What Ingredients Should You Feed Your Dog?

Dr Greg talks about ingredients in dog foods and touches on allergies and obesity.

[@DrGregDVM]

Maybe I should have said veterinary medicine is expensive. But I'm glad it brought a smile. Life's too short not to have fun!

[@runwild42]

Not only are you knowledgeable, but you're friendly too! Thanks! New subscriber!!!!

[@hgbugalou]

To any of the skeptics out there, I wanted to say that I purchased Dr. Greg's book a little over a year ago and it really taught me to pay attention to the ingredients in pet food. I am happy to say since then I have had zero vet visits (aside from check ups) for my dog and 3 cats. The vomiting and diarrhea have also all but disappeared in all my animals. While better food tends to cost more, you are looking at a happier pet and less messes for you to clean! It is a no brainer!

[@TheKosmikelf]

Thank you so much for your insight and advice.

[@DrGregDVM]

Just using limited ingredient diets and abstaining from biscuits really can help. Hope it does

[@daviemel9077]

Love this video....direct , educational and easy to understand, thanks

[@DrGregDVM]

Yes, and eggs are nutritionally complete and natural. I try to use free range or enhanced omega eggs. I also slow cook 18 eggs, 2 pounds frozen green beans, and chicken livers on low for 5 hours. Stir and serve!

[@1LovedbyHim]

Thank you so very much for your response!

[@DrGregDVM]

Yes, and eggs are nutritionally complete and natural. I try to use free range or enhanced omega eggs. I also slow cook 18 eggs, 2 pounds frozen green beans, and chicken livers on low for 5 hours. Stir and serve! You can also use olive oil and sardines like in the "Dog Dish Diet"

[@marvelousmadbabyface]

Great video! Super helpful. Thanks

[@TsetsiStoyanova]

Thanks doc, that was helpful and educational

[@DrGregDVM]

The older Collie can get canned food in with the dry. You can dilute half the amount of dry food and calories for the Aussie with green beans or warm water before feeding like I talk about in Dog Dish Diet

[@DrGregDVM]

Glad you like the vids!

[@jerkyjosh]

Thanks!

[@DrGregDVM]

In the holistic way, I try to make each visit about the present and future health. Tx for your great comments

[@DrGregDVM]

Thanks for the feedback. I really love that I can help other animals outside of my practice. I'll post your testimonial on my facebook and dogdishdiet site if you don't mind. I've seen better nutrition work in my practice and have to keep beating the drum!

[@DrGregDVM]

Each dog has different ingredients that they do best on. Fish/potato and duck/potato are often really good to feed dogs with gut issues or skin issues. He is not tolerating something in the chicken/rice. I'd use one of the others. Natural Balance has really good limited ingredients fish/potato or duck potato

[@lillianespinoza2235]

Your great thank you so much

[@DrGregDVM]

Salmon sweet potato is a great food for labs. Not as common , but many labs are allergic to chicken.

[@DrGregDVM]

You can ask if they thought the stones were phosphate or oxalate. I would switch to a hypoallergenic canned food or homemade stew. "Feed Your Pet"has a link to the publisher at dogdishdishcom. You can find out which stone it was...or have another urinalysis done in a month to make sure there are no crystals developing and then you can have the pH checked.

[@DrGregDVM]

Dog Dish Diet is at amazoncom and the slow cooking cookbook is at dogdishdietcom and amazoncom

[@DrGregDVM]

The raw food is different everywhere. You should look for ingredients in your local pet store.Frenchies may do better on duck potato or fish potato.My dogs tolerate chicken, eggs, and fish so I often cook for them or feed them raw chicken or fish. My website has more info dogdishdietcom

[@S212S2]

Great video and very informative. Thanks I feel like I can feed my dog better now :)

[@DrGregDVM]

I write about that in DogDishDiet. Try a "no grain" dog food and stop all biscuits to see if it helps.

[@DrGregDVM]

She probably has arthritis that is common for all dogs.What did your vet diagnose?I feed my dogs raw bones to supply the bone and joint nutrition they need. You can use chicken wings, thighs or lamb, beef, or pork bones to supply joint nutrition. I slow cook chicken and veggies. There are recipes in Feed Your Pet to Avoid the Vet and Dog DIsh Diet. You can check them out at dogdishdietcom

[@DrGregDVM]

Hi Marcella, What kind of stones did she have? I assume that she had oxalate stones common to Bichon's. You should feed a moister canned, holistic, or raw food. Potassium citrate/cranberry pills will increase the pH to dissolve crystals that lead to stones. The moisture helps dilute out the minerals in the urine. In my books, Dog Dish Diet and Feed Your Pet to Avoid the Vet many clients and readers have learned to slow cook a home made "stew" that helps prevent allergies and stones.

[@SmittyKat]

Excellent tips, thank you so much dr. Martinez! Do the same rules apply to cats?

[@DrGregDVM]

You may not need the potassium citrate if the pH is better with a moister hypoallergenic food.You can wait a bit on that.

[@DrGregDVM]

Canned food and raw food are the most natural and best for them. I slow cook chicken and chicken liver, hearts and a bit of rice or green beans, feed canned, and raw pieces of meat 2x per week. My cat Emma is slowly getting used to home cooked food. Canned food and home cooked is moister and higher protein. Biologically suited for domesticated carnivores. Check Feed Your Pet to Avoid the Vet and learn to slow cook for dogs and cats.

[@DrGregDVM]

raw trout and salmon kidneys can introduce a parasite and cause "salmon poisoning" but slow cooked fish and softened bones are OK

[@DrGregDVM]

Heard that too. Potassium Citrate/ cranberry and moister food will dissolve crystals.

[@Fro-Daddy]

We use Fromm's kibble dog food. Grain free and our puppy looks and feels great.

[@Lizardatsparks]

Hello Dr Martinez, He did have some crystals in the urine. I also feed him the organic treats, they are made with grains. Also he is a Great Pyrenees/ Australian Shepherd male 60 pounds

[@carschmn]

I think you're worth the price, Dr. Greg.

[@midotvadventure504]

''What's more expensive ME or the Food?!'' Hahaha your humor is great Doc! keep the videos Up :)

[@DrGregDVM]

If it is causing pain or problems walking. Many dogs have luxations their whole lives and it doesn't bother them. They just "skip" every now and then

[@hgbugalou]

Please do!

[@BDRoland]

Hey Dr. Greg love your videos. You've stated that each dog has different sensitivity to different food products but I was wondering if there is one brand of dog food that you generally recommend over others.

[@DrGregDVM]

That's a pretty rare condition. What are the symptoms? Vomiting? Breed? Boston? Where diagnosed? A moister hypoallergenic food is good for all conditions. You can feed a good limited ingredients canned food or home cooked stew. They are both non irritating and easily digested.

[@1LovedbyHim]

Hi Dr. Martinez. I really appreciate your videos, and they have helped me in taking better care of my dog. I am wondering about something though. I have some frozen freshwater fish that my brother caught and gave to me. Is it safe to slow cook these, to soften the bone, and give them to my 85 lb flat coated retriever? Thanks for your response!

[@rocrgurl1023]

Hi Dr Martinez do you have any suggestions for crockpot made food for a dog with liver issues?

[@learningnewrecipes9540]

I am so glad I found you. I have 2 dogs, a lasaadoodle which weighs around 35 pounds and a chiweenie which weighs about 17 pounds. I plan to start buyinging Diamond Naturals Grain-Free CHICKEN & SWEET POTATO FORMULA FOR DOGS for my dogs. Can you give me your opinion on this dog food and would this be ok to only feed them this or should I feed them a wet food also and how much of each? I have always fed them Beneful original and if I can't find that Kibbles and Bits original. Any help would be appreciated.

[@kabamyo]

Thank you, you're funny too!

[@DrGregDVM]

Glucosamine/ Chondroitin is cartilage or seafood shells or mussels. You can use human glucosamine, raw chicken wings, slow cooked chicken stew, or raw meaty bones. That's what I write about in Dog Dish Diet and Feed Your Pet to Avoid the Vet

[@DrGregDVM]

I would feed only hypoallergenic canned food or some homemade food. I would hold off to see if he grows out of it. The moister, easier, canned food or home made stew is easier to digest. The best canned foods are duck/potato and fish potato. i would stay away from kibbles inn this case.They are harder to digest and more irritating.

[@DrGregDVM]

Cats should eat canned food instead of dry and get supplemented with raw meat(shrimp, chicken, beef) 1-2 times a week. They have less allergies, but some cats get obese and have bowel and urinary problems when fed dry food.

[@DrGregDVM]

You can try small pieces of real chicken, cooked green beans and carrots. You can also offer a couple of sardines from the tin to see how he does with fish. Try an egg 2-3 times per week. Check out dogdishdietcom

[@TheKosmikelf]

I am really enjoying your videos! I have a Collie/Sheltie mix who is 13. He still acts pretty young, but he is losing muscle mass :(. And I have a Collie/Aussie mix who needs to lose a few pounds. The trick is keeping their foods apart. Any Suggestions?

[@boscoitalics]

very helpful thankyou! I can not afford a vet for another week or so..so I am going to take him off gluten and give him what you suggested. Thank you:) Mine has ear problems and scratches his ears a lot.

[@TheChelaahh]

Thank you for writing back. My vet said it's not necessary to have the stones tested. Or should I ask for it to be tested? Where can I purchase your book?

[@TheKosmikelf]

Thank you. And can you please also talk about dogs and bones? We live in the country and have venison. I do cook venison ,for my dogs, once in a while. They like to chew on the larger deer bones. Is Deer Bones any health issue? Again, Thanks for your super videos!!!

[@TheChelaahh]

The veterinarian told me he wouldn't send the stones out to be tested, or should I ask for him to? Oh, so it's fine to just switch her food to a moister canned food? I will definitely purchase the potassium citrate/cranberry pills and your book! Thank you

[@DrGregDVM]

Does he have crystals in the urine? Do you feed food or treats with wheat or other grains? What type of dog is he?

[@debbiedaniels4747]

Could you please give info for Chinese Crested dogs.I have a mix Crested and a Pure Chinese Crested.My mix has skin problems.

[@DrGregDVM]

Raw meaty deer bones should be OK. Baked and barbecued bones are brittle and can be sharp. I feed my dogs pigs feet, raw chicken wings and thighs, and slow cooked chicken and pork bones

[@DrGregDVM]

If he has phosphate crystals, you can feed a moister, "no grain" food. If he has oxalate crystals, you can order potassium citrate/cranberry on line to give daily. You can wet down a no grain dry food, mix it with canned food, or homecook and mix the stew in, like I talk about in Dog Dish Diet for both. But you'll need supplements for the oxalate crystals

[@jewdd1989]

Are you talking about Struvite crystals/stones? My mini Aussie had surgery to remove her Struvite stones after weeks and weeks of begging my vet to look beyond just her uti. She couldn’t pee, couldn’t pee, it was horrific meanwhile my standard Aussie suffers from DLE, and is severe. Anyways Ik her dog food is a big part of her stones and she’s always struggled with upset tummies, specifically diarrhea and obesity. What can I feed her that won’t cause more Struvite stones? She’s on a special, expensive dry dog food for bladder support that supposedly won’t cause her more stones later in life but I don’t trust it! Dogs aren’t meant to eat crap

[@missnuqqetful]

And also where can I buy your book? Thanks!

[@azpammy]

I have a Shar Pei/Pit Bull Mix. He vomits a yellow bile if I feed him anything different than the chicken and rice variety dog foods. Is there something I should be watching out for in his diet and do you recommend anything so that he can have something different once in a while?

[@DrGregDVM]

Many clients mix in a small amount of home cooked food to make the prescription diet taste better. Slow cooked chicken, chicken liver, peas, carrots, and eggs (half chicken, chicken liver, eggs, and half peas and carrots...by weight) is a good mix, Check dogdishdietcom for a slow cooking pet food book.

[@ZeusStorm90]

Also, are there any good glucosamine products you would recommend? :)

[@DrGregDVM]

It is good if your dog likes it and doesn't develop skin issues, vomit, or have diarrhea after changing to that brand. Dogs are individuals that seem to tolerate different ingredients. Some do better on chicken, fish,or duck. I home cook for mine dogdishdietcom

[@jerkyjosh]

Hey, My pure breed Dachshund has had back problems do to a swollen disk in his back. I know its common in these dogs but my question is, is there a certain diet that may help prevent future back issues?

[@jewdd1989]

What can I cook or give raw to my dog with a past surgery of Struvite stones? Her vet has her on a special diet

[@TheChelaahh]

Hello, hope all is well. I have a question regarding my bichon frise food. My dog recently had surgery for bladder stones. They vet said it's not necessary to purchase the food specially made for stones; prescribed. That switching her food will be fine. What would you recommend? Switching to a natural organic food I could purchase at a pet store or should I purchase the special diet food? This is my dog's first surgery for bladder stones. Thank you.

[@lllreptilefreak57]

Dr. I feed my puppy chicken puppy blue wilderness and I was hoping you go over it. Ever since I changed to this dry food from purina pro plan chicken and rice his coat has been nicer and no more flakes. But he still has sulfur smelling farts I have no idea why but often when I give him a bone to chew on he has it. Please let me know if blue buffalo chicken and rice is good for him! He's a 6 month old basenji thanks!!!

[@LeMarais88]

My dog has a smaller than usual liver according to our local vet. Can I still cook food for her as a treat? He put her on L/D by Hills Science Diet.

[@wiesje666]

Our 4yr old Wire Haired Fox terrier has a tendency towards having very sulfury gas. Any suggestions?

[@DrGregDVM]

I have found a little more money or time spent on food per month can save thousands and keep our pets happier!

[@marvelousmadbabyface]

Are raws eggs safe for dogs?

[@carschmn]

I admit I chuckled a bit when you said, "I'm expensive."

[@Lovelyprissy89]

My Maltese has patela luxation on both his back legs is surgery really necessary? The vets have said yes but I feel horrible having him cut open when he is only 5 pounds?

[@rolanechen2183]

Can dogs eat rosemary that's on grilled chicken?

[@jacobmcleod4482]

I've been told that corn was bad for dogs, is that true?

[@mucnagow2]

Hi Dr. Martinez I sit safe to feed my dogs whole raw fish? When I catch something I don't want, I toss it to them. They love fish! But someone just told me raw fish bones can get stuck in their throats and/or intestines. Thanks =)

[@missnuqqetful]

Hello Dr. Greg, I have a question I've been feeding my dog boiled chicken and rice for 5yrs now and now all of the sudden she started limping, no fractures come up in the x-rays, do you think it's because of bad nutrition? I feel very guilty, I thought I was doing good since her vet adviced me to feed her chicken and rice when I told her my dog didn't want to eat dog food....and now that im watching your videos I feel horrible I think she's having problems in her legs because of me.

[@DrGregDVM]

Raw trout and salmon guts can cause salmon poisoning. I have fed my dogs raw sardines. The bones are small

[@Lizardatsparks]

For years I've fed my dog high end foods, mostly organic and it shows he is 13. His vet is amazed at how young he looks and his blood work is on the mark. But he has recently gone through a few UA infections so he was put on Royal Canin Urinary SO. They wanted to keep him on it for months but I'm a bit turned off by all the GMO corn in it. What can I feed him to keep his urine at the correct levels? Thank You, Melanie

[@usa2342]

Melanie Ann what breed is your dog?

[@doggyfuny]

Hello Dr. Greg, I want to know your opinion about which dog food ingredient will be better for a large breed dog such as the Afghan Hound. I have three options from the brand Blue Buffalo and they are: duck, salmon, and chicken.

[@DrGregDVM]

I really like salmon the best, then duck, then chicken. I also feed my dogs some raw food, sardines (tinned), eggs, veggies. I also home cook. Your dog could have sensitivity to any of the three meats grains like wheat. Avoid wheat and common treats. dogdishdiet.com

[@christinamarshall681]

+Greg Martinez DVM When baking is it OK to cook with whole wheat flour, or should I just use all purpose flour? Thanks again Dr. Greg, your awesome! I love your personality too :)

[@animallover1978]

that blue buffalo food made my little dog so sick around mothers day. i noticed before that she wasn't as excited when i was feeding her and then BAM she started vomiting. it got so bad she had to got to the vet. i was smart enough to keep fluids in her and put her on rice and chicken. the vet was closed but when we got her in he said it was the food.

[@DrGregDVM]

Daily exercise.Good joint nutrition(Glucosamine chondroitin or raw meaty bones)Slow cooking meat and bones provides good joint nutrition. Joints and bones nourish joints. Check dogdishdiet com for the books

[@KeySour]

What about cats?

[@DrGregDVM]

Right now it is Taste of the Wild(salmon sweet potato) and Natural Balance( duck rabbit bison chicken potato rice). Both seem to really help allergic dogs which tell me their ingredients are better than most.

[@jeffwhite7355]

I had to eliminate chicken and wheat to my dogs diet, he was very red and itchy,losing belly fur, with ear problems.So I switched to beef and rice dry food(Fromm). Improved but still some itching and still ear problems. Now I'm making homemade food, beef/pork veggies and rice,but still problems, is it possible the rice could be the problem? Is that a common allergen?

[@usa2342]

Jeff White add human probiotics to their food

[@christinamarshall681]

I keep seeing that it's not good to give a dog Canola oil. Is this correct? I noticed that you suggested it in your video. Also, When home cooking for your dogs, how much calcium should you add to the food? I've been feeding my dog the Georgie Meatloaf (on KZbin). Thank you!

[@DrGregDVM]

+Christina Marshall Canola oil is one of many oils that are used along with olive, coconut, and fish or krill oil. You can add one tsp of bonemeal per pound of meat in the recipe

[@christinamarshall681]

+Greg Martinez DVM Thank you! Is it OK for me to add the bonemeal to recipe before baking? Where do you buy bonemeal, and is that all I need to add, or should I be adding other supplements too? Your videos are a great source of knowledge. I greatly appreciate that you truly love animals, like I do: )

[@DrGregDVM]

+Christina Marshall Add it to the mixture and blend in thoroughly. Liver should be 10% of the meat, and vitamin E can be given at 2IU per pound daily or 15IU per pound weekly. Add fish oil at 300 EPA and DHA per 10-30 pounds. Give 1 tin of sardines per 30 pounds weekly.

[@DrGregDVM]

+Greg Martinez DVM Use rice flour, wheat flour or glutens are allergenic to some dogs as well as beef and chicken.

[@puglove3639]

ty

[@sugarfreesheryl9]

Canola oil is inflammatory! Better to choose olive, avocado or coconut oil

[@joanneduerksen7906]

Why is the music so loud?

[@ZeusStorm90]

Is it safe to put raw eggs over my dogs food?

[@DrGregDVM]

I would hold off surgery to see he gets better eating a hypoallergenic canned food

[@tinamyra5346]

Do u need to cook the veggie or can they have them raw?

[@DrGregDVM]

Raw carrots and apples are good treats, but veggies are digested and tolerated much better when cooked

[@tinamyra5346]

ok thxs. He got an ear infection after the veggies were added. I stopped giving him carrots and turnip. I read some where they can cause yeast. Sticking to green beans and celery though. Thxs again.

[@brandijonason2983]

Why do you people have to have music playing while talking- damn!

[@sherrythomas8863]

okay will papaya seeds actually get rid of parasites in a dog is it harmful for your dog what kind of parasites will it help kill dr. Greg I need your help