhere close to he therapeutic level.  Corn is a very dense energy source.

I much prefer the option of supplementing separately no matter how I'm feeding.  But then, I'm a control freak in that respect.  :)  Good luck!

brookcove

It's practically impossible to put enough supplement in a food to offer a therapeutic level - as you noticed many dogs gain weight when fed anywhere close to he therapeutic level.  Corn is a very dense energy source.

I much prefer the option of supplementing separately no matter how I'm feeding.  But then, I'm a control freak in that respect.  :)  Good luck!

Me too. I think that having a dog with as many issues as mine does turns me into one of those owners who is always looking for the next best thing (I'm a certified miracle searcher--I am), and being able to experiment at least gives me hope.

Still--it's the middle of the night and I am wide awake, wondering if I am making all the right choices for Murphy. Yes, I amd reminding myself, He doesn't need corn as his main staple.

Having a disabled dog can really be such an emotional roller coaster ride, as a friend with a similar situation told me. It really is, too.

J/D is NOT the best option for a dog with orthopedic problems. It's a crappy food with supplements added. When they did clinical studies to "prove" it works they compared dogs fed the J/D formula to dogs fed the J/D forumula sans supplements.

For a dog with joint problems: feed a non-inflammatory diet- this means no grains. Keep dog very thin. Regular exercise is important. Supplement with omega-3 fatty acids. Supplement with glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and HA. Cetyl-M has been getting rave reviews worth a try I think.

In a word or two, HECK NO!!!  Good gosh, will it never end these vets pushing SD?

The omega 6's are inflamatory, so you want a food that's low in 6's and rich in the 3's.  That's the only change I would suggest, if that.  I think (personal opinion coming) that some vets are really threatened by "holistic" vets, and tend to look at them much like some human docs do osteopaths or chiropractors.

The superior ingredients in Wellness are enough of a reason to stick with it as opposed to SD.  The vet can't promise that this food will get a dog off NSAIDS, any more than a rep can promise that his/her food will end allergies.  All she can say is that she has seen it happen.  I've seen with my dogs eating the higher end foods no need for Frontline, but I'm sure not going to push folks to NOT use Frontline and take a chance on a flea infestation.

To be fair to the vet, she probably does, really believe in the food that she's pushing.  But, you believe you are doing the right thing, and lots of folks here agree, so go with what your holistic vet says.  If it ain't broke......

My own personal vet just recently lost his 10yr old yellow lab......to cancer. She was so young, and it's too bad it happened to a very very nice man who's not pushy at all and has no problems with me feeding something other then SD.

But....guess what she had eaten her entire life?...not to say that it caused the cancer, as lets face it, retrievers are high risk for cancer it seems, but the SD surely didn't help it.

I would NEVER feed SD, stop getting yourself all upset over it, it's not worth it. Keep in mind how you're one of the few who doesn't believe in all the manure the conventional vets have to say.

I wouldn't feed a Science Diet product for any reason.  Your current food/supplement plan is working, so just stick with that.  I pretty much made it known to my vet from day one that I wasn't going to feed SD and he never mentions it.  Luckily, though, my vet does seem quite knowledgable about the other (premium) dog foods on the market and we've had some good discussions about some of the grain free foods, etc.

I fed SD to the cats for a long while...they were constantly sick; vomitted on a daily basis (not hairballs).  And, their coats were dull and with one cat virtually no coat at all.  I started them on SD because of that cat's allergies.  Vet recommended it.

Then, after much research...found Innova and tried it for them.  Wow, what a difference.  Nobody gets sick and they look great.  Even my allergy boy.  Full, gorgeous coat.

Sometimes, I think vets push SD so that their business will flourish.  That's the cynic in me...sorry.

I'm totally with you on constantly looking for the latest and greatest.  That's been the story of my life with Ben - twelve and a half years now.   I still do it, and honestly feel I have kept ahead of his issues to a great extent.

Arthritis isn't something that is a large issue for him, thank goodness (I think it's creeping up on us now).  But his current liver problem requires a diet that is extremely anti-inflammatory.  At the moment he's eating baked fish, potato, sweet potato, parsley, garlic, and one raw pork bone a day (that's a recent addition).  He was on a diet heavily dependent on red meat, but until his liver has completely recovered, white meat is safer for him and more conducive to the healing of his liver.

Wellness Core Fish is very similar to this, as is TOTWs fish formula, if you feel like "fiddling" and don't want to go homecooked.

I also finally gave in an started using Seapet's Gold fish body oil formula.  I'm extremely pleased with it - it's cost efficient, easy to use, and all the dogs look great.
 

 I try, really, hard, not to say "never". I would use it, if the situation required it. I've had MUUUUCH better luck figuring out my dogs' diets on my own, and adding appropriate supplements. I put two dogs on Hills RX diets, and they both did poorly, and ended up being switched to homemade food. Emma never went on an RX food, because.... which one would we use? J/D? I/D? Z/D? L/D? She has all of those issues, LOL. If it comes down to it, though, with the allergies, I *will* use Z/D short term.