My Anxious Shelties - Toby and Ginny - Updates on their Progress

Mally's Mom · Feb 6, 2012

OntarioSheltie said:
Hmm, just realized I might be able to save approx. $30/month if I buy a bigger bag of dog every 6 weeks instead of every 3 weeks. Sounds silly, but this is such a HUGE relief that it makes me feel like crying.

Going to the pet food store after work to see what my options are and to verify this savings. Every cent counts these days...

Note:

Do you have any feed, supply stores by you? We are able to get Mally's dog food much cheaper and our bird seed in bulk. (we have 3 cockatiels)

What about purchasing on line, would that be cheaper?

Just some thoughts......

OntarioSheltie · Feb 6, 2012

Its more expensive to buy online. The city I live in borders rural areas so there are a few feed stores in the area. I've never heard of them selling dog food at a discounted price.

Mally's Mom · Feb 6, 2012

OntarioSheltie said:
Its more expensive to buy online. The city I live in borders rural areas so there are a few feed stores in the area. I've never heard of them selling dog food at a discounted price.

Maybe you can call and see (feed store by you) if the food is cheaper, and if they have the brand/brands you need. (might be worth the trip?)

Our feed store out here is not fancy like Petsmart and Petco, they do a great business and have been there for years and selling at discount prices.

Hope these suggestions work for you.

Tagg · Feb 7, 2012

Melissa, does your pet store have the buy 10 get one free for your food? I was on Orijen but moved Phoebe over to Acana Pacifica as is is lower in protein. Her white coat was turning quite yellow from the higher protein levels. Rhiannon is on Go Natural as it is a high calorie food which she gets 2 cups of instead of 2 3/4 of her previous food. She is a difficult dog to keep in weight as her solution to stress is to not eat hence the need for caloric density. My daughter's dogs are on Blue Buffalo. All of the above mentioned dogs are doing really well on their foods. I can ask around and see what other foods people are feeding. As you know, Tinsel is on Purina Pro Plan Salmon & Rice since it seems a lot of the sheltie breeders here use it. Whether he stays on it remains to be seen but for now he is doing well on it.

take4roll10 · Feb 7, 2012

Melissa, what about reducing his Lactium dosage or cutting it out altogether, so he can stay on Reconcile?

danisgoat · Feb 7, 2012

I think that Taste of the Wild is relatively cheaper (at least in the states) to other higher quality grain free foods. Next time you are at your store....maybe check on the prices of the TOTW. My dogs are on it, and they do very well with it.

OntarioSheltie · Feb 7, 2012

Tagg said:
Melissa, does your pet store have the buy 10 get one free for your food? I was on Orijen but moved Phoebe over to Acana Pacifica as is is lower in protein. Her white coat was turning quite yellow from the higher protein levels. Rhiannon is on Go Natural as it is a high calorie food which she gets 2 cups of instead of 2 3/4 of her previous food. She is a difficult dog to keep in weight as her solution to stress is to not eat hence the need for caloric density. My daughter's dogs are on Blue Buffalo. All of the above mentioned dogs are doing really well on their foods. I can ask around and see what other foods people are feeding. As you know, Tinsel is on Purina Pro Plan Salmon & Rice since it seems a lot of the sheltie breeders here use it. Whether he stays on it remains to be seen but for now he is doing well on it.

I spent so much time dealing with digestive issues when Sadie was young and so much time monitoring their weights and slowly moving them to a rotating diet, not to mention the hours spent researching dog foods that its SO disappointing to think that after all that effort I have to switch dog foods because we can't afford it. Especially since they're doing better on Orijen than any other dog food.

It looks as though Acana is the only thing that I'm comfortable with switching them to and surprisingly seems to be the least expensive grain free alternative here.

Yes, the store I get their food from will give me every 12th bag for free.

take4roll10 said:
Melissa, what about reducing his Lactium dosage or cutting it out altogether, so he can stay on Reconcile?

I've tried cutting out the lactium, it makes him anxious. I had asked my vet to up his dose from 16mg of fluoxetine to 20mg of generic so at least i wouldn't have to buy two different things but she refused.

Right now when he's feeling anxious fromt he lower dose I think its really important that I keep giving it to him. I've considered adding L-theanine but thats another expense that I can't afford right now.

danisgoat said:
I think that Taste of the Wild is relatively cheaper (at least in the states) to other higher quality grain free foods. Next time you are at your store....maybe check on the prices of the TOTW. My dogs are on it, and they do very well with it.

TOTW was my other choice but its not cheaper here. I'm surprised but Acana appears to be the cheapest alternative that I'm comfortable with. I'm going to go back to the petstore on Thurs. and discuss my options though.

Tagg · Feb 7, 2012

Melissa: ask your pet food store why you have to buy 12 bags before getting the free one. I only have to buy 10 no matter where I shop. It is not the pet store that offers this, it's the manufacturer. I buy the 7kg bag from Ryan's which is has been bought out by Global. Last bag I bought was 2 weeks ago and they told me that my next one is free - that would be number 10. I get my Go Natural from Pet Valu - still 10 bags there too. GRRRR. I hate it when stores pull this one!

dawns2shelties · Feb 7, 2012

Melissa I haven't read all of this thread getting bits and pieces here and there because i haven't been on as much since my move so forgive me if I am asking something you have to repeat the answer to. Was he on brand name prozac and than switched to generic? I can tell you from my own experience they are different. They did not work the same for me. It usually took my body about 2 weeks of panic attacks to get used to the switch. Could this be the case with Toby?

As you may or may not know I am on disability due to an illness and don't have much money but if it means you keeping Toby, I could donate a few dollars a month. If 10 people were willing to give $10 monthly would that pay for his meds? or Have you asked the rescue if he could be a permanent foster and have them cover the meds? Just some suggestions. Also when I called Arcana for samples when Chandler wouldn't eat, they sent me 20 sample bags. As you said every little bit helps. Another thought maybe the rescue could organize a chip in where people could donate for his meds and they could get his meds to you when needed.

Moderators if we are not to mention donations to help members feel free to correct my post. I would just hate to see her have to give Toby up. We all know how much you love him hang in there.

OntarioSheltie · Feb 7, 2012

dawns2shelties said:
Melissa I haven't read all of this thread getting bits and pieces here and there because i haven't been on as much since my move so forgive me if I am asking something you have to repeat the answer to. Was he on brand name prozac and than switched to generic? I can tell you from my own experience they are different. They did not work the same for me. It usually took my body about 2 weeks of panic attacks to get used to the switch. Could this be the case with Toby?

As you may or may not know I am on disability due to an illness and don't have much money but if it means you keeping Toby, I could donate a few dollars a month. If 10 people were willing to give $10 monthly would that pay for his meds? or Have you asked the rescue if he could be a permanent foster and have them cover the meds? Just some suggestions. Also when I called Arcana for samples when Chandler wouldn't eat, they sent me 20 sample bags. As you said every little bit helps. Another thought maybe the rescue could organize a chip in where people could donate for his meds and they could get his meds to you when needed.

Moderators if we are not to mention donations to help members feel free to correct my post. I would just hate to see her have to give Toby up. We all know how much you love him hang in there.

I don't think that's the case with the generic prozac. For a month I alternated days between Reconcile and generic prozac. I'd think he would have already been used to it. In any case I've started alternating between the two again.

I've emailed the rescue about my situation with Toby but so far I haven't heard back from them. They're looking into whether or not they can help me in some way.

Thanks so much for your offer, its really thoughtful of you, especially since I know things have been though for you the past few months. But I'm not sure that I'd feel comfortable accepting donations.

Between dealing with my own health issues and Toby's and paying for both of our treatments that are not covered by drug plans, things have been really tough. I really don't know what I'm going to do, but I'll figure something out. I'll find some way to make the money.

I was trying to talk to my mother about Toby and was shocked when she said I should give him up. I'm really disappointed honestly expected to have her support.

I don't know what I'd do without all the support of my sheltie forums friends. But it saddens me a little that I have so much more support from a group of people that I've never met, than I do from my own family.