Veg they can eat?

[lisajazz]

Does anyone have a list of veg that I can add to homemade dog food?

I currently use potato (pixel can't eat grain), carrots and green beans and brocolli but there must be other ones?

[Kristi]

I would be cautious doing a home COOKED diet, as cooking takes a LOT of nutrients out of the food and dogs can quickly develop nutritional deficiencies. If it's only one or two meals a week you are feeding this way then I wouldn't worry, but all the time can be problematic.

Have you thought about using a food like The Honest Kitchen? It has a few grainfree formulas, Embark being one my pups absolutely LOVED, and nutritionally it is really good, much better than any kibble. You add warm water to rehydrate it, and then wait 10ish minutes. You can add in cooked or raw meats to this mixture, which I always did. Scrambled egg, raw or cooked ground beef, chicken, lamb, turkey, pork...usually raw because it's nutritionally better for them, and they just absolutely love it. This way, you know your dog is getting complete nutrition, without the grains, or concerns of coming up with a home-cooked meal that is balanced, because it's almost impossible to do Other things I'd add in from time to time included cottage cheese or sweet potato. It really is a fun food to feed because you can be creative with their meals without depriving them of food They will happily send you some free samples of their food, too, if you e-mail them. The food SEEMS expensive but that is because it has to be rehydrated before being fed.

Ziwipeak might be another good option as far as foods go, or as an add-in for The Honest Kitchen No grain in that, it is basically a dehydrated raw food, and so so good for them

You might also consider getting a supplement like Nupro to give your babies. It helps reduce shedding and gives them nice healthy coats, eyes and skin.

Dogs don't really get anything from veggies, unless they are basically pureed into a babyfood like consistency, so that is something to keep in mind when you give them. I'll give carrots as a crunchy treat, but I know they don't get anything from it.

[brodysmom]

Dogs don't have amylase in their saliva, which is used to break down the cellulose (outer walls) of veggies. So if you want to feed veggies anyway, be sure and pulverize them into a paste, through a blender, etc. Otherwise there will be no nutritional value derived from them. They will just pass through and cause large stools.

What kind of homemade diet are you feeding? What supplements are you adding? In a home cooked diet, calcium and phosphorus is especially important. Without the proper balance, you could have a very nutritionally unbalanced diet in short order.

Kibble is cooked and extruded (processed) into pellets. In doing so, almost all nutrients are lost. That is why when you read the ingredients on a bag of dog food, you see line after line of vitamin and minerals added. If you are going to home cook your own dog food - you will have to add these vitamins and elements back into the diet.

[lisajazz]

Thanks for the replies - I had a feeling you guys would reply to this one!

I need an education on this because I am SO confused.

Right Pixel first

She can't eat grains and when I feed her something like Orijen her eyes stream really bad. Today my vet told me that she can't eat lots of protein (maybe) as it could be causing her to pass water right through her system and stop her body from being able to concentrate the wee.

I give her to eat cooked meat (mainly but not exclusively chicken), carrots, potatoes, brocolli, green beans, once or twice a week raw lamb rib bones, egg shells ground up, bone and meal, salmon oil

Rez gets all the same but he can eat Orijen so has that as a training treat and gets a decent amount daily

I am sure that things are missing but every dog food in the UK has grains that I know of, I can't go raw according to my vet (I asked today) he said best not to, maybe when her urine is right?

So given her history and dietry things what do you suggest. I have looked at honest kitchen, it looks great but where do you buy it in the UK? Anyone know?

I could really do with some advice and pointing in the right direction.

[Kristi]

If you are in the UK, I don't think you can get Honest Kitchen...Ziwipeak might work? It's a dry jerky type food, most dogs love it. It doesn't have any grains...

Even if Pixel's eyes run on Orijen, it still is a better option than a home cooked diet...I would at least be giving her that one meal a day if you want to still cook for her.

[brodysmom]

Ok, so her kidney lab values came back normal? So why does the vet want her on a restricted protein diet?

Just trying to get my head around all of this.

There are conflicting opinions on whether a reduced protein diet is appropriate for dogs that have renal/kidney issues. I think it mainly the phosphorus you want to reduce, rather than the protein in a dog with renal failure.

But I don't think Pixel is showing signs of kidney problems? Other than dilute urine?

I hesitate to recommend a specific diet as this is out of my realm and I would hate to give the wrong advice. I would suggest you consult with your vet on an appropriate diet for Pixel and perhaps seek a veterinary nutritionist?

One page with good info, some sample recipes, and some studies on dogs with impaired renal function. But again, I think following a vets advice is the way to go in this situation.

www.vetprof.com/clientinfo/KidneyDiseaseInDogs/diet.htm

[The3DChis]

Aug 15, 2011 20:41:44 GMT lisajazz said:

Thanks for the replies - I had a feeling you guys would reply to this one!

I need an education on this because I am SO confused.

Right Pixel first

She can't eat grains and when I feed her something like Orijen her eyes stream really bad. Today my vet told me that she can't eat lots of protein (maybe) as it could be causing her to pass water right through her system and stop her body from being able to concentrate the wee.

I give her to eat cooked meat (mainly but not exclusively chicken), carrots, potatoes, brocolli, green beans, once or twice a week raw lamb rib bones, egg shells ground up, bone and meal, salmon oil

Rez gets all the same but he can eat Orijen so has that as a training treat and gets a decent amount daily

I am sure that things are missing but every dog food in the UK has grains that I know of, I can't go raw according to my vet (I asked today) he said best not to, maybe when her urine is right?

So given her history and dietry things what do you suggest. I have looked at honest kitchen, it looks great but where do you buy it in the UK? Anyone know?

I could really do with some advice and pointing in the right direction.

James well beloved do a cereal free and you can get that in most pet shops here.
I feed mine Acana as that is pretty much the same as Orijen but lower in protein.
My 3 do great on that.
My partner feeds the huskies the JWB cereal free.
Maybe you could try one of those?

Obviously with Acana, you will prob have to order online.
I do that now since i moved away from Glasgow where the mutley and mog warehouse is.
They have a website or you can call and order.
There is also zooplus.

[lisajazz]

Yes her kidney function came back okay and the only reading was that she was a bit lackingin fluid - despite all the water she drinks.

My vet said to make her diet 30% protein and 70% veg and other stuff. He said that some dogs although having proper kidney function just can't handle such high volumes of protein.

I guess I try that and see if her wetting stops - which is what the aim is. She drank half the volume of water yesterday than other days but still wet her bed. Wasn't into water this morning and didn't finish everything she was left with last night, this could be lessening anyway.