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  1. #1
    Senior Dog Abulafia's Avatar
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    Do you all supplement?

    Our Labby—just hit 17 weeks yesterday (Oct. 5)—was weaned on, and came home on, ProPlan. It's what her breeder uses for all their dogs, and she's been great on it. She eats 3 cups 2x a day (i.e. 6 cups total), and is growing beautifully.

    Prior to talking w/ the breeder about food, I'd thought of doing raw food (which I think can be great, if you are really responsible about it—it's what we did w/ our cats) or a boutique food (I'd researched several). I really hadn't considered Purina—but I trusted the breeder.

    Again, the ProPlan has been terrific. But I do supplement. In the morning I add 1 gel capsule of fish oil, a bit of fresh fruit or veg (chopped apple, chopped red bell pepper, blueberries), a tablespoon of plain yoghurt, and a sprinkle of nutritional yeast.

    In the evening I add about 1/4 cup chicken-rice, which is chicken boiled w/ 1 clove of garlic, then removed from the pot; rice is added to cook down, and then chopped carrots, some zucchini or peas, and some spinach (all fresh, not canned). Chicken shredded, then added back in (the cats get the rest).

    The additions don't bring her over 6 cups of food a day.

    Just wondering if you all supplement with any fresh / made food.

    (And yes: I triple check anything before I think of adding it, and work from a very small list of ingredients.)

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Abulafia's Avatar
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    Oh, and was wondering if there were any suggestions about particularly healthy supplements—though I really keep this as just a small proportion of her intake.

    Edited: Never Mind. I was asking about fresh foods your dogs might like, but (1) this post was apparently widely misunderstood and (2) as someone fairly experienced with nutrition, I am more than capable of answering this myself or speaking to people I trust (breeder; vet). I was attempting to make light conversation. Please ignore such.
    Last edited by Abulafia; 10-07-2015 at 12:58 PM.

  3. #3
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    To be honest, I try hard NOT to supplement. Most of it is not proven one way or another and it seems like every few years there's a news story about how a supplement perhaps wasn't all that or that it really doesn't work the way they thought it did or that feeding it may have caused issues. For example, I believe the fish oil you feed needs to be accompanied by vitamin E? I strongly believe that good health is a mix of genetics, weight and movement/exercise mixed with a well-balanced diet (both for people and dogs).

    ProPlan's ingredients might not be what most people like, but the nutritional value is derived from years of testing and experience. Unless the dog is having an issue -- which is typically genetic -- I feel like supplementation is not necessary. On the other hand, it also won't cause any harm as long as you're not overdoing it or causing an imbalance. That said, I personally would not supplement a puppy unless there was a problem as this is a time when proper and balanced nutrition is of the utmost importance.

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  5. #4
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    Have you are talked to your breeder about this? If you trusted your breeder enough to get a puppy from her I think it is very important to trust their advice on nutrition. They know what works for their lines and usually have years of experience to back it up. I would also caution you on supplementing anything with a puppy, it does not take much to throw something off, you are better safe than sorry.
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  6. #5
    Senior Dog Abulafia's Avatar
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    Yes, we are following the breeder's recommendations on food, but also general research (over a couple decades) on adding very small amounts of natural foods to a diet.

    The fish oil I am adding is supplemented by Vit E (most good fish oil is).

    Everything else amounts to a small handful of fresh, raw, or slightly cooked, fruit or veg. Or plain chicken and rice. Have done so since we brought her home. I'm really not concerned (she is in superlative health), or trying to start a debate. I was just wondering.

    But thank you all for your comments.

  7. #6
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Abulafia View Post
    Yes, we are following the breeder's recommendations on food, but also general research (over a couple decades) on adding very small amounts of natural foods to a diet.
    If you are following your breeder's recommendation and have decades of research then why are you asking?

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  9. #7
    Senior Dog Abulafia's Avatar
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    I wasn't asking if it was "Ok;" I was asking of other people ever gave their dogs fresh foods as a supplement. I asked because I was curious.

    If I wanted to know if something was "Ok," I would do as I have done, which is follow my breeder's recs, consult with my Vet, and do my own research.

    I know that what I am adding is nutritionally Ok. I was curious about other owners adding fresh foods.

  10. #8
    Senior Dog Abulafia's Avatar
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    And frankly, now I'm curious (about this board as a whole, and how it works):

    There is an entire sub-forum on "Barf, Raw, and Natural Diets." There are threads on raw foods, on "cool foods / hot foods," on coconut oil—and, frankly, all sorts of food choices / switches / options.

    I wrote: I add some fresh fruits to my dog's food in the morning, a gel cap of fish oil, and some home-cooked chicken and rice at night. Anyone else?

    And to this I get responses along the lines of "If you are following your breeder's recommendation and have decades of research then why are you asking?"

    So, scratch that. I'm not asking. Attempt at making conversation hereby ended.




  11. #9
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Sorry. It sounded like you were seeking validation and your second post was a question.

    My answer would be yes and no. My black Lab has food sensitivities and would like nothing more than to be fat. So he is "supplemented" with veggies so he does not "starve". I'm hoping to move him back to some raw meals soon. My yellow Lab is an easy keeper. I like feeding him raw and I also feed kibble when it's convenient and because he is an easy keeper sometimes I cook up random healthy left over food or stuff from the garden with eggs when the chickens are going nuts and give it to him because he likes it and it's easy and I don't waste food that way. If he were a horse he'd be one of those ponies who is fat and happy and healthy while just eating straw.

    If I could feed them both ProPlan forever I would! They both have grain and/or corn sensitivities and one has chicken issues (I think). So I feed them what works for all of us. My last two dogs that lived to be 16+ and 17+ were never supplemented and ate a moderate food. Never had any health issues other than geriatric arthritis in their very late years. Until they were in their teens no one ever guessed they were old and were shocked to discover the truth. It wasn't me. It was genetics with some luck and keeping the weight off.

    I know lots of dogs that lived long healthy lives on Alpo and several dogs who ended up unhealthy or gone too soon that ate only the best foods with lots of supplements. I was once told by a specialty judge that her long time client has been feeding all of her Labs rice and eggs for decades and she's never seen such beautiful and healthy dogs. I'm just not sure how much it matters.

    But I do not mess with my dogs' diets before a year of age unless a problem needs to be addressed.

  12. #10
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    At age one and after a stint of limping I decided to supplement MSM/Glucosamine/Chondroitin. It really helped the previous Lab girl in her old age and my readings suggested it worked best as a preventative so I started it early. Then about age two, I think, I started EFA for mild dry skin and harsh coat. Second dog was from the same breeder as the first, same food that produced a glorious coat in Jet did not in Oban. None of the three foods in Oban's rotation (started about age two) helped his coat either. He got the EFA on all three foods.

    We did go raw post serious illness. Stopped all meds and supplements and his coat was gorgeous. The he got sick again, is back on kibble as per Internal Specialist Vet and TCM which does have support for coat and skin but mostly for digestion where issues with coat are now thought to originate, with Oban. His coat now is not as good as with the EFA, and certainly not as good as on raw, but it is better than on the previous three foods and ironically this food is very much lower in fat.

    He still gets fruits and veggies, he always did, as treats. A whole apple or banana after a walk, orange or red pepper.

    ETA: I just read Jeff's post, which follows mine, and thought to add that when I did begin to supplement the MSM/Chon/Glu it was first discussed with my Vet and the breeder was aware too, since she's the only other person who actually witnessed the limp.

    My dogs and cats have always had fresh food as treats or leftovers. Oban is actually the most limited of any one I've ever had since due to his Lymphangiectasia he is restricted to one single protein. I used to split the juice and skin from a can of salmon up between the dog and cats and now I feel badly that the cats get this treat and Oban can't have it.
    Last edited by Snowshoe; 10-07-2015 at 09:45 AM.

 



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