Beagle - Supplements

I started a homemade diet for my 16 year old beagle with TCC after reading some horrendous stories about what goes into commercial dog food. I now have to cook for 2 dogs since I have a westie and it doesn't seem fair to only cook for one! However my concern is with the nutrients and if he is getting enough. I feed him chicken and brocolli with eggs sometimes. I heard eggs is okay, does anyone know if theres any reason I shouldnt give them eggs?

 My vet told me I should also give them each a Centrum Silver. I havent read any other posts that anyone else with a homemade diet is doing this. Any ideas on if this is really the best thing for them and any other suggestions??

Thanks.Nikki. 

Nikki-- I have a friend who has been cooking for her dog for some time and I will check with her.  She came up with the food under the direction of a holistic vet. I am pretty sure she does not add a human vitamin such as your vet suggested--and just logically, it doesn't sound quite right.

My friend does add a grain--I think usually rice. And a few drops of an oil (she had been using flax seed oil, but her dog doesn't tolerate that well) so I'll see what she does use

It may take me a day or two, but I'll get back to you as I see you've not gotten any responses yet.  I'm pretty sure cooked eggs are fine as well.

In the meantime, go to the long thread under the regular bladder cancer board and read there.  I know several people there used to cook for their dogs.

Good luck and I will get back here again as soon as I can.

Marty 

On 3/4/2008 Gentleannie wrote:

Nikki-- I have a friend who has been cooking for her dog for some time and I will check with her.  She came up with the food under the direction of a holistic vet. I am pretty sure she does not add a human vitamin such as your vet suggested--and just logically, it doesn't sound quite right.

My friend does add a grain--I think usually rice. And a few drops of an oil (she had been using flax seed oil, but her dog doesn't tolerate that well) so I'll see what she does use

It may take me a day or two, but I'll get back to you as I see you've not gotten any responses yet.  I'm pretty sure cooked eggs are fine as well.

In the meantime, go to the long thread under the regular bladder cancer board and read there.  I know several people there used to cook for their dogs.

Good luck and I will get back here again as soon as I can.

Marty 

HI Marty-

I bought some of Pfizer's Pet Tabs yesterday and am giving those to Joey instead. I don't give him rice because of the carbs. Thanks for your input. 

Hi Nikki--

I'm sorry it took me so long to write again but  I lost this thread and I have been super busy.  I went to a lecture at our local SPCA given by a vet who practices both western and eastern medicine on animals in his practice (he actually performed acupuncture on a dog there).

I am by nature, a skeptical person, but I feel I owe it to Annie to investigate every avenue out there.  I'm passing on what the man had to say for you to take or leave as you see fit.

He said that first off every dog should have 30 minutes a day (or as much as their physical limitations will allow) of exercise by walking on a leash. Playing ball,etc is not a substitute for this walking.  The repeated rythmic gait of a dog walking is what they need.  Second in importance is a good diet. He does not recommend raw food (because in Chinese medicine there is the yin and the yang, the hot and the cold.  Raw food could mean introducing too much cold to the dog) but he did provide us with this recipe that can be cooked in the crock pot. Before serving add the spices and vitamins.  He also CLEARLY STATED to consult you own vet before changing your dog's diet.  I will also include two website references he gave us.

8 oz catfish                  2 whole carrots

8 oz tofu                     1/2 cup spinach

2 tbs virgin olive oil       1/4 c green pepper

1/2 cup broccoli  

After that is cooked in the crock pot (sounds like it will look scary!)

Add 1/4 tsp dry ginger, 1 raw garlic clove, 1/4 tsp dry mustard, 1 tab flinstones, 1250mg calcium.

This is supposed to equal 1355 calories with a 27/13/60 percent

protein/carbohydrate/fat content . A dog's body weight X 20 is the number of calories he should consume in a day (more or less depending on activity level)

The websites he gave out are: http://balanceit.com and http:/ /neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/chi-files/Acupuncture/TCVM_Diet/TCM_5-E_Diet.ppt

Also there was a woman in the audience with a 21(!!!!!!!!) year old mini poodle. The woman said that two years ago the dog's kidneys started failing and she took the dog for acupuncture and it was a help. (I know I had a dog die from kidney failure and he died five days after diagnosis)She was raving about its benefits.

So there you have it; I hope this info is of some help to you or someone else here on the board!

Warm wishes,

Marty & Gentle Annie