This is what I feed…

I start with a base of cooked barely, brown rice, quinoa, millet or kashi mixed three parts broth (vegetable or organic chicken stock) to one part grain. I slow bake it in the oven at 275 until it is very soft. Then I mix in 1/3 chopped or steamed organic vegetables (carrots, string beans, zucchini, broccoli, kale, and yam) and 2/3 organic meats. I alternate on a four-day rotation with beef, lamb, chicken, and turkey. I always try to add some organ meats from the animal of the day. Once weekly I feed fish and another day I may feed yogurt. It seems complicated but I often make up a batch of whatever and freeze it for the day I am in a hurry. One day a week I feed raw chicken necks and backs and on Sunday everybody has raw beef bones. I add flax oil, fish oil, sea meal, and a multi vitamin. For allergic times of year like spring and fall, I add 1 mg of pycnogenol per pound of dog and 200 mg of pantothenic acid daily and 200iu of vitamin E and 1000 mg of vitamin C. Treats usually come from an organic bakery, and of course the dogs love all kinds of fruit and anything we eat. You may say that this is a lot of work and extra expense but it gives me great satisfaction not to resort to vet visits for drugs that could be permanently harmful to my pet’s future health. I also enjoy watching the transformation of a smelly, pinkish Bully to a snow-white specimen. Most of all, I watch each successive generation become healthier and need less supportive care.

Over the years I have watched this transformation over and over as I borrow dogs from their pet homes and condition them for the show ring. A good case was Action Big Shot (Max). Max lived in Great Neck Long Island, an upper middle class neighborhood. In the summer this area is a flea infested and humid climate and because of this Max always had a severe case of bad bully staph dermatitis. I would have to take him two months before a show to condition him. But after two months of living in Pennsylvania, he would clear up on a raw and natural diet and multiple supplements. He had the most gorgeous thick white coat and yet many remember him in less than perfect condition. His owners loved him very much and really tried, but it is difficult to fight with the environment and cooking does take a lot of time not to mention the time and the expense of supplements. For this reason, I have most recently refused to sell puppies to areas that I consider difficult to deal with due to climate and location to a good holistic pet care unless the owners are like minded and agree to educate themselves and practice natural rearing.

Another case was Claim To Fame (Fame) She was bred several times and did not conceive. I always felt that she was an emotionally sensitive girl and unfortunate she was with me during a divorce and resettlement. She went to a couple of good homes that did not work out due to human allergies and schedules so she kept coming back. I am sure that without the natural diet, homeopathy, vitamins and acupuncture, Fame would have never been a mom. I treated her with Pulsatilla for a sweet, devoted pet that would have mild separation anxiety and difficulty with conception. Other problems were creamy yellow eye discharge and also vaginal discharge at times. She would carry a stuffed animal around in her mouth if left alone. She would always want to be by your side and although was not fearful, would be extremely obedient and adoring to her owner as long as she knew that she was supported emotionally all would be well in her world. Theses qualities made her the ideal mom. She could be left alone with her pups from day one and would be careful not to harm them. Her first healthy litter of seven was conceived at five and her second at six years of age. She was the picture perfect mother and shot the puppies out. I have had a great deal of success with infertility both in my practice and with the dogs and would like to know of other experiences.

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For those who are interested in cooking, I have found the following book helpful:
Give Your Dog a Bone. Ian Billinghurst
Wendy Volhard
Diane Stein

Books for Pet Allergies:
Pets at Risk: From Allergies to Cancer, Remedies for an Unsuspected Epidemic, Plechner
The Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog and Cat, J.Levy
Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats, Pitcairn

Some dog foods I will feed if I do not want to cook:
Flint River Ranch
Precise
Natural Life
(I would suggest the vegetarian kibble for very allergic dogs and then add veggies and protein)
Wysong
Solid Gold Hundenflaken
California Natural
Innova
Nutro Natural Lamb and Rice
Wellness Fish and Potato