Home Cookers IN HERE!

[judyeve]

I've been homecooking for about 3 months now. It's so easy because I make everything in one big pot, portion it out and freeze at least 3 weeks worth.
I began because Gracie Leigh had parasites and her puppy bowels were inflamed from them for quite a while. I learned here to feed her (and Max, of course) just chicken and rice. They both loved it and her stomach cleared right up.

I never went back to dog food. I got a couple of good recipes (protein, carbs
and veggies basically) and that's it.

I'm also looking for supplements now. I have to look up what you guys have suggested. I give them chondroiton every few days and omega oil treats. I think they need more omegas and I don't know what else yet.

I'm so pleased with how easy it is to cook for them and I know what they're getting.

[PunkinPie]

I've been homecooking for just over 2 years. We had Punkin for about 10 days (she was 8 months old) and the vet recommended it. I've really known no other way. Once you get into it, it is really easy. I don't feel it costs anymore than high quality dog food. I only make it once every couple of weeks and it takes less than an hour.

People used to think I was crazy and that we spoiled the dog - but since the big dog food recalled it seems to be much more accepted. It's sad that something so tragic made people accept it more.

[Yorkiedaze]

Originally Posted by chachi

Its just finding some of the suppliments. Also I need to get a grinder because I have no way to grind them to powder. I have a food processor though

The powdered kelp, powdered Vitamin C, yeast flakes and lecithin granules can all be purchased in Vitamin stores. Mix these acording to directions, put in air tight container and pop in ref. These last a very long time, and less expensive in the long run than other vitamins.
I don't use Dr. Pitcairns recipes. I find them to be a wast of the Healthy Powder. It's just very easy to feed dogs without thinking you need a recipe.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by judyeve

I've been homecooking for about 3 months now. It's so easy because I make everything in one big pot, portion it out and freeze at least 3 weeks worth.
I began because Gracie Leigh had parasites and her puppy bowels were inflamed from them for quite a while. I learned here to feed her (and Max, of course) just chicken and rice. They both loved it and her stomach cleared right up.

I never went back to dog food. I got a couple of good recipes (protein, carbs
and veggies basically) and that's it.

I'm also looking for supplements now. I have to look up what you guys have suggested. I give them chondroiton every few days and omega oil treats. I think they need more omegas and I don't know what else yet.

I'm so pleased with how easy it is to cook for them and I know what they're getting.

The most important thing to supplement is calcium. Dogs have to have it or their body will start taking it from their bones....no good. Calcium is best balanced with phosphorus. It doesn't work without vitamin D but that is best found in certain foods.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by PunkinPie

I've been homecooking for just over 2 years. We had Punkin for about 10 days (she was 8 months old) and the vet recommended it. I've really known no other way. Once you get into it, it is really easy. I don't feel it costs anymore than high quality dog food. I only make it once every couple of weeks and it takes less than an hour.

People used to think I was crazy and that we spoiled the dog - but since the big dog food recalled it seems to be much more accepted. It's sad that something so tragic made people accept it more.

Wow, that is great that it seems not too pricey for you. I find it to be at least two or three times more expensive than premium dog food. I do use quite a few organic ingredients though.

[judyeve]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

The most important thing to supplement is calcium. Dogs have to have it or their body will start taking it from their bones....no good. Calcium is best balanced with phosphorus. It doesn't work without vitamin D but that is best found in certain foods.

If I make my own supplement, what else do they need? Or, does the BalanceIt supply enough of everything including calcium? What do you do for the omega oils?

Thanks,

Judy

[chachi]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

The powdered kelp, powdered Vitamin C, yeast flakes and lecithin granules can all be purchased in Vitamin stores. Mix these acording to directions, put in air tight container and pop in ref. These last a very long time, and less expensive in the long run than other vitamins.
I don't use Dr. Pitcairns recipes. I find them to be a wast of the Healthy Powder. It's just very easy to feed dogs without thinking you need a recipe.

Thanks I really appreciate that

[beckyk0031]

To those of you who mentioned feeding berries- what kind is best? I know that grapes are a no no, but are other berries like blueberries, strawberries ok for our yorkies?

[marcerella02]

Originally Posted by beckyk0031

To those of you who mentioned feeding berries- what kind is best? I know that grapes are a no no, but are other berries like blueberries, strawberries ok for our yorkies?

yes i buy frozen mixed berries.. blue, rasp, straw, black and i defrost them and put them in her cottage cheese

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by judyeve

If I make my own supplement, what else do they need? Or, does the BalanceIt supply enough of everything including calcium? What do you do for the omega oils?

Thanks,

Judy

We use BalanceIT K. It is for dogs with certain medical problems. Usually the regular BalanceIT is given but I do not like it.

If you are thinking of using the Healthy Powder, Marci has the recipe (probably YorkieDaze too). I have his book here but I don't use it...

Dogs need all the vitamins that are in dog food (a, d, b...) but some of these can be found in food...

[Sarah Sadie]

I cook deer meat with rice. My pup also eats fresh carrots, apples, oranges, has fresh fruit juice each day with a dab of metamucil. How can I get calcium in his diet, too?

[missashlee28]

I am going to start homecooking very soon for Renji! In any case, he's about 9 months old and I'm wondering if there is anything that I should know about homecooking for a puppy? I'm would think their dietary needs are different.

Also, are there any books or websites that you guys use to come up with meals/recipes? My vet recommended one book to me, but made it sound like giving meat, veggies and supplements was pretty much fool-proof.

Thanks everyone!

[Suzy]

Originally Posted by chachi

Its just finding some of the suppliments. Also I need to get a grinder because I have no way to grind them to powder. I have a food processor though

Most everything comes powdered already...I put the vitamin C tablets in a baggie, and then smash with a rolling pin That works well, since I only use 2 at a time.

[judyeve]

I happened to be at the vet yesterday. Max and Gracie Leigh have a cough.
I asked him about supplemements, and he said just put in a good multi-vitamin every few days. I'm going to find this Healthy Powder recipe and just mix it into their food when I prepare it.

I also ordered flax seed oil for them, which will go into the recipe.

[marcerella02]

Originally Posted by judyeve

I happened to be at the vet yesterday. Max and Gracie Leigh have a cough.
I asked him about supplemements, and he said just put in a good multi-vitamin every few days. I'm going to find this Healthy Powder recipe and just mix it into their food when I prepare it.

I also ordered flax seed oil for them, which will go into the recipe.

watch them with the flax seed.. it can cause allergies.