Question:
I am having a terrible problem finding a diet for my dog, which turned 14 in January. She has had to have most of her teeth pulled and no longer can eat hard food. In an effort not to feed her soft food all the time, I have cooked hamburger and mixed it with rice. Occasionally, I cook chicken. Many times she won't eat her food at all, and if she does, she soon vomits it up. She will eat certain kinds of soft food, such as Pedigree in the package and Ol' Roy from Wal-Mart. She takes medicine for high blood pressure and allergies. She appears hungry much of the time and eats some grass while we are walking.This problem has really been bad since the last teeth were pulled. I am at my wits' end to know how to feed her. She has always had a rather weak stomach, but we never had this degree of problem before. I do not think she is getting the proper nourishment, but I don't know what to do. She is a mixture of Lhasa apso and Pekinese and weighs about 20 pounds. I will be most grateful for any advice you can give.
L.V.C., Marionville, Mo Feb 12, 2006
Answer:
Some dogs are allergic to beef, others to rice, so you should try other protein sources, such as cottage cheese, lamb and egg; for carbohydrates, add barley, oats, couscous or amaranth to her diet. Many dogs are sensitive to gluten and some to eggs and dairy products, so you need to experiment with different ingredients. You should give your dog a teaspoonful of vegetable oil daily, as well as a pediatric multimineral and multivitamin capsule.Don't be afraid of using a blender or food processor and adding some lightly steamed greens, carrots and yams. Or try human baby food, on which many elderly and finicky cats and small dogs thrive. Your dog's nausea and vomiting, and her history of chronic dental problems and high blood pressure, could be indicators of chronic kidney disease that calls for a special diet, potassium supplement and low phosphate intake. I would advise additional tests by your veterinarian.
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