glitch ( short for Bebe pug ) is my 11 - twelvemonth - old secondly - born girl . ( The first being my 12 - yr - onetime pug-dog , Chinki . )
She ’s a purebred , gestate from a line of AKC star pugs , but with that come the typical hereditary joint diseases of overly breed “ perfect ” pugs .
Do n’t get me wrong ; hemipteran is perfect in every which room and I would n’t trade her in for anything . But raising her these last few days , especially , has learn me a great deal about pawl wellness and nutrition as both my girlfriend settle into their older geezerhood .
Just before she plow 8 , glitch start showing signs of degenerative joint disease . Her hips would give out a little every time she walked .
She grew up in one - story home with severe floor , and after the move to our 1920s original cottage , the split - stage elbow room and terraced grand seemed to worsen her condition .
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Over the years , her light hips eventually gave out and she lost the use of both of her back stage .
At menage , she moves around by dragging her consistency with her front legs . ( She has the strongest front legs of any wienerwurst I know ! )
When she ’s out and about , she wander around in adog wheelchairand we can just keep up with her . I almost expect her wheelchair to have flame decals !
If you just see her sitting , you would n’t know that she had a disability . She ’s full of smiling and high spirits , and does n’t seem to realize that she ca n’t walk on all fours like her babe can . She ’s still a speedy little thing , especially when it ’s meal clock time or beach day !
Bug was n’t always like this though . In the calendar month that her hip dysplasia finally advanced , she was weak , tired , frustrated , and we thought for a moment that we were going to lose her .
Since she no longer had control of her hips to scrunch up and potty , she became incontinent for a few weeks . With her old age , and the fact that she showed no painfulness in her joints ( just lameness ) , we opted to hop any sort of disciplinary surgery and approach her condition more holistically .
One of our change was in dieting .
Please note : This information , base on my own opinions and experience , is not intended to supplant professional aesculapian advice . Every dog ’s dietary needs are unlike . Please confabulate with your veterinarian and use personal judgment when applying this information to your own domestic dog ’s dieting .
Cooking our way to a healthier dog diet
Ever since I started raising my own dogs , I ’d always wanted to make their food at base but thought it would be too expensive or too time - consuming , or that they would n’t get the nutrition they needed .
During the month of Bug ’s doggy natural depression , I vowed to make her precious life-time ( or what I finger might have been the final stage ) as prosperous as potential .
Both of my pugs had a mountain chain of wellness issues acquire up , which I unfortunately found out were common for the stock .
My older one had relentless blistering spots and itch that no commercial dog food for thought could cure ( and I ’ve tried them all , from grain - innocent kibble to lamb , veal , Pisces , and many more thing she would just spit out ) .
Bug was overweight for a while when she was young , even though she ate the recommended amount of food for thought for her target system of weights . Eventually , I settled on Wellness kibbles and they did well with that stain .
But , I wanted to explore other choice . I wanted to give them real food — saucy , nutritious fixings that I recognize and could even eat myself .
I ’ve mentioned in my post onhomemade whole cereal wimp feedthat the full household ( man , dogs , and chicken ) all deal the same whole grain and seeds that we corrupt in mass , as well as the bounty that comes from our edible garden .
Everything our animals deplete , we can rust . ( Well , I ’ll admit thatfig beetlesand other germ are not our thing , but our chickens love it ! )
When it get to homemade provender for our laying hens , we stick to to a try - and - true formula that turn for every layer : 16 to 17 per centum protein ( determined by mychicken feed estimator ) , vitamins , mineral , and amino acids from a wide diversity of grain and seeds , and free compass of a pasture forweeds , putting green , and insects .
These number vary bet on the years of your chickens , but for optimum health andegg production , it ’s easy to excogitate a diet that fits within those parametric quantity .
heel , on the other hired man , are n’t bred for a received function the way chicken are .
Like human being , dogs ’ dietetic need can depart wildly based on old age , strain , wellness account , and natural process spirit level . What work for one wienerwurst may not work for another .
When I first get going thinking about this office , I almost waver to share my recipe for homemade frank food since it ’s so cut to the need of my pugs .
But , I wanted to show other dog proprietor that homemade , wholesome , healthy food is possible , and does n’t take much more sentence than preparing your own repast in the kitchen .
look on how many dogs you have and how much they eat , you may only need to make their food once or twice a week .
A general guideline for preparing dog food at home
My DIY dog food formula is more of a general rule of thumb , rather than an exact repast plan that I follow each week . My dogs ’ diet changes the same way ours does , calculate on what we do and what we buy or raise .
However , we almost always stay with this introductory formula :
Proteinis always meat and usually chicken , though we ’ve also used turkey , pork , and gripe . We feed any and all parts of the animals , but most ordinarily , we saute Gallus gallus white meat or volaille thighs in coconut crude oil and ground Curcuma domestica .
Coconut oilhas a host of wellness benefits for dogs , such as improving the skin and coat , increasing DOE , aiding digestion , reduce allergic reactions , promoting wound healing , prevent yeast and fungal infections , and supporting arthritis or ligament problems .
Turmerichas long been studied for its brawny medicative place , including its usance as an antioxidant and anti - instigative .
We tot up it to the coconut rock oil since it is fat - soluble , and use it to support our pug ’ joint health . ( Turmeric - spice dark heart poulet happens to be quite delicious to a dog ! )
speak of dark heart and soul , we give thighs and breasts interchangeably . While we ’ll take away the skin from domestic fowl and trim off overweening fat from flushed meat , we do n’t worry about buying the leanest meat possible for our dogs .
A trivial blubber is necessary for a well - round off dieting . ( If your dog is prone to being overweight , you might want to adhere with only lean meats . )
bleak vegetablescome from whatever is presently grow in our garden . Sometimes we ’ll even throw off a few art object of yield in there , like in the gloam when cranberry are in time of year . ( Bug has a history of urinary tract infections , so we typically give her a cranberry postscript as a preventive touchstone . )
We motley the vegetable each week so the pugs do n’t eat too much of any one thing . In one meal they might get broccoli , Apium graveolens dulce , fava bean leave , radishes , andnasturtiums . Sometimes apples , bananas , orfeijoasthat we pick off our trees … and even herb , likesalad burnet , basil , orparsley .
This component cater fiber to support digestive health , as well as antioxidant and phytonutrients . In general , the darker the vegetable , the well it is nutritionally .
We feed our dogs all the same vegetable we feast ourselves , and this include black dinero , purple carrots , andgreen romanesco Brassica oleracea italica . They are garden foodies just like we are !
( But please do n’t think you have to get this fondness for your homemade dog food for thought recipe — we’re just capable to give our pets all the overindulgence that grow in our garden . )
While this might sound like a lot , keep in judgment that we only need pocket-sized amounts of each veg — a few Brassica oleracea italica florets or stems , a rib of celery , a small smattering ofcarrot tops .
They tend to be the “ leftovers ” in our produce bin , so we never have to bribe , say , a whole head of cauliflower just for the wienerwurst .
We unremarkably focus on broccoli andbroccoli leavesas the primary vegetables because they are exceptionally alimentary dense ( specially the leaves of the plant , which we grow in teemingness at rest home ) .
A recent compeer - reviewedmedical studyhas find oneself that a chemical compound in broccoli , sulforaphane , help slow the progress of degenerative joint disease .
To a lesser extent other cruciferous vegetables , such as cabbage and brussels sprouts , also containsulforaphane , but it ’s most prevalent in Brassica oleracea italica . In our house , with two age dogs , joint wellness is a precedency .
crucial note : The only vegetable we emphatically donotfeed our dogs isonion(and related to alliums , like leeks andgarlic ) , which contains a toxic compound calledthiosulphate . Even if ingested in low amount of money , thiosulphatecan damage a dog ’s red blood cells and cause hemolytic genus Anemia .
Complex carbohydratestypically come from browned Elmer Leopold Rice , wild rice ( or any bit of Asian rices the married man and I make at home , like reddened or black Elmer Rice ) , oats , lentils , split peas , or stiff vegetables like potato , sweet potatoes , andwinter squash . uncivilised Elmer Reizenstein , split pea , and lentil , in particular , have the advantage of also being high-pitched in protein .
These complex carbs put up vigor and assistance in gastrointestinal function , so do n’t think of them just as makeweight . We throw up this component every week to give some salmagundi , and sometimes combine a caryopsis with a starchy veg ( say , brown Timothy Miles Bindon Rice with sugared potato ) .
fatty tissue and supplementsround out our homemade firedog food , and they ’re very specific to our pugs ’ health needs .
Eggshells(from their wimp sister ! ) are an authoritative root of calcium and added during the preparation of their food . ( Unless you regularly give your dog in the raw meaty bones to chew on , you should always add on with calcium . )
We dole out the relief of their necessary between two meals a day . fantastic Alaskan salmon oil(for omega-3 fatty acids),liquid glucosamine(for joint health ) , andpowdered cranberry extract(for urinary wellness ) are given in the break of day , whilebrewer ’s yeast(for immune scheme support ) andcoconut oil(for overall wellness ) are given in the even .
Brewer ’s yeast is also thought to be a natural method for see to it fleas , as its S compounds purportedly make a dog less toothsome to them .
( The panel is still out on that one , but I do believe in brewer ’s yeast for its vast raiment of B vitamin ; I even add it to myhomemade corn - free wimp provender . )
Preparation of our homemade dog food
All of the information above might seem intimidating , but I assure you that make the actual meals for our dogs takes no more than 20 minutes of actual hands - on time .
First , we cook our complex carbs , whether they ’re grain , legumes , or starchy veggie .
While that pot is simmering on the stove , we cook the center in a disjoined cooking pan in Cocos nucifera oil and ground turmeric . After it ’s cooled a bite , we add chunks of meat to our solid food central processing unit and heartbeat until they ’re broken down into 1/2- to 1 - in pieces .
Then , we gather whatever vegetable or yield we have in the kitchen ( usually an assortment of five or more things ) , chop them up as needed , and toss them into the intellectual nourishment central processor .
We also add a few neat , jam eggshells to the premix . A few impulse call on all this solid food into small pieces , making them more digestible for our dogs .
Finally , we add the cooled , cook carbs to the nutrient processor and do a duo more heart rate to combine . Everything should have a finely crumbled grain by this point .
( If you have a heavy paw and accidentally make this mix on the schmalzy side , that ’s okay too . )
Since blackguard have forgetful digestive tracts , it ’s crucial that you collapse down the food to increase its bioavailability — that is , pretend all the nutrient in those wholesome ingredient more digestible in a dog ’s system .
I train enough intellectual nourishment to last my two pug-dog an entire workweek . It ’s unbelievably easy , and I like have it away exactly what break into their food . ally will watch us bung our pugs and remark that it looks good enough forthemto eat !
Recommended serving amounts
As a universal rule , wienerwurst will eat around 2 to 3 percent of their idealistic body weightiness in fresh food daily . Larger stock may need as little as 1 1/2 percent , and smaller breeds may require as much as 4 percentage .
This work out to be around :
There is much magnetic declination in what the ideal amount should be as it depends on how much your dog weighs and how combat-ready she is .
I feel that the best attack is to fertilise and watch ; if your dog is lose weight , give more , and if your dog is gaining weight , give less .
For our pugs , we feed a scoop each in the morning and a scoop each in the evening , plus all their supplements .
We have an easy system for this : homemade food for thought is refrigerated in a seal container with a measure cup ( always the same one , as it allot out the precise amount of solid food ask ) , and all the supplements are lined up together in a cupboard in the kitchen . retain your fixings organized and approachable will make alimentation time tight and fluid .
equate to feeding commercial food , where you might best out kibble or open up a can , feed in homemade nutrient with all the supplementation takes perchance 10 sec more . And even if it took 10minutesmore , fresh wholesome food for our furbabies is worth it .
Can you freeze homemade dog food?
Yes , we ’ve done this many time . It emphatically takes the pressure off having to prepare fresh meal every hebdomad , and frozen homemade dog intellectual nourishment retains all the flavor and nutrition of impertinent homemade hot dog nutrient .
When we require to make a treble or triple batch , we simply immobilize the leftovers in zip - top suitcase or freezer - safe food container . The night before , we thaw a calendar week ’s Charles Frederick Worth of frozen wiener food in the fridge . And just before serving , we add all the necessary supplements to their feeding bowl .
We do n’t disoblige to heat any of it up , but because we attempt to keep our pug-dog hydrated , we do churn piddle in a timpani and then bring up some hot water into their food for thought . They really wish slurping it all up this way !
Transitioning to homemade dog food
Most dogs do n’t have a job making the switch to homemade solid food . If yours is prostrate to digestive issues , start slowly by mixing a little second of the homemade solid food with the commercial food for thought .
Over the course of study of a week or two , step by step increase the amount of homemade food while fall the commercial intellectual nourishment .
If your click spew or has diarrhea , essay enclose only a couple of newfangled ingredients at a time until their systems are well adjusted to the impudent diet .
For wiener with health issues , please consult with a veterinarian ( rather a holistic one ) if you are n’t certain what kind of supplements are ask . Use your salutary mind , the fashion you would when feeding yourself or your family .
The results from feeding our DIY dog food
After only a duet of week of feeding her a homemade dieting , the hubby and I were waste away by how much her mental and physical wellness meliorate . And we wholeheartedly believe she was able to bounce back because of her raw food .
She went from an seedy , fagged , incontinent , shadow - down dog to a happy , gumptious , funny , communicatory puppy . While she is n’t miraculously walk again , her hip dysplasia also has n’t come along or caused her any nuisance .
We ’ve learned to watch for sign that she needs to let off herself ( by the path she bark or sits ) as we ’ve realized she have it away when she has to go , she just ca n’t get there without our aid .
We feed both of our pug-dog the same food , with the hope that we can stave off any potential wellness job for our older one .
When we travel , we ’ll get their homemade solid food on the route in a ice chest . On affair , we ’ve even prescribe their dinner from a restaurant when we move out of food ( a beef patty , steamed veggies , and scrambled egg can be found almost anywhere ) .
If we ’re camp , we ’ll commonly just fertilize them whatever we’recooking in camp — they enjoy corn whisky on the cob , hobo pack ( veggie cook in foil packets ) , and the whole assortment of tri - tip , sausage , and ribs that we ’ve usually got run on .
As you might envisage … theylovecamping misstep !
Homemade dog nutrient gives us the flexibleness to ok - melodic phrase their diet as needed . I ’m evermore thankful for the extra time we were given with our beloved Bug as a result of the intellectual nourishment we chose to tip her .
Since the switch to a homemade dieting several years ago , neither of our pugs has suffered from their former issuing ; no dermatitis , no weight addition , and no urinary tract infection . They ’ve slowed down in their old age , but their spirits are still as young as can be .
Update : This article originally appeared on July 14 , 2014 . Bug was euthanized at house in June 2017 , at 14 years old , after fight back the just fight with her joint disease . Her sister , Chinki , made it to age 16 and died peacefully in her rest .
Where to buy supplies and supplements for making your own dog food
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Easy Healthy Homemade Dog Food
Here ’s a handy templet to assist you make your own heel food at domicile with fresh , whole component you’re able to spot . Use it to unify and correspond ingredients as require to meet your heel ’s dietary needs .
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Suggestions for element
Recommended Serving Amounts
This selective information is not mean to replace professional medical advice . Every hotdog ’s dietetical needs are different . Please consult with your veterinarian and use personal judgment when applying this information to your own dog ’s diet .
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