Confused about protein/carb mix

[LhasaLover]

I feel kind of stupid asking this here among all you knowledgable folks, but ask I must...

My Lhasa's pickiness from the day I got her forced me to do an extensive amount of research on dog nutritional requirements to try to keep her balanced. I read about all the different diets... I won't do the raw, don't believe in the vegan, and am disgusted with all the premade foods on the market. I actually was an Iams/Nutro/Eukanuba user for many, many years with all my animals, but I'm so angry about this recall (and all the additional info I've been reading) that I've sworn them off.

Pinkie's picky to the point of vomiting from hunger rather than eat something she doesn't like. I went thru every "quality" food there was out there, dry & canned. Even when I cook something she likes, she won't eat it more than two days in a row. I know you all are going to shoot me, but the only thing she'll eat on a regular basis is Pedigree canned. I hate it, but I at least add high quality, cooked meat to it on a 50/50 ratio. She loves chicken, apples, carrots and several other veggies, and everything else I give her is completely natural, so I console myself with the fact that I give her only one garbage food.

I'm confused about a couple of things, tho;

1) How much protein is too much? I had someone tell me when she was young that too high a protein ratio would give her kidney damage - is that not true? If it's true, what kind of ratios do all of you feed your dogs?

2) What kind of dietary supplements, as in vitamins & oils, does she need? I try to make sure I give her a varied & well-rounded diet, but I worry that I'm not giving her all the vitamins & nutrients she needs. If I should give her some vitamins, can you suggest a good brand?

3) Do you feed them premade kibble in addition to whatever you're doing, and if so, what brands are you using? Do you know of any recipes for some?

Thanks for your help on this.

 

[nica]

U might want to register for the free newsletter here. It comes with a free ebook on homecooking for your pet.

 

[LhasaLover]

Cool - thank you!

 

[~Jessie~]

A good website to visit is www.dogfoodproject.com

If the protein is from a meat source(s), there is no such thing as "too much" protein. Dogs are carnivores and need a diet decently high in protein. My chis eat Orijen- I think the protein is 42%.

I would stay away from the big brands, like Iams and Pedigree, etc. They contain hardly any real meat, and are made by companies like Proctor & Gamble.

 

[hedwig]

i think she noes you will give in in the end thats why she doesnt eat.
my dog is also very picky and he didnt eat for 3 or 4 days but he then started eating what i gave him. if it wasnt gone in a certain amount of time i would give it in his next meal.
nothing inbetween meals.

i always recomend a raw diet! even if its 65% veggies and the rest raw meats and bones.

i give a complete raw meat diet and no veg at this point. i probably will introduce some in the comming weeks. the supplements i give are fish oils powdered vitamin c, kelp tablets and some times flaxweed oils. eggs are allways good. raw of course with the shell. and natural yogert as a source of probiotics, which is good bacteria for the gut.
you could probably give a main veg raw meat diet. i will try find a link for the site i was looking at.

how long do you leave the food down and how long do you wait for her to eat a new food till she is sick. thats probably an attention seeking habit or she eats grass out of hunger which makes her vomit.