Bookmarking - I’d like some recipes too.
Why worry yourself over making it “dog food”? Just cook up whatever you wish of “people food” and give it to them. Sure, start with one ingredient and add others until you find the problem.
On the other hand, you might want to check if they are itching because of bug bites or poison ivy. We’ve had a very wet summer and the mesquitoes are worse than they’ve ever been. We also have many more other bugs this year too. Surprisingly, not fleas. You might also check your yard to make sure they aren’t getting into some sort of poisonous plant that they’re allergic to. There are other things than food that will make them itch, perhaps even the shampoo you’re using on them.
Get Dr Ian Billinghurst’s books. They are a good primer on fresh food for dogs or cats, for that matter. Here’s a link to a list of books you might try:
http://www.dogwise.com/Browse/SubCatList.cfm?SubCat=Natural%20Health%20and%20Nutrition
My vet recommended this newsletter, and I've been very pleased with it. It deals with other issues such as training, activities, etc., but there's always an article or two about BARF diet, making foods at home, etc. Lots of recipes and stuff.
Do you wash your dogs bedding frequently? If so try a fragrance free detergent and softener.
Do you use insecticides or herbicides around your home? If so try to not use it around your dogs bedding and keep your dog away from those areas.
If you have purebreds contact breeders of those dogs to see if there are specific allergies common for the breed.
I would also like a recipe for dog treats if anyone has one.
Forget playing with homemade stuff now. You may need to find out the essentials. Waste of time and effort if the problem is the type of proteins you’re getting.
My dog is majorly allergic, including foods. She is VEGETARIAN, because she is allergic to ANIMAL PROTEIN, period. She is a case where simply changing from processed dry to homemade beef or lamb would NOT help (in fact, probably make it worse).
Even if dogs aren’t allergic to all animal protein, they can be allergic to specific types. That is why there is not only “lamb” available, but duck, venison, etc.
We tried these, too, after seeing Tara get better on vegetarian, 1st. Unfortunately, she got worse again so is sticking to vegetarian. But some dogs should be fine with certain particular animal proteins.
Another possibility is that many dogs suffer a bit from corn allergy - and many processed foods employ corn meal. Ensure you go away from corn meal - there ARE processed foods (such as mine) that don’t use corn at all.
My vet brand is IVD - currently owned by Royal Canin. Unfortunately, you can only get it through certain vets, or order it from Canada.
BTW, my dog LOVES the IVD vegetarian; once had to try her on Natural Recipe veg because IVD ran out, and she didn’t like it much (smelled like clay to me). But she’d eat IVD right up.
When I adopted an Australian Cattle Dog several years ago it seemed that he would never stop itching. He had no fleas, but the vet said he had dry skin and recommended a fish oil tablet. Worked like a charm.
I’ve since switched him to Eukanuba adult lamb and rice which has oil in it and he seems to be doing well on that without the tablets.
Good luck!
Oily, fatty foods seemed to give him a good deal of relief. When I would open a can of tuna, I'd drain the packing water or oil on their dry food, and perhaps weekly I'd cook them up an egg and cheese omelet. At the vet's recommendation, a little Benadryl helped when the allergies got real bad.
Another daily treat my boys are fond of is a large milk bone, wrapped with a slice of American Cheese (I mold it around the bone like clay) and then wrap that with a slice of bologna, or ham or turky. I suspect it somewhat primally replicates the texture of chomping on skin, flesh and bone, and they really seem to enjoy it.
Set it to puree.
Insert one former Atlanta Falcons Quarterback.
“Thoughts on home-made dog food?”
Register Giget and Homer at the board of elections and put them on food stamps.
My dogs are omnivores....
If your dogs are itching it could be a vitamin E deficiency..
You need to take a couple of factors into consideration..Volume and nutrition
Taz’s pretty good dog food
Chicken thighs...about 5 lb’s
Garbanzo beans about 2 lbs.
Brown rice
2lbs of frozen mixed vegs.
day one.
Simmer the chicken thighs in water until falling off the bone. Refrigerate overnight
Soak the garbanzo beans in water...Need about 3 times the water as beans.
Day 2..
Defat the chicken broth..Pick the meat and discard the skin.
Too much fat in a dogs diet can lead to pancreatitis and significant vet bills.
Drain the garbanzo’s and add to the chicken broth and simmer about 2 hours.
In the last 30 minutes stir in about 1 lb of brown rice and the mixed vegs...
Makes about 5 gallons.
Makes about a 1 month supply of 2-2 1/2 cups a day.
Can supplement with a vit e cap and a doggie mineral mvi daily.
My Labs love it...Freezes well.
I thaw in the refrigerator about 2-3 days in advance...
Oops, meant to say, register them as democrats.
2 cups of dry dog food for 80-90 lb. dogs? Maybe starvation is your real problem?
After reading this thread, I will never complain about feeding my 5 lb Yorkie. With the crickets moving indoors, he’ll have plenty to eat.
I changed my itchy smelly dog to Canadie and started detoxing. It takes about a month for each year of your dogs age. I used Nzymes and dinovite. Google their sights and I can vouch for the before and after pics. My pooch lost fur and looked horrible before she got better.
I also use a blue ear solution for her ears. First time in seven years she’s stopped smelling. In the blue ear solution I used witchhazel instead of the alcohol.
No smell, flaking, or shedding. No more prednizone for itchig or antibiotics for infected ears or infection from scratching.
Do your dogs feet smell like fritos:)
two pounds ground beef ,cooked (or cheaper horse meat)
four cups rice,cooked
two - four cooked carrots,sliced thin or shaved
one half cup olive oil
PRESTO.... Rover yummy !
as options you can add potatoes, apple bits, peas, or a different type of meat. Our dogs love deer meat (venison) if you can get it cheap.(or free!!) Just be sure to cook it fully.
We’d like recipes that you’ve used, along with portion advice. We’re currently feeding our two 80-90 pound dogs a cup of dry kibble twice daily and our 45 pound beagle a half a cup of dry kibble twice daily. <<<<<<<<<<
Our vet recommends 4-5 cups daily for a normal weight 75 lb dog. If overweight, reduce by 20%. (one cup)