Sunday, June 29, 2008

Evidence based nutrition.

We've been researching what to feed Wednesday and after all the people in our system have had their say and after lots of reading (books from the library as well as the usual crackpot internet conspiracy theories) and talking to people we respect we've got a diet worked out for her.

We think the best food for her is probably raw meaty bones from the butcher. Chicken necks and small lamb bone scraps to start with and thinly sliced marrow bones. We'll feed her raw eggs, lactose free milk, banana, avocado and any other fruit she shows an interest in (she likes banana) as well as her dry kibble. The plan is that Wednesday will be fed canned food occasionally, just as we occasionally eat junk food. It will be something she recognises and is happy to eat. This way she can stay over with her mum and sibling or with other dogs and be happy to eat what they eat. She'll have table scraps if they seem okay for her - like rice or potato with sauce and or meat but in small quantities.

We want her main diet to be raw meaty bones. Good for her teeth, lots of natural calcium and good quality protein. She seems to be doing really well on it so far.

The thing that might be missing is a replacement for the stomach contents of herbivores in her traditional diet - so we might grind up fresh leafy greens for her and mix them in with something she really likes, but as she can't digest cellulose we'll have to process quite thoroughly.

Suggestions?