hersheme
New Member
Kitty (Hurry on Kitty) and Sadie (Duleek Sonia)
Posts: 40
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Post by hersheme on Feb 6, 2013 18:31:42 GMT
Hi all, I would really appreciate some advice on whether we are feeding Kitty enough. We have only had her since Saturday - and are all deeply in love with her already. Currently she is having: Breakfast - 2 shredded wheat in warm milk (was going to be weetabix but no2 son forgot to pick them up and she seems to like the shredded what now) Evening meal - 1/2 tin Chappie or Butchers and about 2 handfuls of complete biscuit or a block of Pets at Home meat with 2 handfuls of biscuit During the day - a couple of pigs ears and a dentistix. She doesnt seem that keen on the bonios, she eats them but its as if she is doing us a favour Anyway, my questions are; are we feeding her enough? Should she have any supplements? Is dried food better? Any help from you clever folk would be gratefully received. Val
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Post by prince on Feb 6, 2013 19:45:59 GMT
I think what your feeding kitty is fine. if she is still hungry after eating maybe you could add a little more. we all feed are greyts different foods. I feed prince wafcol with cooked blocks of meat, for lunch it can be pate or scrambled egg on toast or a yogurt. Prince can one day eat all his food and another leave some of it, i`m never to worried as long i know he maintains a good weight. i`ve had four different foster greyhounds at home each one a bigger or small size so i feed them what i give prince and if they are still hungry i will up there food.
i`m so pleased kitty is settling in, you seem to be spoiling her and doing a very good job. Diane
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Post by Ian on Feb 6, 2013 20:21:36 GMT
The handy thing with Greyhunds is that you can see them lose or gain weight quickly, and therefore adjust the food quantity accordingly. Generally for Greyhounds when you are feeding a dry food of about 20% protein then the amount per day they usually suggest is about 500 grams adjusted up or down based on the weight of the dog. This doesn't mean that's it though treats and a dry food mixer are fine it's just a question of watching the weight doesn't increase too much or the ribs don't start showing through. I recall Pat saying that the space between the two bones that stick up a little which are the tops of the back legs should be roughly flat, i.e. roughly flat is a correct weight.
You can also feed your Greyhound some "people food" leftovers, most will be OK, but there are some obvious things to avoid like Chocolate, particularly Dark (High Cocoa Content) ones, I think Onions and Turkey skin is best avoided as well, if in doubt Google the food in relation to dogs or ask here. Sometimes you might hit a food that creates runny output, this is just trial and error and if you get a runny bum simply don't give her that food going forward. For example chicken gives our Sean the trotskis so he generally gets none, despite him loving it. You can also feed things like oily fish, which is good for coats and joints, or give a daily cod liver oil tablet for the same thing - just pop a tablet in with food.
I note for breakfast she has cereal and milk, I'll mention this just incase you're not doing it, but it's wise to water down milk given to dogs (although skimmed might be OK) because they are lactose intolerant, watering down the milk should eliminate the problem.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2013 20:25:22 GMT
As was said, we all have our own feeding regimes. It's a bit of trial and error but variety is a good thing. Ted has rice pudding or weetabix for breakfast, a number of very small snacky treats during the day, Harringtons complete with either sardines in oil or Chappie (tripe) for his main meal and a 'bedtime snack' of warm bread and milk. I also give him vegetables, particularly carrots, as a treat as well. Using a Kong stuffed with a variety of different treats is a good way of testing out their preferences. Well done for giving Kitty a loving home. You will so enjoy her!!
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Post by andic on Feb 6, 2013 20:41:12 GMT
Hi Val,
It sounds like you're having a fab time with kitty and really pleased. I knew it would be a match made in heaven!
I think what you're feeding her is great, but I would up her meat a little bit now she's used to eating it as she could do with popping on a little bit of weight, you can quickly cut it down again once her little ribs are covered again.
I bet she is loving her pigs ears, this is one thing that Olly never tires of, and he's a fussy bugga!
Andrea
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Post by pumalass on Feb 6, 2013 21:29:42 GMT
Hi Well done on homing Kitty, sounds like she has fell on her feet, I would agree about upping her meat a little more as ours have a full tin with some biscuit for their main meal, they do have a bit of breakfast and a few treats in the evening. They all love the pigs ears but I wouldn't give her every day as they are full of fat and not good for their hearts. That said don't panic, but it's just once you start these habits it's hard to stop them. My boy Bart loved his pig's ears and he had them everyday until the trainer told me not a good idea so he had them every other day after that. Have fun with her they are a lovely breed of dog, and also as others have said she will gradually gain weight and lose the rib look they all do. Chris
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Post by davidbailey on Feb 6, 2013 21:41:02 GMT
Hi all, I would really appreciate some advice on whether we are feeding Kitty enough. We have only had her since Saturday - and are all deeply in love with her already. Currently she is having: Breakfast - 2 shredded wheat in warm milk (was going to be weetabix but no2 son forgot to pick them up and she seems to like the shredded what now) Evening meal - 1/2 tin Chappie or Butchers and about 2 handfuls of complete biscuit or a block of Pets at Home meat with 2 handfuls of biscuit During the day - a couple of pigs ears and a dentistix. She doesnt seem that keen on the bonios, she eats them but its as if she is doing us a favour Anyway, my questions are; are we feeding her enough? Should she have any supplements? Is dried food better? Any help from you clever folk would be gratefully received. Val Personally I feel you are not giving her enough. A greyhound bitch needs at least a pound and a quarter of food every day. The main meal should at the very least consist of a full 400gram tin of Chappie with at least 8 oz of a good quality mixer with water or gravy, and she should be O.K.. The dry food I give my dog's is a complete greyhound food,(10oz) mixed with 12oz of meat. It is given half at lunch-time, and the other half in the evening. They also have a high level of treats compared to many dog's and holding their weight has never been a problem. I weigh my dogs food every day so I know exactly how much they are eating. Bryan
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hersheme
New Member
Kitty (Hurry on Kitty) and Sadie (Duleek Sonia)
Posts: 40
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Post by hersheme on Feb 7, 2013 7:23:02 GMT
Ah thanks everyone, really appreciate the advice. I think I will up her food but keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn't put on too much weight.
Andrea, she has settled in so very well, it's as though she has always lived here. She loves being with people and so has a bed in the kitchen, the rug in the lounge and a bed in the bedroom so she can be comfy :-) She isn't that fussed about going for walks and when it's damp or cold we have to literally push her out the door twice a day! Thank you for letting her into our lives, she is just perfect (apart maybe when she poohed on the kitchen floor)
Val
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Post by sueb on Feb 7, 2013 8:54:50 GMT
Hi Val Well done on homing Kitty, so glad she settled so well. Good advice given, but as Mark says greys do put on and loose weight quickly, so it is easy to adjust.
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Post by andic on Feb 7, 2013 13:42:02 GMT
Hi Val,
So pleased for you and I should be thanking you. I knew she would make a perfect houndie and you're such a lovely family I'm sure she adores you. As with the poop, it's still early days and she will get the hang of it, I promise (at least it was in the kitchen too!).
Olly had a little accident in the kitchen the other day as something didn't agree with him, we were out and the underfloor heating was on so had cooked it!!! Fragrant isn't really the right term to use, but I had to laugh as he gave me that "what, you weren't in" look....
Take care Andrea x
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hersheme
New Member
Kitty (Hurry on Kitty) and Sadie (Duleek Sonia)
Posts: 40
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Post by hersheme on Feb 7, 2013 15:31:06 GMT
Hahaha Andrea, you do make me laugh. It's only happened the once so it's not a problem. One quick question (yep, another one) Kitty is drinking very little and only wee's twice, maybe 3 times in 24 hours. Is that usual? Every time I take her into the garden (well, to be accurate, push her into the garden) she looks at me as if I'm mad (very perceptive some might say)....
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Post by andic on Feb 7, 2013 17:59:24 GMT
Hi Val,
I wouldn't worry too much about the water, there are a few others on here who have mentioned the same thing and the dogs fine. One trick would be to pop water in her main meal so she will take in more fluids (I use this trick on my rabbits too to stop stasis).
Hopefully others may have a few more tips for you :0)
X
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Post by prince on Feb 7, 2013 20:50:40 GMT
prince is not a great water drinker. so his meals are watered down. Don`t worry about the weeing, my last foster girl didn`t wee alot when she first came to us and didn`t poop for 2 days then after the third day she was regular with both. it takes them time to settle in. Your doing really well everything.
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hersheme
New Member
Kitty (Hurry on Kitty) and Sadie (Duleek Sonia)
Posts: 40
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Post by hersheme on Feb 8, 2013 7:19:09 GMT
Ah thank you. I upped her meat last night and she ate it straight away so thank you for the advice everyone. Thinking about the fluid, I have been mixing milk with water for her breakfast so she is getting some that way, I will put a drop in her dinner as well. The pooh is no problem - just got back from morning walk and went twice. Goodness, I cannot believe I am talking about bowel habits, I haven't done that since the kids were little :-)
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Post by fluffymum on Jan 12, 2014 16:53:14 GMT
I've noticed people recommend a lot of wheat based foods, e.g. The wheatabix with milk, this is something I'm Confused about as they are carnivores. I've started Molly on a raw diet and she loves her bones and meat, heart etc. Bonio is pretty much all wheat no wonder she refuses them. Why is there so much wheat in greyhounds diet, I know pet food companies use it as its cheap but isn't a higher meat content more important. On a side note Molly's teeth are shiny and white after a week adding raw meaty bones to her diet they were quite yellow before I hope no one thinks I'm sounding condesending etc I just wondered if there was a reason their diets seem quite wheat based?
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