Anyone know about Balance It vitamins???

ORIGINAL: jessies_mom

OK, Is all of this calcium confusion explained in Monica's booklets that I ordered???
Because...the WHOLE measurement of supplements thing is what is going to confuse the crap out of me when it comes to homecooking and feeding raw.

I have her cooked diet recipes booklet and she tells how many capsules, mg, teaspoons, eggshells, etc. to add for each supplement for each recipe.

Good! [] Because with these recalls, I'm beginning to not even trust grain-free.
We can hope it remains the "rice protein concentrate" and "wheat gluten", but what if it turns out to be something else?
GRRRR.

If I use the calcium pills, do I crush them and add to the food? I feel frozen, scared to mess up. 

Well, you may hear me say something completely different a few months from now as I continue to learn. But, I think with adult dogs (completely different with puppies), that I will stay with a 1:1 if using citrate, and maybe a 1.5:1 with eggshell.  That's just a guess since it's not absorbed as well.   On a side note, I did read today that if your dog has oxide crystals, that they actually need the higher ratio of calcium. My dogs don't have this - I was just following a link and found that interesting).
 
I'm going to start using the pantry feature at nutritiondata so I will know how much to add to my reciepes.
 
Sallya,  I just did things on the side for the first month, as well.  When you use fresh cooked salmon, does it have the bones in it?  If it does, then I'm hoping you are maybe pressure cooking it so the bones will be soft?  If not, then do add the calcium.  And, do try and switch meats around b/c variety is very important.
 
Sorry, I forgot to add the dash in the b-naturals link.  I knew it didn't look right!
 
I'm not putting Monica down, so don't take this wrong:  but her reciepes are just too hard for me to follow.  They are too nit picky and reguire too many ounces of this and too many ounces of that and my dog's weight don't fit her weight guidelines.  I am much more able to just vary the veggies, vary the meat, add in organ (I have been doing a vitamin supplement that I will quit using when I find the organ meat), add calcium and be done with it. (except for the daily fish oil and Vit E two times a week)
 
"freelance" cooking is hard enough for me since I didn't cook before all this.  The entire regular cooking process is new, so I need to not be stressed out about being exact at what I put in.  I guess I want to make up my own reciepes with the veggies and stuff I find at the store and vary the meats, and try not to make it any harder than it is.  I really don't think it's hard --- it's just so new to me and new things are naturally intimidating. 

You can purchase capsules, and just open up and use what is needed.  I ordered NOW citrate in an 8 oz container of powder.  I put some powder in another, smaller container with one of those mositure absorber round cubes (oxymoron) left over from a previous vitamin jar. 
 
For such a small dog as yours, since you are not cooking in bulk, you will need a special set of spoons that measure wee bits.  They have funny terms to them. The largest would probably be a "pinch" which is 1/16 and then they get smaller from there.

Chaza, I use salmon with no bones. She can have beef, but no chicken. I guess I can try lamb again. With her allergies, I HAD a perfect handle with the fresh and kibble. I don't want to mess her up.

Shoot. I feed the canned salmon, bones and all.
The bones are really soft.

My dog eats it with out ANY problems.

I'm not putting Monica down, so don't take this wrong: but her reciepes are just too hard for me to follow. They are too nit picky and reguire too many ounces of this and too many ounces of that and my dog's weight don't fit her weight guidelines. I am much more able to just vary the veggies, vary the meat, add in organ (I have been doing a vitamin supplement that I will quit using when I find the organ meat), add calcium and be done with it. (except for the daily fish oil and Vit E two times a week)

"freelance" cooking is hard enough for me since I didn't cook before all this. The entire regular cooking process is new, so I need to not be stressed out about being exact at what I put in. I guess I want to make up my own reciepes with the veggies and stuff I find at the store and vary the meats, and try not to make it any harder than it is. I really don't think it's hard --- it's just so new to me and new things are naturally intimidating.

  We all have to do what we're comfortable with, but I like having the exact amounts of meats, potatoes, eggs, vegetables, and supplements to add; I'd rather follow the recipe of a nutritionist than try to figure out myself how much of each supplement to use. For those who want variety, she says you can take the ingredients for a week's worth of food and give different ones daily instead of combining all of them into one batch. I should say though that I an not using one of her recipes for a week's worth of food; Jessie is allergic to some of the ingredients for the recipe in her weight class.

Sally---Just my opinion, but I'd leave your routine of kibble/fresh add-in's alone unless you have to change.  Trudy has allergy issues and the fish NB has not been recalled. 

Jessie's mom and Rebecca and Sallya,
 
Rebecca, if you feed canned fish more than 2-3 times a week, you might want to rinse b/c of the high salt.  [sm=2cents.gif]
 
Jessie's mom;
 

  Jessie is allergic to some of the ingredients for the recipe in her weight class.

Just being nosy here, but what are the food allergies?
 

  For those who want variety, she says you can take the ingredients for a week's worth of food and give different ones daily instead of combining all of them into one batch.

 
I'm trying to alter some of the veggies each batch, not every day, but each batch.  I do think that is really needed.
 
As far as following her reciepes, I'm glad that works for you. [] I have her book (and a few other authors), and her book is actually one of my favorites.  I like her alot, and I think she has alot of good advice.  I just get to stressed from the "exactness" of it and am trying to balance "over time" (except, of course, calcium, every day).
 
Sallya, I don't think you ever said how much kibble you are still using.  If it's half or 3/4's, then that should be alright.  But, otherwise, you will need to start adding stuff in.  I like using Canned Jack  or canned salmon b/c they are low in mecury and are supposed to be wild caught and this is better than farmed. And it's much easier!  Just a thought if you get tired one night of cooking the fish.  I almost always rinse mine off, tho, b/c of the salt. And, it does come with the bones.  This is the one exception to not being able to use cooked bones - b/c these are canned and the bones are so small to begin with, they get cooked till they are soft and are safe to eat.  You probably already know that,tho! Cooking is fine, just mentioning the canned is also an option. []

As far as following her reciepes, I'm glad that works for you

 
   I didn't make it clear enough in my other post, but I can't use her recipes because of Jessie's food allergies. I do use the instructions in her booklet for enhancing commercial diets and cook a meat, starch, and veggie mixture and add that to Jessie's food. Jessie's allergies are chicken, salmon, brewers yeast, pork, potato, and sweet potato. She had her six month recheck recently at the dermatologist and I discussed the new food allergies I learned about this winter and the fact that since I've been avoiding the foods in her diet, she hasn't had anymore infections in her feet and ears, but her ears are still itchy. She suggested I feed her a food without chicken fat because she thinks fat from the protein source that a dog's allergic to can cause a reaction too, so I'm in the process of transitioning her from Eagle Pack Duck to California Natural Lamb, which uses sunflower oil. It's a good food and I hope avoiding chicken fat helps, but I'm relieved that her other problems are gone.
 
     I remember that your dog was losing weight on the homecooking; have you solved that problem?

I like using Canned Jack or canned salmon b/c they are low in mecury and are supposed to be wild caught and this is better than farmed.

 
   This site is helpful in choosing fish that are low in contaminants;
 
[linkhttp://www.oceansalive.org/eat.cfm?subnav=bestandworst]http://www.oceansalive.org/eat.cfm?subnav=bestandworst[/link];
 
 

Prancer is small also, and I avoid the "small measuring spoon" issue by cooking in bulk (2 wks of food at a time).   So far I've made 4 different "recipes" (that I made up on my own while waiting for Monica's pamplets and books).    I make enough of each for 4 or 5 meals and include the ground eggshell.  I then freeze them in 1.5 cup storage containers.   I add any supplements (except the calcium) right before I feed them.
The cooking part is working well and I can't wait to actually balance the recipes.

Might I say, as I have been trying to learn this, that the calcium thing is THE MOST confusing element of it all! I'm not saying you are wrong, I am just trying to understand all the differences. I do know that some people give a one to one ratio, and others give higher. I know that the citrate is better absorbed than the eggshell. And, I know that if you want to get technical, then every meat type is different. I'm just trying to match up these different statements on how much calcium to give. Aaarggghhh. So, maybe your's is just based on a higher ratio, of say 2:1. ??? I'm guessing. You don't have to answer..... I think I'm just venting over this calcium frustration while I'm learning!!

 
  chaza; You were right; I was making  some more cooked food for Jessie today and rechecked my figures for the amount of calcium to add and one fifth tsp. is the correct amount to use for every three and a half ounces of meat, not one fourth tsp. Thanks for the heads-up.[] Because of the latest recalls, I'm not feeding anymore canned food.

Chaza, I think I am off of the kibble now. I was giving her about 1/2.

Willow, my hubby and I are so afraid to wait for a recall. I can't take a chance. I think I will totally homecook until this is settled and we know for sure Nat. Balance Fish will never be recalled. I do not believe any company at all right now.

Homecooking, even if I am not 100% perfect will be good for a while, until this all gets settled. THEN, I can maybe go back to half kibble.

I am putting lots of time into learning to do it right.  
 
Oh, I only use fresh, wild salmon. No canned. I use nothing from a can for my parrot and Trudy. Once in a while I will get veggies with no salt. Mostly all fresh and frozen veggies.

Jessie's allergies are chicken, salmon, brewers yeast, pork, potato, and sweet potato

 
Poor thing.....that's alot of foods to be allergic to. So that leaves turkey, lamb, bison, beef, other exotic meats.  And with the potatos, that's alot to try and work around.  I have some information that I got last year from Rebecca (Brookcove) about buying culled lambs - they are healthier and cheaper b/c they taste more "wild" and are usually culled in the summertime.  If you decide you might want to get some for the freezer, I'll pass that on as I am sure she wouldn't mind.   I used the Cal Nat that you are starting to use and liked it very, very well.  Except for the fact that my girl was allergic to the rice.   
 
Yes, you remember correctly.  She was losing weight and I couldn't put it back on her at all.  I finally got sick of the eliminaiton diet  and started fixing regular meals and am continuing to try and determine from here more allergies. The MINUTE I started doing this, she started gaining weight back and now I am having to watch that she doesn't gain too much. She's at a perfect weight right now.
 
Now, it's my boy that's losing and I don't know why.  No elimination diet for him.  He started losing while still on kibble, and has continued. 5 pounds this year.  Blood test seem fine.  I am upping his percentage of food and he is eating quite alot and they are fatty foods.  So, I don't know.....
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Sallya,  it would be good for you to vary the meats and veggies.  Do feed other foods b/c they all have different amino acid profiles.....and don't forget the calcium. []
 
And you aren't alone in all the studying and feeling overwhelmed!  But, they are worth it, aren't they? []