Make Your Own Dog Food *not vegan

Posts: 8185

WHY?

Dogs like humans need a balanced meal. Here's a suggested ratio to follow:

meat: 40%
veggies: 30%
starch: 30%

You shouldn't switch a dog's diet abruptly unless you can handle the digestive upset that will ensue. A dog's stomach, like a human stomachs prepares itself for the food it expects.

Meats:

Chicken, lamb, eggs, and organ meats are suitable. Beef may be rough on their digestive system.

Veggies:

Dogs don't tend to like acidic veggies like tomatoes, and onions. Carrots are a good practical option.

Starches:

Oatmeal, or rice make good options here.

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*Chicken bones are dangerous to pets and chocolate is very toxic to dogs.
*Onions may cause anemia (see comments below)

Some suggest putting garlic in the food as an insect repellent. Red cedar for bedding is another option.

*this post is subject to updates*

Last edited by madthumbs on Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:26 am; edited 4 times in total

Posts: 2593

I think I've done research on this in the past.

Dogs are scavengers. They eat anything when they aren't disciplined. As for their diet I believe if they have organ meat such as liver you might not have to feed the doggy to many starches as it might contain enough in the visceral areas.

Of course since organ meat is rich it might take time for it to adjust to.

According to BARF:

http://www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm#grains

feeding grains is not the way to go for dogs because its not something they would eat in the wild. It also causes them to fart.

As for veggies dogs can't digest cellulose so you have to mash it up in a blender and mix it with the food.

I'd try to make the effort if your pocket can afford it to eat the same food you're eating but at a more carnivorous level. I might be brave enough to up your ratio to about 60-70 percent meat.

Thats just my suggestion. Do your hw on this subject.

Posts: 8185

Yes, I do think the starches are included mostly because they're extremely cheap filler.

Posts: 226

madthumbs wrote:

Dogs like humans need a balanced meal. Here's a good ratio to follow:

meat: 40%
veggies: 30%
starch: 30%

You shouldn't switch a dog's diet abruptly unless you can handle the digestive upset that will ensue. A dog's stomach, like a human stomachs prepares itself for the food it expects.

Veggies:

Dogs don't tend to like acidic veggies like tomatoes, and onions. Carrots are a good practical option.

-------------------------------------------------

*Chicken bones are dangerous to pets and chocolate is very toxic to dogs.

Some suggest putting garlic in the food as an insect repellent. Red cedar for bedding is another option.

Good advice here ... but there are exceptions to some things. I have a dog who loves 'raw' tomatoes and will steal them off the bushes (but won't eat them cooked). I also mix in brocolli or spinach ... but she spits out the carrot, but I cook it into her food anyway because that way she gets the vitamins etc from them, I'm going to try mashing them like baby food and mixing them in that way. She refuses all raw food (except tomatoes, and chicken meat), and loves grapes and apricots (to get the kernel)

Substitute Carob for chocolate.

Also *Onions should NEVER be given to dogs "in any form" as they can make them anemic.

It's also a good idea to include fat in their diet.

Posts: 2593

	Quote:
	Also *Onions should NEVER be given to dogs "in any form" as they can make them anemic. It's also a good idea to include fat in their diet.

I forgot that as well. I don't see why fish oil can't work for them like it can for us. Onions are no good for most animals.

As for the carobs I've never heard that I might recommend that.

Grapes and apricots. Your dog has excellent instincts to on helping it fight cancer Laughing

.

I think animals have preferences just like humans. The dog I take care of likes the bison meat I buy as well as the venison.

I believe I heard to never ever give them cooked chicken bones. As for the other bones I think they are a go.

Posts: 226

edisme wrote:

I don't see why fish oil can't work for them like it can for us. Onions are no good for most animals.

As for the carobs I've never heard that I might recommend that.

Grapes and apricots. Your dog has excellent instincts to on helping it fight cancer Laughing

.

I think animals have preferences just like humans. The dog I take care of likes the bison meat I buy as well as the venison.

I believe I heard to never ever give them cooked chicken bones. As for the other bones I think they are a go.

My dog loves fish especially little dried sprats (minnows) but her favourite meats are lamb hearts and kidneys, (hates liver), so her fat intake is good, however I sometimes saute the hearts and kidneys in olive oil as a real treat for her. She's a little bit spoiled and doesn't know she's a dog Laughing

Posts: 2

From what I've learned working around my godmothers Natural Pet Food Supply frozen foods are really good, and carrots, lettuce, fruits like berries are good for them.

But with the dog food? Ugh, it makes me sick what they put in the food, byproducts, and glucose, lots of other stuff that you dont know what it is. Inorder to find a good dog food, if you don't go the frozen way, is make sure there are no byproducts, glucose, lots and lots of fat. Make sure that you know everything in it, and think of it this way...would you eat it? Then why feed them it?

And so many vets distribute and reccomend all this harmful food to our animals...why? they know all the stuff in the food is bad for them, but the same food they are feeding the dog may be the same thing sending them back to the vet.

It causes disease, slows matabolism, causes them to get fat and unhealthy causing; diabetes, heart disease, etc. And causes early death in dogs.

Anyways...I love natural and holistic ways. <3

Posts: 226

If this article doesn't convince people to prepare their pets food themselves nothing will.

http://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/petfood2.html

Ugh!!!

Posts: 8185

Massive Dog And Cat Food Recall Amid Pet Deaths
Food Sold At Wal-Mart, Safeway And PetSmart

Posts: 2593

It never made sense to me why conventional vets said not to feed dogs human food as if the pet food they tell us to buy is any better. I think the marketing in this country truly is a brainwashing even for those that are suppose to be the so called experts.

Posts: 226

	edisme wrote:
	It never made sense to me why conventional vets said not to feed dogs human food as if the pet food they tell us to buy is any better. I think the marketing in this country truly is a brainwashing even for those that are suppose to be the so called experts.

Any Vet worth his salt would recommend preparing your pet's food yourself, not necessarily what you eat yourself because some things, like onions are bad for dogs (not sure about cats though).

Everything my dog has I prepare myself as if I were preparing my own meal. If it is meat on the bone I remove the bone and give her the raw bones to chew on for her teeth etc, whole raw chichen wings (wings only), and carefully remove all bones from the cooked chicken before giving it to her, I sometimes give her raw chicken meat, but she prefers cooked.

I was told by a good vet that cats and dogs have preferences of cooked or raw and that either was good for them as long as it was prepared carefully if cooked and to include some raw when possible.

Giving dogs what you eat is not always a good option if it is soup, stews, and other mixed dishes because we nearly always add onions to those and we also add too much salt for pets to handle as well. Sugar is another thing we use that is not good for pets.

Go the extra mile and prepare their meals separately, but as carefully as your own ... you'll have a healthy happy pet that will outlive pets on canned crap, and love you that little bit more. Smile

My dog is 9 years old and everyone who meets her thinks she is still a puppy because of her energy and enthusiasm for life.

Posts: 519

	Quote:
	Also *Onions should NEVER be given to dogs "in any form" as they can make them anemic. It's also a good idea to include fat in their diet.

Also, potato's are know to contribute to seizures.

I have seen it first hand. My step-mothers dog got into some raw potato and within seconds it hit the floor in a fit.
I freaked and rushed her to her veterinarian. The vet said potato's will do this, especially in older dogs.

Food for thought, no pun intended...well maybe a little. Wink

I have been really intense on getting my boy Turkish eating real foods. Him and I walk to the Three Dog Bakery in town. This place is awesome!!! The staff is always baking fresh foods and treats, and love seeing Turkish, as well as he enjoy's them/fresh baked goods. We just bought a birthday cake for my friends dog, Alligator Annabelle. It is a big bone shaped cake, to feed 10 dogs. it is made fresh that day, of carrots, oatmeal, apple, and a hint of cinnamon. It smelled so good, I was wanting a bite.

Anyway, I am interested in some different recipies maybe for Turkish. I know he, along with myself would be greatfull.

Turkish helping in the kitchen. He knows whats up!!!

cheers

Posts: 226

	imamonstertruck wrote:
	Also, potato's are know to contribute to seizures.

I've never heard of this one, thanks for passing it on, I'll tell my friends about this.

I don't have to worry for Suzie as she doesn't like potatoes anyway.

Love the 'nose' up pic Laughing

Posts: 8185

I've seen potatoes suggested as a starch for dog food, but didn't include them because of so many negative articles about them. I still eat potatoes because they're cheap and filling.

When I worked at the pet store, we got some dog cookies in. They looked like normal sandwich cookies, and the ingredients were basically the same as human cookies with the exception of garlic being included in some flavors. My associate and I finished off a package of them. The owner of the store use to come in and eat out of the bulk bin dog treats... yes where all the kid's dirty hands played.