Mochi is another year older. Time flies! Mochi is doing well and there hasn't been much to post. I mostly Instagram pics so follow me if you are interested.
Mochi has switched from Origen kibble to a raw food diet from Bold Raw https://boldraw.com. We've been incrementally improving the food (and treats) that Mochi has been eating as we continue to become more knowledgeable about dogs. Visit Dr. Karen Becker's site to see the ranking of the food you feed your dog. Balanced raw is at or near the top and dry dog food is near the middle to bottom. We also like the single ingredient dried treats, ie. liver, hearts, lung, tendon, sardines, etc.
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/11/08/best-to-worst-pet-food-types.aspx
While feeding raw, we also switched Mochi to two feedings a day from three. She still feels that she should get a third meal :) So far, Mochi should lose a pound to get her back to her ideal weight of 12 lbs. We are adjusting her beef intake since the beef variety of Bold Raw has a much higher calorie count than Turkey. I think this is the reason she's been gaining weight.
You may ask, what has been the difference now that Mochi has switched to eating raw?
1) She loves the raw food. In the past, she didn't like to eat the kibble and we would often add a meal mixer or something to make the food more attractive. With Origin, she was ok, as long as we weren't over-feeding. Now with the raw food, she would devour it in 30 seconds. No problems. No need to add anything and no need to mix any water into the kibble.
2) poop is a bit less. We find the poop is smaller so the volume is less. Also, less soft stool so far.
3) That's about it, skin and hair are still silky soft.
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Another flea and tick free year. We didn't use any flea treatment this year and we didn't have any problems. We just used a home-made Apple Cider Vinegar spray, not sure if it did anything. But we were ready to just bathe her if we had a problem rather than apply any chemicals.
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Annual vet check-up complete
Mochi visited the vet for her annual check-up. We do an annual blood and urine test and she is generally fine. Looks like her protein levels are higher than normal and that's probably because of the raw diet and/her dehydration at time of her test. Fecal test was also negative for parasites.
I am peeved about Mochi's urine test. They "needled" her for urine without first consulting me. I could have collected urine as I did last year, but no, they had to use a needle and charge me. Make sure you tell your vet, don't do anything without permission.
