Allergies. Home food diet. Losing weight. Need food advice.

HI

So, Cooper has been on the home cooked food diet for one week - due to allergies we have to strip everything back for 6-8 weeks then start to re-introduce foods to find out what he is allergic to. He gets white fish, potatoes and carrots each meal. Boring I know but weve been told lamb, venison and white fish only.. Ill introduce lamb next week.

Before this, we had him down to 2 meals (nature diet and wainwrights kibble) a day with a snack lunchtime of an egg.

Now, he wants 3 large meals per day - Im assuming its because there is no kibble and hes getting hungrier quicker? not as filling for as long?

Anyway, thats not the main concern, I have noticed a difference in his weight, only a few pounds (lost) and Im worried that if it continues, what weight he will be after the 6-8 weeks.

So, what I am looking for is some ideas on what he can eat that will be A) more filling and B) give him the right amount to maintain his weight - ie stop losing weight.

For snacks we've got re-hydrated duck and the fish skin bites.

Hope there is help out there

L

Have you thought about giving him raw meat instead of cooked? Very often a home cooked diet for dogs actually destroys many of the nutrients they need, hence the reason for so many vitamin/mineral additives to commercial kibble!

HI Caryll

I considered raw at the start when we knew we were getting Cooper but we chose not to. Just not something I want to pursue for us.

I am thinking of getting a fish4dogs puppy salmon kibble and mixing through with home cooked - might that help fill his belly and give the nutrients he needs? I dont want to do dry only you see.

Thanks

lesley

Any reason you wouldn't feed a raw diet, it's what i would always recommend?

By all means use kibble & add a small amount of something else to make it more tasty, but don't add too much or you'll upset the protein balance. Any excess protein will be stored as fat.

It's a personal choice :)considered it and decided not for us.

And thanks Caryll that's what I'll do then


L

fair enough but it has proven time and time again to help with allergies

Raw feeding has been known to really help with allergies, especially severe ones. I understand that you're not keen, but please do read up a bit more about it and see if it grows on you! 

Raw food was something i really tried to do and consider for long term but due to reasons it wasnt possible,in 'your case' however i think raw diet could be your best option