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Originally Posted by kionini  I've been reading about holistic diets for dogs and I'm so confused, my head is spinning. Dr. Karen Becker advocates raw feeding, "If I were a pediatrician and a mother told me, "it's just too hard making healthy food everyday for my kid, I'm just going to feed Total cereal everyday, it's 100% nutritionally complete," we'd all feel sorry for her kid. I am a vet, and when people tell me "I've found a really good dry food, I think I'...ll feed it everyday for the rest of my pets life," why don't we feel equally sad?"
In some places feeding our pups garlic, rice, etc. is condemned. Yet, looking at some of the recipes here in YT forums, these ingredients are okay.
I've got to do something about my little ones. Nini is getting fat and Nicky hates kibble, he runs and hides when I take out the bag  . Their vet says that the dangers of food poisoning with raw food are great, but Dr. Becker says it's ignorance, food companies pay for vet training, etc.
What I do know is that I grew up with pets. I never saw a bag of kibble in my house, my mom cooked all our dogs' meals, I don't remember any of our dogs ever being sick, and they died old. What gives? I don't know what to do and I'm getting desperate.
I hate having Nicky on drugs, it bothers me to no end, because I know there are side effects to every drug. There's a price to pay for every single drug we take, even an aspirin. I wait until I can't take the head-ache any more to take an aspirin, yet I'm giving Nicky medicine twice a day for stomach upset and I wonder if this can be taken care of naturally, no drugs 
How many of you have gone 'green' with your fur-babies? Is it possible to do it right? |
I don't know what kibble you are feeding, but mine refuse the kinds that contain salmon meal or fish meal, and they continually go off their feed on the higher protein types (over 23%). Most of the better brands can be returned to the store for your money back or exchanged for another brand.
Before going any further, has Nicky been seen by a vet since the food thing with him started? If he is refusing most all food types, there may be a problem with his teeth or jaws. You need to rule out anything medical first, including Liver Shunt.
As per article referred to in post #14: The most helpful things you can do for your dog is to get them on Probiotics with Prebiotics and enzymes. This helps immensely with their digestion and can improve their appetite.
Also add a bit of Salmon oil, amd Coconut oil to their food.
Have you tried Cesar's Dog Food (not the Cesar Milan type, just the cheapo grocery store type)? Again, refer to above mentioned article... if you can get your dog to eat 60% commercial dog food, no additional supplementation is needed. Cesar's is garaunteed to entice the pickiest of eaters. The other 40% can be anything... homecooked, raw (I give a tablespoon of any meat I'm fixing that night before I cook it), Veggies, fruits (just learned mine love apple, carrots and squash) (try things 2-4 times before deciding they don't like it) I think mine loved the apple bc they saw me eating it too!
If he will only eat your food, make him his own bowl and feed him after you eat, never during your meal. Limit the sauces, cheeses, and gravies, as they are too rich for doggies and may cause pancreatitis. Also, add in some dog food or what you want him to eat. You don't have to mix it like you're trying to trick him or anything, just don't give him so much people food as to fill him up. Also, exercise can help create more of an appetite. This diet is more rotational than anything, mine do well on it (esp on raw days). They may not get 100% of everything they need everyday, but they eventually get it within a week or two, so they are never lacking or deficient in any one thing. Mine like oatmeal too. Sometimes we do that for breakfast.
Keep track of what they eat, and watch for any allergies/symptoms to appear, and adjust accordingly.
A vet said this:
"It is better for a dog to eat some of a bad diet than none of a great diet."