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08-13-2008, 11:15 AM | #1 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: NYC
Posts: 586
| Can I mix food? Here the problem. I am afraid my cooking doesnt provide complete nutrition. Can I mix in pet food say 2 days out of the week? I buy only Merrick food and Rocky loves it. His regular diet consists of this. Chicken breast, Broccoli, Baby carrots, celery. And some yogurt once or twice a day. Various fruits, like apple or watermelon. Once a week he gets baked Salmon, which he loves, also with carrots and califlower. I am thinking that this might be too high in protein. Should I be worried. He is very depressed lately , but at the same time. We have my sisters puppy in the house for a week, and he hates her, even though we show him more love than usual. He is all to himself and just lies on the bed most of the time. |
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08-13-2008, 11:21 AM | #2 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| You're right. That isn't complete nutrition. Are you giving vitamin supplements? It really isn't an option to skip it when you homecook. If you are feeding less than 80-85% dog food, you will need to supplement. Feeding dog food only twice a week will not balance everything out. Dogs have a huge calcium requirement that can't be met with things like yogurt. When giving calcium you have to give other things also. Trace minerals need to be given... The best thing to do is talk to a nutritionist but there may be a few books with good recipes. You can also go to BalanceIT's website and buy a recipe with the supplement info laid out for you. I would get the one that give human vitamin/mineral calculations and not the one that calls for BalanceIT if you decide to go that way.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 |
08-13-2008, 11:24 AM | #3 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: NYC
Posts: 586
| Can I crush a calcium vitamin and mix it in with his food?? Will it help? |
08-13-2008, 11:41 AM | #4 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: NYC
Posts: 586
| I just ordered Missing Link supplements. Hope this will help. |
08-13-2008, 11:58 AM | #5 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Giving crushed calcium "might" be okay but it has to be given with other things and I am not sure on the amount. Missing Link contains almost no calcium and shouldn't be used as the only source of supplementation for a homemade diet.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 |
08-13-2008, 12:12 PM | #6 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: NYC
Posts: 586
| So...is there one type of vitamin or supplement that I can add to his home cooked meals. Basically something that will complete and balance his diet? I really dont want to go back to feeding him over the counter pet food. But if my meals are actually worse in the long run, then I am left with little choice. |
08-13-2008, 12:36 PM | #7 | |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Quote:
All it needs is balancing...no reason to switch back. Ellie has a nutritionist, so I just make the recipe and don't have to worry about things like this. We use BalanceIT K. That is the only supplement that is added. BalanceIT K is used in special situations though and may not be right for every dog. BalanceIT L is used for "normal" dogs but it contains menadione, so I can't recommend it. That is why I said if you buy a recipe from their site, don't get the one that says to add BalanceIT. Get the one that give you the dose of human vitamins to add. I have never gotten a recipe from them though, so I don't know how good the service is... Quite a few people use Dr. Pitcairn's Healthy Powder but if you buy the book, make sure to get a newer copy because the older ones have some inaccurate info in them. Some people have found his book to be confusing though.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 | |
08-13-2008, 12:50 PM | #8 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: NYC
Posts: 586
| Thank you. From what it looks like, I think a trip to a nutritionist is in order. I want to get it right once and for all and stick with it. THanks! |
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