How much food to feed?

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by FlyingNimbus

I think they should implement stricter rules/laws on food companies (not just dog food companies because its not just that) and harsher penalties that cannot be avoided or circumvented in any shape or manner. Where there's someone who checks out the companies, and someone who checks on the people who do those checks. I know it sounds silly, but I mean common look at the many recalls at the pet food companies, and human foods that get away with so many things...

Did you know potato chips and other highly processed foods could contain toxic substances linked to cause cancer? Even things like pringles. So if foods made for human consumption aren't even safe - whose to say they will take it seriously with dog foods? I know it's not something that would merit a direct comparison but I mean really. Food is food regardless to who or what it is aimed at.

And you know companies can get away with putting these things into our foods because of loop holes and such.

My point is, I think the whole food regulation whether it be for a four legged friend, or yourself -- all of it should be completely overhauled highly regulated with the utmost strictest, unbiased scrutiny to where no one can alter it to their own companies' agendas.

Sorry if it comes off over-zealous it's just how I feel about all of these things whether it's for dogs or for people I really think things should be made safe.

Not silly or anything I totally get you and agree. When we have people dressed in full body suits spraying the food we eat there is an issue.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by JennaPenny

Although I eyeball it, I took a lot of nutrition classes, so the measuring I have down to a science. She gets approx. 1/3 cup of either kibble OR boiled food (with a lot of fresh veggies and now additives!) twice a day. Since the predisone was shown to have an amazing effect on her health, she's been hungrier. She gained a pound, and for the first time has a bit of chunk to her and no rib bones. We are very happy with this weight, so no more weight as she's so small. So I give her (thanks Matese!!!!) green beans up to three times a day, with a small carrot every so often cut up for her snacks.

She still gets what we call "nut nut" butter, but, it was either that or the chicken hot dog for her medication. We chose the nut nut butter that we grind ourselves. We tried to NOT give her the meds without a bribe. however, I knew she was taking them too easily, and I went looking about 3 weeks ago. Yep, sure enough, my clever gal hid them behind and under things. so, nut nut butter it is- until her allergy panel comes back.. then we'll see.

I worry about her getting the right vitamins and stuff dogs need. Have you talked this over with your vet?

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by FlyingNimbus

What's predisone and nut nut butter? I give mine carrots every so often. My mom gets mad because she wants her to be in that strict regiment but I feel bad for her... eating kibble day in and day out.. I every so often feed her carrots (3-5 chunky small ones about 2-3inches long), sometimes I give her a slice of turkey ham(I know i shouldnt but its very rare like maybe once a week if even), a slice of whatever meat I am eating, as my diet I like it simple. If I am eating chicken I eat it mostly boiled. I dont like fried stuff much... If I do however have cooked chicken (skillet) I end up only giving the white part and only have I run it through water in the sink and try to get as much grease out. My foods dont ever have condiment on them(like spices) as I am not too much of a fan of that. Unless its specific meals.

Most of what I give her is veggies though, steamed, boiled or raw.

Like carrots, lettuce, sometimes broccolli, etc. Never beans, rice, or anything dangerous for her.

I very rarely give her hotdogs. I never give anything overly processed outside of the ham, or hotdogs and again-- very rarely and sparse.


I am very careful what I give her and how much because she's known to throw up a lot of things. One time my family came over with my very young cousin(long story) and he would accidentally drop a piece of pizza crust on the floor and the dog would be eating at it. Of course I'd have her drop it, but whatever she'd eaten she'd throw it back out later. Now we're more careful to keep her away when children are eating....


Anywho, my point is, she has variety because of me, because I figured out what upsets her stomach and what doesn't. But she doesn't get a lot of it imho because Im careful to not overfeed.

Ham is really bad it can cause pancreatitis.

[JennaPenny]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

I worry about her getting the right vitamins and stuff dogs need. Have you talked this over with your vet?

Please know right off that my tone is nothing but friendly and not annoyed, just because the words can be taken the wrong way.

Yes, of course I have. I remember you asking about it before, and I DID take to heart what you said about your..Mothers?..dog's teeth. I do "free" kibble feeding, a multi-vitamin, and on top of the egg shells I also put fresh veggies in there even over the vet boiled diet. I also stopped feeding her any of the doggie treats and have moved to fresh foods for snacks. Mostly veggies. She does get blueberries a few times a week.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by FlyingNimbus

Bison??? The hell do you even get that from? xD A regular supermarket does not carry bison from what I can tell... Bison is essentially beef isn't it? Bison to my understanding are essentially cow... Not same species and all but yeah...

Chicken, turkey is easy to do. Some fish-- would have to be freshwater-- strictly freshwater. Salt water fish or anything from the sea to be blunt carries large trace amount of mercury... pollution, plethora of chemicals, and heavy metals.. it may not be affecting the fish because they got used to it but if it certainly affects us- more so a smaller animal.

Btw, the bigger/older the fish the more trace metals. pollution, etc is concentrated in it...

It's why there's warning of only eating sea food once a week if anything.


I guess farm raised tilapia would be good. When I had turtles I used to feed them that, as it was clean, and I ended up doing research on them. Tilapia is a really healthy fish full of nutrients and is very lean unlike say a catfish, and certain other fish...

Salmon would be good, but if I am correct salmon are born in freshwater and travel through estuaries(probably) right into the sea where they live most of their lives in. That being said, from their time in the sea they would have considerable amounts of junk in them...

Lamb, I am not sure I've seen that in the grocery store but to be honest I don't eat lamb(if ever) so I probably missed that.



For now all I can think of is Chicken, turkey, pork, farm raised tilapia, carrots, vegetables like peas(peas are really really good for digestion), maybe berries(antioxidants), kale is a good dark leafy green. not sure if they can eat it but idk rabbits, reptiles, fish, people can eat it mostlikely dogs have no issue with that?

Boiled liver would be good once a week I would assume. The liver is where a lot of the fats, proteins, vitamin and minerals is supposed to be stored which is good for the body and mind.


Not sure what additives you add to your dogs' meals but all I can think about is adding small doses of vitamin and mineral supplements to the diet, but really small doses. So it doesn't become too much and only every other day if anything... If I can figure out the proper dosage that would help a lot. Because when you cook foods- boiled or otherwise nutrients are -always- lost. So adding some back would help improve it's quality of life I would think.

It's more of the messiness of the food I have to figure out how to deal with.


The food if boiled would have to be drained out and dried up enough so the stool doesn't become soo runny... Dont like the idea of runny stool...


If you feed fruits, what kinds do you feed? whenever we get bananas I'd eat most of it and leave the tips to them (like 2-3 inches of banana). I hate strawberries and apples so I don't bother buying them to share... Plus their seeds are toxic(apples)

I think I heard avocado is toxic to them(sad really I love avocado). Not sure if garlic too or something like that. Although Im pretty sure ive seen my dog eating something with garlic and it being fine. Or eating something its not supposed to and it being fine(in small quantities) like a piece of cheese that fell to the floor(she has a habit of jumping at us when we're eating so if we're eating something with loose or chopped cheese a bit of it could fall to the floor..

Anyways asides from this, not really sure what else would be needed.

Garlic is considered toxic it causes anemia. If you decided to home cook you must must have a recipe from a vet nutritionist and supplements. That's why I like balanceit.com those recipes are by vet nutritionists and they sell the supplement.

[JennaPenny]

Originally Posted by FlyingNimbus

Bison??? The hell do you even get that from? xD A regular supermarket does not carry bison from what I can tell... Bison is essentially beef isn't it? Bison to my understanding are essentially cow... Not same species and all but yeah...

Chicken, turkey is easy to do. Some fish-- would have to be freshwater-- strictly freshwater. Salt water fish or anything from the sea to be blunt carries large trace amount of mercury... pollution, plethora of chemicals, and heavy metals.. it may not be affecting the fish because they got used to it but if it certainly affects us- more so a smaller animal.

Btw, the bigger/older the fish the more trace metals. pollution, etc is concentrated in it...

It's why there's warning of only eating sea food once a week if anything.


I guess farm raised tilapia would be good. When I had turtles I used to feed them that, as it was clean, and I ended up doing research on them. Tilapia is a really healthy fish full of nutrients and is very lean unlike say a catfish, and certain other fish...

Salmon would be good, but if I am correct salmon are born in freshwater and travel through estuaries(probably) right into the sea where they live most of their lives in. That being said, from their time in the sea they would have considerable amounts of junk in them...

Lamb, I am not sure I've seen that in the grocery store but to be honest I don't eat lamb(if ever) so I probably missed that.



For now all I can think of is Chicken, turkey, pork, farm raised tilapia, carrots, vegetables like peas(peas are really really good for digestion), maybe berries(antioxidants), kale is a good dark leafy green. not sure if they can eat it but idk rabbits, reptiles, fish, people can eat it mostlikely dogs have no issue with that?

Boiled liver would be good once a week I would assume. The liver is where a lot of the fats, proteins, vitamin and minerals is supposed to be stored which is good for the body and mind.


Not sure what additives you add to your dogs' meals but all I can think about is adding small doses of vitamin and mineral supplements to the diet, but really small doses. So it doesn't become too much and only every other day if anything... If I can figure out the proper dosage that would help a lot. Because when you cook foods- boiled or otherwise nutrients are -always- lost. So adding some back would help improve it's quality of life I would think.

It's more of the messiness of the food I have to figure out how to deal with.


The food if boiled would have to be drained out and dried up enough so the stool doesn't become soo runny... Dont like the idea of runny stool...


If you feed fruits, what kinds do you feed? whenever we get bananas I'd eat most of it and leave the tips to them (like 2-3 inches of banana). I hate strawberries and apples so I don't bother buying them to share... Plus their seeds are toxic(apples)

I think I heard avocado is toxic to them(sad really I love avocado). Not sure if garlic too or something like that. Although Im pretty sure ive seen my dog eating something with garlic and it being fine. Or eating something its not supposed to and it being fine(in small quantities) like a piece of cheese that fell to the floor(she has a habit of jumping at us when we're eating so if we're eating something with loose or chopped cheese a bit of it could fall to the floor..

Anyways asides from this, not really sure what else would be needed.

Bison and (and reindeer) is always in my freezer/fridge. It depends on where I get it. If my Father has won the lottery system in Alaska, I'll get some (bison) from him. I get the reindeer from Dad any time I visit, and twice a year I have it shipped. However, bison is extremely easy to get, and I get it from Sprouts if Dad doesn't have any , or Whole foods. Costco sometimes. It's not cow, it's venison. Much leaner.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by JennaPenny

Please know right off that my tone is nothing but friendly and not annoyed, just because the words can be taken the wrong way.

Yes, of course I have. I remember you asking about it before, and I DID take to heart what you said about your..Mothers?..dog's teeth. I do "free" kibble feeding, a multi-vitamin, and on top of the egg shells I also put fresh veggies in there even over the vet boiled diet. I also stopped feeding her any of the doggie treats and have moved to fresh foods for snacks. Mostly veggies. She does get blueberries a few times a week.

Sorry can't always keep people straight.

[JennaPenny]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Sorry can't always keep people straight.

Oh, lord, don't be!! Please, lol. That's why I said I'm not upset. Actually, If I were a hugger I'd hug you right now. I have been EXTREMELY worried and that site you put up gave me some more ideas to adjust. We just have to wait on that allergy test today (or tomorrow) and if need be, make adjustments.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by JennaPenny

Oh, lord, don't be!! Please, lol. That's why I said I'm not upset. Actually, If I were a hugger I'd hug you right now. I have been EXTREMELY worried and that site you put up gave me some more ideas to adjust. We just have to wait on that allergy test today (or tomorrow) and if need be, make adjustments.

I hope everything works out well. Mine keeps having skin infection after skin infection so it seems like we are at the vet weekly.

[JennaPenny]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

I hope everything works out well. Mine keeps having skin infection after skin infection so it seems like we are at the vet weekly.

I'll wait for any updates about the skin infection; Or, if you've posted about it, and they know the reason for it- I hope it's easily fixed and stops soon.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by JennaPenny

I'll wait for any updates about the skin infection; Or, if you've posted about it, and they know the reason for it- I hope it's easily fixed and stops soon.

Well the biggest thought is her allergies she has environmental and food and we had a mild winter so I figured that was the issue so they gave her antibiotics and uped her allergy meds for two weeks if it makes no change or keeps coming back they want to make sure her thyroid level is still good on her thyroid meds because if its not that can cause skin issues to. She also just got her yearly blood work so waiting to here if everything is good there.

[FlyingNimbus]

Originally Posted by JennaPenny

they have to have carbs with a boiled diet. they need, bone meal, vitamin additives, veggies, carbs, and protein. I put egg shells dried myself for added calcium.

Please understand that, lol. Carbs are needed. There are a ton of recipes. I got the medical diet straight from my vet.

chewie DOES get an egg twice a week-half of one each time. we left the yolks out seeing if it hurt her, and then added it back in with no issues.

I take the egg shells and dry them then sprinkle them on her food.

So half an egg a week is good for them? You're right carbs are needed, but I am not sure how much is too much or good enough. So a little rice would be good for them?

For eggshells and vitamin supplements. I was thinking the food would have to be somewhat moist, and you could crush the vitamins, and calcium like you said and sprinkle them all over.

Not sure about this, but for fish I hear the healthier part of certain fish is the omega whatever.

I know they sell krill oil capsules, was wondering if breaking them open and sprinkling it over the food would be good or maybe they sell it liquid form and I could just spray it on their food?

I hear the omega whatever is good for the heart, and the brain. Honestly even I should be having them daily as it is good for people. So I figured it might be good for them?


As for the crushed egg shells.

I understand dogs aren't reptiles and amphibians, but you do know they already sell calcium powder (some with D3 added-- D3 is what reptiles get from sunlight it's how they use the calcium) for reptiles and stuff. So I would assume it's the same deal?

10 Myths and Misperceptions About Homemade Dog Food | The Bark


That explains the goods and bad about homemade dog food. Overall it's better but only if you actually know what you're doing-- what I said earlier about potatoes is half right. The problem with potatoes or any plant from the nighshade family is that they contain certain alkaloids which aggravates inflammation or w/e. Basically Potatoes, tomatoes = no bueno.

As for multivitamins, one can't just add multivitamins as they were made to be used in conjunction with kibble. So the actual amount is very low as kibble already contains more of it.


Feeding raw is good because it means less likely hood of contamination by some careless oaf... however raw foods don't contain the appropriate amount of nutrients to keep it all up. So it needs to be supplemented with vitamins and such.

But the thing is, no two raw diets are the same.

One meal can be naturally high in say vitamin A, B or C, and low on other stuff, while another could be high in Omega fatty acids, vitamin A, D, E, and calcium but low on the others.

So because no two meals are the same, it is crucial to calculate the amount of vitamins in each food and compensate the loss of the others with THOSE particularly lost minerals and vitamins.

So, instead of buying a broad catch all vitamin supplement, one would really need to buy different vitamins, and minerals to supplement it.


All would have to be done to a science and still you can easily over feed on vitamins which would lead to kidney problems in the long run I would assume.

That being said one would have to consult with someone whose actually studied it.

It may not affect them now, but it could affect them say 5 years from now and it would be a tad too late.

My issue is finding the exact specific recipes that aren't loosely represented and just random stuff thrown together. The recipe would have to see what vitamins and minerals itd be high on, and which it'd be lacking.

That would make it a balanced meal, as the key is to make it a balanced meal.

If one can do that, I have no doubt raw would have so many benefits.

But that's the thing, it would be hard to find diets already tried and tested -- fully explained right down to the science of it. Because really, that's what it comes down to. Science.

Guess you could call that the true "science diet" lol.

My guess, that is why you also give them kibble. Because the kibble is already formulated.

Thing is, dogs have different nutrient requirement. As a puppy needs much more calcium, fat/carbs, vitamins, minerals than say an adult because a puppy is growing fast and that requires the extra nutrients.


The diets would have to be breed specific as some dog breeds grow obviously larger and thus have higher requirements than say a toy breed?

[FlyingNimbus]

Originally Posted by JennaPenny

Addisons, simply put, is the opposite of cushings disease. I will be FOREVER grateful to the person who brought it to my attention she could be suffering from it. My chewie could have been dx'd when 90% of her hormones were gone. Usually they go into shock. She can't handle stress, either, and usually will go into gastroenteritis from it. That was the first clue it was a big issue. up until a month ago, before the steroid shot the vet on call gave her, she wouldn't eat ANYTHING without us coaxing her. Nothing. No boiled diet for more than 2 days. No kibble. Snacks, even. For example- thanksgiving, I put her into doggy daycare- for her own protection. they had a huge german shepherd (biggest one I've seen in my life. I'm just under 5'1 and his head came to my shoulder) and I KNEW the house wasn't dog proof. I was right. The dog was eating a 2 liter plastic bottle. I kid you not. Any way, we put her in at 12 noon on Thursday morning and got her at 6am Friday morning. She was SO sick that she vomited in the vets office after her shot. My husband yelled at my daughter recently. Just once, and she had yet ANOTHER bout of gastro. However, she was watched overnight last weekend and her shot stopped her from getting sick. She threw up a tiny bit of bile and was playing within two hours. any way, maybe over-explanation, just wanted to have you know what it was.

That sucks, I hope I dont end up dealing with that. Would drive me insane.

[FlyingNimbus]

Originally Posted by JennaPenny

Bison and (and reindeer) is always in my freezer/fridge. It depends on where I get it. If my Father has won the lottery system in Alaska, I'll get some (bison) from him. I get the reindeer from Dad any time I visit, and twice a year I have it shipped. However, bison is extremely easy to get, and I get it from Sprouts if Dad doesn't have any , or Whole foods. Costco sometimes. It's not cow, it's venison. Much leaner.

Costco? It all boils down to a membership. ;-;

Maybe I can just have it shipped to me? It does sound like something I'd personally want to try -- but then again I am a finicky eater and hard to break habits. I don't try new things unless forced, wonder if my dog would be the same. lol

My mom's dog just like my mom would eat almost anything you give her-- she's not picky at all.

Sprouts?. wholefoods? I live in nj, not sure if we have those here.

How expensive would it be to get bison from the store? Not sure they sell bison or reindeer at my local supermarket. It seems more like a hunter thing... Too bad I don't have contact with my old friend-- he likes to go hunting... To be honest he is even less finicky than we are. He once killed this groundhog(or what I thought was one) and fried it. Saw it on their facebook. He would usually hunt for deer though. He'd skin it, clean it up, cut it up and store it for a long time or share half of it with neighbors.

Not sure I can buy deer meat where I live. But I hear deer and rabbit meat are super lean.

Duck meat is rather fatty and I am not sure they sell that at local supermarkets. Seen it in asian food markets though.


Would you guys feed rabbit meat as well?

[FlyingNimbus]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Not silly or anything I totally get you and agree. When we have people dressed in full body suits spraying the food we eat there is an issue.

Agreed.