Calling all dog experts! Need some tips.

[DazzleKitty]

Believe it or not, in the US, it's not illegal to render cats and dogs. The vet says your pet is going to a common grave where it will be taken care of if you put it down. But for some vet offices, that common grave is the dog food factory. I am sure not all vets do this, but some do. That's why Dixie got buried in the yard. We couldn't afford cremation so we made her a pretty little grave in our backyard. Pretty much any pet food that has meat by-products, bone meal, or meat meal has the potential to have such a think in their food. Pet food isn't as regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and many people are not aware they are feeding their pets other pets. I have a video I'd post but it is too graphic for here. If anyone wants to see it, PM me. Note it's not for the faint of heart.

Lots of popular dog foods in in the US..... Ol Roy, Purina, Gravy Train, Alpo, Iams, Pedigree, etc have these ingredients. It's simply cheaper to use them. And the drug they use to euthanize pets doesn't get completely cooked out and it leads to many illnesses in pets like cancer, etc.
Not only are euthanized pets in these brands, but other icky things. Rotten meat from the supermarket gets ground in, wrapper and styrofoam both. They don't even bother to remove the trash. Also under-developed eggs, parts of the chicken we wouldn't even dream of eathing, etc. Even euthanized zoo animals get ground up. Road kill that is too big to dispose of also gets thrown in there at times.

Blue Buffalo, Merrick, Solid Gold, Bil-Jac, Canidae, Nutro, etc are great brands that are actually safe for human consumption. If it says not for human consumption on the can, I won't feed it to my dog. Call me crazy, I know. But I wish more people knew what was in many commercial dog foods.

When I learned little Lola was being fed Purina and Pedigree, I know right away I'd have to change her diet over.

[Thunderwing]

I don't worry too much about what my dog eats. I started off with the super expensive all natural no by product type of food that was $80 a bag... and then had a 'what the heck am I so worried about'? moment. So far to date, she has already feasted on (and these are only the things I have seen her scarf down - ) a portion of dead dear that died long enough ago that it was barely recognizable, a plastic toy, a dead mummified snake, a pile of raccoon poop (that one was tonight's snack!), chicken poop (a daily thing), and lord knows what else. She's not unsupervised, but she IS a farm dog, and is very fast at the 'grab and swallow before ma says drop it!'. So if there's a bit of Styrofoam in her food... it isn't going to kill her. Hell, I let her keep the chunk of deer leg, it's now just a bone and a nice chew toy. (As an eight week old puppy she ate a half pound of rabbit food. Now THAT made her sick. Scared the bejesus out of me, I had no idea what was wrong with her until hubby wondered aloud if the rabbit food she ate a few hours before might be disagreeable...)

Dead 'pets' may not be all pets, they are likely mostly the ones put down by pounds, unwanted. They have to go somewhere. Waste not want not, right?

[DazzleKitty]

Our opinions may differ a bit. Waste not, want not could apply to us as humans (Soylent Green?). Why not be forced to eat other people, if that's the case? Instead of burying them. I know people tend to value human life over animal life, it's instinct. But I cannot view the idea of feeding my pet dead dogs and cats as a "waste not, want not" issue when there are other, better foods out there.

Just my thoughts.

[Doedeardarling]

Currently my pampered pooch eats Canagan, they have flavors like "scottish salmon" and "free run chicken" and of course prices to match. It is his main food, but I do admid to occasionally buying cheap market brand for trips and such. I don't think those will harm your dog straight away, but kinda like fast food with people, they just have too little nutritional value and lots of grain and unidentified meat products.

[DazzleKitty]

Please note it's not my goal to start a debate over this. Feed your pet whatever you want. It's just that I can't stand turning my dog into a cannibal because I'd be hard-pressed to eat an other human unless the situation was dire.

When traveling with dogs we've always bought them actual fast food.    Giving them scraps of what we eat, then their own food when we arrive to their destination. I admit, I'll give my pets some table scraps, but I am going to cut back with Lola. Dixie got too many and it was unhealthy for her.

[Whippycorn]

Believe it or not, in the US, it's not illegal to render cats and dogs.

That's horrible. Actuallly, it's common for pet food here to say 'meat and animal derivatives', which could mean anything!

I recently changed my dogs to 'Skinner's field and trial' food, which is wheat, soya, and general crap free but a bit cheaper than the 'posh' brands as it is designated working dog food.   Which is great because we're by no means loaded.

Yeah, dogs might be 'fine' eating random junk, but I want to maximise my dogs' health and lifespan so I try to feed as healthily as possible. We even have carrots as chew treats

Besides the physical health issues, many of the popular brands cause behavioural issues too due to the sugars and additives... and weirdly they are usually relatively expensive. Baker's dog food is the one loads of people here feed and it's just awful, you can tell which dogs eat it from the unnatural colour of their poo. 

[DazzleKitty]

The fenced in yard is a Godsend! She did NOT want to potty on the leash, but off the leash she potties very well. No accidents yesterday or today. I'm proud of her!

[Karma]

I sort of want to bring up that making animals cannibals is scary common in the states. It's really common in cows and chickens. I only bring it up as it's my hope that some day I'll disgust enough people to change it. It's also why diseases that are in an animals brain are hard to fight, as when the animal is rendered, it passes it on to the animal that eats it. That's why things like hoof and mouth disease are passed on so easily here.


Back on subject, I'm glad she's doing well! is she aquimating?

[DazzleKitty]

She is very used to is and already very attached to me. She's already learned my bedtime routine and is ready to get into bed when I am. She is a total cuddler. She has to be plastered next to me at all times.

[tikibirds]

I couldn't feed my dog those brands if I wanted to as they all upset his stomach so much. Out of the ones sold in stores like walmart, Rachel ray's dog food seems to be the best.

[Whippycorn]

Aaw, it's great to hear that you are bonding so well already! 

*not to scale

[DazzleKitty]

I have her scheduled for a spay the day after Thanksgiving. I am so nervous about it. I know it's a common procedure and I had Dixie spayed, but I am a worrier.

Everyone in my house loves this dog. My parents, my brothers, and me. I almost think it was fated that she came into my life. My friend offered right when I needed Lola the most, and she turned out to be the most wonderful little doggy ever. My mom stated she'd never love another dog like she loved Dixie ever again, but she is completely taken with Lola! This little dog saved us from our grief. I will never ever forget Dixie. A piece of my heart was lost the day she died, but Lola has helped us all with our grief.

I wanted to thank everyone for all the help again!

[Chi]

You could buy a 20/30ft tie-out leash. You can just wrap it around a tree or in a stake and let her wander around to do her business.
After my dogs surgery she had to be walked so she didn't fall, but it's back to the usual independence for her and she loves it.

http://t.petco.com/shop/searchresults.aspx?Ntt=Tie+out+cable&x=0&y=0
They make lighter smaller ones for toy breeds and you can make them as long or as short as you want.
I couldn't live without this as we live near a busy road without a fenced in yard.
She's outside by herself without the worry of running away or feeling annoyed by me walking and hurrying her in the cold.
I think we have the 30 foot one..maybe 40...

Shes not too big but she's all muscle so we now tie it around trees instead of stakes.

[brittney_rochelle]

She is very used to is and already very attached to me. She's already learned my bedtime routine and is ready to get into bed when I am. She is a total cuddler. She has to be plastered next to me at all times.

My/Boyfriend's dog is like this. He knows when it is bed time. He will stand at the bedroom door if it isn't open and be so sad. He will come "get" me if I'm not in the bedroom. He will even be somewhere else in the apartment and get up and go to the bedroom when 12am hits if he isn't already asleep. He's so silly