Home cooking

 it IS a huge headache checking the calories and I can't really depend on kibble calorie (or can i?) because they are now obese... Vet printed a page off her book to show me a pie chart, on the basis of 25% carbs (brown rice/ sweet potato), 25% protein (fish / beef / tofu), 25% vegetables (carrots, i'll cook them, yeah i saw them in chunks in their poop), 25% oils (flax seed probably), 25% supplements and fruit (mushrooms/ kelp/papaya/bananas/apples) if i can remember them correctly. I can't really follow the exact calorie intake, they aren't active, and it's too hot to be during the day, and they do need to lose weight.

I don't feed them raw though, not practical in such humidity and the food we buy from the market, i'd rather cook them really. I'll check out the sites and try to follow as closely as i can... i know i used to overfeed them in the past with homecooked, and didn't know how to supplement so i changed to kibble, but with age, kibble isn't too preferred.

I do give them mackerel i buy the frozen ones, while sardines, i'll probably get the canned ones. But those bones should be ok eh?

I'll search for the animal essentials sea calcium. (hate it when this country doesn't have all the good stuff)

Lee debbie

25% carbs (brown rice/ sweet potato), 25% protein (fish / beef / tofu), 25% vegetables (carrots, i'll cook them, yeah i saw them in chunks in their poop), 25% oils (flax seed probably), 25% supplements and fruit (mushrooms/ kelp/papaya/bananas/apples)

25% carbs -- you're mixing vegetable carbs (sweet potato) and grains here -- I feed almost no grain at all-- maybe 5% (usually to soak up the extra broth if I make it too soupy)

Lee debbie

25% protein (fish / beef / tofu),

Lee debbie

25% oils (flax seed probably),

soy can be an allergen BIG TIME for some dogs so be careful. And ... if there is fat in your meat that has to count towards fats.  Dogs need fat but 25% pure fat in a diet?  ewww--- that's pancreatitis waiting to happen.  Particularly if you aren't remembering that some of that fat will come from your meat source.  I try for an absolute maximum of 15% fat and 10% is better. 

Flax is another whole topic, Debbie -- it can be a good omega 3 but you do NOT want to use cold-processed flax oil for dogs (most human flax oils are cold-processed) -- major allergen that will cause explosive diarrhea.

CANNED fish -- those bones are cooked to mush in the canning process.

IN general, Debbie, try what I suggested.  Start with a minimal feeding and then after a couple of weeks WEIGH them and adjust your quantities that way. 

 Yeah I have tried soy before looong ago when they were babies, but so far, no. I buy ground beef, and I am sure there's fat in there. And this is really helpful, I really did not know cold pressed flaxed seed is not good for them.. so far i've been buying in a bottle specially for dogs, given by the vet. I went through the sites from jessie's mom, and calculated calories, also did some search for caloric calculators, and averaged those out. I'm feeding a little below now, i think. but these guys need to lose weight. Yeah i'll get them weighed everytime we go for acupuncture. I'm gonna try out minimal and see how it goes.The only problem i had previously was that Axl tend to put on weight slowly, he's actually quite a skinny golden, his poop was always huge, and vet did suspect that he had absorption problems, but never really got down to checking further. While Alphie was always on the heavy side, judging from her thin legs.. Ashton was always a good and nice sized golden with great bone score, but he's been looking like a white potato in recent years, with almost no sign of losing weight even with lesser food and more exercise.

MEanwhile, for the calcium, i read about the ratio of phosphorus to calcium, which is HELL to determine... Can i just follow the dosages on the packaging OR can i just assume the fish has got calcium? 

You mentioned about giving vitamin A and E together, I can't actually find vitamin A on it's own, and i thought carrots are rich in vitamin A though i need to cook them through to get them easily digested. 

 Yeah i'm pretty excited about sardines, those canned in water or brine right? I got a little shock the other day feeding mackerel and found bones, really have to be careful with those sharp buggers. 

 Osteo Bi-flex Knox NutraJoint, the drink? what about the capsule? I'm gonna order it in, just wanna know which one works better... seems like we only have Osteo bi-flex tablets here ..

Lee debbie

MEanwhile, for the calcium, i read about the ratio of phosphorus to calcium, which is HELL to determine... Can i just follow the dosages on the packaging OR can i just assume the fish has got calcium? 

If you use the Animal Essentials calcium it's 1 teas per pound of meat/fish.

If you feed canned fish (mackerel or sardines) that has a LITTLE calcium but not sufficient.  You **must** supplement with calcium.  Some people use eggshells (you have to wash them and let dry and then pulverize in your food processor.  I've never used it but I can get the amount for you if you can't find the sea calcium.

Carrots -- DO NOT feed a lot of carrots.  one raw one a day is **more than enough**.  Carrots have a sucky cal/phos ratio.  Most any orange veggie has Vit A (squash, sweet potato)

I mentioned before -- I only give A and E once or twice a week IF AT ALL.  If I were you I would NOT supplement with A or E -- not now.  Particularly if you are going to home cook.  don't over do this, Debbie

Lee debbie

 Osteo Bi-flex Knox NutraJoint, the drink? what about the capsule? I'm gonna order it in, just wanna know which one works better... seems like we only have Osteo bi-flex tablets here ..

yes the drink -- that's why I chose THAT link.  The pills generally have glucosamine/chondroitin in them.  And I'm saying JUST use the plain gelatin drink -- and use about 1/2 scoop (it comes in the drum with the NutraJoint).

 You know not to use artificial sweetener, right??  Things may be packaged differently there -- but you know sweeteners like xylitol are poison to dogs right??? 

 Yup i keep a watchout for ingredients like artificial sweeteners. No no for them. The drink can't be found here, I'm gonna get it off amazon. As for animal essentials sea calcium, very unlikely to get it here too.. What do people use in this country!?

 GREAT... amazon does not ship this to my destination... i must be living in some desert

Lee debbie

What do people use in this country!?

They likely don't --

you can use ground eggshells if you need to.  When you can't do exactly what you want, sometimes you just have to do your best and so be it.  I'll email someone I know who has used eggshell.  You could do that, yes??

 yup I could... BUT.. just as an option, help me look at this...

Canina Calcina Calcium Citrate 125g

- With 21% Calcium without  phosphorus
- Excellent compatibility
- For quick calcium supply, especially for aging and convalescing dogs as well as for smaller breeds
- For an optimal supply of the teeth, skeleton and bones and keeping the muscles in good condition, it also helps to prevent osteoporosis.
- In addition, the body needs calcium for blood clotting and better functioning of the heart
- To keep the muscles and nerve impulses functioning
- To activate enzyme systems

Ingredient:
21% Calcium

OR

Natural Pet

Natural seaweed calcium with vitamin C & D & Pro 3 (powder) (closest that seems like a seaweed calcium, but doesn't have one without the added vits.)

Features:
Natural Pet Seaweed Calcium with Vitamin C & D is not just a calcium source.

It contains 34% calcium 3.2% magnesium, and other useful trace elements. Magnesium is involved in calcium involved in calcium metabolism and in the conversion of vitamin D to its active form as well as maintaining bone integrity. Magnesium plays an importance part in the transport of calcium, in and out of the cell.

The ingredient used by Natural Pet Seaweed Calcium with Vitamin C & D consist of Natural Seaweed Skeleton whose Ca/Mg ratio of 10:1 is unique among calcium sources for calcium absorption. Combine with Vitamin C, which is essential for the synthesis of collagen and intercellular material.

Vitamin C is used in the prohylaxis and treatment of Scurvy caused by Vitamin C deficiency, which is manifested by tiredness, loss of appetite, diffuse bleeding in the skin and joints, growth disorders, loss of teeth and inflammation of the gum. Optimal Vitamin C levels are necessary to promote and support metabolic nutrition, resulting in enhanced energy production, strong immune responsiveness, heighten cardiovascular fitness, improve strength and elasticity of skin, blood vessels and other body tissues, as well as improve ability to respond to stress.

 We do have some products here from the USA, but just not what I've been recommended... We do have Nupro though..

Honesty, Debbie -- I'm at work and I can't take the time to research that.  Look here and then click on the Calcium -- then "more information" and it will give you the content that's in the Animal Essentials one -- they aren't in the same measurements I don't think -- and I can't see quickly if they have added stuff or if it is part of it.  Remember this is calcium from seaweed (Kelp)

http://animalessentials.com/

But I asked Glenda -- and when she uses ground eggshells she uses 1 tsp. per pound of meat.  But that would be all eggshell.  How that breaks down I have no clue.

As for online shopping, try finding a smaller online health food store and contact the owner. Explain the situation and maybe they might be able to help.