A Job Well Done.
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Friday, January 22, 2016
Judging from the pics, all we do is sleep... no way: the Big Food Post
Lily's just really fast and a bit nuts when we're out, so no action shots. But we put in a good 2.5 hours walk total/daily. Both doggo and mommy aren't going to be getting fat any time soon.
Lily also enjoys her food. A LOT.
Since she got over her anal gland swelling, we've switched over from the vet advised Royal Canin Sensitive Stomach to Real Food. It's been going on for about 3 months now. Her poos have never been so good, and they're much smaller and with less frequency. No filler, I guess.
This is just what we do, and what we think is best for our dog.
But I did what reading I could and came to my own conclusions regarding bones and the nutritional value of cooked/uncooked. While I like the idea of raw bones, it's scary for me and not recommended by our vet.
So I downloaded both US and European dog food nutritional recommendations, then made a spreadsheet for all the macros/vitamins/minerals she needs, and a calorie estimation. Then, I looked up which foods are good for these and made a rotation list.
She gets kuri pumpkin, korean seaweed, frozen spinach and green beans, sardines (in water), and a rotation of chicken, pork, pork and beef hamburger (grocery store grade), plus 1/4 multivitamin, 750mg calcium citrate, eggs twice a week, and the occasional chicken liver. She gets the usual snacks: cucumber, banana, apple, cheese, peanut butter, and lettuce (her fave, go figure).
Sometimes Mommy checks out the Moroccan butcher and get her lamb and turkey, or the Dutch butcher for beef heart (for dogs).
It's a bit of work, but Lily REALLY LOVES FOOD. And I figure I can treat her if I cut down on my own meat eating.
No, honestly, I wanted to give her Orijen and good meat (50/50), but she had a funny poo after Orijen Red and I didn't want to risk Miss Picky's sensitive stomach again.
Lily also enjoys her food. A LOT.
Since she got over her anal gland swelling, we've switched over from the vet advised Royal Canin Sensitive Stomach to Real Food. It's been going on for about 3 months now. Her poos have never been so good, and they're much smaller and with less frequency. No filler, I guess.
This is just what we do, and what we think is best for our dog.
But I did what reading I could and came to my own conclusions regarding bones and the nutritional value of cooked/uncooked. While I like the idea of raw bones, it's scary for me and not recommended by our vet.
So I downloaded both US and European dog food nutritional recommendations, then made a spreadsheet for all the macros/vitamins/minerals she needs, and a calorie estimation. Then, I looked up which foods are good for these and made a rotation list.
She gets kuri pumpkin, korean seaweed, frozen spinach and green beans, sardines (in water), and a rotation of chicken, pork, pork and beef hamburger (grocery store grade), plus 1/4 multivitamin, 750mg calcium citrate, eggs twice a week, and the occasional chicken liver. She gets the usual snacks: cucumber, banana, apple, cheese, peanut butter, and lettuce (her fave, go figure).
Sometimes Mommy checks out the Moroccan butcher and get her lamb and turkey, or the Dutch butcher for beef heart (for dogs).
It's a bit of work, but Lily REALLY LOVES FOOD. And I figure I can treat her if I cut down on my own meat eating.
No, honestly, I wanted to give her Orijen and good meat (50/50), but she had a funny poo after Orijen Red and I didn't want to risk Miss Picky's sensitive stomach again.
Friday, August 14, 2015
Grrr... back to kibble.
After three days of chicken/rice/cottage cheese, Lily gets blood in her poo,
and a consult with the vet later, we're advised to put her on Royal Canin sensitive stomach.
(I've never liked RC- even for a human it smells like tons of additives, taste/flavor enhanced junk food)
But her poo is fine now. And she's happy and energetic as usual.
Don't you just hate it when nice, pure human-grade home meals give your dog runny poos, and the corn-filled 'vet' brands will 'cure' her? I really want to join up with the gung-ho home-feeding/barf/prey brigade, but sadly, cannot ignore the evidence.
and a consult with the vet later, we're advised to put her on Royal Canin sensitive stomach.
(I've never liked RC- even for a human it smells like tons of additives, taste/flavor enhanced junk food)
But her poo is fine now. And she's happy and energetic as usual.
Don't you just hate it when nice, pure human-grade home meals give your dog runny poos, and the corn-filled 'vet' brands will 'cure' her? I really want to join up with the gung-ho home-feeding/barf/prey brigade, but sadly, cannot ignore the evidence.
Lily don't care. Lily caught a fly in the patio. Now to check out some sinister roses.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Just a quick mash note
I love you, little doggie.
Yesterday: salmon oatmeal jello shots. (her farts smell like tuna)
Today: chicken and chickpeas.
[So, why is Mommy scoping out dog beds at LL Bean?]
[2 hours later, and what is this, little pea pod?]
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Frozen jello liver treat
Lily's new snack: liver pate, unflavored gelatin, oatmeal, parsley. Freeze it. It's a hit.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Week 1: Free run
One thing I said I wouldn't do for at least three months is a free run in the big field in the park. But this morning, during our hour-long morning jog, I figured, better find out how good her recall is in a manageable space.
It's away from immediate roads, and surrounded by woodsy park trails.
She ran, I ran, I ran in the other direction, called her, she stopped, came back. We did four to five sprints and recalls before I called a stop. A bit risky, but she was very good. It helps that every time she comes to me she gets love and praise. We're checking out a more secure free-run area for regular training.
Plus, this morning, she had half a boiled egg while we did breakfast training. This won't sort out her solid poo any time soon, but she's getting 20% of her meals in human grade food (chicken, eggs, ground beef, sardines), ultimately working up to 50% balanced real food diet (plus calcium etc).
The vet's closed over the weekend, so we're making an appointment on Monday. 
It's away from immediate roads, and surrounded by woodsy park trails.
She ran, I ran, I ran in the other direction, called her, she stopped, came back. We did four to five sprints and recalls before I called a stop. A bit risky, but she was very good. It helps that every time she comes to me she gets love and praise. We're checking out a more secure free-run area for regular training.
Plus, this morning, she had half a boiled egg while we did breakfast training. This won't sort out her solid poo any time soon, but she's getting 20% of her meals in human grade food (chicken, eggs, ground beef, sardines), ultimately working up to 50% balanced real food diet (plus calcium etc).
The vet's closed over the weekend, so we're making an appointment on Monday.
[Tired dog is a happy dog: we brought the spare double mattress downstairs for her to plop down on]
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
We're going with dry food for now...
DIY BARF sounds alluring, but we've had reservations about it because of salmonella, etc. Same goes for local companies offering frozen BARF. One bad shipment, and you're out of luck.
Which is why I'm reading up on home cooking. They often call for a commercial supplement, though. More research needed for this, but I think this will be where we're going in the future.
I'm trying to eat less meat myself, so my 'meat ration,' so to speak, can go to Lily.
For now, I picked up a 2.5 kilo bag of Canagan, which is a premium dry kibble with a reassuring ingredients list. Real chicken, no corn or other grains, no weird stuff like beet pulp, and hopefully no weird 'other' bits. Plus, we can add in a chicken filet.
Some websites suggest cottage cheese as an 'easily digestible first meal', but the dairy puts me off.
She's arriving tomorrow!
Which is why I'm reading up on home cooking. They often call for a commercial supplement, though. More research needed for this, but I think this will be where we're going in the future.
I'm trying to eat less meat myself, so my 'meat ration,' so to speak, can go to Lily.
For now, I picked up a 2.5 kilo bag of Canagan, which is a premium dry kibble with a reassuring ingredients list. Real chicken, no corn or other grains, no weird stuff like beet pulp, and hopefully no weird 'other' bits. Plus, we can add in a chicken filet.
Some websites suggest cottage cheese as an 'easily digestible first meal', but the dairy puts me off.
She's arriving tomorrow!
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