Who is still Homecooking?

[wemple2]

Great thread, lots of useful information...I'll keep reading and learning.

[amandawash]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Nope, not a bit of shephard in her.
She is seven.
I know her symptoms don't sound like EPI but she had acute pancreatitis last year and now this, so it seems like something is thrown off although her Spec cPL is normal. Something on her blood work was one point high. Hmm, I think it was hemoglobin. The vet said no worries. Her platelets were very low (out of reference range) but we redid it and they were right back up (clotting in the tube suspected). The hemo was normal then too I believe. Her lipase was about 200 points too high. This was in Oct. Then the cPL came back normal. Nutramax is sending an 80 day sample to the vet and she says they are all mine if I want them.

Lol, I agree. Her system is quite batty.
Please tell your husband thanks.

Gosh Crystal I wish I had something intelligent to say about this, but I just don't know enough about these issues to feel like I can contribute in any useful way

Please keep me updated though, I am very concerned for Ellie and only hope that you get these issues figured out and fast. Between you, Ann, your vet and nutritionist you should get something figured out quickly.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by 4doggiemama

Oh man, after reading this thread I am scared to death that I am doing Cocoa a disservice. After her recent surgery she refused to eat the prescription canned food that she was on before surgery or the other doggies' dry food mushed up with water. Vet suggested chicken, brown rice, gr. beans, and carrots cooked and mushed up since she is missing teeth. Am feeding her a small amount every 2 to 3 hours, even through the night. Said it wouldn't hurt her to eat this a month without supplements. Told me to give 1 protein to 4 carbs. Even though she is now a mite under 3 lbs. now she's finally eating well, and appears to be feeling well. Right now we don't know what sort of food she needs to be on until all the tests are back from her surgery. Wish they would hurry. Thanks for the thread and information provided. ~Joanne~

Short term Cocoa will be fine on this diet while you are waiting for the tests to come back. If you are going to keep her on a homecooked diet, you will have to use a recipe developed by a nutritionist that includes the proper supplements.

The calcium to phosphorus ration has to be correct as does the potassium to sodium ratio. Dogs also need iodine (kelp is a good source), zinc and fatty acids.

[Ellie May]

We will figure it out sooner or later I'm sure.
Thanks so much for the suggestion Cindy. I wasn't even thinking about that. I'm going to email SD and ask if I can have copies of their homecooked version of I/D, L/D and K/D.

Ladymom, yes I have thought about a TLI and that is next on the testing list with vitamin B check and hyperlipidosis testing. With her gaining some weight though, I'm not sure how it could be EPI. It just concerns me that she has had pancreas issues before.

[Ellie May]

Back to homecooking.

For those feeding it along with kibble, it is strongly suggested that you either feed less than 10% homecooked OR you add supplements. You can get help from a nutritionist or find recipes online. Be very careful though. Just because somebody puts a recipe on the internet doesn't mean it is okay, even if they claim to have experience. Most diet recipes I have found online aren't something I'd ever give.

To add your own supplements without the help of a nutritionist is too risky IMO. If the cal/phos ratio isn't balanced, your dog can have health problems. The same goes for too few or too many vitamins. You can't just add a calcium supplement and hope that it is working because then the phos may not be in proportion and everything can be thrown off balance. Some nutritionists use computer programs to figure this stuff out, so unless you get the NRC or AAFCO (whatever you are comfortable with) guidelines and spend a LOT of time learning how to do this, it is just safer to have somebody do it that knows how.

For puppies, they shouldn't just be fed an adult recipe according to their weight. They have special needs, so only somebody who specializes in this should be creating recipes for pups.

I have heard some vets just hand owners a bottle of PetTabs and say go ahead and homecook. Well, that's not going to work either because those are meant to be added to an already balanced commercial food. These types of supplements aren't nearly concentrated enough to use in homecooked diets. The same goes for Missing Link, Nutrical, etc. Now if you really like the product, you can probably still use it in combination with other vitamins and minerals. The only supplement actually created for an all-in-one homecoooking supplement is BalanceIT.

Homecooking is okay for a couple-few weeks unbalanced but not long-term. A month is really on the edge IMO, but before I knew what I was doing, Ellie went a long time without supplements and she is okay.

Blood work is a great thing to do but just because it is normal doesn't mean everything is okay.

Just my 2 cents.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Suzy

Crystal I'm still homecooking, just using the Sojos and supplementing with kibble in between. With our baby boy arriving at any time in the next few weeks, I wanted to make sure we had food that agreed with the furgirls that 1) they were adjusted to 2) was easy to feed them in case someone else needs to come in to feed them and 3) was easy to prepare the homecooked style of food that they are used to without as much work, in case I couldn't do it for awhile. I plan to continue homecooking, and feeding them homemade food in addition to the sojos-I make it ahead just like the homecooked food and then freeze it in smaller containers, which I have been alternating homecooked and sojos and they're doing great on these new foods. I more switched to their new foods for THEIR health-I was really worried that a friend would come to feed them while I was in the hospital and I wouldn't have any food made ahead of time!

Is Sojo's dehydrated raw like The Honest Kitchen or what?

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Back to homecooking.

For those feeding it along with kibble, it is strongly suggested that you either feed less than 10% homecooked OR you add supplements. You can get help from a nutritionist or find recipes online. Be very careful though. Just because somebody puts a recipe on the internet doesn't mean it is okay, even if they claim to have experience. Most diet recipes I have found online aren't something I'd ever give.

To add your own supplements without the help of a nutritionist is too risky IMO. If the cal/phos ratio isn't balanced, your dog can have health problems. The same goes for too few or too many vitamins. You can't just add a calcium supplement and hope that it is working because then the phos may not be in proportion and everything can be thrown off balance. Some nutritionists use computer programs to figure this stuff out, so unless you get the NRC or AAFCO (whatever you are comfortable with) guidelines and spend a LOT of time learning how to do this, it is just safer to have somebody do it that knows how.

For puppies, they shouldn't just be fed an adult recipe according to their weight. They have special needs, so only somebody who specializes in this should be creating recipes for pups.

I have heard some vets just hand owners a bottle of PetTabs and say go ahead and homecook. Well, that's not going to work either because those are meant to be added to an already balanced commercial food. These types of supplements aren't nearly concentrated enough to use in homecooked diets. The same goes for Missing Link, Nutrical, etc. Now if you really like the product, you can probably still use it in combination with other vitamins and minerals. The only supplement actually created for an all-in-one homecoooking supplement is BalanceIT.

Homecooking is okay for a couple-few weeks unbalanced but not long-term. A month is really on the edge IMO, but before I knew what I was doing, Ellie went a long time without supplements and she is okay.

Blood work is a great thing to do but just because it is normal doesn't mean everything is okay.

Just my 2 cents.

Vets only get a few hours of study on nutrition so they are not experts by any means. We have a number of members on a Maltese forum I belong to who started homecooking when the pet food recalls started, are not adding any supplements and their vets are perfectly fine with it!

I have heard you should you should have bloodwork done after six months on homecooked. Since Lady is a senior, she gets bloodwork done every six months anyway.

Wylie's Mom posted this link with recipes about a month ago:

http://www.naturesfarmacy.com/UserFriendlyDiet.pdf

Here the link to Balance IT:

Balance IT™

[ch774]

This is the daily supplements "Excel Adult Multi Vitamins."

they get one a day. Oh last night I gave them the califlower but Not any more should have not given so much at a time. GAS to I'm going to hold off for a while. they seem to do better with carrots, chicken,kibbles,greenbeans,

I am going to try something else I'm going to the store today.

Thank You

Let me know if this is alright.

Cheryl

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

To add your own supplements without the help of a nutritionist is too risky IMO. If the cal/phos ratio isn't balanced, your dog can have health problems. The same goes for too few or too many vitamins. You can't just add a calcium supplement and hope that it is working because then the phos may not be in proportion and everything can be thrown off balance. Some nutritionists use computer programs to figure this stuff out, so unless you get the NRC or AAFCO (whatever you are comfortable with) guidelines and spend a LOT of time learning how to do this, it is just safer to have somebody do it that knows how.

Thank you so much for saying this, bc I've been sitting on my hands for 2 days, not wanting to hijack the thread.

It's been said before so many times, but I'll say it again - balancing supplementation, and especially the cal-phos ratio is CRITICAL to a dog's health. Cookers who aren't doing this may easily report "my dog is healthy!" - when in fact, a disaster could be brewing inside that dog.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by ch774

This is the daily supplements "Excel Adult Multi Vitamins."

they get one a day. Oh last night I gave them the califlower but Not any more should have not given so much at a time. GAS to I'm going to hold off for a while. they seem to do better with carrots, chicken,kibbles,greenbeans,

I am going to try something else I'm going to the store today.

Thank You

Let me know if this is alright.

Cheryl

It looks like that supplement is just a general one for any dog. It wouldn't be concentrated enough to feed with a homecooked diet.

Cauliflower, broccoli, spinach and cabbage may be more likely to cause GI issues.

Carrots, green beans, zuccini, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, celery and bell peppers may work well.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Thank you so much for saying this, bc I've been sitting on my hands for 2 days, not wanting to hijack the thread.

It's been said before so many times, but I'll say it again - balancing supplementation, and especially the cal-phos ratio is CRITICAL to a dog's health. Cookers who aren't doing this may easily report "my dog is healthy!" - when in fact, a disaster could be brewing inside that dog.

lol, you can hijack any thread that I start if you wanna.
I thought about starting a thread a few days again to remind everyone that chosing the vitamins that they want and adding them to homecooked food is not healthy but just didn't. I guess this one is accomplishing that though.

calcium
I'm glad feeding humans isn't this complicated.

[ch774]

thank you so much I did not know about these. I will be sure to get some well now do I boil,steam them?

Thanks
Cheryl

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by ch774

thank you so much I did not know about these. I will be sure to get some well now do I boil,steam them?

Thanks
Cheryl

Steaming would be best.
I also microwave the squash sometimes.

[Potter]

I don't understand half of what you gals are saying about diet if there is a health problem..its too compliacted.Does that mean most likely if our Yorkie gets a health problem down the road I'd have to feed him prescription diet that means either kibble or canned food?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Potter

I don't understand half of what you gals are saying about diet if there is a health problem..its too compliacted.Does that mean most likely if our Yorkie gets a health problem down the road I'd have to feed him prescription diet that means either kibble or canned food?

Sorry bout that.
Really, just ignore anything on this thread that was specifically about Ellie because she seems to confuse everybody. She is the exception. Not the rule.

If your Yorkie gets a health problem that has to be managed by diet, you may have to go with a prescription food (kibble or canned). Science Diet has homecooked recipes available for some of their prescription diets, so you may be able to use one of those and continue to homecook if there is a health problem. A nutritionist can also formulate a recipe for specific health needs. However, there are a few cases where a prescription diet (canned or kibble) would have to be used.

If the correct supplements aren't being given to a healthy dog who is eating homecooked, they could easily develop health problems.