Pet Lovers

[monicakm]

Plain greek yogurt is good for your dog's digestive track.  It adds good bacteria.  Full of protein, calcium, and probiotics.  I don't remember ever having to give Howie pumpkin but I'm currently giving Miss Priss pumpkin.  

Buttermilk adds, again probiotics.  Lactic acid adds good bacteria  for gastro health and fungal infections.  We aren't super, hardcore strict with what we let them have.  I'm more cautious than my husband and try to monitor his need to feed dogs.  He got it from his mother.  "Food fixes everything"

I was going to make them some Frosty Paws today but forgot bananas the other day.  It's pb, plain greek yogurt, bananas and honey.  I leave out the honey.  Frankie hasn't had a Frosty Paw yet.

[cindyNC]

It was a real pain in the butt to find a dog food that our crazy siberian liked.  He turned his nose up at all the premium foods and finally was eating Iams in the green bag at the kennel.  

We've fed that every since.......but it gets mixed with leftover meat from our table and sometimes cheese.   He turns his nose up whenever I've tried to give him a scrap of raw hamburger but if a piece of raw bacon falls on the floor, then he's all over it. 

He's really spoiled as the BF heats up the leftovers  - I don't and he eats it just the same. Huskies are know for their cast-iron stomachs plus the pooch has 24 hour access to a doggy door if he's feeling sick. 

He has since decided he no longer likes certain cuisines. 

[shoobee]

I made my dogs food for years. Vet that did holistic got me started and vet nutritionist helped me adjust for diabetic dog years later. That one stresses needs for vitamins and recommended a company balanceit.com  they have recipes and vitamins to help complete. Have mutts now so mix of regular dog food and some homemade is what I do now.

[luvasale]

I, too, have a Shih Tzu, she is 18 and 1/2.  I have fed her kibble mixed with wet food food and it consistently varies on brand, quality, and texture and her wants. I  have also cooked her food.  I have never done any special food or diet for her, she is healthy and still demanding a walk.  Her only medication is Vetmedin for her heart murmur.  I think dogs are like us in that what works for one may not work for another.  My last Shih Tzu only lived to 12.  I feel blessed for everyday I have with this baby but will not hesitate to stop her discomfort should she get to that point.  Her weight varies from 11 to 13 pounds but mostly on the lower end.  I feed her treats and people food as well, she loves Gold Fish and popcorn.

[Tori3569]

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@San Antonio Gal wrote:

We have a Chihuahua and a Chihuahua-Rat Terrier mix. 

Hubby boils chicken for them for dinner (boneless skinless chicken thighs).  For lunch they have Purina Pro Plan hard food.  They also get doggie-treats during the day.    

I like ordering from Chewy.  Always great service and products.

Our babies are definitely pampered pups.

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Oh my gosh @San Antonio Gal !  All 5 of our dogs are chi/ rat terrier mixes.  3 from the same litter (they have a dash of dachshund in there too).  One of the other two is mostly chi, but has rat terrier.  The other is rat terrier, malamute and a little bit of chihuahua.   They're a handful but smart of very loyal.  

[gloriajean]

Thank you much for your replies.  I truly enjoyed reading them, and getting ideas etc. I will go into that website too.   What my daughter will start to do for our dogs is being Farmer's Dog is so expensive to buy, they have a nutrient package, and they also have sent her Ella's (min. schnauzer) and Bobby's, my shih tzu, guidelines what they should have and how much so they can lose weight safely.

She thought we'll try that first and make our foods with recipes they give.  I never thought about yogurt and buttermilk being good for them.

I'm glad I asked here, I'm getting lots of good ideas I will pass on to her.  Some years ago I made all of her larger rat terrior's food, because he needed special for his tummy, and  he died of cancer.  But that included meats, veggies, and lots of brown rice. Now I'm hearing rice isn't good.

She put me on some sites on facebook for homemade dog foods, that, my friends, is very overwhelming to read!! Wow!  It's easier here.

Again thank you so much for replying.  

Bobby is a big shih tsu, He was nine pounds when I got him at 2 months, and kept gaining. He doesn't eat much. He was tested for thyroid, he doesn't have anything wrong with him, just overweight. My husband calls him a miniature St. Bernard!!

[Marp]

@gloriajean,  if your dog is currently eating kibble based on previous experience I would suspect he can't handle dry food.

I had a Chi that was overweight when I adopted her and no matter how little she was fed and how much exercise I gave her she would not lose weight.  Even with calorie restrictions and an exercise regimen she would actually tend to put on weight.

Vet suggested I switch to wet food only and at the same calorie intake she started losing weight.  Vet said some dogs, especially the smaller breeds, cannot handle dry food and tend to become obese.

My current dog, a Finnish Spitz, also easily gains weight.  She was just a year old when I got her at her six month checkup she had gained about 7 pounds!  I immediately switched to canned food and she quickly lost the excess weight.  Because of her breed I still have to monitor caloric intake but she easily maintains her "ideal" weight.

Something to consider with your "miniature Saint Bernard" (that made me chuckle).  Perhaps he simply cannot handle kibble no matter how good it is on paper.

[gloriajean]

Marp, at first I thought you meant homemade dog food, by wet, but you meant canned dog food.  That, we cannot afford at all.  We will go homemade, according to how much we can spend.

At one time I did make homemade dog food for my daughter's dog, but it was just ground turkey, chicken, veggies and rice.  Also added some ground flax seed in it, he did well on it, but didn't lose weight, just maintained.

Thanks for replying.  I learned something I didn't think of, that the kibble just is not doing him any good. Thanks for letting me know that - it may be the answer.

[gloriajean]

Marp, on second thought, in talking it over with my daughter, she thinks canned would be cheaper than homemade.  What brand is good that you would recommend?  

[Marp]

@gloriajean,  I am currently feeding my dog a Purina One variety.  That also happens to be what my brother buys for his dog.

However, my vet has no objection to any of the name brand dog foods except those that are grain free.  I do not recall the reason for avoiding grain free but my vet is adamant about doing so.

As to cost it runs about $18 for 12 cans at 13 ounces each.  I get three meals from each can; it is likely you will get at least three, prehaps even four meals from that size can for your dog.