Eatis anythingist

[Sam I Am]

Is there anything these two won’t eat? One thing about making your own dog food is that anything which is safe for these two hounds is edible ...in their world. From cauliflower, broccoli to romaine lettuce, turnip, red peppers....well pretty much anything actually is considered a delicacy by them and I still haven’t found anything they won’t eat. Dogs are opportunistic and no doubt that’s how they have survived through the centuries.  

What things do your Cairns like and what is their favourite snack?

[Kathryn]

I think I have said this before:  Oban would try to learn to fly for a piece of watermelon. He also loves green beans and cucumber.

One of our earlier cairns, T Bone (now gone) would eat anything.  His choices included about three ounces of Saint Andre cheese right off our coffee table (earned him two days of the trots), a poisonous mushroom in our backyard (almost killed him), and part of a steel wool grill brush that still had some meat flavor on it (got a trip to the emergency vet, lots of throwing up to get the stuff out of him, and a diet of chicken and rice for a week for his sore throat). 

Our new puppy Angus still likes to eat puppy poop.  That means we have to watch him very closely.  The good news: he ran to the back door on his own to announce his need to go out for the first time two days ago. Way to go, Angus!

[Guest dog person]

My dogs (especially the cairn) will eat anything that falls to the floor and that includes onions, garlic, raw food.     So it is up to me to be very careful what I allow them to consume.   They like everything.

Therefore I use a dog food that meets AAFCO standards as a base and go from there.  

No raw, no exotic ingredients, no grain-free anymore as per FDA recommendations..   Regarding the veggies, a little (1 carrot) might be okay but too much is a recipe for soft stools/diarrhea (my experience).

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2016/05/dogs-are-still-not-wolves-human-feeding-practices-have-shaped-the-dog-genome/       (excerpt below)

"On one level, this argument is an example of the Appeal to Nature Fallacy, which says that anything arbitrarily defined as “natural” must be benign or beneficial. In the case of diets for carnivores, this ignores the obvious facts that: carnivores in the wild don’t eat an optimal diet, they eat whatever they can catch or scavenge; malnutrition, parasites, broken teeth, and other harmful consequences of a “natural” diet are ubiquitous in wild carnivores; captive carnivores, protected from these and other hazards often live longer, healthier lives than their wild counterparts".

[sanford]

2 hours ago, Terrier lover said:

...I still haven’t found anything they won’t eat....

Well, Terrier Lover, I've found everything my cairn won't eat. Ruffy is a strict carnivore and won't eat anything that grows in the ground. I've tried it all: tree fruits, berries, melon, and veggies from Asparagus to Zucchini, but Ruffy will only eat something that has had parents!

(Oh... I forgot... He loves to graze on grass in the woods. I guess that counts as a vegetable)!

Edited January 24, 2019 by sanford

[Sam I Am]

 

 

Kathryn our two would step over my dead body for watermelon and cantaloupe.

 

Ruffy will have to come up and have a buffet with my gang.....beef , chicken livers, sardines and purées veggies and fruit. I guarantee he will dive in.

Edited January 24, 2019 by Terrier lover

[Idaho Cairns]

I don't think my girls would do lettuce!  Now they like carrots but it's a problem, one likes her carrots cooked and the other likes 'em raw.  Watermelon is favorite for both of them.

[bradl]

I have a friend who trained using romaine as a reward   Maybe this should be in the other topic  

[Sam I Am]

The wait command......

Crunchy romaine hearts are very valued in our house.

Edited January 24, 2019 by Terrier lover

[Kathryn]

Romaine also a favorite with Oban...he likes a little salad with his steak...

[Guest dog person]

23 hours ago, sanford said:

Well, Terrier Lover, I've found everything my cairn won't eat. Ruffy is a strict carnivore and won't eat anything that grows in the ground. I've tried it all: tree fruits, berries, melon, and veggies from Asparagus to Zucchini, but Ruffy will only eat something that has had parents!

(Oh... I forgot... He loves to graze on grass in the woods. I guess that counts as a vegetable)!">

Maybe he instinctively knows he doesn't need that stuff.     My small dog vomits when she eats veggies, most of the time she won't eat them but when she does.....

Every dog is different.

Oh, I would not allow that grass eating..... not a good idea.     I hope you don't find out why.

The only dog I ever had that ate grass was diagnosed with a terminal disease a couple of months later.    Vet said it was probably due to nausea, they eat grass in an attempt to alleviate stomach upset and to induce vomiting.

On the other hand maybe your dog just likes grass!    Who knows.     But, it is a symptom I will never ignore again. 

Edited January 25, 2019 by dog person

[Sam I Am]

Peanut butter ( natural no sugars or salt added) is also a much loved snack.... I love to watch them as the try to maneuver their tongue around it. Mmmm perhaps a bit of PB on a piece of Romaine ..,, Sanford Ruffy  has to like that.

[Guest dog person]

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-peanut-butter/How Much Peanut Butter Can Dogs Eat?

See excerpts below, I hope the information is helpful.

Peanut butter is rich in natural fats and protein, but too much of a good thing can lead to obesity and other health complications like pancreatitis. There are two things you can do to figure out how much peanut butter to feed your dog on a regular basis. The first and most reliable option is to call your veterinarian and ask his or her advice. This is especially important for owners of dogs with conditions such as diabetes or with food sensitivity issues.

Health Alert: Xylitol

Most peanut butter is safe, but some can be deadly. Recently, some peanut butter manufacturers switched to using the sweetener xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar substitute often found in sugar-free products like chewing gum, toothpaste, breath mints, chewable vitamins and baked goods. It is safe for people, but toxic to dogs.

The second option is the 10 percent rule. In general, treats should not make up more than 10 percent of your dog’s diet. Simply measure how much food your dog gets daily, and remember that it might be a good idea to alternate between peanut butter and healthier treats, such as dog friendly fruits or vegetables.

Edited January 25, 2019 by dog person

[Hillscreek]

Why give treats at all?

[Guest dog person]

20 minutes ago, Hillscreek said:

Why give treats at all?

Exactly!

I use a little of their kibble here and there, or what I mentioned in previous posts, no need to spend money on fancy snacks.

Edited January 25, 2019 by dog person

[WinstonTheTroutWizard]

Winston loves carrots, green beans, cucumbers, essentially anything in the produce drawer in the fridge.  We have been using fresh green beans as his "high value" training treats and his food as lower value treats while training.  Seems to work for him and I hope it continues!

[Sam I Am]

27 minutes ago, Hillscreek said:

Why give treats at all?

Ha ha HC because like kids we love our critters

[Sam I Am]

2 hours ago, Terrier lover said:

Oops double post.

 

Edited January 25, 2019 by Terrier lover

[Hillscreek]

So true Terrier lover It's fine when they get a few healthy treats I suppose. But look around you at the waddling dogs ..............stuffed with too much candy, snacks and you name it people food - especially junk food. Killing with kindness.

[Sam I Am]

yes many chubby dogs and people. That’s why the treats we give our dogs are mostly fruit and veggie based. Keeps both our dogs slim and healthy. Now only if I followed their diet....,,

[Luke Bizzy]

Titan and Daisy have no prohibitions as to what they eat, except they won't touch lettuce. We snack them with any other veggie, carrots being the favorite. They love the crunch! We can never cut up veggies for a meal without them right there at our feet, waiting for something to fly off the counter to the floor so they can scoop it up.

Daisy will have her nose to the ground the entire time she's being walked, looking for some tidbit. We have to watch her constantly because she will slurp up stuff we have no idea what it is. We've only had one picky eater, our little girl Gretchen (deceased). The other 3, no problem.

[Sam I Am]

A good memory ...Jock hated banana’s however being the polite Cairn that he was he would kindly except a piece of the banana, hold it in his mouth, look at us, then let it drop out of his mouth. He always made us laugh when he did  that  because he would never refuse this snack but wouldn’t eat it. 

[LindaMC]

Maisie likes watermelon, cantaloupe and blueberries and loves carrots, loves the crunch.  I like the fact that she chews them up real good; something she doesn't always do.  She also loves cheese!  I'm surprised at the amount of dogs that like lettuce.  None of the dogs I've had over the years liked lettuce, always spit it out.  I haven't tried giving her kale but seeing how she reacted with spinach, it's highly unlikely.  

[Guest dog person]

5 hours ago, LindaMC said:

Maisie likes watermelon, cantaloupe and blueberries and loves carrots, loves the crunch.  I like the fact that she chews them up real good; something she doesn't always do.  She also loves cheese!  I'm surprised at the amount of dogs that like lettuce.  None of the dogs I've had over the years liked lettuce, always spit it out.  I haven't tried giving her kale but seeing how she reacted with spinach, it's highly unlikely.  

If your dog is prone to developing bladder stones, depending on the type of stones, dietary restrictions may apply.

I remember the emergency vet said no carrots and to avoid high oxalate foods such as spinach if your dog has a history of calcium oxalate bladder stones.

Ihttp://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2017/07/dietary-treatment-of-bladder-stones/

Edited February 2, 2019 by dog person

[Sam I Am]

Linda all kinds of melons, ie watermelon will be a nice treat but also provide lots of moisture and nutrients, plus the list I sent you giving lots of healthy options. A good holistic veterinary clinic will no doubt provide you with an alternative diet to help little Maisie. 

Edited February 3, 2019 by Terrier lover