Name: Tianna
Pets species and breed: German Shepherd Pharaoh Cattle Dog Mix
Pets age and weight: 40lbs 4 and 1/2 years old
Pets health status: Never any issues so far
Are they spayed or neutered? Yes
Brand of food: Honest Kitchen
Animal owned for: 3 and 1/2 ears
Question:
“My dog, Inuki, has always eaten many foods without any issues or allergies. We have been searching for the “perfect” healthy premium dog food. He has been on Flint River Ranch, Nutro, Innova, Dogswell, and raw diet (we stopped that) then home cooked with veggies, meat, grains, and multi vitamins, then the Honest Kitchen because it was too much to cook myself. I actually will go back to home cooking if I have the right recipes, but I had a very hard time understanding how much to feed and of what. I read dr strombecks Home Cooked Diets For Cats and Dogs. Now, for the last month my dog and 2 cats have been on the Honest Kitchen’’s Prowl and Force. My cats love their Prowl and do great on it, but my dog, while he likes the food, his pooping has increased big time. He used to have maybe one to 2 poops a day and they were small and firm, now he poops 3 to 4 times and the poop is large and soft, but not runny. I just really would like to find a food that he can stick with that will keep him very healthy for years and years to come.”
Answer:
“Tianna,
Thanks for writing in. Sounds like you have been dabbling in the (sometimes) frustrating world of dog nutrition for quite some time! I think the first thing you need to decide on is whether you want to cook for your dog or if you are looking for a commercially available diet.
If you are selecting a commercially available diet, select one that is “natural” or “organic”. By definition and AAFCO regulation, a “natural” pet food may have ingredients from ONLY plant, animal or mined sources. These foods cannot be highly processed or contain chemically synthetic ingredients, such as artificial flavors, preservatives or colorings.
Look for foods that do not contain inferior by-products or meals. Meat meals are made through a process of rendering. Any product that has been rendered is considered unfit for human consumption…so in my mind, that means unfit for our beloved pets as well. Look for RECOGNIZABLE ingredients on the label. You should be able to identify meats, grains, vegetables and not just chemical additives.
If you are choosing to home-cook, you absolutely need to work with a veterinary nutritionist to get recipes that are balanced for your dog and his daily requirements. There are many websites you can use, including www.petdiets.com and www.balanceit.com. I would recommend that you request a consultation specific to Inuki so he isn’t lacking anything.”
If you who own a dog, you’ve surely thought about treating her to the leftovers from the dinner table. What you may not realize is that some human foods pose dire threats to dogs.
Obvious things like sharp animal bones could potentially damage the digestive tract. But a number of common foods are simply incompatible with their bodies.
What can’t I feed my dog?
Grapes and raisins: Even a few grapes and raisins are poisonous to
dogs and could cause kidney damage. Although it is not certain what
component of grapes is toxic to dogs, according to ASPCA dogs that have ingested anywhere from a single serving to a pound of grapes (or raisins) have developed acute renal failure.
The symptoms:
*Typically within a few hours of ingestion, the dog begins to
vomit. Partially digested grapes can be found in the mess, and also in
their fecal matter.
* Following this, dogs generally will become lethargic and anorexic for the period of days or even weeks.
*Without immediate veterinary care dogs may not survive the poisoning
due to the damage to their kidneys and in some cases, even with timely
care, they could still needed to be euthanized.
This is not to say you should rush your dog to the vet if it
accidentally ingests a grape or two, but you should certainly call your
vet if dog downs a handful of grapes or even fewer raisins.
Theobromine, caffeine, or theophylline: Most dogs owners have heard
that feeding a dog chocolate can result in death. But it’s not only
chocolate that is harmful. Other foods that contain theobromine,
caffeine, or theophylline can induce vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity,
or irregular heart rhythm – even be seizures, coma, or death.
Foods containing these ingredients include coffee, tea, cocoa beans,
cola, and cocoa bean hulls, according to PetEducation. These foods have
the same effect on pets as they do on humans. Ingesting these foods can
impact calcium and energy levels, resulting in restlessness, and also
stimulating the heart and central nervous system.
A very small amount of chocolate, or similar item, may not result in
death, but you should still contact your vet if your dog ingests any
chocolate. If your dog somehow gets into a large supply of chocolate,
take him/her to the vet IMMEDIATELY. They will have to begin flushing
out your dog’s system for any trace of the toxins.
