Hi everyone, Bruce is a 13 week old male lab pup. He had some stomach issues a few weeks back and the vet advised to switch to some rice and chicken for a few days. After i did this he simply refused to go back to the dried food and i tried to add a little each day in with the rice and chicken but as soon as he noticed the kibble he did not wanted it. So in all my wisdom (i hope) i gave in and now making batches of home made food made rice, sweet potato, chicken, 5% chicken liver (cooked) and brocolli and or beans. This in a portponial rate of 60% protein from meat source 20% cooked starch and 20% vegetables. The only problem i have is i am not sure how much to give him. Bruce also gets every 2 days a spoon of blueberries with some organic natural yoghurt. Is there anyone out there that can advise if this diet is ok and how much i should give
Hi. I feed my dog raw meaty bones, raw meat and organs. And eggs, fish etc. He also gets fruit and veg as treats - there's a fair amount in our house as we're vegetarian and he gets lots of offcuts. He LOVES steamed broccoli. Also licks out all the yoghurt containers. I am cautious of bone to meat ratio, and not to give too much organ meat. But the rest, well, he gets enough to remain a healthy weight. Well done on making food for your pup. My main concern about the diet you have spelled out is the lack of bones. Dogs need calcium. If you're afraid of feeding whole bones, you can feed crushed bones (powder). There are others who cook for their dogs who will surely be able to advise you better than I can. I'd recommend feeding completely raw - then I can point you to useful resources.
My dog (passed at 13 years old) did very well on raw as a youngster then cooked (out of necessity with a change in living situation) from the age of 7 years onwards. The only thing in your current mixture I would ditch would be the rice. Dogs don't need grains/starch. If you want more bulk, up the veggies or occasionally add a bit of well-cooked steel cut oatmeal (no flavoring or sugar of course), which at least has good fibre. My dog also had tummy issues and for him rice didn't work that well. That's when I learned that cutting grains/starch entirely was actually much better. I didn't do beans (except green beans)...too gassy! ;-) He also couldn't eat any dairy or potatoes, but I think that was just him. Sardines (tinned) are a really good source of calcium and super easy in a pinch - no prep. Eggs, also great and easy. Veggies he liked in addition to broccoli were ochra, cauliflower, zucchini (courgettes?), ok...pretty much any veggie. Apples and bananas were also great and very easy to add in raw. I think the key is variety so all vitamins get in there on a regular rotation. I agree with @MF that feeding raw is the best (and this would also include veggies and fruits) but cooked is a slightly less wonderful alternative that is still miles ahead of kibble.
Nothing wrong with cooking the food. My vet prefers cooked to raw - as it makes everything more digestible and takes care of the bacteria risk (which is mainly with raw chicken...I do feed raw chicken though). The only issue with cooking is that you're not getting the bone (calcium) content. Eggs will help (whole raw or boiled eggs - both with shell). I'd add in some raw meaty bones too, like lamb ribs or lamb neck or ox tail. It's not hard to get it right as long as you're feeding a variety. Your ratios sound fine to me, with the addition of what's been suggested by others above - sardines, eggs and raw meaty bones. When we say 'raw meaty bones' we mean the kind of thing you'd cook up for your dinner but on the bone. Things your dog can crunch up and eat in their entirety in a matter of minutes. Not big leg bones that last for hours (these just wear teeth out).
Responses so far are good especially on the calcium issue. Your dog needs calcium and if not from bones he can break down and eat then from a calcium supplement (with no D3). Conventional wisdom on raw feeding is a 80-10-10, which stands for 80% meat, 10% bone and 10% organ at 2%-3% of dogs body weight. We've enough people to cook for in our household to add a separate meal for the dog so raw has been our easy choice. Buy in bulk and portion it out in bowls and freeze till needed. You're giving a lot of carbs which it totally unnecessary but a little I believe helps with digestion and stools. P.S. ditch the yogurt and buy a powdered probiotic to spread on their meal. There is not enough active ingredients in yogurt to do much good for a dog's digestive issues.
https://www.amazon.ca/Pitcairns-Complete-Guide-Natural-Health/dp/157954973X Two ladies I know used this book to guide them. Both started home cooking for elderly dogs with health problems and were impressed with the improvement. One was a Lab. Be aware the first edition (on loan to me for a short time) says to feed grapes which we now know are bad for dogs.
Yes, I found this to be really helpful for my dog's digestive issues. I used a brand I found in Italy called "Florentero" but I think there are lots of options out there. It really made a difference in keeping loose stool problems at bay and he seemed to have more energy and just be 'perkier". Though with a puppy, that's not going to be a side effect I imagine - they've already got plenty of energy.
