What to feed

[dustynduke]

I have been driving myself crazy tonight reading articles about recalled dog food, symptoms etc.

Dusty have been drinking water like crazy for the past few days & today she started peeing in the house, she has never done that in her life.

I am so scared & sick of all of the recalls I honestly want to start cooking or making food for Dusty and Duke. Can anyone give me any menus to cook? I really don't know what to add to anything so they will get all of the vitamins and minerals they need. If you know what needs to be added or what to make, please respond.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

I am convinced that the easiest thing for a homemade food beginner is to buy a veggie/fruit/vitamin/mineral/anti-oxidant mix where all you have to do is add the protein (best to rotate proteins).

I use a product called Urban Wolf. This way you don't have to worry about how much of this and that and the whole vitamin thing.

I just add my protein, a can of WILD Alaskan pink salmon and I'm good to go. I alternate using meat with no bone and meat with ground bone and organs in it.

Urban Wolf is made by a very small manufacturer who doesn't outsource anything and everything is made in very small batches. They have never had a recall notice.

This is a good way to go and to get your feet wet into raw/homemade diets. If desired, you can always get more adventuresome later with your own recipes once you've done adequate research. I think it's a great first step - one I've decided to stay with and I'm about as picky as they come!!

It takes me about 45 minutes a week to make a batch. It stays fresh for about 4-5 days in the frig so if you make more than that, freeze the rest.

You can check them out online. And, there's no detoxing on this food when you make the switch. You can, if you want, add some cooked oatmeal to the batch in the beginning to furthur ease the transition.

I LOVE this mix!

[Faith]

make sure you get her checked out by a vet for a Urinary Tract Infection (could cause her to pee in the house) and may-be a diabetes test (could be the reason for the excessive water drinking).

rule out simple illnesses before you get yourself too nuts.

[aqh88]

I know it's getting bad. I pulled the few pellets my guinea pigs get and went back to feeding them only fresh foods because we had 1 suddenly die of multiple organ failure for no obvious reason and the rest were drinking insane amounts of water. That stopped within 24hours of taking the pellets away. People don't generally take guinea pigs to the vet so I doubt we'd know if things like that were contaminated unless an individual decides to send their bag of pellets in for testing. I'm also switching everyone else but my mom's dog over to innova. If you want to try going raw instead of trying to find a reliable kibble I'd start with Deb's suggestion. Get the premixed raw foods and just add to them instead of trying to do the whole thing yourself. Especially if your wanting to switch sooner rather than later. Feeding only fresh or raw foods takes alot of research which will take you alot of time.

[Reyven]

make sure you get her checked out by a vet for a Urinary Tract Infection (could cause her to pee in the house) and may-be a diabetes test (could be the reason for the excessive water drinking).

I definately agree with this. It could be a very simple problem as those stated above. Of course, if you want to switch your food because you're uncomfortable (and who wouldn't be?!) do that as well. But rule out any health problems too!
Can't help you with making food though as I buy food for my dogs

[rottiegirl]

A well researched raw/BARF diet is the best thing going...

[lemonie]

I currently feed raw and was glad I did my research before the switch. I tell ya, there are so many benefits, I can't even explain them all. But all I can say is my babies are healthy, happy, and my vet bills are greatly reduced. Just make sure you do it right and check with your vet to see if you may need to go overboard on some supplements unique to your dog. Every raw diet does not work for every dog.

[dustynduke]

Thanks everyone for your help. I did take Dusty to our vet Saturday because she refused to eat. OMG that totally freaked me out, she she has always been an awesome eater.
Of course the first thing was to weigh her. Since January she lost 9 pounds, which everyone knows is not good, plus she had xrays and CBC done. After almost 3 hours of torture the results are:
1. Her glucose level is over 400 which means she is diabetic. Faith & Rayven you are right as confirmed by her vet. Her glucose level in January was 132 which was normal. The vet put her on insulin and she goes back Friday to have the levels retested to see if the units or insulin are right. She has had 3 injections as of now and her water consumption is way down and she ate all her food today at both meals. Thank God!
2. Her xray showed extensive gas in her digestive track, it also showed a mass near her pancreas, spleen area, which her vet wants to have an ultrasound done on to verify what it is. Dusty needs to go to Allentown, which is about an 1 1/2 hours from where we live to have this done. After the diabetes is under control we are going to have this done. This has me more freaked out than the diabetes does. For those of you that don't know, Dusty had a toe removed in January which was malignant.
Her vet told us not to change her brand of food as it is acceptable for dogs with diabetes and switching it now might cause more problems because she is nine and has just been diagnosed with this.
I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all of your help and concern. Again, I will ask your help in praying for Dusty that all turns out well for her.
My love to all of you. If we could meet each and everyone of you in person I would hug you all & Dusty would give you all great big sloppy puppy kisses for being the great people you are.

[Faith]

well, while it's not the news you wanted, you can at least start working on it. good luck with everything.

[golden&hovawart]

They are some good kibble food around that haven't been recalled I use
Canidae but it has grains and Innova Evo.Both are excellent food but more expensive.You do feed less.L