Sparky is enjoying this..

[Brandy Hunter]

Sparky was getting cavities on his back teeth because we failed to know that we had to brush his teeth since we got him. Pomeranians usually have bad teeth (his are surprisingly good, all straight).

So, we were told by a vet to start brushing his teeth.

funny.

He'd squirm and growl, and lunge at the brush trying to attack it. But once he realized I wouldn't let him go like I have in the past, he let me finish.

But because he wasn't used to getting his teeth brushed (and I couldn't see what I was doing half the time because he refused to open his mouth) his gums got a bit bloody. (Which is weird, because I floss his teeth regularly)

So now we're told not to let him eat his dry food so he doesn't get infected and doesn't hurt his gums more.

Great time for the deal on beneful last week at Independent, we stocked up (30!)
But there's only so much beneful I like to give him (makes his poops really soft) and I can't pronounce half the ingredients.

So, he's been eating our food. (Vet said it was ok)

There's so much we can give him being up at the cottage and not having normal human food that dogs usually get (odd meats & vegis) so we had to improvise. Also, thanking god that he's finally at a normal weight so we don't have to shorten the list anymore.

The neighbors must think we're crazy, making him a plate of foods. But it wont be for long, About a week, thank god, he's messy as heck !

So today, for lunch ( who would've known dogs need lunch, but his belly was growling!!)

I took 1/2 a piece of bread and low-sodium ham pate and made him a sammich. I just ate the other piece of bread. Sad part is, if you hold up the sammich he'll eat it like a human. ** shaking head **

We were told to incorporate fatty, salty (to a degree) and meat into his new 'diet' as his normal food has those items.


Help!! I need ideas.

[barberella]

a friend of mine used to get pumpkins,squash,sweet potatoes etc. cook them up and mash them and feed that to her dog

[Brandy Hunter]

I need to find a list of dog friendly vegi's..

and hope we have some here.

[Brandy Hunter]

I have a can of pumpkin, would that be the same? :D

[Natalka]

Oh, hon, you need to start googling! There are TONS of dog feeding sites with ideas and recipes.
I think that you have to watch to get that particular balance dogs need - outlined in some of the articles below - plus there are tons of recipes and ideas.

http://www.alldoghealth.com/how-to-m...lthy-dog-food/
http://www.petlovers.com/vb//showthread.php?t=11495
http://www.dog-obedience-training-re...d-recipes.html
http://www.lifescript.com/Life/Famil..._For_Dogs.aspx
http://www.i-love-dogs.com/dog-food-recipes.html

Just wondering, have you considered a Sparky blog?

[Brandy Hunter]

Thanks Nat ill check those out.

I have considered, but I really don't have time, I keep procrastinating my course work. Maybe once I finish 1 more credit i'll start one


I tried googleing the vegi part, but I can never get a straight answer. I'm google-challenged

[Brandy Hunter]

Probably not a good idea, but heck.. I should just get him some baby food.

[muggos0101]

Oh, hon, you need to start googling! There are TONS of dog feeding sites with ideas and recipes.
I think that you have to watch to get that particular balance dogs need - outlined in some of the articles below - plus there are tons of recipes and ideas.

http://www.alldoghealth.com/how-to-m...lthy-dog-food/
http://www.petlovers.com/vb//showthread.php?t=11495
http://www.dog-obedience-training-re...d-recipes.html
http://www.lifescript.com/Life/Famil..._For_Dogs.aspx
http://www.i-love-dogs.com/dog-food-recipes.html

Just wondering, have you considered a Sparky blog?

This site is kind of funny http:///6gdskj3

sorry it's supposed to say tiny url . com in front of the link but it wont let me post it

[VeeVee]

Carrots, rice, bananas, apples are all good but make sure there mashed up...no onions!

Have yo utried other wet dog food? We feed our pup HALO and its amazing...I have also come across other great dog brands that are natural and much healthier then beneful.

[Brandy Hunter]

He usually gets Cesar Slices but we're in the middle of no where, and we didn't think of getting any before we left

I think my Mom is going into town tomorrow though..

[Lynn49]

Our Jenny gets lots of homemade foods because she just turns her nose up on dog food...so today it's brown rice, with a can of salmon added in, and some peas. Many people are turning away from commercial dog food with the recalls, list of ingredients, esp colour additives, etc...and I find this so much easier! There are nutritional supplements that they require..hopefully they're listed there somewhere...

Here's a list of some recipes sites I bookmarked:

http://recipes4gourmetdogs.com/

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/buddys-...od/detail.aspx

http://www.barkbarkimhungry.com/index.html

[Sherbear609]

Buddy (our pom) gets pasta ...Vet told us to give it to him so every pasta night Buddy gets his serving I have the best laugh because he thinks he has to run to his crate and eat it spoiled lil guy but I so love my lil pom

[lbolduc0]

dont give the dogs grapes, they are supposdly bad for them.

Try him with cheese slices... my dog goes crazy over them. he loves them as a treat.. if he is in the living room and cannot see what we are doing in the kitche and he just hears the plastic open he comes running like a bat out of hell to get his treat.

[Chantel]

I don't know how wet the beneful is, but could you mix in some of his dry food with it and allow it to soften a bit before giving it to him? That way there's a bit more substance to his poops. Or was it the food in general he can't have, not just hard food?

[avoncallingu]

I'm still stuck on....you floss your doggie's teeth!! I'm impressed - my dog won't let me near his mouth - but I do have to try to give it a go because he DEFINITELY won't let the VET near him! He LOVES bananas and oranges, though. If I just say the word "Banana" he comes running!