| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| acairnsmom |
Posted - Nov 21 2011 : 08:38:31 AM
I just read this on the internet
http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/21/8885427-chicken-jerky-treats-linked-to-mystery-illnesses-deaths-in-dogs
Seems some treats made in China are causing illness and some deaths in dogs!
DH and I just decided if we ever get a new pet we are going to start making their food ourselves and not rely on commercially prepared products.
We always fed Hobbs Iams kibble and Lil Ceasar moist and those always were safe but I would now worry that the company may decide to move the manufacturing over to China like so many other corporations are doing.
This news just makes me heartsick!
Audrey
.jpg) Good boy Hobbs! I love and miss you. |
| 18 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Missus Miranda |
Posted - Nov 23 2011 : 09:29:54 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Alee
I know you do have to make sure to get all the right vitamins for dogs and cats- I watched a show on the Pet Channel about a lady that had only been giving her cats meat and bones but they were all blind because they hadn't gotten anything else. It was so sad :( Cats and dogs are not straight carnivores. I always see the cats sampling various veggies and grasses in the yard.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Momma and I ALWAYS had to keep the cats from eating the house plants. The only plants I have in our house right now are some little broad leaf thing I don't know the name of, and a sage plant. Eventually, I'm going to get Pepper Jean some grass at PetCo, since she does not go out. I tried a new food that's a good mix of GOOD grains, meats (mostly duck) and veggies and she started eating before I even got her bowl on the floor. So, I picked her and the bowl up and she tried to figure out how to get to it before I even set them both down!
I forgot to post the recipe I found last night, so I will try to do that after lunch today! The book is out in my truck right now.
"I'm not trying to be mean or cantankerous. I just wish people would do the right thing, and use a little common sense." ~ Farmgirl 3535
Pflugerville, TX
http://www.tawnycow.blogspot.com/ |
| Apache Lady |
Posted - Nov 23 2011 : 07:35:28 AM
I remember a couple of years ago there was a big dog food scare here in the US. I had a list of all the dog foods in order of their "goodness" and would you believe Costco brand came up first? I always fed my dogs Iams, but switched to the Costco lamb and rice ever since.
Being in the health and safety department here at work, I come across a lot of ugly stories about China. Things like adding "whitener" to milk and milk products. This whitener is high in PCB's. And of course there is the high lead content in just about everything that get's shipped to the US. The US has a ban on lead containing paint and painted products, the maximum allowed is .06%. If you look at the Consumer Products Safety Commission website nearly everything that is recalled due to high lead comes from China.
And the latest, did you hear about the minivan that was carrying 64 preschoolers and was involved in a collision? 18 kids and two adults were killed. How do you do that? Is life really that invaluable to them?
Ok, back to the pet foods, I have several treat recipes. I even have one for Frosty Paws if anyone is interested in summer treats? I have to dig them all out though. |
| Alee |
Posted - Nov 23 2011 : 07:22:38 AM
Cathy- I know what you mean- We simply don't have much extra time right now, so while I would love to do the cooking for my pup I just can't. I buy "Taste of the Wild" because they use human grade food items and no grain at all. It actually smells pretty good (depending on the variety. Pacific Fish not so much). They put in veggies and berries along with the meat. Our puppy has only had "other" dog food from when she was with the "rescue" and we had a 10# bag of Beneful (not recommended!!) to finish here. I immediatly tried the Blue Buffalo but she didn't seem to be a fan, so I tried the Taste of the Wild and she loves it. She weighs about 25 lbs now where when we got her in august she maybe only weighed 3. Sometimes I am not sure where she is stashing her kibble she goes through it so fast! LOL Maybe once I am out of college so I don't have what equals to two full time jobs- I will be able to do the cooking for her too.
I have seen some great raw and slightly cooked dog food recipes on the web. I would love to know what everyone has tried!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| Catherine L |
Posted - Nov 23 2011 : 05:04:02 AM
I have always tried to buy the better dog food for our dog, containing rice with less corn. I've been told the corn is just a filler and with it the dog has more waste. Now, he is spoiled. Once I couldn't get to the store to get the better dog food so I ran to our local $ store. I looked at the pictures and thought Gravy Train looked tasty. I went home and mixed it up with water and made the gravy. When I placed it in front of him, he sniffed and walked away.
The better dog food is more expensive. If homemade is less expensive, I think I will try it. I will look for a recipe.
~Cathy~
Farmgirl 2428 http://www.my-fairhaven.blogspot.com/
http://adaywithnonnaandboompa.blogspot.com/ |
| Farmtopia |
Posted - Nov 22 2011 : 11:45:58 PM
Cats need taurine in their diets. Dogs are better at omnivorous diets. My only hesitation at the bones is that it has happened where the bones shard and pierce the intestines. I saw this only once when I was a vet tech and, though rare, it can happen, I suspect with the thinner, narrower bones. However, I side with caution on the dog food issue, as well--just too much unregulated stuff happening with our food and our animals' food, as well!
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| Alee |
Posted - Nov 22 2011 : 7:20:02 PM
I know you do have to make sure to get all the right vitamins for dogs and cats- I watched a show on the Pet Channel about a lady that had only been giving her cats meat and bones but they were all blind because they hadn't gotten anything else. It was so sad :( Cats and dogs are not straight carnivores. I always see the cats sampling various veggies and grasses in the yard.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| Missus Miranda |
Posted - Nov 22 2011 : 1:21:41 PM
I want to figure out what to give the cat that would be better! It's hard to get our dog to eat anything other than Kibbles n Bits (or Pepper Jean's food) but Pepper is not so picky. I do occasionally give her wet food, mostly fish, but she prefers dry.
I do have a recipe for dog/cat treats I can share... when I find it... I think it's in the big purple binder in my truck. Will look for it while I am getting ready to sew after work!
"I'm not trying to be mean or cantankerous. I just wish people would do the right thing, and use a little common sense." ~ Farmgirl 3535
Pflugerville, TX
http://www.tawnycow.blogspot.com/ |
| njaw09 |
Posted - Nov 22 2011 : 1:15:33 PM
I mix people food with dog food. Sometimes I add fully cook carrots/potato smash it and add it to dogfood. I also add some seafood and chop it and mix it. My husband gave our dog semi-cook hamburger and our terrier seem to like it but I always nuke them for at least 60 seconds. just in case...
I give our dog milk almost every day. Same with yogurt. Anything but chicken bones & chocolate. We used to give him other types of bones but now that he is quite old we don't give him anymore bones.
I should inspect our dog food where it came from. |
| acairnsmom |
Posted - Nov 22 2011 : 12:01:58 PM
Sherrye, you and I had the same thought. Diane, I like your blend. It sounds like it might have a bit more nutrition than the chicken and white rice/veggie mix my friend makes her dog. That's what I'd be worried about is not giving them enough of what they need but I am seriously thinking that home made is the way to go. Besides, how better to share your love to them than to prepare them the food they eat? I've seen dog treat recipes before, and I may even have one. I'll have to dig through my recipe file.
Audrey
Good boy Hobbs! I love and miss you. |
| sherrye |
Posted - Nov 22 2011 : 07:36:15 AM
this is such a great thread. those of you who make dog food. would you share your knowledge. do you cook your veggies then add to raw meat? do you add olive oil? or milk? since we have sooo much produce and barley i am thinking i need to make the dog food. do you feed eggs? raw or cooked? we do cook for the pigs and chickens. we cook beans split peas and lentils daily. then we add other goodies to the pot. leftovers from us etc. makes it taste good. would love a treat recipe for a dog treat. if anyone has time to share. thanks happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Nov 22 2011 : 03:02:56 AM
I make all the food for my two dogs. I make a big batch once a week and divide it into daily serving size containers. I use ground turkey, brown rice, rolled oats and various veggies all in a 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 ratio. It actually costs less than the dry food I was buying and my dogs are very healthy. I make all their treats too. I bake cookies with brown rice and oat flour and then add whatever is on hand for flavor. Sometimes it is pumpkin or peanut butter. In the fall I use fresh apples and cinnamon. I also buy sweet potatoes when they are in season and par boil them then slice and dehydrate them. They are like a jerkey treat, but healthier.
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farmgirl sister #922
Don't go with the flow...you are the flow.
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
| acairnsmom |
Posted - Nov 21 2011 : 1:52:11 PM
It's just too scary to buy stuff made in China but since everything is they kind of have us over a barrel! I know when ever I purchase something with a made in China label I wonder if I'm risking my life and health! I feel horrible for those poor people who thought they were giving their dogs a treat and they wound up poisoning their poor pooch! Think I'd want to fly over to China and take some revenge!
Audrey
Good boy Hobbs! I love and miss you. |
| Room To Grow |
Posted - Nov 21 2011 : 1:10:23 PM
We owe them to much money. That is why we still have to buy there products and that they make it cheaper than we can here...With products that we have banned to protect ourselves. They get away with more because they dont have people looking down there throats
Deborah
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Nov 21 2011 : 10:47:39 AM
The recall of Diamond wasn't in our state, but I read about many dogs that had died as a result of eating their daily kibble. That was truly sobering. Growing up, we had a Schnauzer with a very sensitive stomach and the vet recommended mom boil a chicken and make rice and veggies, and long after Heidi passed at 17, she is still making that meal for her English Beagle, Henry.
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
| acairnsmom |
Posted - Nov 21 2011 : 09:57:00 AM
Jonni, you're right that it could happen here also. Look at the massive canteloupe recall from this past summer and those were grown in the heart of America! Kris, do you feed your dogs only raw meat and bones? We've read about the RAW diet for dogs and somehow I'm not sure about it. Where do you get the meat and bones? I'd be afraid they'd be contaminated with E-coli or other pathogens. I had a friend who used to feed her Gt Pryanese boiled chicken with rice and veggies. She'd make up a huge batch of it and freeze it for later use so she only had to do it about once a month. Paula, yes, I'm passing this along to all my dog loving friends too!
Audrey
Good boy Hobbs! I love and miss you. |
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - Nov 21 2011 : 09:12:41 AM
Audrey,
Thank you for the info. I know a few folks who feed those to their dogs, and I'll pass that information along to them.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Nov 21 2011 : 08:51:03 AM
This is why I feed my dogs raw meat and bones. I don't care what anyone says about this, it's what dogs eat. Geeze, when are we going to learn that China should be left alone! We have got to stop buying their stuff. Buy American!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Nov 21 2011 : 08:49:39 AM
Well, truthfully, it can happen just as easily here, with American made foods, too. Our dogs always ate Diamond brand food and that was recalled several years ago due to a missed grain inspection (US grown grain). I don't buy foods for myself raised in China or produced there, so I take the same approach to the cat/dog food I purchase. But, it's obvious that unless you prepare a raw diet or like my mother, boil a chicken every other day and make a ton of rice and veggies, then you can't really control their intake of (potentially harmful) foods.
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
