Della’s Dinovite Challenge: The Conclusion

Where does the time go?  The pool will only be open for a few more weeks, we’ve already started another homeschool year, and Della has finished her 90 day Dinovite Challenge.   It’s actually been a little over the 90 days.  The first two weeks she wasn’t receiving full scoops as she got used to the taste and there were a few days that we missed giving it to her.  As you may recall there are 7 signs that your dog might need a supplement.

1. Itching & Scratching 
2. Dry, Flaky Skin 
3. Recurring Ear Infections
4. Paw Licking
5. Stinky smell 
6. Excessive Shedding
7. Lethargy

When we started, Della definitely had Itching & Scratching, Flaky Skin, and Excessive Shedding.  Perhaps the Lethargy too, but we’re not a very active family to begin with.  She’s never been prescribed anything for ear infections although she does scratch at them a lot.  The Paw Licking and Stink Smell were never really issues.

I mentioned my first post that Della liked the Dinovite.  I served it up with a little cream for her each day.  Turns out she really likes the cream.  One week I didn’t have any fresh milk from which to skim cream.  I tried mixing the Dinovite with raw, whole milk but Della wouldn’t have anything to do with it.  The Dinovite sat there soaking up the milk and swelling till it was like green Cream of Wheat in the bowl. 

Other things I noticed during our trial.  It appears Della’s lost a little weight (which she probably needed to do).  I wonder if the Dinovite was expanding in her stomach, making her feel full longer?  I can’t confirm she’s lost any weight until she goes back to the vet.  Second,  my husband has noticed that the spots where she does her business in the yard are actually greener than the surrounding grass.  In fact he’s actually had me direct her to new spots in the front lawn that look they they need a little pick me up.

Now onto the results.  The Itching & Scratching has not improved at all, in fact for a while it had gotten much worse.  She started a new habit of running her snout along our textured walls, the carpet, the upholstered furniture, etc. trying to get rid of what must have been a terrible itch.  I actually called Dinovite to see if she could be allergic to any of the ingredients.  The nutrition expert believed Della was dealing with yeast die off and referred me to several online articles.  Her snout rubbing has gotten better but it’s still part of her daily routine now.

The Dry, Flaky Skin is still there, especially noticeable when we use the Furminator on her which brings up our last main symptom.  The shedding is still as bad as ever.  I know that she’s part German Shepherd and therefore dealing with an undercoat but the Dinovite website still lead me to believe that the shedding should be limited to twice a year.

So overall, I’m disappointed with the results of our Dinovite challenge and when I went to ask for my refund I became disappointed with the Dinovite customer service.  I told the representative I wanted a refund and why.  He proceeded to say that the Dinovite was working, just at a slower rate than it should be because I had purchased the wrong sized box and wasn’t giving Della enough of the product.  The thing is I called them when I ordered it and told them how much she weighed.  They were the ones who told me which box to buy (and made a point of saying how much money I’d save by not needing the larger quantity).  Not only did they hem and haw over giving me my refund, they wanted me to spend more to buy a bigger box—one that I’d never get a refund for because I was no longer a new customer.

So I’m glad if Dinovite works for some people, but we won’t be buying any more.

Della's Dinovite Challenge--Halfway

I just got an email reminder from the folks at Dinovite that we're halfway through the 90 day trial and I thought I'd share the results I've seen so far.  Remember the seven signs that your dog might need a supplement?

1. Itching & Scratching -- We've still got that problem.  I don't really see any improvement.
2. Dry, Flaky Skin  --  While Furminating Della, my husband has noticed that there are few dandruff flakes.
3. Recurring Ear Infections -- She still scratches her ears.  Hubby hasn't noticed any foul odors lately--at least none that he's mentioned.
4. Paw Licking--I've still  seen her do that occasionally.
5. Stinky smell --This really wasn't a problem to begin with.
6. Excessive Shedding--Still shedding a lot.  We use a Furminator tool to remove as much as possible.
7. Lethargy --  She still lays around, but does go through playful periods we call "Crazy Dog" where she zips around the house.

The Dinovite email reminded us that it will take a long while for the nutrients to be replenished in all her systems and to not make any judgments until the end of the trial.   We still have a long way to go.

Della's Dinovite Challenge

Last month I introduced our dog, Della.  Isn't she a sweetie?  I tease that if I have time during the rapture, I'm grabbing the dog!  She does have issues though....constant shedding, itching all the time, etc.  Last week I had talk radio on in the car (usually we have audiobooks) and I heard a commercial for Dinovite--a nutritional supplement for dogs with the same issues we've been dealing with.  I visited the website and found a list of 7 signs that your dog might need a supplement.

1. Itching & Scratching -- Yep, we've got that in spades.
2. Dry, Flaky Skin  -- Yes, while combing her out the other day I thought she should sign up for a Head & Shoulders commercial.  It's doubly obvious with her black fur.
3. Recurring Ear Infections -- She's always scratching her ears, though the vet has never prescibed anything for an infection. My husband, whose nose is more sensitive than mine, sometimes complains that her ears smell bad.
4. Paw Licking--I've seen her do that occasionally.
5. Stinky smell 
6. Excessive Shedding-- Yes!  I could make a stuffed pillow with all the hair I collect.  I've always attributed it to her breed (part German Shepherd) and having an undercoat, but this says dogs should shed twice a year, not year round.
7. Lethargy --  Yes,  she lays around and sleeps a lot of the time.

Okay we've got 4 symptoms in a big way and 2 more at a more moderate level, so I thought we'd better give this a try.     I'm going to share our experience with anyone interested.  I've always been a little leery to believe testimonials on a vendor's website--did someone in the office write them?  Did they just delete the bad reviews?  I purchased the Dinovite myself and I have nothing to gain or lose by sharing my honest opinions.

I called (there's no toll free number) and spoke to a nutrition coach with a concern about adding water to her dog food (to get the product to adhere) in our humid climate.   He assured me it wouldn't be a problem and I actually learned I could get by with a smaller size box based on Della's weight.  Because of her excessive itching, I also bought two tubes of their LickOChops fish oil.

The good news is Della likes the stuff!  I had some concerns because there are several articles and videos on the site to help your dog acclimate to the taste.  The inside of the box gives a schedule for starting and increasing the portions over 12 days.  It mentions that changes in diet can cause tummy troubles, so I'm sticking with their plan even though she doesn't mind the taste.

The instructions suggest adding water to dry dog food to help the Dinovite adhere when you mix it in.  Della's dog bowl sits out all day and she eats when she feels like.  Since we live in a humid climate, I don't want to wet down her food and risk mold.  Instead, I blend it with a little bit of raw cream for her special treat.

Stayed tuned!  I'll let you know when I notice any changes.