Food and Supplements to boost the immune system???

kazzy220

..........
Jul 31, 2010
8,556
441
Grafton, OHIO
Country
England
Bulldog(s) Names
Maggie (My Angel Baby 5/31/2012). Daddy (2 years). Linus (1year). Bella (4 years)
Forgive me now for my ignorance (and the length of this thread)!!!! However, Maggie is our first bulldog and we know no other bulldog owners so this has been a complete learning curve - a steep one!!! Also, I am hoping that if I give all facts then the rest of you who read this will be a lot more knowledgeable and be able to give me some advice.

The first thing to understand about Maggie is that she suffered a tiny bit with the typical (now we know this) sensitive stomach which really freaked us out for a while because for two days it was like a scene from the exorcist ... I didn't know it could shoot that far and from both ends .... :( .....until we put her on Beneful food which she and the other dogs loved. Although, that's not fair to say Maggie loved Beneful because Maggie just loves anything remotely edible!!!! So for a long time we believed we were in a happy place - sweet healthy bulldog who won our hearts from the moment we saw her.

So we get to September/October time and realise Maggie's jaw is not opening quite as much as it used to although it didn't stop her eating (nothing does - you know how that is with Bulldogs!) Within the week her jaw is completely locked up and we immediately dreaded tetanus and I spent hours on the internet looking it up until the second we had her appointment at the vets. Luckily, although our vet is not considered on any website I've found to be a Bullie expert, she had seen this only once in her career and immediatly ordered special blood tests that were the only ones that could diagnose myositis. It was positive - Maggie had myositis. This is when the body no longer recognizes the muscles that are used to chew with (the masticatory muscles) and attacks them. So the dogs immune system attacks it's own chewing muscles - and basically destroys them so the dog can no longer move it's jaw.

Six months of steroids later we are off the steroids. Hooray!!! Then the throwing up/regurgitation/coughing up phlegm starts .... so we change the food -A LOT - and looking back made her stomach feel even worse. We go back to Beneful and things settle down until Sept/Oct of the next year rolls round and we have another case of Myositis (or the Miley-Cyrus disease as my husband likes to call it). There follows another 6-7 months of steroids. Now this myositis is not related to anything seasonal or allergies etc so I am unsure as to why it has come back at the same time for the last two years.

After the steroids finished the occasional vomiting started again, so we decided not to switch foods because it was disastrous last time (still have the stains on the carpet to prove it - which makes me wonder how much color dyes they put in this stuff!). So we went to Beneful weight loss formula and everything is great - no health problems and no throwing up. Even the two mini schnauzers have stopped their occasional vomiting (now I know that is a bit of a schnauzer trait because I know other schnauzer owners).

Sorry this is so long ............ so here is my dilemma. September and October are rapidly approaching. I discoverd this website in the last couple of weeks and already discovered that I am feeding our hairy little bullie-child a 1* food!!! :eek: And although it has cleared up all vomiting/regurgitating I am now looking for something that is going to do that but also a food that will (hopefully) boost her immune system to a degree that we will not be faced with a bullie whose jaw just won't move (terrifying) and something that will not upset her stomach. The vet said that if she gets it again she may have to go on low dose steroids for the rest of her life .. not happy about that!

So if anybody of you know of a really good bulldog-friendly food that super-boosts the immune system that I can VERY slowly introduce to my Maggie, and also any good supplements too ........ I would be eternally grateful. In the meantime, my husband and I sit here and look for any potential signs of the dreaded Miley-Cyrus disease!!!
 

cali~jenn

..........
Mar 28, 2010
0
419
Southern California
Bulldog(s) Names
Cutty, Miila and Mugsy the pug :)
Oh my gosh you have had your hands full havent you?!?!? I am so sorry for you and your poor pup, this must be hard. I wouldnt know what to recommend food wise specifically in your condition aside from just the mildest of dog foods that are made for sensitive stomachs. Now avoderm is supposed to be a more mild food and help with the sensitive stomach but every dog is so different it will be a trail and error again nomatter what you decide I am sure. Now the fromm is supposed to have the probiotics and good stuff that should help and aid in stomach problems I would think. lindathedogsmaid knows a lot about foods and would maybe be of some help here for you. She highly recommends the fromm foods and there are many diff varieties to choose from. Hey since we have that new "tag" system I can tag her and she will reply. ;) Hope I did this right.
[MENTION=4]Lindathedogsmaid[/MENTION]
 
Last edited:

Gertie's Mom

New member
Community Veteran
Jul 17, 2010
1,727
34
SanTan Valley, Az.
Bulldog(s) Names
Gertie & Ida
That's terrible. How scarey. I don't have a suggestion as to dog food, because I'm way newer to Bulldogs than you are, my puppy is just not quite 12 weeks old. But I do have a suggestion for the stains on your carpet. We had a sheepdog that chewed up an ink pen on brand new carpeting a long time ago and there was a purple stain about the size of a half dollar, right in the middle of our family room. We tried EVERYTHING to get it out. What finally worked was Oxi-clean. I got the powdered stuff and made a paste and put it on the stain and left it over night. Then my husband used the carpet steam cleaner on it and it completely came out! We were amazed! Maybe it would take the die out of your carpet. Sorry I have no suggestions about poor Maggie. I'm sure others on here will have the answer for you.
 

Lindathedogsmaid

New member
Jan 30, 2010
327
18
Sequim ,Washington
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Pippa & Peanut
OH god I am so sorry that you have had all this stuff, poor baby dog, Please, do not feed beniful ever again.it only has by products in it and lots of sodium, to addict your dog.
please find Fromm at your nearest store, let me know your zip code and I will find a near store for you through the Fromm family pet food site. < http://www.frommfamily.com/products-all-natural-dog-cat-food.php> take a look at the 4 star foods, exspecially the salmon, one , because we need to get lots of salmon in your dog for many reasons, But the main reason this food has the pre and pro biotics in it and puts it in writing -what and how much, the only company who does other than one other, this food is great for any dogs but especially good for bulldogs, the Biotics,, BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM ! and go find a 32oz of Grizzly salmon oil, this pure,wild caught salmon is the best thing for joints, immune system, and shedding according to my specialist and my own dogs. 3/4 of a cup twice a day, and you will see a remarkable difference in 6 weeks, it is an unusual protein and a good one, (may cause gas, but we can live with it for the benefits) keep the dog calm at all times. a pepcid AC 30 min before meal time is good too. keeps the tummy calm. email me directly at [email protected]. and let me know how you are doing, call also if you wish. 503 -377-9640
 

Lindathedogsmaid

New member
Jan 30, 2010
327
18
Sequim ,Washington
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Pippa & Peanut
this food that I recommend has all the things in it that anyone would ever need. !Fromm .
<http://www.frommfamily.com/products-all-natural-dog-cat-food.php>
 
OP
kazzy220

kazzy220

..........
Jul 31, 2010
8,556
441
Grafton, OHIO
Country
England
Bulldog(s) Names
Maggie (My Angel Baby 5/31/2012). Daddy (2 years). Linus (1year). Bella (4 years)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
OH god I am so sorry that you have had all this stuff, poor baby dog, Please, do not feed beniful ever again.it only has by products in it and lots of sodium, to addict your dog.
please find Fromm at your nearest store, let me know your zip code and I will find a near store for you through the Fromm family pet food site. < http://www.frommfamily.com/products-all-natural-dog-cat-food.php> take a look at the 4 star foods, exspecially the salmon, one , because we need to get lots of salmon in your dog for many reasons, But the main reason this food has the pre and pro biotics in it and puts it in writing -what and how much, the only company who does other than one other, this food is great for any dogs but especially good for bulldogs, the Biotics,, BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM ! and go find a 32oz of Grizzly salmon oil, this pure,wild caught salmon is the best thing for joints, immune system, and shedding according to my specialist and my own dogs. 3/4 of a cup twice a day, and you will see a remarkable difference in 6 weeks, it is an unusual protein and a good one, (may cause gas, but we can live with it for the benefits) keep the dog calm at all times. a pepcid AC 30 min before meal time is good too. keeps the tummy calm. email me directly at [email protected]. and let me know how you are doing, call also if you wish. 503 -377-9640


Thank you SO much for giving me all this great advice. I had done a bit of research on this site and had already decided to start introducing the FROMM foods to her. I was thinking of the "surf & turf"... is that the salmon one that you mean? I went on their website and found my nearest store which is not close to where I live but VERY close to where I work which is good! I'm not sure where I would get the Grizzly salmon oil, and wouldn't 3/4 cup twice a day be a lot? Maggie is very small, we think she was probably the runt of the litter, because she only weighs 38lb so does that affect how much of the oil you give them?

Once again thanks for your advice .... we took her to the vet yesterday with a yeast infection in her ear, and she also has a dry nose so it will be interesting to see if the FROMM and the salmon oil help that too!!

Karen
 

Lindathedogsmaid

New member
Jan 30, 2010
327
18
Sequim ,Washington
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Pippa & Peanut
Hi there, thanks so much for looking at my email. and I am glad you are going to feed a great food, sounds like she needs a good break! and the grizzly salmon oil , you can put in your zip code on the site to find a dealer. her is there link <http://www.grizzlypetproducts.com/> and order the 32oz size.-it comes with a pump, and directions, it also is good for shedding. but yes a 3/4 cup daily is a bit much for her size. 1/2 cup is lots. that's what I feed my 56 pound dogs daily, But my thought was to really feed her good for a month or two to get her system back in shape. But do what you think is best. of course,. I thought she was bigger. also the yeast infection should be her last if you will mix apple cider vinegar 50/50 percent with water , and squirt it in her ears a couple times a week. she will never have it again, to high acid content in the ears when that is done. and for the dry nose I use Berts Bee Balm for hands, it's got everything in it except rosemary that the dogs nose balm does. that sells for a lot more. you can find it in any fred and meyers store in the health food section.I use it for hands and heels too. good luck, and you can email me direct at <[email protected]>
 

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