So We Went To Work & Spent The Days/weeks That Followed Researching Canine Kidney Disease Like Hooch’s Life Depended On It
After reading what felt like every article on the internet we were excited to know that there were a few really easy lifestyle changes we could immediately make at home. We hoped some of this would really help Hooch and make things easier on his kidneys. Here are a few of thebiggest impact changes we’ve been able to make:
Start With A Good Recipe
Many dog food recipes fall short in certain nutrients, especially iron, copper, calcium, and zinc. Even some recipes created by veterinarians don’t measure up. The University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine tested 200 recipes, many written by vets. The researchers found most of the recipes were short on some essential nutrients.
The best way to make sure a recipe has what it takes is to choose one created by an expert with training in dog nutrition, says Jennifer Larsen, DVM, PhD. That might be a certified pet nutritionist or a PhD-trained animal nutritionist with experience making pet food. Your vet should be able to point you in the right direction.
Your pet needs protein , fat and carbohydrates . They also need calcium , and essential fatty acids .
And if that’s not enough to consider, if your dog has a health problem, they may need a special diet. You may need a pet nutrition expert to create custom recipes.
Continued
How To Choose The Right Dog Foods To Gain Muscle
To get started, youll first need to determine which type of diet you should use. There are two main options: dry and wet. Dry diets are low in moisture and consist mostly of meat, vegetables, fruits, and other dried ingredients. Theyre often used when your dog is losing weight rapidly since they dont contain enough water to support metabolism.
Wet diets are usually made up of raw meat, fish, bones, and vegetable pieces. These are generally recommended for dogs who are gaining weight slowly over time. As long as your dog isnt suffering from any medical conditions, this is the best option for maintaining a healthy weight.
Meat-Based Protein: Meat-based protein is one of the most popular sources of protein among dog owners. It includes beef, Real chicken Meal, lamb, pork, turkey, duck, goat, rabbit, venison, buffalo, elk, ostrich, bison, and others. Meat-based proteins come in both organic and non-organic forms.
While organic meats are typically more expensive, they also offer additional benefits to your dog. Organic meats are raised without using pesticides or antibiotics, so theyre safer for your pet. Additionally, theyre free of hormones and steroids that could potentially cause cancer.
If youve been considering buying new dog food, here are some tips to keep in mind.
1. Ceck the Label
Each package of food contains information about its ingredients, nutritional content, and expiration date. Make sure you read all of these details carefully before making a purchase.
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What Is The Difference Between Raw Meat And Cooked Meat
Cooked meats are usually easier to digest, but they may cause gas problems if your dog eats too much of them. Raw meat is often harder to digest because it contains more fat and less water. However, it does provide your dog with more vitamins and minerals.
Raw meat is also better for those who have sensitive stomachs. In fact, some people prefer to feed their dogs raw meat because it makes digestion easier.
How Much More Does Organic Dog Food Cost
Based on a 2019 study conducted by The Dog Food Advisor
The average organic dog food is priced about 23% higher than a comparable size package of regular dog food.
But
This highly specialized category of dog foods can sometimes be found selling for as much as 40% more than their conventional counterparts.
Thats because
- Organic farmers dont receive federal subsidies as some conventional farmers
- Organic farming is more costly than regular farming
- Organic farms are typically smaller so theyre not able to benefit from the economies of scale enjoyed by larger growers
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Organic Homemade Dog Food Recipes For Large Dogs
Making fresh, organic, homemade dog food for your large-breed pooch is a great way to assure that your dog is nourished and happy. Whether you choose to exclusively feed your dog homemade food or wish to do it in addition to your dog’s usual kibble, making nutritious organic food is a great choice for your dog.
What Are Some Dog Workouts For Muscle Building
These are some of the most popular exercises for dogs. Spring poles are used as a form of physical therapy. Flirting poles are used to train your dog to be more aggressive.
Weight pulling Start with something simple like a basic sled made out of grass and gradually increase the weight.
Docking jumps Swimming and water competitions are excellent ways to increase endurance and cardio. Lower than average weight in dogs is a symptom, not a disease. Before trying any of our food options, be sure to check with your veterinarian. Its vital to figure out what causes your dogs malnutrition.
Most dogs suffer from various types of diseases, including cancer, heart conditions, kidney failure, arthritis, epilepsy, skin allergies, and more. These conditions can lead to weight loss or even death. Fortunately, there are many products available that can improve your poochs overall health. Some of them include supplements and diets designed specifically for pets.
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Did You Make This Recipe
Tag on Instagram and hashtag it #thismessisours
How to make our original Homemade Dog Food recipe
Its a fact, feeding your pup a diet of 100% human grade dog food is easy, cost effective, and WAY better for them than a traditional doggie diet of processed kibble! My easy homemade dog food recipe combines lean ground beef, wholesome brown rice, fresh vegetables, hard boiled eggs, and tender herbs for a healthy, vibrant alternative to traditional dog food that has given our 11 year old dog a new lease on life!
Pumpkin and Yogurt Bowl for Dogs recipe
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for all of us, even our dogs! Get your dogs day off to a great start with a healthy dose of protein, vitamins, and minerals by feeding him/her a delicious Pumpkin and Yogurt Bowl for Dogs. These yogurt bowls are filled with good for your dog ingredients like fat free Greek yogurt, 100% pure pumpkin puree, plant based vitamin and mineral powder, and my Homemade Dog Food Seasoning which is a blend of 5 herbs that have extraordinary health benefits for your dog!
Homemade Dog Food Seasoning Blend recipe
What Kind Of Snacks Can I Feed My Dog With Kidney Disease
Our dogs walk a bit on the wild side when it comes to snacks as they love thin apple slices, banana chunks, carrots, whole unsalted peanuts in the husks, and dehydrated sweet potatoes! Dog’s with kidney disease should avoid meat based chews/treats that are high in phosphorus, so you may find that you need to explore doing friendly fruit and veggies for treats like we have. We still on occasion will offer Hooch bully sticks or a jerky treat, but it is better for him if we limit his intake due to the levels of phosphorous that those treats contain.
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What Foods Should Your Dog Never Eat
As a dog owner, youve likely come across this essential list before, but its always good to have it on hand as a reminder, especially if youre cooking dog food from scratch. The principal toxic foods include:
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
For a more extensive list, check out this article.
Did you know that most pet insurance policies cover accidental injury and poisonings? Find out what else is commonly included in our pet insurance comparison.
Is Homemade Dog Food Good For Dogs
While I am not a vet, and I certainly cant speak for all animals I can tell you that switching to homemade dog food made a world of difference for Rascal. We had a very unique case with him and his food allergies, but we have also seen other positive changes.
On traditional dog food, Rascal was lethargic, he shed in abundance and his appetite was mediocre. Since the dog food switch, he has been energetic, focused and calmer. On a traditional diet we were vacuuming at least once a day but now 1-2 a week. We no longer have to coax Rascal into mealtime and have finally developed a great eating schedule.
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Turkey And Veggie Dog Food
With all-organic ingredients, you can create the Turkey and Veggie Dog Food that your pup will certainly enjoy. Unlike canned turkey and veggie dog food that doesnt look organic or delicious, this homemade recipe will surely give your dog the vitamins he needs in order to maintain their strength. Plus, if your dog happens to have gained a few pounds , this recipe is perfect for putting them on a diet!
To get started on making the Turkey and Veggie Dog Food, grab ground turkey, raw turkey or chicken liver, carrots, broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, zucchini, and olive oil. Once theyre all cooked and combined, your pup will be eating like royalty! Filling, appetizing, and healthy, your dog will surely lose a few pounds when making this for her every now and then.
How To Make Homemade Dog Food:
Making homemade dog food is a cinch! Heres a quick rundown of the process:
- Brown the turkey. Heat a large skillet or pot over a medium-high heat. Add in the coconut oil and turkey and sauté until it is browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
- Add the veggies. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the zucchini, spinach, carrots and turmeric. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
- Mix in the egg. Turn off the heat and and crack in the egg. Let the egg cook in the hot food, mix it around to ensure it mixed through and cooked through.
- Stir in the rice. Add the rice and stir it in with the other ingredients until everything is well combined. Cool and serve!
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At The End Of 2019 During Our Yearly Vet Check We Received The Devastating News That Our 11 Year Old Dog’s Blood Work Showed That He Was In Stage 4 Kidney Failure
Honestly, I was a basket case, how on earth did we miss this? He seemed like he was just dealing with some symptoms of getting older – frequent urination, sometimes excessive water drinking. It definitely didn’t feel like life threatening symptoms. As much as the diagnosis was a shock, the price tag of the prescription diet he would need to eat for the remainder of his life was pretty horrifying too!
Turkey With Rice And Veggies
Here’s a simpler way of making rice with meat and veggiesTurkey with Rice and Veggies. With all-organic ingredients, you can create a tasty meal for your pup to enjoy for dinner and even for breakfast, if they loved it so much to eat it twice on the same day. And if your dog is a fan of turkey, this recipe won’t disappoint you or your little one.
The ingredients are easy to get together. What youll need is water, ground turkey, brown rice, died rosemary, frozen broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower. Combine them all and your pup now has a delectable meal that can be saved for the next day, too, if they loved the first plate.
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Transitioning To Homemade Dog Food
Most dogs dont have a problem making the switch to homemade food. If yours is prone to digestive issues, start slowly by mixing a little bit of the homemade food with the commercial food.
Over the course of a week or two, gradually increase the amount of homemade food while decreasing the commercial food.
If your dog vomits or has diarrhea, try introducing only a couple of new ingredients at a time until their systems are well adjusted to the fresh diet.
For dogs with health issues, please consult with a veterinarian if you arent sure what kind of supplements are needed. Use your best judgment, the way you would when feeding yourself or your family.
Vegan Recipe 1 Chickpea Stew
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of organic or natural peanut butter
- 2 tablespoon of flaxseed oil
- 250 grams of cranberry extract
- 3 Medium diced and cubed sweet potatoes
Preparation:
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Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes And Organic Treats
When I adopted my dog a few years ago, I kept feeding her the same commercial brand of dog food she had eaten at the kennel. A few months after, she started to develop heat rashes and dry skin. In a desperate attempt to get my poor girl to stop scratching, I started reading up on dog food ingredients and learned that most commercial dog food contains meat by-products, fillers, and general junk I didnt want my dog eating.
After that, I switched to organic dog food and treats, but that started to get expensive.
To save some money, I started looking into different homemade dog food and treat recipes and found that I could save money by making my dogs meals and snacks. In addition to the cost savings, the food I make for my dog is much healthier than commercial dog food. Most homemade dog treats keep for a week or more, and you can freeze homemade dog food, so you always have some cheap, healthy alternatives on hand for your pup.
Below are my favorite homemade organic dog food and treat recipes that you can try at home.
Healthy Dog Food Recipes
Homemade dog food is healthier than the mass-produced dog food brands and significantly cheaper than most of the organic dog food brands. Making your own dog food does take a bit of time, but you can make extra and store it in the freezer for later.
Feeding your dog homemade dog food can reduce the risk of skin allergies, boost your dogs immune system, improve their digestive system, and give them renewed energy.
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Made With Organic : : : : : : : : 70% Organic
Finally, you may see a dog food product label that states, made with organic Such products must contain at least 70% organic ingredients.
In this case, the overall product cannot be labeled as organic, and as such, you will not find a USDA certified organic seal, but the name of the organic certifier must be on the label.
Only up to three ingredients or ingredient categories in the ingredient list can be labeled as organic, and similar to the above-mentioned category, any nonagricultural ingredients included must be on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.
Should You Feed A Homemade Diet
Homemade diets are growing in popularity in part because the ingredients can be controlled, so there is no fear of dog food recalls. In addition, many people are trying to eat healthier and they want the same for their dogs. Homemade diets are favored by some because they contain whole food ingredients that are generally considered healthier than processed dog food.
Home cooking dog food is not right for everyone. There are some factors to consider before you switch your dog to a homemade diet.
- Be sure to find a dog food recipe that is complete and balanced. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to feed an incomplete or imbalanced diet to your dog.
- It takes time to measure ingredients and prepare the food correctly. Be sure you have a schedule that allows enough time to properly make your dog’s food on a regular basis.
- Make sure you can afford the ingredients to make your own dog food. Homemade food is typically less expensive than commercially prepared fresh or raw dog food, but it usually costs a little more than kibble.
- If you have a picky dog, you may need to source multiple recipes so you can change the diet periodically and keep your dog interested.
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Raw Boneless Turkey & Egg Dog Food Recipe: All Life Stages
Eggs are an easy addition to your dogs raw food diet. If you can get free-range eggs, even better. Most supermarkets carry them now. But Im still wary. Some egg cartons proudly proclaim Vegetarian Diet. Chickens are not vegetarian. You want eggs from free-range hens allowed to hunt and peck outside for worms and bugs.
To be sure, I get mine from farmers markets or directly from the farm. Ill take a drive through the countryside looking for farms. Those with laying hens often have a simple sign saying Eggs For Sale. Drive in, leave your money and take your eggs.
Now youre ready for this easy combination of turkey, organs and eggs.
Heres the full recipe: Raw Boneless Turkey & Egg Raw Dog Food Recipe: all life stages