Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My family feeds their dogs, and my ex-pooch, cooked food. It usually consists of some beef, rice, and veggies. I just wonder, however, regarding a dog's digestive system, if this food is a good transition from good old regular canned food. And I wonder if it's healthy, depending on the food, to give dogs what humans eat. Do they need the vitamins in regular dog food or not?

I've noticed some weight gains in my ex-pooch since my family had taken care of it for a year. I'm trying to get it back on its old diet, a diet of nutritious, dry and canned food, but it doesn't take to it as readily as before. I just wonder, therefore, if having a dog eat cooked food is a smart move. My ex-pooch seems more spoiled.

But my mother considers the dog hers, so I don't know what to say. We had a little debate about the BARF diet tonight too. My family seems scared of this, so I just wonder what you all think about feeding dogs raw food and or canned food, as opposed to giving them cooked meat and veggies.

>>My family feeds their dogs, and my ex-pooch, cooked food. It usually consists of some beef, rice, and veggies. I just wonder, however, regarding a dog's digestive system, if this food is a good transition from good old regular canned food. And I wonder if it's healthy, depending on the food, to give dogs what humans eat. Do they need the vitamins in regular dog food or not?
>>
>> I've noticed some weight gains in my ex-pooch since my family had taken care of it for a year. I'm trying to get it back on its old diet, a diet of nutritious, dry and canned food, but it doesn't take to it as readily as before. I just wonder, therefore, if having a dog eat cooked food is a smart move. My ex-pooch seems more spoiled.
>>
>> But my mother considers the dog hers, so I don't know what to say. We had a little debate about the BARF diet tonight too. My family seems scared of this, so I just wonder what you all think about feeding dogs raw food and or canned food, as opposed to giving them cooked meat and veggies.

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I feed frozen BilJac. If it were not available to me, my second choice would be canned. From what I've been able to tell on nutrition information, it's better than dry dog food. It's more expensive and a heck of a lot more work. But I don't like the idea of feeding my dogs kibble, or raw, and I can't cook for them.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

raw feeding seems overwhelming at first & it does take some effort, but

those that do it are really convinced

the various types of dogs that I feed are all doing well on it, but I found by experiment that some need to avoid certain things.

the best results I've seen is with my senior pom who has several genetic problems that diet can't fix, but overall her ears, teeth, skin, coat & just plain spunkiness are muchly improved. she gets zero grains.

for most dogs, variety is the key, & also pick the least fat/preservatives etc - what is considered 'healthy' for people. not just meat & potatoes, white rice, corn, breads I'd avoid these.

I didn't mean to imply to avoid meat. but other than canned salmon, the meats I feed are all raw, most with soft bones they eat, or rib bones they gnaw after they strip the meat off.