My roommate has an dachshund that is 11yrs old and has never fed him dog food, she thought she was depriving him. His diet consists of 2 cups of shredded cheese for breakfast and sliced turkey breast for dinner and treats at his disposal. He was over weight until his recent back surgery but I am afraid that he is going to put the weight on again. She said the vet knows what he eats and he is in good health but what about the vitamins and nutrients an elder dog needs? She won't listen to me. Please someone help me help her and Brunsie.
2006-07-09 03:29:12 · 12 answers · asked by Deanna B 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I'm no vet, but have 2 dachshunds and they cannot be overweight because that will contribute to back problems. She needs to put Brunsie on dog food. A good dog food to have Brunsie on is Science Diet Senior Formula. She can still feed the dog cheese but as a treat not a meal. She is actually doing more damage to the dog feeding him people food instead of DOG food.
2006-07-09 03:37:13 · answer #1 · answered by nina21996 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is in no way healthy! The dog should be on a balanced senior dog food that will give him extra help with joint mobility and other signs of aging. The treats are still allowed but the cheese is an absolute NO! An senior dog that is overweight puts added pressure on joints and you don't want this. If she feeds him properly she could have him til 15 or 16 years old. A good brand is 'Hills', it is completely balanced and nutritious and much cheaper than what she's feeding her dog. It is the brand of food used by the osbournes so it must be good. It is available at most vets. Good Luck
2006-07-09 03:40:39 · answer #2 · answered by nkate14 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What kind of vet is OK with a cheese diet for a dog? He probably seems healthy because of the fat in the cheese. But dogs need protein. And as they get older, they need other nutrients. I would think after back surgery, he'd need a better diet. This is a good time to get him on some REAL food.
2006-07-11 07:48:42 · answer #3 · answered by nicolemperez 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Homemade meals are ok, as long as the dog is getting complete nutrition. Dogs need a balenced meal of protein ( I would feed more meat and less cheese though) veggies and carbs, as well as vitamins and minerals. Google "homemade dog food recepies" and you should get a variety of diets your roommate can make. A diet of only cheese, meat and treats is not complete. By the way, if she decides to feed a kibble, do some research about what is in most pet foods, and find a high quality food.
2006-07-09 03:41:35 · answer #4 · answered by clmcanine 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you look at the ingredients in Beneful for puppies, it contains sugar and sorbitol, both of which raise blood sugar levels in dogs, which could explain his having more energy on Beneful. I'm sure he liked it more than the other food, but it's like giving a kid the choice between an ice cream sundae or some healthy meat with vegetables. Canidae is a great & nutritious food, and not as expensive as some of the premium grain-free foods.
2016-03-15 21:46:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say emphatically it is NOT a healthy diet. A dog must have other elements in its feed besides just cheese. I have a feeling that cheese may cause intestional blockages anyway. Thus, a good dry dog food is best by far
2006-07-09 03:39:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are right - that is a TERRIBLE diet for a dog. I'm surprised he's lived this long. If she won't change, go to the pet food store and get some dog vitamins and secretly feed them to the dog yourself when she's not around.
www.yorkshire-terrier.com/dog-food.pdf
2006-07-09 04:18:25 · answer #7 · answered by Danger, Will Robinson! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should never give cheese to dogs or cats, Especially not in those quantities, they can not digest it well and it could tie up the intestines. dogs and cats also become lactose intolerant after they have been weaned. Your roommate is slowly poisoning his dog.
You need to either convince him to feet the dog a senior formula dog food or call the SPCA on him. Or what ever Humane law enforcement department in your area.
2006-07-09 03:46:56 · answer #8 · answered by lovpayne 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YUCK I am not surprised the dog was fat! This just goes to prove how little vets learn about nutrition.
older dogs need glucosamine/chondroiten for joint health - most good foods have this in them (all foods from grocery store are crap)
sadly because he hasnt been on a proper diet it will be very hard to get him to eat correctly now
you can go to a pet food supply store and ask for samples of foods for senior dogs and offer them to him to see if he will eat it
** ADDITIONAL INFO** one reader mentions Science Diet food - this food is crap - they paid for vets endorsement (and we all know vets receive very little education on food and nutrition) and if you read the ingredients list you will see it is over priced junk
2006-07-09 03:42:31 · answer #9 · answered by CF_ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, commercial dog foods have all the nutrients a dog needs, vitamins etc are added during manufacturing
2006-07-09 04:32:59 · answer #10 · answered by airpolicejohn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋