by Dr Greg on February 27, 2010
In my book, Dog Dish Diet, I empower people to take their dog’s health in their own hands. Your dog may have different needs than others of his or her breed, or even be sensitive to food ingredients that their litter mates can happily eat. This isn’t any different than brothers or sisters having allergies to different foods. We all know family members that are are allergic to this or that, or gain weight super-easily if they eat too many “high glycemic” foods….grain products like chips, crackers,cookies, pizza, and bread.
Processed dog food contains meat, grains,fruit, and veggies in a mix that have been shown to meet the immediate nutritional needs of our pets. Many dogs do well on the “mix”, just as some people can eat almost anything. However if your pet has skin, ear, bowel,anal gland, urinary, or a seizure problem the ingredients in the diet may be contributing to or causing the problem. Heart disease, obesity, and diabetes and allergies are linked to food ingredients, why should it be any different in our pets?
I am convinced there is a disconnect between vets, breeders, pet food stores and owners that muddy the nutritional waters, and confuse the average owner. Dog Dish Diet will explain nutrition and will help you choose the type of food and ingredients that will keep your dog healthy and happy!
Next I will go over holistic, organic, and hypoallergenic types of dog foods and what the differences are.
by Dr Greg on February 12, 2010
I started cooking dog food to try different ingredients out for clients.Knowing that commercial dog food is usually about 20-30 % protein and the prey that wild dogs eat is more like 60-80% protein, I knew that 20-50% protein would be a good range . Young growing animals, active animals,and nursing mothers do well higher percentages of protein. Fast growing breeds develop bone growth problems if fed high amounts of protein or carbohydrates, the research is not clear yet.
My usual ingredients are generally a mix of meat, veggies, or rice such as whole chicken fryers, pork, turkey frozen green beans, zucchini, baby carrots, yams, and brown rice. I use a crock pot because it is so darn easy and we all know the healthiest thing one can eat is soup.
My experimentation has refined the process. I always add more water in the beginning to prevent burned sludge at the top. The water also thins out the fat a bit. I always get asked if I leave the skins on and the fat in. When you begin, it is always a good idea to cook and feed a small amount to get your pet used to the new food. Do not be too surprised if your dog’s stool is soft for a couple days. Yours would be too, if you ate the same thing day after day then ate more fat than you are used to. Fat is a great source of energy and makes a dogs coat healthy, soft , and smooth.More fat in the diet can reduce shedding in some dogs.
Cook the mixture on high for a few hours, then on low for 8-10 hours. The chicken bones will be soft and crumbly.LEAVE THEM IN!! Dogs get their minerals, glucosamines, chondroitins, and monounsaturates fatty acids from the marrow and cartilage. Some of these nutrients come in a pill, in fact I think most of us forget where these things originally came from and why they are important. Then you can decide if your mixture needs more water , to make it the consistency of a stew. Because I crock it for quite a while, I don’t find the need to blend the ingredients.
Then you can freeze or refrigerate it depending on how much you made and how fast you go through it. My three dogs finish off a batch in 4-6 days. I have found in my practice that this mixture of whole, healthful foods will often do more for medical conditions, than any medication I have. If you are spending a bunch on medical bills for your pet, buy my book to feed differently or cook and understand why your dog may need different ingredients for certain conditions.
“Dog Dish Diet:costs only half the price of an office visit for a lifetime of therapy”
by Dr Greg on February 7, 2010
Now that I have lots of feedback from my clients and readers, it amazes me that there could be any doubt that food allergies have such a great role in skin, ear, stomach, bowel, anal gland, obesity, and seizure problems. Veterinarians are still taught that the incidence of food allergies are low, even though thirty percent of my patients respond to elimination of allergens and addition of healthy food ingredients. That is why we need to spread the word. Successful nutritional management of the above chronic diseases will help convince educators and researchers to take another look at canine nutrition, and help avoid needless misery, medications, and money for millions of dogs. When you buy Dog Dish Diet, you are helping spread the message.
Dogs are individuals, with individual needs
The testimonial from Gene Sakahara, a famous figure in Gilroy, is just one example of hundreds that that I have received.
“Dr. Greg’s book, Dog Dish Diet, is a great resource in understanding your pet dog’s diet. I compare it to having Dr. Spock’s baby book handy. Our mixed Corgi / Chihuahua had a very sensitive stomach. Dr. Greg’s veterinary experience and knowledge helped our Molly with her doggie diarrhea and promoted her diet to foods that were natural.
If Molly were able to read,she would have advocated me reading Dr. Greg’s book from the outset. Thank you, Dr. Greg for a wonderful, helpful book.”
Gene Sakahara, retired educator and Garlic Festival demonstration chef.
Another testimonial talking about the real benefits of the Dog Dish Diet.
Whitney and Rocket
Unfortunately, the advice of many veterinarians and commercial dog food ads is that the diet shouldn’t vary. That situation would be similar to us eating the same ingredients and type of food every day for life. Would we trust that one type of manufactured bland cookie could satisfy our every nutritional need?
Human nutrition has been fairly erratic at advising us how to eat. One year grains and carbs are in, the next they are out. Fats are the bad guy, then they are good for you. After extensive research, I have come to the conclusion that the answers to our nutrition questions are all around us. Our native diet consisted of the balance of nutrients and moisture in the world around us.True, we grow and raise most of our food now, but eating it in its “natural state”, balance, and condition is healthier than eating a manufacturers’ idea of healthy food. If human nutritionists can’t agree what is healthy, is it possible that food processing companies and dog food companies have all the answers?
Many veterinarians, breeders, and owners are hung up on percentages, so much so, that they are afraid to vary their dog’s diet. However, that is the way nutrition is taught to doctors and vets. That may make sense if we or our dogs were so delicate. Omnivores evolved to make use of the variety of foods available around them. That is a good thing , and we should help our dog’s keep a good thing going.
A diet from varied sources will provide a better diet, providing the sources are wholesome ingredients. Individuals in both the human and canine species need a bit more or bit less of protein, carbs, fats, and allergens to look and feel their best. That is why I promote wholesome feeding healthful meats , fats, veggies, bones, and fruit.
It is a fact that all dogs do not thrive on one manufactured food source.
Dog Dish Diet:Sensible Nutrion for Your Dog’s Health
Half the price of a veterinary office call for a lifetime of therapy
