The NuVet Experiment
I had followed a discussion about the difference between NUPRO and NuVet here.
I am still opening a new topic on purpose, because I am planning on documenting a 6-month cycle of NuVet and the results - hoping this will help others.
After reading the other discussion and the critical clue that Steve has already tested BOTH products on his own dogs, I finally decided to follow Steve’s repeated recommendation for NuVet here and put this admittedly severely more pricey route to a 6-month test.
I had struggled with this decision, because Djamila’s diet is already high quality. Also we have been feeding NUPRO since she came to us and I was overall confident with the product. No major health problems so far.
However, I was not able to defeat certain smaller issues, like the browning of her nails, dry ear tips and some spots on her muzzle, for example.
As I suspect it’s all related to yeast overgrowth, which to me points at some kind of imbalance still prevailing in her body.
Nothing serious, but I kept asking myself, why do these spots persist when we do everything in our power to balance her nutrition?
So, this is my - admittedly harmless at this time - battle field.
Thus my biggest hope focusses on those little spots - and on getting rid of them.
We wanted to know and are still curios about how powerful NuVet really is, especially in comparison to NUPRO.
In order to give NuVet the chance of showing its true potential, I have ceased ALL of my other daily measures to fight the yeast externally. No more creams or sprays at the moment, no external ACV rubs or coconut oil.
We also skip the NUPRO now, of course.
She only gets her raw homemade food with ACV in it, homemade treats, a daily squeeze of salmon oil, some plain yogurt - and now her daily wafer of NuVet (which she loves!).
I bathe her twice a month with shampoo/conditioner, shower her feet - occasionally with Chlorhexidine - when she went on our grass to prevent itch and shower her just with clear water after she took a swim in the pool to wash away the chemicals.
The only ointment I still use daily is petroleum jelly to rub a hint into her ear tips. This is just to keep them from getting too dry (so she can’t shake them open).
I hope it is not premature to discuss the first results after only one month. But the fact that even my husband - who is usually less involved in the matter - pointed out some change yesterday, convinced me that it is time to share the results so far.
The most wonderful thing about the switch is that my “problem spots” indeed seem to be clearing up:
- The browned nails lighten up, the adherent brown film seems to be vanishing. It is not completely gone right now. And at first her hind feet even started to develop buildup when I ceased my measures. But now there is a noticeable difference in ALL of her paws. I am really curios, if we will get to the point of no discoloration.
- At the roots of her claws her skin was always a little discolored, too. That is completely gone. The skin is nice and pink.
- She never had the typical yeast “stinky feet”, but she often had a little buildup of debris between her toes, which I took control of by washing her feet frequently and keeping the space between toes dry. This debris has vanished.
- She had parts on her belly where skin folds tended to show some brownish “dirty” discoloration. Almost gone.
- She has one small dry spot on every tip of her ears, which I was never able to cure completely. These spots are disappearing at the moment and one is already barely noticeable.
- She did never have any problems with ear infections, but in one ear she always has a little more dark debris.
This debris in her ear is reducing.
- The spots on her muzzle also seem to reduce. She is sticking her nose into everything. So, I don’t expect this part to become really clean anytime soon. But I am happy the way it is right now.
So far I would call the results pretty interesting.
I hope that it is the correct conclusion to connect the improvements to the daily NuVet.
And I would be really glad to get to the point of “amazing” in a while 
What I can definitely already say is that NuVet indeed seems to be working different than NUPRO.
NUPRO and all of my other measures so far were not able to accomplish changes to the point I am experiencing right now.
NuVet seems to really come with a balanced and proper formula to give a healthy dog all of the nutrients, minerals, antioxidants etc. necessary to support its immune system, balance skin and digestion and overall health.
I will post more results - and hopefully good news - in about 4 weeks, if you guys like to follow the “experiment”.
P.S. Nope, NuVet is not paying me for writing this. I am not being paid for my review - I do not get the supplement for less or free
The manufacturer does not even know that I am writing this here.
Comments
So glad your beautiful bully is doing so well! That's awesome! Thank you for the ACV suggestion.
It's probably a lot easier for me to weigh in results from the NuVet due to seeing changes within many Bull Terriers vice zoning in on one particular dog. I too used to use Nupro Gold and I feel that it works well also but definitely does not have the ability to maintain a strong immune system the way NuVet does. I'm sure there are other supplements that also work well with strengthening the immune system but ever since I seen the direct results from NuVet I was hooked on the product. Costs me a fortune too because I use it with all my Bull Terriers. However, a healthy dog minimizes Vet visits and costly bills so I'm confident I'm saving money in the long run.
One of the nicest things about NuVet is the mere fact that they provide a 100% money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with their product. They have a lot of confidence in their product due to the test results they've conducted as well as many others. I wouldn't have hesitated to ask for my money back if it didn't show definitive results. However, the results were clear, quick, and impressive. With this said, I know I'll be sticking with NuVet for a good long time.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
Hi Steve,
Thank you for
sharing the NuVet reviews. I forwarded to my manager who
shared this with me that this is because NuVet Plus has food items in it (made
with real chicken liver) and exporting through customs has been challenging for
our small company. We are expecting to have more ability for UK and EU
this time next year or possibly sooner. I will let you know when there is a
change to the current situation.
Regards,
Stacy Perry
NuVet Labs
1800-474-7044 *201
www.nuvet.com
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
Chooba had been on Dog Bloom VM supreme and Bully / Gorilla Max
with a 4-5 star grain free food spiced with coconut oil for over 6 months
The only ongoing issue he's ever had was discoloration of his nails, and they were a pretty dark shade
I've tried some of the other remedies mentioned on here w/o much success
4 weeks in, swapping NuVet for the Dog Bloom and his nails have totally cleared up.
I'm sold
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
After using the NuVet product I was able to see visual results quickly. I also noticed their energy level and drive increase which was a plus. I could tell within my daily playing and exercise how well each Bullie was doing. After about 2 months of using NuVet I had a routine sperm count conducted on one of my studs and was told his count went up verses them saying it's still in the same high end good standing or saying it went down slightly which is normal due to increase in age. At the time I thought it was just luck to see the increase in sperm count because it didn't dawn on me that the supplement would help in fertility for both males and females. Anyhow, there's plenty of really good things about the product that are also hidden from visual improvements which is great too. All in all it's just a really good product and if it helps keep my bullies healthier in order to live longer, happier, and healthier it's well the investment.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
Yet, I have started to calm down with it a little, knowing my dog is on good nutrition and supplements.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
There's somebody else on this Forum who is testing out the results of iodine for stud tail. I'm excited to hear how that works as well. So far I've been hearing positive results.
In the event someone ever finds a remedy or cure that can completely rids the yeast buildup in the root of the nails I want to know about it because I still have a couple Bullies that no matter what I do I can't seem to get nice clear nails. How a couple of my other Bullies have no sign of it while they are all on the same diet and exercise baffles my mind.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
The only change in diet was moving from Acana's Singles (limited ingredient) line to Acana's Regionals line.
She cleared up completely as we got further into the coconut oil. When she ran out, she was briefly off the oil and I noticed her feet flaring up, so she has been on it consistently ever since and we have had no problems.
Now, dogs can react better to certain things. My dog did not do well on Taste of the Wild, but many dogs are fine. Some owners see better progression with Apple Cider Vinegar than with coconut oil, but I swear by it. My dog also reacts poorly to foods that contain fish as a main ingredient, though others have a diet consisting largely of fish. So I think it may just have to be trial and error. Which, with as many dogs as you have Steve, could be a pretty arduous task...
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
I've seen that in many BT photos so far, which makes me think that it could have something to do with the "use" of the paws. Djamila is using her paws for many things. Her nose also always has that "dirty" touch from playing ball and chewing rawhide.
The brown on the nails to me seems like it's "wandering". The nails are not completely covered - not even the front nails. The base is very dark and the color bleeds into an irregular and lighter brown over the nails. Some nails that once were brown have almost cleared in the meantime, then the brown returned. It varies a lot.
I am pretty sure that this IS a situation waiting to become a problem. But that does not mean it is inevitably going to happen.
I feel that I have it under control with regular cleaning and the supplements she gets.
After all, humans also have all kinds of problems with fungi and other microorganisms here and there. But that does not mean that they can’t be overall in good health.
Although I am pretty convinced that such things always concern the entire body - due to inner balance, GI system etc. - I am trying to calm down a little with trying to look into reasons and causes. Djamila has been on a very good nutrition and good care since we have her. So, I think there are things that are just not resolved that easily.
I'd probably be much more alerted, if Djamila would get "cheesy" feet (smelling and residue between the toes) in addition to the discoloration. But that is not the case. She is also not licking or biting her feet and her nails are strong and anything but brittle. So, I am ok with the situation as it is, because other than the color we don’t have any problems.
If NuVet would have been able to clear it, I'd probably have become the most engaged advocate of the product. But it never promised to clear brown nails, and I can't blame it for not doing so - was just hoping. Like Steve said, it seems not only to have a very great effect on the coat, but also on overall health. Still convinced of that, no “if’s and but’s”.
I've started to add a little Virgin Coconut Oil to Djamila's diet - not only for the nails but for overall health - and noticed her nails starting to lighten a little again. Was a little hesitant first feeding it, because of the high content of saturated fats (80%) in Coconut oil until I read some interesting reports describing that saturated fats do not have the same impact on a dog's health as they do have on humans.
I don’t think the Coconut oil will do the entire trick, either. But as I said I am also not that worried about the entire issue as much as I was in the past. Djamila is now roughly over 2 years old and during this entire time we’ve had not a single major health issue, nor skin or allergy problems. So I really can’t complain and still believe we’re on a good path. Seems like it’s just not possible to exclude EVERYTHING.
Attached a photo of one of her front paws today (the paw is wet, looks far more reddish than it is in reality). Btw. hubby thinks she's healthy as a birthday balloon. And he's right, some dogs with brown nails never have ANY problems.
wet 'cos she's a duck :-) )
I've been struggling with the light yesterday. The picture of Djamila's paw was taken right after she had left the pool and was completely wet. Her paws always look slightly more red then. Tried to take a picture this morning again. This one is the other paw I believe, but it shows much better what her paws really look like.
Also I hardly ever, ever see her lick or bite her feet, although we have a lot to do with ant bites, poison ivy and mosquitoes. PLUS she LOVES licking - us! Faces, hands, arms - so affectionate ... and sometimes a little yucky
Other than after washing I never catch her with wet paws - indicating she is licking - and we have cameras in the house. So I am pretty positive that she is not licking, at least not more than normal.
She indeed has some slightly reddish spots on her white fur in the neck. These are even visible when the coat is dry. This area is just impossible for her to reach for licking.
I think we're good with itches etc. That's the good part of it. She has always had one or the other spot since she was little. But none of them has ever become a problem so far. To me it seems like she is a little predisposed with such things, like some kids tend to get acne more than others. I just hope it stays that way. Then I can live with it.
I mention this because Djamila's feet look a lot like Quinn's before Quinn's got really bad. The hair on her feet is thin and it shouldn't be. When I got Quinn completely treated before (before her most recent flare up) her feet were nice and white (when they were clean of course) and they were completely covered in fur. I could not see her skin unless I ran my finger across her foot. You can see how much thicker Isabella's fur looks from Phil's pictures. My vet suggested that Quinn's hair loss can partially be attributed to all the licking she's doing (I know you say Djamila isn't licking, but in Quinn's case I catch her licking and correct her and I've also come home to wet spots on the couch where she sits *sigh*) but the hair loss is also partially due to the yeast infection and the skin irritation and dryness.
The main difference I see in Quinn and Djamila's feet however is that Quinn's nails are clear. She has the "frito feet," she has the brown dirt between her toes, she has the hair loss, but she does not have the brown toe nails like she has had in the past. Looking at Djamila's nails, it almost looks like the two outer nails have coloring on the actual outside of the nail, while the two inside nails have the brown on the inside or in the bed of the nail (yeasty brown).
I do think that Djamila is still fighting a yeast infection just from those two pictures. From all you've tried and from the very few things I've tried with Quinn, I'm not sure what your best course is. I know you are hesitant about coconut oil, but coconut oil was a huge player in bringing Quinn back to normal after her first very very bad yeast infection. Her second flare up was caused by me not maintaining her coconut oil. Now this current flare up was caused by a couple of environmental factors and me not treating it fast enough, but she is still on her coconut oil. I hope you can find some success with that.
I know you feed Djamila well, but have you ever considered trying to figure out if she could have some kind of allergy to her food? The spots you mentioned on her neck make me wonder.
Also... ha ha at closing this topic. :P
My personal plaque is my skin as well. Heck, I can get a sun burn in January so you can imagine what prolonged exposure to the sun in August will do to me. Over the years I've learned to simply limit direct exposure to the sun and wear plenty of sun block on my face. I get by just fine now and don't allow my fair skin to prevent me from doing the things I enjoy doing outdoors. I guess what I'm trying to say is, many people have the same problem I have but learned to accept that fact that genetics is to blame.
Bull Terriers (especially the white ones) are known to have sensitive skin and are prone to allergies. You can chase the problem for years in hopes of "solving" the problem by switching foods, providing supplements, ACV, coconut oil, etc. I'm confident the use of proper nutrition and supplements will definitely help minimize the effects of allergies and yeast problems. With some BT's it may even completely prevent the skin problems from surfacing. However, for others there will always be some sign of yeast or skin condition that just isn't perfect. It's hard to fight a genetic flaw. Sometimes it's just best to accept that the paws may never have a full thick appearance of pure white fur and the nails may never be solid white. All that really matters is that there are no health concerns and skin problems are minimized and controlled.
If you guys get the chance to go to an AKC Show get there early and hang out in the back room where all the dogs are kept and groomed. Watching a white bull terrier get all powered up, white paste put on all the calluses and rough marks, cholesterol rubbed all over for a nice soft feeling, chalked nose and muzzle, etc will amaze you. The transformation is something to witness. Seeing it first hand may provide you with a lot more confidence in your own Bullie knowing he or she is actually looking pretty darn good.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
"Haha" on finishing indeed
This time Steve’s comment is speaking right from my heart and is basically what I’ve been trying to imply, when I started closing this topic.
I’ve combed through the tons of photos I’ve taken of Djamila over 2 yrs. now and compared different stages to see, if there is any kind of pattern emerging.
But the bottom line is, no matter what I have tried: ACV, coconut oil, probiotics, disinfecting agents, keeping her and her bedding clean, feeding raw (different main ingredients) and different kibbles, adding supplements - the browning of her nails just comes and goes. Nothing has really resolved it.
I know to some the fur on her paws may look alarming. But the truth is the coat on her paws has ALWAYS been like that. She just does not have that much fur there and the pink skin always shines through a little. It has been like that ever since we got her.
I don’t find wet spots on the couch or in her crate from licking her paws, I don’t catch her licking, neither on camera, nor when she sleeps in our bed, nor when I am right beside her.
While none of the remedies was able to clear the issue completely, I am still convinced that all of them have done a great job.
I had noticed some spots on Djamila already at the time we got her. At that time I thought I may be some bite marks from the razor sharp teeth of her siblings.
But today I think they may as well have been early signs of some kind of predisposition.
I am meanwhile very convinced that not only nutrition, but also genetics play a huge role in skin issues.
But, despite thinner (than usual maybe) fur on her paws, more or less brown nails and one or the other little odd spot, we have never in those two years had any serious issues. No need for antibiotics, no illness - nothing! I really can't complain due to that.
Although he lets me do my thing my husband keeps shaking his head on my efforts, because he considers Djamila perfectly healthy. So does our vet.
During those first two years my own fear of problems actually made for 98% of the incentive for my research and hunt for remedies. Real itches, licking, biting and other problems despite brown nails in Djamila luckily were just not present. But I was obsessed with also not letting things get to that point. I was trying to protect her.
In those two years I was able to gain the confidence that minor flaws do NOT necessarily have to become a problem.
And I have gained a lot of knowledge on how to keep the minor issues in check in order to prevent them from becoming major. I have learned that while nutrition may not be able to resolve everything, it plays a HUGE role in supporting the immune system of the dog. Besides my own research and my tries with Djamila, you guys have helped me a lot with gaining this knowledge. Thanks for that!
It is funny to read Steve’s remarks on show dogs and how they get prepared right before showing with every available “make-up” trick. I’ve already been wondering about how owners manage to get their dog ready and flawless for one particular day and show.
I myself am not a flawless individual and so are many of us humans. I am completely with Steve here, thinking that at some point it is important to enjoy the health and beauty we have - in ourselves and our dogs - and not try to fight EVERYTHING to the point of perfection. Seeking only perfection can really ruin one’s day.
KNOWING a little more and being able to deal in time with things I notice going on is what I needed to get over the suffering of our last dog Fancy. Realizing “there ARE things I can do!” and having built the basis of a healthy dog with good nutrition etc. in Djamila is so much more than I was able to do with Fancy before. I felt so helpless and sorry for her.
Now I know, IF we ever get to the point of problems with Djamila regarding her skin, there are A LOT of options and ways to go before nasty inflammation takes over, and the doctor pulls out antibiotics and steroids.
That is comforting to me.
Even this terribly hot summer, tons of mosquito bites and accidental contact with poison ivy were not able to ruin the balance in Djamila this summer. And I keep my fingers crossed that it stays that way, because I have every reason to be happy as it is.
I think one thing that's hard to come to terms with is that we can't always fix everything. And I guess for me and Quinn in particular, is I know she has been better than what she currently is, so I'm believing I can fix it. And when I see dogs like Djamila, I only know my own dog, so I think it can be fixed. I think it's natural as an owner/caretaker to want to do everything, to try every avenue possible to make sure your dog is healthy and happy, and it takes a while to realize some things just...are. I have every confidence that you (Djammy) and Phil and Steve all know what's best for your dogs and what's "normal" and what's not, but all we can do is compare notes. I'm so grateful to have this forum for that.
Anyway, I think the yeasty queens Djamila and Quinn will be just fine. I think they just like receiving all these extra snacks and foods we give them. Yum.
Good for you starting your puppy off with the NuVet at an early age. I wish I had known about the NuVet years ago when a couple of my older Bullies were puppies.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com