From: trish@isl.Stanford.EDU (Patricia Halloran)
Subject: Re: Feeding Dogs Veggies and Fruit?
Keywords:  ** BOOK RECOMMENDATION **
Organization: Stanford University
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 92 17:01:34 GMT

In article <17atdeINNmjc@gw.home.vix.com> shedevil@vix.com (Anne P. Mitchell JD) writes:
>Tazi will eat almost anything, so far..she loves raw baby carrots,
>slices of zucchini, you name it.
>
>I was talking to a fellow dog owner yesterday, however, and she
>related to me that her vet chastized her one day, upon discovering
>that both she and her dog had had cantalope with breakfast.  Her vet's
>philosophy is that dog food is all a dog should have, ever.
>
>This led me to wonder about my own practices.  I never give Tazi any
>'treat' unless she has already eaten her own meal..but I figured
>eating pieces of fresh veggies could only be good for her, or at least
>certainly not bad  [I've avoided high acid veggies, like tomatos].


Ann - The best of all the many books I've read about my dog's health and
	well-being is:

     ** Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats by
		Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD & Susan Hubble Pitcairn
		Rodale Press, Pennsylvania

Cost is about $13.00 - readily available in book/pet/health shops.
This book is full of wonderful information about the physical and emotional
well-being of our pets, well documented, researched, and invitingly written
to get one involved and committed to a complete, balanced approach to pet
care.  There is a large portion devoted to nutrition, first defining the
nutritional needs of the pet (dogs/cats), breakdowns of proteins, carbos,
vitamins, minerals, trace elements, etc. - these by weight and condition of
pet (e.g., from small nursing puppy to senior citizen with particular needs).
Then they compare commercial products (read the label!) with his variety of
menus, additives of powders & oils (always charted out by weight - so easy
to follow even I could do it!); comparison is by nutritional content,
cost factors, and speed of preparation - to be honest, we all look for
convenience...

I discussed his approach with my vet (in S.F.) who thinks very highly of
Dr. Pitcairn- she approves & *encourages* my following his natural approach
i.e., preparing my dogs meals.  I am not a cook of any sort -- but the
recipes are easy, quick, as varied as you & your pet choose to have it.  My
dog *thrives* on it - she has a couple of favorite meals; I add dog powder
(consisting of bone meal, kelp powder, yeast) & oil (I use wheatgerm, cod
liver oil) along with some other liquid vitamins based on her weight (10lbs)-

She eats very enthusiastically twice a day - & here's the interesting part -
she *rarely* eats treats -- I have boxes of healthy dog cookies, I even
broil up some liver bits -- she takes them from me [to please me I think] -
then she plays with them, or buries them in her bed, soon forgetting about
them-she *doesn't eat them*.  My conclusion is this diet/menu satisfies her
so she is *not* a nibbler or table-begger...

Finally the proof for me is mostly in the "potty" - I can set my clock by her
her regularity! And her " 'bms"  set an example for the neighborhood in
in form and color!  I check periodically with the Vet lab & they agree.
My friend who shows champion Norfolk Terriers also uses this book

There are also has sections on Poisons, Disease, Being Prepared for the
Unexpected, Traveling, -- I guess you can tell I highly
recommend this Book to Dog & Cat people alike (my cat lived to be 21 yrs!)..

Cheers, Trish
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs