Homecooking Committee

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Recently, I have been in touch with a lady whose adopted doodle was diagnosed with a severe illness, and she was interested in homecooking for him. I had to scramble through the discussions here to find those of you who might be able to help her. I was really wishing I had a list of all our Food Group members who home cook for their doodles for easy access.

Since this is bound to come up again, and since we also have many members who are interested in homecooking but don't quite know how to get started or go about it, I thought it would be a good idea for those of you who have had success with homecooking to post yourselves here so that those with questions can find you "Dark Side" people, lol.

 

Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This dog has a preliminary diagnosis of megaesophagus, so this is a whole other ball game. Consistency & absorption right now are key. These dogs can die of malnutrition just because no nutrients get far enough along in the digestive process to enter their blood stream or sustain their metabolism. There is still a lot of testing & exploration to be done, but right now she's got to get some food into him (and keep it in him) any way she can. I think she's trying to become educated on all her options right now. She's trying the step stool feeding method, but may have to go to a Bailey chair.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Is there a doodle equivalent of an Ensure like product? Something of a thick liquid consistency that is a complete nutritional source.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm hoping the vet will have recommendations for her along these lines. She just consulted a new vet this week who is finally getting to the heart of things. The original vet had the dog on 9 different meds, 5 of them alone for digestive issues. The new vet has taken him off all of them but one.

[Trowby]

We cook for Sage. Usually ground beef, sweet potato or white potato, green vegetable, bone meal, maybe some brown rice. We add on cottage cheese. She loves it and her digestion is great.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

You know, an Ensure or Boost product may just be a good supplement along with dog food, Karen, is there anything contraindicated in the ingredients? No harm in looking. Yes this dogs' issues go far beyond getting a balanced diet into him, more like getting ANY nutrients into him is better than none at this point. I still think some ground lentils would be very gentle and provide some needed proteins. I am not a RD and certainly not a vet, just throwing some thoughts out there,.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm going to email her and get an update. I know she was going to be talking with the vet about diet specifics this past week. I am realllly afraid of making any recommendations without the vet's approval on this one.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have been home cooking for Guinness for about six months...ever since we received his IBS diagnosis. I did lots of research, corresponded with a nutritionist at Tufts, conferred with my Vet,and developed a plan which we have used successfully. Karen, would you mind posting that plan here...it may be helpful to new home cookers? My laptop hard drive crashed in Friday, so I don't have access to ANYTHING, and it is really making me crazy. Guinness has done so well on this diet. Next week we have a six month follow-up with the Vet, and she's going to do some blood work just to confirm that everything continues to be okay with him on this diet. As soon as I get my laptop back, I'll start posting some of the recipes I've developed (DK Cookbook). I'll also follow-up when we get his test results, because this is our "confirmation" that home cooking can be a healthy alternative to dog food (for those who need it). I should add that my Vet was originally a bit of a skeptic, but now seems to wholeheartedly endorse Guinness's diet...we just have to take this final step to ensure that everything looks good. She even told me that she was now beginning to recommend it to others who are having similar problems. More to come....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Best I could do is give a link to your post where you have the PDF file:
http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/home-cooking-where-do-i-be...

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks, Karen. I'm lost without my laptop. I should add that I have since changed from just using the bonemeal as a supplement to a more complete vitamin/mineral supplement. Also, I need to credit all of the other home cookers here on DK whose input helped so much as I put together Guinness's plan.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Can those of you who homecook please post photos of some of your meals? We are thinking it's time to change the photo on the main page, maybe rotate it occasionally to showcase some of your homecooked creations. Thanks, Dark Siders!

[Deirdre]

I went to The Dark Side when Bear was diagnosed with cancer in hopes that Gus would never have to go through what his brother is going through. I thank the food group and DK for giving me the knowledge that I have aquired. I don't know if EVO and home cooking has taken Bear past his "We're lucky if he makes it to March" I do know He's happy, his coat is wonderful (EPO) he has bad days and good days but the good days outweigh the bad. I have 8 bags of EVO in the guest room closet pre P&G after they're gone it will be a wonderful drive to Carmel for Origin. Yes,someday I may have to eat pinto beans ($1.99 2lbs) last a week or 2 but the dogs are going to eat good. This is what I cooked and packaged for them tonight.
Baked chicken

Vege's

Combined product

15 lbs. chicken breats, 2 lbs carrots, 2lbs squash ? lbs green beans, 3 day sale 2lbs $1.00 don't know haw many lbs I bought, just know my daughter kept saying "you've got to be kidding me? you're buying the green beans for the dogs?" Told her they would share. Home cooking is really simple once you get used to it. I do supplement with EVO. My boys have no grain in their diet except for water crackers with peanut butter in the morning Bear's pill time.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Looks delicious! I'm so glad to hear that Bear is having lots of "good days".