Sorry, I missed your question.

You seem to be doing many of the right things. Perhaps try some fresh, raw food?

Regards,
Brigitte

Such great comments and suggestions – pretty much common sense, really, but with all the misinformation around, it's easy to overlook common sense sometimes.

You may not be a vet, as you point out, but it certainly sounds as if you have a multitude of appropriate qualifications, such that you are clearly in a much better position than the vast majority of vets to pass comment on the nutritional requirements of dogs.

Regards,
Brigitte

As a biologist, physiologist, and experienced university teacher of nutrition, food safety and biochemistry, my one concern with raw eggs is that they can interfere with the vitamin biotin in the body. So it may not be wise to feed them to dogs or humans on a daily basis. With my own dogs, I address this possible problem this by giving cooked eggs several times a week, but raw eggs only once or twice a week. Also, I give a small amount of biotin supplement, and/or a B-vitamin tablet containing biotin, in a meal at or about the time I feed the raw egg. Usually it is small portion of the B-vitamin tablet I take every day.

To my way of thinking, variety is best in diet. This is why I like to use both raw and cooked eggs, and also raw and lightly cooked meats. Fish I would only serve raw if it is of a grade safe for human consumption raw, due to the very real possible presence of parasites. Canned fish is a fine inexpensive alternative – mackerel is great, with fine edible bones for phosphorus and calcium, and also those great omega-3 fatty acids.

I'm not a vet, but I keep this in mind: many recommendations for the human diet are based on research conducted originally with dogs. Also, since dogs are carnivores, logically, they frequently should have some raw meat.

I have a 6 month old bloodhound that is shedding more than normal…hand fulls when I brush him. I feed him Solid Gold and put Fish Oil in his food. I bath him with an all natural shampoo as well. Is there anything I can do extra to help with this.

Thanks, ginger

I was just re-reading these comments, and realized that I missed yours entirely. Sorry about that.

You can find one or two recipes for home cooked dog food here on this site if you look around, – search for – recipes – in the search box at the top of the page.

And there is an excellent ebook full of dog food recipes here – http://www.pet-care-information.com/dog/recipes.html

Regards,
Brigitte

For puppies, your vet may recommend a bonemeal supplement.

Other than that, you can probably feed both the puppy and Abbey the same foods. Of course, young puppies need their food chopped up or minced so they can manage it. As they grow, the pieces can be larger and include bones.

Venison is fine as the meat source. And of course, you should include some vegetables in your dogs' diet. And what could be better than home grown fresh veges?

Regards,
Brigitte

Kevin
p.s. I have a substantial supply of venison and we grow a productive garden.