Yanay & Antay

Comprehensive health, nutrition, supplementation, and routine protocol — designed from the formal diagnoses by Dr. Natalie Chow (Heartland Niagara Animal Hospital, May 19, 2026), IDEXX laboratory data, and veterinary nutrition guidelines specific to the Peruvian Inca Orchid (PSPP, Peruvian Hairless Dog).

Profiles of both dogs

Formal diagnoses (Dr. Chow, May 19, 2026)

Yanay — 5 diagnoses

Antay — 2 diagnoses + 1 lab finding

Realistic lifespan expectations (with optimal care)

The published 12–14 year average for PSPP is underestimated because it is based on a global population of approximately 1,000 dogs, most without modern dermatologic care or formulated nutrition. Comparable data from the Xoloitzcuintle (genetically related breed) show:

Factors that add lifespan (all under owner control):

• Optimal weight — overweight is the #1 factor reducing canine lifespan. Yanay borderline (BCS noted as normal with slightly tucked-in waist); Antay ideal.
• AAFCO-balanced diet — unbalanced home-cooked diets cause cumulative deficiencies that manifest at 7–10 years.
• Annual dental cleaning — periodontal disease is documented to reduce lifespan by 1–3 years.
• Intact skin barrier — chronic dermal infections in hairless dogs are entry points for systemic bacteria.
• Consistent daily exercise — 60–90 min/day. Both dogs already meet this.
• Reduced household toxins — pine oil, lavender, fragrances already removed ✓
• Annual bloodwork for early drift detection.
• Stress management — the Nov 2025 episode (3-week separation) appears to have been the trigger for Yanay's Malassezia. Minimize prolonged separations going forward.

Detailed energy calculation

Standard formulas: RER = 70 × (kg)^0.75. For intact, active adults, MER = RER × 2.0. Hairless adjustment +12% in cold climate (Ontario winter) accounting for additional thermoregulation without coat.

Macronutrient targets

Daily caloric distribution tailored to each profile. Yanay: skin-supportive (high omega-3, quality protein). Antay: liver-friendly (moderately reduced fat, antioxidants, adequate protein for lean mass).

Protein catalog — full options with nutritional profile

Data per 100 g cooked. Ranked by suitability for Yanay's and Antay's profiles. Rotate 3–4 proteins per week to minimize sensitization to any single antigen.

Weekly protein selection

• Yanay (skin focus): 4 days fatty fish (salmon/sardines/mackerel) + 2 days turkey/rabbit + 1 day duck or lamb. Whole egg 2–3×/week as additional.
• Antay (liver-friendly): 3 days lean fish (cod + sardines) + 3 days turkey/rabbit + 1 day duck. No pork ever. Whole egg 2×/week.

Carbohydrate catalog

Slow carbs (low glycemic index) preferred. Avoid wheat and barley initially. Carbs provide energy, fiber, and prebiotics for gut flora.

Vegetable catalog

Vegetables provide fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and volume with minimal calories. Steam to preserve nutrients. Finely chop or purée (dogs poorly digest raw cellulose).

Fruits (small amounts, 1 tsp 2–3×/week)

Fat sources

Fats provide essential fatty acids (omega-3, omega-6), absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), and palatability. For Antay with elevated ALT: moderate but do not eliminate — essential fatty acids are critical.

Absolutely toxic / forbidden foods

Specific to each dog's conditions

Cooking methods — what preserves nutrients, what destroys them

Cooking rules for their meals

1. Protein: poach or steam at 70–80°C until cooked through. Fish: opaque all the way. Poultry: 74°C internal.
2. Vegetables: steam 6–10 min until tender-firm. Chop fine or purée after.
3. Carbs: cook in sufficient water, then drain or incorporate broth.
4. Egg: hard-boiled or poached. Never raw (Salmonella risk + biotin binding).
5. No salt, no seasoning, no added oil (except measured olive oil).
6. Cool to body temperature before serving (~38°C). Never hot, never cold from fridge.

Real feeding system (REVISED — adapted to owner's actual practice)

This section replaces the theoretical recipe with the owner's real, working system, adjusted to correct nutritional gaps and reduce Yanay's flare triggers.

Base: slow cooker 2× per week (Ninja Cooker High × 3h)

Serving quantities (2 meals/day — noon by mother + after evening walk)

Pork, snacks, organs — differential management

Pork (important change for Yanay)

Organs (already excellent — minor adjustment)

• Raw beef liver: reduce to max 1×/week (copper + vit A cumulative)
• Boiled chicken liver / gizzards: 1-2×/week — perfect
• Boiled beef heart / pork heart: rotate 1-2× per 2 months ✓
• Boiled beef stomach / intestines: rotate 1-2× per 2 months ✓
• Raw beef kidney: 1× per 2 months ✓

Soft stool for 1 walk after an organ-heavy day = NORMAL. Next meal corrects it. System working.

Single-ingredient snacks — CRITICAL for Yanay

Cooked chicken bones — note for Dr. Chow

Owner's practice: dogs eat the soft ends and lick out marrow from slow-cooked chicken thigh bones. Owner has had four dogs over 19+ years (chihuahuas Lala lived 14.5 yr, Nemo lived ~19 yr, plus Yanay and Antay at 3.5 yr) without a single episode of bone-related vomiting, blood in stool, or tooth fracture. The slow-cook 3h on High results in softer bones than oven-roasted. Owner's empirical track record validates this practice. No action required to change; continue monitored as is.

Cooking — important update

Recommendation: switch to Slow Cook LOW × 6-7 hours (from High × 3h)

Switch today: same Ninja, just press LOW instead of HIGH and cook 6-7h. Start 8am → ready 3pm. Gains: 15-20% more B vitamin + mineral retention + more tender meat + manageable bone softness. Zero new equipment.

Meat sources — all options (physical + online)

Organized by price tier. Mix according to budget. Walmart Buffalo as economic base; $$$ and $$$$ reserved for variety (rabbit, duck, lamb) or if escalating to Phase B chicken elimination.

$ Budget (under $5/lb)

$$ Mid ($5-10/lb)

$$$ Mid-premium ($10-15/lb)

$$$$ Premium ($15+/lb, USD usually)

Pet food specialty

Two-phase chicken protocol — decision logic

Phase A (weeks 1-4 — current)

• Chicken (Week A) ↔ Turkey (Week B) rotation in slow-cook LOW 6-7h
• No pork for Yanay (tiny portion occasional for Antay only)
• Hilary's Blend integrated into every meal
• Nordic Naturals Omega-3 daily
• Open Farm RawMix Front Range in puzzle (no chicken in formula — appropriate)
• Full bath every Sunday (weekly)
• Photo of Yanay's neck every 3-4 days, same angle, same lighting

Decision point — Day 28 (Tuesday June 23, 2026)

Phase B — rigorous chicken elimination (8 weeks)

Gold standard veterinary derm protocol for confirming protein allergy.

• ZERO chicken in any form for 8 weeks: cooked, kibble, broth, treats — read ALL labels
• Proteins: turkey, rabbit, duck, lamb, salmon, sardines, beef
• Kibble during Phase B: switch to Open Farm Wild Caught Salmon Recipe (no chicken)
• Treats: only homemade pig ears and cooked turkey pieces
• Extra cost: ~$80-120/month for alternative proteins × 2 months = $160-240 total
• Photo of Yanay's neck every 3-4 days

Day 56 of Phase B (~mid-August if escalating)

• If significantly better: confirmed chicken allergy, avoid permanently
• If same or worse: chicken was not the primary issue. Chemical sensitivity is the main driver. Reintroduce chicken normally.

Free-feeding kibble system (owner's validated practice)

Kibble: Open Farm RawMix Grain-Free Front Range

Premium Canadian brand. Multi-protein (beef + lamb + venison + bone broth + freeze-dried raw bits). Constitutes ~25% of daily caloric intake — not a snack but a real nutritional component. Dispensed via FOXMM Interactive Puzzle Toy (small dispenser, 3-4 fills/day, small portions each fill).

When current 20 lb bag is finished, consider rotating to Open Farm Wild Caught Salmon Recipe to add natural omega-3 without forcing fresh fish (which dogs reject).

Free-feeding philosophy (respected)

Owner's philosophy: "Dogs should have access to food like humans have a refrigerator." Both dogs are not obese, self-regulate, and only access kibble when nothing better is available. System works for these specific dogs. Maintain as is.

What they DON'T eat (and not to force)

• Fresh fish / salmon: rarely tried
• Whole eggs: rarely, sometimes just yolk
• Fruits: never (no blueberries, no apple)
• Vegetables alone: only when mixed into chicken-rice base in small amounts
• Raw chicken: no
• Commercial processed wet food: no (Yanay vomits)

Previous theoretical plan with "salmon 4 days/week, blueberries, steamed vegetables as standalone" did not apply to their reality. This revised plan respects what they DO eat and compensates via supplements for what they don't.

Supplements — plan overview

A home-cooked diet, however carefully designed, has typical gaps in vitamins and minerals that food alone cannot cover: zinc, vitamin D, vitamin E, iodine, balanced copper, selenium, manganese, vitamin B12, vitamin K. Supplements cover those gaps AND deliver therapeutic doses of omega-3 that food alone cannot reach.

1. Hilary's Blend Canine Supplement (PRIMARY — Dr. Chow recommended)

1. Omega-3 (EPA + DHA) — Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet

Alternatives if Nordic Naturals not available

• Welactin Canine — EPA+DHA softgels. Solid reputation, more economical. Find on Chewy.
• Grizzly Salmon Oil — pure salmon oil, more natural. Find on Amazon.
• Vetoquinol Triglyceride Omega Supplement — veterinary-grade alternative.
• Do NOT use generic human cod liver oil without standardized EPA+DHA labeling.

2. Balance IT Canine Plus — the vitamin-mineral premix

Professional alternatives

• Hilary's Blend Canine Supplement — popular alternative
• Wholistic Pet Organics Canine Complete
• Homemade eggshell powder — but covers only calcium, NOT the rest of vitamins/minerals. Would need 5–6 separate supplements to cover what Balance IT does in one.

3. Calcium — homemade eggshell powder (only if not using Balance IT)

4. Probiotic — Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora

Alternatives

• Proviable-DC — multi-strain, also excellent
• Visbiome Vet — high CFU count, premium
• YumPro BiotiX

5. Liquid Vitamin E — Antay only (hepatic antioxidant)

6. Optional supplements (consult Dr. Chow)

Glucosamine + chondroitin (preventive joint support)

Milk thistle (silymarin) — Antay only, only with Dr. Chow approval

Zinc (skin-specific) — usually covered by Balance IT

Do not supplement separately if using Balance IT. Excess zinc is toxic to dogs.

How to administer ALL supplements (practical routine)

Order and timing

Tricks if they refuse food with supplements

• Mix very thoroughly (especially Balance IT powder)
• Add 1 extra tsp of plain yogurt to mask
• Warm food slightly to body temperature (not hot)
• If rejected: try giving 30 min after a walk (hungrier)
• Last resort: pill pocket or cooked salmon to wrap capsules

Medication 1: Oral Ketoconazole (Yanay, 14 days)

Medication 2: Cortavance spray (Yanay, 7 days)

Medication 3: ProHex-4 Mousse (Yanay, 14 days)

Medication 4: Burrows ear drops (Yanay, indefinite)

Medication 5: Simparica Trio (both dogs, monthly, permanent)

Feeding schedule

Two meals per day separated by 10–12 hours. Regularity stabilizes glycemia, supports regular elimination, and reduces food anxiety.

Full day — visual timeline

Weekly routine

Monthly routine

What to observe and track (daily / weekly / monthly)

When to call the vet urgently

Roadmap — Week 1 (Tue May 26 – Mon Jun 1)

Roadmap — Week 2 (Tue Jun 2 – Mon Jun 8)

Roadmap — Week 3 (Tue Jun 9 – Mon Jun 15)

Roadmap — Week 4 (Tue Jun 16 – Mon Jun 22)