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Lake Tahoe Wolf Rescue
You can print out these recommendations so that they are handy for quick review ...
Feeding Recommendations (recipes below)
It's healthy for all large adult canines to eat one "meatless" meal a day to satisfy their hunger, yet not provide too much protein for the day. The meatless meal should be the first meal of the day. Most adult dogs should not eat before midday if possible; the hours from midnight to noon are strongly eliminative ones. However, hunting breeds [like greyhounds] with smaller stomachs often want an early morning meal instead of a later one. Between-meal snacks are disruptive to the digestive system, and the typical doggy treats are loaded with harmful by-products, preservatives, sugars, artificial sweeteners and colorings! Stick with the "jerky" type of treat which is just meat.
The following recipe suggestions can be used for all canines - not just Wolfdogs - to promote a strong healthy immune system. Wolfdogs thrive especially well on a natural diet since their hereditary needs dictate a diet closer to that which they would find in the wild. I have had many a Wolfdog brought to me grossly underweight, with allergies and other health problems, and the owner claiming "he eats a ton of food but doesn't gain weight." This is because the highly processed [and less nutritious] commercial pet food that most people feed their canines literally passes right through them, with little real nutrition absorbed. The additives in commercial food often are the cause of Food Allergies. Once put on a natural, real-food diet, these same dogs have gained weight and blossomed into shiny-coated, energetic yet calm and happy animals.
Raw food contains more vitamins and minerals than cooked food since cooking destroys many nutrients, and high-heat cooking is actually harmful. There are some foods that must be cooked like grains [rice, millet, quinoa, etc.] and legumes [white and red kidney beans, garbanzo beans, etc.]. Yams, sweet potatoes and other root vegetables should be baked and added at mealtime rather than mixed into the Turkey Recipe. Greens are best minced and added fresh as they get brown and soggy if prepared ahead of time. Meat should be given raw. Since raw meat ripens, and cooked meat sours (or spoils), raw meat can be stored a little longer [refrigerated] than cooked, but never feed a dog spoiled food. It is important to note that chunks of meat are always better than ground, as they make the dog chew, and it strengthens the stomach muscles too. Our budgets do not always allow us to choose what we would like, so I have prepared two recipes - One using ground turkey, the other chopped raw chicken with bones - [Never give a dog cooked bones as they splinter]. It is usually less expensive, and still much healthier than feeding a strictly commercial-food-based diet [dry food or canned]. Feel free to substitute the ground meat for chunks of meat, using beef, lamb, rabbit, duck, game hens or chicken (use Organic Free-Range Meat if you can to avoid all the growth hormones and antibiotics). Avoid raw venison and pork. Also, you won't have to worry if the raw meat is a few days past expiration date as canines have a digestive and immune system that tolerate this. Remember, always cook pork, venison, rabbit, duck and fish, [any wild game] as they usually contain parasites.
I buy whatever is on sale. If you want to make your own ground meat, make sure you grind up bones and all (beef bones are a little harder to grind up so choose the smaller bones, like ribs, and grind them finely). Bones are an essential part of the diet, and contribute much-needed calcium and bone meal, which also help keep stools firm. Sometimes you can find whole chickens on sale for .99 cents/lb. but they are usually not the Free Range chickens.
If you have a medium-to-large dog, you don't have to grind the chicken, but using a meat cleaver, chop bones and all into pieces large enough to chew, but not too small as to swallow whole. I often feed my wolfdogs whole or half chickens which forces them to tear off pieces and chew slowly and more efficiently. For smaller dogs, cut the chicken into smaller bitesize pieces, giving them about a handful of a chicken for a meal, along with my turkey recipe [ground meat, yam, veggies, etc.] to add extra cushion in the stomach. Always make sure they are not swallowing large pieces.
Keep in mind a few things: Pork, rabbit and fish may harbor E. Coli bacteria and are more likely to contain Trichinosis and Cystocerca (tapeworms), so these meats need to be cooked thoroughly. I usually avoid these meats (except I do poach some salmon or white fish occasionally for my dogs, removing all bones).
With the other meats - beef, chicken, turkey - I always feed raw, but you can put a little water (not oil) in the pan and brown it a bit if it makes you feel more comfortable (some people are adverse to feeding raw meats). Some dogs are not used to raw meat or may have some digestive problems, so start out with medium-rare/cooked meat and see if they can tolerate raw little by little.
If your dog is having diarrhea from other causes... In this case, I will boil up some chicken soup with carrots and celery. Remove the bones. Chop up the meat and veggies and mix with a little cooked white rice. Squirt a little Bragg's Liquid Aminos or iodized sea salt ... A recipe that has been used for centuries!
Remember, no one cooks for the animals in the wild! Poultry and rabbit are actually the easiest meats for canines to digest, and are a part of their natural diet in the wild, but if feeding rabbit, always buy farm-raised rabbit [human grade] to avoid tapeworm and cook it medium-rare. I don’t feed road kill as it often contains parasites, although if you have a pack of Wolves, you may have to resort to donated food sources, and it should be cooked thoroughly. A healthy dog reared on a natural diet will have a strong immune system and shouldn't have a problem with low doses of salmonella which is sometimes found in raw meat. For the past 23 years I have fed all my animals and rescues a natural diet with raw meat and vegetables with much success with rehabilitation. Also, it's easier to eliminate parasites from time to time, than trying to detoxify harmful cancer-causing chemicals and byproducts which are found in processed, commercial pet foods. I have my canines checked for parasites every 4-6 months [just a stool check - which is inexpensive], as well as watch for parasites daily. If your dog is ill or his immune system is compromised, you may want to cook the meat slightly in water and a little sea salt until he can tolerate the raw meat.
Turkey bones are more dense, so avoid large Turkey bones to be on the safe side as sometimes they are too hard for most canines to chew up properly. Raw turkey necks are fine. I prefer giving them raw chicken as it is easier for them to digest. I use mostly the backbones, ribs, necks, wings, and other small bones until the dog is chewing carefully and eating slowly. I avoid the larger, harder bones (like the legs and thigh bones) with the younger or smaller dogs, or dogs that don't chew their food well. For High-content and pure Wolves, I often give whole, raw chickens, but I observe them closely to be sure they are not “wolfing” down their food, i.e. swallowing it in large chunks or eating too fast. Instead they should be chewing and tearing it methodically, consuming smaller pieces at a time, eating slowly and calmly. If you find your Wolf is wolfing [pardon the pun], get out the meat cleaver and chop the chicken into pieces that he can chew up, but not too small that he will swallow whole. Years ago, I almost lost a pure wolf to Bloat because he swallowed two whole chicken breasts without chewing. I massaged his stomach and walked him around and luckily he threw them up. See more info on Bloat/Twisted Bowel. For large breeds, always feed two smaller meals a day rather than one large meal. If your dog is eating too fast, then feed smaller, more frequent meals, or try hand feeding. [Note: canines between 4 and 8 months old should eat three meals a day. See Puppies ]. Adjust volume according to weight gain.
Feed your canines separately! Feeding in the same room [even if they are separated] often causes them to eat faster than normal for fear of the other dog eating their food. You may feel that they are "so good together," but often there is still an anxiety factor that is disruptive to the digestive system.
Too many bones? Supplements?
Lots of bones in each meat meal [on a daily basis] can give them too much calcium, so go easy. Add some doggie vitamins. Missing Link is a good vitamin supplement to add and can be found in most pet-supply stores. Digestive enzymes are especially important for older canines and those that need digestive help or healing. Probiotics are also a good daily supplement if the dog has been taking any kind of drugs or antibiotics (give after treatment is completed). Glycoflex III is an awesome supplement for joint and muscle health. Omega 3 oils - very important.
OK, here they are ... finally!
The Meatless Breakfast - 1st meal of the day
Use flaked barley [not pearl barley which is indigestible], and/or flaked whole-grain oats [all organic if possible], ratio of 2:1 respectively [if you can't find flaked barley just use raw oats]. Soften about two cups of the flakes with either raw cow's or goat's milk [which is difficult to find unless you live in a farming community]. If you can't find raw milk, use vegetable water [see recipe below], or a vegetable broth [watch the sodium. Organic Low-sodium is best if using a store-bought broth].
I usually make enough for 4 days and keep in tight lidded container in refrigerator:
In a food processor, liquefy [puree] one can of garbanzo beans and one can corn, with the water from the can. Use Organic if you can. Be sure there are no other ingredients on the label. You can substitute with red or white kidney beans.
In a large bowl, add the liquefied beans and corn.
Add about 1/2 cup of the vegetable water.
Add the softened flakes [oats and barley]. The mixture should not be too think as it will thicken as it sits. Add more vegetable water if needed.
Add some dried cranberries and allow to soften. Do NOT use raisins or grapes!
If you are going to add apples or banana pieces, add fresh at each meal, so they don't get soggy and old. Cut into small, bite-size pieces.
Feeding 50-76lb dogs - 2-3 heaping tablespoons of the mixture in the dog's bowl. I often add a tablespoon or two of fresh cottage cheese. Remember, the food should be served at room temperature or warm. Never feed cold food. You can warm mixture by adding hot water to take the chill out as needed.
A raw egg can be mixed into the cereal no more than three times per week.
Sunflower oil, or sesame oil [tahini] or coconut oil - one teaspoon for an average size dog [use far less if the dog is overweight].
VEGETABLE WATER: To make your own vegetable water, simply cut up half a cabbage, or some broccoli spears, or a few carrots [or all three] to a large pot of water. Bring to boil and simmer 15-20 minutes. Cool. Remove the veggies and save for later to add into either meal. You now have vegetable water. It's what I use. If you don't want to go through the trouble of making veggie water, just put some hot water into the flakes.
NOTE: The meatless meal can also be fed 2-3 times a week instead of every day, depending on the dog's needs.
THE MEAT Meal - 2nd meal of the day . . .
NOTE: This "meat" recipe should be used for your canine's second meal of the day, with the first meal being "meatless" [above]. This is because too much meat protein can stress the kidneys and makes the digestive system work harder. Meat is acidic and the meatless meal is alkaline. Feeding both creates a good balance and helps ward off disease [bacteria and viruses like an acidic environment to reproduce]. All healthy adult canines should fast one day per week, giving only vegetable broth and/or parsley water with honey. Having only pure water is ok too. Fasting allows them to detoxify. A nice raw marrow bone will help take the edge off the hunger if needed.
I cannot wholeheartedly recommend any processed pet food, but if you must, review Dog Foods in our Menu for help in choosing a high-quality dog food (I think that's an oxymoron). Always check the INGREDIENTS label on the bag of kibble [and cans] on a regular basis. Since there is no policing of the Pet Food industry, manufacturers change their formulas frequently any time they want. Without careful monitoring, poisoning and disease can occur [needing "Recalls"]. Just about any pet food you can buy in a grocery store is loaded with hard-to-digest grains, fillers, byproducts, antibiotics, growth hormones, sugar, salt, colors, stabilizers, MSG, etc. I also do not recommend dog and cat foods found in discount stores that have been stored for long periods of time in their warehouses. Temperatures vary widely and food gets rancid quickly. Often they are transported in trucks that are not temperature controlled. Also, be careful about where you store your own kibble [near a window in the hot sun, a hot car, heated floors, etc.]. Keep the bag closed tightly, or keep the food in a sealed container. Store in cool, dry area. Buy only what you can use in 3-4 weeks max.
MEAT RECIPE -
Put 5 lbs RAW MEAT (chopped or ground) in a large caldron. I like to mix a combination of chopped chicken with bones, ground turkey, and ground beef to get a good balance of different nutrients. Add ground lamb or bison if you can afford it.
Add your veggies - It's very important to always use a Food Processor and puree, thus the veggies will be easier for your canine to break down and digest. [Avoid onions, grapes, raisins, cashews, and macadamia nuts as these foods are toxic to canines.]. If you do not have a food processor, then grate the veggies very finely, or cook them al dente. You can use:
Carrots, broccoli, cabbage, celery, or zucchini. Just a bit, as too much fiber can cause stomach upset. For instance, to the 5 lbs of meat, I use about 1 cup of pureed veggies. All must be finely grated if you don't have a processor.
NOTE: Yams, pumpkin and root vegetables are really great for your canine, an excellent source of easy-to-digest fiber, along with many B vitamins - BUT they should be baked and added to the meal when serving. You can also buy pumpkin in the can (make sure there are no additives). About one heaping tablespoon per meal.
Substitute other veggies in same quantities. Any leafy greens [parsley, spinach, chard, dandelions] chop up and add fresh at each feeding, as they get slimy and go bad quickly. Go easy on these greens as sometimes they cause gas. Again, you only need to add about one tablespoon per day [for large dogs] in the meal.
Note: Spinach and chard have oxalic acid which inhibits absorption of calcium. Do not feed spinach or chard regularly. Kelp [seaweed] is also good sparingly as contains iodine and can inhibit absorption of iron. Dandelion greens are THE BEST if you can find them. Be sure they were not sprayed with herbicide. Organic is always best with foods fed raw.
Also in Food Processor [or mince finely] - garlic (sans the paper). Note: when first starting your dog with garlic, use only a few cloves until your dog gets used to it. Watch him to make sure there is no allergic reaction. The next time you make the mixture, add a few more cloves until you are putting a half bulb into the 5-pound mixture. Make sure it is ground fine. Some canines develop allergies to large amounts of garlic, so you want to keep the total amount to the equivalent of 1/4 clove of garlic per day with food. Mixing a half bulb into the 5-lb. recipe actually will supply this. I often alternate, mixing garlic into the recipe every other month to avoid developing sensitivities, or you can leave it out altogether. I have been feeding all my animals garlic periodically for years as it is a great anti parasitic, anti-inflammatory, and immune-system booster. Note: garlic is also a blood thinner.
One squirt of Braggs Liquid Aminos - which you can find in the Health Food department of most grocery stores - is cheaper than soy sauce without the chemical preservatives. This replaces any electrolytes the dog may have lost to loose stools or simple dehydration, and also supplements amino acids... and it tastes good!
Note: the fiber you add (raw veggies) should ONLY be approx. 10-15% of the total amount of meat mixture, i.e. to 5 lbs of meat, add about 1/4 lb. total fiber foods. You can also use cooked pumpkin, baked yams and sweet potatoes as well. You can pick up a small Food Processor for about $30, and believe me, after cutting and chopping up veggies for 15 years, I don’t know why I waited so long to get one.
Mix all this together. To keep fresh, freeze what you won't use in one week. It is now known that freezing plastic [or heating it to 86 degrees or more] releases dangerous, carcinogenic toxins. I personally freeze all my foods in ceramic, glass or brown paper whenever possible. Remember, freezing meat is almost as bad as cooking it because it loses a lot of it's flavor, nutritional content and "life energy." Never freeze food for long periods of time.
Always give supplements fresh ... [do not mix in recipe and store]
It's important to add calcium [bone meal] if you are NOT feeding raw bones. Protein powder, digestive enzymes, vitamins and nutrientional supplements are essential. See Dr. Pitcairn's recipes in his book and how to make "Healthy Powder." You can find Bone Meal and Missing Link at a quality pet-supply store. Follow directions on the label. Note: Do not use Bone Meal from oyster shell or egg shell.
Vitamins and supplements - Give Probiotics regularly as well as proteolytic enzymes on occasion or if healing. It is good practice to add some Fish Oils or Cod Liver Oil. You can find some great supplements on the Only-Natural Pet Store [click on banner below]. Note, if your dog has any liver disease, do not give Cod Liver Oil but use Beta Carotene as your source of Vitamin A instead.
I also use Puritan's Pride when ordering some of my herbal remedies and supplements. "Human" supplements are less expensive, cleaner, and I can take them too! Just do the research so you know the right ones to give your canine. When buying digestive enzymes for your pets, make sure there is no Hcl (Betain Hydrochloride).
Never give a dog or cat cold or frozen food Always warm meat mixture with hot water, or in microwave for about 30 seconds (1/2 lb meat) or 1 minute (up to 1 lb. meat) depending on the volume, before mixing with the dry kibble, enzymes or vitamins. Note, if you already mixed the meat with kibble, Do NOT put in microwave as the kibble will turn to little, indigestible rocks. It will also kill the supplements. Warm mixture by pouring a little hot water on food, or let the food sit for a while to bring to room temperature. If you are introducing the raw meat to your dog or cat for the first time, use about 25% meat mixture to 75% kibble or canned diet that they have been used to eating. After a few days, if their stools are still firm, gradually add more meat mixture and less kibble until you are serving about 75% meat mixture/25% kibble. If you wish to use 100% raw food diet, then vitamins, bone meal, and enzymes must be added to complete the diet nutritionally, as well as changing types of meats and body parts regularly to get a variety of nutrition. With cats, feed less dry food and more wet food to prevent kidney damage.
Note- I advise strongly against feeding any commercial pet food, but if you are feeding a diet solely of premium high-quality commercial dog food [either dry food or canned] you may notice loose stools or diarrhea. This is often caused by a bacterium that the pet food manufacturer adds to the food, called Interococcus Faecium. It is very robust and can overpower the flora in the dog's digestive system. Chronic diarrhea can lead to many health problems, so you want to add Acidophilus and Bone Meal [or raw chicken with bones] to the commercial food to help stabilize stools. It is actually better to mix the commercial food with My Turkey Recipe, rather than feeding the pet food as the only food source. [We also urge you to contact pet food manufacturers and ask them to omit Interococcus Faecium from their formulas.]
Regarding Grain - I have omitted using cooked grains in my meat recipe. Grains convert to sugar. Sugar leads to many health issues. Parasites love sugar. Sugar creates inflammation. Sugar enhances pain. Sugar leads to diabetes. Typical Cushings Syndrome is excessive heat .. sugar creates heat. A small amount of brown rice, millet or quinoa can go a long way. Always be aware of what you are feeding your canine friends. Use a grain-free pet food product. There are plenty of carbohydrates in my meatless meal, and if your pet is suffering from arthritis, Cushing's Syndrome, or needs to avoid carbs - substitute veggies, eggs, sardines, cottage cheese, etc. for the creamed corn and DO SOME RESEARCH!
IF you need to add grain for any reason to the meat meal ...
Cook -1/2 CUPS COOKED MILLET or brown rice, or quinoa. [Millet is easier to digest than rice and less expensive] NOTE: If you are feeding kibble that contains grain, along with the meat mixture, then do not add rice to my Turkey Recipe. If you are using a grain-free kibble, 1/2 cup of cooked grain in the 5-lb. meat mixture is fine once in a while. Yam is actually a better substitute for grain.
Check out these websites for healthy updates and pet food recalls ...
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/newpetfoodrecalls
http://healthypets.mercola.com