Dear The Honest Kitchen
Maggie my Wire Fox Terrier is a retired show dog. She left the show circuit before attaining her AKC championship as she could not tolerate the severe itching and multiple small crusty pus filled lesions which plagued her skin. Over the course of the past three years I have made routine trips to the vet which included complex clinical assessments, dietary changes and expensive medical treatments with less than satisfactory results. Maggie was diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis. After several courses of prednisone, clavamox and medicated shampoos, and several prescription dog foods my vet decided to place her on Atopica (Cyclosporin) an immune suppressant. The induction phase took 4 weeks of daily medication at the cost of $250.00. Drug side effects included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.
After switching her to a maintenance dose of 50 mg 3 x per week many of the drug induced side effects resolved. Her crusty lesions cleared and I had thought I had found the cure. However I observed that she continued to be tired. She no longer wanted to run and play but became easily agitated and started nipping at me whenever I took her in and out of her crate. Her behavior continued to deteriorate to the point that I even considered euthanasia. How could I live with a snapping Tasmanian devil? After considerable re-evaluation of her diagnosis and medication regimen I chose to take her off all medications, throw out the prescription dog food, medicated shampoos and start from scratch. Things just couldn’t get any worse. I have always believed that optimum nutrition was the foundation for health and wellness. I remember the tears running down my face as I desperately searched the internet for a dog food that would provide wholesome nutrition without all the useless fillers seen today in commercial preparations. I started reading articles on the benefits of a raw diet. It made alot of sense to me as I continued to do extensive research. I made alot of calls to other breeders and to professional dog handlers to gain further insight on a raw diet. In early December 2007 The Honest Kitchen website popped up and I took time reviewing each of your products nutritional labels. I decided to order a 4 lb bag of Embark. When it arrived I crossed my fingers and scooped up a half cup of Embark and placed it in a half cup of warm water. It smelled great and the carrots, sesame seeds and turkey were re hydrating before my eyes. I put her bowl down and she gobbled it up - licking and pushing the bowl across the floor. Within one week I began to notice that she appeared happier, more calm and just a little less itchy. Within 4 weeks Maggie no longer scratched her belly, ears or face. Hot spots on her back and neck cleared. There were no crusty lesions to be found on her skin. I could pet her without her going into a spastic,agitated state of being. Maggie started giving me dog kisses every morning as I woke her up to take her outside. Her ears are no longer swollen and red. Her eyes are bright and sparkly. Maggie is loving life! Thank you for saving her.
Kind Regards,
Patty R.
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