Tempt my dog

lostinrates

bank_of_slate wrote: »

When I read the title of this thread i thought it was the follow up program to Pimp my Ride!
:rotfl:
...Linda xx

You know, it was intentional. I've never actually seen Pimp my ride though but the way the mind works to link unrelated words and rythyms gives me an odd pleasure:o Prosaic evocation.

Fire_Fox

I am going to ask some probably stupid questions ... Why do you want the dog to eat dry when he is refusing it and losing condition? Why are you against the dog eating cat food when you want him to eat? I am aware cats can't live on dog food, but can dogs not live on cat food, at least whilst they are convalescing? The Food4Cats offerings are identical to the Food4Dogs offerings:
http://www.food4-dogs.co.uk/

lostinrates

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I am going to ask some probably stupid questions ... Why do you want the dog to eat dry when he is refusing it and losing condition? Why are you against the dog eating cat food when you want him to eat? I am aware cats can't live on dog food, but can dogs not live on cat food, at least whilst they are convalescing? The Food4Cats offerings are identical to the Food4Dogs offerings:
http://www.food4-dogs.co.uk/

Not stupid questions!

I'm not (short term) against her eating cat food. Long term, it will be cripplingly expensive to feed her cosma!

I'm actually not desperate to get her back on to dried food (in fact my feelings about dried food for dogs are pretty similar on a general basis as my feelings about dried cat food) ...but I am concerned she's refusing something she's previously eaten happily, and its specifically designed for something she is likely to have inherited a problem with. I'm picking up a box of tripe from my friend later today, and longterm, if she'd like to go back on tripe I can certainly deal very happily with that, and supplementation. Ideally I'd prefer tripe/a raw diet (I'm going to work out costs for the big dogs on that) and I'd also prefer the three dogs (mine and the two that are my parents) to be on the same ''basic'' ration, for ease.

At the moment the aim is to get her, as you say, to eat sustaining size meals (whilst preferably avoiding further problems)

This morning,she ate.....

some yogurt I spilled on the floor :rolleyes:
then refused a sausage,

Then WOLFED down, two raw chicken breasts and wanted more. This is the best meal so far, no picking or playing (npt much chewing either) just....sucked up. I left her going between the other two while they ate and she showed not interest in either bowl of food (her sister eats the same dry diet, mine was having supplemented lamb )


I'm out of chicken now so today I'm going to the supermarket

Errata

then refused a sausage

Can't say I blame her
I had a pup who once weaned was fed on mean as Scrooge dried food from the local farmers suppliers. He wolfed it down until he was about a year old and then totally refused to go anywhere near it and was happy on wet food for the rest of his 15 years.

Fire_Fox

lostinrates wrote: »

Not stupid questions!

I'm not (short term) against her eating cat food. Long term, it will be cripplingly expensive to feed her cosma!

I'm actually not desperate to get her back on to dried food (in fact my feelings about dried food for dogs are pretty similar on a general basis as my feelings about dried cat food) ...but I am concerned she's refusing something she's previously eaten happily, and its specifically designed for something she is likely to have inherited a problem with.

I'm picking up a box of tripe from my friend later today, and longterm, if she'd like to go back on tripe I can certainly deal very happily with that, and supplementation. Ideally I'd prefer tripe/a raw diet (I'm going to work out costs for the big dogs on that) and I'd also prefer the three dogs (mine and the two that are my parents) to be on the same ''basic'' ration, for ease.

At the moment the aim is to get her, as you say, to eat sustaining size meals (whilst preferably avoiding further problems)

This morning,she ate..... some yogurt I spilled on the floor :rolleyes:
then refused a sausage,

Then WOLFED down, two raw chicken breasts and wanted more. This is the best meal so far, no picking or playing (npt much chewing either) just....sucked up. I left her going between the other two while they ate and she showed not interest in either bowl of food (her sister eats the same dry diet, mine was having supplemented lamb)

I'm out of chicken now so today I'm going to the supermarket

Next stupid question, what is special about large breed dog food? Presumably glucosamine/ chondroitin, omega 3s, more or less protein that usual? Can you replicate this by manipulating 'normal' wet dog food? If she isn't willing/ able to eat bones you can buy bonemeal fairly cheaply: is the vet willing and able to refer you to a nutritionist?

Have you ever tried your dog on something like Bozita (they do a tripe variant)? Can you get hold of heart and does your dog like it? Heart is cheap and nutritious, whereas chicken breasts will presumably not be a long term solution for a large dog! :rotfl:

lostinrates

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Next stupid question, what is special about large breed dog food? Presumably glucosamine/ chondroitin, omega 3s, more or less protein that usual? Can you replicate this by manipulating 'normal' wet dog food? If she isn't willing/ able to eat bones you can buy bonemeal fairly cheaply: is the vet willing and able to refer you to a nutritionist?

In addition to factors you rightly raise, calcium is lower (and protein).. (maybe bone isn't so vital as I worry?)
Edit: she also has higher levels than ''average'' vit c....but this is less necessary now as she is adult and magnesium is significant, although I actually presume this is raised for heart health: not something that would worry me from her line.

Have you ever tried your dog on something like Bozita (they do a tripe variant)? Can you get hold of heart and does your dog like it? Heart is cheap and nutritious, whereas chicken breasts will presumably not be a long term solution for a large dog! :rotfl:

We can get hold of heart and she does usually eat that as a ''treat'' ..but doesn't want it at the moment. Haven't ever tried her on bozita for dogs (but she polished of the last of the cats bozita, and I'm just trying to decide what to reorder now!)

I've been talking a lot to my mother about diets. An issue is that while I am happy to feed her etc (and there is likely hood I will inherit her), mix prepare foods etc she is not mine, so some diplomacy is required....:o

alleycat`

After you finish with the pup i might get you to work out my diet

lostinrates

alleycat` wrote: »

After you finish with the pup i might get you to work out my diet

I have wondered if Firefox works with in NHS or not I have a feeling I might get a ticking off though...:D in the nicest way of course!

Fire_Fox

Yes I work in the NHS, currently in physical activity :j tho I also 'dabble' in dietetics. Previous incarnations have been hospital pharmacy, stop smoking advisor, university research labs; hold qualifications in health-related exercise, nutrition, pharmacy, microbiology and genetics!!

That isn't meant to sound show off-y: rather to show that I know 'a bit of this and a bit of that' when it comes to biological disciplines. I try to say whether I am making educated guesses or have actually looked something up. Note NO veterinary qualifications or experience.

Fire_Fox

lostinrates wrote: »

In addition to factors you rightly raise, calcium is lower (and protein).. (maybe bone isn't so vital as I worry?)
Edit: she also has higher levels than ''average'' vit c....but this is less necessary now as she is adult and magnesium is significant, although I actually presume this is raised for heart health: not something that would worry me from her line.

We can get hold of heart and she does usually eat that as a ''treat'' ..but doesn't want it at the moment. Haven't ever tried her on bozita for dogs (but she polished of the last of the cats bozita, and I'm just trying to decide what to reorder now!)

I've been talking a lot to my mother about diets. An issue is that while I am happy to feed her etc (and there is likely hood I will inherit her), mix prepare foods etc she is not mine, so some diplomacy is required....:o

Interesting ... Calcium and magnesium oppose/ balance one another in the (human) body. Both are key for bone health, but also muscular contraction and relaxation. If there isn't sufficient calcium in the diet the body will release from stores, i.e. leach from the bones. Long-term this may become a problem. In humans extra protein when 'dieting' has been proven to reduce muscle wastage so his might be a good thing in your dog ... ??

My personal opinion is that not eating regularly will put more of a strain on the dog's body long term than having a diet that isn't specifically designed for large breeds. If the dog will eat raw, I'd buy in some complete mixes to use up to the point you can discuss this with a veterinary nutritionist. Bozita is complete too and not overly expensive so could be worth a shot.