Just a few short weeks ago, I was in tears. Chance, my beloved canine baby looked like he was at death’s door.
One morning, I woke up and Chance was not his normal self. He was listless, had zero energy, wasn’t moving, eating or drinking. Whenever I tried to give him water or food, he’d fall over. He was so weak! He also developed a bad sore near his tail. He kept tugging at his fur to the point where it became an open wound. I was so worried he’d get an infection on top of being so weak and listless.
I’ve had Chance ever since he was a few weeks old. This October, he will be thirteen years old.
I know that Chance is getting up there in age and I know that death is part of the circle of life and that it’s inevitable. I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye. I wasn’t emotionally prepared. Then again, are we ever emotionally prepared to say goodbye to a loved one?
Chance has been part of our family for so many years and he is Little One’s “protector”. He is such a good boy and a sweet, sweet dog.
If you recall a few weeks ago, I started Cupcake on Chance on a new diet. We took part in the Mixed Feeding Program and a remarkable thing happened.
How Changing my Dog’s Diet Improved His Energy
I’m not sure as to whether it was the fact that we had taken Chance to the groomer’s and she gave him a Summer grooming (he got his annual shaving) or whether it was the new mixed feeding we’ve been doing with the dogs, but Chance did a complete turn-around. Perhaps it was a combination of both? Or maybe Chance had a bug and enough time elapsed and he was back to his normal self? Who knows? I’m just thankful that he bounced back!
My husband and I were shocked. We weren’t anticipating the drastic change in Chance (for the better)! Check out the infographic below for some of the benefits of mixed feeding for your pets.
I’m actually convinced that Chance’s renewed energy is due to changing his diet (and getting rid of his thick coat). If you see him, he looks and acts like a completely different dog! He is like a puppy again!
Both Cupcake and Chance really love the dry dog food and wet dog food mixed together. It’s hard to tell how much of a change it’s had on Cupcake. She’s a young pup (8 months old) and has lots of energy to begin with. I did notice that her coat has a lovely sheen though. The changes are more apparent in Chance. I’m not sure if that’s because he is an older dog, but changing his diet seems to have given him more “OOMPH!”
One of our friends pulled up to our house and was surprised to see Chance in the lane to greet him. He said, “When did you get the new dog?”
I thought he was kidding, but he really didn’t recognize Chance with his new haircut and extra bounce in his step! He thought we had gotten a new dog! A Schnauzer!
I’m excited about the changes in our dogs’ with the mixed feeding program. We’ll definitely be continuing this new diet with our dogs. If you haven’t already checked it out, visit www.petmixedfeeding.ca for more information on feeding your pet a mixed diet.
For the record, I am not making any claims that mixed feeding is what gave Chance his renewed energy and the pep back into his spirit, but it certainly has played a vital role in improving his well-being! It’s incredible how he bounced back. We thought he wasn’t going to survive, and all of a sudden he was back!
We are so thrilled with how much a change mixed feeding has made on the health of our dogs, that we’d love to share this with our Life on Manitoulin readers!
Giveaway
We have an amazing giveaway for one lucky Canadian reader. We will be giving away a $100 prize pack containing treats, toys, and wet and dry food from Pedigree to get your dog started on a mixed feeding routine for two weeks!
Please enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to residents of Canada only. Ends August 31, 2015.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure – This is a sponsored post, however all thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.
i like that its good for their oral health
I like how dry food in that it can be left out all day
I learned wet food hasless calories than dry, I did not know that!
I like that Wet food is closer in texture to the food that dogs or cats would naturally choose. and that Chewing the crunchy kibble helps support oral care health
I learned that it’s ok to alternate wet and dry food every other day for variety. I am also going to try mixing the wet with dry for a new texture treat for my pet.
A great benefit of mixed feeding is that the wet food encourages water intake. I am happy to discover that the high moisture content in wet food supports the urinary tract health.
Wet food contains less calories than dry per 100 grams.
I like the benefit of the dry food in that it can be left out all day.
I did not realize that wet food has less calories per gram than dry.
I like that the dry food helps support oral care health as they chew it. I also like that wet food is closer in texture to the food that dogs or cats would naturally choose and I know Teak is excited every day for his wet food.
I didn’t realize that wet food is less calories gram for gram. I might have thought the opposite.
I didn’t know it would be better for my dogs than a quality dry kibble.
I like that it promotes better oral care
it promotes better oral care
Wet foods deliver a variety of tastes and textures. I like my pets to have an eating experience.
Dry food supports oral health and wet food contains less calories per gram than dry food. thanks
Wet food encourages water intake? I didn’t know that. Neat.
that..wet food contains less calories per gram than dry food.
I like that dry food is good for their teeth.
I like that the dry supports oral health.
I love dry food because it helps with my dog Sugar’s teeth
I like that the dry food, helps with the cleaning of the teeth
I like the benefits for both soft and dry food. The fact that Chewing the crunchy kibble helps support oral care health is my favourite though!
I like dry food is a concentrated source of nutrition and energy
I like the dry food because it helps with her teeth.
dry dog food supports oral health
I like the fact that wet food has less calories per gram than dry, which is important for me, my pooch has been on a steady incline with weight and we were advised to help him loose a couple.
I love dry food because it helps with his teeth.
I like that the dogs can have different tastes and textures using mixed feeding. More variety!
Wet food contains less calories per gram than dry food.
i like that the dry food helps oral care. i struggle to brush his teeth.
I did not realize there was a benefit to mixed feeding. I will be doing it now. I’m so glad Chance is feeling better.
It helps with their water intake!
mixing the dry and wet together. never thought of it.
Found it interesting that mixing wet and dry food has good health benefits for our pets 🙂
Wet foods deliver a variety of tastes and textures 🙂
i like the fact it adds variety to their diet
It’s good for dogs oral care
It’s good for dogs oral care. It just makes my “girls” happy!
I like that the dry dog food supports oral health and the wet is easier to chew.T
wet food increases water intake i did not know that
I learned that wet food increases their water intake.
I learned that mixing the wet and dry helps my dogs water intake.
I learned it helps their water intake.
I really like that wet food will increase water intake. I am always worried poncho does not drink enough
like that wet food increases water intake
we feed our dogs just dry food – but i like the thought of mixing in wet food – i think it would improve the taste and texture and make it more enjoyable – it would also make the food more moist and easier on their teeth
I like that by mixing it up I would be getting health benefits for my dogs from both wet and dry food.
I learned that mixing the wet and dry helps my dogs water intake
I like that Wet food contains less calories per gram than dry food, I had no idea
I like that wet food increases water intake and dry food supports oral health
I like that a mixed diet gives both the benefits of chewing the crunchy kibble helps support oral care health and wet foods deliver a variety of tastes and textures
I learned that wet food contains less calories
My favorite benefit is Wet food encourages water intake. High moisture content helps support a healthy urinary tract especially in cats and small dogs.
Dry food is a concentrated source of nutrition and energy
I like the health benefits and the more energy ,
I learned that mixing dry and wet food helps their teeth, while helping to maintain their weight.
I like that it helps to increase water intake, which seems to be an issue we have with our small dog.
I like the idea of mixing wet and dry food
Mixing we and dry food has good health benefits for my pet.
I love the fact that adding the wet food to the diet contributes to a higher water intake. Especially in the summer, extra water intake is great. I like that this supports a healthy urinary tract as well.
I think mixing wet food and dry food to help my pets water intake would be the best benefit. Especially during the summer months
WOW thanks for that handsome prize 😉
Supports oral health and the wet food contains less calories
The soft texture of wet food is easier for my senior beagle to chew and also has less calories, he is less active so needs less calories.
I didn’t know that wet food encouraged water intake. I just thought it had a higher water content which just provided more water.
I like that the dry supports oral health and the wet is easier to chew.This is the top benefits for my. My dog has trouble eating kibble, but I do still give her some to help clean her teeth.
I learned that it promotes and supports a healthy urinary tract!
Id like to try and see ifvmixed feedi g helped my dogs eneegy levels and helped make his skin healthier
It promotes and supports a healthy urinary tract! maybe it’ll help her fart less 😛
Its better for the overall balance, I always mix the food, my dog get wet and dry. thanks for the chance to win, my dog would be so happy. 🙂
I like how it can be left out all day without the risk of it drying out, that’s important to me
PEDIGREE® MEATY LOAF with Real Chicken would be great for my dog
How much it improves their energy!! NICE!
The whiskas!!