skinnydipper
Well-Known Member
When I was still lurking, before I joined the forum, there were a couple of posts asking for advice on feeding older dogs or those less interested in food which I would have liked to respond to.
Perhaps if I say how I fed my dogs there might be something in there to help somebody else's dog. I would also love to hear other people's tips.
To minimise the risk of bloat I feed twice a day. There has been conflicting advice over the years as to whether raised bowls are a good idea or not. In some case studies GDV has been attributed to raised bowls but I can see they might be beneficial for dogs with a cervical spondylosis/spondylitis/arthritis
I always fed a good quality kibble. Before adding anything else to the bowl I would remove some of the portion and stuff a kong with it and pack the end with tinned dog food, cream cheese or sardine, this I would give at the end of the meal to keep the dog entertained a bit longer.
The butcher kept me supplied with meaty bones which I cooked in the crockpot for 24 hours with water and a spoonful of apple cider vinegar. The dogs enjoyed the meat from the bones and the stock set to a thick jelly. When the stock was set I removed the fat from the top (trying to avoid pancreatitis). At each mealtime I would warm some of the stock and pour it over the kibble. Bone broth is good for people too.
I used to add a spoon of natural yogurt for those that enjoyed it. Sometimes a raw egg. Sometimes sardines packed in water. Salmon oil on each meal, currently using Healthy Hounds but have used Kronch and others. Meat juices from the pan mixed with warm water and poured over. They got a taste of whatever meat or fish we were having.
One of my lurchers, from a young age, used to like to lie down to eat. It was a very leisurely affair with her. She would still be savouring her food when everyone else had finished long since.
No checking out another dog's bowl until everyone was finished. They all knew "their" spot in the room. This way there were no fights and nobody rushing their food down.
Treats are worked for, either obedience training/games or hidden in dog enrichment parcels except for the last treat of every day which was fed as a reward after grooming, always eagerly awaited- either pig's ear, pizzle, dried tripe, puffed jerky or other natural treat - some dogs preferred one over another.
Dog enrichment can be with shop bought food dispensers or intelligence toys or something as simple as a treat in a kitchen roll tube with the ends folded in or a treat hidden in paper in a cardboard box. I have used various treat balls, etc. Sully likes the Kong Wobbler and Kitty liked the Kong Havaball. Pets at Home do a good one for a fiver. It is an orange ball and is like a maze inside - does less harm to the furniture than a big plastic cube being hurled around.
I know some people feed their dogs all their food in food dispensing toys so they have to work for it. Of course many of you have working dogs and their reward must just be to eat their food and put their feet up at the end of the day.
I avoid processed/manufactured treats because of all the additives and never feed anything from China. I use sprats, fish skins or pure meat strips broken into pieces. I can recommend Treats2sit4 especially the Atomic Drops, Hickory Chicken drops, dried heart and dried chicken liver.
I am always keen to learn so please pass on any hints or tips.
I am not in a position to give another dog a home at the moment, Sully is getting all my attention, but will definitely consider raw feeding a dog in the future.
Perhaps if I say how I fed my dogs there might be something in there to help somebody else's dog. I would also love to hear other people's tips.
To minimise the risk of bloat I feed twice a day. There has been conflicting advice over the years as to whether raised bowls are a good idea or not. In some case studies GDV has been attributed to raised bowls but I can see they might be beneficial for dogs with a cervical spondylosis/spondylitis/arthritis
I always fed a good quality kibble. Before adding anything else to the bowl I would remove some of the portion and stuff a kong with it and pack the end with tinned dog food, cream cheese or sardine, this I would give at the end of the meal to keep the dog entertained a bit longer.
The butcher kept me supplied with meaty bones which I cooked in the crockpot for 24 hours with water and a spoonful of apple cider vinegar. The dogs enjoyed the meat from the bones and the stock set to a thick jelly. When the stock was set I removed the fat from the top (trying to avoid pancreatitis). At each mealtime I would warm some of the stock and pour it over the kibble. Bone broth is good for people too.
I used to add a spoon of natural yogurt for those that enjoyed it. Sometimes a raw egg. Sometimes sardines packed in water. Salmon oil on each meal, currently using Healthy Hounds but have used Kronch and others. Meat juices from the pan mixed with warm water and poured over. They got a taste of whatever meat or fish we were having.
One of my lurchers, from a young age, used to like to lie down to eat. It was a very leisurely affair with her. She would still be savouring her food when everyone else had finished long since.
No checking out another dog's bowl until everyone was finished. They all knew "their" spot in the room. This way there were no fights and nobody rushing their food down.
Treats are worked for, either obedience training/games or hidden in dog enrichment parcels except for the last treat of every day which was fed as a reward after grooming, always eagerly awaited- either pig's ear, pizzle, dried tripe, puffed jerky or other natural treat - some dogs preferred one over another.
Dog enrichment can be with shop bought food dispensers or intelligence toys or something as simple as a treat in a kitchen roll tube with the ends folded in or a treat hidden in paper in a cardboard box. I have used various treat balls, etc. Sully likes the Kong Wobbler and Kitty liked the Kong Havaball. Pets at Home do a good one for a fiver. It is an orange ball and is like a maze inside - does less harm to the furniture than a big plastic cube being hurled around.
I know some people feed their dogs all their food in food dispensing toys so they have to work for it. Of course many of you have working dogs and their reward must just be to eat their food and put their feet up at the end of the day.
I avoid processed/manufactured treats because of all the additives and never feed anything from China. I use sprats, fish skins or pure meat strips broken into pieces. I can recommend Treats2sit4 especially the Atomic Drops, Hickory Chicken drops, dried heart and dried chicken liver.
I am always keen to learn so please pass on any hints or tips.
I am not in a position to give another dog a home at the moment, Sully is getting all my attention, but will definitely consider raw feeding a dog in the future.
