Answer

Cooking for dogs can be confusing, especially with all the conflicting information out there. And, since you're concerned about weight loss, you'll have to continue to force feed as necessary. I do hope that as you try some different foods, you'll find some your puppy will eat. I've been preparing my dogs' food for over 10 years, but I still have questions and still learn new things all the time. You need to be wary of much of what you find online. You need a reliable source for information. Online, one of the best is Mary Strauss' site at

http://www.dogaware.com/

If you scroll down to the bottom of the home page, you'll find links to her series of articles on homecooking, which was published in The Whole Dog Journal. Reading those articles would be the best possible start for you.

If you'd like a good book with recipes, try Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn.

Most homecooking recipes for dogs include meat, some vegetables, and small amounts of grains. Bone meal or another calcium source is absolutely essential. A lack of calcium is one of the most common pitfalls with homecooking.

Many vegetables and some fruits, in small amounts, are good for dogs. There are others, such as onions and grapes, you should never feed. Organic meats are great if you can afford them. Variety is important, and the proper calcium/phosphorus balance is crucial. Research and following carefully designed recipes will help you learn about all these things.

Here is one of my favorite recipes to get you started:

2 1/2 lbs. lean, boneless beef roast
1/2 pound cut up beef liver
1 cup green peas
1 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped sweet potato
1/2 cup chopped zucchini
1/2 cup chopped yellow squash
1/2 cup green beans
1 cup uncooked rolled oats
1 tablespoon kelp powder


Combine all ingredients in a stockpot. Cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer for 2 to 3 hours until everything is well done. After it cools somewhat, add 3 teaspoons of bone meal (Kal is a good brand, often found in health food stores or online), and use a food processor or blender to blend it all. You can freeze meal-size portions to be thawed as you need them.

Remember the importance of variety, but you'll need to accustom your dog to vegetables and grains gradually. You could begin by adding a small amount of pureed vegetables and cooked oatmeal to whatever meat he'll eat. Also add 1 teaspoon bone meal per pound of meat. That will balance out the phosphorus that's in the meat. Once he is used to eating these types of food, you can try some of the different recipes on the site I gave you above. Scrambled eggs (with 1/8 tsp bone meal per egg) are good for your dog. Plain, unsweetened yogurt (no artificial sweeteners, either), and cottage cheese are other good foods. Just to give you an idea of how this can go, here's a typical day's food for my dog:

Breakfast: scrambled eggs, oatmeal, vitamin supplement, bone meal, small amount of fruit

Supper: stew from the recipe above

Bedtime: well-cooked brown rice, yogurt

Another day, she may get canned salmon (rinsed to remove salt), chicken, or beef heart). Most people who feed homecooked meals do give a vitamin supplement. Your vet probably has some good ones for sale. You'll have to weigh your dog regularly and adjust the amount you feed her to keep him at a healthy weight.    

If you have further questions about this, just let me know by clicking on REPLY. It's very rewarding to do the research and know you're feeding your pets the best diet possible.

Anna

Expert:	Anna
Pos. Feedback:	98.7 %
Accepts:	414
Answered:	8/28/2008

Dog Expert

35 years training & showing dogs. Written articles for Dog Fancy, Dogs, Dog World.