Table of Contents
| QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | ||||
| BARF DIET | ||||
| BEEF LIVER | ||||
| BRAND COMPARISONS | ||||
| GENERAL FEEDBACK | ||||
| HOMEMADE CAT FOOD RECIPES | ||||
| HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPES | ||||
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Best Food for Pets
Pet food can be confusing. There are so many brands of pet food out there, some of them very expensive, all of them with wild claims about being the best and healthiest for your dog, cat, or other pet. So how do you choose? Join in on the conversation on Earth Clinic to help decide what you should be feeding your pet. Is a raw food diet best? Have you missed a pet food recall? Is the expensive pet food brand really worth it?
DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
POPULAR REMEDIES:
| RAW FOOD DIET | 5 YEAS |
BARF DIET
02/06/2012: Bob from Beijing, China writes: "Love your site. Would suggest added a topic in the pets for dogs at least for raw, 'barf', bones natural diets.
Researched this for a long time, tried home cooked and slowly but finally, fully converted our two 7yr old schnauzers...Absolutely amazed at the effects!
Realized that my biggest obstacle was human psychology about 'raw' and 'bones'. Must say the first few tens of times prepping the raw foodstuffs took getting used to and the watching of swallowing of bones well made me hold my breath many times initially! But, once over the prepping, and getting the raw bones to the right size for our kids..... It has been absolutely wonderful for all of us!
1 dog year is said to be 7 human year ratio, so now our in the '50's mid to older age adult dogs look and feel like they are teenagers again!
Wish I had tried sooner... Both had already lost several teeth over the years.... So now stemming that problem and hope to share our good experiences with others!
Cheers"
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04/14/2011: Happyboy from Singapore writes: "My 5 y.o. dog fungal problem. He used to smell even a day after a shower. My remedy for him was:
1) Every night, I 'painted' his affected areas, mainly his legs/hands, with cocnut oil.
2) I gave him 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, together with his RAW blended veggies/RAW meat.
He has fully recovered from his fungal problem and can go 2 weeks without a shower and not stink. As his fungal problem was rather severe, it took 4 months for him to fylly recover from this. I adopted him when he was 3 y.o. and was kibble fed. I changed him to BARF diet when I adopted him."
Replies04/14/2011: Jr from Coloma, Mi replies: "Are you feeding raw bones? If so, what kind."
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07/25/2007: Judy from Fairfax, VA writes: "I started my two adopted dogs (12lbs each) on BARF right after the dog food scare. Initially I was mixing, cutting, measuring. I found Aunt Jeni's at a local feed store (frozen). My younger adoptee eats all RAW. My senior eats a mix of healthier canned and raw. Harley LOVES raw chicken wings. Eating the chewing has cleaned his teeth and breath. Buddy won't touch raw chicken but loves chunks of organic beef and lamb. Side affect: weight gain. I have yet to "draw the line" on how much food and treats to give. But I believe they are much healthier. Also I feed Harley blue-green algae and he loves it."
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BEEF LIVER
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[QUESTION] 01/19/2010: Pumkin from Hemet, Ca, Usa writes: "I have a puppy whose about 5 months and I just started feeding him a homemadefood puppy food and I would like to know how much beef liver is safe for a small dog?"
Replies11/02/2010: Jb from Atlanta, Ga replies: "I feed my dogs raw & have for many years. I add grass-fed organ meats to their diet. I typically add 10-15% organ mixture to ground beef. I usually buy veal heart, beef liver & beef kidneys & freeze them separately. Then I partially defrost & cut up into small cubes/pieces or grind. It's easier to handle & grind when it is partially frozen. Then I use unbleached wax paper bags inside of a plastic deli container & refreeze. When it's time to feed I defrost the organs & ground beef & mix together, 10-15% organs to 85-90% ground beef. I also mix in some veggies. I use greens, carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin, beets, squash, cucumber. Or some nights I do some fruit, blueberries, apple, banana. Sometimes I grind some flax seeds or add chia seeds. Adding a good digestive enzyme mix & probiotic is a good idea. Hope this helps."
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BRAND COMPARISONS
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[NAY] 09/07/2011: Eeej from Mesa, Az writes: "I see you wanted to make a list of culprit foods.
Purina Dog Chow. A green bag that says "Healthy Life Nutrition". I bought it because we are out of jobs and money. Halfway through the bag, she has a horrible allergy induced hot spot on her cheek."
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06/08/2010: Sharon from Harrison, Oh, United States Of America writes: "I know you have made exceptions for listing the dog food brands in the past due to the poisonings that took place. So I hope I am not wrong in including it here. If I am, please just omit it or cancel the listing.
I am having problems with the new Purina One Smart Blend of Lamb and Rice. My dog refuses to eat it. He took 2 or 3 bites and hasn't eaten for two days since. He has never been a picky eater even when we had to change brands or types of food. He has even been on a diet that included the previous version of lamb and rice from the same manufacturer. He has always eaten whatever we feed him without problem.
I finally broke down tonight and made him some chicken broth and rice and he is eating it just fine. The store bought lamb and rice is still in his bowl. He just goes up and smells it then walks away.
I'm wondering if anyone else is having problems with the brand. (I didn't know where else to look and since I get most of my health related info for me and my dog from Earthclinic I just came here looking for answers.)"
06/10/2010: Rainman from Central, Vt, Usa replies: "Kibble is one of the worse things you can feed a dog... I know that is harsh. But, it is the truth. Purina is probably one of the worse brands out there. It is full of fillers, poison, and not balanced. Dogs need raw food. Look up Raw Meaty Bone (RMB), BARF, Prey Model, and simply RAW diet for dogs. You will get overloaded with information. Simply put, your dog is telling you that the food you put in front of him/her is not food at all. Dogs will eat good food. If RAW is not going to work for you... then look into better hollistic brands of kibble. Or try cooking for the dog. Left-overs and anything food you would eat yourself is going to be healthier for your dog."
[WARNING!] 07/10/2010: Bellalinda88 from Columbus, Ga replies: "Regarding PurineONE Smartblend. I bought chicken and rice formula. One of my dogs would not touch it all and the other had diarrhea after eating it. I am going to trash the whole bag (cost $18), but something obviousy is not right with it. Bellalinda"
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12/21/2009: Mia from Appleton, Wi writes: "I'm so confused what to feed my 8 year old boxer. He has had skin problems due to allergies his whole life. For a while I was feeding him California's Natural and then had to switch to Candidae due to the only store in my area discontinued their contract. Candidea worked with him not itching/scratching so much but gave him bacterial build up that caused severe diarrhea that would not go away until I put him on a bland diet and bought medication from the vet to bring his digestive bacteria levels to normal. This went on for about a year (having the diarrhia cases about every 3 months) and talked to the vet one more time about what I could do. Her suggestion was to get him on a low-residue food. My dog is allergic to potatoes, beets and eggs. There are not many low residual dog foods on the market that avoid these 3. Any suggestions as to what I could feed my dog? Currently he is on Pro Plan - sensetive stomach and skin and seemed to do okay at first but now after 3 months he has been scratching himself so much he has numerous scaps all over his body (ecspecially by his ears and neck). His ears tend to get very dirty easily and I have to clean them at least once a week as well. I'm startding to lose all hope."
Replies01/18/2010: Jenn from New York, Ny replies: "I have a 5 yr old pug....when he was a puppy and had his routine vacc's, he had an allergic reaction and almost died..so traditional vet pumped him with drugs to stop swelling. When he was 4 1/2 the same thing happend, but alot worse. 4 months after the vaccinosis(drug(vacc overdose)... he started having seizures, licking the air, itching, losing consciousness.. then one day.... his hind legs went and he refused to go on our daily walk.I freaked out and took him to nyc, the hamptons to our local primary to manhattans best anim hosp to chinese med meets traditional med vet and last.... homeopath! he changed his diet to home cooked duck, barley, oats carrots(a few other ingredients) diet... he's detoxing from the toxicity in his body and we both sleep at night now...he saved and changed our lives
Until i found this homeopath, i didnt sleep for a whole month because my dog was having cluster seizures and spasms every single time he would SIT or sleep...he kept falling into deeper sleeps..back to back seizures....biting and violently barking at strangers(out of nowhere)worst experience of my life about 3 days later on homeopathic remedies and a new diet, i fell asleep because he was able to sleep peacefully....
check out some wellness/holistic vets in your area...
i almost lost my best friend....im not going to lose him now....gluck my email is modqru@hotmail.com"
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02/25/2009: Earth Clinic writes: "Interested to know where your dog food is manufactured? We just came across this website while looking for more information on the brand we feed our dogs. From reviewing the site, we discovered that the brand we buy (Blackwood) does not manufacture their own food. In fact, the wet food and dry food is manufactured in 2 different places! This appears to be the case with many small companies.
Unfortunately, the page is not a complete list and the website administrators haven't updated it since May of 2007, but you might still find it interesting: http://www.thepetfoodlist.com/manufacturers.htm"
Replies02/26/2009: Andre from New York City, USA replies: "I had the same question about catfood and found out one such ethical and *very* good small company that manufactures healthy dog food and human foods as well.
See Wysong and a picture of my healthy cat who agrees ;-)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycandre/3269424506/
Kal the cat was also successfully treated of ear mite with Ted dog mange cure adapted for cats in 2007 - he has been w/o mites since - see him there
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycandre/1459080973/"
10/29/2009: Carla from Grand Rapids, Mi replies: "I stopped feeding my cats dry food because they were addicted and getting fat. It isn't a natural diet for them. I switched to a natural wet cat food that is made without chemicals and by-products called Pet Guard. The thing to fear is ethoxyguin which is a known carcinogen and propylene glycol, a chemical used in anti-freeze and a solvent in brake fluids also used as a preservative and flavor enhancer in pet foods. Into the Pet Guard food for each cat, I mix one Nu-Cat soft multivitamin and 3 drops of flax seed oil. My girl with herpes has had gunk in her eyes and nose and this is clearing. Even my 16 year old with renal failure is thriving."
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11/07/2008: David from Jacksonville , FL writes: "Taste of The Wild : This food is grain free and fairly good on price. My golden has been on it for two years and we love it. Because there are no grains, there are no allergies or skin problems. Unfortunately i cant afford to feed my dog strictly raw diet food, but we do supplement some raw food each month. Taste of the wild provides your dog with exotic sources of protein, so he doesn't get bored. Quail, duck, turnkey, venison, bison, real salmon and a few other meats are the basic sources of protein. This along with feeding him raw bones and some raw food assure me that my dog is healthy and isn't experiencing any discomfort."
Replies02/25/2009: Tricia from Denver, CO replies: "I'm glad that you posted a comment on Taste of the Wild. I too switched to this brand from another equally good brand. I switched because my newly adopted pet was consistently having runny/loose stools. Once I switched my two dogs over to Taste of the Wild they are both more regular. I have recently implemented raw food into their diet also; a small portion with every meal. I wish you the best of luck with your dogs health."
[NAY] 10/20/2010: J from Atlanta, Ga Usa replies: "I tried Taste of the Wild, Bison & Fish diets. Both made my 2 dogs sick. When I called the company they did not seem to care."
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10/05/2008: Terese from Long Beach, CA writes: "At 7 months old my purebreed German Shephard was given 2-3 years to live due to extreme allergies. Although she looked fine on the outside, Her hair was flaky, skin under her armpits was blackened. She was underwieght (not a terrible thing for GSD), and refused to eat. Prior to us picking her up her old owner were told by the vet to switch her to "Science Diet" This is what made her worse...they returned her to the breeder. Thank God the breeder immediatly switched her to Natural balance Duck or Lamb....this did a little good. When we got her at 6 1/2 months she refused to eat...barely eating when coaxed. She had plenty of energy, but wasnt putting on wieght. From 6 month to 1 1/2 years she weighed 51-55 pounds! The vets all said she probably was allergic to Cow, Chicken etc....no one had answers.
Well my husband spent 3 weeks on the internet researching and came up with Honest Kitchen a dehydrated barf diet (we cant feed full barf without a yard...too messy....problem is our finicky eater didnt eat it. Then we stumbled on a VERY reasonable and excellent brand "Flint River Ranch".
Within 6 months she was given a clean bill of health (although not as good, I think Natural Balance helped in this process). Since then we have also fed Wellness brand (she need loads of protein) because of the added vitamins and minerals, but with shipping it is alot more, where Flint River includes shipping and can be ordered from a distributor out of state to avoid sales tax (We order from Arizonia and it ships from Southern Cal that day!) Now at 2 1/2 she is healthy and beautiful, weighing in at 70+. She also can eat Chicken brand (vets told us to avoid it), but loves the trout and Lamb.
At ALL cost do NOT feed Science Diet, purina or any other national brands...always go for smaller healthier alternatives. I believe the extra cost will be saved in vet bills later....pay more now, or a lot more later."
RepliesEC: Haven't tried it yet, but we've heard good things about Flint River!
10/28/2008: Shirley from Missouri replies: "Thank you, Terese from Long Beach, Ca.
After reading your post, I have purchased some dog food from Flint River Ranch. I have 2 Toy Poodles. The female is 5 years old. She is smaller with shorter legs and body. The male is about 3 years old. He is taller with longer thin body. (Yes they are spayed and neutered). The female has allergies of some kind. We haven't found out what she's allergic too.
I was already using Wellness Brand Super 5 Mix. But the problem with it was they wouldn't eat it unless I added something to it. So after I read your post, I was happy to look into this Flint River brand. I loved what I read on the reviews of this food. So I ordered the lamb meal from them. They do eat this food without anything added and I think it's helping her with her skin problems.
She doesn't scratch as much as before. She seems much more content and I think maybe with changing her food; she will eventually be cured of the constant scratching. Our other dog has no allergies and does well on any food if it's one they will eat. We have always tried to get a quality brand dog food without any bad ingredients, to keep them healthy.
I do have some of the Wellness food left. I started with adding the new brand with this one so they could adjust. I was surprised to see them eating both brands. I only put them in the pan side by side and did not mix them. So I wonder why with having both brands that they would eat the one they wouldn't eat before. That was puzzling to me.Both these foods in my opinion are healthy foods and I know there are others out there. I have no interest in any brands, except looking to keep my babies healthy and happy."
12/15/2009: Terese from Long Beach, Ca replies: "UPDATE: Im am so thrilled to see others get results. Our GS dog is doing AMAZING. We have continued to research and try other brands. We now routinely feed our dog Chicken and beef (our old vet said not too).
The following brands have been cleared by our dog with fantastic results;-)All have vitamins and NO by products or unhealthy ingredients...Flint River- when gas skyrocketed they were forced to raise prices because of shipping being included.
Wellness- Core has been amazing for our dog and helped keep on wieght.
Blue Buffalo Company- Probably the best priced for what you get if buying from store.
Orijeen- Probably one of the highest quality kibbles, but also the most expensive.
The Honest Kitchen- Dehydrated raw food for those who want to feed raw without the hastle.
Nature's Variety- Another great product, but again its pricey..
Innova- All lines are very good.
Eagle Pack Holistic- Another excellent product
Timberwolf Organics Bison- Very strong protien with all the nutrients.
Also recommended is, Dick Van Pattens, Royal Canin,Solid Gold and Authority.
And for the SHOCKER for those on a budget: Costco's
Kirkland Signature brand (Chicken rice and veggie)!! I know I was shocked too, but check out the ingredients.
Please, please please please avoid these brands at ALL cost, especially if your dog isnt in perfect health:Iams
Science Diet
Nutro
Pet Gold
Pro Plan
Ol Roy- Lowest rated food out of 100
Eukanuba
Purina- 2nd lowest rating
Pedigree
Finally we always put a teaspoon of ACV and Food Grade only Diatemacious earth, which is a natural dewormer, in our dogs food daily.
If you have ANY health problems, START with their food. Also if you have a food processor grind up some organic veggies (must break the cell wall of the veggie for your dog)and put in food. Also a good plain yogurt and vitamin C (caplets)is recommended. I guarantee if you do this you will get results :-)
I hope this helps saves some dogs like it did mine!"
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09/22/2008: Katharine from Charleston, SC writes: "I would like to comment on the Whole Foods 365 brand of pet food. It is easy to think that all products carried at Whole Foods are great and natural...I used to. I looked at the ingredients in their 365 brand pet food. Their adult dog kibble contains the following:
Chicken by-product meal, rice, corn meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract), corn gluten meal, ground wheat, beet pulp, natural flavors, flax seed, dried egg product, canola oil, brewers dried yeast, salt potassium chloride, taurine, l-lysine, rosemary extract, l-carnitine. Vitamins: choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), vitamin D3 supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, thiamin mononitrate (vitamin B1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement. Minerals: zinc, polysaccharide complex, iron, polysaccharide complex, manganese polysaccharide complex and polysaccharide complex, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, calcium, iodate, cobalt carbonate, sodium selenite.
Among the first ingredients are by-products, corn, wheat, beet pulp and so on. NOT GOOD INGREDIENTS! Not only are they not good sources of protein, but they cause a number of problems. I caution everyone to stay far away from corn, wheat, soy, or by-products with your pets!"
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09/11/2008: Akeela from Bloomfield, Ct writes: "Newman's Own Organics: Does anyone have any feedback on this brand of dog food. My senior lab/shepard regained vitality and finally healed her elbow sores on this diet. I now feed this to my rescued pitbull terrier along with 1/2 boiled egg in the morning and give blueberries, broccoli and chicken as "treats". She's got a glossy coat and tons of energy. But, you never know. It's still dog food from a bag."
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09/11/2008: Earth Clinic writes: "Here's are ingredients from 3 brands of dog food that we have used over the past 5 years. We've been happy with all three brands, but like Akeela mentions, it's still food from a bag!
Note: We also add slightly undercooked ground beef, chicken or turkey and a hint of flax seed oil to each meal.
The Blue Buffalo Company http://www.bluebuff.com/
Lamb and Brown Rice for Adult Dogs
Ingredients:
Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Whole Ground Barley, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Rye, Fish Meal, Whole Potatoes, Tomato Pomace (natural source of Lycopene), Sunflower Oil (natural source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Natural Flavor, Whole Carrots, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Blueberries, Cranberries, Flaxseed, Barley Grass, Dried Parsley, Alfalfa Meal, Kelp Meal, Taurine, L-Carnitine, L-Lysine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Green Tea Extract, Turmeric, Garlic, Herring Oil (natural source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Fructooligosaccharides, Monooligosaccharides, Dried Chicory Root, Black Malted Barley, Oil of Rosemary, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin C, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Folic Acid, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Calcium Phosphate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Zinc), Iron Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Iron), Copper Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Copper), Manganese Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Manganese), Potassium Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Potassium), Cobalt Proteinate (source of Chelated Cobalt), Potassium Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Salt, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis, Bifidobacterium thermophilum, Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus faecium.
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein 22.0% min
Crude Fat 12.0% min
Crude Fiber 4.5% max
Moisture 10.0% max
Calcium 1.3% min
Phosphorus 1.0% min
L-Carnitine* 100 mg/kg min
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* 0.40% min
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* 1.80% min
Beta Carotene* 5.0 mg/kg min
Glucosamine* 400 mg/kg max
*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.
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Blackwood 4000 http://www.blackwoodpetfood.com/
Senior & Overweight - Low Fat
Note: our dogs gained too much weight on the adult formula, so we switched to Senior
INGREDIENTS:
Poultry Meal, Ground Rice, Ground Corn, Dried Potato Product, Oatmeal, Plain Dried Beet Pulp (Sugar Removed), Natural Flavors, Chicken Fat [Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols (Source of Vitamin E) and Citric Acid}, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Whole Eggs, Flax Meal, Lecithin, Salt, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Dried Whey, Dried Garlic, Dried Cheese, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C), Vegetable Oil, Biotin, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Menadione Dimethylpyrimidinol Bisulfate (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate,Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate.
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein, not less than 20.00%
Crude fat, not less than 7.00%
Crude fiber, not more than 4.00%
Crude moisture, not more than 11.00%
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LOTUS (http://lotuspetfoods.com/dogfood_lamb.html)
Lamb Recipe
Note: Sold only in Los Angeles
Lamb, Lamb Meal, Ground Barley, Ground Brown Rice, Deboned White Fish, Ground Oats, Oil Blend (Olive Oil, Salmon Oil, and Evening Primrose Oil), preserved with mixed Tocopherols (a natural source of Vitamin E) and Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Sea Salt, Dried Whole Egg, Brewers Dried Yeast, Fresh Whole Garlic, Fresh Whole Sweet Peas, Fresh Whole Sweet Potatoes, Fresh Whole Carrots, Fresh Whole Green Apples, Ground FlaxSeed, Dried Kelp, Dried Chicory Root, Yucca Shidigera Extract, GrapeSeed Extract, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Lactis, and Lactobacillus Casei, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E Supplement), Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Folic Acid, Riboflavin Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Manganese Proteinate (amino acidchelate), Copper Proteinate (amino acidchelate), and Zinc Proteinate (amino acidchelate), Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Ferrous Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, and Vitamin B12 Supplement"
Replies09/18/2008: Cathy from Deltona, FL replies: "After much research, I've purchased Blue Buffalo chicken and brown rice for my dog who has allergies and ear infections. The reviews on this food is outstanding and it's as close as you can get to homemade. I'll let you know how it works!"
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GENERAL FEEDBACK
12/12/2011: Peter from Calgary, Ab. writes: "If a dog licks up alot of her own blood will it make the dog sick?"
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HOMEMADE CAT FOOD RECIPES
09/13/2009: Shekanahh from Tulsa, Ok writes: "Natural Cat Food: I just read a person's comments that they rescued a stray kitten and cooked up a batch of chicken stew with lots of veggies. While rescuing kitties is commendable, and the chicken veggie stew may be a cut above canned or dried, it is still not the natural diet of a feline.
Please folks, this is the information highway. Find out how to make your beloved pets a healthy, natural RAW diet of ground chicken, rabbit or a combination, complete with finely ground bones. You can do it!"
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HOMEMADE DOG FOOD RECIPES
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06/22/2010: Monadz from Wnc writes: "Ok, I have a rescued Saint Bernard who adopted me 5 yrs ago. She is loving, sweet, etc, (when she gets her own way) Well, that includes her diet: one very fussy pooch. We fix something new, she hoovers it up for about 3 meals..then "Hohum...what you got for me next." Turns around and walks away.....and this can go on for days....right now she is on her 3rd day of fasting; I know it is hot now, but have just thrown the 4th or 5th bowl of food away. She was at a vet hospital lst wkend and getting IVs and antibiotics for FUO and they tell me she scoffed up all her food there. HA! they should have had her there another day or so. I have tried the expensive, the homemade, the raw, conjoling, coaxing, ignoring. Oh, I have vented and am going shopping for Something for her shortly. Any suggestions I may not have covered?"
Replies06/22/2010: Deirdre from Atlanta, Ga replies: "Hi Monadz,
Oh Wow, does your post bring back memories! I had a Malamute who had exactly (and I mean EXACTLY) the same issue... I loved him so much, but oh what a rascal he was. Oh the stories, the stories! You can't believe what I tried to get him to eat (well, maybe you can). He would usually eat a few bites of his food, but then no more. At one point I put him on a homemade, mostly raw food diet and that worked (though not all the time, I must admit). He lived to be quite old, but getting him to eat was a constant battle. He basically hated any type of dog food period. Human food, okay.
I now have my two dogs on a mostly home cooked (not raw) diet now, so if you'd like the recipe, I'll post it. Each time I prepare a new batch of food, I change the type of meat I use, so the dogs are loving it. My golden retriever has a hard time losing weight (borderline hypothyroid), so my vet gave me this recipe... basically brown rice, meat protein and vegetables. Takes about 20 minutes to make... If you make large quantities of it for your St. Bernard, you'll want to get a rice cooker and food processor to speed things up."
06/23/2010: Lisa from Wichita Falls, Texas replies: "This is so funny because I have a dog like this. Only he is so not a big dog! He is a chihuahua mix! He is 11 years old and yes I cook for my doggie!!People tell me to leave dog food down for him and when he gets hungry enough that he will eat it. I tried that once a long time ago and he did not eat for almost two days! There is no way that I am going to do that to him. He is 11 now,so I guess we are doing something right! I have 10 cats also!!But, they get cat food ,there is no way that I can afford to get them started on people food. But,they do get treats of salmon or chicken or something like that sometimes!"
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12/15/2009: Racer from Hampton, Tn writes: "Dove soap is very gentle on my dachsund's itchy awful skin. I have checked her for fleas...she doesnt have them..I suspect it is our pedigree food, which they love, and the stools are small, but they seem not to be thriving on it.
I had a dog come to me from a neighbor who was starving and I had to research foods for dogs and came up with the findings that our dog foods we buy at the store are mostly garbage... From that point on I began supplementing our dogs normal food with home cooked meats and vegetables, except for broccoli, and never any grapes at all. But I give them about three times a week, a pound of beef, mixed up with a cup of oatmeal, and a can of green beans, and 4 tbsp mayonaise, and total cereal, 1/4 cup evaporated milk,
a couple of long squirts of Karo syrup the light kind, and then 4 Tablespoons of olive oil, since I seperate this into four servings one for each dog. Then I put two full droppersful of infant vitamins into this mix. I put in a cup of yogurt when I have it...if I don't have all the ingredients I can just do the meat and the oatmeal, the veggies, the oil and the vitamins. If I were trying to gain weight on them I would add macaroni and cheese, but the other dog has gained enough weight back on.
They like these...they are such big dogs, that they eat all this and I do it about three times a week. When it is time to get treats, I buy small bags of authority, as I read earlier, baby carrots.
As far as outward measures to combat dry skin, I do oatmeal water rubdowns, the bathe them with dove soap and dry them without rubbing. I put olive oil on any irritated areas, and it clears up. If not they get dosage of benedryl about 1 mg per pound of body weight.
Brushing and massaging their fur down the the skin is important also. Brushing is an everyday thing for all of them.
I have found that Frontline does not work anymore the formula has been changed or the ownership has changed hands.... I do the brewers yeast tablets, and I call them candy and dip them in gravy.
I am going to buy the powder brewers yeast in a shaker and put it on them all the time also.
I also intend to try diatomacious earth as well.
It is important to realize you can substitute fish oil pills for olive oil, 1 tbsp for a big dog, 1/2 tbsp for a medium size dog and 1/4 tablespoon for a small dog on a daily basis."
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11/30/2009: Jumar from Adelaide, Australia writes: "I believe a natural diet is so important for animals. Some conditions or diseases are inherited/genetically passed down. Read labels on dog food. There are some healthy organic choices out there. Some of these are found in the meat section of the supermarket[ they have a pet food section?]. Feed your animals fresh meat, vegetables [plain] and some good quality carbohydrates. I feed my dog a mix of these and she's absolutely in good health. Vegetable matter should be a part of their daily diet [think wild dogs]. In the wild, wolves would eat the stomach contents of rabbits etc. Omit all foods containing preservatives, colourings [artificial] and additives. Also to be included should be raw bones [hard] eg. lamb shin bones etc. These should be given occasionally to keep teeth in good condition. I know someone, who's dog has just had 12 teeth removed because they never gave their dog a raw bone!!!! Wild dogs would eat the bones of anything they could catch. No cooked bones of any description should be given however. I believe in most cases, diet is the most important aspect in maintaining an animals health. Be cautious about giving your dog anything it wouldn't normally have access to, there is no evidence to show that acv has no long term complications. Veterinary care is sometimes the only solution.
Footnote: If you are concerned about giving you dog raw bones, give them under supervision."
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09/29/2009: Joleen from Kingwood, Tx writes: "I started feeding both my dogs a frozen, pre-made raw dog food from a local pet store. I love it and so do my dogs but it is pretty expensive. Is there a way I can make cheaper version of this at home? Thanks!"
Replies02/02/2010: Dawn from Birmingham, Al replies: "An organic raw food diet can take approximateley an hour of your time a week. Simply prepare their meals as you would for a family. Sunday evening fix their eggs and place in small bowls and put them in the fridge. Mix their raw veggies, rice and meats together place in separate bowls and throw them in the freezer. The only part of this that I dispise is the dishes:)"
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08/25/2009: Mannalis from Tulsa, Oklahoma writes: "I'd like to thank everyone for their posts, they are very informative. My sister has a Maltese and we feed him name brand food. We notice that he sleeps a lot, and he's not at all interested in his food. We have been in the process of switching to all natural and Organic foods and would like to switch Maverick (the maltese) to Organic as well, it would be nice to give him homemade recipes but he tends to throw up a lot of the human food we give him, except lettuce, tomato, and carrots, plus we don't have much time to prepare homemade food for him. Although we love him and from reading all of your posts I can tell that he will do a lot better on Organic and Natural foods. Anybody have any suggestions on simple recipes, Natural dog foods, or supplements we could give him? I heard something about flaxseed oil. Input and Suggestions are very much appreciated.
P.S. we would like to switch him to organic as soon as possible!
God Bless,
Manna"
08/29/2009: Gina from Iuka, Ms replies: "I stopped feeding my yorkies commerical food afer the recall. This is what I came up with (one has allergies). I boil about 3 chicken thighs, pick meat and skin off the bone. In the broth I boil white rice. When rice is done chop up the chicken and skin and add to rice. Mix in some canned green beans or peas, with a little pumpkin. You can freeze this in small portions sizes. When ready to eat microwave it and add 1/4 chopped slice cheese to top. My yorkies also take a pettab and for treats they eat raw baby carrots. If your baby only spits up occassionly it could be acid reflux the one with allergies also has this problem for that I use 1/4 of a pepcid ac tab he weighs 8 lbs so ajust as needed. good luck"
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04/26/2008: Pat from New Albany, Mississippi writes: "I had a dog that nearly died from what I thought was a premium commercial food. After that I started making my own home made recipe and they are thriving on it. In a large turkey fry pot, I put in one bag of chicken quarters 8~10 quarters costs about $5 at Wal Mart. After they boil about two hours on medium i pull them out and clean the meat off the bone and set aside. Next in the broth I cook 1 med bag of black beans and 1 med bag of red kidney beans. As the beans near ready I add a medium bag of brown rice and let it cook. As the rice is close to done I add 2 small bags mixed frozen vegetables and two cans chopped spinach. After about 10 more minutes I add 1 small box of oatmeal. You have to play with the water level but by the time you add the oatmeal and it cooks you want most of the water absorbed. After all this is ready mix in the chopped up chicken back in. Buy some small reusable plastic bowls and freeze what you won't use in a day or two. The other needs to be refrigerated until ready. Lightly warm in microwave and serve. They love it!"
Replies02/17/2009: Tess from Palm Beach, FL replies: "Sophia, I agree with you! I have always felt that dogs (esp young dogs) who get cancer can be linked to the brand of food the owners were feeding it. Every owner I have talked to who had a dog that died young of cancer was feeding their dog the cheapest dog food possible."
02/17/2009: Sophia from Southern USA replies: "I hate seeing these "organic", "natural" dog foods with a minimum of 22% crude protein!! Do people realize that these so called crude proteins come from animals that have been put to sleep?! They even leave their collars on! And the "rendering" does not get rid of the barbituates used to put the animal down. I could no longer stand the stinky greasy kibble first thing each morning, so I started making the dogs dinner with brown rice, ground turkey 85/15 which is the fat content, black beans with no spice, vegeall, cottage cheese, and canned salmon. And any vege leftovers, like sweet potatoes and green beans. They love it! Before they would spit kibble all over the floor and pick 1 chunk at a time to eat, it took forever!! Some of them would not even eat it! And they made a huge mess where kibble rolled under the stove and fridge to feed mice! Now 3 yrs later they are all sleek and shiny and not fat at all even though they are at their max weight. I love this boiled chicken recipe. I think I will try it next, they love oatmeal!!
PS: my local vet tried to act like I did not know enough about dog nutrition to make a decent dog meal but I figured anything is better than feeding my dogs other ill animals full of drugs and other such horrors!! Seems as though the vets are just as bad as the Doctors for humans!"
EC: Yes, we read the same report years ago about the rendering plants and what goes into dog food. Unbelievable and horrific!
02/25/2009: Tricia from Denver, CO replies: "I am glad to see that you took the initiative to take care of your dogs health; it's nice to know that I am not alone with my "way of thinking." I wanted to add a side note for you though...Try avoiding canned vegetables and/or fruit because they have no nutritional value left. It is only good as a filler. Also, with some of the research I've done I have found out that when you microwave food it changes the molecules in such a way that the food becomes toxic to the body. By all means, don't take my word for it; do some research for yourself. Microwaves should be avoided if possible.
I wish you the best of luck with your dogs' health."
[YEA] 12/04/2009: Dawn from Birmingham, Al replies: "It is exciting to here that other individuals are taking precautions for their little ones. I have 2 maltese, both under 5 pounds. My little girl had severe allergies for about 2 years. The vets did every test that one could possibly do and even proceeded with compound medications. I decided to take things into my own hands and research what would be best.Each morning they both receive a quarter of banana, tablespoon of organic yougurt with a pinch of dried greens (purchased at an organic store) and they split one organic egg lightly scrambled in organic coconut oil. Each afternoon they receive a mixture that I prepare once a week and freeze.
The mixture includes the following all organic: one yellow squash, one zuccini, 3 carrots with skin, 1 sweet potato, 3 stalks of broccoli, 1 cup of cooked long grain rice with coconut oil and 2lbs. of grass feed organic sirloin steak freshly ground. I place all of the vegetables in the food processor and add in with the cooked rice and mix in the raw sirloin steak. I put these in small side dishes and freeze.
The kids love it. They have so much more energy and my 6 year old that had severe allergies is now the beautiful show dog. Once a week they get a quarter thick raw femor bone from the butcher and they receive baby carrots for treats. I have had them on this for over a year now. A word of caution to all who may switch their little ones over to a diet like this, remember that the above causes a cleansing process to occur just as humans that switch their diets:)"
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01/08/2008: Pauline Dennison from Citrus Heights, California writes: "Just wanted everyone to know, that is has now been OVER a year, since I have put my Peke on a ALL Natural Diet. NO STORE BOUGHT dog food. Since my dog has had Bladder Stone problems, I have had to reduce her protein levels, give her veggies, with organic brown rice. AND, I topped it off with ACV. She gets a teaspoon daily with her food..and is in the BEST EXCELLENT condition she has ever been. I have recommended MANY MANY dog people to go onto this web site, and consider changing thier dogs diet, if they are having problems. I AM SO HAPPY..that my Dottie is in the best health EVER. Thank you Earth Clinic"
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01/02/2008: Sheri from FAIRFIELD, California, USA writes: "I have four little Yorkies and they only eat HomeMade Dog Food. I cook a whole chicken and remove all fat, skin and bones. Then mix it will cooked rice. They also love raw veggies like chopped carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. Of course, I also give them vitamin supplements because no recipe can include everything they need, but they are actually mostly vegetarians and eat very little meat. Sometimes cooked chicken livers, but only a little, they are high in Vitamin A and' too much vitamin A is toxic. Also NO onions or raw or spoiled garlic, these are poisonous to them. But I do add cooked garlic and oats sometimes. Both are good for the heart."
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12/20/2007: Claudia from PDX, Oregon writes: "I have a big lab/golden mix who has protien allegies. I ahve tried to find some kind of meat he can eat but to no avail. He is on a home made veg diet. He has NO doggy smell. None at all. I worked in an organic pet store and people would comment that certain types of meat would make their dogs smell worse, so if you have a problem I would try changing to a human grade dog food and changing the main protein source and see if you notice anything. I make my own food but after being the business for years if I had to buy food it would be any food from the Natura company. Either Innova or California Natural."
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12/01/2007: barb haven from WINDSOR, canada writes: "I routinely use 1(med) clove of garlic in a 2 litre stewpot that yeilds 72 oz of dog food. consisting of 2 cups brown rice, 2-3 small potatoes, 3 carrots, 1 tbsp rosemary, 1 stalk celery, 1tbsp basil, 1/4 can chick peas, 1 med zucchini, or broccoli and two apples, I sometimes include 1/8 cup cottage cheese, to this I add' a ratio of 1/3 pureed mixture of either beef or chicken liver, chicken gizards and hearts. In additional after cooked I sprinkle in 2 tbsp of a 2:1 ratio of calcium/phosphorus supplement, which also includes proteins, fats,vitamins, minerals and advanced micro -nutrients. Am I overdoing it by adding the calcium vitamin supplement?"
Replies01/09/2009: Valerie from Heidelberg, Ontario Canada replies: "I thought that garlic was not good for pets."
EC: Read the (mostly) positive feedback on garlic here: http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/garlic_for_dogs.html
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