Hi

Can anybody advise me.  I've got a 14mth old staff who from the very day we got her suffered from a sensitive stomach.  We have tried every sensitive type dried and wet food on the market and she got diarrohea, she also had a skin allergy which made her scratch her chest.  We now feed her on the following : a rusk with milk, small yogurt with mashed banana and raw mince, potato and vegs.  This may seem like the sort of diet a toddler eats but her stomach has completely settled and her skin allergy has gone and she now looks shiny and the picture of health.  Went to vets today for her booster.  He was very offhand when I told him that her stomach upsets had cleared and she wasn't on dog food.  He said that she could have a calcium deficiency on what she is eating now and she should be eating dog food as it has added vitamins.  He said that he could evaluate her diet but it would be very expensive for me.  I said that could she not have vitamin supplements and he said I wouldn't need to give her these if I gave her proper dogs food.  So, what should I do?  Have a poorly dog who is getting the right vitamins but they are going straight through her?  There must be some vitamins out there I can give her.  Help anyone?

I see you already feed raw mince as part of her diet. I would at least try to increase the proportion of meat in her diet.Try either chicken wings or carcasses(the bone will give her the required calcium) and then go from there...any raw meat is ok.Try adding these meats slowly and then you will be able to tell if any are causing a problem but I would doubt they will.
If you want a vitamin supplement try looking at the Dorwest site.
Archer

You may be able to buy PetTabs from your vet.  Most pet shops will sell a canine vitamin. 

If you family likes eggs you can save the shells and mash them up and put a bit in her food every day, they are a very good source of calcium.

I'd also recommend a book called Natural Health for Dogs & Cats by Richard and Susan Pitcairn.  They provide balanced recipes which sound much like you are feeding now.

Stacey

Thanks for the advice.  We do feed her raw chicken wings sometimes and she thoroughly enjoys them.  I didn't realise egg shells contained calcium, will certainly try that. I just couldn't believe how horrified the vet was when i said that she doesn't have dog food. 

vets are always horrified if you don't feed 'dog' food.....I think it must be part of their training....
Archer