Dog Community

homecooked to natural balance

Posted : 6/20/2006 7:23:11 AM

Jake has not been wanting his homecooked food lately. So this morning I gave him natural balance eatables "chinese take out," it is chicken with carrots, peas, string beans in a gravy. He loved it! He ate all of it and left his homecooked. So I guess it's back to dog food. The thing is I don't want to keep switching and upset his stomach, but if he wants toeat dog food, that's fine with me.

There's about 300 calories in a 15 oz. can of natural balance eatables. That's not enough for a 30 pound dog in one day. The cans are $3 each. Too expensive to give him 2 cans at day at $3 each, so I was thinking can I get the regular can on natural balance chicken and add half of the eatables chicken can to that? So he would get half a can of chicken and half a can of eatables mixed together 2 times a day? That would give him sufficent calories. I would do the same thing with the beef. Half a can of beef and half a can of eatables beef. Would do you all think? Is that okay?

If he prefers his dog food I should give him that right? I know homecooking is better but honestly since I started homecooking he is scratching more and licking his paws more and his electrolytes are off. I just need to find a meal plan and stick with it.

Opinions please.
Michelle

glenmar

Posted : 6/20/2006 9:20:09 AM

Are you using my recipe for him? If so, you might eliminate the brown rice altogether. If you'll PM me maybe we can do some brainstorming and figure out what you need to eliminate from the recipe so it works best for him.

Shelley75

Posted : 6/20/2006 10:04:27 AM

Thanks Glenda for your help. I appreciate it. I am not using your recipe. I'm using a recipe from my vet and there is no brown rice in it. I'm so stressed over my dog's food.

Michelle

glenmar

Posted : 6/20/2006 10:28:57 AM

Email me if you like. I'll look at the recipe and *might* be able to tell you what to eliminate. It could be coincidental that the itching started from a contact allergen around the same time you started the homecooked.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 6/20/2006 3:12:38 PM

His electrolytes are off? How do you know that?

Shelley75

Posted : 6/20/2006 5:29:37 PM

Jennie,

He had a blood test because he has been very fatigued and not himself lately. His salt and potassium are up, his creatin is down and his bilirubin is up. He will have a repeat blood test again this coming Friday.

Melissa Camiel

Posted : 6/20/2006 6:45:27 PM

Hey Glenda-- Is your recipe complete and balanced so that it can be fed alone? Or must it be served with kibble? Just wondering becuase I have heard a lot about your recipe and I may give it a try!! ( I guess I have to PM you...)

jennie_c_d

Posted : 6/20/2006 7:43:44 PM

He had a blood test because he has been very fatigued and not himself lately. His salt and potassium are up, his creatin is down and his bilirubin is up. He will have a repeat blood test again this coming Friday.

That's really interesting to hear. My lil girl is going in for a blood test on Thurs, just because she's droopy, and I hadn't even thought of electrolytes.

Have you given him some milk thistle, to support that liver?

Shelley75

Posted : 6/21/2006 8:22:10 AM

Jennie,

Do you homecook for your dog? Do you know what the doctor will be testing for in the blood test? I haven't given him anything for the liver yet. The doctor wants to do a repeat blood test this Friday. If it's still off, he will be treated. Please let me know the results of your dog's blood work. Does she have any other symptoms than just being droopy?

glenmar

Posted : 6/21/2006 8:29:09 AM

According to the canine nutritionalist who approved the recipe, yes it is nutritionally complete. However, the dog food companies say the same thing, so I hedge my bets and feed Innova in the morning and homecooked or raw in the evenings.

glenmar

Posted : 6/21/2006 8:31:51 AM

Oh, and you DO know that I charge for the recipe? My charge is that you consider making a donation to the MS Walk....it's coming up Saturday and I only need another $95 to reach $2000.

Melissa Camiel

Posted : 6/21/2006 8:44:10 AM

Yes, I am well aware...lol[

]

jennie_c_d

Posted : 6/21/2006 12:42:40 PM

Yes, Shelley, I cook for Emma. The doctor is doing a CBC, and a liver and kidney check (as Emma is known for poor liver function, and she's peeing an awful lot, lately). She isn't showing any symptoms, aside from some slight droopiness, not looking quite right, and peeing more, but she goes through bouts of peeing more and less (she's incontinent). She hasn't had accupuncture in a while, so she could just need another round of accupuncture to help her control her bladder.

I'd give a dog with billirubin and creatin numbers off some milk thistle. Supporting the liver early is the best way to keep things from getting worse.

jessies_mom

Posted : 6/21/2006 3:20:03 PM

Shelley; the reason your dog is refusing the homecooked food is probably because he's not feeling well; or is that what you meant when you said he's not eating his homecooked food lately? The canned food probably smells better to him so he's willing to eat it. Kennel-keeper is involved with caring for wolves and when they want to give them medicine they use canned dog food; the wolves love it. The important thing is to keep him eating so I'd keep feeding him the canned food until you find out what's wrong. You could call or e-mail the company to find out if he would be getting enough nutrition from mixing the two cans of food. Keep us posted about him; I hope he gets better soon.

jessies_mom

Posted : 6/21/2006 3:21:31 PM

Yes, Shelley, I cook for Emma. The doctor is doing a CBC, and a liver and kidney check (as Emma is known for poor liver function, and she's peeing an awful lot, lately).

Jennie, I hope there's nothing seriously wrong with Emma; please keep us posted.