Sharda Answers Some Dog Food Questions
PART 2
Hi everyone and what a crazy week it's been!
I've been wading through lots of your dog food question and comments following the free Dog Food report I gave you.
Some great questions and again I have to say…..
My Apologies.
For not being able to answer the hundreds and hundreds of questions personally.
But… I will answer some more questions and comments here now on my blog so everyone can see the answers.
OK..here we go.
1. Firstly, I need to make a small correction to something from the Dog Food Report regarding protein in dog food.
I incorrectly mentioned that "ideally, your dog’s food should contain a ratio of protein that is around 40 %".
This percentage should actually be between 18-28 %.
QUESTION 1.
There were a number of questions from readers, including Joan, Terry and Mary-Ann, that asked about how to change over to a new type of dog food without causing problems for their dogs!
That's a great question!
Although we see many dogs as hardy creatures and marvel at what they manage to eat, the fact is that a dog’s digestive system if very sensitive.
It's important to gradually change a dog’s diet slowly and over time.
Be on the look out for any adverse effects caused by the change, and consult a veterinarian if any symptoms persist for more than a few days.
BY NOT CHANGING A DOG’S DIET SLOWLY, you may subject your pet to:
- Stomach cramps
- Excess Gas
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Refusal to Eat
Any of that sound familiar if you have changed your dog's diet recently?
Even though you may have found a healthier alternative to the current dog food, you dog may not know that and as a creature of habit, would prefer the old to the new. With this in mind, the first few tries may be difficult.
However, with A FEW SIMPLE TRICKS AND TIPS, the transition should be easy.
Gradual change is the key, so start by mixing the old and new food together in a 25% to 75% ratio of new to old. Over the next few days, slowly increase the ratio of new food while decreasing the old food. At the end of this process, the new food will make up 100% of the food bowl.
It is possible that the dog will be stubborn and eat only the old food out of the mix, but no need to worry as a healthy dog can go for a day of missing meals. He will soon come to like the new food with time and patience.
The gradual introduction of food is important so that the dog does not stop eating all together. When introducing the new food, do not be demanding and overbearing. Instead, be encouraging and use a pleasant tone of voice as this will ease your dog into the new food.
A WORD ON CANNED DOG FOOD AND DRY FOOD
It may become necessary for some owners to switch from canned dog food to dry dog food. Whether finances, medical conditions, or other factors are the reason, it is important to do the switch in a smart and responsible manner.
Canned food is drastically different from dry food in many ways aside from the texture. Often times, pets will resist the change and respond by acting out or just not eating the new food. This is why it is important to change their food in a manner that is not stressful.
Most owners will slowly add dry food to the bowl and bit by bit reduce the amount of wet food present until the dog is eating only the dry food. This is perhaps the best method as it slowly introduces the dog to the new food.
The same can be done when switching from dry food to wet food.
QUESTION 2. There were dozens and dozens of questions asking about which is the best dog food.
As I mentioned in the last earlier blog post, I have been compiling a list of the best / better dog foods and have got it down to 13 12 now, and hope to be able to release that for sale very soon along with "The Complete Guide to Your Dog's Nutrition" ebook and audio package.
I am still waiting on legal advice, but hope to be able to release the "Complete Guide to Your Dog's Nutrition" ebook and audio package, that includes the better dog food list, in around 5 – 7 days.
As I also mentioned before, if I do release the Complete Guide to Your Dog's Nutrition package, it will probably be in limited numbers only as I don’t want too many copies available which could end up stirring up trouble for me with some of the dog food companies.
I have found some of the companies very reluctant to share information once I started looking a bit deeper into them.
QUESTION 3. Peter, Jenni and others asked about the "BARF dog food diet".
I might just briefly cover it here as it really requires greater discussion than the few lines I can manage here now.
One really important thing to know about BARF (besides what the letters stand for) is to know that if you do choose to feed this diet, DO NOT FEED COOKED BONES.
They can splinter and may cause fatal internal damage to your dog.
And now – what does BARF stand for?
Seems you can say it stands for a couple of things, but the most often cited explanation is Bones and Raw Food. The other one floating around on the Internet is Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, which is attributed to Dr. Ian Billinghurst, one of the original Barfers.
Whatever the case, the best way to understand the most popular BARF foods is to look at the ingredients themselves.
BARF is about feeding a biologically appropriate diet for a dog that is made up of raw whole foods like those eaten by their ancestors. This would include muscle meat, bone, fat, organ meat and vegetable materials and any other foods that mimic what the wild ancestors ate.
BARF isn't about duplicating what wolves ate in case you are wondering; it is about getting as close as possible to what they ate – in other words mimicking their diet.
What BARF aims for is to provide our dogs with a diet combined with an environment that maximizes their best health. What that means to someone who feeds BARF is feeding a biologically appropriate diet rather than a natural diet.
It does seem a little complicated at first, as is anything when you first try something new. However, if you do your research properly and thoroughly, it isn't hard to do.
It can be tricky making sure you get the supplement ratios right, but this too passes as you get more familiar with the BARF diet.
The whole philosophy behind BARF is to feed a balanced diet over time – not all right at once. This should take some of the pressure off you to "get it right" if you are going to try this diet.
Anyway, we might leave if there for now.
I have to give my friend's Poodle her daily training session now.
After she bit a friend of mine the other day, I am going over some general obedience training to help teach Delia (the Poodle) to follow basic commands and thus behave in an appropriate manner.
All the best.
Sharda
PS. I'll be back soon and address some more of your comments and questions and also let you know how things are progressing with Complete Guide To Your Dog's Nutrition ebook and audio package that includes the better dog food list.
Is this survey conducted mainly for the US market. As I know in Britain there are certain laws regarding dog food.
Thank you so much for taking so much trouble to be helpful. I look forward always to your informative emails.
Thanks for the info about bones. I have told everyone not to do that so it was good to hear it from someone I trust for info. I finally took my two off canned food and it took a few days but eventually they took to the dry food just fine. Thank you for all the great tips and information.
Thanks again for the info…. I have told all my friends about your Blog and they really appreciate as do I , all yout Advice..
We have a 17 month old maltypoo; we changed her from puppy food to what the other dogs eat but a couple of times she has had loose stools and a raw behind…could it be that she needs a more sensitive food?
I appreciate the information you provide. As for adding fiber to help avoid anal gland problems, it took us about three years of asking what to do about a leaky dog before we found a vet who recommended adding canned pumpkin to the kibble. This adds fiber without too many calories and our pug just loves it. And we love the results!
Sharda: Over a year ago, I did a lot of research mostly using information from the "Whole Dog Journal".
I narrowed all the choices down to one and that is Canidae. Our Yorkies absolutely love it.
Some people may have difficulty finding a place to buy it. We buy it from a feed store that sells a large selection of dog/cat supplies. You can't buy it from food stores or pet stores. Lots of places do sell it online.
Just thought you might like to hear this.
Thanks,
Pat
Your info. is great. Thanks for all your hard work. "Sweetie" and I appreciate it.
Thanks Sharda, you have been a blessing to us and our bichons! My bichon Zeus told me to tell you he loves you!
Hi I read you comment about pumpkin in the dog's food. Could you please email me with more information. Thank You
Sunshine has bladder stones, so I give her PaloTech with cranberry crystals and it cured her, but I mix in 1/4 tsp Metimucil and it keeps her bowels strong and firm and just goes once,(but a good one). She is also on a totally allergic diet because of being allergic to foods and grasses and weeds. Z/D Science Diet by Hills.
As per your last comment in today's post I have heard from many sources that canned pumpkin (not the pie filling) is good for dogs. It's good to hear this from a reliable source as well. Thank you.
We feed Holistic Select to our dogs and Pet Promise to our barn cats. My mom is allergic to gluten so it helps her too. There are zero to few preservatives in either. The first couple days the vegetable content (the carrots mostly) turned their poo weird colors but they adjusted in a week and have had less allergies and gas. (We have a fox hound mix and a border collie-pit bull mix)
I have 4 Bassets……besides giving them dry dog food, I mix their food with food I make for them daily. It is just hamburg or ground chicken with vegetables and rice. Is there enough nutrition in doing this or are they missing necessary vitamins, etc.? The canned dog foods contain too much FAT and I lost a Basset to pancreatitis because of it.
Hi Sharda,
You are right on about the importance of feeding your dog a high quality dog food. Our pug has been on Wellness canned and dry for Seniors and is now 15 1/2 years old. I truly feel her diet has increased her life span. Pat
Sharda,
I did not see my dog food on the list. It is Black Gold, headquartered in Missouri. It has been a wonderful dog food but I understand that the company is moving the plant to Virginia and my distributor is concerned about the quality and the cost.
I feed my three year yorkie science diet mostly hard food but add a little canned science since she gets a little constipated on the hard. I have been unable to get my computer to cooperate to get your list but my vet has told me science diet is ok. right? Thank you so much for your world of infiormation I love my baby Chloe so much
We feed our Yorkie the canadiae too!! He loves it…..but we have noticed that his skin is breaking out…..we are wondering if the food has caused it as he never broke out before switching his food. We are now searching for something equally as healthy but that we could switch to and see if the skin gets better.
Thank you sharda for all the good articles
you sent us.
I am looking forward for your E mail
info. where I live in north cyprus
we dont have any info for the dogs.
I go to the south side which is the greece
side, to get some dog books and info.
have a great day
annette emin
I am finding the info from these e-mails interesting and helpful.
I feed my dogs poached frozed vegies and liver (or) chicken. Cool and then blend everything together. I mix two tablespoons in with their dry food (bentiful) twice a day. They love it! That's about as natural as you can get. Easy too!
Fish oil capsules or olive oil or canola oil about a teaspoon mixed in with his food a couple times a week will take care of that. Then again he could verywell be having a reaction to an ingredient in the food.
MY DOG HAS BEEN VOMITING WHITE FORM 1-2 DAY. CURRENTLY ON BLAND DIET PER VET DURATION 4 DAYS. STARTED TO VOMIT AGAIN TODAY-ANY SUGGESTIONS?
Hi, I have a soon to be 5 year old minature schnauzer and her playmate died due to complications after eating some of that poison dog food going around 1 1/2 years ago. She nearly died herself, because she would not eat at all for two weeks. My sister left me to dog because she could not care for her 24/7 like I could. I tried every dog food out there. Wet, dry, recipes my vet gave me, nothing. She will only eat people food. Chicken, beef, some fish, rice, pasta, green and yellow beans, broccoli, cauliflower, mashed peas, chicken or beef broth, potatoes (she loves her potatoes), lean hamburger (she's not too fond anymore). I don't know what to do. I have tried new a different dog foods and mixed them in with her food. She will not eat them. What can I do? I give her a multivitamin I purchased at the vets also. She eats her dog treats, dental bone, greenies, dog cookies. Help.
Hi,
I read your email about the pumpkin helping anal gland problems. My daughter has a pug with the leaky problem. Could you tell me more about the pumpkin. How often, how much and your results? Thanks so much.
Lynette
I have two wonderfull bischons. One developed horrible digestve problems. It took awhile, but we finally realized it was due to her food which was recommended by her breeder.
I must say that Royal Canin #30 has changed our (and our little bichons')life! No more problems with diarhea!
It's wonderfull stuff and they love it!
karen
Thanks for your info on bones. I have always gave my pekingnese bones (except chicken bones). He seems to enjoy them. Now I know they are not good for him.
From the beginning I've fed my Boston Terrier Blue Buffalo dry food. It is made of deboned chicken, fruits, vegetables, brown rice and oats. It doesn't have all of the chemicals and additives of most other dog foods and Charlie seems to be thriving on it.
I FEED MY SCHNAUZER ORIGEN, IS THIS GOOD FOR HIM. HE SEEMS TO JUMP AROUND AND LOOK AT HIS BEHIND, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY.
I DID HAVE HIS GLANDS CLEANED OUT, BUT HE STILL DID THIS WHEN HE CAME HOME.
I DID NOT SEE YOUR LIST ON WHAT FOOD WAS GOOD, I MUST OF MISSED IT SOMEHOW.
ALSO HE WAS FREE FROM HOT SPOTS, BUT I NOTICED A SMALL ONE ON HIS STOMACH AGAIN.
I GIVE HIM SWEET POTATOE AND BARELY COOKIES.
IF YOU COULD HELP ME I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANKYOU
BONNIE
Sharda,I feed my westies all natarul dry by nutro lamb meal n rice formula,[small bites]the older westie [mollie]trys to eat it whole w/o chewing so I put a rubber ball in her bowl on top of the pile of dry food.it really slows her down eating as she has to work around the ball[small ball]I feel like im feeding them the best.Is this a good food?yvonne
I will wait until you get to my question. i know you're deluged sooo I'll wait. Thanks, Art K
hi. i am at my wits end. it is me and my familys fault i know. we started giving her little bits ofd our food and then she would not eat her food at all. this is at 3 months when we got her. she is 7 mths now and healthy from what the vet says. i love her so much. i guess istarted to worry when she wasnt eating and i started buying her canned chicken breast and tuna and sometimes raost beef and gravy and i am now in the habit evrey day. i mix with her hard dog food but she just goes around the hard and eats only the food with it i add. is this going to harm her? what should i do?
This is a question….I have been feeding my westie my own recipe of lean ground beef, sweet potatoe, carrots, parsnips, green beans and squash. This combination is cooked and then frozen in ice cube trays. She gets 2 cubes a day plus her dry food mixed in (dry food was recommended by the breeder) some days I will add cold water fish oil. She also gets a treat of plain yogart. Do you think this diet is ok? Looking forward to your reply
Could you explain to me what a leaky dog is. My lab has a anal gland that leaks and she is always licking. Is that the same thing. Vet tells me they can remove it or I could just put up with the leaking.
I have been having major problems getting my dog to eat anything! He likes the dry Science Diet for a little while then he won't eat unless it's something I will eat. I've started cooking for my dog but I'm a little concerned about that because I don't want to give him anything that will hurt him. I only did it because I was afraid he would starve! Now I've probably messed up TOTALLY! He also prefers to eat from my hand or being spoon fed rather than a bowl.
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Beth
Hi, Sharda — in the statements above, many talk about brands on a list. I could rind no link to reference to such a list and I would love to have it. Keep up the good work!
Susan
My toy poodle Chenille is such a picky eater, she is downright puny. I've tried various dry food – Iams, Purina, Science – and she turns her nose up at them. Now I have her on Good Life and she is eating better but still hasn't put any muscle on her bones. (She was a rescue dog but I've had her for over a year.) Chenille gets lots of exercise and fresh air, and she's on the Advantage Plus anti-flea treatment (I follow the directions meticulously and she hasn't had a problem with it.) The vets tell me if she's hungry, she'll eat but I'd love to see her a bit healthier looking.
Thanks for your help and comments.
Helen
my yorkie seems to like the paul newman canned food and he does pretty well on it. Any thoughts about that brand?
I just have a comment on my sweet little Bichon, Fregie;he is 11mo.male and just a doll. He was very easy to house train, I take him to my adult day center, and he loves everyone. He is my first Bichon, but my fourth dog. Are all Bichons so good natured, smart and affectionate? Sharda, I enjoy reading you blog, it has answered a lot of questions for me.
Thanks for all of the information I have been receiving about Bichons. I feel I now know what to expect with each stage of development.
I am anxiously awaiting the list of 12 better brands of dog food to see if the one I am feeding Casper is in it. I am looking forward to the next email.
I have 2 pugs, 2 chihuahuas, 1 King Charles Spaniel, and a mix chihuahua and Janpanese spitz. I feed the 2/3 cups of Novela Evo (chicken and now I am trying the beef) dry food. They eat once a day. How much of the pumpkin should i had to each bowl of food. They are between 10 lbs to 22 lbs. Would it be better if i bought the raw pumpkin and cooked it myself? Mahalo, from Hawaii
We have 2 cockers and a springer spaniel.Our spanie cocker has probems with gas & colitus.One of our cockers
was a premie & still is small for his age we used the
I vet dog food recommended.Any other suggestiongs for the problems with colitus.I still enjoy your information we needed euthanaise our Bison about 1 year
ago.Linda
Hi, thankyou for all your interesting emails, which I always look forward to, my dog Honey a Lhasa Apso, will not eat any dog food, just completely refuses, so I cook all her food myself, but am increasingly worried that she isn't getting enough vitamins etc any suggestions welcome
Thankyou
Jeannette
I lost a 7 month old Peke-A-Poo to the poisoned dog food three years ago. After grieving for a few months, we went out and found our Bichon. I've been cooking for her since she was a pup. I now feed 100% U.S. produced Purina Pro Plan (with no contribution from China) mixed half in half with homecooked chicken & rice. I'd like to know if this is a sufficient diet for a moderately active 3 year old Bichon.
Love your advice & updates.
Thanx
Mary Lou Shiveley
I have 8 month old Miniature Schnauzer, and he loves goat yogurt. I have just stopped feeding him a commercial food such as canned food and dry kibbles after reading how the dog foods are made. I make food for him now (lots of kind of grains, vegetables, kidney beans, and raw meat, kelp, yeast, garlic, V3 caps, and olive oil). My dog is allergic to something. I think it is a wheat, but I am not sure. He gets bumps around neck and face time to time. We think it is due to wheat, although, I tried to avoid the food that includes wheat. Do you have any idea?
when to change from puppy chow to another brand. my border collie is 6 months old. when should I change to another brand.
Hi Shadra,
Can you tell me if the foods you have researched are available only in the US or are they sold here in the UK too?
Thanks
Jenny
Hi Sharda, I really enjoy your emails. My problem is that Maggie (Bichon) is now having food allergies. I can't seem to pin down which food is causing the problem. My husband loves to give her ice cream. He has now stopped. Could that be the source of the problem?
Ann
I have enjoyed your books and newsletter, and although I feel quite knowledgeable in nutrition and dog health and care, I have always had large dogs. Mostly I have had some wonderful Bouviers Des Flandres, but have added a darling Bichon. I have chosen a male to fit in with my 2 Bouviers, and they have done wonderfully these past 6 weeks. I am just waiting for the Male cat to come around, but I think the 2 cats just feel a little left out by this little white ball of energy that has taken over the house.
My bichon has had skin problems since he was about 2. He will be 5 years old this fall. He bites until he creates bald spots. One side of his tale is bald. The vet put him on a prescription food, but his biting hasn't changed. His groomer is suggesting that I give him Eagle Pack Holistic Foods (salmon, chicken, lamb). What do you know about this food. He is the joy of my life.
I have a 12 year old Yorkie, that eats boiled organic chicken breast and homemade vegetable beef stew (no onions) daily mixed with 1/4 teaspoon of Dinovite which has done wonders for her. I also mix in a few pellets of Sammy's Snacks, which is a baked natural mix similar to Hills Prescription Diet, which she would not eat. She doesn't like the Sammy's Snacks, but will eat it softened with the stew broth. Her physical last month proved that this particular diet suits her metabolism, but I do have to watch her weight. Occasionally I will add a few Garlic slivers to her dish, but not more than twice a month.
I recently purchased an english bull dog from Belgium, and is 4 mo. old. I was told the puppy has been fed Eukunuba puppu food for medium size dogs and to also put green raw trip in his food. Well The only tripe I found somewhat close to where I live is 100 miles away at The Dog Bowl. I bought unbleached tripe from them in frozen patties and they claim it is green raw tripe The dog bowl emplyees claim I should also buy a raw meat diet to add with the tripe. Can you give me your beliefs and or feelings on this Thank you. Ted
Sharda, Thank you so much for all your help and advice. My dog is a Lab+ and I got him from a rescue centre just over a year ago aged 10 months, and he's now 2 years old. He is adorable, training very well and eats a mixture of Tuckertime and Eucanuba dry biscuits. I have noticed a slight increase in weight lately, although he has two good exercise sessions a day. Should he only have 1 meal per day or two smaller portions? I sometimes spread a small amount of Vegemite on his Kong play toy when I leave him. Could you please advise if this will harm him? He does not get any other human food scraps. Many thanks. Pauline
We would appreciate more information on diet relating to diabetic dogs–for example what food to buy as well as recipes for home-made food (for DIABETIC dogs)
Thanks for your help Sharda.
Hi Sharda;
We find your e-mails very interesting and we would like take this opportunity to thank you so much for your effort. Our precious King Charles Spaniel (female) (Lady Laci) became a member of our family in Dec 2007. We enjoy her company and spend considerable time in understanding her behaviour. We feed Lady Laci Royal Canin Medium Breed Puppy food(recommended by the breeder)and if we ever decide to change her food we intend to feed her good quality food making sure the first ingredient is NOT corn. "Either lamb, chicken or beef are acceptable", according to her breeder.
Again, thank you.
For hot spots our neighbor has used Witch Hazel on his dog with very good results.
My Pekingnese sheds really bad all the time. She is 8 mo. old. What can I do to help it. Thank You, Joyce
My Pekingnese sheds all the time. What can I do to stop it. Thank You, Joyce Steele
How does one know what our pets ancestors ate? mine are pekingnese
My darling girls(yorkies) graze on Sciencediet dried biscuits during the day and at night I cook different vegetables with a tiny sprinkle of parmesan cheese mixed in. They love pumpkins,carrots, broccoli, cauli,lentils,beans. Does everyone know that onions and chocolate are toxic for dogs? Also they love kiwi fruit,feijoas and apples.
Hi Jenny,
You asked about the better dog food list I have been putting together and whether it is suitable just for the USA.
Good question.
I have actually shown for each of the 12 better dog foods, where they are available in the USA, UK as well as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Hope that helps.
regards,
Sharda Baker
hi, sharda
this is my first time commenting . i to need to thank you for all the information you give . it was the best thing when i came upon your site before i found my boston terrier . he took to training right away and still there are things to learn for both of us.
Hi Sharda,
Thank you so much for all that you do. I am finding this information very helpful for my bishon that has food allergies.
I've been feeding my dogs and cats Science Diet for years. I started when my first Golden Retriever developed skin problems. It's great and wouldn't even consider another brand. I could go on and on about science diet but to sum it up, your vet is right on.
I would like to know what causes "schnauzer bumps (black and stinky) on our pet, also, and what can be done to get rid of them.
Hi, little lady is my first yorkie, shes 3 yrs old. she seems to like Eukenuba for yorkshire terriors pretty good. is it alright to have to food out for her all the time. or should she be fed twice aday.
nancy
Hi Sharda,
Thanks for the wonderful dog food information.
When will your dog nutrition guide be for sale?
kindly,
Jenny
Thanks Sharda for all the helpful information you provide. Sadly, we lost our two Westies within eight months of each other (our male Westie last August–HeartGuard destroyed his liver; our female Westie from cancer on her gums after removing three teeth). We're mourning them very much. I'd like to continue receiving your emails because someday I hope to feel like getting another dog. It's too soon yet.
God bless you for all the work you do to help us with out Best Friends!
Theresa
My little boy, McGee, who is 9 mths old Shi Apso likes puppy Purina canned chicken & rice and Beneful dry food. Absolutely NO human food and limited dog snacks. Very healthy but would like recommendations for the best dog food.
We all like our pets happy and healthy so your emails are read thoroughly.
Appreciate your updates.
Hi I have a 9 month old Yorkie named Isabella. I feed her Natures variety dry and the raw medallions chicken. It is easy because everything they need is already in the medallion. She is having no problems with the diet. I aslo give her raw marrow bones and ox tail bones. she loves them.
ty so much fore your help in feeding dogs you are a very spicle person in my life becuse of all the hard work you do fore other i just want ty so much
I'm so glad you corrected the protein percentage for a good quality dry dog food down from 40% Sharda. We feed Purina Bonnie Adult Complete to our kelpie and 3 labs. When I checked the pack and found that it said protein 20%, I was very concerned that I was feeding a diet that contained insufficient protein. Many thanks for the correction!
I'm no expert but I think if you can, it's always better to feed twice/day (3x for puppies).
I forgot to mention that I was responding to Pauline! and now Nancy. You shouldn't leave food out all day. 15-20 min. should be sufficient if kept on a regular schedule. I feed my dog between 6&7:00 morning and evening.
I have three dogs, one of them being a 5 yr old German Shepard that was diagnosed with perianal fistulas (PF) a year ago. We followed our vet's directions of treating it with medications (antibiotics, steroids, & anti-inflammatories) for 3 wks but decided not to put our beloved dog thru that regimen again. He had major personality changes & weight gain on the meds. It is a horrible disease for the dog & owners. I fully understood people who put their dogs down because of the disease. I did my own extensive research on PF & switched our dogs to natural dog food (no preservatives/additives etc.)& vitamin supplements. The food helped his coat but not the disease & its effects. I ended up getting in contact with the vet who created the vitamins & got a dog food recipe from him that I have used for the last 9 months for all of my dogs. My Shepard is happy & we have the side effects of the disease under control. He will always have PF but happily we are able to provide him with a happy, healthy life. I will never give my dogs store bought foods again!
A couple of comments about dog food:
1. Our vet told us NEVER to feed our dog moist or soft food like the canned dog meat because it's too hard on their liver AND it will rot their teeth.
2. My mom had a mix poodle-shitzu that lived to 18 years of age. She always bought the cheapest dog crunchies she could find, the cheapest meat-in-a-can and fed her all kind of table scraps… although I do give my own doggie much better quality food, it makes you wonder if we're not all being a bit paranoid…
Andrea, you and a few others on this blog have mentioned dog food recipes that are considered healthy. Would you mind sharing the recipes?
I feed my Westie, and other two small dogs Blue Buffalo. Since it has no chemicals the Westie has no allergic reaction to it. The dogs have done so much better with it than any other dog food.. I am just afraid of the other dog food due to chemicals and perservatives. The letters on the Westies have really helped. Thank you. My Westie is really allergic to everything.
Sharda,
Thank you so much for the information you have sent. It has been most helpful!
Annette McInnes
My 5 dogs eat dry dog food, raw potato peels, apple peels, grapes, summer sausage, salami, pepperoni. I find that they don´t like dog biscuits and rawhide chews very much so I have been buying summer sausage, salami, and pepperoni and feeding that to them instead of dog biscuits and rawhide chews. They also caught a squirrel the other day and Charlie ate that. Thatś a natural diet, if you ask me. When I am eating, I give them a little taste of what I am eating while I am eating. I know all the dog books say not to do this but I do it.
One time I had some pork rinds from a packing plant and Skippy wanted me to cut them in small pieces for him. When I gave him the big chunk, he turned his face away. He would only eat it when I was cutting it up with scissors and gave it to him in small pieces.
I know your frustration but do realize they will eat and you just have to hang tuff. I went through that and went crazy and had to deal with a spoiled dog to boot. So I put the food down and when she walked away I removed food for pm feeding. I covered the dish for the next feeding and she got the message and realized she better get while the gettin was good and I feed 2 times a day and each time when she is finished I remove food and she is now on a schedule that works for both of us. Good luck……. Deb
I have 2 Westies-and have been using Revolution on them, which is suppose to take care of fleas, ticks, heartworm, etc. This is the fourth month in use and they still get ticks (live in TN) fleas, and i'm beginning to think i should have them checked for heartworm since it is not repeling these others. They now are chewing on their bodies, legs, tail, i've used flea shampoo, and herbal spray, they did get a rabies shot about a month ago. Would you have any suggestions on what might comfort them, i am currently putting aloe vera on the spots. Would appreciate any info you can supply-thanks
Thank you Sharda – Susie and I love to read all about the latest info on dog food! We're looking forward to hear from you again.
I have a 7 yr.old Bichon. She has been getting UTI every couple months since Dec. 2006. Why is this? Please HELP.
We have a 3yr and 11m old Boston Terrier. I'm embarrassed to say she is very spoiled in the Food part, We feed her Evolve baked dog food kibblets with a little of the Evolve canned varieties,but she is so smart that she will wait to see what people food we will give her instead of eating her dog food dinner first. Most of the time she will eat some of her own food but never All of it. I just worry that she will never get the right nutrients in her diet, although she looks and appears very heathy. How do we really know if she is getting all the right nutrient or not, and how can I break her habit from depending on mommy and daddy giving her small portions of people food? By the way we eat very heathy and do not give her anything junk like. Examples would be Chicken breast, Turkey, some Pizza Crust, she just loves that.
Dear Sharda:
I'm just "down the road" from Bradenton in Estero, just South of Ft. Myers. I was wondering if you welcomed visitors at your residence to see first hand how you train your Bichons. I got "JJ" 11 months ago at age 3 months, from a breeder in Minnesota. He had a long flight with 3 stops but was well adjusted and loving from the start. I've spent $2500.00 to have him trained as a "service dog". For the most part he obeys, but every now and then he "falls off the wagon". Does discipline usually continue after professional training?
I have the usual problems with allergies, but all in all he is a great companion although oversized at 15 pounds. I sincerely hope he has stopped growing.I wrote to you aset week and was hoping for a response by now
Is pro plan any good? It is fairly new and a little cheaper than some,but it is advertised in all the pet stores.
Sharda,
FYI: I have switched my cavalier, Heidi, to Halo's Spot Stew, dry and she is much more energetic than when I fed her the Eukanuba the breederI bought her from had her eating.
Fleas–I also have a problem with an inability to eradicate fleas (or mites? or some insect?) My dog scratches her ears, bites her paws. Whatever it is, these insects are biting my hands and causing tiny, itchy, welts. I itch them until they are bloody, it is so bad. What could this be? Every month, I use Frontline Plus for medium dogs (she is 23lbs or so, a bit overweight). I have cleaned and even replaced carpeting to try to get rid of them. Our yard had lots of rabbits who leave their poop (which Heidi eats), so the fleas are probably from the rabbits, if they are fleas.
Is it safe to use the anit-flea shampoos at the same time she is protected by the Frontline?
DOes anyone have any ideas? HELP please,
Deborah
Moogle, There is great truth to the adage "You are what you eat". Your Vet is giving you very poor advice, and to feed the cheapest junk available is not doing your dog any favors.
There is nothing wrong with feeding "people food" to dogs, as long as it is fresh, and nutritious. There is another word for people food, it is FOOD. Not this pre-packaged, overcooked junk that parades as food. We should have all learned a big lesson with the toxic dog food that resulted in so many unnecessary deaths. Just who is "minding the mint?????" And why should we take the word of the Dog Food Manufacturers, they are in this to maka a profit, and that is their first concern.
Do your research.
Hi Sharda, I have done tons of research on dog nutrition, and holistic diets, etc. One thing I have learned from every holistic Vet, (I have consulted several) and my dogs' Non-Anesthetic Dentist, is that dry kibble is what causes plaque, and consequently, tartar, on dog's teeth. This is contrary to what dog food manufacturers and most Vets advise. I have found this to be true with my dogs.
Please comment.
WE look forward to hearing from you on our Bichon. He is 7 years old and very healthy. He has been on Wellness since born.
I want to see what your think of EVO and Innova. I put some of the canned Evo in with the Wellness and he loves it.
Also, he loves all mother hubbard treats.
Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks for all your great comments and attention you give to us and our pets.
Sincerely,
Esther
Dear Sharda,
I enjoy your e-mails ( Newsletter). Keep them coming.
I have a Bichon, Buttons. As I mentioned before she is the love of my life. I feed her IMS mini chunks with a teaspoon or less of Cesars food. No table scraps. She gets very little treats. When I do it's Natures Recipe, training treats. I feed her three time a day,6:00 AM, Noon and 5:00PM (approx. times). I divide 2/3 cup into 3 meals. Some times she eats it all – sometimes not. She never has eaten more than 2/3 cup. What do you know about "Cesars" food.
Thanks,
Jean
I have a 5yr. Boston terrier who has had ESOSPHAGIAL PROBLEMS SINCE SHE WAS NINE WEEKS OLD. WE HAVE TAKEN TO VETS TO GET THE ANSWERS and/or a cure . No definitive answer. She regurgitates alot and we have her on special food(eukanuba fp) . She doesn't regurgitate as much but there is still the problem. Any recommendations??? Thank you. Art
My daughter's Boxer is on Pumpkin daily for her upset stomach. It has helped. Her Vet put the Dog on the pumpkin.
Hi Sharda,
One question I have is: why do people who feed their dogs wholesome, nutritious food consider them to be "spoiled"? Who among us could possibly find dry dog food appealing-including dogs???? As long as the foods one's dog is eating does not include substances toxic to them, i.e. onions, avacadoes, chololate- why shouldn't dogs eat "real" food?
Thanks!
thank you for the information on keeping my westie in good condition your information on pets is great keep the good work up thank you pat
My 10 year old Bichon was having trouble with arthritis in his back legs. I switched dogfood to Nutro Natural Choice Senior with Glucosamine Chondroitin. After just a few weeks he was running and playing without favoring a leg. He is as active as a puppy.
I have a 3 yr old german shepherd. I feed him a dry dog kibble "Performatrin – large breed" with a crude protein of 24%. Could you tell me anything about this food ?. Thanks – Frank
I have a mini schnauzar and she has frequent bouts of runny stool due to her glands. I have the vet squeeze them about every 4-5 mos.The canned pumpkin sounds great, how much and how often? Also pumpkin as in pie filler?? Thank you, she's my first dog and i'm x-tremly over protective of her.
Elena, if your vet tells you that dry kibble is what causes plaque and tartar on dogs teeth, what does he suggest as a preventative, besides brushing your dogs teeth daily? I have a poodle and just coming close to her with a toothbrush is torture for her.
How about Bil-Jac. My Yorkies love it. I've tried lots of other brands but this one gives them a nice coat and energy. Your answer is much appreciated.
I feed Mimi Canidae dog food. Is that a good dog food for her? She's always had it and she seems to do well with it. Thanks for all your info. I really appreciate it.
**A SHORT MESSAGE FROM SHARDA BAKER**
Hi everyone,
Hope you are doing well.
Things have been fairly hectic with the soon to be released "Complete Guide to Dog's Nutrition".
I think you will amazed at the dog food information I have managed to put together. I'm quite excited about it!
As you probably know from my email, there was a delay to the July 8 launch of the package though!
UPDATE: The Complete Guide To Your Dog's Nutrition is Now available!
Please Click here For Details.
Kind regards,
Sharda Baker
Greg,
I can see that your dogs are smart. They are training you. What dog wouldn't want 'people food'. I would worry that giving them people food would throw off the carefully formulated balance of the dog food you are feeding. And pizza crust- healthy??? You also need to consider the size of the people food snacks you are feeding them. If the dog weighs 15lb and you weigh 150lb, then imagine each snack you give them ten times larger, would it be a 'little' snack for you? It would be like you eating 10 pizza crusts. That's not a little snack! Your dogs are still young so you shouldn't have trouble retraining yourself to stop feeding little tidbits from the table.
Hi Denise,
As for the diet, my Vets suggest a wholesome, holistic canned food (I use Wellness or Chicken Soup for the Soul), and any combination of chopped beef, cooked chicken, brown rice, broccoli, beans, oatmeal, cous cous, cottage cheese, tofu, veggie burgers. As for brushing- I know it is a challenge. (I have very tiny dogs, too) Use a piece of gauze dipped in water, then baking soda. Keep some chicken or cheese handy, and start slowly. Clean a little, then give a treat. You will gradually be able to work up to doing the whole set of choppers. I sit on the floor and wrap them in a towel. Try to be as relaxed as possible, and your dog will then be calm as well. Hope this helps.
Good Luck, Elena
ABOUT FLEAS try tea tree oil in the final rinse when you bath your dog, about 10 drops to a litre, good for "hot spots" also. to all those who say their dogs will not eat and are picky eaters, it is allways US the owner who makes it that way, put the food down ..leave it for 10 to 15 minutes.. take it away, cover it.bring it out again at feed time, leave for 10 to 15 minutes, STAY CAlM take it away, repeat, repeat, the dog will not starve or go hungry, most of our beloved pets ate over fed,Terasa gentile. canned chicken breast, too much salt, dogs should never EVER have comercial gravy, too much salt,some one said peperoni and sausage NO NO NO too much salt. It took me 4 dogs and many years to learn all this, I now am very proud owner of a giant, RUSSIAN BLACK TERRIER. 54kg. 3 years old, eats complete fish and rice ( nothing else what so ever )
Hi- to add on to the avoid pepperoni and sausage theme, let us not forget sodium nitrite, which is almost always used as a colorant. Known carcinogen (cancer causing)!!!
I forgot to mention that I occasionally give them canned salmon or mackerel and oatmeal and barley.
Aside to Denise from the UK- my dogs (yorkies) would starve to death rather than eat dry kibble-no kidding.
I spend a fortune on their food, but they give me a life filled with joy and love- I gladly feed them whatever they want, as long as it is healthy!
Nancy
I have to Yorkies a male 2 yr old and a female 1 1/2 yr old I feed them the Eukenuba for yorkshire terriors and they love it I leave the food out all the time 24/7 they seem to only eat about twice a day on their own my male is 6lbs and my female is 12lbs
HI DEB, BREWERS YEAST IS GREAT FOR REPELLING FLEAS. I GIVE 1 A DAY TO MY CAT AND DOG AND HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH FLEAS. ALSO ORANIC UNFILTERED APPLE CIDER VINEGAR WITH MOTHER WORKS, 1 HALF TSP. IN WATER DAILY.
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM SHARDA BAKER..
I'm excited!!
Finally, I can give you a solid date for the release of 'The Complete Guide To Your Dog's Nutrition'.
The ebooks and audios will be available as of tomorrow;
*********************************
MONDAY, 14th July @ 10 am
*********************************
(that’s eastern standard time on the USA so will differ for you depending in where you are located!).
About an hour before the launch I will send you a link to the page that will have all the details of the long awaited dog food guide.
Stay tuned for more details.
Kind regards,
Sharda Baker
Stacy, no, not pie filling. Just canned pumpkin.
More information on the pumpkin please!!
can i firstly say i'm finding all comments very helpful,but i'm still not sure what it is i can do for my 8 year old cocker spaniel(maddy).
I'v tried all the different foods wet and dry,she seems to like them for a day or two but when i come to give her it again she turns her nose up!
she also suffers with bad skin,but when i've taken her to the vets she's never mentioned anything about her diet(could this be the problem?)
Maddy is also a fan of any human foods,which i think sometimes causes problems when it comes to her eating her own food.
Any comments would be very helpful.
I feed my dogs pedigree small bites dog food. Is this dog food ok or should I get them something else. They all seem to like it.
I switched my border collies to Cannidae dog food. My matriarch lived to 17 years until she succumbed to a particularly aggressive form of cancer. Her 14 year old daughter is still active and her arthritis is greatly improved (she can again handle the 30 stairs to my bedroom!) My 18 mo. pup goes non-stop so we named her "Skye's Blazing Trail" – we sure hit the mark with her!
I was most impressed with the improvements seen in the 2 older gals when I made the switch.
What is the problem with leaving out dry dog food all day? I have a minature schnauzer, weights about 10 to 11 pounds and doesn't eat much at his feeding times. He comes back occasionally and eats some, then continues on playing. He only eats what I have put out for the day. He doesn't get lots of treats and I don't give him People food as I did that with a toy poodle that I had to put down because he went through 2 years of having to take diabetis meds and shots twice a day. He eventually went blind and had hearing loss and as the last resort, I had to do the right thing. He was 15 years old and I had a hard time getting over the loss. I told myself that if I did ever get another dog, I wouldn't feed them people food and our new little one is perfectly content and doesn't know she is missing anything. Just wanted to let others know what can happen if people food is all they are given. We have to be stronger than our furry friends. Marjorie Birney
Have you ever heard of Blue Buffalo dog food. It seems that the nutrients and content is similar to Wellness. Let me know what you think.
Your Dog Nutrition book makes fascinating reading Sharda,I now need to find out if we have the same government restrctions on animal foods in the UK.
Your recipe book is extremely interesting but I would appreciate the calorie content of each one.I have a 4yr old rescued Bichon dog who is a little overweight and have had great difficulties with his diet,but with your help I think Dooley and I are getting there.
Regards,
Geraldine.
I have found that with many small breeds that leaving dry food out for them on a self-feeding basis, has been comfortable for them. They do not seem to overeat and still have an appetite for "dinner time"!
Obviously, if they are filling up with chow and gaining weight, then other methods can be used.
My approach to feeding dogs – large and small. They are carnivores, primarily. Because of thousands of years of domestication they have adapted to other foods. Other foods are green vegetables and some carbohydrates.Keeping it simple! Table scraps are a no-no in my experience.