Food Supplements

[chuckie500]

Sometimes when I pick up a book about doggie diets , some of them recommned supplements. I'm just wondering who uses them and why? Is bonemeal necessary if you don't feed bones (one of mine is a gulper)? Any one use missing link?

thanks

[sandgrubber]

Whether or not you need supplements, and what supplements may be of benefit, depends on the quality of what you feed. In my book it's a pretty complicated issue and I don't think anyone has a definitive answer. My answer and a lot of other people's answers, are tied to broader outlook / philosophy / belief.

I supplement with a fish-derived product that contains a lot of zinc and selenium (elements that are generally deficient on a well weathered continent like Australia), plus a few dozen other nutrients (elements, fatty acids, vitamins and amino acids). It seems to improve my dogs coats, and I figure that coat may be an indicator for other things. I choose that particular supplement because it provides a lot of different things, it's cheap, and it's a byproduct of ridding waterways from feral carp. I do not trust supplements that provide massive dosages of a single thing.

I have labbies, who are all gulpers. That doesn't stop me from feeding chicken frames. They gulp them, but they digest what they gulp. I think it's better to feed frames than bone meal . . . because some of the good stuff may be destroyed by heating, drying, and whatever else they do to prevent bone meal from becoming a stinky mess.

[laffi]

Sandgrubber, which supplement do you use?

I don't think mines need one at the moment but I would like to have more options in case I need one in the future.

[chuckie500]

Where can you get bone meal? I asked at petstock and they had no idea what it was.

[Guest Tess32]

bonemeal is really really concentrated.....I wouldn't feed it personally. Better to give them a bigger meaty bone they can't gulp but have to work on (like a full chicken etc)

[chuckie500]

I saw checken frames at the supermarket. I assume you give it raw, and for littel dogs you would break up bits, is that right?

Also has anyone given their dogs chicken feet? I saw them at the supermarket too and less fat than wings.

[puggy_puggy]

I saw checken frames at the supermarket. I assume you give it raw, and for littel dogs you would break up bits, is that right?

Also has anyone given their dogs chicken feet? I saw them at the supermarket too and less fat than wings.

Perhaps read up a little more on feeding raw diets. Yes all bones and meats, including chicken frames, are fed raw to dogs.

I've never fed chicken feet but I think some people do.

Bonemeal sems to be used as a garden fertilizer these days so I definatley wouldn't be feeding it to my dogs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_meal as it is only crushed bones without any meat. If you feed chicken necks, chicken carcuses, dog mince (minced chicken carcuses) and other raw meaty bones your dog should be getting more then enough bone, phosphorus, in it's diet.

As for supplements if you are feeding a good diet then they really shouldn't need any. Saying that I add Flaxseed Oil and kelp powder to my pugs veggie slops and am considering purchasing some Joint Guard or Sasha's Blend.