Always make sure your dog has a constant supply of fresh, clean drinking water.

Protein

Develops healthy muscles, nails, cartilage, ligaments and hair. Dogs have an essential requirement for some amino acids (building blocks). These are found in animal products such as meat, eggs, etc.

Carbohydrates

Fast energy and high fibre levels. These can be found in pasta, rice, etc.

Good Quality Fat

For a shiny coat and healthy skin as well as energy requirements. These can be found in canola oil, fish oil, etc.

Vitamins and Minerals

Are most essential. If your dog is on a well balanced diet, there is no need for added amounts. Sometimes good intentions can lead to bad results and can result in "over nutrition" and often leads to a variety of health disorders.

Important sources of Iron

Liver (richest source), oysters, lean meat, kidney beans, whole wheat bread, kale, spinach, egg yolk, turnip tops, beet greens, carrots, apricots and raisins.

NB Your dog requires a complete and balanced diet which can be met by feeding a well balanced home made diet or a good quality commercial food.

Raw Bones

These should be given to your dog a few times a week or more. To help keep teeth clean and breath smelling fresh. A raw bone also keeps your dog occupied and is a great form of exercise.

An Old Fashioned Recipe

The following excellent for any dog or puppy that is seriously ill and many a dog has been saved by small amounts of this mixture given every hour or every half hour.

1. egg white

5. tablespoonfuls of milk

1. tablespoonful of glucose

1. tablespoonful of brandy

By Colin Curtis

Cooked Stew. Good or Bad?

A meaty stew is a traditional food for the cold winter months, particularly for weaners and growing pups that are kennelled in outside runs.

Stews are also suitable for aged dogs that cannot chew meat, and provide an appetising and easily digested food for dogs convalescing from sickness or injury. Most stews consist of a 30% to 40% meat based with 20% to 30% vegetables and the balance made up of cereal feeds such as stale bread or rice.

However, cooking meat and vegetables for long periods to soften them can inactivate many of the vitamins, particularly A,E, B1, B6, B12, Folic acid and Vitamin C and destroys the essential amino acid Methionine. Low cooking at only 100 deg C as occurs in boiling meat for stews is less likely to damage the meat protein as compared to meat that is grilled or roasted. Certainly roasted meat and meat cooked in temperatures above 200 deg C in an oven, can damage the fat and protein and interfere with fat metabolism in the body. This can, in the long term lead to an accumulation of fat in the liver.

If roasted or cooked meat is fed for long periods of time, health and vitality can be affected by 'fatty liver'. It is also important to avoid feeding fat that has been used in deep fryers, or dripping from roasted meats as a fat supplement for dogs. The fat is 'burnt' by the high temperature, and may not he metabolised as efficiency. It can accumulate in the liver, particularly in pups and growing dogs.

Incidentally, once stew has cooled, the fat layer on top is quite safe to feed, as the cooking temperature from the boiling does not damage the fat. Mix it back into the stew before feeding, to enhance the taste.

I find that stews are a very good feed for a dog returning from a weekend of shows during hot weather, when the dog may be dehydrated. Feeding an easily digested stew, topped with a partly cooked egg for 12 days is a good way of providing extra fluids as well as a nutritious appetising and easily digested food until the dog is able to recover.

by John Kohnke BYSE., RDA.

Consultant to Vetsearch International