Hi! I've recently decided to cut out processed and refined and preservative laden food for my own health. So I've been getting into the habit of reading food labels. A few days ago when feeding Shadow her kibble, I read the ingredients in her food and nearly took her food away from under her nose! I've since been reading lots of articles on the internet, as well as my own country's legislation on dog food and have decided that Shadow is going to join me on the quest for healthy, real food...and organic when we can find/afford it. After much, much reading and applying common sense and with what's available to me to feed her, I've decided on a home cooked diet. I'm going to see the vet tomorrow to get her opinion, but I would also like yours. Am I giving her all the nutrients she needs? The plan is: Protein (boiled eggs/beef shin mince/lean chicken mince/fish) and a bit of liver. Carbs (mixture of white and brown rice/mashed peeled potatoes/pasta/barley/oats). Veg (carrot/pumpkin/cauliflower/etc/whatever is in the weekly veg box). Ratio of the above is a bit more protein than carbs, and a bit more carbs than veg (say 2 cups protein, 1 1/2 cups carbs, 1 cup veg). Veg will be blended. Supplements: Over morning food a teaspoon of ground eggshells and a teaspoon of spirulina powder. Over evening food a tablespoon of flax oil. A few times a week: A tablespoon of kefir/cottage cheese/yoghurt for extra calcium and numminess. A raw chicken wing. Fruit to snack on. She's 9 months old, weighs about 25kg. Tall and slim like her Great Dane X father and active like her Lab mother. As far as I've read with regard to the amount of food I should give her is to start her on a little less cooked food than the kibble she is getting and see how she does. I've also worked out how many kilojoules she needs each day! (Don't I have too much spare time?!) I'm assuming I must gradually change the diet, over a week or two. Some websites say starve the dog for 24 hours, then start immediately with new food, but I would never be able to do that. And...silly question...must I warm the food up? Please let me know what you think about this diet, I'm not into feeding her raw for several reasons. I really want to get her away from the expensive "plastic" food she's eating now, but don't want to harm her by not meeting her doggy nutrition needs. Will appreciate any thoughts! Clair
Re: Need opinion on new diet for Shadow What you're proposing can definitely be done We prepared a similar diet for our previous Labrador although ours was pretty much 100% meat and veg (though our dog got leftovers too which included rice and pasta). We did add tins of beans to the mix now and then though. We didn't bother pureeing veg - we just left things in chunks - but it was mostly all cooked so it was easily digested. I'd say that you are pretty much on the right track but I'd go for a ratio of more meat than veg and more veg than 'carbs'. Things like white rice and pasta won't have much value for a dog and she'll get plenty of carbs from the veg. Also, consider getting a blood test done after a few months to check that things like iron and calcium aren't out of whack. The other thing I'd think about is a teeth cleaning regime. The planned diet is mostly soft and wet and, apart from the occasional chicken wing, will provide no teeth cleaning action. I'd consider adding teeth cleaning to your regime
Re: Need opinion on new diet for Shadow It sounds like a pretty good diet to me too, though I'd be inclined to add some more raw stuff such as chicken or duck necks and some raw fish. Good advice about having a blood test done after three months - I did the same after putting my dog on a raw diet and it was very helpful in showing me where we were not giving her enough of some things, and too much of others.
Re: Need opinion on new diet for Shadow I think it's fine. Just be sure to feed more meat and less veggies, you may add carbs but not much. The only concern I would have with cooked food is dental health. You will either need to start brushing her teeth or add some raw meaty bones to prevent tartar build up.
Re: Need opinion on new diet for Shadow Hiya! I don't have any experience, apart from what I have read in here. I only wanted to chip in that your vet may not be particularly impressed with this course of action, I have heard some of them can be a bit negative with regards to Raw and Home-cooked diets, concerned that they are not as "nutritionally complete" as kibble products. I have heard other vets are really supportive though! Just wanted to warn you that if yours is in the former group, not to be disheartened
Re: Need opinion on new diet for Shadow Thanks everyone for the replies! Jacqui, you were spot on...my vet gave me a strange look when I told her what I want to do and suggested that I keep her on the kibble until she is at least 18 months old. I read through the food label again and decided to do what is best for my dog, which means real food! I also like the idea of a blood test, that will be the best indicator of any deficiencies. And the ratio of more veg also makes sense. I should also mention that Shadow has, at any one time, about three hooves lying around that she chews in the evenings that keep her teeth beautifully clean. She really has classic pearly whites, so I'm not too worried about that. Now comes the fun bit where I give her different things to taste and see what she likes and what she doesn't. So far she likes everything! Typical! Thanks again for the advice!
