So sorry to hear about Lulu. It sounds like you have a good vet.

I'm always thinking about changing my dogs food, but then I think, if they are doing good and have no problems, leave it alone!

I hope everything will be okay!

Best of luck! Someone I know through a dog rescue feeds raw to all their dogs except one who gets Dr Dodds liver diet. It is a lot of potato and fish right? For her it has worked great for their dog so I hope it works out for you as well. She didn't want to use any processed kibble and got a lot of push back from her vet for not going onto the prescription diet but doing that instead- I am glad you have a supportive vet. Keep us updated! Is the cleanse diet different from the long term one? I know this woman had been feeding a Dodds liver diet for about 2 years now.

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We blog about our adventures too

I am sorry to hear that Lulu is sick and I hope that she will get better soon with this treatment. ZP doesn't suit all dogs - Charlie doesn't do well on straight ZP. It is so low residue that he began to have terrible anal gland issues when I switched him to just ZP. Now he eats Half ZP and half kibble and no more anal gland issues.

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Thanks, Annie! You're right it is 2 cups of a whitefish like pollack or cod, and it calls for 1 1/2 cup white potato and 1 1/2 cup sweet potato but my vet prefers all sweet potato for allergy purposes. It also includes 1 1/2 cups zucchini, 1 1/2 cups summer squash, 1 1/2 cups carrots or celery. You are also supposed to give infant vitamins. At the moment she's only to be on the diet for two weeks and then we recheck. If her numbers are good I'm not sure if the vet would want her to stay on that diet or not, but I am going to cut down on the amount of protein in her food if I change it.

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"Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished."Dean Koontz

That is very interesting Terri. You know, Lulu has had anal gland trouble two times since on ZP, but I didn't think anything about it being the food. I would like to know what kibble you feed.

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"Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished."Dean Koontz

Hmm, interesting ... a friend of mine feeds 50/50 raw & ZP. Last week the dog had an infected/compacted anal gland that looked like a pimple to start with, but it burst. straight to the Vet, on 2 x anti-biotics and he's getting better. I wonder .....

Mine are on 50/50 raw & ZP but they get a lot of bone, which my friend's do not, and I've not had any a/gland issues with mine luckily. I can't tell how often my 4 poop, but I'd say at least twice, if not 3 times a day.

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Diet definitely has an impact on glands. I work in grooming and we can usually tell who eats better and who gets a lot of junk or people food.

Also, some dogs need them emptied more often and some can do it themselves. On a good diet my chi does it himself. I never get anything out. My lab can also, no matter what she eats, but my friend's pug needs it done every two weeks and he eats TOTW like Douglas does.

So sorry to see what you are dealing with! I sure hope this diet helps and you see improvement at the next testing.

You are awesome for being so diligent to follow up, research and commit to trying so many things to help her.

My boy never once had glands expressed and I hope that the girls do not need to either. Our holistic Vet shook her head no after having checked all of the girls when I told her that I never even knew about it with Mick and wondered if it was something I should just plan/assume that the girls would need done. Hope not. Honestly, for all I have read it seems like something that once done almost consistently needs doing.

Sure cannot wait to hear of Lulu's progress!

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