new homecook user

[tweetysabu]

hello guys I have just converted my 4 month old male yorkie named skipper to home cooked food. I started him off with vegetables and brown rice. The vegetables included carrots, brocoli, cauliflower and red green and yellow peppers and brown rice. I would like to keep him on mainly a vegetable and beans and potato type of diet for the most part not to much meat but some turkey or chicken every now and again. I would like to know for all of you who brocoli out their what type of oils do you guys give your pets, like do you mix their food with cod liver oil or flax seed oil or how do you incorporate an oil into their food and what type of oil do you use? Also what types of supplements do you give the dog since now you are feeding cooked food, supplements for like calcium, vitamin A and E and things of that nature? Does any use bone meal as a supplement and if so how often do you use it? Thanks guys I really appreciate your help!!

[Ellie May]

I'm sure someone will answer your questions for you. I am just wondering why don't you want to feed meat all the time? Does your dog have a liver problem?

[Wylie's Mom]

Good for you for embarking on the real food bandwagon!

I home cook as well. I think you should consider giving meat every day, unless you're planning something else for a protein? The MAIN portion of a dog's diet should be protein - grains are just filler and not needed, veggies are okay - but debatable. It looks like you're using a LOT of veggies, which could be quite hard for them to digest. Then you add in the beans - and it might be quite a gas-producing combo there. I would add veggies in slowly, even one at time, pulverized is best. IF you steam them, you'd need to add the lost nutrients back in, if you feed them raw and pulverize, then you keep the nutrients.

You must supplement w/ calcium - I use Solid Gold's Bone Meal. You also want a multi vit/mineral, digestive enzymes, EFAs, and probioitics. I use this one: http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/produc...at/999065.aspx

[lara2913]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Good for you for embarking on the real food bandwagon!

I home cook as well. I think you should consider giving meat every day, unless you're planning something else for a protein? The MAIN portion of a dog's diet should be protein - grains are just filler and not needed, veggies are okay - but debatable. It looks like you're using a LOT of veggies, which could be quite hard for them to digest. Then you add in the beans - and it might be quite a gas-producing combo there. I would add veggies in slowly, even one at time, pulverized is best. IF you steam them, you'd need to add the lost nutrients back in, if you feed them raw and pulverize, then you keep the nutrients.

You must supplement w/ calcium - I use Solid Gold's Bone Meal. You also want a multi vit/mineral, digestive enzymes, EFAs, and probioitics. I use this one: http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/produc...at/999065.aspx

Completly agree

[Yorkiedaze]

I'm not sure why your wanting to cut down on the meat. If you do that, then your going to have to add more protien and iron to the diet. This is what I do for my dogs, and some info for you too:

First off I use Dr. Pitcairn's complete guide to NATURAL HEALTH FOR DOGS & CATS I don't use the recipes (at least not so far) but I do mix up his recipe for Healthy Powder and put one teaspoon over the dogs food once a day.

Here is a list of the food groups in his book that you can feed dogs:

RECOMMENDED LEGUMES:
Kidney beans
Lentils
Pinto beans
Soybeans
Split Peas
White or black beans

BEST-LIKED VEGGIES THAT CAN BE FED RAW:
Chopped parsley
Alfalfa sprouts
Grated carrots (cook for cats)
Grated zucchini

THESE VEGETABLES FAVORITES SHOULD BE COOKED BEFORE FEEDING:
Corn
Peas
Green beans
Broccoli
Sweet potatoes

DAIRY:
Powdered milk
Eggs
Plain non-fat yogurt
Cheddar cheese
Cottage cheese (non-fat)

GRAINS:
Oats
Millet brown rice
Bulgur barley
Whole wheat couscous
Cornmeal buckwheat
Wheat berries

MEATS:
LEAN: Turkey, chicken, hamburger, chuck, duck, rabbit, tuna, mackerel & salmon.
FATTY: Roaster chicken (with skin) fatty beef heart, brains, regular hamburger, fatty chuck, sirloin steak, lamb or pork, (If using fatty meat, reduce the amount of oil in the recipe) organ meats such as hearts, gizzard, kidney & liver. (easy on the liver)

HEALTHY POWDER:
2 cups nutritional (torula) yeast
1 cup lecithin granules
1/4 cup kelp powder
1/4 cup bonemeal (or 9,000 milligrams calcium or 5 teaspoons eggshell powder) 1,000 milligrams vitamin C (ground) or 1/4 teaspoon sodium ascorbate (optional)
Mix all ingredients together in a 1 quart container and refrigerate.
1 to 2 teaspoons per day for cats or small dogs; 2 to 3 teaspoons per day for medium-size dogs; 1 to 2 tablespoons per day for large dogs.

I only make up half this recipe at a time for my dogs because it lasts so long.

Here is how I feed my dogs.

I fry (in dry skillet) 2 pounds of ground lamb and 2 pounds of ground free range ground beef.
I cook 1 cup brown rice with 1/2 cup split peas and 1/2 cup lentils all together till crisp tender, rinse in cold water and drain.
I steam a large head of broccoli, stem and all till crisp tender.
In my food processor I chop fine, 6 fresh carrots with about 4 cloves of garlic, about half a bunch of fresh parsley and the broccoli.
I mix all these together and freeze in 1 quart zip-loc freezer bags.

I then cook up some steel cut oatmeal and add some chopped steamed broccoli and keep in ref.
http://www.bobsredmill.com/index.php

For breakfast they get either 1/4 cup of the veggie/meat mix or 1/8 cup with 1/8 cup oatmeal. For dinner they get 1/4 cup of the veggie/meat mix. Sometimes for lunch I give them some plain non-fat yogurt and mix some kind of berries in it.

They love peanut butter so I buy the all natural kind you have to keep in the ref. after opening. I either make up some really good peanut butter balls and freeze or just give them a spoonful. I do not give store bought treats of any kind. I make my own.

I also once in awhile scramble them an egg for breakfast and add 1/8 of the veggie/meat mixture and some cheddar cheese.

I hope this helps you, but I highly recommend buying Dr. Pitcairn's book and also a must have book is titled Food Pets Die For by Ann N. Martin.

Feeding your dogs real food is the only and best way to go to keep them healthy and happy, and of course for our own peace of mind.

I've never fed dog food to any dog. I've been home cooking for 48 years. My grandparents who raised me home cooked as well, so I just continued after I was married and got a dog of my own.

If you have any questions, I'll be more than happy to try and answer. My major concern is for our companion animals and to try and help their caregivers in anyway I can.

For a great holistic cook book written by an expert on dog neutrition, then get The Smart, Easy, and Healthy Way to Feed Your Pet Now. by Joan Weiskoph

Also buy Protect Your Pet. More Shocking Facts by Ann. N. Martin.

I think you will find these sites very informative and the reason why feeding real is the very best and healthiest.

http://www.homevet.com/petcare/foodbook.html

http://www.api4animals.org/doc.asp?ID=79

http://home.att.net/~wdcusick/03.html

[Yorkieluv]

If your dog has liver problems, then I understand not wanting to use meat for the main protein source. If there aren't any liver/kidney/bladder stone problems, then there's no reason not to use meat. My yorkie is liver compromised, and I have to use egg or cottage cheese as the main protein source and lots of veggies...
Is your dog liver compromised?

[Babymax]

so if there is a liver problem there are only certin kinds of protine to give them and can you tell how what there are and hoe much at each meal to give them ?Do you home cook for ur baby is so what do you give through the day

[marcerella02]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

I'm not sure why your wanting to cut down on the meat. If you do that, then your going to have to add more protien and iron to the diet. This is what I do for my dogs, and some info for you too:

First off I use Dr. Pitcairn's complete guide to NATURAL HEALTH FOR DOGS & CATS I don't use the recipes (at least not so far) but I do mix up his recipe for Healthy Powder and put one teaspoon over the dogs food once a day.

Here is a list of the food groups in his book that you can feed dogs:

RECOMMENDED LEGUMES:
Kidney beans
Lentils
Pinto beans
Soybeans
Split Peas
White or black beans

BEST-LIKED VEGGIES THAT CAN BE FED RAW:
Chopped parsley
Alfalfa sprouts
Grated carrots (cook for cats)
Grated zucchini

THESE VEGETABLES FAVORITES SHOULD BE COOKED BEFORE FEEDING:
Corn
Peas
Green beans
Broccoli
Sweet potatoes

DAIRY:
Powdered milk
Eggs
Plain non-fat yogurt
Cheddar cheese
Cottage cheese (non-fat)

GRAINS:
Oats
Millet brown rice
Bulgur barley
Whole wheat couscous
Cornmeal buckwheat
Wheat berries

MEATS:
LEAN: Turkey, chicken, hamburger, chuck, duck, rabbit, tuna, mackerel & salmon.
FATTY: Roaster chicken (with skin) fatty beef heart, brains, regular hamburger, fatty chuck, sirloin steak, lamb or pork, (If using fatty meat, reduce the amount of oil in the recipe) organ meats such as hearts, gizzard, kidney & liver. (easy on the liver)

HEALTHY POWDER:
2 cups nutritional (torula) yeast
1 cup lecithin granules
1/4 cup kelp powder
1/4 cup bonemeal (or 9,000 milligrams calcium or 5 teaspoons eggshell powder) 1,000 milligrams vitamin C (ground) or 1/4 teaspoon sodium ascorbate (optional)
Mix all ingredients together in a 1 quart container and refrigerate.
1 to 2 teaspoons per day for cats or small dogs; 2 to 3 teaspoons per day for medium-size dogs; 1 to 2 tablespoons per day for large dogs.

I only make up half this recipe at a time for my dogs because it lasts so long.

Here is how I feed my dogs.

I fry (in dry skillet) 2 pounds of ground lamb and 2 pounds of ground free range ground beef.
I cook 1 cup brown rice with 1/2 cup split peas and 1/2 cup lentils all together till crisp tender, rinse in cold water and drain.
I steam a large head of broccoli, stem and all till crisp tender.
In my food processor I chop fine, 6 fresh carrots with about 4 cloves of garlic, about half a bunch of fresh parsley and the broccoli.
I mix all these together and freeze in 1 quart zip-loc freezer bags.

I then cook up some steel cut oatmeal and add some chopped steamed broccoli and keep in ref.
http://www.bobsredmill.com/index.php

For breakfast they get either 1/4 cup of the veggie/meat mix or 1/8 cup with 1/8 cup oatmeal. For dinner they get 1/4 cup of the veggie/meat mix. Sometimes for lunch I give them some plain non-fat yogurt and mix some kind of berries in it.

They love peanut butter so I buy the all natural kind you have to keep in the ref. after opening. I either make up some really good peanut butter balls and freeze or just give them a spoonful. I do not give store bought treats of any kind. I make my own.

I also once in awhile scramble them an egg for breakfast and add 1/8 of the veggie/meat mixture and some cheddar cheese.

I hope this helps you, but I highly recommend buying Dr. Pitcairn's book and also a must have book is titled Food Pets Die For by Ann N. Martin.

Feeding your dogs real food is the only and best way to go to keep them healthy and happy, and of course for our own peace of mind.

I've never fed dog food to any dog. I've been home cooking for 48 years. My grandparents who raised me home cooked as well, so I just continued after I was married and got a dog of my own.

If you have any questions, I'll be more than happy to try and answer. My major concern is for our companion animals and to try and help their caregivers in anyway I can.

For a great holistic cook book written by an expert on dog neutrition, then get The Smart, Easy, and Healthy Way to Feed Your Pet Now. by Joan Weiskoph

Also buy Protect Your Pet. More Shocking Facts by Ann. N. Martin.

I think you will find these sites very informative and the reason why feeding real is the very best and healthiest.

http://www.homevet.com/petcare/foodbook.html

http://www.api4animals.org/doc.asp?ID=79

http://home.att.net/~wdcusick/03.html

Donna really knows her stuff!! when i first started homecooking she was a HUGE help and still is!!!

[Yorkieluv]

babymax, if a dog is liver compromised (liver shunt/mvd), they should not eat red meat because it produces the most toxins...Fish is high in purines, so if your dog has a history of UTI/bladder stones/crystals, then no fish. The main protein sources for a dog with a compromised liver should be vegetable and dairy protein. Egg is fine for a main protein source...This is what I give my yorkie, but I mix it with lots of veggies...
If you want a recipe that's specifically for liver compromised dogs, you can join the liver shunt/mvd group http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/L...d_MVD_Support/
You can find the recipe in the FILES section or you can ask the members for it.

[tweetysabu]

hey guys thanks for all of your responses, I greatly appreciate it. Now skipper doesnt have a liver problem I just thought it maybe a bit healthier to start him on an all veggie diet but I have now realized that meat is an improtant part in their diet because of the protein. I was wondering since he is 4 months and now that I am home cooking for him should I start to feed him twice a day versus three times a day simply because maybe he may gain more weight eating cooked food. Or should I feed him three times a day because he is a puppy and still growing?

[Yorkieluv]

If your pup is small, I would feed 3 meals per day to avoid any hypoglycemic episodes at least until he gets a bit older.

[elle57]

Originally Posted by marcerella02

Donna really knows her stuff!! when i first started homecooking she was a HUGE help and still is!!!

hi, can i ask you besides this healthy powder, do you give anything else to your furbaby? i give missing link, multi vitamin,cosequin and i just am looking into bonemeal.
can i buy all this stuff at the health food store or is some of this only for animals ?

HEALTHY POWDER:
2 cups nutritional (torula) yeast
1 cup lecithin granules
1/4 cup kelp powder
1/4 cup bonemeal (or 9,000 milligrams calcium or 5 teaspoons eggshell powder) 1,000 milligrams vitamin C (ground) or 1/4 teaspoon sodium ascorbate (optional)
Mix all ingredients together in a 1 quart container and refrigerate.
1 to 2 teaspoons per day for cats or small dogs; 2 to 3 teaspoons per day for medium-size dogs; 1 to 2 tablespoons per day for large dogs.

[Suzy]

Originally Posted by elle57

hi, can i ask you besides this healthy powder, do you give anything else to your furbaby? i give missing link, multi vitamin,cosequin and i just am looking into bonemeal.
can i buy all this stuff at the health food store or is some of this only for animals ?

HEALTHY POWDER:
2 cups nutritional (torula) yeast
1 cup lecithin granules
1/4 cup kelp powder
1/4 cup bonemeal (or 9,000 milligrams calcium or 5 teaspoons eggshell powder) 1,000 milligrams vitamin C (ground) or 1/4 teaspoon sodium ascorbate (optional)
Mix all ingredients together in a 1 quart container and refrigerate.
1 to 2 teaspoons per day for cats or small dogs; 2 to 3 teaspoons per day for medium-size dogs; 1 to 2 tablespoons per day for large dogs.

I got everything I needed at the health food store. It's not only for animals-it's for people too! I got it all and it cost about $40 and will last me probably 6-12 months! If yours doesn't have it, PM me and I will give you the name/number/website of mine in town-they ship and are reasonable.

Don't forget to add Vitamin E to the recipes you make...you can skip the Vitamin A if you use carrots or sweet potatoes.

I don't use other vitamins or Missing Link, as it made Emma itchy. I DO use flax oil in the recipes rather than plain vegetable oil. I also got this at the health food store-I think it was $9 for a bottle, but since I only use about 1T. at a time, it will last forever! I have to keep it in the fridge too, so make note of that. I use it because it has Omega 3's in it, and I'm not huge on fish oil

I also make sure to try different fruits and veggies periodically. This keeps their diet interesting for them, and makes sure they get lots of different vitamins and nutrients. For example, I make 2-3 recipes at a time and freeze. In one, I use carrots, another sweet potato, another broccoli, and then sometimes I 1/2 the recipe before mixing in veggies and add maybe zucchini to one and peas to another.

[JuicyGirl]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Good for you for embarking on the real food bandwagon!

I home cook as well. I think you should consider giving meat every day, unless you're planning something else for a protein? The MAIN portion of a dog's diet should be protein - grains are just filler and not needed, veggies are okay - but debatable. It looks like you're using a LOT of veggies, which could be quite hard for them to digest. Then you add in the beans - and it might be quite a gas-producing combo there. I would add veggies in slowly, even one at time, pulverized is best. IF you steam them, you'd need to add the lost nutrients back in, if you feed them raw and pulverize, then you keep the nutrients.

You must supplement w/ calcium - I use Solid Gold's Bone Meal. You also want a multi vit/mineral, digestive enzymes, EFAs, and probioitics. I use this one: http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/produc...at/999065.aspx

Do you have just one recipe or do you mix it up? I would like to change to homecooking and I am looking for examples to try out. I am a little nervous about my furbabe not getting enough nutrients

[Yorkieluv]

JuicyGirl, the best thing you can do is get a good book on homecooking for dogs like Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Health to get started so you can make sure to be feeding your dog the right nutrients I got that book when I was starting and it was a great starting point