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Is Your Dog a Picky Eater or Losing Weight?

"I truly can't say enough about Rick's help. It has saved my dog's life."

Monica Sawka
Pinellas Park, FL

"Tonight, I made him a batch of food exactly as you described and he ate it so fast, I was absolutely astounded. I’ve literally never seen him eat like that.  Just unbelievable! Totally cleaned the plate. He almost never does that. And never eats as heartily as what I’ve seen tonight. I am completely shocked."

Mike
Port Townsend, WA

"I wanted to let you know that Roxy is doing really well. She's very energetic and excited to eat  anything you've suggested so far. Just this time last year, she was lethargic all of the time and wouldn't get up to eat when her food was put out for her -- sometimes not eating all day.   She has turned around completely."

Debra Parma
Pittsburgh, PA

"We weighed Butters yesterday and we're jumping for joy. When we first took him to the vet 5 months ago he was at his lowest weight ever of 3.6 lbs!! At his prime health he was 4.4 lbs and he has always been thin. He is currently 4.8 lbs!!!! Thank you again."

Christin Porro
Northville, MI

"Gigi is a totally different dog since we have changed her diet - ALL for the BETTER!!
She is excited at meal time, snack time and comes running to me when she sees or hears me (we rescued her 2 years ago and she has been very anti-social having been with a breeder and discarded when she could no longer produce.)  Her coat is soft, she acts friendly, her eyes are bright, she eats standing up (she used to lay down and eat by her dish), she cleans her dish, she has lost some weight, she looks REALLY good!

Cammie Sasser
Umatilla, FL

The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes only and must not be taken as “medical advice”.

The information and directions in these writings and subsequent emails, individually and collectively, are in no way to be considered as a substitute for consultations with a duly licensed Veterinarian regarding diagnosis and/or treatment of disease and are not intended to diagnose or treat your dog.  

Please consult with your Veterinarian for this advice as well as for any Medical Emergency.

Dogs with poor liver health can be very picky eaters.   This can drive you crazy.  They can also be really underweight.  Why aren't they eating the food you are giving them?

Let's think about what is happening.  A dog with poor liver health, a liver shunt or MVD has very poor liver function.   The liver's main function is to filter the blood of toxins and wastes.  If this is not happening efficiently or effectively, then a dog has excess toxins and wastes circulating in their bloodstream.  Their body is having to call in reinforcements to help out with this process because if toxins and wastes are not gotten rid of the dog will die.

So the Endocrine System is stimulated in order to help out due to poor liver function.   The Endocrine System involves the Adrenal glands, the Thyroid and the Pituitary gland.  That is why Cushing's Disease/Addison's Disease in dogs Click Here, Hyper/Hypothyroidism and Seizures in dogs Click here are all conditions caused by the poor liver health.  These are all symptoms due to a stimulated - or exhausted from overstimulation - Endocrine System.

This cleansing of the blood also takes a LOT of internal energy.  That is why your dog may be less energetic on the outside.  They may be lethargic and sleep a lot.  They may be losing weight.  They may also not be eating very much.

Your dog with poor liver health has high internal energy needs just trying to keep your dog alive.  The LAST thing that your dog's body wants to do is to have to use a lot of energy for DIGESTION.  So their body is telling them NOT to eat very much.  Their body is conserving their energy to be used for MORE IMPORTANT things like cleansing the blood.  This becomes a higher priority than eating.

Many times a dog with poor liver health will struggle with vomiting.  Food is being eaten but the body does not have the internal energy to digest and process it so guess what?  It comes right back up. 

It drives you crazy because you think that if your dog doesn't eat that they will die.  This is not really true - your dog is much, much more likely to go into liver failure than die of starvation in my experience. 

Another reason that your dog is not eating is because you are feeding them the wrong foods or what your vet or pet store is passing off as 'food'.

Let's look at the typical Prescription dog foods that are most often used with dogs with liver problems:

Hills L/D Liver Care dry ingredients: Brewers Rice, Pork Fat, Egg Product, Soybean Meal, Powdered Cellulose, Flaxseed, Pork Protein Isolate, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Dried Beet Pulp, Glyceryl Monostearate, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Iodized Salt, Vitamins - Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K)), L-Arginine, Dl-Methionine, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Carnitine, L-Tryptophan, Mixed Tocopherols for Freshness, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene.

Hills L/D Liver Care canned ingredients: Water, Rice, Egg Product, Chicken Fat, Soybean Meal, Soybean Oil, Corn Starch, Chicken Liver Flavor, Corn Gluten Meal, Powered Cellulose, Fish Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Dried Beet Pulp, Calcium Carbonate, L-Lysine, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K)), L-Arginine, Iodized Salt, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Carnitine, L-Tryptophan, Beta-Carotene.
 
Royal Canin Hepatic dry ingredients: Brewers rice, brown rice, corn, chicken fat, soy protein isolate, natural flavors, dried beet pulp, vegetable oil, monocalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, fish oil, DL-methionine, fructooligosaccharides, choline chloride, taurine, salt, L-lysine, trace minerals (zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), marigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.), L-carnitine, vitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), biotin, D-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, niacin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin supplement (vitamin B2), menadione sodium bisulfate complete (source of vitamin K), folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement], rosemary extract, preserved with natural mixed tocopherols and citric acid.

Royal Canin Hepatic canned ingredients:  Water sufficient for processing, chicken, pork by-products, corn grits, brewers rice, corn flour, vegetable oil, powdered cellulose, tricalcium phosphate, wheat gluten, potassium chloride, natural flavors, carrageenan, fish oil, calcium carbonate, dried plain beet pulp, taurine, guar gum, carob bean gum, potassium phosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, choline chloride, trace minerals (zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), L-carnitine, vitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), biotin, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, vitamin D3 supplement], magnesium oxide
 
A dog with poor liver health needs a LOW animal protein diet and these foods are very low in animal protein.  They bring down the animal protein by adding rice, corn and wheat.  Unfortunately, none of these are good foods for dogs, in my opinion.

The red color and underlined synthetic ingredients are not real nutrients but chemicals and that puts a huge burden on the liver and kidneys. Other foods are marked in red because they are not native to a dog's diet, or are basically waste products from other food industries and therefore can not be digested well.

3 out of the 4 Prescription dog foods above also add Powdered Cellulose which is another name for sawdust and/or ground up cardboard. 

These are overly processed, overly cooked commercial dog foods with NO raw nutrition in them.  Ask yourself this question - "what would my own health be like if this food was all I ate 7 days a week for months and years on end?"  This is a highly acidic diet that will have negative side effects on the liver and kidneys and other organs.

You might say this "Why would my vet even suggest that I feed these prescription dog foods to my sick dog?!"  For that answer Click here

So WHY would you expect your dog to be excited to eat this garbage?  Their body is saying "Hey, don't eat that stuff!  It is going to take WAY too much energy for me to digest and process THAT 'food'.  I would rather you NOT EAT ANYTHING than eat that stuff!" 

Your dog needs a REAL food diet. This is what his/her body is designed to thrive on.  But it also must be the RIGHT foods including raw vegetables and raw fruits and a LOW amount of animal protein.  I teach you how to make a 100% real food home made diet of simple ingredients like meat/fish, raw vegetables, raw fruits, raw nut butters, etc in proper ratios for liver healing and a lifetime of health.  I have complete guidelines for this in my Slow Diet Transition instructions that are part of my starting emails.

As you start to feed your dog the proper real foods with my help, a funny thing happens:  they get excited about eating again!

Their body says this:  "Hey, you're FINALLY giving me something that I need and can use to start healing this body!  Why don't you go find more of that food to eat!

And the pickiest eaters become my most VORACIOUS eaters. 

Just read these comments to see what is possible for your dog:

"So it’s 3 1/2 weeks since I started Sky on the diet without his kibble.  I followed your directions and he LOVED the food!  I wish I had taken videos of him running around barking and jumping up and down the first 2 1/2 weeks.  My husband couldn’t believe he loved the food so much."

"The most important thing is that she LOVES the food that I give her, and so far, no vomiting or anything. I really recommend Rick if you really want to make a difference in your dog's life."
 
"Lucky was having seizures and was very lethargic before we started him on the whole food diet. He loves the fresh vegetables and fruit that he gets, who would have thought a dog would love papaya. If anyone is reading this feedback and are looking for answers to your dogs health issues, I beg you to contact Rick, with his help I truly believe we saved our dogs life."
 
"I wanted to touch base with in on Hazel's progress....she is doing great. She went from not wanting to eat, being lethargic, pacing around to eating a lot and playing around, which she had not done in months. It is a miracle. We are very grateful form the bottom of our hearts, no monetary donation will be able to repay what you have done for us."

"Skipper went to the vet to get weighed. When we started your protocol, he was at 4.4 pounds. I am so happy to report he is at 5.5 pounds now! He is still very thin, but I can see progress in only 3 weeks and it has been amazing."

 "Layla's ALT was 740 and now is 41 her lowest level ever. She has more energy and her eyes are brighter and she so loves her food now and is very vocal about letting us know when its time to eat."

"Osa is on week four of supplements and week five of her new diet. She is doing well, loves her new diet, eats everything and goes back to lick the bowl. She was never a good eater."

"I took Chloe to the vet on Tues. and they did an x-ray and the two stones in her bladder are gone!😊 I think the vet was pleasantly surprised and boy was I happy. Thank you for your great advice. Chloe's weight is up to 12 lbs., she is energetic and seems to be feeling really good! In the last week she has consistently been eating her meals and is even hanging out in the kitchen acting hungry for the first time."
 
"Emily, is a new dog. I didn't have much faith at first, but boy, am I wrong. Thank you."

"Our increasingly fussy and picky eater, now consumes every meal, licks the bowl and then returns to lick her bowl again. Quite impressive! You were right. Her body must have been craving real food." 
 
"Rosie has been seizure free for 21 wks/5 days. She's a different dog, she has energy and more spunk. Plus she LOVES to eat! Thank you Rick for helping Rosie to better health"

"It has been 5 weeks since I put Mitzi on your plan. Needless to say I am so pleased with the change in her. I know it has only been 5 weeks, but she is peppier and wants to play at times, which she hasn’t done in a long time. Not to mention she loves the food I’m giving her! I have seen a big difference in her already.  Thank You So Much for giving my dog back to me!"

"I am elated! I have seen my precious little dog, Hana, go from being consistently ill to wonderfully healthy in a matter of under three months."
 
"I am so excited!! She absolutely loves the raw veggies and meat and the supplements in coconut water! I would recommend this program to anyone and will continue on a maintenance program so that she will remain well."
 
"I'm pleasantly surprised. I never thought Lexi would be eating regularly and eating veggies and fruit.  I found your website and gave it a try. Wow. I'm a believer. Very,very pleased with the results."
 
"He had no energy and no quality of life . He got sicker with every vaccine and preventives . Then we started him on these supplements and the raw diet , got him off all commercial food and all preventives and meds . He loves eating now and has so much energy . It's night and day . I am so very grateful that I found you and these amazing quality supplements . They have changed Stewie's life !!"
 
"Dot and I want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for what you did for our Molly. The program you put Molly on has did wonders for her, she runs and plays like never before."
 
"Perhaps you might be a bit skeptical-- that is understandable. For your dog's sake, take a leap of faith and give them a call."
 
"The change in Charlie really has been amazing - there's no other word. He is perkier, has more energy, and is hungry most of the time. I worried for a long time about his apathy around food but that is no more. He wants to eat! My husband and I are thrilled with his improvement. We plan to keep him on his current regimen for the rest of his life."

"Sequioa is doing amazing on her new diet.  She is responding as you said she would, constantly wanting to eat.  Prior to this diet she never enjoyed eating.  It's incredible to see her really enjoying herself and running around with a whole new energy level."

"Although it requires some dedication, it's worth it, as we are seeing improvements: only two seizures since he started and he is gaining some body weight after years of barely eating!"
 
"Pearl was going downhill fast and vomiting almost every meal. Now after 14 days on this approach, Pearl is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT dog. The lethargy is gone—zero vomiting. She is not drinking water at the rate she was, which before was constant. Her eyes are now bright and alert. She plays, runs, and jumps. I am sure she has gained weight—I can no longer feel her ribs! Yay! The biggest change is her eagerness to eat now. She actually barks for her food, jumps counter height and dances in circles."
 
“Thanks again for the help.  We are already seeing changes in her well being in just a few short days.  She hated eating the old food and would skip days throughout the week.  Basically, eating once a day.  Now that is all gone and her mood is completely different.”

"I think we have turned a major corner with Chloe and I wanted to share the news.
About a week and a half ago her appetite kicked up a big notch.  She ate with no problem and wanted more food. (Previously, she wouldn't eat much). This was so surprising and encouraging!  Her weight has been steady at 11.2 to 11.4 pounds.
Her energy level has increased also and her poop is nicely formed and looks great."

"She enjoys her food so much!  We don't have to hold her bowl while she eats any longer either!  I can actually walk around the kitchen island or out of the room, come back. and her little bowl is licked clean."

“Her appetite was next to nothing, maybe one partial meal per day on the Hill’s and she couldn't seem to keep anything down. She would vomit after meals and at night when fasting. Well, since we have been slowly replacing the dry food she loves to eat, twice a day, and gets her healthy snacks also. She has not had any vomiting for the past 4 days now.  She is full of energy, seems a little leaner, but is really responding to the diet and the supplements. Thank you so much for the direction. It was looking pretty hopeless for our baby but this is very encouraging.”

"Violet is doing unbelievably well on this diet. I am SO shocked that she is eating raw veggies and loving them. YOU ARE A LIFESAVER! I have never seen her this excited about a bowl of food. We are excited to continue to heal."

"We're just about two weeks into Eddie's new diet and supplement plan and I just wanted to drop you a note to say what a wonderful change we are seeing in her!  She absolutely loves the diet. She anxiously awaits by my foot the minute I start prepping on the counter."

"I want to thank you for all your help with Zeus. He has made an amazing recovery. Couldn't have done it without you. He is so happy and playful. He is 6 months old now and weighs 30 lbs. His fur is really soft. When I tell my story to people and show them before and after videos of him, they are so intrigued and are in awe of the what a difference using your method has done for him. They just can't believe that he is actually eating fruits and vegetables and loving it. He gets so excited when we are preparing his food for him, we can barely get his food bowl on the ground before he starts to devour it. Zeus loves his food so much. We have caught him trying to steal them out of the grocery bag before we can get them unloaded. At Christmas grandma wrapped up a box of pears for him. He unwrapped it himself and dove inside the box coming up with a half eaten pear in his mouth. He has brought so much joy to all of us and all because of you!!! Thank you so much!!"

"Jasmine loves her home-cooked meals and is excited when we fix her food. I ask her if she is hungry and she speaks every time.  We call her a “mini vac” because if she gets anything on her mat below her food stand, it’s gets cleaned by her.  I even have a bib for her because she is so excited to eat that she sometimes gets food in her white mane and on her ears."

"Abby’s eating with excitement and has a good appetite. She loves to “help” with the food prep and bounces all the way to her dish at meal time.  We can’t thank you enough for helping us turn this situation around."

"I cannot express enough how grateful I am for Rick and his approach! My little Chihuahua Violet was experiencing hepatic encephalopathy and i honestly believed she was going to leave this world. Within 4 days of his diet approach and supplements she was a completely different dog. She has always been a picky eater...but, now is eating with such excitement. I love preparing her food because I know how much she loves it. She literally healed from the inside out. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!!!!!!!"

"She is feeling great, her appetite is excellent and her energy is good. She is now eating fruits and nut butter that she wouldn't touch before! I’m still surprised. . . it took a long time, but it finally happened, just like you said." 

"My dog Happy is at the end of his 4th week. He loves his food more then ever.  I finally got him to eat some blueberries yesterday. Everything seems to be going well for him.  He is always excited for his food.  Before I had to entice him to eat."

"We are now in the 4 week mark.  Everything seems to be going good on this end.  Mattie absolutely loves her new meals."

The first step in my process is for you to request a Free Consultation Click here
 
Your dog deserves a healthier, happier life!