Anyone here feeding their dog home made? Hi, I'm new here. I'm also searching for a healthier option to the bagged, dry kibble. My lab is almost 2 years old and has been raised on dry kibble of supposed high quality (Blue Buffalo Fish & Brown Rice formula). The idea of mixing wet food has certain merits according to our vet, but I don't want the approach of a store bought variety, when I can make home made. I need to ensure the dog gets the nutrition he requires while cutting in half potential long term harmful accumulations of certain ingredients found in dry kibble (ash and other residue) Ground turkey, chicken, beef, pork and fish (mostly trout) is what I'd like to start out with. Combine that with brown rice, shredded spinach, carrots and peas, cook and freeze. Our dog gets 1 3/4 cups of kibble per feeding, 2 feedings a day. The plan is to substitute 50% of kibble content with the home made food. How do I make sure this combination provides the necessary protein and vitamins? The conversation with our vet left us searching for more answers.
Hi Peter, Rather than revive an old thread, I've created a new one for your question - you can read more about why we sometimes do that here. I feed a mix of wet and dry, but I'll admit I use commercial wet foods for convenience!
I started cooking for my dog nearly 4 weeks ago. There is a Facebook group which have excellent information that has enabled me to ensure my dog has a properly balanced diet. The group's rules prevent me from sharing their files (which are extremely detailed) but if you want to join it it's called 'Home Cooked Diets For Dogs'. One thing I think I have learnt is the importance of adding calcium to a home-cooked diet. I do this by microwaving eggshells and then grinding to a powder. The site I mention gives exact quantities needed. I'm pleased that I've made the change. Already Molly is more energetic, her coat looks better and she has started to lose weight (which she needs to do) without being constantly ravenous.
I would certainly look into this, but be a little cautious about adding 'extras' to a balanced kibble as you can end up with an unbalanced diet. A homemade diet is great for dogs, but balance is very important. I feed raw and actually really enjoyed the research involved in balancing a diet. There are raw pre-made foods, if you don't fancy the research.
Ok, thanks for replies. Some more research needed like I thought, just to make sure our boy gets the nutrition he needs. I want to be very involved in his dietary needs.
