Vet told us feeding raw will shorten her life

[Miss Molly May]

We brought Molly in for excessive licking(genitals). He check her over told us she was about 10lbs overweight, he expressed her anal gland and gave her a shot of antibiotics because her privates is red(urine sample found he said some bacteria). He said her fur was dry (straw like) and was lacking omega fatty acids. We will up her daily fish oil but I fine her fur shiny and soft. Anyway we got talking about her raw diet (he does not agree with it at all) and he told us that feeding raw will shorten her life from 10 to 12 years and that a good kibble is much healthier and that she would live up to 14 years

How old did your GSD live on Raw?

[Miss Molly May]

Her is a recent picture of her do you think she is over weight?

[onyx'girl]

Are you feeding raw now? Most vets don't agree with a raw diet...unless they've researched it themselves. My vet is fine with it, as long as the person feeding raw knows what they are doing.
What did dogs eat before kibble was developed?
To address Molly May's skin/coat...up the oils, vitamin E and C make sure your home has a humidifier during the time the furnace is running. Vitamin C is something I would start now, it is an anti-inflammatory and
anti-histimine.
I don't have statistics on lifespan of a rawfed dog, but I really don't agree with your vet. Did you ask him where he got his information on this and can you read it to be better informed?
Her pic does make her look a bit heavy. Can you feel a couple ribs? That is usually a better gauge than what she looks like. Especially with a thick winter coat.

[Miss Molly May]

here is another pic!

[Josie/Zeus]

I think you need to find another vet. She looks fine to me.

[DunRingill]

My raw-fed GSD Tori lived to 14 year. Ianna is 13 years 9 months and still runs around and chases a ball. Mike will be 9 years next month and he's still actively competing in obedience, and flies over the jumps better than many youngsters.

You might need to find a more open-minded vet!

[Miss Molly May]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

Are you feeding raw now? Most vets don't agree with a raw diet...unless they've researched it themselves. My vet is fine with it, as long as the person feeding raw knows what they are doing.
What did dogs eat before kibble was developed?
To address Molly May's skin/coat...up the oils, vitamin E and C make sure your home has a humidifier during the time the furnace is running. Vitamin C is something I would start now, it is an anti-inflammatory and
anti-histimine.
I don't have statistics on lifespan of a rawfed dog, but I really don't agree with your vet. Did you ask him where he got his information on this and can you read it to be better informed?
Her pic does make her look a bit heavy. Can you feel a couple ribs? That is usually a better gauge than what she looks like. Especially with a thick winter coat.

Yes I have been feeding raw since about 6mths old she is now 2yrs
I give her shemp oil (a fish oil blend from carmspack) 2 tablespoons a day along with her feed essentials product( check her web site if you would like to see the ingredients)
Thanks I will start up our humidifier it is pretty dry humidity levels are at 29% because of the furnace and will look into Viet E and C.
I never asked him where he got his info (i never thought of it)
there is a bit of meat between her fur and her ribs

[Miss Molly May]

Originally Posted by DunRingill

My raw-fed GSD Tori lived to 14 year. Ianna is 13 years 9 months and still runs around and chases a ball. Mike will be 9 years next month and he's still actively competing in obedience, and flies over the jumps better than many youngsters.

You might need to find a more open-minded vet!

Thanks you made me feel better seeing the ages

We have been to a few different vets! I live in a small town with limited amount of vet! And they all try to change my mind but I am very suborn!!

[Holmeshx2]

just curious but did the vet know she was fed raw BEFORE finding all the stuff wrong with her such as dry coat? A fair amount of vets that are anti raw become annoying because they blame EVERYTHING on raw. I don't need my vet to be all about it but they have to be neutral because otherwise anytime something goes wrong it's your fault for feeding a raw diet. She looks like she might be a little heavy but I wouldn't say 10 lbs of course this is based off a picture but 10 lbs shows quite a bit on a dog winter coat or not. I would love to know where he has his research that raw will shorten the lifespan and how he got his years that feeding kibble is going to add 2 years to her life. Ask him if you switch to kibble and she dies before 14 if he will give you a large sum of money and write it in a contract if he believes it so much.

BTW you have to give vitamin E if you are adding oils to their diet (unless Carmens blend already has it in it I'd ask her)

[Germanshepherdlova]

IDK, one of the dogs that I grew up with lived to be 15 years old and he was fed nothing but table scraps. Whatever we had for dinner-he got the leftovers. Believe me he ate a great deal of rice and beans. Not sure were your vet got that from, but if he says your dogs fur is dry then for sure give him the fish oil.