10 reasons of why home made rations are not for pets

[josephine]

health care (http://www.provet.co.uk/petfacts/healthtips/homemade.htm)

[chazhound]

I wouldn't feed my dogs an all meat diet...

Chazhound

[Renee750il]

The real problem with that advice, at least for those of us in the U.S., is that most vets don't really have much knowledge about pet nutrition other than what's been passed on to them by two major pet food manufacturers - that make severely under-quality and unhealthy products. Asking your typical veterinarian about your dog or cat's nutrition just isn't going to get any substantially helpful advice.

[Doberluv]

Well then...what is all the whoop-lah about raw food diets? I know it's suppose to be "natural," but I am skeptical still. Many of those raw, meaty diets have no supplimentation of veggies, grains etc. The idea is that when a dog kills a rabbit or whatever, there's all that stuff in them anyhow, so they are getting meat, digested veggies and perhaps grain of some sort. What is your opinion on that?

Personally, I like a premium kibble. I can't see having raw, bloody bones drug around my house. Call me a neat freak. LOL.

[Renee750il]

Oh, there's no doubt that a properly administered BARF diet is superlative. But the key is properly administered; that can be a staggering proposition, especially if you have to earn a living and live with another human being and have to sleep once in awhile. It probably wouldn't be that strenuous with small dogs, but with a bunch like mine???? I've read about some Fila breeders that feed only raw, but they obviously have plenty of time and a superior source of income. And I'll be honest, one of them is a breeder that I and several others consider to be a dangerous liability to the breed and its reputation - but that's another thread for another day.

There is a product, Sojourn (www.sojos.com) that has really impressed me with its quality and practicality. It is a 'formula' that you add to the raw food, I think it's available in varieties that contain grain and do not contain grain. It balances out the nutrients so you know your dog is getting the full spectrum.

Truthfully, though, I don't see myself changing from the Innova, especially since they are now eating the EVO formula.

[DogCrazy]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I have 2 dogs... Frisky, 2.5 year old black male lab and Maggie, 1.5 year old brown female collie mix. They are both healthy and in great shape. But we do feed them home-made rations; in fact they have very little of their "dog food" in a day. It's usually either mixed with some wet canned food or some milk or they get some rice with yogurt or bread.

Is this bad for them? They eat twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. They don't like their dry dog food very much, especially if that's all there is on their plates. It should at least be mixed with something. If they aren't showing any signs of stomach upsets or loss of weight, should I be concerned?

Thanks!

[josephine]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I have 2 dogs... Frisky, 2.5 year old black male lab and Maggie, 1.5 year old brown female collie mix. They are both healthy and in great shape. But we do feed them home-made rations; in fact they have very little of their "dog food" in a day. It's usually either mixed with some wet canned food or some milk or they get some rice with yogurt or bread.

Is this bad for them? They eat twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. They don't like their dry dog food very much, especially if that's all there is on their plates. It should at least be mixed with something. If they aren't showing any signs of stomach upsets or loss of weight, should I be concerned?

Thanks!

Milk is not good for adult dogs as they are lactose intolerant,milk is good for the puppies.Milk can cause diarrhea.
If you want to give to your dogs milk,give only small amounts of it.
As far as i know yogurt is good,the plain yogurt though not the yogurts that have sugar in them.
Cheese is good too! :)
I've noticed that dogs eat dry food when they are hungry,they don't eat it when they are being fed with other "better" stuff.

You have to be careful with home made food,watch out the toxic stuff that can harm your dogs,for example onions are a BIG NO NO for dogs

read this :
http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2035

[Renee750il]

The yoghurt is a great addition. Just make sure it has active cultures so your dog is getting the full benefit of the enzymes.

Some dogs don't like the sourness of plain yoghurt, but really love the vanilla. Just make sure you're not giving them the stuff that's sweetened with artificial sweeteners. Or you can take the plain yoghurt and put a spoonful of honey in it, preferably raw. Raw honey is a great addition to a dog's diet. Just remember, moderation is the key to everything.

If your dogs really like the milk, you can try them on calf milk replacer. You get it at farm supply stores and co-ops. It's different because all the fat has been removed. We supplement our pups with it, especially since they have such large frames. It's also much, much less expensive than using canned milk.

Another thing you can put on their food for a treat is unsalted chicken or beef broth. They love it. For a treat, I buy beef hearts and simmer them in a pot of water with a clove or two of garlic. It's the leanest meat you can find; just good solid protein, and you can freeze the broth in portion sized containers and thaw it out later to put over their dry food.

[josephine]

The yoghurt is a great addition. Just make sure it has active cultures so your dog is getting the full benefit of the enzymes.

Some dogs don't like the sourness of plain yoghurt, but really love the vanilla. Just make sure you're not giving them the stuff that's sweetened with artificial sweeteners. Or you can take the plain yoghurt and put a spoonful of honey in it, preferably raw. Raw honey is a great addition to a dog's diet. Just remember, moderation is the key to everything.

If your dogs really like the milk, you can try them on calf milk replacer. You get it at farm supply stores and co-ops. It's different because all the fat has been removed. We supplement our pups with it, especially since they have such large frames. It's also much, much less expensive than using canned milk.

Another thing you can put on their food for a treat is unsalted chicken or beef broth. They love it. For a treat, I buy beef hearts and simmer them in a pot of water with a clove or two of garlic. It's the leanest meat you can find; just good solid protein, and you can freeze the broth in portion sized containers and thaw it out later to put over their dry food.


wow cool information there renee,thanks! :)

[Saje]

Do you eat a raw diet yourself, Serena? Just curious since many people believe that this is a very healthy way for people to eat too as well as being the most natural way to eat.

[Renee750il]

ROFL! I've been threatening to go on a diet - the EVO diet! It's undoubtedly healthier than most of the stuff at the grocery store!

[Saje]

Hee hee hee. I'm glad you find me so amusing. :) I was being mostly serious. Well, sort of. I meet a lot of people on raw diets but they are mostly vegetarians so that's not so bad. But, really, before we invented fire we ate raw meat too.

[Renee750il]

Oh, I figured you were mostly serious; I was mostly joking! ;) I've read articles about raw diets for humans. I think Jack LaLane is a proponent of at least a mostly raw diet. How old is he now, 1,000? I saw him on TV a couple of months ago and he looks great. He may live to be 150. I seriously doubt I want to live that long!

My sister is a vegetarian. She became one in college and came home lecturing us about how cruel it was to eat other animals. She hit me when I asked her why she was still wearing leather . . . :rolleyes:

[Saje]

LOL, yeah. That's a common thing with vegetarians. People have all different ideas about being vegetarian and really there are tons of different kinds: ovo-lacto, lacto, vegan (life-style or just diet), macro-biotic, raw foods... And within all of that there are tons of different variations. I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian although I rarely eat dairy or eggs so I could call myself a part-time vegan but that offends vegans.

<rollseyes>

I wear leather although most of it is from pre-veg. I have no qualms about buying used leather because the meat industry doesn't benefit some people do though because they feel they are "advertising" leather. I think fur is a horrible thing to wear because there is no purpose except fashion. And minks and other animals like that have horrible living conditions.

It's such a confusing issue. And so many people get really defensive about it. I don't care if others are vegetarian or not. Even if animals were killed/raised more humanely I still wouldn't eat meat. I don't like it. I would love to see slaughter methods changed and people incorporating more veggies/fruits/grains in their diets. I figure that's about all I can hope for. :)

So, I've gone off on a rant in a non-related thread. Oh well. At least the thread was about food! :)

[Renee750il]

I tried a vegetarian diet, ovo-lacto, for 90 days when I was body building. I got very ill. My body just doesn't function well that way. I do prefer the way we get our meat now - very Zen - we have two freezers full of Angus from having to humanely put down our big bull, Buddy. I had to stop and think about it before I could deal with that, but then realized that using what Buddy left us productively honored his spirit much more than wasting it. Very Zen, I learned - we eat what's given to us.

I never thought I'd cry over a bull.

[Saje]

To me, all animals are the same. I'd cry over my horses so it's completey rational to cry over a bull or chicken. They all have individual personalities.

My bf worked for two-weeks at a slaughter house. I won't go into detail because it would make the average person gag but it almost made his carnivorous soul go veg! And definitely put him off of commercial dog food after he say the cancerous, pussy, tumour infested meat that went in the dog food bins. <blah> I said I wouldn't talk about it. Whoops!

It's definitely harder for some people to be veg. It was easy for me. I never liked meat much anyway. I can't really say why it didn't work for you. I choose to believe that it could have with a different diet... But that's just because I believe in vegetarianism. I hope that doesn't offend you. it's just not something I'm ready to let go of yet. Silly. That's just how I am

[Renee750il]

I've often thought our bodies function best if we take into consideration what our ethnic ancestors way back ate. We're pretty obviously of Irish and some Scots stock; our Celtic ancestors coped with a short growing season, harvested natural grains, fished in cold waters and raised cattle. As well as stole them back and forth from each other - that's probably why there are so many lawyers in the family . . . ;)

[Saje]

:) Yeah, I can see that being true. Fish is good for you. It's too bad the waters are so polluted now. :(

[DogCrazy]

The yoghurt is a great addition. Just make sure it has active cultures so your dog is getting the full benefit of the enzymes.

Some dogs don't like the sourness of plain yoghurt, but really love the vanilla. Just make sure you're not giving them the stuff that's sweetened with artificial sweeteners. Or you can take the plain yoghurt and put a spoonful of honey in it, preferably raw. Raw honey is a great addition to a dog's diet. Just remember, moderation is the key to everything.

If your dogs really like the milk, you can try them on calf milk replacer. You get it at farm supply stores and co-ops. It's different because all the fat has been removed. We supplement our pups with it, especially since they have such large frames. It's also much, much less expensive than using canned milk.

Another thing you can put on their food for a treat is unsalted chicken or beef broth. They love it. For a treat, I buy beef hearts and simmer them in a pot of water with a clove or two of garlic. It's the leanest meat you can find; just good solid protein, and you can freeze the broth in portion sized containers and thaw it out later to put over their dry food.

Wow... some really cool tips and advice; thanks all you guys. I quite surprised I didn't run into this web-site earlier :). I visit a lot of forums, but most of my time is spent on car forums :D. But I'll be a regular over here for sure now.

[Renee750il]

Glad you'll be with us! Atlanta's a great place to find a good used Porsche . . .

[chazhound]

Does lettuce on my hamburger make me a sort of vegetarian?

I love bulls too, they are so cute, especially right next to the gravy and mash potatoes :)

Chazhound

[Renee750il]

Oh, Chaz - that's probably a steer or heifer next to the potatoes . . . ;)

The lettuce makes you an omnivore, silly man! :D Behave, or we'll sic Saje on you to give you a lecture on vegetarianism.

What are we going to do with you?

[chazhound]

Well at least I didn't post in that Personal Question thread. :)

Chazhound

[Renee750il]

What, you're not interested in pectoral implants? They're becoming more and more popular, you know. :eek:

Okay, back to dog food . . . :p

[Katysdog]

Ohhh, this is a hot subject. I have a ISSR Shiloh Shepherd. I want to say right now that I wouldn't feed the same to a small toy dog. My mother always told me we are what we eat. Could you eat just plain kibble (no matter how "good" it is) and stay healthy, for lets say 10 years? I really don't think so. I did MUCH research BEFORE even getting a dog. This is what I feed my dog.

Eagle pack kibble (about 1 to 1 1/2 cups per feeding, she eats twice a day)
cooked fresh meat (1 to 1 1/2 cups per feeding) chicken, turkey, fillet mignon, salmon, eggs, duck, etc...
fresh cooked veggies (1/2 cup per feeding) broccoli is her favorite, but very gasous, lol.
starches (1/2 cup to 1 cup per feeding) potatoes, rice, noodles (NO BUTTER ADDED)
1 heaping tsp yogurt (once a day)
1 heaping tsp cottage cheese (once a day)

The only thing I give raw is that tip of the chicken wing that we cannot eat. This little bit (not the big boney part). The cartilage will turn to gel in the dogs stomach, and help fight the pain of Pano.

I also give a raw bone about every 3 days. This bone is BIG, so she doesn't swallow it, but eats the marrow from it.

My dog was breed to be on this diet. PLEASE ask your vet or breeder BEFORE going on such a diet. My dog is the picture of health, and has never needed to go on any suppliments, and while others from her litter have had problems with Pano mine has not. Mine is the only one (except for the breeder who kept one, and that dog is fed the same way, except she feeds all her meat raw, with no Pano problems either) without Pano problems.

Food you should never give your dog. Onions, tomatoes, grapes, raisins, chocolate.

These foods cause BIG problems in dogs. Do the reaserch if you don't believe me. I think there were a few more, but I can't remember right now.

I also feed fresh fruit. She thinks mango is marvelous!

We wouldn't be healthy if we just ate one food all the time. Wolves (all dogs come from this race) don't just eat one food in the wild either. A varied diet is the best. Again, PLEASE ASK YOUR VET OR BREEDER FIRST.

[Saje]

I'm here! I'm ready to, um, sic. :)



(Actually, I don't want to be a preachy veg-head!)

[DogCrazy]

Ohhh, this is a hot subject. I have a ISSR Shiloh Shepherd. I want to say right now that I wouldn't feed the same to a small toy dog. My mother always told me we are what we eat. Could you eat just plain kibble (no matter how "good" it is) and stay healthy, for lets say 10 years? I really don't think so. I did MUCH research BEFORE even getting a dog. This is what I feed my dog.

Eagle pack kibble (about 1 to 1 1/2 cups per feeding, she eats twice a day)
cooked fresh meat (1 to 1 1/2 cups per feeding) chicken, turkey, fillet mignon, salmon, eggs, duck, etc...
fresh cooked veggies (1/2 cup per feeding) broccoli is her favorite, but very gasous, lol.
starches (1/2 cup to 1 cup per feeding) potatoes, rice, noodles (NO BUTTER ADDED)
1 heaping tsp yogurt (once a day)
1 heaping tsp cottage cheese (once a day)

The only thing I give raw is that tip of the chicken wing that we cannot eat. This little bit (not the big boney part). The cartilage will turn to gel in the dogs stomach, and help fight the pain of Pano.

I also give a raw bone about every 3 days. This bone is BIG, so she doesn't swallow it, but eats the marrow from it.

My dog was breed to be on this diet. PLEASE ask your vet or breeder BEFORE going on such a diet. My dog is the picture of health, and has never needed to go on any suppliments, and while others from her litter have had problems with Pano mine has not. Mine is the only one (except for the breeder who kept one, and that dog is fed the same way, except she feeds all her meat raw, with no Pano problems either) without Pano problems.

Food you should never give your dog. Onions, tomatoes, grapes, raisins, chocolate.

These foods cause BIG problems in dogs. Do the reaserch if you don't believe me. I think there were a few more, but I can't remember right now.

I also feed fresh fruit. She thinks mango is marvelous!

We wouldn't be healthy if we just ate one food all the time. Wolves (all dogs come from this race) don't just eat one food in the wild either. A varied diet is the best. Again, PLEASE ASK YOUR VET OR BREEDER FIRST.

That makes a lot of sense; and I'll take your word on the "don't" list. I wish someone would complile a much more comprehensive "don't" list; I find those more useful than the "do" list :D

[Renee750il]

The "Don't List" Katysdog posted is good, except that tomatoes aren't a no-no. They're actually good for dogs, especially cooked.

If you think about it, wolves in the wild eat the same foods all the time, they just don't eat them all at once; they generally have a one-item menu per meal, plus whatever is partially disgested in the stomach of their quarry.

The legitimately high quality kibbles contain a variety of the foods, and most of us give our dogs the occasional appropriate (and sometimes not-so-appropriate, lol) leftovers and tidbits.

Unfortunately most vets in the United States are babes in the woods when it comes to nutrition, so your best source of information is doing the research - or due diligence as we call it in my trade. ;)

Just please don't let your dog eat Twinkies or Moon Pies! :D

[joce]

I hope tomatoes are ok because thats my dobes favorite snack :D ! He has a thing for salad too.

[Renee750il]

Would you believe my Monster Girls love raw cabbage - especially the heart? Purdue, my First Shepherd, loved tomatoes, especially cherry tomatoes. So does my Dad. Dad planted them every spring, and every spring, Purdue would pick them and eat them as soon as they got ripe. Never the green ones. He waited until they were ripe. We always had plenty of seedlings the next year - all we had to do was go out and dig them up from the yard . . . lol. And Purdue lived and active and mischievious life and made it past his 15th birthday in good health except for some arthritis in his neck.

And have you ever seen a dog that DIDN'T like anything resembling spaghetti sauce or pizza?

[DogCrazy]

My dog loved beer!!! Go figure!!

[Renee750il]

My Bear loved it too. A little bit every once in awhile is good for them. Bear was funny, though, once he got a taste of some Corona my neighbor gave him he wouldn't drink domestic beer! Bear's favorite food was pizza - pizza and imported beer, what a dog!

[Saje]

LOL Cute!

[Brattina88]

And have you ever seen a dog that DIDN'T like anything resembling spaghetti sauce or pizza?

HaHaHa!
Can you picture Maddie with a red stained face?
Forget Lady and the Tramp, its eat-it-as-fast-as-you-can and save-some-for-later (even if it is all over her face!)
:D