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XP: Supplementing a cooked food diet
I posted this on GBCN but it's not getting much response. I know it's a long shot as I don't think most dogs have this problem, but I could really use some help if anyone is versed in this area.
Dexter has decided that he no longer wants to eat kibble, or wet food, or even a raw diet. We've tried multiple varieties, all good quality, and he either will eat them for two days and then stop, or he won't even try them. The only food we can get him to eat is cooked "people food" - ground beef or chicken, select vegetables (green beans, broccoli, carrots), sweet potato, regular potato, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, and small amounts of rice. He's been to both of his vets (regular and holistic) and he checks out fine. Both are chalking this up to old age finickiness.
I know this diet isn't complete
nutrition, so we've been supplementing it with this
multivitamin. I haven't been able to find a calcium supplement
locally, so I plan to order one online, but in the meantime we've been
giving him one Tums per day and a little bit of powdered eggshell.
Is
there anything else we should be adding? Is there a better multi we
could be using? Any recommendations for a calcium supplement? Is bone meal the
best, or should we get something like this
from Wholistic Pet? Or both? Has anyone been in this situation? Did
your dog ever go back to eating dog food? I really don't mind cooking
for him but I'm worried about him getting proper nutrition, especially
the calcium to phosphorus ratio because I know that's crucial. Thanks!
Quincy and Dexter, new BFFs
I used to be kris216.
Re: XP: Supplementing a cooked food diet
What does your vet say about his pickiness? If he were a younger dog, I would say that dogs won't starve themselves and he'll eat when he's ready, but since you mentioned that he is older, I am not sure I would let him go too long without a meal.
Have you tried yummy wet foods like Merrick and Fromm?
He was eating the Merrick stews before this, and for a long time he loved them. He stopped eating certain varieties one by one, then eventually he wouldn't eat any. I would say this took place over a 6-month period. I've since tried other good brands like Weruva, and he'll either refuse them altogether, or he'll eat a few bites at one meal and then refuse them after that. I haven't tried Fromm or Evanger's, so maybe I'll give those a shot. Fortunately our younger dog will eat anything Dexter refuses, so at least food isn't going to waste.
His conventional vet says I should wait him out. His holistic vet says he wouldn't do that at this age, and that it's fine to keep cooking for him as long as he's taking the multi and calcium supplements, which he is. I tend to lean more toward the holistic vet's opinion on most issues, and this is no exception.
Quincy and Dexter, new BFFs
I used to be kris216.
At least you have some options as far as wet food goes.
I would lean toward what your holistic vet says, as well, particularly considering his age.
Sorry I wasn't more help!
It's ok! It doesn't seem to be a very common situation. Most of the cases I'm finding on line are situations like "my dog stopped eating dog food.....a month before she died." So that's no good. Someone on the GBCN board suggested two names, Dr. Pitcairn and Lewis Olsen from Bertes Naturals, so I'm going to read up on those. Plus I've found some ideas of how to get more nutrients into a cooked diets in two books that I already have, (Keeping Your Dog Healthy the Natural Way by Pat Lazarus, and The Nature of Animal Healing by Marty Goldstein, both great books if anyone's interested).
I did get him to eat some kibble yesterday - I bought a bunch of trial size packs of Acana and Orijen, and got him to eat about half a meal's worth treat-style, i.e. feeding it to him piece by piece. And the holistic vet gave him a B12 shot yesterday, which he said can stimulate the appetite, so hopefully we'll see that starting today. If nothing else, I figure it can't hurt to have a little bit of extra vitamins.
Thanks for your help!
Quincy and Dexter, new BFFs
I used to be kris216.
Mine threw up commercial food when I could get her to eat. I tried several kinds and couldn't find anything that worked. I noticed that she was fine on the bland diet (boiled beef and rice) but would throw up as soon as we added in commercial food. I ended up going to a nutritionist and a holistic vet for a home cooked diet.
She's been on it for almost 3 years now and is doing better than she ever has. Before we switched, her arthritis was so bad that she couldn't walk a block and we had to carry her up stairs. A couple weekends ago, I took her for a 3.5 mile hike that was mostly uphill and then swimming! The other health issues she had are gone, completely disappeared like they were never there. Issues the vet said would be chronic.
Anyway, back to your question... I give my dog our co-op's store brand multi-vitamin. It's the only one she'll eat. She gets Now brand calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, choline, taurine, copper and zinc. I used to give her vitamin B injections but freaked myself out about sticking her with a needle so now I can't do it and it's a PITA to drive to the vet every week.
Tired after a long morning of hiking and swimming.
That is wonderful! I've found a multi and a calcium supplement that he'll take, so at least he's getting vitamins. But I think I do need to speak with a nutritionist to make sure it's the right balance of everything. Thanks!
Quincy and Dexter, new BFFs
I used to be kris216.
Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete guide to natural dog and cat health has many recipes you can use that are all balanced. Cat Lane of The Possible Canine and Monica Segal are both canine nutrition consultants that can formulate an individualized diet for your dog. I think the balanced, home cooked diets are the best thing you can do for your best friend.
Make sure you have routine bloodwork done as many issues can cause anorexia in dogs (like kidney failure).