If you've investigated or actually started feeding your dog a homemade diet, you know firsthand just how confusing the supplement issue can be. The bad news is that your pup's good health is dependent on a balanced diet and - if you're making your own food - that diet begins and ends with you. The good news, however, is very good: It's not actually as complicated as it might seem. And with the overwhelming interest in animal companion nutrition today, there are some great products out there that make it that much simpler. In this post, I'll profile a few of those products, and give you recipes for some that you can make on your own.
We'll start with essential fatty acids, the same ones that get a lot of hype for the health benefits they provide for you and I. EFAs - in this case Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids - aid in digestion, help prevent or clear up breakouts, and keep hair and nails strong. They do the same for pups. Cod liver and other fish oils, as well as soybean, flaxseed, and safflower oils, are particularly high in Omega-3 and -6 acids. The number one product that I always have on hand to ensure the proper blend of these critical elements is Dream Coat, distributed by HALO pet products. While Dream Coat is not cheap (a 16-ounce bottle is usually around $21), its blend of cold-pressed soybean, wheatgerm, safflower, sunflower, garlic, and cod liver oils provides not only the aforementioned fatty acids, but also provides your pup with adequate doses of vitamins A, D, and E - all critical for your dog's good health.
If you'd prefer to forego the expense of DreamCoat, HALO founder Andi Brown provides a homemade recipe for DreamCoat in her book, THE WHOLE PET DIET. Using cold-pressed, high-quality oils, the homemade version is still a little pricey, but is certainly worth the expense. Here, then, is Ms. Brown's "Recipe for a Beautiful Coat."
5 ounces soybean or olive oil
1 ounce cod liver oil
1 ounce wheat germ oil
1 ounce flaxseed oil
1 clove garlic, or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
2-inch sprig rosemary or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse for 30 seconds. Pour into a dark or opaque glass bottle or jar and seal tightly. Mix the recommended dosage (listed below) into all of your pet's meals:
2 - 11 pound dog: 1/2 teaspoon
12 - 25 pounds: 1 teaspoon
25 - 50 pounds: 2 teaspoons
51 - 100 pounds: 1 tablespoon
The next supplement that I use is based on the recommendations of Dr. Richard H. Pitcairn in his COMPLETE GUIDE TO NATURAL HEALTH FOR DOGS AND CATS. Because dogs require a balanced intake of calcium and phosphorous in order to maintain optimum health, it is critical to include a mixture of these two supplements in each homemade meal. While there are natural pet vitamins out there with calcium and phosphorous included, based on the research I've done and the case studies I've conducted, I believe that the over-synthesized materials are simply not as conducive to total health. With that in mind, here are a few items that always make it into my recipes.
NOW Bone Meal Powder, available at most natural food stores or online at Natural Canine. A good, balanced source of calcium and phosphorous made from domestically raised cattle, and simple to add to recipes because of its powdered form. $13.95 for one pound, which should last you quite some time.
Herbal Multivitamin, formulated by Gregory Tilford. Available online at Natural Canine for $24.95 for a 300-gram container, which typically lasts about one month for my two dogs. I use a combination of the NOW Bone Meal Powder, Tilford's Herbal Multivitamin, and either Dream Coat or flax seed oil in all of my dog's meals. The recommended dosage is based on your pup's weight, and is included on the labels of each of these products.
For a less costly alternative to the Herbal Multivitamin, you can try NaturVet's VitaPet or VitaPet Plus for Dogs, available at most pet stores or online at Waggin Tails. NaturVet has a number of great, affordable products out there that I have used on more than one occasion with good results.
For recipes and more information on the nutritional needs of your favorite pooch, I highly recommend DR. PITCAIRN'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO NATURAL HEALTH FOR DOGS & CATS, as well as Andi Brown's THE WHOLE PET DIET: EIGHT WEEKS TO GREAT HEALTH FOR DOGS AND CATS and, if you're feeling really ambitious, CANINE AND FELINE NUTRITION: A RESOURCE FOR COMPANION ANIMAL PROFESSIONALS. All of these books are available at Amazon.com, or can likely be ordered through your local independent bookseller. Next week, I'll get you started on a fun, low-maintenance kitchen herb garden that will keep your pup's recipes tasting fresh all year round. Until then, be sure to drop any questions you have my way, and thanks for reading.
Showing posts with label dog nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog nutrition. Show all posts
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Thursday's Nutrition Beat: Food for Life
Proper nutrition is the fourth, and arguably the most important, element necessary for a healthy home for you and your dog. It is also the element that requires the greatest investment from you - both in terms of time and of money. In a series of posts over the coming weeks, I'll do my best to provide simple, affordable tips for creating nourishing meals for your animal companion, but I would be lying if I said it will always be a snap. Just stick with it, and soon you'll begin to see the rewards - a healthier, happier dog who requires less veterinary care and has fewer behavioral issues. It's all in what you eat. A word of caution: In this blog, I won't spend a lot of time discussing commercial pet foods, because I have yet to find one that is superior to what I can prepare in my own kitchen, for a fraction of the cost to my wallet, my conscience, and the planet itself. We'll discuss raw food diets, vegetarianism and your dog, nutritional needs... And I naturally welcome questions about anything relating to nutrition, but I simply don't have a lot to say about commercial pet food in most instances.
In the past year, the pet food industry has been in the headlines as a result of tainted food that's caused illness and death to thousands of pets across the country. An increasing number of people are becoming aware of the industry's questionable practices and lack of safeguards. Consequently, there has been a significant increase in the number of foods claiming to be balanced or all natural; there are literally thousands of blogs devoted to pet nutrition and home cooking for your pets, and the popularity of the raw food diet has grown exponentially. With this increase in interest comes an increase an information, which, inevitably, also means an increase in misinformation. How do you sort through all of the conflicting reports, the shocking details of abuse in the industry, the number of supplements required? What do you do, when the whole nation is talking about a subject, and it seems that everyone is saying something different?
It's not an easy answer, but it starts by doing your homework. Before you read anything else - and there are hundreds of books out there on the subject - I would recommend Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. It's available through Amazon for less than $13, and is worth every penny and more. Dr. Pitcairn was the pioneer when it comes to the link between health and animal nutrition, and this book covers every topic you'll need to get started - the true nutritional needs of your pet, what to buy and where to get it, the most cost-effective way to prepare a wholesome diet... This is where to begin. If you have other questions after the fact, there are plenty of places to turn; until that time, though, build your foundation with quality materials. This Guide is unquestionably the place to start.
Once you've memorized Dr. Pitcairn's work, head back here each Thursday for more articles, tips, stories, and recipes on nutrition and your favorite pup. We'll begin next week with an overview of the nutritional needs of your dog, so that you can ensure that all of his health needs are being met. The following week I'll provide a shopping list, pricing out what you should have on hand to make meal preparation quick and easy. We'll talk about the things you need to watch out for when preparing home cooked meals, how to work with your veterinarian if your pup has special needs, and how to track your dog's progress as you continue along this path to total health. We'll even look at ways to start eating more conscientiously yourself, following Fido's fine example! I look forward to having a dialogue with readers about the countless topics relating to nutrition and total health, so don't hesitate to drop a line with questions or comments. And, as always, thanks for reading.
In the past year, the pet food industry has been in the headlines as a result of tainted food that's caused illness and death to thousands of pets across the country. An increasing number of people are becoming aware of the industry's questionable practices and lack of safeguards. Consequently, there has been a significant increase in the number of foods claiming to be balanced or all natural; there are literally thousands of blogs devoted to pet nutrition and home cooking for your pets, and the popularity of the raw food diet has grown exponentially. With this increase in interest comes an increase an information, which, inevitably, also means an increase in misinformation. How do you sort through all of the conflicting reports, the shocking details of abuse in the industry, the number of supplements required? What do you do, when the whole nation is talking about a subject, and it seems that everyone is saying something different?
It's not an easy answer, but it starts by doing your homework. Before you read anything else - and there are hundreds of books out there on the subject - I would recommend Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. It's available through Amazon for less than $13, and is worth every penny and more. Dr. Pitcairn was the pioneer when it comes to the link between health and animal nutrition, and this book covers every topic you'll need to get started - the true nutritional needs of your pet, what to buy and where to get it, the most cost-effective way to prepare a wholesome diet... This is where to begin. If you have other questions after the fact, there are plenty of places to turn; until that time, though, build your foundation with quality materials. This Guide is unquestionably the place to start.
Once you've memorized Dr. Pitcairn's work, head back here each Thursday for more articles, tips, stories, and recipes on nutrition and your favorite pup. We'll begin next week with an overview of the nutritional needs of your dog, so that you can ensure that all of his health needs are being met. The following week I'll provide a shopping list, pricing out what you should have on hand to make meal preparation quick and easy. We'll talk about the things you need to watch out for when preparing home cooked meals, how to work with your veterinarian if your pup has special needs, and how to track your dog's progress as you continue along this path to total health. We'll even look at ways to start eating more conscientiously yourself, following Fido's fine example! I look forward to having a dialogue with readers about the countless topics relating to nutrition and total health, so don't hesitate to drop a line with questions or comments. And, as always, thanks for reading.
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