[Soph M]

Hi Anon101,

She was recently checked out by her vet and everything is good with her health.

If you think that supplements are scams what do you recommend to make sure that she gets all the vitamins and minerals that she needs when being fed a homemade diet?

She won’t eat kibble, and I like making her food at home, but I need o make sure that she gets everything she needs.

[aimee]

Hi Soph M.

While I’m sure the woman at the pet store meant well the advice you received was inappropriate and will over time surely lead to problems.

Strombeck’s recipes were based on the nutritional information known at the time but today are considered unbalanced. Additionally, multi vitamins differ significantly in nutrient profile and because human supplements have increased the Vit D levels in them in response to human findings the levels are too high to supplement a canine diet.

If you haven’t yet looked at balanceit dot com please do so. There is an interactive tool in which you can choose what ingredients you want to feed and them it balances the diet and tells you how much of the balance it supplement to use. Balance it is run by a boarded veterinary nutritionist.

[Soph M]

I went to a local petstore yesterday that specializes in natural pet nutrition, they told that the below plan would work good. What do you think?

MAIN MEALS: Homemade food (rotating veggies and meat for variety), also including some egg.
PROBIOTIC: Daisy’s Mega 8 Probiotic Flora (this is all natural)
TREATS: Give 1-2 raw bones per week to clean teeth and as a calcium source.

The lady at the petstore said that she will get all the vitamins she needs from veggies. She was sure that the raw bones would provide enough calcium.

[THERESA A]

I know this is an older thread but I was looking on the internet for a solution and saw that this website recommends a product. Let me tell you my story. I have a ten year old yellow lab mix. He was constantly active and could run and catch deer at our place in Utah. He got into a brand new bottle of dog vitamins and ate 93 out the 100. That was in February, 2016. In April, the doctor put him on thyroid medicine. He was starting to show signs of arthritis. The vet prescribed Rimadyl twice a day. Within 3 days, he was paralyzed in his back legs and vocal cords. I immediately stopped the pills. He had Rimadyl in the past but it was occasional for pain. The vet would not accept that it was the Rimadyl. She blamed a neurological problems and Cushings Disease. She put him on the medication for Cushings which made it worse. We took him to a neurologist who did not have all the equipment to diagnose him. But she suggested Acetyl L-Carnitine, Vitamin B and CoQ10. He is slowly getting better. I do not believe it is neurological because he can stand up on the carpet easily but he slips on the tile and sometimes concrete. He has lost muscle mass. I was looking on the internet to see about supplements for building muscle. His diet consists of grain free kibble, meat, vegetables, raw eggs, jumbo carrots instead of bones, Vitamin B, CoQ10, Acetyl L-Carnitine and his thyroid meds. There was a website that stated Dog Advisor recommends a product called Gorilla Max to build muscles in Police dogs and show dogs. Does anyone have experience in this? Suggestions?

[Marie P]

I was buying that brand from Amazon a few years ago. Now I try to go all Natural. Here is the Natural Flea collar recipe I use. Works great if your dog is not a DEEP woods hiker.. Perfect for the dog who is yard bound… SEE here http://bulldogvitamins.blogspot.com/2017/05/dog-flea-spray-recipe-fleas-and.html

[Marie P]

For a good Homemade diet supplement we use NuVET Plus on all our dogs and cats..
Take a look here for more info on Doggie Meatball Recipes and more — We have a gluten free oat option too for Dog meatloaf or meatballs. Follow recipe here and links to supplements. WE use bone meal by NOW company http://bulldogvitamins.blogspot.com/2014/12/recipe-for-doggie-meatballs-home.html

[Marie P]

HI. I can help you with a recipe to homecook. Susan had some good advice above …
I would to 100% homecooking at this point with no kibble.
Contact me if you want help

Thanks
mpmaltese@gmail.com
Ask the Pet Nurse
Blog : http://bulldogvitamins.blogspot.com/

[pitlove]

Hi ScottsMomma-

At 9 weeks old the itching is extremely unlikely to be a food sensitivity. Don’t forget, dogs get itches like we do and it does not mean they are having an allergic reaction.

Raw diets are challenging to do correctly and especially with a puppy who needs optimized vitamins and minerals for proper bone development etc, the risk of a deficient diet outweighs any perceived benefit. Start the puppy off on a very simple food with the least amount of ingredients. Chicken and rice for example. Do not jump all over the place to exotic proteins.

If you want to do raw wait until after the critical growth period and use a commercial product like Natures Variety.

[FrankiesDoggie]

Thanks aimee, I’ve been gravitating to Nature’s Variety in fact because they’re so widely available, and their frozen raw is one of the few that don’t include synthetic vitamins (or very little).

[Susan]

HoundMusic,

I think it’s ridiculous you feed a sick dog a high fat, low quality mince especially when the dog is vomiting & has diarrhea, say that dog has Pancreatitis??..
When was the last time you went to see a vet specialist for a dog with Intestinal problems IBS, IBD, Pancreatitis?
Your talking about feeding litter Puppies, introducing puppies to food….Read original post I’m talking about dogs with intestinal STRESS, sloppy poo’s with mucus & then diarrhea, not 4-6 week old puppies being weaned onto food, even then I still wouldn’t feed a sick puppy any cooked hamburger mince or boiled rice…. When you have a SICK dog with Intestinal Stress feeding greasy hamburger mince with boiled rice, rice has pointed corners that can irritate the bowel…..who’s not to say the dogs in this post aren’t sensitive to chicken like my boy is?? one of the poster’s dog became a bit better after being put on a vet diet while the other dog got diarrhea after eating the Hills wet tin food, like my boy did after eating one of the Hills Intestinal health vet diets, this sounds like food sensitivities to me, food sensitivities/intolerance can take anywhere from 1 day up to 6 weeks to react & show symptoms….Food sensitivities normally start when the dog is around 6-8 months old….
I’m pretty sure when Rich took his dogs to see vet, the vet didn’t suggest to go home & feed some boiled hamburger mince with boiled some rice, if he did I would be changing vets & seeing a younger vet who’s up to date with more modern methods, it sounds like Rich vet knew what he/she was doing & did all the proper tests needed to rule out parasites, parvo, infection etc & placed the dogs on a antibiotic (Flagyl/Metronidazole) & a vet diet till Rich works out what to feed them both….if the dogs were placed on a Hydrolyzed diet or a single novel protein, single carb vet diet I do not know, probably not cause one dog had liquid diarrhea after eating the vet diet…..

I’ll stick with what my Specialist vet recommended to feed, 1 lean novel protein + 1 gluten free carb (Sweet Potato or Potato) he suggested to cook white boneless fish or lean turkey breast + boiled sweet potato, if I didn’t want to cook he recommended feeding a vet diet “Royal Canine” Hydrolyzed wet tin food, Sensitivity Control, Duck & Tapioca dry, PV-Potato & Venison, PR-Potato & Rabbit or PD-Potato & Duck & then when dog is stable & doing firm poo’s start an elimination diet & add 1 cooked ingredient for 6 weeks with their vet diet food….these vet diets are 100% balanced with the right vitamins, minerals, enzymes & you’ll get to the root of the problem by doing an elimination diet like I have done in the past with my IBD boy, when you look at the ingredients in these vet diets you will not find any hamburger mince, chicken, rice….. Sweet Potato + 1 lean novel protein seems to work best for Intestinal health problems especially when you think the dog has food intolerances….
You have your opinion & I have mine…..

[Yvette S]

Hello! I just signed up for the Editor’s Choice membership and I am a huge fan of the website and the research it represents.

I am working on a spreadsheet to compare nutritional information for 5-star dry dog food brands. However, I have found only 3 brands to report essential amino acid content: Orijen and Acana (both made by Champion pet foods) and EVO (now part of Mars, Inc.).

Can you help me identify other dry dog food brands that report complete nutritional profiles? Amino acids, Omega-3, Omega-6, essential vitamins and minerals.

[Susan]

Hi Rich, click on this link, Clean Label Project,
http://www.cleanlabelproject.org/product-ratings/pet-food/ scroll down & read the kibbles & wet foods that had the most toxic chemicals, arsenic, lead & cadmium, most were pet foods that had fish as the main protein, last yea I started feeding Patch the “Holistic Select” Adult/Puppy, Salmon, Anchovy & Sardines made by Well Pet who make’s Wellness another kibble Patch did well on then went down hill after 2-3months, his stomach & bowel seems to know when a kibble isn’t right & something is wrong, now I know why after reading the Clean Label Project… all last year Patch was doing really well eating TOTW Roasted Lamb + different cooked foods that I add to his diet for dinner, then Spring come around, cause Patch suffers with Seasonal Environment Allergies, I start to feed a fish based kibble thru the Spring & Summer months the year before I feed an Australian made kibble “Meals For Mutts” but this year I started to feed the Holistic Select G/F fish kibble instead the man at the pet shop recommended the Holistic Select he feeds it to his 2 Staffys that also have allergies then after 2-3 months Patch went down hill after eating the Holistic Select, he stopped eating it, he was doing sloppy cow pattie poos, up all hours of the night pooing, bad wind pain, whinging, I saw his vet, she put him back on the Metronidazole & I put him back on his TOTW Lamb kibble, his poo’s firmed up within 2 days.. then 1 month ago I see Holistic Select kibble on the Clean Label Project it’s 10th, contains the highest amount of harmful environment and industrial contaminants & toxins.. I nilly died & Holistic Select is a 5 star kibble on the DFA….
This is why over time it’s best to find a couple of different brands of pet food with a different protein that agree with your dogs & you rotate between the 2 or 3 brands so if 1 brand isn’t being made any more or has something wrong like toxins or lacking vitamins, not enough omega 3 etc your dogs are not on the one food long enough, eating the same food 24/7 for years & years & suffering long term health problems…..

What kibble works for one dog may not work for another dog, if your dogs were doing sloppy poo’s with jelly mucus on them it’s normally food intolerances, or the protein may be too high, after doing a food elimination diet with my boy, it was chicken, corn, corn gluten meal, barley, boiled rice he can not eat, his IBD vet specialist said when I’m looking for any kibbles or wet tin foods make sure it has 1 single protein with limited ingredients so there’s less chance he will react to an ingredient, she said if after 9-12 months he’s doing really well on the same kibble, its best to introduce new foods into his diet, sometimes a dog will start to react to an ingredient in the food you’ve been feeding for years, so I rotate kibbles now & I add different foods to his diet for dinner or as treats but I didn’t do all this straight away it has taken over 3-4 yrs to get to this point where Patch can eat anything now as long as it’s not any foods he’s sensitive too…also sometimes a 5 star food won’t be the best food for your dog, if it’s a 3 stars food & agrees with your dog & the ingredients all look good then that’s OK, Dog Food Advisor gives less stars sometimes cause the protein is under 25%, there’s nothing wrong with the kibble, but the lower the protein the more carbohydrates that kibble will have….

[anonymous]

https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/
excerpt below:
Grain free diets have become all the rage in the last few years. I suspect this has stemmed from greater recognition of gluten sensitivity in humans. Most pet food companies have jumped on the band wagon following the marketing success of grain free human diets. The truth of the matter is that there are no dog or cat studies showing a health benefit to grain free foods. A myth has been perpetuated that grains are unhealthy. In fact, whole grains contribute vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids and are highly digestible by dogs and cats. Allergies to grains are actually very rare, and only the Irish Setter breed has been demonstrated to have a gluten sensitivity. Many grain free diets substitute potatoes and tapioca, which have less protein, more sugar, and less fiber. And typically these come at a higher cost.

[LovelyBear]

Hi Acroyali!

Thank you for all of this helpful advice! I was surprised to see my dog afraid of her crate. 3 years ago she would always want to go in there without me giving a command. Plus she would always get in there and even open the door with her paw when I gave her the command “get in your crate”. I’ll definitely take things slow, play games, etc.

I currently feed on towels since my dog occasionally likes to use her paws when eating raw meals. I’ll have to try a washable mat because washing the towels get tedious and I get worried they aren’t being cleaned fully.

Exactly there are risks with anything. Plus all of these big name dog food brands are having recalls. I’d rather know everything I am feeding my dog. Before the switch she was on Taste of the Wild and over half the ingredients where added vitamins/minerals. I was paying $60 a month for that lol!

[Cameron M]

Oops …forgot to say…I do not mean to sound arrogant…I love my dog and sadly just lost my other gal though IMT ( which I mentioned earlier). I am crushed …I also know I need flea prevention because I live in FL…I also need tick prevention because I have a house in VT and my 150 acres has many …many ticks.

I totally stand with organic…my garden…my yards and my house and my food when I can control. I hate processed chemicals…even vitamins because I know they are not in the natural form of being eaten. Meaning yes a carrot has lots of vitamin A BUT it also has lots of other chemicals which whe haven’t yet looked at and my view is those other chemicals all play a role in the benefits of vitamin A vs just popping a tablet which lacks a carrot’s other beneficial chemicals.

This drug seems the least harmful…please note my wording…least harmful vs 100% healthy …wohoo ..lets go healthy. To me the benefits are greater than the potential harm and much more so than other meds on the market.

[Michael M]

I personally use Moringa Oil on my dog’s coats. Most of them don’t need it, but one my rescues had a serious skin condition. The oil is really healthy, although I will say it doesn’t smell the best. And for this oil, you apply it directly to their skin, not orally. Massage it in and leave it there for a while, and then wash after a couple hours.

It has anti-inflammatory and exfoliating properties due to the high amount of Vitamins in it.

[Amanda D]

I just seen a video on FB advocating for Omega 3’s and Coconut Oil. I’ve done research on food but haven’t looked into vitamin supplements. The video mentions increased energy, great for skin and fur, healthy weight and other things that I can’t remember at the moment. Will these actually benefit dogs or are they like vitamins for people are not needed unless the dog is lacking in a particular vitamin. If they are good what amounts would you recommend for puppies that will be between 20 and 30 lbs at adulthood? I’m getting a Mini American Shepherd this summer 🙂

• This topic was modified 8 years, 11 months ago by Amanda D.

[Robin M]

I am desperately trying to find a good Senior Weight Loss food. I understand that most seniors need help putting ON weight, but my baby needs to lose. As of now, I am feeding Blue Buffalo BLUE Senior Dog Chicken & Brown Rice. From the reviews on this page I am finding that most of the Senior brands don’t get very good marks.

Should I try starting just Adult instead of Senior? I am wondering if I should just started focusing on the Weight Management part instead of the Senior Nutrition but I am worried he won’t get what vitamins, etc he needs.

Also, I was advised to give Yogurt as a treat. Is there a particular brand I should try? And can I freeze it for a special treat?

Thanks for all replies.
Robin

• This topic was modified 8 years, 11 months ago by Robin M. Reason: Addition question added

[Marie P]

Homemade dog food with salmon and this supplement; Here is the recipe we use for a balanced meal using salmon. Let me know if you have questions, http://bulldogvitamins.blogspot.com/2017/04/salmon-dinner-for-dogs-woof-food.html

[Marie P]

Frontline, Bravecto, Flea product dangers; Here is a good article on some LESS dangerous flea products from your VET and Safe Natural products to combat fleas/tics; I try to go natural when possible. Good list of Natural Flea fighters here http://bulldogvitamins.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-good-and-bad-of-dog-flea-treatment.html

[Marie P]

Hi Barbara, HOW about you buy a quality kibble and then add the Doggie Weight loss stew to your program. SEE here for recipe http://bulldogvitamins.blogspot.com/2016/08/skinny-diet-this-is-to-be-used-few.html

[Marie P]

YOU can try Zignature Brand dog food, Salmon flavor; Also, you may want to try making your own dog food as a special treat. I have many friends that feed dry quality kibble such as AVODERM, Zignature or Fromm’s Brands on the weekdays and then home cook on the weekend. Here is a recipe that is chicken free, http://bulldogvitamins.blogspot.com/2017/04/salmon-dinner-for-dogs-woof-food.html

[Susan]

Hi Barbara, stick with the homemade raw diet, change from the carrots to frozen beans you get in supermarket they will thaw, also one day or 2 days a week feed 1 raw meaty bone for breakfast instead of the 1/4 of a cup meal, it can be a chicken leg NO skin, chicken wing, NO skin, chicken bones are soft easy to digest & will clean his teeth & he’s getting a different protein in his diet, also start adding tin sardines in spring water to his diet add about 2 small sardines to 1 of the meals so he’s getting his omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins & minerals for his skin, joints, brain & heart, sardines are very healthy…. watch his coat start to shine after eating sardines or feed tin pink salmon or tuna in spring water drain the water…Replace 3 or all of his breakfasts with the tin salmon instead of the grinded meat, the weight will start to fall off with fish, is his grinded meat very lean, not much fat?? Tuna or Salmon would be more leaner & higher in protein, change the proteins in his diet around a bit, in 1 week he should get at least 3 different proteins in his diet, the bones in the tin salmon are good leave them, just crush them with a spoon if your worried..
It takes time to lose weight, it’s quicker to gain weight but losing weight is hard, do not go back to a kibble, kibbles are very high in carbs unless you see vet & feed the Hills Metabolic + Mobility vegetable tuna stew wet tin food, this vet diet is suppose to be very good & dogs do lose weight..
With his 2 walks a day start walking him at a faster pace, get his heart pumping, at first you start off slow then each week you increase the walk & speed also throw a ball out in the yard or up & down the hallway & have play time once a day, you will get there… if after changing to the tuna sardines & salmon for breakfast instead of the meat & if in 2 months he hasn’t lost any weight see a vet & try the Hills Metabolic + Mobility wet tin food, Hills guarantee your dog will lose weight within 21days from 13% to 60% weight loss… Good Luck oh for a treat or snack, give a few small peeled apple pieces, size of a kibble, you can even add grated apple no seeds or peel in his meals.

[Barbara C]

I have a 9 year old mixed breed, small dog that is overweight. We take him for a walk twice a day. He is getting slower and I am afraid that he will not be able to exercise when summer gets here because of his weight. I started making his food from ground meat, carrots and cottage cheese. I don’t know if this has helped since he looks bigger than ever. Also, I am not sure if he is getting enough vitamins with homemade food. I give him l/4 cup in a.m. and 3/4 cup at night. A total of 1 cup per day.
I don’t know if I should keep feeding him the homemade diet or switch to a low fat dry food. I used Halo’s diet food and he seemed to like it, but again didn’t loose any weight.
HELP! What should I do?

[Joelle V]

You may also want to investigate Petcurean go sensitive dry or canned food. For a dog I had with similar allergies, I also made my own food, with rice, a single protein, some veggies, and vitamins and fish oil. It helped, it did not cure the allergies, as grass was also an allergen.

[Anna B]

Is anyone aware of a commercially available raw, freeze-dried, or dehydrated dog food that does not contain fish oil? I’m trying to transition one of my dogs to a commercial diet that doesn’t contain synthetic vitamins and minerals. My other dog is doing great on Nature’s Logic kibble but unfortunately, all of their formulas include either fish meal or fish oil or both. From the research I’ve done, it seems like every commercially available raw/freeze-dried/dehydrated food contains fish oil.

[Bobby dog]

Check out the info from the UC Davis link in my post. They have a good example of the 10% rule. You’ll have to do some math to figure out your unbalanced food/supplement calories.

The only unbalanced items in my dog’s diet are the fresh foods and treats. I don’t add any supplements. So far all yearly exams are good for my dog and his meals are balanced so I do not feel the need to add any vitamins/supplements to his diet.

[elaine c]

feeding the same thin over and over is not just a question of “getting bored” it is a question of you are limiting what your dogs ingests in the way so many things.. Meat doesn’t smell stronger if it is right. Fresh frozen food is the best of the best. This company is wonderful and so much better than any kibble or canned foods. Remember that kibble is processed and so all the good stuff has been cooked out of it.. they put in synthetic vitamins and the studies show that over time this is bad for dogs BAD. Canned food is not any better because the product is cooked in the can and you have leaching! Look up Answers Pet food. they are rated on advisor and they have a web site. You will wonder why you ever fed that other stuff I promise!!

[M N]

Louise, I appreciate your input. I think you may have the food I mentioned confused with something else…

Salmon Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Dried Potato, Dried Peas, Sweet Potato, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Potato Protein, Flaxseed Meal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Dried Egg Product, Canola Oil, Natural Flavors, Salt, Lecithin, Choline Chloride, Dried Chicory Root, L-Carnitine, Dried Carrots, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Yucca Schidigera extract, Ascorbic Acid, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Yeast Culture, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract.

Metabolized Energy – AS FED- 1835 kcal/lb
Crude Protein Minimum 32.0%
Crude Fat Minimum 18.0%
Crude Fiber Maximum 5.5%
Total Ash 8.2%
Moisture Maximum 12.0%
Calcium Minimum 1.2%
Phosphorous Minimum 1.0%
Average Calcium 1.29%
Average Phosphorus 1.03%
Vitamin A Minimum 10,000 Iu/Kg
Vitamin E Minimum 80 Iu/Kg
Chondroitin Minimum 90 Mg/Kg*
Glucosamine Minimum 120 Mg/Kg*
DHA Minimum 0.05%*
EPA Minimum 0.01%*
Vitamin C Minimum 25 Mg/Kg*
Omega-6 Fatty Acid Minimum 3.5%*
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Minimum 1.5%*

Black Gold does have some grain inclusive formulas that do not interest me. They list digestibility for those in the low to mid 80s, which is what I would expect from a grain inclusive food.

[Cannoli]

Hi lovelybear,

You can still feed your dog fruits and veggie albeit not more than 10% of their meal.

As you being a vegan there are tons of vitamins and minerals that you are aware that can be added to your dog’s meat meals to really balance it out.

It’s really not hard to feed a dog meat the hard part is understanding the minerals and vitamins that fruits, spices, and vegetables have. I think vegans have this knowledge that they can transfer to create natural supplements rather than relying on synthetic vitamins that many homemade feeders use.

• This reply was modified 9 years ago by Cannoli.
• This reply was modified 9 years ago by Cannoli.

[Cannoli]

Hi Ashleigh,

You are missing a lot of vitamins and minerals just raw chicken (not a fan of raw chicken) will create defincies.

I recommend reading the website dog’s naturally. Tons of veggies, natural supplements, fruits, and spices that you can read to add to your dog’s meal.

• This reply was modified 9 years ago by Cannoli.

[Lori E]

Hi Logan W,

I’m just starting the process of making great food for my dog and doing some research about vitamins and minerals. I found a couple of websites about RDA for dogs and i’m wondering if you think these are ok as guidelines. I am cooking the food, not feeding raw meats. The second website is university based research.

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/raw-diets-for-dogs-getting-enough-vitamins-and-minerals/

http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/banr/miscellaneous/dog_nutrition_final_fix.pdf

[elaine c]

Kibble HAS TO ADD vitamins because everything is cooked and processed out of it! Then they add sythetic vitamins and research has shown that long term this is not good for dogs. Persoanlly I use ANSWERS PET FOOD. Will never use anything else. it comes in three meats, it is raw, fermented and outstanding. Take a look at it!

[elaine c]

diarrhea could mean that the bacteria in his gut is messed up you have to go easy and slow with a puppy especially. I have used Horiaon Legacy and it was good. However I have switched FOREVER to Answers Pet food… It is raw, fermented. The problem with kibble is that all the good stuff is cooked out of it at a high temp and them synthetic vitamins are put in , long term the synthetic vitamins, according to the nutritional scientists is that it is not good. Try Answers you will love it and your dog will THRIVE on it!

[butchroy]

I am pretty sure Nature’s Logic does not have added vitamins.

[Mark V]

My dog has recurring urinary tract infections. One possible treatment offered by my Vet is to switch to a food with no or low added minerals, to help avoid stones in the bladder if that is the cause (bladder ultrasound showed no stones). He suggested one of the Science Diet Vetiranary formulas. I don’t care for Science Diet. I found Acana Singles (USA) has only zinc added and Carna4 has no added vitamins and minerals. Can anyone recommend other dry dog foods with no added vitamins or minerals that are recommended by Dog Food Advisor??

[steve johnson]

My rescue dog Barney was throwing up in the mornings and I took him to the vet a bunch of times. We tried the prescription diets they recommended but it didn’t help. In our case, I think it was the dry kibble causing the problem–it was a good brand Orijen, but maybe it didn’t agree with him. I was reading about acid reflux on this site http://www.askariel.com/dog_cat_acid_reflux_treatment_a/277.htm and I switched him to a raw frozen diet. We ordered the Gastro ULC and Power Probiotic and followed the diet suggestion that the nutritionist gave us. Barney is eating Primal raw frozen rabbit with some Natural Balance canned fish/sweet potato. The vitamins did seem to help. He still has an occasional bad day, but nothing like before.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by steve johnson.

[Natasha C]

Hi. I have a 2 1/2 year old lab who itches constantly in the face, behind his “elbows” and between paws. He would scratch his face so badly, it would bleed. I had him allergy tested a year ago and he tested extremely allergic to storage mites. I had never heard of them before but they are little bugs that live and breed in dry dog food. There is nothing you can do to get rid of them, even the limited ingredient foods have them, so I started cooking homemade food for him. It made HUGE difference. Then, when, due to a busy lifestyle, I couldn’t cook for awhile and started him back on kibble – his itching started up again. So maybe give a try to homemade food. I used potato, sweet potato, frozen veggies (carrots, peas, kale, spinach), ground turkey. And add a supplement for vitamins. You could also try raw or freeze dried food, but I couldn’t afford that so I got busy in the kitchen! Good luck!

• This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by Natasha C.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 1 month ago by Natasha C.

[Susan]

To Hound Music,
I forget to add in my post above, Maggie was also feed tables scraps, what ever they ate for dinner Maggie ate as well…
I just thought anyone that was interested in Maggie’s story would watch the full video interview by Rodney Habib on Planet Paws & got the story straight from Maggie’s dads mouth….
Maggie loved her Good O’s they were only given as a treat maybe twice a week, the Good O’s weren’t talked or advertised again, people like twisted the truth & Maggie’s dad didn’t want the Good O company receiving free advertisement for a poor quality moist treat/kibble that was not Maggie’s proper diet, she just liked her Good O’s treats, if she was given a better quality natural treats she’d probably would have loved those treats instead of the Good O’s…
Maggie was not feed any kibble of any kind….after Maggie’s story hit the media, a picture of (must be the picture your talking about) Maggie chewing a red/orange coloured round moist kibble, the Good O company started to say Maggie ate their food & lived to ripe old age of 30, that story was quickly dismissed & made clear to Australian viewers, Maggie did NOT eat any kibbles & was only given a couple of Good O’s maybe twice a week as a treat….
No supplements were given either, this is a farm in the out back of rural Victoria Australia, there’d be no pet shops for miles, to buy a dog supplement would be a miracle, you’d be lucky to find human vitamins in the local shops & we only have a few Australian dog supplements & most are sold online, we are talking about a old farmer & his dog, living a quiet stress free life, smelling fresh air, country living, Maggie’s slept on the back veranda in the Summer & in the barn with the farm cats in the winter…..the only healthy supplement that came Maggie’s way was her dinner & 1 cup of fresh cows milk straight from the cows utter that she drank every morning at 6am & the baby cows placentas when born & baby calves that was born dead…
A lot of Australian dogs are feed a supermarket kibble as the base or a grain free kibble with either fresh kangaroo mince or table scraps left over from dinner are added with the kibble or they are feed what ever is shot & killed on their property is feed to their working dogs, our Pet Shops have rolls of fresh Roo’s mince & rolls of fresh Chicken Mince, sold very cheap around $1 a roll & we also have pre-made raw diets as well, it’s cheaper to feed a raw diet then a premium grain free kibble in Australia…
Hound Music did you watch the video where Maggie’s dad was interviewed by Rodney Habib?? he would of mentioned if Maggie was given any supplements, he’s a very honest farmer & didn’t gain anything from Maggie’s story, he just enjoyed taking about his old girl Maggie……

[Crystal T]

Hello! I’m new here. Our dog is 11 months old and his name is Winston. Winston prefers dry dog food. He is also overweight.
I need help finding or devising a recipe for dog food. I found the perfect premade food for him but unfortunately it is crazy expensive. Here are the ingredients. Can you help me figure out a recipe from it or suggest one? It must be 1. organic 2. end up a dry food or mostly dry and 3. help with him being overweight.

Ingredients (in order of quantity):
-USDA grade, Ethoxyquin-free, Deboned Turkey & Chicken
-high quality (low Ash) Turkey & Chicken Meals
-Chicken Liver
-Potatoes
-Dried Ground Potatoes
-Pea Fiber
-Whitefish Meal
-Tomato Pomace
-Natural Chicken Flavor
-Chicken Liver
-Salmon Oil
-Flaxseed
-Carrots
-Sweet Potatoes
-Kale
-Broccoli
-Spinach
-Parsley
-Apples
-Blueberries
-Vitamins
-Minerals
-Choline Chloride
-Chicory Root Extract
-Yucca Schidigera Extract
-Glucosamine Hydrochloride
-Chondroitin Sulfate
-Lactobacillus plantarum
-Enterococcus faecium
-Lactobacillus casei
-Lactobacillus acidophilus
-Mixed Tocopherols
-Rosemary Extract

Calories Analysis (on an as fed basis)
350 cal/cup ME
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min) 33%
Crude Fat (min) 9%
Crude Fat (max) 10%
Crude Fiber (max) 8.5%
Moisture (max) 10%
Calcium (max) 1.9%
Phosphorus (max) 1.3%
Vitamin E (min) 500 IU/kg
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* (min) 2.2%
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* (min) 0.50%
Glucosamin Hydrochloride* (min) 250 mg/kg
Chondroitin Sulfate* (min) 200 mg/kg
Beta-carotene (min) 5 mg/kg
Total Micro-organisms* (min) 80,000,000 CFU/lb

[Marie P]

NuVet Labs really does have an excellent product line. We have used it for a little over 9 years now. If you want to learn more about NuVET see a few articles;

1. NuVET Plus help to balance yeast bacteria, See here
http://bulldogvitamins.blogspot.com/2014/04/ear-infections-and-tear-stains-get-rid.html

2. NuVET Plus wafers are great for pets with low immune systems:
http://bulldogvitamins.blogspot.com/2015/07/does-your-dog-have-watery-eyes-itchy.html

[Leslie M]

Katie, my standard schnauzer is 5 and has recently begun this behavior. She swallows repeatedly, lick everything, scarfs down things like dust bunnies, leaves etc., but I’ve noticed her belly sounds hollow, she has rapid breathing, and seems frantic. I’ve tried percussion while she’s laying on her left side,and whenjoy I can stand her on her hind legs for a few minutes at a time. Fortunately, there’s a sudden long belch, some pootie toots, and the problem seems resolved. This has happeNed 4 times in the last 2 weeks, and never before in 5 years.
I have been searching for others with this issue, as my vet cant come up with a cause or remedy. I can’t take any more chances that this may be what I assume can bring on a bloat episode, so I’m changing to home made food with only a small amount of her kibble, just for vitamins and mineral content. I’m also going to try the 1/4 tab of tums after every meal, it ALWAYS comes on 2 hours after eating. She has a cup on food 2 times a day now, so 1/2 with brown rice, chicken carrots, celery and green beans (which she LOVES) will suplement the lesser amount of kibble. I hope we hear more of what works on this site, since we can’t get definitive diagnosis from our beloved vets. It seems this is becoming prominent with more junk thrown into kibble. Anything for a buck. I’ve seen carpet in one prominent dogfood brand, so I’m very choosy. My dogs are working dogs, and are very dear to me.
Thanks for all the great advice and sympto.s, please keep them coming.

[Sherrel C]

I’ve been using Raaw energy for a year with two dogs. I have read some of the comments and was surprised. I pick it up myself and have seen orders of meat delivered and it was usda meats. i always mix my meat with my hands when i mix in vitamins etc and have never found plastic or seen charcoal and it smells fresh. There are some varieties my dogs like and some they don’t. That’s normal i would think. My dogs have never gotten sick from the meat. I would not say anyones experience is not valid but a year of use and i have had no problem. Kitt has a healthy looking dog that he feeds his food to also. He seems to care about what he is doing and has always been very nice. I notice all the negative comments (and there are many) are from one person. Perhaps it’s personal.

[Tessa R]

I have a 5 month old APBT. He recently began eating his feces (gross.) I was advised by a vet tech, not a vet, to put him in a vitamin supplement. They stated that majority of puppies that do this are lacking certain vitamins in their diet. I researched the best foods, and amazingly I already feed him 4.5 star rated food. He eats Taste of the Wild puppy, with a mix of 4health puppy formula, both dry food. I’m not sure what could possibly be missing from his diet, but need something to help with the problem. We clean it up ASAP, but we have half an acre (open to range,) 1 senior dog, and the new puppy so sometimes it’s harder to keep up with. Just wondering what suggestions I can get. Thank you to anyone willing to help!!

[Stephanie W]

Nesil,
You’re most welcome. I’m glad I could help. Between the hose two brands I like open farm a bit more. They are both good but the synthetic vitamins in weruva are sulfates, proteinates are better and that is what open farm uses.

If you want to do a combination of dry food and home cooked I highly suggest the book “Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet,” by Steve Brown. ($9 used on Amazon) his book specifically covers that option. The first half is for people that want to do a combo of kibble and cooking and the best way to go about that.
Each recipe is broken down to show what nutrients are in it and to show that they meet NRC guidelines.

[Cannoli]

Are these dog puppies or are they already grown?

I would skip the brown rice unless your dogs can’t handle a high protein diet.

I would rotate proteins. I prefer to feed my dog more red meat and chicken and turkey more as a treat.

I also prefer to add more organ meat and add tripe but you need to be careful with organ meat since you are already feeding your pups vitamins.

I like to rotate calcium sources too. Sometimes add ground shells, or ground bone, or calcium supplements. I also like to rotate veggies and supplements.

In short this is a good recipe for a short time but ideally the best recipes involve ROTATION of different sources of meat and fish (if your pup has no allergies) rotation of supplments..Maybe use some organic supplements, rotation of veggies, etc to prevent deficiencies.

[Kevin B]

Hello,

I have two dogs. One is a corgi and the other is a mini/small aussie. My corgi has always been particular about what kind of food he likes to eat. The mini aussie as well. I switched them over to homemade dogfood about 3-4 weeks ago. They love it but I’m concerned they aren’t getting all of the correct nutrients. Can someone please help me out and review my recipe? I’ve done a ton of research but still feel like something is missing or it’s just me being overly cautious since I love my pups! Thank you so much in advance!

It’s seems like they have normal bowl movements except for an occasional more liquid poop (They also like to chew stuff up and eat their stringy toys).

Recipe:

(96 oz) (6lbs) of Jenny-O 93% Lean Ground Turkey (PROTEIN)
(64 oz) of Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain Instant Brown Rice (GRAINS/CARBS)
(24 oz) of Mixed Vegetables (Peas, Carrots, and Broccoli) (VEGGIES)
(8 oz) of Mixed Chicken Hearts and Gizzards (PROTEIN/ADDITIONAL NUTRIENTS)
(6) Eggs (PROTEIN/ADDITIONAL NUTRIENTS)
(8) Egg Shells Cooked and Ground Up in Fine Pieces (CALCIUM)
(4) Pro Sense Daily Multivitamins (MULTIVITAMIN NUTRIENTS)

1. I first cook all of the ground turkey and drain the excess water/fat. Then I crack the eggs and mix them in with the hot ground turkey and continue to cook the turkey with the eggs until they are done.

2. I steam the veggies in the microwave until completely cooked and puree them in a blender adding water for consistency.

3. I cook the brown rice as normal.

4. I heat the oven to 375 F and cook the egg shells for 10-15 minutes until they are golden brown. I let the egg shells cool and then grind them into as small as pieces as I can get them. Makes approximately 8 teaspoons.

5. I then boil the chicken hearts and gizzards for ten minutes or until they seemed fully cooked.

6. I then blend the cooked hearts and gizzards together with the multi vitamins as it creates a liquid paste type texture.

7. Mix all in a giant pot and store for the week in the fridge.

It’s recommended by most that dogs their size and weight (25-30 lbs) get approximately 1 cup of food twice a day. This is what I give them.

They also get an in water sardine about every other 3-4 meals to provide the proper fish oils and additional calcium.

Please let me know if this seems like a sound recipe for my pups. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[Laura L]

I need advice for my 15+ yr old Affen. I’m new; please forgive me if I’m asking you to repeat advice given previously- I feel like time is of the essence, & I can’t process everything I’m researching all at once. Donald has heart murmur/ recent trip to heart dr/ received good report. She said discontinue enalapril or switch to benazepril. He also takes VetMedin; Lasix; Denamarin. He also has Cushings & was taking Vetoryl until last week.
11/23 was first blood work in a while- I didn’t realize the signs of kidney disease earlier. We also moved recently & had to find new vet. 11/23: BUN 88/ CREA 2.6. SubQ fluids. Acupuncture 11/29 (for arthritis) & holistic vet gave me homemade food recipe, which I fed that Tues/Wed/Thurs. D smelled like ammonia after food. BUN went to >130; CREA 2.0. Then went ER vet for iv fluids (careful to watch heart condition.) He started canned kidney diet. On 12/03, BUN 97; CREA 1.7. SubQ fluids 3x / week & BUN & CREA decrease: 65 & 1.9; 57 & 1.7. I added Azodyl somewhere around this time. 12/15/16: heart dr says discontinue enalapril & clears D for teeth cleaning. Had urine protein test at this time/ it was good (like 2, on a scale to 5.) 12/22: BUN 37 & CREA 1.4. 1/06/17: BUN 41/ CREA 1.3 (I think at this pt we had moved to fluids 2x/ week.) 1/13/17: BUN: 49 CREA 1.3. (Note: D had acupuncture again.) The next week D vomited bile on Wed & Sun and wouldn’t eat. We stopped Vetoryl (I know NOW that it’s bad for filtration & bad with ace inhibitor & with diuretic.) Ate a little rice; broth; chicken but would vomit it. 1/18/17: BUN 90 CREA 1.8. 1/20/17: BUN 107 CREA 1.6. Back to ER vet for iv fluids. 01/21/17: BUN: 83 CREA 1.9. 1/23/17: BUN 70; CREA 2.3. He’s had phosphate binders during both ER trips. I’ve ordered a renal supplement, B vitamins, & omega 3s. What else can I do? Would you feed Darwins even though it has high phosphates? Doesn’t Darwins have a binder in it? Would you try homemade? – I’m hesitant since my only attempt sent his BUN off the charts. Do you think accupuncture could have helped cushings enough to cause an overdose effect since he was taking Vetoryl? Apologies for the long post- Would love any thoughts- it’s a hilly, scary road, & I need you, fellow travelers. Much love -le

[Ginger B]

I am looking for a complete premix for my 8 pound chihuahua. I ordered a ton of samples from grandma Lucy’s and she didn’t like any of them. I think the garlic was overbearing in the mixes. I was looking for one that I could add my own meat to so that I can rotate the protein sources. See spot live longer looks like it is no longer made. There is a grain free from thk that I am going to try but with my dog being so picky it would be nice to have a back up plan. I would love to do my own home cooking but it seems so overwhelming with trying to get the vitamins and minerals all balanced out. I was looking into the dr dobias holistic products to add but someone told me that even with those there wasn’t enough calcium. If I would make my own home made can anyone recommend an all in one vitamin source or doesn’t that even exist? Ty!

[elaine c]

the best dog food I know, in a category by itself, and what I feed my two pits is Answers Pet food. It is raw and fermented. Dry dog food is only going to be so good because it is processed. So all the goodness is cooked out of it… then they put in synthetic vitamins and research has shown that long term this is not good for the dogs.. Check it out on dogfood advisor.com. Good luck.