What do you add to your dogs Kibble - Page 4

one sardine each feeding (acts as a natural anti-inflammatory), 1/2 teasp fresh minced garlic (anti-bacterial anti-fungal properties) and one thick cut diced chicken breast, or diced london broil, or fish and 1 teasp extra virgin olive oil. I feed Acana which is a very good dog food, so I just cut back on the Acana to account for the cooked food i put into his meals.

I have read  that soaking kibble  can  cause bacteria to be released into the food. I read never to soak kibble..

I add beef, salmon oil and vitamin E soft gel capsules. 
Beef is more of organ meat such as lungs, heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, stomach, tongue, head meat, rib meat, and leg meat. Udder also.  I boil the beef in pressure cooker and also give the stock. 

Less kibble and more whole foods (namely organic meat/poultry/fish) whenever I can, and not too much. Some of the posts offer good suggestions. Kefir/Greek yogurt and pumpkin puree are cost effective/nutritious, and to my understanding - easy even on the sensitive stomachs. 

I avoid commercial nutritional/vitamin supplements, especially what's peddled in the pet markets (low quality and over priced). To stay on the safe side, I recommend only feeding human grade products.  

Thin, fit GSD with average diet is better off than fat, under-exercised one with personal chef. 


 

Marjorie, could you be more specific ?   'Bacteria'  are all around us, and on us,
and in us,  and our dogs, all the time.  In their millions.  Perhaps I, for one, should
have said that when I put hot water on my dogs kibble, it is just boiled  water, from
the kettle, not the hot tap;  but there is very little chance of the public water supply
harbouring too much that is harmful (at least, discounting flourides etc !) because
it is constantly in use and flowing through the mains.  Perhaps more stagnant water
supplies, if you live in the middle of nowhere & only your household is drawing on
the tank, might give problems ?

Frankly I'd rather risk a few bacteria, either beneficial OR detrimental, than storage
mites or other insect life crawling in the food. [Although no doubt some will argue
that's okay, it's an extra source of protein !]   As long as you have no active and  
communicable diseases, like Parvo, in your house / kennel,  and wash up food
bowls & implements properly between uses, there should be no difficulties with
'bacteria'.  I think I have read more books and articles suggesting soaking - or
adding water with - dog food, than not;  in fact I don't recall ever seeing one that
unequivocally said NOT to do it.

To the poster who said they don't soak because of the expansion and digestion
processes - there isn't any one answer to the rights & wrongs of that, because
the quality of the different kibbles, and their 'cooking' processes (extrusion, or not)
varies tremendously from brand to brand.  I suppose the only way to avoid such
questions altogether is to feed Raw.  But then, think about the 'bacteria' involved
in that !

My dogs are fed twice a day;

Kibble in the mornings, the evening it's a half position of kibble and over a 3 day cycle I rotate each day by adding either 450g green tripe, raw chicken wings, sardines.
 
regards 

Mark

I add fish oil and coconut oil, about twice a week for each.  I don't notice any difference than when they don't get them.  Right now they are getting it because it's available (relative passed away and had huge bottles of fish oil capsules leftover, and I got a jar of virgin organic coconut oil through a neighborhood bulk order).

I also feed table scraps and raw but it really depends on what I have when.  My dogs get venison and chicken as their top raw proteins since venny I get free from hunters and chicken we often get cheap at the local butcher.  On occasion they get raw beef marrow bones for treats (like we have company over and I want them to be quiet and stay out of the way).

I FLOAT kibble but don't soak it.  Meaning, I portion out the kibble, pour in a little bit of water, and feed immediately.  This is because my dogs sometimes act reluctant to be bothered to visit one of the multiple water pails.  In the summer heat (right now it is insanely humid here and 90-100 degrees) I want to make sure the dogs are hydrated so I add the water to their food. The kibble is not soft when they eat it.  It also slows down my faster eaters. 

As far as I know I have never treated a dog for and "bacteria" problem involving feeding.  None of my dogs have any known allergies.  They pretty much have iron guts.  I use the kibble I use mainly because of their poop (very small, firm, almost odorless even though it is poop....I hate huge, mushy cow pies that smell like death, yes I KNOW it's POOP).

To those that don't feed raw;  the raw food bacteria is what strengthens the immune system;  dogs take in bacteria and their systems learn to digest it the good and the bad and that is what keeps them healthy and strong.  When you cook your meats of course you cook out some of the bad bacteria but you also cook out the good bacteria that keeps their digestive systems working at optimum.  I have had great luck feeding raw, never use kibble and variety is also immune system builder.  You want your dog with a very healthy immune system which fights off diseases of all types.  Good luck  Nan

Marjorie, what can come out of the food that wasn't in it already? I don't get that at all. What difference would it make if it was in the food or if it was leaked out into the water in the food? The dog's eating it either way.

I sometimes add a hard boiled egg in the am to the dry kibble and yogurt with steamed veggies in the pm.  I probably don't really "need" to add anything to her kibble as it should have everything she needs.  Just try to keep it interesting for her I guess.