My babies eat Canidae all the time and are doing great.
Mixing foods
I was wondering, does anyone mix there foods or switch foods on occasion Can one food really supply everything. My puppy, Tamora is now 8 months old and on Canidae all stages. I add salmon oil, cottage cheese, egg and yogurt on occasion. I think her skin may be a little dry and sometimes she has hives. Vet want sto see how she does through the winter,in case she is allergic to who know what in our woods. She does have a great time there.
Anyway I would appreciate any of your comments. Thank you.
AHP
Anyway I would appreciate any of your comments. Thank you.
AHP
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
This is my theory and it has worked for me, but it might not for everyone because some dogs just can't tolerate some foods.
My dogs eat a variety of things, "people food" leftovers, different kinds of canned food mixed with their kibble, an occasional egg or cottage cheese or yogurt or something else added in as a treat. If I run out of kibble at night and need to get a bag of something to tide me over until I can get to the feed store, I go to the grocery store and buy a bag of something, doesn't seem to matter what, since it's just for a few days. I think of it as kind of like junk food for dogs.
I think that since my dogs get this variety of foods their digestions can handle change. So if I decide to try a new food, I seldom bother to mix it with the old food. Altho years ago I did run into two brands of food that my dogs couldln't tolerate, they all lost weight on one of them, and the other one gave them diarrhea that only got worse the longer they ate it, can't remember the name of that one.
So with a dog who may have allergy problems, I wouldn't do a lot of switching around. Maybe try California Natural because it has very few ingredients and is meant for dogs with allergies to a lot of the ingredients that are in other foods.
My dogs eat a variety of things, "people food" leftovers, different kinds of canned food mixed with their kibble, an occasional egg or cottage cheese or yogurt or something else added in as a treat. If I run out of kibble at night and need to get a bag of something to tide me over until I can get to the feed store, I go to the grocery store and buy a bag of something, doesn't seem to matter what, since it's just for a few days. I think of it as kind of like junk food for dogs.
I think that since my dogs get this variety of foods their digestions can handle change. So if I decide to try a new food, I seldom bother to mix it with the old food. Altho years ago I did run into two brands of food that my dogs couldln't tolerate, they all lost weight on one of them, and the other one gave them diarrhea that only got worse the longer they ate it, can't remember the name of that one.
So with a dog who may have allergy problems, I wouldn't do a lot of switching around. Maybe try California Natural because it has very few ingredients and is meant for dogs with allergies to a lot of the ingredients that are in other foods.
It's ok to use a couple of high quality brands of food. I think it is really a ggod thing as one may have an ample amount of what the other is missing. I'd just mix it the last couple of days to avoid an upset digestive system.
Adding fresh foods to a dogs diet is great as well. Yogurt, Cottage cheese, eggs, some vegies, etc., all add enzymes - something that is missing in processed dry dogfoods. Enzymes are catalysts, and serve to "make things happen" in the digestive system, primarily, better digestion and absorbtion.
Adding fresh foods to a dogs diet is great as well. Yogurt, Cottage cheese, eggs, some vegies, etc., all add enzymes - something that is missing in processed dry dogfoods. Enzymes are catalysts, and serve to "make things happen" in the digestive system, primarily, better digestion and absorbtion.
I do pretty much the same thing as has already been posted. Java gets premium kibble (anything w/ processed corn or wheat makes her coat flake like crazy) w/ yogurt, steamed carrots (or frozen peas & carrots when on sale), brown rice (I'll cook several cups and freeze portions), canned salmon, canned tuna in water, chicken legs and thighs (I make chicken stock or roast the parts in oven), cooked sweet potatoes. Will add leftovers like mashed potatoes, roast beef drippings (no fat), etc to kibble on occasion as a special treat.
Have to confess that at Thanksgiving she got her own plate of turkey, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, a bit of stuffing, a splash of gravy, a dollop of cranberry sauce and a silver-dollar-size of apple pie...She didn't stop licking her chops for hours!
I will also give Java the skin off the chicken parts - I pierce it when roasting to eliminate the excess fat - as a special treat. Her coat just gleams. I also gave her instant oatmeal - the rough-cut kind w/ no transfat and sugar - when I ran out of kibble one morning. I mixed in a bit of plain yogurt and some minced chicken and she was one happy puppy. I also keep some premium canned food on hand just in case...
Bottom line is that when she does get 'people' food it isn't highly processed and full of animal or transfat, sugar or enriched flour. I'll bet our Dobes eat better than most children in this country!
Have to confess that at Thanksgiving she got her own plate of turkey, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, a bit of stuffing, a splash of gravy, a dollop of cranberry sauce and a silver-dollar-size of apple pie...She didn't stop licking her chops for hours!
I will also give Java the skin off the chicken parts - I pierce it when roasting to eliminate the excess fat - as a special treat. Her coat just gleams. I also gave her instant oatmeal - the rough-cut kind w/ no transfat and sugar - when I ran out of kibble one morning. I mixed in a bit of plain yogurt and some minced chicken and she was one happy puppy. I also keep some premium canned food on hand just in case...
Bottom line is that when she does get 'people' food it isn't highly processed and full of animal or transfat, sugar or enriched flour. I'll bet our Dobes eat better than most children in this country!
My dogs are used to a pretty varied diet which they tolerate very well. They eat a variety of prepared raw meat from a company called Primal. I alternate the meat sources....beef, chicken, lamb and turkey. I try to feed fish once a week.
I mix this 1/2 and 1/2 with a dehydrated raw food called Honest Kitchen, which has 3 different mixes......2 are meat based with fruits and veggies and the 3rd is no meat just fruits and veggies. In addition I give them a small amount of the fruit and veggie only mix daily so they get their greens and antioxidants in. They also get cottage cheese and eggs one meal a week and other healthy treats. They love bananas, apples with or without a little almond butter, goat’s milk yogurt, sweet potato, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. Oh yeah they get a carrot after each meal which they go nuts for and helps to keep their teeth clean and a big marrow bone a couple of times a week.
I supplement with digestive enzymes and an oil mixture daily.
Their coats are shiny and their teeth are clean. They have great appetites and no digestive problems.
Leslie
I mix this 1/2 and 1/2 with a dehydrated raw food called Honest Kitchen, which has 3 different mixes......2 are meat based with fruits and veggies and the 3rd is no meat just fruits and veggies. In addition I give them a small amount of the fruit and veggie only mix daily so they get their greens and antioxidants in. They also get cottage cheese and eggs one meal a week and other healthy treats. They love bananas, apples with or without a little almond butter, goat’s milk yogurt, sweet potato, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. Oh yeah they get a carrot after each meal which they go nuts for and helps to keep their teeth clean and a big marrow bone a couple of times a week.
I supplement with digestive enzymes and an oil mixture daily.
Their coats are shiny and their teeth are clean. They have great appetites and no digestive problems.
Leslie
We do similiar stuff with Duchess...she gets the same dry food...which I believe is Innova...my mom manages what we give the dogs...but I know we always give the same dry food, then a couple different kinds of quality canned food....that are then different flavor...venison, trout, chicken, turkey...stuff like that...
then we also do the people food on occassion mixed in...like if we have eggs on a sunday morning well throw some in. Or well give them some yogurt....or mix in some real canned pumpkin...
we also soak her dry food before mixing in all the wet food...it makes her stools better...
the only thing is we found their teeth need extra attention....so my mom will give them raw chicken backs or necks after their last feeding of the day to clean their teeth...etc...
then we also do the people food on occassion mixed in...like if we have eggs on a sunday morning well throw some in. Or well give them some yogurt....or mix in some real canned pumpkin...
we also soak her dry food before mixing in all the wet food...it makes her stools better...
the only thing is we found their teeth need extra attention....so my mom will give them raw chicken backs or necks after their last feeding of the day to clean their teeth...etc...
Now, I'm new to Dobie ownership, so I'm just learning.
But, perhaps I can ad this. I have 3 ferrets and I mix 3 different brands of food. All three very high quality. It gives them the blend of 3 different foods (because no ONE food can have everything) and also gives them a nice variety of taste. I buy three bags, one of which is Innova Evo Kitten, and mix them all in a 30 gallon container. Then, I feed them from that.
I know that Dobies are certainly different. But, for those of us that don't have the time to cook and/or ad raw food or fresh produce into their diet, wouldn't mixing several high quality foods together make sense? Instead of just feeding them the same bowl of food over and over and over and over for their entire lives?
I think I might try the 30 gallon container and mix 3 foods together just to see how it hold out. I'll use Evo Dog and find a few other high quality foods. I'll have to do some research, unless you all have an idea which other two I can mix with Innova Evo.
Thanks,
Tom
But, perhaps I can ad this. I have 3 ferrets and I mix 3 different brands of food. All three very high quality. It gives them the blend of 3 different foods (because no ONE food can have everything) and also gives them a nice variety of taste. I buy three bags, one of which is Innova Evo Kitten, and mix them all in a 30 gallon container. Then, I feed them from that.
I know that Dobies are certainly different. But, for those of us that don't have the time to cook and/or ad raw food or fresh produce into their diet, wouldn't mixing several high quality foods together make sense? Instead of just feeding them the same bowl of food over and over and over and over for their entire lives?
I think I might try the 30 gallon container and mix 3 foods together just to see how it hold out. I'll use Evo Dog and find a few other high quality foods. I'll have to do some research, unless you all have an idea which other two I can mix with Innova Evo.
Thanks,
Tom
We use a premium dry food and add either minced beef/lamb/chicken/turkey to it and a fish oil supplement a couple of times a week.
Well Brum, I can't even cook for myself 
If I try cooking for Yogi, he might get sick
I think I can only make a peanut butter sandwich, that's about it.
That's why I just want to stick with kibble or canned food or something that I don't have to prepare. At least until I get a little more experience and practice with cooking for Yogi.
Tom
If I try cooking for Yogi, he might get sick I think I can only make a peanut butter sandwich, that's about it.
That's why I just want to stick with kibble or canned food or something that I don't have to prepare. At least until I get a little more experience and practice with cooking for Yogi.
Tom
If I were going to feed Chi just one kibble, it would be Canidae - We've fed strictly RAW and various other kibbles and her coat and general appearance is comparable between RAW and Canidae. It is much easier and at times quite a bit cheaper to feed the kibble rather than the raw too. BUT we still supplement with RAW a couple times a week just 'cause she likes it so much. Not a whole lot of preperation goes into tossing her a turkey neck to kill and crunch LOLYogi said:Well Brum, I can't even cook for myself
I think I can only make a peanut butter sandwich, that's about it.
That's why I just want to stick with kibble or canned food or something that I don't have to prepare. At least until I get a little more experience and practice with cooking for Yogi.
Tom
I agree with the other posters that are of the opinion that mixing high quality foods is not a problem. Not many wild canines eat a steady diet of only one food.
Logic would suggest:
That if A+B+C = 4 and D+E+F = 4
then 1/2 of (A+B+C) and 1/2 of (D+E+F) also = 4.
I often have and three foods on hand and often mix two of them. That gives 6 different feeding options for taste and nutritional variety. Currently Kyra gets Canidae, Honest Kitchen's Embark and Natures Variety Venison, that along with additions of heart, egg, yogurt, cottage cheese, and other things keeps her variety up and food boredom down.
It has also been suggested that changing a dogs food at least once or twice a year is a good idea. Not all dogs can tolerate a wide variety of ingredients so this approach is not for all. But I do think that change for those that tolerate it and have been used to it from a young age can keep them from becoming too finicky and diet sensitive.
Some find one food that their dog likes and stay with it and if it is one of the better choices then don't see that there is any thing wrong with that approach either.
Like so many things in life no one approach works for all. There are many food paths to a healthy dog.
Logic would suggest:
That if A+B+C = 4 and D+E+F = 4
then 1/2 of (A+B+C) and 1/2 of (D+E+F) also = 4.
I often have and three foods on hand and often mix two of them. That gives 6 different feeding options for taste and nutritional variety. Currently Kyra gets Canidae, Honest Kitchen's Embark and Natures Variety Venison, that along with additions of heart, egg, yogurt, cottage cheese, and other things keeps her variety up and food boredom down.
It has also been suggested that changing a dogs food at least once or twice a year is a good idea. Not all dogs can tolerate a wide variety of ingredients so this approach is not for all. But I do think that change for those that tolerate it and have been used to it from a young age can keep them from becoming too finicky and diet sensitive.
Some find one food that their dog likes and stay with it and if it is one of the better choices then don't see that there is any thing wrong with that approach either.
Like so many things in life no one approach works for all. There are many food paths to a healthy dog.
Nature's Variety Prairie is one that we use, they suggest rotation. http://www.naturesvariety.com/
It works really well and I am very happy with it. For supplements I like the Solid Gold line of supplements, however, not all supplements work with all dogs, just like not all foods work best for each dog either, it really is an individual thing, like parkgt said.
I usually throw in other things to the dog's meals for a bit of variety, like natural yogurt, pure canned pumpkin, cottage cheese, cooked eggs (shell and all), fresh fruits, veggies, natural peanut butter, meats, fish, and other “people” type foods.
But some dogs are VERY sensitive to changes in their diet, and I have a male with allergies who eats one type of high quality kibble and I have only found two types of premium treats that he can tolerate. I also occasionally home make large batches of treats too.
It works really well and I am very happy with it. For supplements I like the Solid Gold line of supplements, however, not all supplements work with all dogs, just like not all foods work best for each dog either, it really is an individual thing, like parkgt said.
I usually throw in other things to the dog's meals for a bit of variety, like natural yogurt, pure canned pumpkin, cottage cheese, cooked eggs (shell and all), fresh fruits, veggies, natural peanut butter, meats, fish, and other “people” type foods.
But some dogs are VERY sensitive to changes in their diet, and I have a male with allergies who eats one type of high quality kibble and I have only found two types of premium treats that he can tolerate. I also occasionally home make large batches of treats too.
Any idea why this is? I seemed to have finally found the right diet for my dog after a couple of month. However, all it takes is a different kind of treat thrown into the mix and he'll get loose stool.dobesanddragons said:But some dogs are VERY sensitive to changes in their diet, and I have a male with allergies who eats one type of high quality kibble and I have only found two types of premium treats that he can tolerate.
Am I being overly nostalgic when I think back to my childhood and not remember dogs with such weak stomachs? We used to feed whatever kibble was on sale. Now when I go to the local natural dog food store, I speak to other customers whose dogs have the same G.I. issues that mine has. It seems far too common to be "normal."
Aside: I also don't remember ANY of my classmates allergic to peanuts. Now we're not even allowed to send our kindergartener to school with a PB&J sandwich.
How about slices of pepperoni from my pizza? Yogi loves those. Is that a bad treat?
Yes, if fed too much. It's a very fatty/greasy and highly seasoned processed meat, and for the most part, processed meat is not that great for humans or dogs.Yogi said:How about slices of pepperoni from my pizza? Yogi loves those. Is that a bad treat?
But it sure tastes great though!
I think a good rule of thumb is that (for the most part) whatever is good for humans, is good for our dogs - cooked, lean meat, fish, veggies (not onions or spinach), some fruit, whole grains (oatmeal, brown rice), a bit of dairy - keep processed foods, salt and sugar to a minimum.
That being said, Java LOVES peanut butter - will mix some with Cheerios, mini-wheat cereal and fill her Kong with it. Keeps her busy when I have things to do. I recently bought an automatic ice cream maker - just add the custard and let it go to work. That way I can control the amount of sugar that's added. Java thought the Ben & Jerry's cantaloupe recipe was pretty good...she gave it three paws up...
BTW - Just read that some articifical sweeteners can cause liver failure in dogs. Article didn't say what levels were dangerous. Just thought I'd pass this along as more people are using Splenda to bake with and during the holiday season it's hard not to sneak sweets to our dogs.
I can't figure out the mass peanut allergies kids have either. Is it something in the formula, the environment (plastics, petroleum-based carpeting, etc), or a side-effect of vaccines? It seems that 80% of the kids in my elementary school had PB&J practically every day for lunch and no one had 'issues'.
That being said, Java LOVES peanut butter - will mix some with Cheerios, mini-wheat cereal and fill her Kong with it. Keeps her busy when I have things to do. I recently bought an automatic ice cream maker - just add the custard and let it go to work. That way I can control the amount of sugar that's added. Java thought the Ben & Jerry's cantaloupe recipe was pretty good...she gave it three paws up...
BTW - Just read that some articifical sweeteners can cause liver failure in dogs. Article didn't say what levels were dangerous. Just thought I'd pass this along as more people are using Splenda to bake with and during the holiday season it's hard not to sneak sweets to our dogs.
I can't figure out the mass peanut allergies kids have either. Is it something in the formula, the environment (plastics, petroleum-based carpeting, etc), or a side-effect of vaccines? It seems that 80% of the kids in my elementary school had PB&J practically every day for lunch and no one had 'issues'.
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