core_17 said:
PetersCreek, can you tell me more about the supplements that you use for your dog? Do you just use raw eggs cracked over the dry food? I'm guessing the yogurt you use isn't the same Yoplait yogurt I buy for myself? And the canned salmon....is it something specifically for dogs, or is it the canned salmon that's next to the canned tuna at the grocery store?
Eggs Yep, I just crack a raw egg over his kibble about once a week. Some folks are nervous about that due to concerns about salmonella but me, not so much. One, Kroger isn't a dawdler. His food is gone in just a few minutes. Two, our eggs are pasteurized, so I have little concern about fresh raw eggs. If your dog turns out to be a dawdler or your eggs aren't pasteurized...and salmonella worries you...you can also give the egg a quick scramble.
Salmon man, Kroger loves salmon nights, which are on Monday and Thursday. Yep, just get the cheapest canned salmon fit for human consumption. I wouldn't waste money on red or king. Go for the pink salmon. We usually get the Bumble Bee brand but I hear Walmart carries another brand for a bit less than the $2.00 per week we spend on ours. We put it in his bowl, juices and all. Don't worry about the bones. The pressure cooking softens them and they contain beneficial minerals, too. You should start slow and easy, though. It's rich and takes some getting used to for some dogs. SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT: of course, I heartily recommend wild-caught Alaskan salmon. (plug-plug-plug) None of that farmed crap, which will doom your dog to a life of malaise, underachievement, and quite possibly, a career in petty crime.
Salmon oil It's my belief that even the premium foods don't provide enough Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, so we supplement with the salmon and salmon oil. We use
Omega Maintenance salmon oil from Arctic Paws. Now, it ain't cheap...especially at the website...but we get it for almost half that price at a local pet food outlet. Fortunately, it only takes 1 to 4 tablespoons per feeding and we don't use it on salmon nights, obviously...so it goes pretty far. Plus, it's made from wild-caught Alaskan salmon. (plug-plug-plug)
Yogurt It's people yogurt...but it's the plain, unflavored, ungelatinized variety. We usually get Dannon. It's not always easy to find and then, it's usually in the larger containers. If you like yogurt, y'all can share. Just buy some fruit or fruit preserves to mix in to your cup. Kroger gets four heaping spoons on his kibble.
Treats Nothing wrong with high-quality treats given sparingly. If you use treats for training, though, you can easily give more than pup should have. Most of 'em are the equivalent of junk food after all. We like the turkey jerky treats from Solid Gold. They're the size of a small cracker, and they're easily broken into quarters. He worked just as hard to get that quarter as he did a whole one, so the bag went four times as far.
An even better idea, if you dog is sufficiently food-motivated...use kibble as a training treat. Just grab a handful out of pup's daily allotment and you'll be sure not to overfeed during training. Plus, you don't even have to feel guilty about adding one or two of the "junk food" treats, either.
Re: the raw diet I know a person in an online forum I frequent who's feeding the raw diet...often called the
BARF diet. It's been very, very successful for him but then, it's not for everyone.
Crap...there goes another another book. Hope I helped.
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