Hi

I am moving my dog on to the BARF way of life and was recommended to give enzyme tablets - went to a pet super store last night and couldnt see anything like that - do any of you know what they are and what they do for the dog?

thanks

Maxine

Can I ask why you were told to give enzyme tablets?
Enzyme replacement is for dogs whose pancreas doesn't produce natural enzymes and so need help to digest their food.
Just to add if your dog is fit and healthy, no pancreatic problems, there is no need to add enzymes to go on a raw diet - and well done for choosing that way :)

I do BARF but don't do enzymes either!

Maybe invest in Ian Billinghurst's book 'Give your dog a bone' or 'grow your pups on bones'  I find these really helpful :)

Often when people change dogs to BARF it is suggested they give acidopholis (sp?) which replaces the gut flora etc, like yakult etc but in tablet form, this would be available from health food shops Do you think you mean this?

well the person who told me about it is a breeder of my dog who feeds all of his on BARF so he was giving me an idea of how much to feed and included natural pro biotic yogurt, enzyme tablets and once a week an egg yolk, a small amount of oil daily.... so reckon the natural yogurt would be for what you suggest Sarah...

I changed because I couldnt get my dog to take an interest in anything else so tried the raw minced chicken which he devoured and no upset tummy!  He has been having raw chicken wings for a while - think I'll leave the enzyme tablets for now then...

thanks for your replies

Maxine

There is a bit of Kymythy Schultze's book 'Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats' which has the following in the chapter on switching over to BARF:

If you have an animal with a digestive or bacterial problem, or one that is or has been on antibiotics, you should add a digestive enzyme made for dogs and cats and a non-dairy probiotic to the food for a few weeks to help replenish enzymes and friendly intestinal flora.  Actually, these two healthy supplements may be used with any animal to aid the transition.  They are especially useful if your pet experiences loose stools and/or gas

So maybe that was where the person who told you got it from. :)

Would really recommend you reading Kymythy's book if you haven't already done so.  Very easy to read and full of useful information when you're starting out.

Yes, I mix yoghurt with the fruit and veg mush!

>If you have an animal with a digestive or bacterial problem, or one that is or has been on antibiotics, you should add a digestive enzyme made for dogs and cats and a non-dairy probiotic to the food for a few weeks to help replenish enzymes and friendly intestinal flora.<

But Maxine hasn't stated that her dog has a digestive or bacterial problem?
It don't hurt to add a probiotic, but I really don't understand the need for adding enzymes? Even if the book says you can/should ?  All mine are fed raw, and the only one that has enzymes is the one with EPI.
Does anyone else add these tablets? - just curious thats all

Forgot to say he did tell me the fruit and veg pulp - which I will try - gave him some apple pulp with his breakfast which he did eat - so we'll see what happens when its veg...  And no my dog doesnt have any digestive problems

I'll look for the book too - I'm not sure other than chicken wings what stuff with bones to give him....

thanks

Maxine

Definately worth getting the book Maxine, you can give him most vegatables and fruit whatever is in season and mush it altoghether, doesn't have to be just apples or pears, add garlic, yoghurt, raw egg, cotttage cheese and whatever oils and vitamins they suggest in the book!  It looks disgusting but very good for them apparently :D

Most types of raw meat and bones, but chicken wings have the correct proportion of bone/fat/meat you can either feed them whole or minced :P

Missie, I feed raw and don't add enzyme tablets - first time I heard about them today :D

well he didnt touch the apple this morning so I shall try adding something to it as you suggest...

thanks

Maxine

aww, I haven't found a fruit/veg/ food ;) they won't eat :P Have to watch the banana intake tho as the vet said they are fattening so they usually get one sliced between them as a 'treat' :)

Oh except goats milk yoghurt :rolleyes: they just won't touch that :D

Wasn't relating it to Maxine's dog Missie :) but saying this might have been where the information Maxine was given originally came from.  Personally I didn't use anything like this when switching my dogs to BARF.

I sometimes give my dogs a digestive enzyme cap if they've over eaten,or had too many rmb's,just to help the digestion and assimilation along,and to prevent the runs.I get mine from the health shop.

Enzyme type powders are very popular on the US forums i belong to,alot of people use them,they ensure the dog gets every bit they can out of their food.One of those is called Nupro,which is available here,and my dogs loved,it also contains alot of other useful ingredients.

http://www.nuprosupplements.com

Nupro and prozyme are the 2 most popular. Here;s a link to prozyme which also explains a little about what it does and what it's for.

http://www.petacular.com/products/Prozyme-D.html

Quote from first link: NUPRO Supplements are scientifically balanced formulas rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and essential fatty acids.  NUPRO provides the necessary fresh, raw ingredients (lacking in cooked and processed foods) with easily digestible whole foods, specially designed to condition your dog from the INSIDE-OUT. End Quote

The way I read that is you give it your dog if you feed manufactured food, not raw, as raw contains it's own natural enzymes doesn't it? Is that why you give it your dogs, because they are not on a complete raw diet?

Quotes from 2nd link: Prozyme Digestive Enzyme Supplement - for dogs or cats, Prozyme is a unique, all natural, high potency, plant derived digestive enzyme supplement that will unlock the nutrients contained in your pet's food. Prozyme is scientifically proven to increase the absorption of essential nutrients and fatty acids, especially Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin B-6, Linoleic Acid and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA-Omega 3) from pet food.

Digestive enzymes are substances that nature put into the bodies of our pets (and our own bodies) to unlock the nutrition contained in food. Almost every process that goes on in the body requires enzymes.
Enzymes are also found in plants and raw foods, in their natural state, to aid the body produced enzymes in doing their jobs.
This is especially important for our pets because they rarely eat anything in its natural state. Processed pet food contains no digestive enzymes because the enzymes are destroyed by the cooking and heating required in the manufacturing process. Since cooking kills the enzymes, there is nothing in your pets' food to help liberate the food's nutritional value. End Quotes

Ah, now I used to add prozyme to her food when she was on kibble but while still adding pancrex enzyme powder for her condition. Maybe thats what Maxines breeder was talking about, prozyme, and not what I thought? I have even reduced the enzymes required since changing her to raw so that is why I questioned why a healthy dog would need enzymes? I don't know, so I will say no more :)

was that a sigh of relief I heard then? :P