New Diet, please advise.

[remus]

Guys, I started cooking for Rocky on regular basis. I hear a lot of bad about the pet food and I love my little guy way too much.

SO I cook, every day, not frozen. I cook chicken breast, or turkey breast with brocoli, peas, baby carrots, egg whites (.5 egg per serving).
He eats it at 6 am and 6 pm. He doesnt eat everything at once, he loves chicken so that goes first, and then during the day he will eat brocoli and then carrots.
I am going to start cooking beef for him, same method, boiling it.

Questions. Is fish ok?? Salmon? how often.Tomatos? Cucamber?
Also, how often should I give him rice? along with the chicken meal I make.
I also, I see people add chicken broth, is it a good idea? and what is it for, just for flavor or...?

I remember how much he hated dry food, he was ok with Merick wet food, but he goes crazy for my food and seams so happy after he eats.

His stool is a little inconsistent, mostly solid, but once a week it can be loose.

Thanks Guys.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by remus

Questions. Is fish ok?? Salmon? how often.Tomatos? Cucamber?
Also, how often should I give him rice? along with the chicken meal I make.
I also, I see people add chicken broth, is it a good idea? and what is it for, just for flavor or...?

His stool is a little inconsistent, mostly solid, but once a week it can be loose.

Good for you!! Sounds like he's in heaven!

I feed fish every day. I used to feed chicken, but it gave Marcel terrible stools (as it can be known to do). I consulted an animal nutritionist for his issues, and that's when she prescribed the fish diet. White fish is great, salmon is great.

Tomatoes might be a bit acidic, but you could try. Cucumbers would be fine, if he likes them - though I'd probably de-seed them. I used to give rice, but do not on this new diet - bc it too can be allergenic to some. I use white mashed potatoes instead (can use sweet pot too). Broth is great for flavor - I'd recommend low sodium though.

Keep an eye on his stool, if it stays inconsistent - there is something he's allergic to, and that could hinder nutrient absorption.

Lastly, you are supplementing w/ calcium right? (bc that's a must when homecooking)

[remus]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Good for you!! Sounds like he's in heaven!

I feed fish every day. I used to feed chicken, but it gave Marcel terrible stools (as it can be known to do). I consulted an animal nutritionist for his issues, and that's when she prescribed the fish diet. White fish is great, salmon is great.

Tomatoes might be a bit acidic, but you could try. Cucumbers would be fine, if he likes them - though I'd probably de-seed them. I used to give rice, but do not on this new diet - bc it too can be allergenic to some. I use white mashed potatoes instead (can use sweet pot too). Broth is great for flavor - I'd recommend low sodium though.

Keep an eye on his stool, if it stays inconsistent - there is something he's allergic to, and that could hinder nutrient absorption.

Lastly, you are supplementing w/ calcium right? (bc that's a must when homecooking)

Thanks for input.
Calcium???? How do I add that to his meals? I understand my cooking might be a little high on protein?

So salmon once a week perhaps, with beef and chicken in between.
I am glad potato is good, I havent given it to him yet.

SO how do I get calcium?????????? Yogurt?? which one?? Plain?

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by remus

Thanks for input.
Calcium???? How do I add that to his meals? I understand my cooking might be a little high on protein?

So salmon once a week perhaps, with beef and chicken in between.
I am glad potato is good, I havent given it to him yet.

SO how do I get calcium?????????? Yogurt?? which one?? Plain?

High protein is just fine, better in my opinion, unless your baby has a health issue.

For calcium, you can either buy bone meal (ie, Solid Gold's Bone Meal or Kal's) or if you don't like the idea of bone meal, you can just make it from eggshells:

Take dozen eggshells (or however many), put on baking sheet, bake at 350 for 10 mins, then crush/grind to a powder (I use a coffee grinder). You can use the shells right of of raw eggs, or just hardboil and take off all shells.

I use eggshells now, but have gotten Solid Gold online or at quality pet stores. I've seen Kal's at Whole Foods.

[remus]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

High protein is just fine, better in my opinion, unless your baby has a health issue.

For calcium, you can either buy bone meal (ie, Solid Gold's Bone Meal or Kal's) or if you don't like the idea of bone meal, you can just make it from eggshells:

Take dozen eggshells (or however many), put on baking sheet, bake at 350 for 10 mins, then crush/grind to a powder (I use a coffee grinder). You can use the shells right of of raw eggs, or just hardboil and take off all shells.

I use eggshells now, but have gotten Solid Gold online or at quality pet stores. I've seen Kal's at Whole Foods.

I might try egg shells. But is Yogurt and or Cottage cheeze do the same job. Its a bit easier to do for me.

Thanks

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by remus

I might try egg shells. But is Yogurt and or Cottage cheeze do the same job. Its a bit easier to do for me.

Thanks

Yogurt and cottage cheese are really good for them. Yogurt esp., with the probiotics. But they need such a large amount of calcium for their body sizes, that you wouldn't be able to do it, in all likelihood, with food alone. It'd be waaaaaay too much dairy, and their systems would get all full of mucous.

The supps. are a powder, so it's really easy - you just grab a good pinch and sprinkle it on (like, just under an 1/8th of a tsp, if it's egg shells).

[remus]

Thanks for your help, you have been most helpful.

I will try the egg shells, I dont have a grinder, but I will figure it out somehow.

Is it possible to give too much calcium? I dont want to damage anything?

Thanks

[Ellie May]

It would probably be a good idea to supplement with other things also. Calcium is a must but have you looked into other vitamins? I think an all-in-one is probably easiest with just the calcium separate. I think Wylie's Mom has a specific all-in-one and other people here use Missing Link. You can also use the "healthy powder" in Dr. Pitcairn's book but I am not sure what is in it.


For calcium I prefer calcium carbonate. Not because it is better than egg shells, it is just really easy.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I think Wylie's Mom has a specific all-in-one and other people here use Missing Link.

Good memory! I use this one: http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/produc...at/999065.aspx

It contains multi vit/mineral, digestive enzymes, probiotics, and EFAs.

[Yorkiedaze]

I feed cooked free range ground beef, lamb, brown rice, lentils & split peas, fresh carrots and slightly steamed broccoli all mixed together. I also feed steel cut oatmeal mixed with finely grated slightly steamed broccoli mixed together. I put healthy powder over the food which consists of bone meal, Vit. C, sea kelp, brewer's yeast & lecithin granules.
They also get fresh salmon once a week when we have it, dried fruits, fresh or frozen strawberries, blueberries, & apples, plain yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, all natural peanut butter and home made treats. Then they always have a fresh femur bone to chew on.

[mminichan]

Thanks for the eggshells "recipe"! I didn't know it is same as calcium for our furbabies!!

[Suzy]

Originally Posted by remus

Thanks for your help, you have been most helpful.

I will try the egg shells, I dont have a grinder, but I will figure it out somehow.

Is it possible to give too much calcium? I dont want to damage anything?

Thanks

Anyone know? I'd like to know too!

I know you CAN overdo Vitamin A-which I why I don't supplement with it. Instead, I feed carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash.

[lara2913]

Yes, if you over do the calcium they will get constipation. Thats your clue.

[Suzy]

Originally Posted by lara2913

Yes, if you over do the calcium they will get constipation. Thats your clue.

Thanks for answering!