Testimonial Interview #6: Mackenzie Maheu & Obi
About
Name: Mackenzie Maheur
Dog: Obi, 2.5 years old
Breed: Australian Cattle Dog
Currently Eating: Specialized homemade diet due to genetic condition, ingredients from Tail Blazers
Testimonial
Me and my dog Obi have been going to Tail Blazers Oshawa since he was just under 6 months old and he has loved the staff and owners from the beginning. When he was just over a year old he was diagnosed with cystinuria a rare genetic condition that affects around 2% of the canine population and has no cure. Cystinuria is an inherited autosomal recessive disease characterized by high concentrations of the amino acid cystine in the urine leading to the formation of cystine stones in the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. He under went a surgery to remove the stones he had formed in his bladder but the biggest battle was preventing it from happening again. There is no cure for cystinuria although some believe depending on the type of cystinuria neutering can help, although it is yet to be proven. We were faced with the hard decision of figuring out what to feed him as the prescription diets for this disease lead to other health issues down the road and there was very little options presented to us. Tail Blazers Oshawa was there for us through it all, from supporting us as he healed from his surgery, to being there when we needed a shoulder to cry on, to helping us find a nutritionist who was familiar with the disease and the extreme dietary restrictions required, and supporting us along the way as we learned to develop a routine for maintaining a homemade diet. Without them I truly don't know what we would've done and I am forever grateful to them. They aren't just a pet store, they are like family! Thank you for all that you do.
Read below for Obi's full story:
Interview
1. Tell me about Obi. What are some of Obi’s favourite activities?
He loves frisbee! We should put him in competitions, he's very agile! He's obsessed with his lamb chomp toys; he carries it around in his mouth. We brought him home with one and have gone through about 10 since. He's also best friends with our cat Loki, I believe he's a tabby. He loves going on hikes and could walk forever, he likes meeting other dogs. There's something called Markham Dog Alliance, a local dog community and they often have events which we love going to and meeting up with others.
2.What led to him being diagnosed with cystinuria?
It was so random, and I'm glad my partner pays attention. I was coming back from Toronto on the GO train, and my boyfriend went to pick him up and bring him home when he noticed there was blood on Obi's privates. Obi started screaming when he was peeing. We took him to the vet, ran blood and urine tests plus urine culture. The vet said he has cysteine stones, the rarest type of stones he can have, and it's not curable. I didn't know what to do. He underwent surgery which very expensive and very hard on him.
3. What diet was prescribed?
The only thing we were told, is your only option is prescription diet. I believe it was Science diet U/D. I never tried it, I had him on raw at the time and I said there must be another way. I went to Tail Blazers Oshawa several times crying, Akanksha [the owner] was there for me every step of the way and said we'll figure out. A girl that worked there at the time had a friend who was a biologist, and she created a specialized diet that is low on cystine and methionine. I went back to the store with a list of ingredients saying this is what I have to feed him; what do you have for me?
4. What is his current diet?
Partially cooked and partially raw [full list included below]. It's a crazy diet focusing on low cystine and methionine levels. For treats, he can't have things high in protein. We've gone for consistent checkups with no stones at the 2-year mark.
- Cooked: rice, quinoa, spinach, cauliflower, butternut squash, kale
- Raw: beef liver, pork kidney, beef tripe, sardines, chicken gizzard, chicken neck, goat milk
- Vitamins/supplements: zinc, kelp, calcium, vitamin E
5. Were there any recommendations made by Tail Blazers Oshawa that helped support Obi through his journey?
I needed someone to talk to about this. It wasn’t until I was at Tail Blazers, that the girl who worked there at the time offered her friend who was a biologist and offered to create the diet. At the time I was a vegetarian, and I didn’t even know how to prep the ingredients, so they helped me each step of the way. It's just like a family there, I know if I'm worried about anything I reach out to Akanksha about anything, and she offers me alternatives and solutions for all. I have other retailers 10min and 15min walk from home, while Tail Blazers is a 25min walk and I wouldn't go anywhere else. It's nice because they offer you suggestions and alternatives, but at the same time they don't pressure you into anything. We transitioned our cat to raw and Tail Blazers Oshawa helped us through the whole process - I never thought I could switch him, especially at 9 years old, and he's doing great!
6. Anything else you want to share?
I would just say, I'm beyond grateful for Tail Blazers. I remember sitting with Obi when he was 6 months old and searching 'natural pet store' and Tail Blazers came up, and I'm so happy I did. I chat so much with the owner on social as well, she's always willing to answer my questions and support any way she can.
Send your stories on how we have helped your pet to info@tailblazerspets.com