Posting these photos is hard for me. It reminds me of a time when Leo was really struggling, but we’ve reached a point where I can confidently say he is so, so healthy 🫶🏼 We spent years navigating Leo’s tummy issues. When we brought him home, he was a healthy, beautiful golden retriever puppy. At the time, we lived in an apartment complex that had artificial turf space for dogs in a courtyard behind the property. Unfortunately for Leo, at around 15-16 weeks old, he was exposed to Giardia on that turf and we believe it affected his gut microbiome for quite some time. He had recurring colitis-like symptoms including random bouts of diarrhea, vomiting and VERY unhealthy/unsightly brown tear stains that lined his sweet face. He was underweight and uncomfortable. We tried every high-end “boutique” kibble, veterinarian prescribed kibble, fresh frozen food, etc. and no matter what we did, the symptoms would come back every 3-4 months. After too many cycles of upsetting vet visits, subcutaneous fluids, bloodwork, constant diet changes, antibiotic prescriptions and thousands of dollars burned, we had enough. We needed different answers and solutions. We did everything mainstream veterinary care could do to help him. *DISCLAIMER: We LOVE our regular veterinary clinic. They have been so loving and caring to our dogs over the years; Leo’s problems were something that needed a different approach. In 2022, we were able to consult with a holistic veterinarian. She prescribed a couple of different herbs and suggested he go on a raw diet. We noticed a difference within days. While we can confidently say a raw diet, high quality supplementation and time healed his gut, we did have a couple of episodes of recurring symptoms. It was explained to us that this could happen while his gut healed, so we tried not to panic and addressed his symptoms as needed. Now, fast forward to 2024, Leo is in incredible health. He gets a fully raw diet with high quality muscle meat, organs and bones, but he is occasionally allowed some other treats and table food. Leo also gets a stack of supplements we’re confident are keeping him happy and ever-so-healthy. His little brother, Louie, hasn’t necessarily *needed* to be on a raw diet too, but he’s currently reaping the benefits and getting to consume everything Leo does. He’s not complaining :) Please note that I am NOT a veterinarian and you should not diagnose or treat your dog based on Leo’s experience. Make sure you have the right animal healthcare providers in your corner and good luck ❤️ #animalhealth #doghealth #dogstomachhealth #dogtearstains #tearstains #rawdietfordogs #rawfeeding #rawfeedingdogs #dogsoftiktok #dogownersoftiktok #dogmom #dogdad #dogdiet #tiktokdog #goldenretriever #goldenretrievers