Babyfood

I don't think so.  Alot of the meat baby foods have onion in them which would be a problem because of the anemia issue and onions.  I think getting it balanced using only baby food would be pretty difficult as well, not just in the calcium department.  It's also crazy expensive with a dog Willow's size.  I bought a few jars for training class (we used it for a recall exercise) and I was really glad I don't have infants anymore, $1 a jar???? 

baby food is just liquified food- couldn't you prepare a balanced diet she can tolerate and run it through a food processor until liquid?

yikes - wouldn't you go broke trying to feed exclusively baby food ?   its not only liquified food its watered down food.     Running homecooked through a food processor would do the same - you can keep the water the food was cooked in to thin it out if she needs that consistency.   If its not thin enough you could start it in the food processor and then finish in batches in a blender.

But to answer your question, yes, I believe you'd need to add calcium.    I also think you'd need to add other vitamins.

Lori, it depends on how long we are talking about.  What you want it to be able to feed "baby food" style meat, or boiled and finely processed meats.  There's special processors which will do this without needing huge amounts of water (that's the difference between baby food processors and regular).  You can pick up a nice lightly used one on e-bay for about nothing.  Babies only need "baby food" for a couple of months. 

You can feed this meat the same amount of time that you can feed highly unbalanced diets of anything, really - just a few weeks before her calcium reserves are depleted.  You don't want this because it will have an effect on her digestive an immune system and you don't want her to feel sick in association with the baby food and lose this fall back forever!

The good news is that with the right tool, you can cream any combination of food to the consistency of baby food, if that's what's making her happy. You do want the baby food processor because otherwise you put too much water in it and she'll end up eating mostly water.

In fact, you can even turn bone-in meats into a babyfood type of food - crockpot skinless chicken quarters until the bones are very squishy, then let this cool in the fridge and take off most of the fat. Boil the skin seperately along with chicken hearts and livers (one per quarter).  Let that cool in the fridge also and skim off that fat (don't be too exact - leave a little bit).

Process this and it will be balanced enough to feed until you decide what you want to do next, whether going back to a commercial food, or doing a consult with a nutritionist, or forming a "dream team" with a trusted vet, a holistic vet, and a nutritionist (I'd advise this due to her ongoing issues).  If chicken is a problem for her (I'm embarrassed that I can't remember that), you can do the same with turkey, or pork (pork just takes longer).

Thank you everyone.  I'm not using any foods with onions.  She's really only getting the 1st or 2nd stage baby food which is just meat or just the veggie, no spices in those. 

Anyway, I've been using it as a topper or a snack and I think I'll just continue with that until I am forced to change. 

So far the IBS is completely gone since starting the Prednisone.  I'm surprised nobody suggested Prednisone for her IBS years ago! 

Lori

Lori it sounds as if the inflammatory part of her issue is the biggest problem.  

Look at information aimed at offering natural aid to those with arthritis - rheumatoid in particular, and DJD also (degenerative joint disease, like CHD in dogs).  There's many natural remedies for inflammation.   Callie I bet has a ton of information.   Certain foods are triggers too - grains are at the top of the list, some leafy green veggies, some root veggies - but there are other roots like yucca and ginger that are helpful.  The fresher the better.  You remember Laura C (dogslyfe?) - she had great luck with fresh yucca for Ginger, plus some other remedies, for her DJD.

I know that you know to add new things very, very cautiously. 

willowchow

So far the IBS is completely gone since starting the Prednisone.  I'm surprised nobody suggested Prednisone for her IBS years ago! 

  I'm glad her IBS is under control; when I saw this thread, I was thinking she was getting worse or else why would you only want to feed baby food?  I think pred would be used to control it as a last resort because of the side effects if used long term, but that's just a guess.

  In case you ever want a diet formulated especially for Willow, Dr. Remillard of petdiets.com is an excellent veterinary nutritionist  and will work with your vet in formulating a diet;  http://www.petdiets.com/consult/default.asp?ConsultType=Nutritional%20Consultation
 

Babyfood isn't going to give you a good enough variety for starters -- it's pretty limited.  I use it to give pills in and even then I have a hard time finding the variety I feel like I need.  Peas and butternut squash and carrots -- the calcium phosphorous ratio is not good in those and they're the basis for most of the veggies. ("mixed veggies" are largely those three).

And yes -- you'd have to add calcium (human quality bone meal or calcium citrate usually). 

To be completely honest, Lori -- I think you'd find one of THE best things you could do for Willow's IBD would be to take her to a good acupuncturist.  IBD is mostly about inflammation -- and that's what acupuncture does the best -- reduce inflammation! 

Even mainline vets are beginning to see the huge benefits of a good acupuncturist.  http://www.tcvm.com is the Chi Institute and there's a good locator on the left that should help you find someone quite near you (there ARE a bunch in the NE)

Acupuncture doesn't hurt.  It doesn't clash with meds and it really, really can help.  Some dogs literally fall asleep while being needled (Muffin did, Kee does and Ms. Socks used to go to sleep) but other dogs will walk around like normal (Foxy did, Billy does).  ME?  When I get done sometimes I can barely make it home the desire to sleep is SO strong. 

But it helps things like IBD SO much. 

There are herbs like slippery elm (an incredible anti-inflammatory for the gut) and yucca (yucca is also great for arthritis -- it's almost steroid-like in it's natural anti-inflammatory so you don't want to over do it but it's a great addition to food).

 If you really arent' into cooking (not all of us are, and I'm one of those) you can do some pretty simple stuff.  But you might try experimenting with stuff just to *add* to the current food you're feeding ... maybe to take the place of the babyfood.  Small quantities, keeping it simple.  Just a thot for you.

Thanks everyone.  I'm going to leave her food as is for now until I have to change for some reason.  She's going to continue to get homecooked meat for toppers and also babyfood which she loves. 

I sort of have another issue going on right now.  She's ridiculously hungry.  I know it's a side effect.  But, I've got sit down tonight and figure out just how much she should be eating and how to space it out over the day.  Because, she can't keep eating like this, she's not exercising enough.  She just started doing little short trips down the street and strolling around the park for maybe 15 minutes.  It's nothing like the miles she used to go and I'm not even sure the 800 or so calories a day they told me she should be getting would apply now because for one she's 48 lbs now and two, she's not exercising. 

I'm really worried I have made a big point of keeping her weight down all this time and now it's out the window.  I'm extremly grateful she's coming along like she is.  But, she can't get any heavier. 

The appetite is because of the pred - its one of the known side effects.    I know she's hungry but you're going to have to be tough - I know how hard that is !   It stinks but she's not feeling sick and thats great.     She's going to get heavier - no doubt about it - the key is to CONTROL it, try to keep it to a minimum and not turn a totally blind eye.   Once she's off the pred the weight will come back off.

Callie's right about the acupuncture.   I'd seriously consider it.   Prancer had it when she hurt her CCL and even my little maniac calmed right down and took a nap for the 30 minutes the electrodes were attached to the needles.    She LOVES acupuncture :)   She gets a "maintenance" acupuncture every 6 months to keep the joint loose and the CCL strong.   

And today I learned about babyfood making machines - who woulda thunk it !   useful info that I'll keep tucked away for if / when I need it - thanks for that one !