Im seriously getting my old girl off her kibble for good and as soon as i can. She does better off it.

Im concerned about feeding her a solid, complete diet.

Ive gone THK, and Sojos. I have been looking at grandma lucys, but my girl doesn't get along with too much garlic.

So, looks like THK and sojos needs meat added..

How do i go at daily meals? Cooked meat in the morning (chicken breast ECT) And sojos or THK at night?
How much meat to THK or sojos?

Thanks again guys. Love ya and have a happy vday!

Not all varieties of THK need meat added, just Preference; however, you can add meat to all of them. I personally prefer adding meat with every meal of THK as I think it helps to keep stools consistent.

Lots of good info here, including ratios:
http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/resources-and-programs/feeding-tips

I feed my senior (age 17, cairn terrier) raw. She eats once a day (my large dogs eat twice though). At her age, she can no longer handle raw bones whole, so she eats ground bone in stuff. That is my only adaptation for her at this point.

Also, the one THK that does need meat added (Preference) is actually meant for folks whose dog has an allergy or intolerance and requires specific limited protein(s)/meat.

But like Melissa, and probably most people who feed THK, I would use it with meat add-ins. It's fully balanced on its own, but I think most dogs except maybe inactive elderly dogs (or inactive dogs of any age) would do best with add-ins.

You can add meat for an adult dog up to half meat and half Embark or Force, for example, according to the Q&A link below. * **



One thing I do when introducing THK is to start with a small amount along with or on top of the food the dog is accustomed to. Here's a post explaining that: http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=32170&page=1#359663


I think THK is a terrific product.


http://leerburg.com/qahonestkitchen.htm
Lots of info here!

http://leerburg.com/honestkitchen.htm#hints

http://leerburg.com/honestkitchen.htm





* None of this applies to Preference, which has different preparation instructions because it contains no meat itself.

** (Of course, if the THK is just an addition to a balanced diet, it can be used in any ratio, including as a "gravy" for increasing variety in a raw diet. That's how I use it.)

How do i go at daily meals? Cooked meat in the morning .... And sojos or THK at night?


No, no need at all to do this. Cooked meat, raw meat, RMBs, etc., can be added directly to the bowl of THK.

Dehydrated raw dog foods like THK don't present any of the potential problems that kibble mixed with raw might.

I have never used THK as a stand alone food. Used it with packaged raw.

Its just that this worries me. (force)
PROTEIN % 12.00
FAT % 7.31

When adding meat, do I need to add any supplements?

Also, does anybody like sojos?

That might be the Preference (contains no meat) percent. Here's Force: http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/dog-food/force



I always give fish oil and of course E (always give extra E when giving oil supplements).



I don't know Sojo's personally, but I noticed this comment from Mara a few months ago:

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=33867&page=1

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

That might be the Preference (contains no meat) percent. Here's Force: http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/dog-food/force



I always give fish oil and of course E (always give extra E when giving oil supplements).



I don't know Sojo's personally, but I noticed this comment from Mara a few months ago:

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=33867&page=1

Connie, I was the one who found out this.
http://cdn.thehonestkitchen.com/media/wysiwyg/content/nutrient-profiles/FORCE-nutrient-profile.pdf?&__hsfp=426969208

"I always give fish oil and of course E (always give extra E when giving oil supplements). "

Thanks, will do!
I have also been thinking of adding a supplement called Phycox One MAX.
Have you heard of it?
If not ill give Dasuquin.

Sojos is just so much cheaper down here. And my dog likes how its a bit chunky compared to THK soupier texture.

I have really been procrastinating about her food... it really needs to be done.
Thanks!

Do you have a link to the supplement you're asking about?

Also, Sojo's looks pretty good (I finally looked it up) ... particularly if you're adding meat. If it's a lot cheaper, and you're adding meat anyway, I'd probably go for it.



Yes, I agree that improving the diet of a geriatric dog is important. Don't procrastinate!

http://www.phycox.com/english/max-for-dogs.html

http://www.nutramaxlabs.com/dog/dog-joint-bone-health/dasuquin-for-dogs

I have heard both are good supplements.
what do you think?

Does Dasuquin cost the same as Cosequin or is it more expensive? I ask because it's basically Cosequin with the addition of unsaponifiables (a certain plant extract). Unsaponifiables haven't been tested a lot ... I've read maybe two or three research papers ... but the short-term results are moderately promising so far. Long-term studies, though, haven't backed up shorter-term ones so far.

IOW, I'd pay for Cosequin, and I might go for the Dasuquin instead if it didn't cost a bunch more.

You could read up on avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) before you decide whether to spring for Dasuquin.




All JMO. I'm not a health professional.