Homecooked meals...

Nicole G · Apr 8, 2016

Does anyone have good recipes? I think I've posted about this before and I know they're are a lot of threads about food, but I don't have time to go through them at the moment

. Ellie's stomach seems to be getting a little sick of Stella & Chewys. I'm willing to make anything.

I've been posting a lot lately and getting a lot of help - it's much appreciated!

Jakeyjake · Apr 8, 2016

I use THK freeze dried base mix (preference) and Sojos freeze dried pre-mix and add cooked protein (you can add raw as well). It's easy and I know they are getting a balanced meal. I like to switch up the proteins between wild salmon, grass fed lamb and organic turkey. It can be a little costly but it is very convenient. My dogs have not done well on raw and there have been recalls that concern me so this is a good fit for us.
Have you tried a different protein of the Stella & Chewy's?

Nicole G · Apr 9, 2016

So last night we tried a mix of ground beef, an egg and some veggies. She loved it and I noticed she seemed very energetic and happy afterwards (more so than normal!). I think we may try a little canned pumpkin (as I keep hearing) later.

I do notice her glands also seem a little bit "fishy". She doesn't normally have any smell at all so I think it may be time to go visit the vet, poor baby.

And yes Jakeyjake, we have been through every single Stella and Chewys!

butters · Apr 10, 2016

We usually feed our dogs a 50-25-25 ratio of protein, veggies, and carbs. High quality lean source of protein like ground beef or chicken..if you use beef make sure to drain all the excess fat. Veggies like sweet potatoes, spinach, cabbage, and peas is good, sometimes carrots but if your dog is diabetic be careful with that cause of the sugars in carrots. Also when you choose a grain, go for brown rice or oats.. I don't recommend white since there's little to no nutritional value plus it also spikes blood sugar. Don't add any flavorings like salt or garlic..very dangerous for dogs, but chicken broth or beef broth doesn't hurt! I've read some users here use NuVet supplements when they cook their meals to insure their dogs get all the nutrients they need, I haven't tried it yet but I'm thinking of jumping on board. I've always just homecooked the meals for our dogs and add their kibble from time to time. You can make a big batch of it and then just divide it into single servings, stick it in the freezer, and when you need it just warm it up and serve so that way you're not making a mess in the kitchen everyday!

MaplesMommy · Apr 10, 2016

butters said:
We usually feed our dogs a 50-25-25 ratio of protein, veggies, and carbs. High quality lean source of protein like ground beef or chicken..if you use beef make sure to drain all the excess fat. Veggies like sweet potatoes, spinach, cabbage, and peas is good, sometimes carrots but if your dog is diabetic be careful with that cause of the sugars in carrots. Also when you choose a grain, go for brown rice or oats.. I don't recommend white since there's little to no nutritional value plus it also spikes blood sugar. Don't add any flavorings like salt or garlic..very dangerous for dogs, but chicken broth or beef broth doesn't hurt! I've read some users here use NuVet supplements when they cook their meals to insure their dogs get all the nutrients they need, I haven't tried it yet but I'm thinking of jumping on board. I've always just homecooked the meals for our dogs and add their kibble from time to time. You can make a big batch of it and then just divide it into single servings, stick it in the freezer, and when you need it just warm it up and serve so that way you're not making a mess in the kitchen everyday!

It all sounds good, but where is your calcium source and Vitamin A/D?

Nicole G · Apr 14, 2016

We settled on The Honest Company. I have never seen Ellie suck down food so fast, and she's quite the eater. [MENTION=600]Jakeyjake[/MENTION] Raw didn't work for us either. After what I read on Stella and Chewy's I'm sorry I ever fed it to her! I don't want to start anything or sound like an alarmist, lol, but this scared me. Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Stella & Chewy's Freeze Dried Dog Food for Adult Dogs, Beef Dinner, 15 Ounce Bag

Some of these reviews go pretty far back. Of course they have lots of good reviews, but I personally have noticed a change in it the last few times I got any.

KimB3384 · Apr 15, 2016

Not trying to start anything here but I do want to make sure people understand that Stella & Chewy's did not nearly kill any dogs. They did a voluntary recall because Listeria was *possibly* detected in some chicken patties.

We do not use S&C but have in the past and would do so in the future if we had a dog that could tolerate fruits and veggies. I just want to make sure that people know this brand is really great and is dedicated to the health and well-being of raw-fed pets and did not do harm to any dogs. Beneful on the other hand ...

Nicole G · Apr 15, 2016

[MENTION=380]KimB3384[/MENTION]

I apologize - I think I worded that wrong! The reviews I was reading were giving dogs pancreatitis and sending them to ER vets.

Beneful, and Eukenuba (if I'm spelling that right), did almost kill one of our dogs. The poor guy got so sick from their specialty kibble....

By the way, Bisou is gorgeous. She reminds me so much of my Ellie.

2bullymama · Apr 15, 2016

I have used S&C without issue and good results..... but The Honest Kitchen is my preference if I can not use kibble.

KimB3384 · Apr 15, 2016

Nicole G said:
[MENTION=380]KimB3384[/MENTION]

I apologize - I think I worded that wrong! The reviews I was reading were giving dogs pancreatitis and sending them to ER vets.

No need to apologize, @Nicole-G. The only reason I chimed in was because I can remember when I first got Bisou I would come here and read every single thread, trying to learn as much as possible, especially when it came to food. Even though we can't use their food anymore, the peeps at S&C hold a very special place in my heart because they were so good and kind and helpful when we were trying to find something that Beezy could eat and tolerate. I would feel awful if someone got a bad impression of them that wasn't necessarily warranted. I don't have any knowledge of dogs getting pancreatitis from their food or from any other food, and from what I understand it's pretty hard to specify what exactly causes it. But in any case, I wanted to make sure people knew it was a legit company that they could trust. Their dog may not do well on the food, but it wouldn't be because it was an inferior brand.

And don't even get me started on Beneful and Eukenuba. I will say that before I came here and learned so much, I always thought I would feed something like Beneful to my dog if I ever got one. I cannot believe how naive I was. And thank heavens a place like FBN exists!

Thanks for the nice words about Beezy. I need to check out the threads and look for pics of your gal. I'm a sucker for a gal with a brindle coat