Just Started Home Cooking

[nanahas3]

Tonight was the pups first homecooked meal and I had no idea how much I should feed them. With their kibble it was a quarter to a half cup each per day but I am clueless on what amounts with homecooked meal. Any help would be appreciated. The recipe I used is 1 can each of green beans, carrots, and peas, 2 cups cottage cheese, 1 half pound of white chicken and omega 3 vitamins, if that helps.

[Maximo]

Many of the homecookers here use "Balance It" for the necessary vitamins.

Usually a vet nutritionist written recipe will have feeding guidelines.

Where did you find this recipe?

[Ellie May]

You can calculate calories per cup and compare to the kibble. Wet food is aout 75% moisture, so much more is required.

This recipe would be unsafe for long term feeding.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

You can calculate calories per cup and compare to the kibble. Wet food is aout 75% moisture, so much more is required.

This recipe would be unsafe for long term feeding.

This was my concern, but I wanted to wait for someone more knowledgeable like you to confirm.

Also, I would be careful with canned veggies since they almost always contain high amounts of added sodium.

The amount of fiber in this recipe would do my boys in after one meal.

[lisaly]

I home cook for Katie, but I supplement with BalanceIt, which is important to make sure the diet is nutritionally balanced. You can use their recipe generator to get an idea of how much to feed.

https://secure.balanceit.com/tools/recipegenerator/

[nanahas3]

oh no I got it from a post online for dogfood recipes.

[nanahas3]

Could you tell me what is wrong with the recipe? I really want to stop feeding commercial and haven't been able to find anyone local who specializes in dog nutrition.

[KathyKelben]

you are doing the right thing. I have been making my own meals for the dogs for ever. When feeding veggies frozen is good and maybe a little more nutrious. For sure you need a vitamin/mineral supplement, and there are tons on the market, so best to call a vet nutritionist for a recommendation... Balance It, Sunday, Sundae are really good. The nutritionist will also give you the protein amts. for the weight of your baby. As far as how much to feed.... with my guys it was trial and error..because they would eat until they threw up, so I started with the same amount I was feeding kibble and then I would just watch their weight... if they start looking pudgy, cut back a bit or bump up if they are looking thin. It makes you feel like a million bucks when you get it figured out and the dogs gobble it up, you know you are doing the right thing. Google DR. Becker, she has a ton of info. on homemade dog food and she is brilliant IMHO.

[Ellie May]

You can ei

ther do a phone oremail consult with a vet nutritionist (I recommend Dr. Remillard) or you can get a recipe online that uses BalanceIt. BalanceIt's website or petdiets.com would be a good place to start. Careful on fat %.

[lisaly]

The cost of a homemade diet with Dr. Remillard for a healthy dog is only $25.00 with an additional diet being $12.00. Her diets use BalanceIt for supplementation. Dr. Remillard is a vet nutritionist. If you want an individual consult or, if she needs to consult with your vet for special needs, the cost is more. I attached a link for a sample diet prepared by Dr. Remillard.

http://www.petdiets.com/userfiles/files/samplediet.pdf

[gemy]

I agree for a small cost you can get a nutriontionally balanced diet.

In terms of how much, well that will be variable. Especially with home cooked, each dog should get their own measure of food, and have their food in their own bowls. I do use a kitchen scale, it is kind of amazing how far off the eye can be, when you actually weigh the food.

Variability of how much, starts off with how much does your dog weigh now, how active are they, how many treats do you feed a day, how fast is their metabolism?

With my 6 1/2 lb boy he is getting 1/3 cup a day divided into two meals, with 6 pieces of a vet recommended tartar defense kibble. He also gets about 1/8 c of treats unless we do a very high activity day. If he has a high activity day, like 1.5 hours of swimming or more, plus a couple of hours of hiking he gets another 1/3 cup of homecooked, plus another 1/8 cup of treats.

I don't weigh him daily, but I do observe and feel him daily. He is weighed weekly.

All this is just a starting point for you.

[nanahas3]

Ugh and I thought this was going to be as simple as finding the right ingredients and cooking for them lol. Seriously though I really do want to try I just want them healthy and there are so many recalls on pet foods its scary. Laddy was doing so well with his skin issues now they have started up again I am at a loss and so is my vet .

[Ellie May]

What is the skin diagnosis?

It is not complicated with a clear recipe. It can be annoying though.

[Maximo]

I agree with the posts above to use a diet from Dr. R's site with BalanceIt.

Also agree that frozen veggies are better than canned (look for no salt added).

Hoping you can find the right thing to help Laddy.

[BabyGirl Rosie]

Originally Posted by lisaly

The cost of a homemade diet with Dr. Remillard for a healthy dog is only $25.00 with an additional diet being $12.00. Her diets use BalanceIt for supplementation. Dr. Remillard is a vet nutritionist. If you want an individual consult or, if she needs to consult with your vet for special needs, the cost is more. I attached a link for a sample diet prepared by Dr. Remillard.

http://www.petdiets.com/userfiles/files/samplediet.pdf

I used Dr Remillard for my girls. I also use balanceit as well. The recipe will tell you exact amounts to use. I highly recommend Dr R.