Supplements for home made diets

[alek0]

Can anyone recommend me some good supplements for home made cat diets? Most of the things I've looked into (Missing Link, Call of the Wild) seem to have ingredients which are not really appropriate for cats.

[Mary K]

AlekO, We have a current discussion going about Feline Vitamins here under Other Topics/Cat Nutrition. We don't have the answer to supplementing a raw diet yet but we are getting there! Thanks!

[Davis]

I think I may have found something!  This is very interesting.  It's called InstinctsTC.  It would take the place of a supplement and supply all nutritional needs.  It's a mix that you add to raw food.  Looks very high quality.  This one is for felines, but the site also has a link for a site that has a similar product for dogs.  Check it out:
http://www.felinefuture.com/cat_food/

[willyagogo]

I'd like to hear from anyone that has used...OR....knows more about "missing Link"as I am home-feeding my dogs now (have been for about 3 weeks.

We are going to the Vet this week, who, with his wife, home-cook for their Lab and have been for years. But, before I ask him about it...I'd love to hear from others in the forum about it.

I've seen it mentioned in the blogs a couple of times...and I'd love to hear more personal accounts from people that are currently or have in the past used it!

Whether good or bad......just lay it on me!!!!!!....

I thank you all in advance!

[Loren]

I'm not a particular fan of missing link.  It has a good deal of flax in it and dogs do better with FISH OIL. for omegas !  I give human salmon oil ...the dosage is 1000mg per 10lbs.  Fish oil is very good for the coat, immune system and overall wellness.  I give it every day to my boy.  I do feed raw by the way.  I also give supplements from www.b-naturals.com  The owner has  a nutrition yahoo group for pets and is very approachable about her products.  I use the immune blend, the digestive enzyme and the flexile supplements.  Hope this helped!

[Cindy Nevarez]

The flax I use is purely for the fiber benefit, but they get 1 teas. worth every meal. The fish oil I use is from anchovies and sardines...farther down on the fish food chain, which means less mercury. Important to me anyway.

[Loren]

Dogs don't really NEED fiber, especially if they have  good diet.    For bulk (fiber) I either use PURE pumpkin (not pie mix).  good for constipation AND diarrhea OR green beans....also good for bulk and low calories.  Just my 2 cents though. 

[Cindy Nevarez]

Thanks for the post. I did use pumpkin for awhile, but it wasn't working well enough. My adding fiber to my 3 dogs' food is therapeudic for them as they have "bathroom" problems, so to speak.

[Loren]

What are you feeding Cindy?  Puppers and humans shouldn't need to use additional fiber if they are eating a well balanced meal?!

[Cindy Nevarez]

My previous posts from yesterday outlined my supplement feeding in detail, but I can't find them now, but I will summarize the food and that for you here:

I am currently feeding to the dogs, my own raw (using Honest Kitchen mix),  with different Evangers premium varieties of canned added. They also get raw carrots in the AM. The big dog who gets no supps. or fiber also gets 3 raw drumsticks in the AM. Also, 2 - 3 X per week they get .25 cup each (less for the little ones)of hi-quality kibble in a "busy" toy. They also get different 100% meat jerky treats every day.

The oldest dog (15) and the 2 liittle ones get fiber due to health condtions, i.e.; too arthritic to poop (old one), and impacted anal glands (little ones). The other supps I give these 3 also help with these problems, including joint complex, and Omega 3 fish oil  respectively. Until I started this they were having anal gland impactions every few months or so even w/ the use of pumpkin.

[Loren]

I am currently feeding to the dogs, my own raw (using Honest Kitchen mix),  with different Evangers premium varieties of canned added. They also get raw carrots in the AM. The big dog who gets no supps. or fiber also gets 3 raw drumsticks in the AM. Also, 2 - 3 X per week they get .25 cup each (less for the little ones)of hi-quality kibble in a "busy" toy. They also get different 100% meat jerky treats every day.

A few thoughts....while raw carrots are fine to give as a snack or filler...dogs aren't getting any nutritional value from them unless they are cooked or pureed as dogs can't break down the cellular walls in fruits and veggies.  I also, try and limit carrots because of their sugar content.  I'm thinking also that the drumsticks may be too much much bone..hence the "bathroom issue."    Have you thought about perhaps adding some C supplement?  This is good one to have, and can also help with "bathroom issues."  Just a few thoughts for what it's worth. 

[Cindy Nevarez]

Thanks for the concern, and you are correct.
However, the dog who gets the drumsticks is the one who has zero problems. And his teeth are very clean I might add for a ten year-old dog.
The carrots serve 2 purposes for us; one, that they are like a natural 'chew bone,' two, that they go thru their systems in small undigested chunks...so they do indeed help with the pooping, and actually leave very little sugar behind for the same reasons. Giving carrots to horses on the other hand is like handing them a handful of sugar.
Also, (I said this in my yesterday's post too) I have powdered Ester C on hand for when they do have an anal gland flare-up, however, it's not good to give that every day as it makes their bodies run "hot." I also use probiotics when they have flare-ups or other bacterial maladies, which are very helpful as well.

[Loren]

I'm not familiar with the term "run hot."  Could you explain please?!

Thanks!

[Cindy Nevarez]

I've come to understand it to mean that it elevates their body temp creating an environment to allow undesirables to develop in their little systems.

[Loren]

Interesting...I have understood Vitamin C to STRENGTHEN the immune system.....