supplementing my dogs food?

Question

Is it okay to feed oatmeal with his food? I also give him fresh fruit and veggies, EVOO, flax seed and wheat bran. I will get an egg about twice a week. He is an eight month old boxer. He is growing so fast I want to make sure he has enough healthy ingredients/natura as possible.

Answer 1

If he is being fed a good quality food such there is no need to supplement.
I will tell you that if you are feeding EVO switch now to regular Innova until your puppy is at least a year old. Evo is a great food but the protein level is way to high for your Boxer puppy. It can cause some very serious growth problems. Make sure his protein level is no more then 26 % protein.

I would eliminate all extra grains.Dogs are carnivores...meat eaters not grain eaters.They aren't designed to process grains properly. Feeding things like tomoato, sweet potato, squash, pumpkin, apples, banana, watermelon,pears, berries,green beans,cottage cheese, cheese, yogurt are good treats. Also things like boiled or raw chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, beef are good too. Raw or cooked eggs once or twice a week is good too (and no raw eggs won't make your dog sick unless you over do it)

Answer 2

Supplementing your dog's food is sometimes a very good thing. As long as you're using foods that are actually beneficial for your dog, and not harmful, and your dog does not have allergies to any of the foods you are giving. You should also check with your vet about how MUCH you should be giving. You wouldn't want your dog to get too much of a good thing, or you could cause more harm than good!

For example, liver contains tons of Vitamin A, which is good in the right proportions. Too much of it can cause Vitamin A toxicity (hypervitaminosis A), which can lead to bone deformation and weight loss, among others.

Also, unlike a previous poster stated, nuts can be very harmful to dogs. Macademia nuts can cause many horrible symptoms, including paralysis of the hind legs. Nuts, in general, have a high phophorus content that can lead to bladder stones.

Some fruits and veggies are good, also. Grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs, so avoid them. Also, most fruit seeds/pits contain levels of poison that can be harmful (and can be a choking hazard!). Also be careful of onions and garlic, both containing thiosulphate that can prove fatal, or at least cause some painful reactions. Be careful with tomatoes, as well, since they can cause negative effects on your dog. The atropine in them (especially the leaves and stems, and in unripe tomatoes) causes the reactions. Avocado can prove fatal for your dog, too. Watch out for that. Broccoli is not a good choice either, although it's usually only a problem if it makes up a very LARGE part of your dog's diet (about 10% or more).

Dairy is not a good idea either, as dogs do not possess the enzyme necessary to digest dairy. Eggs are ok, but be sure that they are thoroughly cooked. Raw eggs contain avidin, which deprives your dog of biotin, which can lead to some serious issues.

All of the wheat/bran products you're giving are not harmful, necessarily, but needn't be used unless your dog is having a difficult time having a bowel movement (he's constipated).
Good luck!

PS - raw meat is perfectly fine. Salmonella is NOT a health risk to dogs as per the USFDA (a dog's digestive tract is different from a human's and it can handle salmonella, unlike people) ... if you're really worried about germs/bacteria, freeze the meat first, then completely thaw it and serve it to the dog ... freezing kills about 95% of bacteria. Or, get some grapefruit juice and soak the meat in a bath first. Grapefruit juice is well-known for its antibacterial properties.

Answer 3

If you're feeding your dog a good food then barring complications you shouldn't need to supplement. The veggies and fruit are ok in place of treats (which are fatty) but be careful not to feed him fruits that in quantity may be dangerous (eg: grapes & raisins are toxic). Egg twice a week is too much, experts are concerned that raw egg may give your dog a viral infection. I do give my dog egg occassionally but only if I'm using most of it for say...french toast for myself. Oatmeal although a good supplement when needed can be a bit heavy for a young dog.
Just stay with a good food. Check the ingredients and make sure the first one is meat. Meat proteins are very important to the proper development of your dog.

Answer 4

You're supplementing him like he's a horse!

A well balanced dog food for large breeds is really all he needs.

Dogs are not vegitarians. This is why the food with high amounts of soy or corn aren't that good for them.

If you want to supplement, try cooking up some chicken livers.

No raw meat, that can lead to ill health, parasites, or worms. I hope the egg you feed is not raw.

More grain and veggies than meat can also cause health problems.

Oatmeal on occasion is alright. If you're eating a bag of baby carrots and you give one to him, alright.

But he's a carnivore first. Meat first. If the manufactured pet foods worries you, then you'll have to find a meat substitute, and still nothing raw.

Answer 5

I would think oatmeal would be okay. Have you talked with the breeder or vet about making sure he doesn't grow different "parts" too fast? I don't know much about it, but have heard warnings about large breed pups whose bones grow too fast for their muscles ... or vice versa. Enjoy the baby!

P.S. You're not giving him grapes and raisins, right? I don't know that anyone's figured out why, but those have caused deaths in some dogs.

Answer 6

Make him a bowl of oatmeal..he will love it. My dogs eat a lot of stuff but especially like spaghetti with lots of garlic, tomatoes, mashed potatoes. I don't know how you get him to lay an egg though...that is amazing...lol (just teasing) You might want to go easy on the cereals though...it may give him diarrhea.

Answer 7

I have had boxers for years and sometimes if I got a rescue that needed some meat on his bones, I would make chicken (sometimes ground meat) and rice (white) for him-his coat would come out beautifully also.

Answer 8

There are several all natural dog foods on the market that will provide your pup with everything he needs. Dogs are susceptible to grain allergies, so I'd be careful about adding more grains to his diet.

Answer 9

Grains aren't good for your dog. Fresh fruits except grapes (can be toxic) are ok, but don't give him too much. Nuts are very good for dogs - ours loves cashews, almonds and peanuts.

Answer 10

You're complicating the issue. If you are feeding your dog a good, quality dog food, thats all he needs.