Help Please
 

I'm at my wits end here. With all the dog food recalls going on with the Diamond Pet Food company, I've pretty much had it, I can't even tell you the crap our furkids have been through going from food to food, and what my boxers are now on, I'm really ashamed to say.... Now with Wellness having been added to the recall, I'm tossing in the towel, I want to start home cooking for our furkids. I need to start researching home made dog foods and any vitamins and stuff I may need to add. But I'm also worried about Mags, she has a compromised immune system and doesn't handle food changes very well at all. When she was 2 years old and I tried to switch her to Wellness's adult dog formula, she ended up in the ICU with IV's in her. I just now FINALLY (after 4 months) got her totally switched over to it, and now they have recalls and I'm no longer comfortable feeding this to her or Jazzie. Furthermore, are the yorkies more prone to pancreatitis? (sp) I am so scared, I don't want to do anything to hurt any of them, but I really feel that home cooking would be best for all of them. Do any of you home cook for your furkids? If so, do you have any recipes, do and don'ts you'd be willing to share? Links are appreciated to. I won't do the BARF diet though, just not comfy giving raw meats. Thanks so much in advance.

I would suggest you see a dog nutritionist. Linda (LadyJane) often posts the link.

You will need a kitchen scale to weigh the ingredients. Also if you can use the glass containers for the freezer I am really really pleased with mine. I'm slowly converting over from plastic. With the glass containers I know I get the container really clean.

It is pretty easy really, but one of the additives will be bone meal(probably) the nutrionist will have you add in. Glucosamine and Chondrotin I usually add into the mixture as well. I use Biologic vet Omega's 3/6/9. Because I have dogs with different needs now, it is a tad more complex, but for Razzle I reduce the meat content to 30% versus the Blackies get 70% meat and 30%vege's with Magic getting 85% meat and 15% veges. LOL.

Once you get organized it goes really quickly. I usually prepare 2wks worth of food. My goal is to have 3wks worth eventually so that I'm only cooking every other wk.
But the glass containers are expensive, and I'm only at 10 day supply of glass.

I do roast my veges, but leave them crispy, so there is some chewiness to the food. I have a butcher I buy from - about 28lbs of meat a wk - now that is for the two dogs that eat 2lbs each a day, plus of course Razzle whose measely 1/3-1/2 cup is just noise level...lol. I get a pretty good deal. I try to rotate the meats every 2wks or so, ground chicken, ground beef, and also use different viands, lamb very occasionally cause it is so expensive, ground turkey I can get good deals on too.

I use two huge frying pans to cook meat, while veges are in oven. Then a big mixer to mix up the meat veges and additives. I don't peel my veges just wash and brush them. I love to home cook, I buy organic veges, and great meat.

I've been home cooking for 5yrs and my dogs have great teeth, breath, and coats!.

Oh forgot to add when we are planning on shows, I make the meat into meatballs, so I can handfeed and keep the big blackies beard really clean.

Thank you Gemy, I appreciate it. I'm actually going to talk to my vet about it Monday morning, doing some research over the weekend. I used to make home made food for my boxer Isaiah years ago when he was still with us, he had very severe allergies. But since then, I was in a bad four wheeler accident, suffered traumatic brain injuries that left me stuck on stupid for a while. Took some time to get back to "me" but the me today doesn't remember how I used to cook for Isaiah 10 years ago. Some things have just never came back to me so I'm tryin to learn it all over again. I do still have the scales though that I used to measure his foods with when I'd make them, and I do know he had more food stored in the freezer for him then we did, lol. So much has changed since then though. Heck, back then, garlic was said to be good for dogs, now it's considered a no no cause it's related to the onion family. And at that time, grapes were considered good for them to, not now. I guess it's better to research everything all over again. Been looking on Barnes and Noble for a good book to read on a good balanced diet for them, I don't want to just guess I'm doing it right, I want to know they are getting what they need and what suppliments I need to add.... Lots of researching to do.

Vets. always push dog food because they make a lot of money from them. They don't know much about nutrition or feeding "real" food since they are not trained.
I've only have one Vet. over the past 50 years that agreed that feeding real food is the safest and healthiest way to go, so don't be too surprised if your Vet. tries to make feeding real food too complicated in order to sell you commercial food. ;) Since so many people are switching to real food for their dogs and cats, and so many recalls and deaths in animals, more and more Vets. are re-thinking their idea that pet food is best. Thankfully!
It isn't a science feeding real food. So far, there is not one person on the planet that are experts in this field. It's just trial and error. Most of us know what not to feed, so the rest is simple. Keep it simple though.

RECOMMENDED GRAINS

Barley
Brown rice
Buckwheat
Bulgur
Cornmeal
Millet
Rolled oats
Wheat berries
Whole-wheat couscous
Potatoes
Whole-wheat bread

RECOMMENDED LEGUMES

Kidney, red beans
Lentils
Pinto beans
Soybeans
Split peas
White or black beans
Tofu

VEGETABLES...these are the best-liked veggies that can be fed raw.

Chopped parsley
Alfalfa sprouts
Finely grated carrots
Finely grated zucchini

These are vegetable favorites should be cooked before being fed to pets.

Corn
Peas
Green beans
Broccoli

MEATS

Ground turkey
Beef liver
Canned mackerel
Ground chicken
Regular hamburger
Lean hamburger
Beef heart
Chicken liver
Canned tuna
Chuck roast
Canned salmon

DAIRY PRODUCTS

Cottage cheese
Eggs
Powdered milk
Milk
Cheddar cheese
Low-fat yogurt

FRUIT

Dried fruits such as figs, dates, prunes, and apricots as well as fresh fruits like apples and berries.
Like vegetables, fruits are a great storehouse of vitamins, minerals and vital energy. For best digestion, feed such foods apart from the regular mealtime. Dried fruits are especially good natural sources of potassium, an important mineral that can sometimes be in short supply. Dates are extremely rich in folic acid, an important B vitamin.

VITAMINS

HEALTHY POWDER

2 cups nutritional (torula) yeast
1 cup lecithin granules
1/4 cup kelp powder
1/4 cup bonemeal (or 9,000 milligrams calcium or 5 teaspoons eggshell powder)
1,000 milligrams vitamin C (ground) or 1/4 teaspoon sodium ascorbate (optional)

Mix all ingredients together in a 1-quart container and refrigerate.
Add 1 to 2 teaspoons per day for cats or small dogs; 2 to 3 teaspoons per day for medium-size dogs; 1 to 2 tablespoons per day for large dogs.

VEGETABLE OIL

Vegetable oils are all excellent sources of linoleic acid and other important unsaturated fatty acids needed by both dogs and cats.

Thank you Yorkiedaze. Thankfully, my vet isn't one of those vets. When I started home cooking for Isaiah when he was a pup, it blew our vet away at the improvements he had and he really wanted me to stop looking for dog foods he could tolerate because they were doing such a number on him. Thank you for the list up there, some of he things are questionable, like the dates, prunes, those are basically the same as raisens and grapes, right? And grapes and raisens are toxic to dogs from everything I've read. Unless it's been updated and I haven't came across that info yet. Is there a powered formula already mixed that one could purchase that would cover all the vitamins and minerals they would need?

I know exactly how you feel with all the recalls!! It is enough to pull your hair out!! I home cook for my girls. I give the kibble for "snacks" when they get hungry inbetween. To make a long story short, I think home cooking is excellent!! I got my recipe from Petdiets.com which was founded by Dr. Rebecca L. Remillard, Veterinary Nutritional Consultant. My girls love the recipe I have and it tells EXACTLY what to feed and how much. That is what I needed to get started. I also use the Balanceit supplement. A supplement is essential when homecooking. It can be found at https://secure.balanceit.com/. There is a little expense up front but in the long run I think it all works out. :) My Rosie has IBS and I liked having the expertise of a Vet Nutritionist to help me out. There were lots of free diets out there but I was afraid to use them. I hope you can get the proper diet that is needed!! :)


I found this on the BalanceIt site. https://secure.balanceit.com/tools/r...tor/index.php?

Thank you SOOO much for the links and info, I appreciate it so much!! I'm going to also pass this info onto some friends of mine that have boxers if you don't mind. They are all about to rip their hair out as well :-(

In the Yorkie Health and Diet section of YT there is a "sticky" on homemade foods and treats. During Gracie's first year I cooked for her. I found that she would love the food when I first cooked it but she hated the left overs. When I stopped putting rice and oatmeal, flour and other grains in the food and replaced it with some lightly cooked sweet potato she started loving it fresh cooked or left over. That is how I ended up going with a grain free diet.
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...od-treats.html
I also use a supplement called The Missing Link. The main one is:
Canine Nutrition | Dog Health | Dog Supplements | Dog Food Supplement | The Missing Link
The one that says for skin and coat was formerly the main product. It contains enzymes and nutrients that are normally lost when pet foods are subjected to high temps in order to kill any organisms that could breed bacteria while sitting on the shelf for months at a time.
There are some YouTube videos that show how to do home cooking and also how to prepare raw diets. I would consult with a holistic vet to get recommendations as well.
Dr. Michael W. Fox is very attentive to nutrition for dogs. He has some very interesting articles on the website. Maybe you could search through some of his info as well. He has multiple links to informative food information.
Dr. Michael W. Fox - Essays, Reviews, Articles on Pet Behavior, Care and Health

Thank you SO MUCH Gracielove, you're a God sent!! Going to read the links and hoping to educate myself as much as I can and get the furkids on something I can trust.

If you are going to homecook, I recommend that you consult with a vet nutritionist ...or at least go to Dr. Remillard's site: Welcome to Pet Diets I know others posted it.

Homecooking is not cheap and it is time consuming.

My pups who are not on RX foods, are on Hill's Science Ideal Balance and doing very well.

Here is another interesting article written by Dr Fox.
Guest Blogger: Veterinarian Michael W. Fox on Feeding Your Dog | Dogster

Thank you Ladyjane, I appreciate it very much. I know it can be time consuming, but it's well worth it for peace of mind, plus I feel they would be eating better to. I used to cook for Isaiah when he was alive and got the hang of it pretty well, I'd make up 2 weeks worth and freeze it, it worked out great. But that was years ago and I have forgotten all the ins and outs :-( Oh I think home cooking will be a lot cheaper than what they've been eating. Chicken Soup, TOTW, Merrick Wilderness and Wellness wasn't cheap by any means. Considering we have a whole bunch of deer in our freezer, home cooking will be a LOT cheaper.

Thank you so much, I'm gonna have so much wonderful reading :-)

I make up two weeks at a time and freeze it as well. I think there is a little expense up front but I too think in the long run I am coming out ahead as far as price goes.

Oh I'm sure starting out it will be a bit pricey, getting supplements and all, but it'll be well worth it and I can trust what's going into my kiddos and not have to worry about the next recall to.

Exactly!

You are a special person to cook for so many. Your right that making it up for a week or two at a time and freezing it would be the best approach.

I cooked for my tiny Gracie as a puppy and often thought about how time consuming and costly it would have been to do that for a larger dog. At least you know exactly what is going into your dog's body.

I started out cooking everything but went to doing raw meat with steamed veggies and a good supplement added to it all. Raw egg mixed in is very nutritious also and don't forget your calcium source. I finally found a couple of companies that would ship me frozen raw commercial dog food without charging an arm and a leg for the shipping cost. I have to say it is much easier but I still lightly steam some vegetables and mix them with raw ground meats as a special treat now and then. Organ meats are very nutritious also. Dogs cannot digest and absorb the nutrients of whole vegetables so running them through a blender before adding to the meat helps to make your pet better able to absorb the vegetable nutrients.
I'd love to hear how you are doing with this adventure. It's not rocket science and there is plenty of info out there for those who are interested. I personally stay away from grains and a lot of flower as Gracie does not like them anyway unless they are loaded with sweeteners and other unhealthy ingredients. Best wishes on this new venture.

Thank you Gracielove. Been researching as much as possible, I wanna get all mu ducks in a row so to speak and learn as much as I can and then dive in. I read a lot of conflicting stuff, one place says yes, supplement, another says no, gonna talk to my vet about it Monday morning. Also, there's places that say yes to eggs and garlic, while others says no. It can get kinda confusing at times.

Just wanted to bring something up about Wellness. I had called them last week (before their puppy food was added to the recall) to ask if their Healthy Weight cat food was made at the SC Diamond plant. I was told no about the cat food. She also told me that they no longer use Diamond and are switching all their foods over to their new company owned manufacturing plant.

I only bring this up because I wonder if that batch of puppy food that was recalled was the last bit of food that was produced with Diamond however many months ago.

According to the lady I spoke with None of their foods are currently made at the Diamond plants and they don't use Diamond for anything anymore.

With your one pup being so adverse to change I'd call Wellness and ask what is going on before changing her food again and possibly getting her hospitalized. Its a scary thought either way, i know.

Well, the great conflict continues on weather to feed raw or cooked, grain free or not. There are so many opinions on the subject. You just have to pick what makes sense for you and of course what your dogs like. My Gracie down right hates grains so that pretty much settled that issue for me. By looking at so many of the commercial dog foods most of them have added supplements no matter if they are kibble or canned. If a supplement is natural and healthy and can be well digested I'm all for it.
Some people are terrified about raw because of the possibility of salmonella poisoning but if the food is handled properly and proper hand washing is done it is perfectly safe. I use rubber gloves while handling raw meat and disinfect all surfaces when done. It's just common sense.
I fed my family fresh foods and vegetables with small amounts of meat and no junk food. I believe in healthy foods. I see no reason to feed my animals junk food either. You will never see a hungry wolf or feral dog raiding the farmers fields of grain but you will see them raiding the chicken coop or taking off with young lambs or a calf. I have a hard time with those who say it is natural for a dog to eat a mainly grain fed diet. Their bodies were not made for such types of digestion and the stress put on the strange digestive process the pet goes through eventually shows in various diet related disease.

I tried calling Saturday when I got news of the recall, but my vet was already closed. I'm very scared to change Mags food, and I know Doc IS NOT gonna want me to, she was very seriously ill when she was two years old and I tried putting her on the adult formula. If I call and tell him I want to switch her food or home cook for her, I KNOW he's gonna flip his lid. I'm just so scared though with the recall. I called Wellness three times myself and the first lady I spoke to said Diamond didn't make any of the small bags of food, in ANY formula, only the 30 pound bags.The recall came out and announce the formula that was recalled, and said it was the 30 pound and 15 pound bags, and the 5 ounce samples, and I was ticked, the lady I spoke to the first time told me Diamond only made the 30 pound bags. The second time I called, the guy told me they stopped doing business with Diamond back in January, they were building onto their facility and were going to be making most of their foods themselves, but for now, American Nutrition and Hagen Pet Food makes some of their foods. Then when I spoke to them the other day, the guy did say that they no longer do business with Diamond, but the food that was made prior to them stopping business with them was still in circulation and that's what was recalled. I don't like being lied to and that's what's making me so iffy on trusting what any of then have told me now :-( I want to do what's best for Mags, and right now, to be totally honest, I'm not totally sure what that is. I just lost Dottie on February 4th, I can't lose another one right now, I'm no where near over losing Dottie. Mags was so sick before when I tried to switch her food, we almost lost her. I feel like if I leave her on Wellness, I'm taking a huge risk, and I feel like if I switch her food, I'm taking a hug risk. Just so scared and don't know what to do. I love Mags with all my heart and I can't take losing another one right now. I just want Mags and the rest of our furkids to be ok.

True on the supplements, very, very true, actually, you're whole post is true. I'm sure given a choice, any dog would mow down on meat rather than grain any day!!

If you do change your Mags food just add very small parts of the new food at a time. I doubt that she is going to react much to real meat and veggies but you would still want to do it very slowly.
I would not believe what those dog food companies say. Once a company has been sold to another they don't just switch plants. My daughter had a friend that worked in a pet food plant and it was sadly an educational experience to learn how they run those places.
It's such a shame that when a fairly good brand of food becomes popular they end up selling out to the cheaper manufacturer.

Yes, it's very sad. I have had Mags on Wellness for 5 years, but sadly, I just don't trust them anymore after being lied to. When I finally got Mags switched over to the Adult Wellness formula, it took me 4 months to do it safely. Only problem is, I don't have 4 months to make this switch, and I only have half a container of food left, that's half of the 6 pound bag. So switching her slowly isn't even an option at this point, that's one of the reasons I'm so scared.

Tracy, I'm in the same boat. Lola eats TOTW, and Mia eats Chicken Soup. I do a lot of home cooking too (for Lucy's kidney disease), and I've been feeding everyone more and more home cooked, but I've been so upset about the recalls, and I sure don't know enough about canine nutrition to switch off kibble totally yet. It's so hard to know what to do. Great thread! Thank you!

I was scared when I first switched to home cooking. It really is something to think about. I used the Petdiets.com and I am so glad I did switch. But with that said, I have also used members here for support as I needed it. I will ask them questions because they have done it longer than I have. I really think it is important to have someone to direct the questions to. Mikki still eats kibble for bedtime snack. I was feeding TOTW which she loves. Bought Blue Buffalo this weekend and she will not touch it. So off to find something else. I am thankful that my situation is just finding a snack and not the main meal with all these scary recalls. Home cooking has been good for my girls. I think it was a good choice for me to change over.

You're so welcome Kim, and I feel for you, I really do. It just sickens me about all these recalls, peoples furkids have been yanked off foods left and right and I can only imagine the digestion problems and other things they are all going through. You'd think when a person spends the kinds of money we have on the so called high end good quality foods, there wouldn't be such a mess as there is now with the recalls.... I'm reading up on all I can so I can try and switch all of ours over to homemade food.

Got your mail, thank you so much, I appreciate it. I know I'm gonna have to do something, I'll be running out of food this week. So scared. I have had to give Mags chicken and rice before, when she came home from the ICU, for about a week or longer, she did good on that. I'm gonna talk to doc and see what he says about putting her on that and then VERYYYYYY slowly adding in some other ingredients. I know just chicken and rice isn't a balanced diet, but hopefully it will hold her over until I can slowly start adding other things in, gonna ask him about adding a supplement to it as well, specially since just starting out, it'll only be chicken and rice.

Question, do you guys think this would be a bad idea considering how sensitive Mags system is? She has a compromised immune system as well.