BalanceIT supplements?

vball91

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So I've been having an email conversation with my current (possibly former) vet about raw feeding. Her stance is strictly AVMA - not recommended due to pathogen concerns and nutritional deficiencies, etc. She did however recommend petdiets.com which is a veterinary nutritional services site. They offer homecooked recipes for pets. The sample recipe I found contained both rice and a veggie mix. I saw nothing to suggest whether it was for dogs, cats or both. Not happening in any case.

The other thing she claimed which I found interesting is that Wysong's Call of the Wild was not formulated for cats and not a product she would trust. I asked her why but haven't heard back yet. She also said she and her associate vet had noticed a higher incidence of urinary tract problems in cats fed Wysong diets. Odd, right? Do vets hate Wysong for some reason? She recommended BalanceIT supplements instead. Looking at the ingredient list, I don't see why it's better than COTW? I've also asked her that as well. Anybody have any experience with BalanceIT supplements?

I would like to find a vet who is supportive and somewhat knowledgeable about raw feeding. I would like to take Aria in for a check-up in about 6 months and make sure everything is okay and get a dental cleaning done at the same time. Would you give up on this vet?

I did find a holistic vet who is ok with raw feeding and would be willing to work with me, but she's not full service, so no anesthesia services are offered. I would like to do the dental cleaning at the same time asthe  check-up to save Aria unnecessary trips to the vet since she hates them so. The holistic vet is also about 10 minutes further away (and yes, when you have a cat in the car who sounds like she's being tortured, an extra 10 minutes matter).

Advice? What would you do in my situation?
 

harleydiva

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So I've been having an email conversation with my current (possibly former) vet about raw feeding. Her stance is strictly AVMA - not recommended due to pathogen concerns and nutritional deficiencies, etc. She did however recommend petdiets.com which is a veterinary nutritional services site. They offer homecooked recipes for pets. The sample recipe I found contained both rice and a veggie mix. I saw nothing to suggest whether it was for dogs, cats or both. Not happening in any case.

The other thing she claimed which I found interesting is that Wysong's Call of the Wild was not formulated for cats and not a product she would trust. I asked her why but haven't heard back yet. She also said she and her associate vet had noticed a higher incidence of urinary tract problems in cats fed Wysong diets. Odd, right? Do vets hate Wysong for some reason? She recommended BalanceIT supplements instead. Looking at the ingredient list, I don't see why it's better than COTW? I've also asked her that as well. Anybody have any experience with BalanceIT supplements?

I would like to find a vet who is supportive and somewhat knowledgeable about raw feeding. I would like to take Aria in for a check-up in about 6 months and make sure everything is okay and get a dental cleaning done at the same time. Would you give up on this vet?

I did find a holistic vet who is ok with raw feeding and would be willing to work with me, but she's not full service, so no anesthesia services are offered. I would like to do the dental cleaning at the same time asthe  check-up to save Aria unnecessary trips to the vet since she hates them so. The holistic vet is also about 10 minutes further away (and yes, when you have a cat in the car who sounds like she's being tortured, an extra 10 minutes matter).

Advice? What would you do in my situation?
Are you sure she will need teeth cleaning in 6 months?  Are her teeth bad now?  With the raw diet, perhaps she won't need teeth cleaned??

I guess I would lean toward the holistic vet, who supports the raw diet and will work with you without trying to get you to feed something you are pretty sure is not good for your cat.  I wish I could find a holistic vet around here......  I like a couple of the vets at the clinic we go to.....but I don't mention the raw diet because I know they will not be supportive.

I cant help with the Wysong issue.....I have never used it.....currently using Alnutrin.
 
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vball91

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I guess I would lean toward the holistic vet, who supports the raw diet and will work with you without trying to get you to feed something you are pretty sure is not good for your cat.  I wish I could find a holistic vet around here......  I like a couple of the vets at the clinic we go to.....but I don't mention the raw diet because I know they will not be supportive.
I don't want to have to hide the raw feeding. I've also heard that bloodwork is a little different for raw fed cats (not abnormal but different). I would like a vet to be knowledgeable about what to expect. Is that asking too much from a vet? I guess I could go to the holistic vet for everything else and someone different for dental cleaning if I have to.
Originally Posted by HarleyDiva  

Are you sure she will need teeth cleaning in 6 months?  Are her teeth bad now?  With the raw diet, perhaps she won't need teeth cleaned??
Well, in December when Aria was sick, she did get an exam that showed moderate gingivitis, so I had planned on taking her in for a cleaning when she was better. And even though she's on raw, she's mostly on ground raw right now because that's what she prefers. I'm hoping to transition her to PMR and hopefully bone-in meals one day, but right now I can't count on that for any dental benefit.
 

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Wysong Call of the wild is good for both cats and dogs. I fed Hope chunks of meat balanced exclusively with it for a long while; close to a year, and it was wonderful for her. In fact, her digestion was better on it than now on boneless frankerprey.
I am fortunate to have a very supportive vet, who works with me- he has seen first hand the life-changing benefits raw has brought to my cats' lives.
While I would not hide feeding raw, I would not go to a vet who is against either. Diet is a huge part of my pets' lives, and if I can't discuss that fully with a vet who support and understands the diet, I would look for another one. To me that is very important, and I think it can make a big difference when they get sick. For example, my vet has the understanding of raw diet not being evil, and doesn't blame the diet when they are sick, prompting him to a more through diagnosis. A vet who is against raw might stop right there and in the end who suffers is the cat. I am not ok with that risk.
 
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vball91

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Carolina, I agree with you. I would love that relationship with a vet. I guess my best option right now is to get the dental done and then switch to the holistic vet.
 

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Maybe the holistic vet can give you advice? Maybe there is another vet that they refer to for dentals?

Good luck, I can appreciate your frustration. "Don't feed raw food to pets" is being hammered down my throat in nursing school. Drives me nuts.
 
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vball91

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I just don't want to be made to feel like a criminal or bad pet parent every time I go to the vet, you know? Or have every illness blamed on feeding raw. I really wish more vets were more knowledgeable about feline nutrition.
 

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No kidding. :rolleyes:

Does the holistic vet refer people to someone for diagnostics and imaging?

Honestly, I'd rather drive the 10 minutes with a completely freaking out cat than continue seeing the other vet. But maybe the holistic vet can refer you to someone that's more... compatible for dentals &etc.?
 
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vball91

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The holistic vet does refer to specialists or to a nearby animal hospital for all anesthesia and imaging work. She only provides annual exams, vaccines, lab work, drugs and alternative/holistic treatments through her practice. I just didn't want to have to drive Aria to multiple places all the time. When Aria was sick in December, I picked this current vet because they are a feline only hospital. I really liked the fact that they were able to take x-rays right away to rule out some obvious things. I'm not entirely happy with the thought of going to the holistic vet if Aria is sick and then being told I need to go someplace else for x-rays and then possibly back to the holistic vet, just for a diagnosis.

I think I need to do some more searching for another holistic vet that's full service or a more traditional vet that is more accepting of raw.
 

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Maybe light sedation before going for dentals, x-rays, etc? If she's gonna panic either way, I'd rather have the two vets option than the single vet.
 

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I'm not entirely happy with the thought of going to the holistic vet if Aria is sick and then being told I need to go someplace else for x-rays and then possibly back to the holistic vet, just for a diagnosis.
Yeah, that's a good point. It is convenient to have the vet be able to take the cat for a quick x-ray if needed. For anything else, it means another appointment anyway, even for the full-service vets though.
 
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vball91

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Maybe light sedation before going for dentals, x-rays, etc? If she's gonna panic either way, I'd rather have the two vets option than the single vet.
Those are good points to consider. Thanks.
 
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vball91

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Yeah, that's a good point. It is convenient to have the vet be able to take the cat for a quick x-ray if needed. For anything else, it means another appointment anyway, even for the full-service vets though.
True. Maybe I'm overthinking this as usual. I just need to find a good vet who supports or at least is knowledgeable about raw feeding, right?
 

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True. Maybe I'm overthinking this as usual. I just need to find a good vet who supports or at least is knowledgeable about raw feeding, right?
Or just a very good vet who doesn't think raw is evil. The rest you get here at TCS ;)

Frankly, I think most of what my vet knows about raw came from me and the experience he had from my cats. The start was - raw is not evil - let's give that a try.
From the start I shared the most amount of information I could with him - I educated my vet. I made sure to take my cats to wellness visits - every 6 months. Especially Bugsy. I wanted him to see first hand what raw did for him (I don't know if you know Bugsy's story, but he had a MAJOR turn around with raw).
I worked very closely with my vet.... He has copies of my menus, what I feed, what I use for hairballs, what works and what doesn't......
Keep in mind that we can help a LOT in turning the vets our way - by example - but we need to be there.
We need to show them how great raw is.

After my vet saw the result with my cats, he has been talking a lot with his peers - and his peers are sharing results with him too.
Our experiences are powerful, don't shy away, don't be afraid, and don't EVER feel like you are in the wrong - educate by example.
One day I have faith the vets themselves with turn this thing with the AVMA - only THEM can do it, but WE need to do our part - We can do it through them :nod:
 
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vball91

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Or just a very good vet who doesn't think raw is evil. The rest you get here at TCS


Frankly, I think most of what my vet knows about raw came from me and the experience he had from my cats. The start was - raw is not evil - let's give that a try.
From the start I shared the most amount of information I could with him - I educated my vet. I made sure to take my cats to wellness visits - every 6 months. Especially Bugsy. I wanted him to see first hand what raw did for him (I don't know if you know Bugsy's story, but he had a MAJOR turn around with raw).
I worked very closely with my vet.... He has copies of my menus, what I feed, what I use for hairballs, what works and what doesn't......
Keep in mind that we can help a LOT in turning the vets our way - by example - but we need to be there.
We need to show them how great raw is.

After my vet saw the result with my cats, he has been talking a lot with his peers - and his peers are sharing results with him too.
Our experiences are powerful, don't shy away, don't be afraid, and don't EVER feel like you are in the wrong - educate by example.
One day I have faith the vets themselves with turn this thing with the AVMA - only THEM can do it, but WE need to do our part - We can do it through them
Carolina, that is a very empowering way to view it. I really had not considered it from that viewpoint at all. I am familiar with Bugsy's story. It is definitely a testament to how beneficial raw feeding can be. I will try to be more positive and educational in my approach. I am becoming more confident in my ability to explain and justify raw feeding. It's just hard when 95% of the people I know seem to have an automatic horrified reaction upon learning that I feed raw. I'm not generally someone who cares much what others think, but I feel a little defensive on this issue, especially with the vet.
 

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That is an excellent point, Carolina! When I took my cats in January for their wellness appt and shots, the vet was very impressed at my cats health and asked what I was feeding them. I told him that I fed them raw and was teady to defend my ways...but instead he responded with an enthusiastic "nice!" I was surprised. He further surprised me by calling other vet techs into the room to "look at what raw feeding does for a cat's eyes and coats" as they oohed and aahed over them. So somehow he got some initiative to learn about raw before I met him. Maybe a raw feeder converted him!
 

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Carolina, that is a very empowering way to view it. I really had not considered it from that viewpoint at all. I am familiar with Bugsy's story. It is definitely a testament to how beneficial raw feeding can be. I will try to be more positive and educational in my approach. I am becoming more confident in my ability to explain and justify raw feeding. It's just hard when 95% of the people I know seem to have an automatic horrified reaction upon learning that I feed raw. I'm not generally someone who cares much what others think, but I feel a little defensive on this issue, especially with the vet.
When people have that reaction, I just ask, "Do farmers call poison control when a barn cat eats a mouse?" ;)

It's hard not to be defensive, especially with a vet. But as Carolina says, perhaps just finding one that isn't anti-raw is sufficient. We work with three vets at different practices. One was leery because of nutritional deficiency potential; one didn't know much about it, but wasn't anti-raw; the third is the holistic vet that suggested we feed raw. :lol3:

The one who didn't know much about it has asked for resources after seeing most of our cats over the past year. She's got a page of websites now (that I put together for her), that she can just photocopy and give to people. With one IBD kitty, they tried all kinds of things, and she said she didn't actually "recommend" a raw diet, but suggested to the kitty's mom that she look into it. Apparently she's using NV, but kitty is doing awesome. I had to take Flowerbelle to the vet today (URI), and our regular vet is on vacation. It's a practice with five vets. The one I saw said, "you're feeding raw, right?" and was ooing and awing at Flowerbelle's coat and muscle tone. So the rest are obviously now curious. :lol3:
 
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vball91

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That is great to hear that vets can change their mind about raw feeding or at least be willing to learn. Thanks for sharing your experiences everyone. It makes me feel better. Being new to raw feeding, it's hard sometimes because I feel alone. Thanks as always for the support here!
 

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I'm excited....had to share.  There is a vet clinic just down the road from me....Center for Animal Health, in Edwardsburg, MI.  I drive by every day, but have gone to another clinic for several years.  The clinic I have gone too doesn't support raw feeding.  I just saw a facebook page for the close one and was looking through it.  I threw up a comment, asking if they had any doctors who were supportive of raw feeding.  Got a response today saying yes....and that they stock and recommend Nature's Variety raw products.  I don't want to go back to NV, but the fact that they recommend raw is pretty exciting!!!  I may have found a new vet....
 
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vball91

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Ooh, that is exciting! Bonus that it's close too. Let us know how it goes if you do go there. I'm so interested in vets these days. The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning against staying with my current vet. She did call Aria fractious and resistant which no other vet has done. Yeah, she doesn't like being handled by strangers, and she was sick at the time. Isn't it part of a vet's job to handle strange animals well?
 
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