What should I feed a dalmatian?

[HugAPug]

As some of you may know I and my family are thinking of getting a dalmatian. Some dalmatians are uric acid stone formers. But I think that you can't tell if they'll end up being stone formers until one is actually formed. So I don't want to take any chances in putting a dog through that pain so does anyone know what types of food dalmatians can eat safely? Is it expensive? Is it easy to find? Please help, I've been looking online for a long time searching for any low purine commercial dog foods, but couldn't find any. But if I have to make food for the dog at home I want the ingredience to be easy to find and not too expensive. And I don't want to spend alot of time in the morning preparing the dog's food because I have to get ready and feed my ferret also.

[IceyBlueSibes]

Here is an article from a boxer magazine about nutrients that a dog needs. It's pretty interesting. I can also provide the article that talks about feeding them home cooked diets. It's long as well. But its good to know.

Boxers - From the Editors of Dog Fancy Magazine

Meat isn't Enough

Although it's easy to think of dogs eating only meat, they aren't strictly meat eaters. Dogs can derive nutrition from vegetables and grains, as well as meat, explains Margaret Muns D.V.M., staff veterinarian for the Best Friends Bulletin Board. In this respect, they differ from cats, which must have meat-based diets because their bodies aren't able to synthesize certain nutrients. Whereas cats must get these essentials from meat, dogs' bodies can manufature their own essential nutrients, such as amino acids. Dogs have even been known to not only do well on vegetarian diets, but to thrive on them.
The dog's physiological need for the greater nutritional variety makes the species more omnivorous (eating everything) than carnivorous (eating only meat). The important aspects of a dog's diet include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, amino acids, minerals, vitamins and water. A balanced diet that includes each of these nutrients in the correct amouns is vital for a healthy, happy Boxer.

Proteins : Protein is an important source of energy and amino acids for dogs. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins themselves, and the dog's body breaks down the proteins to buld new amino acids out of them. Protein can come from meat, such as beef, lamb or chicken; fish; eggs; vegetables such as corn; or rice combined with legumes. Some canned foods even offer texturized begetable protein. "Texturized vegetable protein (TVP) is commonly seen in the ingredient lists of canned pet foods," explains Dr. Muns. "It is composed of extruded soy flour that is dyed and shaped to resemble meat products. So TCP is a way to increase the protein quanity and quality, without adding expensive cut meats."

Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates include dietary fiber, sugars and starches. Dog don't need many carbohydrates in their diets because they can derive the neccessay sugars (such as glucose) from the protein sourches in their diets. Although dogs can digest small amounts of starch and sugar without trouble, large amounts, especially if introduced suddenly, can cause digestive trouble.

Fats: Fats in moderation are the necessary part of the canine diet. Fat is a concentrated energy source that carries vitamiins throughout the body and provides essential fatty acids, which help maintain cell membranes and a glossy coat and contribute to many of the dogs processes.

Vitamins and Minerals: The importance of vitamins and minerals is more clearly undertstood in the human diet than it is in the canine diet. However, undertand the importane of calcium (for bones teeth and blood), magnesium (for heart and nerve function), potassium (for nerve and muscle function) and iron (for hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen) in a dog's diet. Important vitamins including E (an antioxident), A (for normal vision), D (for bone groth), and the B-complex vitamins (for normal cell function) must be obtained from the diet. Other vitamins such as C, can be synthesiced ny the dog's body. Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid , is needed by the body to produce collagen, the primary component of ligamments and tendons, which are the fiborous bands that hold bones to bones and muscles to bones, respectively. Too little vitamin C means that collagen cannot be produced properly, and scurvy can result (However, too much vitamin C can be harmful as well.)

Home Cookin' For Boxers

Today, more pet owners are turning to their own kitchens to feed their animals. Homemade diets sound tremendously appealing. After all, you know exactly the type and quality of ingredients included, you know the sanitary conditions the food was prepared under, and hey, you really love your dog, right? However, there's a lot more to makinga homemade diet than metts the eye.

First, there is the time and the expense involved. If you find yourself orfering take-out for dinner most nights because you don't gave time to cook, chances are cooking for your Boxer won't work. Also, expense is an aspect to consider. Making the fod at home will, in most cases, cost more per day, than buying commercial dog food. In this book Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, authors Richard Pitcairn, D.V.M., PH.D. , and Susan Hubble Pitcairn note that the average price of the book's dog-maitenance recipes was 66 cents per day. Canned food ranged from 38 to 68 cents per day; dry ranged from 18 to 28 cents per day. Second, there's the challenge of ensuring you home cooking will provide adequate nutrition. Rather than experiment on your own (and on your poor boxer), ask your vet for guidance. He or she can most likely recommend some recipes and suggest any supplements your boxer may need. Dr. Pitcairn's book is another excellent source for time-tested homemade meal guidelines.

A number of holistic veterinarians recomment feeding a raw-meat diet; Dr. Pitcairn is one of them (in fact, one of the first). If you decide to feed your dog raw meat, remember that some meats such as pork and fish, should be cooked slightly to kill any parasites that may be present. Also, remmeber that an all-meat diet will not provide your dog with all the nutrition it needs. For example, meat is full of protein, but its light on calcium and other vitamins and minerals. Work with your vet to determine the proper balanece. Or, if you would like to find a holistic vet in your area, you can find the memnership listing of the American Holistic Vertrinariany Medical Association online at www.altvetmed.com. Dr. Pitcairns's book also litst sources of special ingredients, such as kelp powder, which you may have some trouble finding in your local supermarket. You'll most likely be able to obtain the ingredients through your natural food store. If you don't want to commit to cooking for your Boxer on a regular basis, you can use the recipes to provide an occasional meal. After all, home cooking is a real treat -- even for a dog.

----Fran Hodgkins

A friend of mine feeds their puppy cooked ground beef, rice, and cottage cheese. The pup is as healthy as can be. The beed provide the protein, and the rice is a starch, and the cottage cheese has dairy, so I would imagine it provides some sort of calcium.

I can list an article that tells you what you shoudl look for in dog foods if you would like. Just reply and let me know, and I'll be happy to provide you with the information! Good luck!