Basic Facts about Dog Nutrition

Similar to humans, dog's culinary likes and nutritional needs change through out their lives. The dog's health, age, activities, sexual maturity and environment all play a part in his food needs. It is interesting to note that wild dogs, which hunt for their food, eat the belly of their prey first. This area of the animal contains the intestines and stomach, which in the case of herbivores is full of vegetation.

Even domesticated dogs that are also classed as carnivorous need to get this kind of well balanced diet in the course of their meals. Dogs that eat only meat can develop what is referred to as "all meat syndrome" which is the result of an imbalance of calcium and phosphorous ratios in their diets. The results of this syndrome can be fragile bones, weight loss, joint diseases, diarrhea and a poor looking coat.

The nutrients that dogs need are the same as humans: protein, fat and carbohydrates. Amazingly enough they even need them in about the same percentages as a human's daily calorie intake.

Dog Protein Diet

Between twenty five and thirty percent of your dog's total calorie intake should be protein. Protein provides 25 important amino acids that your dog's body needs for healthy muscles, bones and internal organs. Dogs digest only about sixty to eighty percent of vegetable protein but about ninety percent of egg and meat protein. Things like wheat and beans are only about half as digestible as meat.

Raw and cooked meats: Raw meat can contain harmful bacteria or parasites like trichinosis or worms and although dogs have very strong stomachs they are susceptible to food poisoning and parasite induced illnesses. All meats should be thoroughly cooked to avoid these problems. Dogs love and need a good variety of meats including animal organs. Be careful with certain meats though like liver which although is very good for and enjoyed by most dogs can contain toxins and pollutants. For these reasons you should only feed it to your dog from time to time.

Eggs: Raw eggs can be the cause of some health problems for your dog and although it would take a large amount of raw eggs eaten over a long period of time to do but it is better to be safe than sorry. So it is recommended that all eggs be cooked. Eggs though, are a wonderful source of protein for your dog and should in no way be minimized from any good menu. Dogs like eggs prepared in numerous ways so don't get stuck on just one type of preparation.

Milk: Once a puppy has been weaned most vets suggest that milk be removed from their diet as they receive all their nutritional needs through other sources. Some dogs are lactose intolerant, which means that their digestive system cannot handle milk products. However if you want to feed your dog milk try giving them unpasteurized milk or goat's milk. Cultured milk products like yogurt or buttermilk are also easily digested by dogs.

Fat: Fats are an important part of a well balanced diet and are a very concentrated source of energy for your dog. Your dog may need up to thirty percent fat in his diet in order to maintain his energy levels. Fat is also important for your dog's nervous system, skin and coat. Fats also help your dog digest certain foods and vitamins. It is one hundred percent digestible.

Carbohydrates: Your dog's main source of energy is through carbohydrates, which should provide about sixty percent of your dog's calorie needs. Wheat, rice, potatoes, grains, beans and lentils contain high level complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides) which is the carbohydrate of choice. Sugar and milk sugar also contain simple carbohydrates but are nowhere near as beneficial for your dog. 

Dog Supplements

There is unfortunately no agreement amongst dog experts as to the correct amount of supplements that your dog needs. So if you feel that your dog is lacking in some way the best thing to do is pay a visit to your veterinarian and get his help in choosing the correct dosage and frequency for your dog. Giving your dog supplements can create metabolic imbalances so be careful. It may be that you feel your dog needs it but as long as he is getting a varied and well balanced diet of fresh foods he should be receiving all the good stuff he needs. Of course if your dog exists solely on commercial processed dog foods then he might very well be lacking in some essential nutritional needs.

Fiber: Good sources of fiber for your dog are fresh crunchy vegetables and whole grain cereals. About five percent of your healthy dog's diet should be fiber.

Bones: We Do Not Recommend Bones!!! Dogs of all shapes and sizes love to chew bones however they can cause Severe health problems and for this reason synthetic bones are the way to go. Chewing bones not only gives your dog something fun and relaxing to do but also helps him get rid of tartar build ups. Unfortunately bone splinters can become lodged in your dog's throat or colon and cause SEVERE problems.
Besides synthetic bones you can also try giving your dog chewable toys or natural rawhide chews. Just beware some dogs have allergic reactions to rawhide.

Special Nutritional Needs for Canines

At times your dog will need an extra high protein diet. Extremes in temperature, cold winters and sleeping outdoors are all things, which can necessitate your dog receiving a higher protein diet. Here are some other specific times when that little bit extra will go a long way.

Pregnant bitches. After the fifth week of pregnancy your female should be fed 1/3 to ½ more than their normal diet. They should also receive high quality proteins. As the pregnancy progresses feed your dog smaller more frequent meals to avoid your bitch feeling stuffed.

Orphaned newborn puppies. If you have a puppy that has not yet been wean you can feed him the following home made formula. 

1 cup of evaporated milk
¼ cup of warm water
2 eggs yolks
2 tablespoons of protein powder
Blend mixture in a blender until smooth and then feed to your puppy.
It is best to use a protein powder made from eggs or milk, as these help assure that your puppy gets the necessary amino acids.
Or you can use a commercial newborn puppy formula like Esbilac.

Young puppies. By the time your puppy is 4 weeks old he can begin eating a mixture of milk and baby cereal twice or three times a day.
If you introduce this new food to your puppy by letting him lick some off of your finger first he will probably take to it more readily. As he gets older you can add commercial puppy food mixed with mashed grains and milk to his diet.

Older dogs. Although most dogs have a life span of ten to fifteen years some dogs live into their 20s. You cannot control the genetic imprinting that your dog was born with but you can help your dog manage some of the negative affects of growing older through carefully controlling his diet. If you have an older dog you should take him for regular checkups to ensure that any organ or health problems are caught early on and proper attention given. There are a number of dog maladies associated with old age that can be alleviated through nutritional intervention. It is important to note that older dogs have a number of special nutritional needs. You should avoid giving them foods that are overly greasy, spicy or salty. Also you can feed them chicken and fish products in place of meat and meat products, as it is easier for them to digest.

Stressed, ill and convalescing dogs. Dogs who have been subjected to stressful situations or who have been sick recently should be given extra attention and may require added calories, proteins, vitamins or mineral supplements.

Here are some situations that can cause your dog to become stressed.

• surgery
• family conflict
• tail docking
• ear clipping
• melancholic owner
• new housing
• illness
• new household member
• construction or remodeling
• vacation
• disability
• new household schedule
• lose of household member or pet
• loss of privileged
• stay in kennel

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Corn is for Cows
Not Dogs!

by Tam Cordingley

Have you ever looked at the teeth of a wolf?  How about those magnificent teeth of the lions we marvel at on National Geographic channel? 

Have you ever noticed the teeth of a cow, goat, or sheep?  A predator’s teeth are not the same as the teeth of a ruminant.  Predators are carnivores.  Simply put that means they are designed to eat MEAT.  Meat is highly usable and easily digestible by carnivores (dogs, therefore they have a short digestive tract and only one stomach.  The dog’s digestive system is not intended by nature to handle large amounts of roughage. 

Ruminants on the other hand have multi-chambered stomachs to break down and digest grains and forage crops.  They swallow take this material, mix it with digestive juices, spit it back into their mouths, chew their cud again, and swallow it back into the next stomach.  When a cow is butchered the stomach contents in the first stomach are nothing like the contents of the fourth chamber of the stomach.  The point is that it takes four stomach chambers to digest grains and roughage and make it usable.  The carnivore has only one stomach.

Corn is a useful vegetable.  It is used to make corn meal, which sits on your stomach like a heavy lump until passed.  Sweet corn is great, with butter in the summer, but did you ever notice it comes out the same way it goes in?  Corn is fermented to make ethanol and corn whiskey.  The fermentation process also produces methane.  Methane is a useful gas, it can power all sorts of machinery.  However the process of fermentation, which produces gas, is also the process that causes bloat in dogs.  When fermented, grains produce gas - or rye whisky or scotch, etc.  Meat may rot but it does not ferment.

I have one dog who is a confirmed stool eater, however she is selective.  She will only eat the stool of a dog that was fed kibble.  That stool has undigested particles in it so is viewed by the body as food.  The stool of a dog that is fed meat will not to be eaten because all the food has been digested.  This same principle applies to rabbits.  If not wire-caged, they will eat their stool once but reject it the second time around, after the nutrients are used up. 

Why do dog food companies use primarily corn?  That answer is easy.  It is cheap and readily available.  It is not a coincidence that most dog food companies are also cereal companies.  On most labels there are three or more different names for the corn, but it is mostly corn. 

The end of this short story is that I don’t feel that my dogs should be the disposal unit for the cereal industry.  If God intended for dogs to eat hay and corn they would have teeth like cows and horses.   

Tam Cordingley 2006
"Making life better for dogs and their people" 

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Basic Chicken Stock
Recipe for Dogs

Ingredients
8 tablespoons corn oil
2 kilos chicken backs and necks
4 liters water
2 large cups baby cabbage chopped
2 cups carrots chopped
Parsley 5 strings
3 liters water

In a large kettle or pot, heat up 4 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Add in the chicken pieces and brown them on all sides evenly. Remove the chicken and reserve. Add 1 cup of water to pot and deglaze it over medium heat. Make sure to loosen all the scrapings of browned bits. Add these dripping to the chicken and reserve this.

In the same pot, heat up the remaining oil over medium heat. Add in the baby cabbage and carrots and cook until baby cabbage are transparent. Add in the reserved chicken with the drippings, parsley, remaining water, and bring all this to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer covered for 2 hours.

To obtain stock, strain the mixture and let it cool down to room temperature. Refrigerate. Remove any fat from the top surface. This can be used within several days or freeze and use in portions.

To make soup, remove all the chicken parts and serve the vegetables and broth over kibbles.

Makes 2 ½ liters.

Cheese Balls Recipe for dogs

Cheesy dogs: Most dogs naturally love cheese. Usually dog's just can't resist cheese. If you see that your dog is having problems eating his food, you could help him by adding a little grated cheese in his food bowl. He might consider eating it just because of the cheese. Bare in mind though, that cheese is pretty strong and should not be used in excess. It should be used sparingly especially to dogs who are dieting.

Ingredients
¼ cup cheddar cheese grated
¼ cup cottage cheese
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 200 C.
Mix cheddar and cottage cheese together in a large mixing bowl. Put in oil, and Worcestershire sauce. Then very slowly mix in the four. Mix until the dough can easily be molded.

Divide the flour into pieces and shape into little marble size balls. Rolls these into the chopped walnuts. Place these onto an ungreased baking sheet and bake them for 18 – 20 minutes, or until you see that they are golden brown. Store after they have cooled in a container in the refrigerator.

Makes 24 cookies.

Flea Fighter Dog Biscuits Recipe

Flea Fighters: Although it is often a little difficult to get dogs accustomed to the flavor. There is mounting evidence that Brewer's yeast is one of nature's ways of helping your dog to be less attractive to fleas. Both Brewer's yeast and garlic are great supplements, which seem to keep the fleas at bay. Once your dog has slowly gotten used to eating Brewer's yeast you can begin putting it in any of his foods, as it is harmless to him and will help to increase his resistance to the little jumping bloodsuckers.

Ingredients
1 cup all purpose flour
¼ cup wheat germ
¼ cup brewer's yeast
½ teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic, ground
1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil
½ cup Chicken Stock (look up directions for preparation)

Heat oven to 200 c. and grease 2 baking sheets.
Mix flour, wheat germ, brewer's yeast and salt. Combine the oil and garlic in a big bowl and then mix in flour and stock until completely mixed.

Mold dough into a ball and then place on a slightly floured surface. Roll until the whole mass is about 1 ½ cm thick. Cut into rounds with a biscuit cutter. After putting on the baking sheets, bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes or until well browned. Leave biscuits in the oven so that they completely harden. Keep in fridge or freezer.

Makes about 18 biscuits.

Peanut Butter
Dog Biscuits Recipe

Doggie's believe it or not: In the past wild ancestors of the dog used to store food under the ground to use in scarce times. Therefore, burying bones comes instinctively to dogs. There is a myth that dogs started barking to copy the sounds humans made. Dogs and wolves in the wild do not bark, they only howl.

Ingredients
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup soy four
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups peanut butter, chunky or creamy
1 ½ cups milk

Heat oven to 200 C. and grease 4 baking sheets.
Combine whole wheat flour and soy flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Blend peanut butter and milk in a blender. The dough must be soft.

Take dough out and place on a surface that has been lightly floured and mold lightly. Roll dough out until it is about 1 cm thick and cut into 5 cm squares or rectangles. Put biscuits on baking sheets about 3 cm apart from each other. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until slightly browned. Put cooled biscuits away, wrapped well, in freezer or refrigerator.

Makes about 36 biscuits.

Tip:
Make sure to use fresh 100 percent peanut butter without sugar, salt, or hydrogenated oils. This healthy snack is full of energy if given with the correct ingredients to your dog.

Healthy Dog Muffins Recipe

Instead of using these ingredients you can play around with this recipe and make variations substituting different things. Try using grated pears instead of apples, or carrots. Instead of using raisins ( There is mounting evidence that raisins can be lethal to dogs) **** you can substitute them for chopped nuts such as walnuts, currants or pecans. All of these things are healthy, good for your dog and high in fiber.

Ingredients
3 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups oats
2 cups oat bran
4 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
4 red apples
1 cup raisins
2 eggs, beaten lightly
½ cup honey
6 tablespoons corn oil
2 cups milk

Heat oven to 225 C. Place paper forms in 48 muffin tins.
In a large mixing bowl, mix whole wheat flour, oats, oat bran, baking soda, and cinnamon. Grate in apples (skin too) in a separate bowl. Then, combine in the raisins, eggs, honey, and oil. Pour milk into all this mixture and make sure to blend well. Add grated apples into the mixture and mix all well.

Put batter into muffin tins using a spoon. Bake 20 – 25 minutes or until toothpick put into the center of the muffin comes out clean. Put these muffins in the freezer.

Makes 48 muffins.

raisins **** Use anything else but raisins

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Issues Nationwide Update:
Raisins and Grapes Can be Toxic to Dogs, July 6, 2004.

Doggy-Breath Biscuit Recipe

For your information: If you want your grown dog to have that sweet smelling breath that he had when he was a puppy just serve him up some of these treats. The charcoal, which can be found in most health food stores, together with the mint and parsley, act as a doggie breath freshener.

Ingredients
1 cup wheat flour
¼ teaspoon salt
½ tablespoon charcoal
1 small egg
1½ tablespoons vegetable oil
¼ cup chopped parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
1/3 cup milk

Heat oven to 200 C.
Mix flour, salt and charcoal. In another bowl mix egg, oil, parsley and mint. Stir in the flour mix and then the milk until the mixture has the consistency of drop biscuits. Drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto a greased baking sheet leaving a gap between biscuits of about 3 cm. Bake for about 15 minutes.

Keep in the fridge, but be sure to cover well or the mint flavor will affect the other foods in your fridge.

Makes 12 biscuits.

Love Snaps
Recipe for Dogs

Training tips: Make sure to reward your dog with lots of praise and not only food. These snacks are excellent little treats that can be used as rewards, but due to the fact that they are so delicious it is better to use these for special reasons and to show your dog your love, rather than using them for training. 

Ingredients
1 cups all purpose flour
½ cup cornmeal
½ teaspoon salt
1 small egg, beaten lightly
1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil
¼ cup Chicken Stock (look up directions for preparations)
1 teaspoon cut up parsley
½ cup chopped up chicken livers cooked

Heat oven to 200 C. and grease 1 baking sheet.
Mix flour, cornmeal, and salt in mixing bowl. In a smaller bowl, beat egg with oil, after this, add chicken stock and parsley. Place half the flour mixture in a mixing bowl and stir a small amount of the chicken mixture into it. Continue doing this with other half until all the ingredients are mixed well together. Fold in the chicken livers and mix it all well. Dough should be firm.

Take dough out and place onto a lightly floured surface and knead momentarily. Roll dough out in 1 cm thickness and cut biscuits out with heart shape cookie cutter. Put snaps onto prepared sheet for baking and place about 2 cm apart. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes until firm. After cooled, place or store in refrigerator.

Makes about 15 snaps.

Dog Gingerbread Mailmen Recipe

Ingredients
1 cup molasses
4 tablespoons honey
1 cup water
½ cup vegetable oil
6 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
4 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup pecans

I

In a medium size bowl, combine the molasses, honey, water, and the oil. In another bowl mix the flour, the baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and salt. Stir this mixture gently into the molasses mixture. Make sure to mix well with a wooden spoon. Divide this dough in four. Make each piece into a ball, wrap these in plastic, and refrigerate for 3 – 5 hours.

Next, heat oven to 175 C. and oil 2 baking sheets.
Put dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll dough out into ½ cm thickness. Cut dough with a cookie cutter into gingerbread men or into whatever shape you like. Press in pecan pieces for the eyes and buttons of the gingerbread men. Bake 10 – 15 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned around the edges and firm.

Makes 24 cookies.