Dog Food Cooks!!!!

After a quite an interesting conversation with my baby, Mari, regarding the dogs nutrition and diet, we have decided to start cooking the meals for our dogs.

Now, we have started planning but the decision is not final yet.  Due to the high volume of food constantly recalled and me finding out that dog food manufactures use diseased livestock, road kill and many other undesirable ingredients we want to offer something better to our dogs.

Another factor is cost.  It can be much cheaper for our wallets to cook their food.   Well, a trip to Sams will either confirm or negate the wallet savings.

Here is the very simple recipe to which we would add many more vegetables: HERE

Double Ds: Doggy Diet

I will present couple of different ways of calculating what your dogs energy intake should be daily.  Be advised that size, age, climate, genetics, activity level, health, and many other factors can completely change the formula.  Here are just few simple ways of calculating: 

1.

"RMR: Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) is the amount of energy (calories)

a dog needs to burn in order to keep vital organs functioning endlessly 

with no activity *RMR is similar to BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) and 

often used interchangeably but technically different."

The formula(dogs above 5 lbs) goes like this: RMR = 70 + (weight in kg x 30)

where one kg is 2.20462262185 pounds

For all my Americans here is the formula:RMR = 70 + (weight in lbs x 13.6)

Blue needs 926.8 calories

Indy needs 1130.8 calories

2.

As a general rule of thumb, a dog weighing 1 kg should eat about 140 calories a day.  For each additional half kilogram that the animal weighs, add another 25 calories on.  This is the basic expected calorie intake.

Blue needs 825 calories

Indy needs 975 calories

3.

According to the table found in , an active Young Adult dog weighing around 50lbs, like Blue would need around 1500 calories, while Indy, with being heavier and all, get to have around 1900 calories. 

This great study from NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL regarding nutrition, vitamins and more can be read if you click here.  No not there,HERE.

Dogs need magnesium,potassium, and sodium for nerve impulse transmission,muscle contraction, and cell signaling.

"Your dog is at an ideal weight if you can easily feel
its ribs. The waist should be easily observed behind
the ribs when viewed from above. An abdominal
tuck is evident when viewed from the side"

WARNING: TIDBIT
Pet foods marketed as “snacks” are not required
to have nutritional adequacy labels

Here is also an awesome link to view calorie contents of the dog treats and food available. 

Blue & Indy felt bad about all the of you humans that do not know how to calculate your body operating calorie count, so here it goes: 

The Harris Benedict Equation

FEMALE:  655+(4.35 x weight in pounds) +(4.7 x height in inches)-(4.7 x age in years)

MALE: 66+(6.32 x weight in pounds) +(12.7 x height in inches)-(6.8 x age in years)

Blueblies But Glands

Hold his legs, hold your breath, use Vaseline and you are in. 

Squeeze; doesn't it smell like rotten cheese?

Paper towels are there to clean it, OMG baby you should have seen it! 

What are anal sacs?

The anal sacs are located on either side of the anus at the 9 o´clock and 3 o´clock positions; they are positioned just under the skin. They connect to the anus by means of small canals or ducts. Anal sacs produce and store a dark, foul-smelling fluid. These are the same type of organs that a skunk has to scare away its enemies. Although dogs can use these for the same purpose, most dogs live in an environment that has no enemies. Because the sacs are rarely emptied, the fluid builds,up, solidifies, and becomes an ideal environment in which bacteria can grow.

How will I know if my dog is having problems with his/her anal sacs?

Symptoms of anal sac disease are:
1) Scooting or dragging the anal area.
2) Excessive licking under the tail.
3) Pain, sometimes severe, near the tail or anus.
4) A swollen area on either side of the anus.
5) Bloody or sticky drainage on either side of the anus.

Marianna was scared to death.  Realizing that it will help Blue in the long run she overcame it.