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Originally Posted by marcerella02 well- sadly chicken and rice is NOT a balanced diet and giving only this alone for too long will lead to medical problems. Home cooking is harder than just making food- the meals need to be balanced and there needs to be supplement given to make sure your dog is getting what it needs.
Your best bet is to talk to a dog nutritionist. You need to make sure your dog is getting the needed k/Cals per day for his weight. He also needs to be getting the right calcium/phosphorus ratio, as the lack of any of those can lead to health problems.
I think you are SO on the right track with home cooking and i really think it is the way to go but you gotta talk to someone who knows more about it to make sure you are doing it right and every year after that.
I home cook and have for about 2 years and i think i now finally have it down pat- takes a bit but stick it out because it is a lot better than kibble. |
I agree. Lady had three bouts of HGE in four months and only could eat chicken and rice afterwards. It does help the tummy issues, but will lead to problems later on because it's not balanced.
Short term (a few months) he will be okay, but if you plan on keeping him on homecooked you need to consult a nutritionist or get a recipe formulated by nutritionist that he can stay on long term. For example, the correct calcium to phosphorus ratio is extremely important or your dog can have cardiac, skeletal and neurological problems. Chicken and rice alone don't supply enough calcium.
You will also need to get bloodwork done after six months on a homecooked diet to make sure all his nutritional needs are being met.
I have been homecooking for Lady for 1.5 years and it has made a huge difference. You just have to make sure you do it correctly. Many people here consult Susan Davis.
Holistic Veterinarian Pet Nutritionist Holistic Pet Care