Daintree Dogs Food Journal
AM
Adults got Acana Lamb and Apple dry food with sardines on top (I wanted to finish the bag.)
Pups got ground chicken with pork entrails.
PM
Adults and pups got ground chicken with pork entrails and adults got cottage cheese on top.
Turns out the babes are a little chunky so they are back to 2 meals a day for now. Apparently that's enough, considering mom is still supplementing them.
We are on to CHICKEN! and PORK, sort of.
All the dogs dog ground chicken/bone and organ this morning with a topping of ground pork entrails, Sounds delicious doesn't it? The pups were reluctant because I think they keep hoping I am going to set down beef tripe, but they did eventually clean the platter.
PM
The folks and Bhindi got beef ribs, Splash got Acana Lamb and Apple Dry food with some beef blood (she does her best on working meals, but her teeth are getting bad and she is old so I give her a break sometimes), and the pups got ground chicken topped with baked, cooled and skinned yams. Just pierce and stick in the oven for an hour. So nutritious, never refused, and can be served with skins when they are older.
PM
The adults got beef bones and the pups got ground duck. Needless to say, they were quite underwhelmed and barely picked at it despite not having eaten for hours. Food snobs.
AM
Pups got 2.5 lbs of a beef tripe and ground duck mixture. They are still nursing 5-6 times a day, with Rhys deciding when she goes in and out as always.
Adults got beef tripe and a small portion of raw beef liver.
THAWING- beef ribs, beef tripe, straight beef meat
BAKING- spaghetti squash
MID
The pups will be on 3 meals a day now, for the rest of the time I have them and then up until the age of 5-6 months, as their new homes see fit. Puppies burn a lot of calories during a day so frequent feeding helps them stay nourished while they do the bulk of their lifetime's growing.
Their mid-day meal today was 2 lb of beef tripe on top of 3/4 medium sized baked, cooled spaghetti squash. After the tripe was gone, they entertained me with their faces while eating the squash, like, "This is NOT meat and we are NOT happy about it." BUT they still ate it all :P
PM
Each pup got a 4 inch beef rib. They worked and they worked to get the meat off those bones. It was hilarious to see them fight over one with another laying there within reach. They carried them around, Teilo did for awhile until he finally found the right place to eat it. They got covered in soaked through newspaper and were still seeming appetizing to the pups. Rhys came in and recovered a few as the pups started to tire out. That is the most tired I have seen them, with Iago and Morgana even falling asleep curled up on 2 stairs.
AM
Adults had leftovers including 1 turkey neck, some bison meat, and some liver pate I wasn't going to finish. The babies had ground duck with crushed pineapple, which was all gobbled up.
For a mid-afternoon snack, all the puppies got a special treat! I had picked up some Vitalife Duck and Sweet Potato Twists when I was at Walmart a few weeks ago, and they each got one. Most of them ate the duck and left the Sweet Potato for Rhys when she came in to clean up after them!
We are ready to move on to a new meat, which is going to be beef since I have quite a bit of it and in different forms.
PM
Adults each got a bowl of raw beef tripe from Courtlyn, and so did the puppies. Their 2 lbs was gone in a couple of minutes!
Splash's 12th birthday!
AM
Pups got 2 lb of ground duck with 3 raw eggs on top
Adults got duck necks and beef tripe.
PM
Pups dined on ground duck with greek yogurt while Splash had 1 turkey neck, Bhindi had 2, and Rhys had 3 with more yogurt. Topaz had 1/2 cup Acana Lamb and Apple dry food with 2 tbsp yogurt as well since turkey is his kryptonite.
THAWING: ground duck, pork bones
AM
Adults got pieces of raw bison meat and canned crushed pineapple, a sweet treat they love!
Rhys- 22 oz
Topaz- 9 oz
Splash- 5 oz
Bhindi- 7 oz
The pups got... you guessed it! Ground duck, 2 lbs, ho hum... the slow introduction of new, rare meats will be very helpful in fending off food allergies later in life so it's worth it.
Next week we will move on to something new.
THAWING- ground duck, 10 lb beef tripe
AM
Adults- Bhindi got a full chicken carcas, Splash got 1/3, Topaz got 2/3, and Rhys got 2 full.
The pups got about 2 lbs of ground duck with bone/organ.
PM
Adults each getting a partially thawed beef bone to work on while I am at work, and the pups are getting another 2 lb of ground duck.
The pups eating lamb Tripett and ground duck.
AM
Pretty much a repeat of yesterday- all the adults got a beef bone, and then a pet sorbet to enjoy while I left for work.
The puppies got their ground duck with bone and organ. It was still cold so I put in a bit of hot water to bring up the temperature a little. The smaller a dog is, the warmer his/her food should be (up to room temp, not 'heated up' as this would cook the bone.) Dogs under 10 lbs should not be fed anything frozen as this lowers their core temp too much.
PM
The babies got more ground duck tonight.
All the adults got beef tripe- Splash and Bhindi about 3/4 cup, Topaz 1 cup, and Rhys 2.5 cups.
Rhys got a third meal of 1.5 cups of Lamb and Apple Acana dry dog food, 1 full can of sardines in water, and 3 tbsp cottage cheese.
THAWING- duck necks for the puppies, chicken carcases for the adults
AM
Each adult dog got an appropriately sized beef bone to chew (not a lot of meat, more a recreational chew.)
The puppies got a small amount of ground duck with bone. Just to make sure they don't get upset stomachs I didn't overdo the portion.
PM
Adults all got ground duck with kelp, alfalfa, and cold water fish oil. Puppers got ground duck only (with bone and organ.)
AM
All the adults got baked yam (cooled to room temp) with the skins on and slices of raw bison meat
The puppies got their can of lamb tripe with mashed yam and it went over very well.
PM
The adults got duck necks (2 for Rhys, 1/2 for Splash, 1 for Bhindi and 1 for Topaz.)
The puppies got a tray of duck necks (1/2 of 1 each) and although they are not powerful enough to really get them down, have enjoyed sucking, gnawing, and fighting over them. Periodically, Rhys goes in under the guise of nursing them and steals a few for herself. There are still 2 in there, quite mangled and still being gnawed on by the pups.
THAWING- ground duck with bone, beef bones
AM
Beef tripe (raw), slabs of raw bison meat, kelp and alfalfa
Rhys got about 2 lb, the rest got about 3/4 lb.
Puppies got 1 can of Lamb Tripett with 3 tbsp greek yogurt & warm water
AM
Beef tripe and leftover soup
(Topaz 6 oz, Splash and Bhindi 4 oz, Rhys 1.5 lbs.)
The puppies got their usual Lamb Tripett, with a ripe banana mashed in. They didn't super love it, but at this age change in diet takes time to adjust to.
PM
I am working a 7.5 hour shift (that is my long shift- my short shift is only 5 hours) so I gave each dog a recreational chewing beef bone and filled up the water buckets. They tend to drink a lot of water after they have been chewing for an hour.
LES BEBES got their usual can of lamb tripe mixed with warm water and greek yogurt. They loved it!
Nothing is thawing right now, as we have a bucket of beef tripe (10 lbs) and another of bison meat in the fridge we need to work on for the next few meals. There is nothing wrong with feeding the same food over and over a few days- raw feeders usually go for variety over 2 weeks. I am over-zealous about variety because I adore feeding my dogs and the joy they get out of eating. Many raw feeders stick to chicken backs or turkey necks and then add other meats in once in awhile, and there is nothing wrong with that either. But bear in mind, the more of something a dog eats, the more likely they are to develop an allergy to it over time.
AM
photo borrowed from the washington post
Lamb Femurs! These are my dogs' favorite RMB. They look exactly like the bones dogs eat in cartoons, with the balls on each end and the long bit in the middle. The dogs eat each end completely off, and then crack the straight part into pieces so they can eat all the marrow. Because lambs are seasonal, this bone is harder to find than others, and can be more expensive but trusty Tailblazers in Calgary had lots so I bought a bunch when I was there last. Some things, you just splurge on because the dogs love them so.
Rhys' second meal-
Fridge cleanout- 2 tbsp minestrone, 1/2 cup pork tripe, 2/3 chicken carcas, and 2 duck necks.
THAWING- slab of bison meat, beef mix, and beef tripe
AM
Rhys- 2 chicken carcases
Splash & Bhindi each got 1/3 of a chicken carcas
Topaz- 2/3 chicken carcas
This is larger than a chicken back- it is essentially the torso, once the breasts, wings, thighs and drums have been removed. It contains the back, neck, ribcage, pelvis, skin, meat, and lots of bone. It is a working meal which the dogs go to their crates and/or beds to work on for about 5-15 minutes depending on how quickly they chew. These are the meals that Raw Feeders refer to as RMB (raw meaty bones.)
Rhys is acting a little lethargic so I am upping the amount of food the pups are getting to give her some reprieve. They are now getting 2 cans a day of Tripett Lamb Tripe, one around lunchtime and one in the evening. They adore it, and all are eating, especially the little ones, which is very heartening.
THAWING: pork button bones
AM
Leftover, what's in the fridge type of meal
ALL GOT:
about 2 tbsp of ground beef
about 1/2 cup pork tripe (which is so gross, by the way)
about 2 tbsp leftover minestrone soup
large pinch ground kelp
PM
A lighter meal for Bhindi, Splash and Topaz because the day did not allow for us to go for a run, so they didn't burn a lot of calories. Rhys is at the height of nursing demand so she is getting a ton of food...
T, B, S- 1/2 duck neck
Rhys- 2 duck necks, full can of sardines
Rhys' third meal is 1 cup of Acana Lamb and Apple kibble with cottage cheese and fish oil
Puppies are getting another full can of Lamb Tripette mixed with warm water. I will take pix tomorrow of them eating. Just on my way to work now.
THAWING- chicken carcasses
AM-
Splash and Rhys each got a turkey neck and beef bone. Rhys' beef bone was huge. She brought it directly to the puppy pen, put it in and sat down outside. Clearly she is ready for me to start weaning them ASAP :)
PM- Bhindi and Topaz are back from a couple of days at Pikkinokka.
All the adult dogs got a heaping tablespoon of leftover chili, about 1 tbsp of raw beef liver, and ground beef/bone/organ mix. Rhys got about 3/4 cup buttermilk for the fat and calcium content.
The puppies ate their first meal!!! I gave them 2 bowls with some Tripette Lamb Tripe mixed with warm water. Nia was one of the first ones in there up to her wrists. All of the pups ate some, and Rhys came in to help them so they got to nurse too. At the moment all are passed out in Tripette Comas. It went over very well with them and will become a daily happening until they are ready for more exciting things.
Introducing simple mushy foods early takes some of the pressure off the mother, especially with a larger litter all draining her 6 times a day. And clearly I have not only her blessing to begin the weaning process, but her insistence. I didn't leave the marrow bone in as it had bits the pups could choke on (gristle, meat and fat) and too much marrow would be a very messy way to go (out the back end...) They will still be getting the bulk of their nourishment from mom, that is why we use the term "wean".
AM
Topaz, Splash and Bhindi each got 3 slabs of pork button bones and a few pieces of smoked beef pancreas.
Rhys got her smoked pancreas and 6 slabs, then tried to take one of Splash's. Which Splash defended quite fervently.
Let's just say Splash is going to be eating in the private dining car from now on, as the other dogs are seeing how slow an eater she is and trying to cash in on that... :(
PM
It's been hectic around here, so I missed taking out a meal to thaw.
No big whoop- we have a remedy for that. I gave each of the dogs some Acana Lamb and Apple kibble with buttermilk. I almost always feed something wet in with the dry (like yogurt, sardines, canned food, cottage cheese, etc.) as it gives the meal some moisture and lubricates the esophagus/digestive tract to help the kibble go down. Lord knows it's come up enough when given dry!
Rhys gets an extra meal tonight- smoked pancreas, cottage cheese, and a can of tuna
THAWING: roll of hamburger, beef liver (will be fed with egg shells to ensure there is calcium in that meal)
Rhys- 1 lb ground bison: meat/bone/organ from Arusha
1 bison marrow bone
1 cup buttermilk with fish oil
Topaz & Bhindi- bison meaty bones (knuckles)
Splash- 8 oz ground bison, 1 smoked beef tendon
THAWING: chicken backs