CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Feeding => Topic started by: AnnieG on June 26, 2009, 12:29:18 PM
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We have just hauled Cassie back from the dead after a really bad and frightening bout of pancreatitis with atypical symptoms. The vet hospital is now recommending a diet of Chappie. I can't find any information about it on the Pedigree website. Any thoughts about how good it is (for those who have survived the smell!) and whether wet or dry is better? I am perfectly prepared to spend my life with a peg over my nose for the sake of my girl but I want to make sure I am doing her good and not just following the prejudices of an elderly vet who is simply recommending what was around 'when ee were a lad'. She was previously fed on Burns and fresh veg and I must say is absolutely ecstatic about the change. ::) ::)
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hmmmm....has she been on anti-biotics recently?
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hmmmm....has she been on anti-biotics recently?
Yes - big doses as the pancreatitis was accompanied by a massive liver and bile duct infection and pretty scary jaundice. It presented far more like a liver tumour than pancreatitis. Why, Livercake? Am I missing something obvious? She is stable and sorted now - it's the long-term feeding regime I'm trying to sort out as she is obviously on a low fat diet for life now. Not that she was ever on a high fat diet. It has actually driven me blimin' mad when - despite all my denials - the entire veterinary fraternity seems to assume that I've been pumping cheese and chips down her for years. >:( >:( If I fed myself as wisely and carefully as I have fed my dogs, I'd look like Felicity Kendal rather than her mother. ::)
All advice welcome.
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I don't know much about Chappie, but just wanted to say don't let anyone make you feel bad about her feeding, we know you would never have fed her high fat food. I never fed Gari anything bad either, and he ended up with a tumour, it's just sheer bad luck.
I hope Cassie is feeling a lot better now, I'm so glad she pulled through, it must have been a terrible time for you. :luv:
PS, how do you know what Felicity Kendal's mother looks like?! ;) :lol2:
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I don't know much about Chappie, but just wanted to say don't let anyone make you feel bad about her feeding, we know you would never have fed her high fat food. I never fed Gari anything bad either, and he ended up with a tumour, it's just sheer bad luck.
I hope Cassie is feeling a lot better now, I'm so glad she pulled through, it must have been a terrible time for you. :luv:
PS, how do you know what Felicity Kendal's mother looks like?! ;) :lol2:
Thanks a lot for that. The vet's disbelief is still rankling a lot with me so that makes me feel a lot better. You are right - I don't know what Felicity Kendal's mum looks like ... but I sure as hell know her daughter doesn't look like me. :005: :shades:
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hmmmm....has she been on anti-biotics recently?
Yes - big doses as the pancreatitis was accompanied by a massive liver and bile duct infection and pretty scary jaundice. It presented far more like a liver tumour than pancreatitis. Why, Livercake? Am I missing something obvious? She is stable and sorted now - it's the long-term feeding regime I'm trying to sort out as she is obviously on a low fat diet for life now. Not that she was ever on a high fat diet. It has actually driven me blimin' mad when - despite all my denials - the entire veterinary fraternity seems to assume that I've been pumping cheese and chips down her for years. >:( >:( If I fed myself as wisely and carefully as I have fed my dogs, I'd look like Felicity Kendal rather than her mother. ::)
All advice welcome.
just wondering if she was on Anti-b's before she got pancreatitus - her diet sounds spot on, and I was wondering if there was anything that could have exacerbated the onset of it, and Antibiotics have been known to bring it on ....
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just wondering if she was on Anti-b's before she got pancreatitus - her diet sounds spot on, and I was wondering if there was anything that could have exacerbated the onset of it, and Antibiotics have been known to bring it on ....
I wish I hadn't read that, Gari was on antibiotics the week befoe he died...
Sorry Annie, I'm hijacking your thread, I seem to be making a habit of that just now.
But, I am just so relieved that your Cassie got through this. :luv:
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just wondering if she was on Anti-b's before she got pancreatitus - her diet sounds spot on, and I was wondering if there was anything that could have exacerbated the onset of it, and Antibiotics have been known to bring it on ....
I wish I hadn't read that, Gari was on antibiotics the week befoe he died...
Sorry Annie, I'm hijacking your thread, I seem to be making a habit of that just now.
But, I am just so relieved that your Cassie got through this. :luv:
Don't worry - you're not hijacking anything. I know just how you feel. I have been through the same hell as you went through with Gari for the last month but have been lucky enough to still have my girl with me at the end of it. My heart aches for you. I know how you go over and over everything, desperately trying to see how you could have done something differently that would have changed the outcome. It's agony but almost impossible to stop. So thanks for being so generous about Cassie's recovery.
Re the antibiotics, Livercake, she was on them before the pancreatitis became apparent but it was to deal with the sudden attack of vomiting which - in retrospect - was probably the first symptom of the whole sorry mess. Before that, she has had virtually no meds apart from her vaccinations for over two years. It's ironic that it's our older dog, Millie, that has always given us anxieties. We always took Cass's good health for granted. Bad mistake. ::) ::)
Now, about the Chappie ............????????
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I really don't think it's diet related in this case, and I think your vet should be looking at other causes....of which their are many, but diet is the one that vet's always grab at first :-\
Known causes include obesity or hyperlipidemia, trauma, decreased blood flow to the pancreas, toxins, medications, chronic kidney disease, infectious agents, pancreatic duct obstruction, and neoplasia.
It's more common in middle aged bitches, and cockers are a breed that are very susceptible to it.
Personally, although I don't rate Burns for my dog (he didn't thrive on it) it is a good food with a very controlled fat content and one that I would rate as better in fat content than Chappie. I would contact Dr Burns via their website and ask for their advice too as I'm sure he would be interested to hear that his food is being connected to a Pancreatitis attack :shades:
and Fiona, I would think that Gari's tumurs bought on the pancreatitis :'( :'( :luv: :luv: :luv:
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and Fiona, I would think that Gari's tumurs bought on the pancreatitis :'( :'( :luv: :luv: :luv:
Thanks Helen, I'm sure I know that deep down, just going through the "blame" stage. :'(
Annie, if Cassie likes wet food, you can now buy Burns meat to put through the dry. The veg through it is a good idea too, she might not be ecstatic at going back on to it, but I'm sure she'll like it with a little something mixed in. :D
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and Fiona, I would think that Gari's tumurs bought on the pancreatitis :'( :'( :luv: :luv: :luv:
Thanks Helen, I'm sure I know that deep down, just going through the "blame" stage. :'(
:bigarmhug:
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and Fiona, I would think that Gari's tumurs bought on the pancreatitis :'( :'( :luv: :luv: :luv:
Thanks Helen, I'm sure I know that deep down, just going through the "blame" stage. :'(
:bigarmhug:
Fiona, I haven't been on COL for a while for obvious reasons so I didn't see the thread about Gari and didn't realize how recently you had lost him. I've read it now and howled my eyes out. I am so so sorry. Of course you have nothing to blame yourself for. It sounds as if he had the most wonderful life with you with the best care anyone could give. I gather that Gari, like Cassie,was a rescue dog. Even if I too had lost my dog, there would have been comfort in knowing that she had finally experienced all the love that was missing from her early years. Blame those who abandoned a poor innocent dog but never, never blame yourself for giving Gari the happiest time of his life. I really admire you for having room in your heart for Cassie's plight after everything you have been through. I hope so much that the pain eases soon.
Annie x
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In answer to your question about Chappie, both mine are on it at the moment (have been for about a year I think) and they don't smell and are thriving on it (after doing badly on Burns and JWB).
I know a lot of people dismiss Chappie however, personally, I can't see how 'good' dry foods really offer that much more other than ethically (and obviously they are a lot more expensive), because the preserving process of any dry food is a pretty destructive one and they all have to have vits etc put back into them because of this. Chappie is a good basic food and if it suits your dog, I'd go with it. Mine are on dry and sometimes get the cans also. I do add fresh raw veg and occasionally meat/fish for variety also.
Hope she continues to improve :-* :-*
Hannah xxx
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I really admire you for having room in your heart for Cassie's plight after everything you have been through. I hope so much that the pain eases soon.
Thank you for your lovely post about Gari. I have only highlighted this section, to say that I care about every dog and never want anyone to go through what I did. When I hear of any dog being ill or in pain I want to help them, there will always be room in my heart for dogs and all other animals - Gari gave me that gift. :luv:
Now, go and give Cassie a great big kiss and cuddle from me! She is one lucky girl to be rescued by such a caring person.:luv:
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One of my first cockers had cronic pancreatitis for many years starting with an attack when she was 6yrs. My vet at the time suggested chappie as her long term diet along with pasta and this is what she stayed on until the end, we were when able vn control and work her through any attacks just with this to.
my lovely jessica was diagnosised with cronic pancreatitis begining of this year. This has come on after she had a very very severe acute attack last year which was triggered after the vets had to touch her pancreas during her exlap surgery a few weeks previous. I know control her the same way i did with lace and so far she is doing very well.
hth x
fiona, with regards to your beloved gari, please please please don't beat yourself up, pancreatic tumors are different and you did everything you could Xx
i haven't been able to post on your thread since the sad day as it brings back very sharp memories for me as this is pretty much exactly the same thing that happen to my angel maddie years ago, the only difference is that it wasn't until after she was gone the we were able to put together the signs that were there before hand, that and i never got the chance to say goodbye vn hold and kiss her one last time, she was 6 :-(
thinking of you Xx
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I'm so sorry about Maddie Tori, she was far too young. :'( Even though you weren't with her, she would have known you loved her as you were the one who looked after her, and she would have loved you too, always. :luv:
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Hello,
My Kai has been on the Chappie kibble (chicken flavour) since the beginning of this year - although we have to mix a little meaty Rocco in with it to make gravy and even then it's not all eaten ::) However, having been on JWB, Skinners, Burns, NatureDiet etc. it's the only food that has stopped him suffering from collitis. Having been fairly painfully underweight for so long, my friend commented how well he is looking now that he's filled out abit :D
I know folk with many dogs who feed the tinned Chappie. Our vet recommended it... though our favourite receptionist there doesn't ::) She said it's ok if your dog has diarrhoea...
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Hi,
Hope Cassie feels better soon. :luv:
Poppy my blue roan was near deaths door 2 years ago + was diagnosed with pancreatitis. She had an extended stay in the hospital + thankfully recovered well.
She has been on Chappie since - mainly the dry food with some tins of chappie now and again and is healthy + full of energy. her weight is fine.
She has not had another bout of pancreatitis since, so it has worked with Poppy. :D
Jo.xx
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The tinned chappie is very good and low fat, ideal for pancreatitis but I wouldn't recommend the dry as it has nasty additives in it.
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My old girl Millie was on chappie (tinned) for around 5 years, she seemed to do very well on it. Then one week she was poorly and did not want it again so now she is on JWB mixed with a little tinned food and she seems to be doing well on this food.
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Thank you all so much for your help - especially as it has brought such painful experiences to the surface for some of you. I have decided to stick with the vet's advice (on this occasion ::)) and keep Cassie on the wet Chappie for the moment. I understand all the points the 'antis' among you have raised - and I share many of your concerns - but there also seem to be a fair number who have had really good results under similar conditions. I suppose that deep down I am just so relieved to find something she is taking with enthusiasm after all the horrors of the past few weeks. Three weeks ago she wouldn't even take chicken breast and brown rice (and yes, she really is a cocker) so it is just Paradise to see her troughing into manky, smelly old Chappie with every appearance of total ecstasy. But I'll keep a very careful watch and be back for more advice if it seems to be causing any other issues. It is just so wonderful to nearly have her back to her normal stroppy little self and I am deeply thankful. I still don't understand why Chappie doesn't figure on either the Pedigree or Waltham websites, though. Is it so cheap and naff that they don't want to promote it? :shades: :shades:
Thanks again to everyone and hugs have duly been administered to Cass from all those who sent them - and about a million more besides from me, in celebration that I didn't lose her after all.
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Please keep us updated on how Cassie is doing. Forgot to say Millie was on it because she has a sensitive tummy.
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Please keep us updated on how Cassie is doing. Forgot to say Millie was on it because she has a sensitive tummy.
Will do gladly. I'm still nervous about what I'm doing but at least I feel I've made a better assessment of the odds with the advice the rest of you have given. I just wish I wasn't facing years of cocker kisses with a top note of rancid fish. :005: :005:
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Please keep us updated on how Cassie is doing. Forgot to say Millie was on it because she has a sensitive tummy.
Will do gladly. I'm still nervous about what I'm doing but at least I feel I've made a better assessment of the odds with the advice the rest of you have given. I just wish I wasn't facing years of cocker kisses with a top note of rancid fish. :005: :005:
Sadly the breath thing is true ;) ph34r :D Still......... ;)
Best of luck i'm sure it'llbe fine :-* :-*
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hi,
just wanted to say that chappie was the only food i could feed my last dog who was allergic to loads of different things. the older she got the more things she became allergic too!
chappie is great for dogs with delicate tummies (the tinned stuff) i couldnt feed my dog the dried stuff as she was allergic to it!!! lol
yes the chappie does smell when you open the tin, but they eat it quick and i didnt have any bad breath problems with my dog.
my little terier is still on chappie with a few mini mixer biscuits in it and she is doing fine....she has some teeth missing so wouldnt cope with a complete meal, plus she is very fussy and she loves the chappie :blink:
i would reccommend chappie to anyone who has a dog that either has allergies or tummy problems :blink:
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Another thumbs up for Chappie. My other dog has ongoing health issues and currently there's a problem with her liver due to the meds she's on. Her vet ok'd chappie saying its easier to digest.
After 3 weeks at the vets, and 4 months trying to wean my dog back onto her usual dried food, resulting in continually sloppy poos, she's on chappie only and I don't have to go armed with tissues, poo bags and a watering can after she's 'been'.
Initially I bought the tinned food from the vets but one of the nurses told me in a whisper that chappie was the same stuff - and a damn sight cheaper!!
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Thanks a lot, Vickyl and Fizzyntiffy,
I must say, I am beginning to agree with you. Cass is happy as anything and the 'end results' are just great. And her latest set of blood tests show her on the way back to normal - a huge relief. The only thing is that I am having the hell's own job in getting the quantities right. She is down to one small tin (415g- ish) a day - two-thirds of the recommended amount - yet I have just discovered that she has put on a bit of weight this week. Can you give me any advice on how much you feed your cockers please? I can't give Cass her usual amount of exercise at the moment as she is still getting over the pancreatitis but even so she is getting a good hour a day plus a lot of bouncing in our garden (and all over the floor, my desk, bed, sofa etc. Why oh why was I so soft when she was ill? >:D)
Really pleased to have heard from you. :-* :-*
Annie
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hiya,
my cocker is on arden grange and so far so good so cant comment on how much to feed a cocker......
but my 10kg terrier is on half a tin (normal sized tin, 412g) plus mini bite mixer. i feed her two meals a day so she gets quater of a normal sized tin and a handful of mixer in each feed.
my other dog (now gone) was about 21kg and she was on one and a half of the bigger tins (double the normal sized tin) a day split into two meals. so she had 3 quaters of a 824g tin per feed twice a day. she would have eaten more, but she was on steriods and was always starving bless her lol
are you giving your cocker anything else with the chappie? remember that the amount on the tin is only a guideline. the normal sized tins say to give my 10kg terrier 1 and a half tins a day, but she only gets half a tin and a couple of handfuls of mixer (so thats nearly two thirds less than they advise on the tin!!!) and she is perfect weight.....if i gave her any more she would get way too fat!! she always gets a clean bill of health at the yearly vet check.
i think if i were you i would feed according to your dog....if she is getting a bit porky, just reduce the chappie a bit, they usually advise to feed more than most dogs actually need on these tins as you can see by what i have said above about my terrier. obviously you wont want to add the mixer because of her health problems, but i would reduce the amount of chappie a bit.....you can always put it back up again if she starts to get a bit too thin :blink:
reading back it sounds like i starve my terrier, but she really is the perfect weight for her size and really doesnt need any more :blink:
oh, and all our 'end results' are perfect too ;).....like i said before i would highly reccommend chappie for any dog with delicate tummies.... :blink:
best wishes, vicky
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are you giving your cocker anything else with the chappie?
Just a couple of raw carrots and a bit of cooked broccoli.
i think if i were you i would feed according to your dog....
I am, I am - that's why I am still juggling amounts and getting her weighed twice a week and asking other people just in case I'm way off beam on quantities.
oh, and all our 'end results' are perfect too ;).....like i said before i would highly reccommend chappie for any dog with delicate tummies.... :blink:
With you there. Thanks for your help.
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Can't help with amounts either I'm afraid as my dog that's on chappie isn't a cocker.
I would agree with vickyl tho and maybe reduce the amount a bit as cassie isn't having as much exercise at the moment, you can always increase it if she starts looking too thin and/or her exercise is increased.
XXX to Cassie