Personal Page for Karen Early
A rambling discussion of canine nutrition...or, how much do you really love your dog?
Welcome to my web page...comprised primarily of a discussion of a subject on which I have become somewhat passionate of late -- the feeding of my beloved canine companions. Below you can see two beautiful dogs...with their owners (me and my also beautiful daughter, Frances (she's the other blonde!) as well as a solo portrait of personality-plus Abby the Bouvador!
Why Write About Dog Food?
If you have a dog, and you treat that canine companion as a member of the family, you probably want your buddy, your friend, to live a long and happy life...and a healthy one! I can speak from experience, that once I began feeding my dogs only human grade food, there were dramatic changes in their body odor (no more doggie BO!), breath smells (no more halitosis!), coats, ear condition, skin condition, coat color and shine.
This web page is devoted primarily to encouraging readers to investigate certain aspects of their own pets' health - - focusing primarily on how the food you feed your dog affects their overall well-being, frequency of health problems and longevity. It's kind of a variation on that old Framm filter commerical -- "Pay me now or pay me later." Feeding your dogs now right may cost a little more, but will be better for them -- and cheaper for you -- in the long run.
Table of Contents
What's in Commercial Dog Food?
What Should Dogs Eat?
What if I Don't Want to Spend A Lot to Feed My Dog?
Cooking for your Dogs
A Dog's Prayer
What's in Commercial Dog Food?
Most people who have dog companions want to be sure that their friends are well fed... and they believe that the commercial foods (often even recommended by their veterinarian!) are quality foods. Unfortunately, most commercial dog foods contain many ingredients that are indigestible, of low food value or likely to be allergens to their dogs.
Dogs are often allergic to the very foods found as the primary ingredient in many commercial dog foods -- especially most of the grocery store brands. Dogs find soybeans indigestible (just result in bigger piles of poop and an irritated digestive tract). Wheat and corn are often allergens -- and if you read the label of your store-brand dog food, likely the first few ingredients are variants of soy, corn and wheat.
If your dog chews at the root of his or her tail and/or licks at its feet, it is likely that the dog has a mild food allergy and is just itchy! Dogs who are prone to hot spots also are more likely to get these painful, annoying skin irritations when on a diet filled with food to which they are allergic. You may think that better food is more expensive...and you don't want to pay the price, but you need to factor in the cost of that $100 vet visit for steroids and ointments to control severe hot spots.
Many dog foods also include brewer's rice, which sounds very healthy. In fact, brewers rice is broken bits of rice, missing most of the nutrients, because all the nutrients in rice are in the outer covering. And brown rice has far more nutrients than white rice anyhow. Dog foods that use white rice end up listing lines and lines of artificial vitamins/minerals to make up for what's not in the food.
And then there is the quality of the meat used...dogs are primarily carnivores, and need a very meat-oriented diet. Yet, the majority of commercial dog foods use meat that is considered "pet grade food" -- not the parts of the foods humans don't care to eat, but rather meats and other food products not considered healthful enough for human consumption...like spoiled grocery store meat, roadkill and diseased cattle/poultry.
Poultry by-product meal includes which may be beaks, feet, and feathers. Animal/poultry digest meal also may be the full guts, including the manure. Not very appealing and certainly doesn't sound like "optimal nutrition for your dog."When chickens in a processing plant have salmonella poisoning, where do you think these not-for-human-consumption chickens go? Into pet food. How else do you think you can purchase a 40-pound sack of dog food for under $25??
Don't believe me? Check out these web sites:
Environmental News Service Article and Links
The Truth About Commercial Pet Food
What Should Dogs Eat?
If you love your dog companions, give them food of as high a quality as you would eat yourself. Give them food made from human grade ingredients. There are a variety of these foods on the market, made primarily from lamb, chicken or turkey and an assortment of grains (whole brown rice, amaranth, millet, barley). Here is a list of some of the brands that exist, and links to the manufacturers' sites:
There currently is a movement to feed raw meats and other foods, similar to what dogs ate before they were domesticated. These diets are known to solve many allergy problems in dogs and provide an optimum source of nutrition. Here are some links that will open your eyes to what some folks are doing to feed their dogs -- at a price less than many so-called "premium" dog foods:
America's Best Frisbee Dog's Diet Page -- B.A.R.F. -- Bones And Raw Food
BARF Frequently Asked Questions
Timberlea German Shepherds' BARF Diet Page
On a more general note, here are some sites that describe many other foods and diets:
Descriptions of some quality dog foods
Information on some dry food with many links to holisitic and natural dog food sites
What if I Don't Want to Spend A Lot to Feed My Dog?
What's a lot? Right now, if you are feeding one of the popular "good" foods (Iams, Hills, ProPlan, etc.) you are spending around (just under) $1 per pound. Oddly, that's the same price as these other higher quality foods I've listed above. If you're feeding grocery store brands, and the information on this page and/or the links I've provided hasn't convinced you that it's a "pay me now or pay me later" kind of problem, then I just hope your dog lives as long, and as well, as possible.
But, I'm ever hopeful...if you're still not convinced that your dog companion is worth the extra couple of bucks a month, here's some more information about why should you switch to a food that is more healthful:
How to Feed a Golden Retriever (or, what I've learned about hot spots, fleas and ear infections)
Sad to say, none of the large super pet stores seems to carry the better dog foods...human grade, that is. (With the exception of Nature's Recipe.) You'll have to go to a smaller pet shop, or to a local health food store to find some of the better brands.
Most of the sites I've listed have toll-free numbers -- call them to get the location of the dealer closest to you. This site below may also be helpful in locating a nearby dealer:
Names and addresses of dog food companies
Cooking for your Dogs
Ever wondered why your best dog-buddy clings to your side when you have your dinner in hand? Ever notice how happy your dog-buddy gets when you give him some of your food? Well, duh, it's because it just tastes better than the dry stuff you put in the dog dish!!
With very little effort you can make a home version of canned dog food to add to their truly balanced dry food. I make this in large batches and freeze it in bags or containers, adding a heaping spoonful (like 1/4 cup or so) to my dogs' meals. They love it...and I love to see them enjoy their food!!
Many dog nutrition discussion these days involves providing as much raw and uncooked meat, bones, fruits and vegetables as possible. I give my guys raw liver, raw fruits and veggies and such...but some people can't bear to do that. In which case, giving your pups cooked meats, veggies and good grains is WAY better than just giving them a non-stop diet of kibble. My daughter, a college student, for instance, won't touch raw meat...she's gonna starve as an adult, but for now, I cook her this mixture so her pup doesn't live on leftover pizza crusts (which he LOVES) and plain kibble (although she does buy him lots of bananas!)
Warning: Do not substitute this for your dog's regular food, as it is not tested for nutritional completeness. It is intended as a supplement, the same as any table scraps you might be tempted to provide.
Purchase raw liver, about 3-4 pounds
Purchase raw chicken or turkey (I prefer chicken), the best value price you can get (I like it when they have leg quarters on sale for 40 cents a pound), about 3-4 pounds.
Make sure you have a pound or so of brown rice on hand, along with some soup herbs (such as bay, sage, rosemary, etc.) and some vegetables (carrots and green beans are good...don't use onions since most dogs don't digest them well. Avoid lots of gasey vegetables too, like broccoli and cabbage.) You can cook some barley as well as oatmeal to go along with the rice. Make sure you have a dozen eggs on hand also.
Place the liver in a pot and cover with water. Cook on low heat, stirring occasionally until the liver is just cooked. Drain water and cool liver.
Place the chicken and herbs in a pot and cover with water. Cook for several hours until chicken is very tender. Drain soup stock and reserve. Cool chicken, pick off skin and meat and discard bones and cartilage.
Use soup stock to cook rice or barley or oatmeal -- be aware that they have different cooking times, so cook the rice separately from the barley. Use soup stock to cook vegetables until they are soft or just grate or chop vegetables and add them to the hot grains after they have cooked.
Cook eggs using canola oil (if you have it) for shortening to grease the pan. Otherwise, use margarine or butter. (I like to add garlic to these!) as scrambled, breaking them up into small pieces as they get cooked. Cool.
When all ingredients are cool, use a grinder, blender or food processor (food processor is best) to chop up liver and chicken, using the remaining chicken stock to make it easier in the food processor or blender. If grinding, just add the stock to the mixture. Mash or chop vegetables. Mix all ingredients together, getting a balance of meat, rice and vegetables.
Store in the freezer for use as needed, as a supplement to add flavor and variety to your dog's regular balance dry food. They will love it!!
If you would like to cook more for your pups, here are some sites for cooking for your dogs:
Collection of dog food recipe sites
I hope I've enticed you to take good care of your dog...to give your loving companion as long and healthy a life as possible. Read "A Dog's Prayer" below if you need more convincing of how much they rely on us to make the best decisions for them.
Treat me Kindly
A Dog's PrayerMy beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than this loving heart of mine. Do not break my spirit with a stick, for I should lick your hand between the blows. Your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do. Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footsteps fall upon my waiting ears. When it is cold and wet, please do take me inside, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements, and I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth. Though you had no home, I would prefer to follow you through ice and snow, rather than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in the land. Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger. And master, when I am very old, if the Great Master sees fit to deprive me of my health and sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather, take my trusting life gently, and I shall leave you, knowing with the last breath I draw, my fate was always safest in your hands. Amen.
by Stanley Przystas
If you want to comment on this site, or send me email, send to khe104@psu.edu
