Feeding baby food to dogs
Five Foods to Feed Your Dog When He's Sick – American Kennel Club
Feeding a sick dog is challenging. Decreased appetite, upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting make caring for a sick dog stressful for both you and your pet. A bland diet can help relieve some of these symptoms while also giving your dog the nutrition he needs to recover.
The following five recipes are intended for use for dogs with mild stomach upset, including gas, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. As these symptoms are occasionally signs of a more serious problem, always check with your vet before taking treatment into your own hands. Only use these recipes once you have ruled out other health risks and discussed your plan with your veterinarian; and remember that dogs with existing health conditions like diabetes, cancer, allergies, and senior dogs might need additional nutrition to stay healthy.
Chicken and Rice
Chicken and rice are prime ingredients in many dog foods, and these mild foods sit well on upset canine stomachs. Plus, this bland meal is easy to prepare. All you need are boneless, skinless chicken breasts and rice. White rice is lower in nutritional value than brown rice, but its blandness makes it more suitable for upset stomachs. Oils, butter, and added seasonings can irritate your dog’s stomach and make the problem worse, so stick with plain boiled chicken and rice and save the extra stuff for your own meal. Make sure the chicken is cooked thoroughly and cut or shred it into small, bite-sized pieces for your dog, since enthusiastic canines might choke on this unexpected treat. You can also purchase many bland chicken and rice foods if you prefer not cooking.
Shredded Chicken
Shredded chicken is easy on upset stomachs and acts as a huge eating incentive for dogs with decreased appetites. Plain, unseasoned, boiled, shredded chicken is easy to digest and is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, fats, and amino acids, making it a great snack for dogs feeling under the weather.
Chicken keeps in the fridge for three-to-four days, or you can freeze it for two-to-six months. Packaged shredded chicken is available to buy online.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin and sweet potato have similar digestive health benefits. Like sweet potatoes, pumpkin is also high in fiber, which helps regulate canine digestive systems. Cooked, peeled, unsalted, and unseasoned pumpkin contains vitamin E, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, riboflavin, potassium, copper, and manganese, giving your dog a nutritional boost along with a little digestive help.
Adding pumpkin to your dog’s meal usually helps regulate mild constipation. Veterinarians recommend one to four tablespoons of pumpkin, depending on your dog’s size. Canned pumpkin is a convenient alternative to preparing pumpkin yourself, as long as it is unseasoned. Feeding your dog a can of pumpkin pie filling might end up sending you back to the vet, as the spices and sugars could irritate your dog’s stomach and cause further complications.
There are also many pumpkin powders you can buy to add to your dog’s food.
Bone Broth
Bone broth is a very mild, liquid meal that sits easily in upset canine stomachs. It is also a nutritious and delicious way to add moisture and flavor to dry food and encourage dogs with reduced appetites to eat. To make a bone broth for dogs, fill a crock-pot with beef marrow bones or bones with plenty of joints, like turkey and chicken legs. Cover the bones with 2-3 inches of water, cover, and cook on low for 20-24 hours.
Let the broth cool for 2-to-3 hours in the fridge to let the fat form a hardened layer at the top. Scoop it off and store the jelly-like broth in the refrigerator. If you want to use the broth to add moisture to dry food, microwave the broth just long enough for it to go from a semi-solid jelly to a liquid, but not long enough to get hot, as hot broths can burn your dog’s mouth. Freeze the broth in small containers like an ice cube tray for later use.
While bone broth is full of healthy bone marrow, cooked bones themselves are incredibly dangerous for dogs. Make sure you remove all of the bones from your broth before serving. Save yourself a trip to the emergency room and strain the broth just to make sure no small bones escaped your notice. For convenience, you can purchase a bone broth safe for dogs online.
Baby Food
Veterinary emergency hospitals often use certain types of baby food to feed the dogs in their care. Baby food is very easy to swallow and digest and is a great way to give oral medications. Veterinarians recommend feeding Stage II meat-based baby foods like chicken, lamb, and turkey, as long as the baby food does not contain any garlic or onion powder.
You may also consider an over-the-counter stomach and diarrhea treatment.
While none of these recipes should be used as a replacement for proper medical care, feeding a bland diet can alleviate some of your dog’s intestinal discomfort while also providing him with foods he’ll love.
These five recipes for dog digestive health also make delicious treats for when your dog starts feeling better, so consider saving some for later to reward your canine patient.
Dogs Can Eat Baby Food
Last Updated on
Are you wondering if your dog can be fed baby food?
These formulas are obviously designed for human newborns, but does that necessarily make them all wrong for animals?
Truth be told, most veterinarians will tell you there should be a good strategic reason to provide baby food.
While dogs have different dietary needs, bland nourishment can make sense for canines at the end of their lives. And there are also situations where this type of food is useful on a temporary basis.
And be very careful to withhold any formula that contains garlic or onion powder. Those are toxic ingredients when it comes to your best buddy.
Something else to consider…
Frequently feeding baby food could make your dog a finicky eater.
Young puppies, in particular, can easily develop a frustrating food fussiness.
Be Selective With Ingredients
It must be stressed that you’ve got to be choosy.
Baby foods typically include fruits and vegetables such as:
- Oranges
- Banana
- Sweet potato
- Carrots
- Peas
Good news! These are beneficial and generally a net positive for dogs.
On the other hand…
Any brand that contains onion (usually in powder form) or garlic is strictly off limits to your dog. And there is a real potential for harm if, for example, grapes are an ingredient in the baby food.
Carefully read the product’s label!
It’s Not For Healthy Hounds
Baby food is often used in emergency animal hospitals for under-the-weather pets.
We asked Veterinarian Sara Redding Ochoa (DVM) for her thoughts and here is what she said:
“Feeding baby food is a great idea if your dog is very sick.
It’s easy to provide via syringe, but most under-the-weather canines will eat a little bit of baby food on their own before they will touch their regular dog food.”
But a thriving puppy doesn’t need this type of human-formulated diet.
It really is best to avoid experimenting when it comes to your dog’s diet and this applies to baby foods as well. Allergic reactions also aren’t out of the question.
The point is you should strive to keep your dog’s life as simple as possible!
Here’s The Biggest Downside
Dogs are prone to becoming picky eaters!
Does your buddy already like baby food?
Careful! They may begin refusing to eat what they really need to be healthy.
Make no mistake about it:
Giving in to your dog’s whims is a sign of behavioral trouble ahead. Avoid this early on while they are still puppies.
Mixed-In With Dog Food
Some people mix baby food with dog food which is better than straight baby food.
But again, if going that route, you must ensure there are no harmful ingredients.
And the dog food portion should be the majority of the serving size. It’ll be more balanced and nutritious assuming you’re buying the good stuff.
Regarding Picky Eaters
It is important to instill in your dog (or puppy) that not eating their adult meals will cause them to miss out and possibly go hungry.
Be firm! Consider withholding food if your dog refuses to eat.
Whatever you do…
Do not give in by offering questionable provisions including baby food unless a vet expressly recommends it.
The Bottom Line
Only feed your dog baby food if there’s a valid medical reason. Otherwise, doing so is not recommended.
While usually not dangerous, these formulas don’t offer the right balance of vitamins and minerals. Canines have a distinct set of nutritional requirements compared to newborn babies.
Last but not least, careful of bad feeding habits.
Avoid spoiling an already healthy dog with baby food.
Please let us know so we can improve!
Is it possible to feed dogs with baby food, what to give instead for puppies
January 25, 2022
The question seems simple and unambiguous only at first glance. Many people think that if a product is made for babies, its quality should be on top and certainly suitable for feeding pets. We do not argue that in most cases the production of food for infants is indeed of high standards, but the problem here is not in the quality of raw materials and compliance with production standards, but in compliance with the composition of baby food to the needs of predators - adults and especially growing ones.
Only as a treat
If there is a baby in the house, dogs often get the uneaten remains of instant cereals, milk mixtures, vegetable and meat purees. Well, if it's about giving baby food as treats to dogs, it's okay, even though it doesn't make sense.
Just do not forget that the share of this kind of treats should be no more than 10% of the calorie content of the entire diet (per day), otherwise your dog will quickly gain weight, which will be very difficult to get rid of.
Particularly harmful in this regard are porridges, a source of readily available carbohydrates. However, cottage cheese, kefir and milk mixtures are also not the healthiest food for a dog. Yes, they contain milk protein and usually probiotics, but they are often additionally sweetened - which is not good for animals at all. If we are not talking about puppies, but about adult dogs, then “native” milk sugar is a big risk. The farther from puppyhood, the less pets have enzymes designed to digest lactose. By 7-8 months, only a small part of the dogs can digest and assimilate the "milk" well, the majority have bloating, diarrhea of varying degrees of intensity.
What about meat purees in glass and tin jars - such as Tyoma, Nestle, Grandmother's basket, etc.
? It is they who are most often referred to when they talk about feeding pets with baby food. Moreover, many owners specifically buy baby food in stores, and do not use stocks purchased for children and grandchildren with the goal of “not wasting”. Usually this practice is typical for owners of small puppies, adult dogs of small breeds, as well as pets who find it difficult to chew. Alas, it is undesirable to give even meat baby food to dogs on an ongoing basis. And there are reasons for this.
Why shouldn't you feed your dog meat baby food?
First, these products have a completely different composition. The dog will obviously not receive the necessary components - animal protein and fat, which are vital to it, and calories will not be received from the usual and so healthy meat, fish or poultry, but most likely from grain and starch.
Secondly, all these products undergo a powerful heat treatment (sterilization), during which not only possible pathogenic microorganisms are destroyed, but also many useful substances vital for predators are lost - a number of amino acids and vitamins.
In the manufacture of industrial food for dogs, the same thing usually happens, however, manufacturers, knowing about the problem, introduce the "lost" substances additionally, at the last stage of production.
It is not for nothing that ready-made food, which is intended for daily nutrition of animals, is called “complete” or “balanced”, and its recipe is called “formula”. On the label you will definitely find the components included in the mineral-vitamin complex, the amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber. And even if some substances were not enough in the feedstock, after taking samples for analysis, the developer will add what is needed to the “dough” of the feed.
Data on the needs of dogs are not taken from the ceiling and not from the personal experience of the manufacturer, but are correlated with the figures recommended by the competent regulatory organizations - AAFCO, FDA, as well as GOSTs for non-productive animals.
Thirdly, in the composition of children's meat food, you can often find such undesirable components as potato starch, rice or wheat flour.
And also, which is rather unpleasant, salt, spices and even dried onions. The proportion of such additives is rarely indicated, and it may happen that when buying a “meat” puree, you will provide your pet with only its likeness, moreover, devoid of the necessary nutrients.
Why is the use of baby food so popular in feeding puppies and dogs? This product really has many advantages: it contains understandable types of meat, is well homogenized and has a delicate texture (which is important for small puppies and dogs with oral problems), is completely ready for use and can be stored at room temperature. An important advantage for some owners is the financial side of the issue: sometimes baby food seems cheaper than high-quality wet dog food, and at the same time it is easy to buy.
Is it possible, taking into account the above-mentioned advantages, to choose an analogue for children's purees among canned food created specifically for dogs? Delicious, complete, healthy in composition, delicate in texture, conveniently packaged and affordable and available in stores? Yes, you certainly may.
What to give instead of baby food?
Let's start with those who receive baby food not from younger family members, but from reverent owners who strive to give their pet the best and safest.
Feeding small puppies
For the first three weeks, mother's milk is the only thing a puppy needs, but then you can start accustoming a kitten to meat food. Not any diet is suitable, but as you understand, the most tender, easily digestible and very nutritious. It is commonly referred to as a "starter", but not all manufacturers make one. We have such a product in our assortment, it is Blitz Sensitive "Turkey with Zucchini" - a starter food for puppies, pregnant and lactating bitches. Packed in 200 g cans with a key. Contains turkey meat, several types of offal, zucchini pulp, milk powder, prebiotics and a vitamin and mineral complex. The product has a high calorie content, so it is advisable to give it up to 4 months, when the puppies are growing rapidly, then it is advisable to switch to other canned food options, for example, with chicken and pumpkin or lamb and turkey.
All Blitz wet foods for dogs and puppies are complete rations with 80% to 98% meat ingredients. By consistency, they are divided into “pieces in sauce” or chopped pates, they are available in different packaging options (85 g, 200 g, 400 g and even 700 g) and are presented in a wide flavor palette - you will definitely choose what suits your pet.
The current assortment can be viewed on this page of our catalogue. Foods marked "for all breeds and ages" are designed, among other things, for the daily feeding of puppies that have come out of the lactation period.
Canned food for small breeds of dogs
Miniature pets (Chihuahua, Spitz, Dachshund, Toy) are also very fond of eating baby food, and in terms of packaging it seems to be intended for them for a single portion. But, despite the external "toy", these are real dogs - brave, tireless, with well-developed muscles and light bones. And they need to eat the same way as other breeds - not purees like "Tyoma", but a balanced diet.
Slices of canned Lamb with Salmon, Beef with White Fish or Turkey with Duck soaked in fragrant sauce will please your gourmet much more than baby food, and they will be a hundred times more useful.
Blitz dog food is produced in Russia using European equipment. They are developed taking into account the recommendations of leading veterinary organizations and regulatory authorities, from high-quality raw materials, without the use of preservatives and dyes.
Nutrition for debilitated dogs
In most cases (except for liver diseases) during the recovery period and in old age, dogs do not need diet food (as we understand it), but easily digestible nutritious food. If your dog was recommended a temporary liquid diet after surgery, or if your pet has oral problems, it is not necessary to opt for baby mashed meats. The correct choice would be to use any of Blitz's complete wet or even dry foods, bringing them to the desired consistency with water.
Learn how to properly soak dry food here.
Blitz – available to everyone
Blitz wet food can be found on all major online trading platforms (Ozon, Wildberries, YandexMarket), ordered on the official website of the brand or bought at the pet store of our distributor partners. A complete list of them, with addresses and phone numbers, you can see on this map. We supply our products to all regions of Russia.
Due to Russian production, transparent logistics and focus on quality, Blitz wet food boasts a competitive price. You can give them to your pet every day, and it will certainly not be more expensive than feeding him baby food, but it is guaranteed to be more beneficial for his health and development.
Is it possible to give baby food to dogs?
Some give baby food to puppies, claiming that it is ideal for feeding them at this age, others - as a dietary food for dogs with diseases, others just feel sorry for throwing away an expired product, and some take baby food on a trip as an alternative to normal food .
The reasons are varied, but is it possible to give baby food to dogs? It would be safe to say no, but given that rare feedings in small quantities with certain types of baby products are not harmful to the animal, then it is more appropriate to say that it is not recommended.
Some veterinarians, on the contrary, recommend baby food in cans (Tyoma, Agusha) for feeding dogs, but you should not blindly trust such doctors. You should think, if children's products were suitable for animals, then there would be no recommendations in the form of huge articles, books about the proper feeding of dogs. If it was that simple, then dogs would only be fed human food.
Peculiarities of feeding a dog with baby food
It would seem that baby food cannot harm the animal, because it consists of natural ingredients, besides it does not contain artificial preservatives, dyes, it has a balanced set of vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins. However, do not forget that such products are intended for people, and the gastrointestinal tract of people and animals is different.
Therefore, you need to think about whether it makes sense to give baby food to dogs, and if a decision has already been made to give, then you should carefully study the composition. Children's canned foods, cereals should not contain harmful ingredients, such as garlic, onions, grapes, raisins, etc. Before choosing, it is important to familiarize yourself with the list of foods prohibited for dogs.
If it is nevertheless decided to include baby food in the pet's diet, then it is given no more than twice a week as a separate treat or mixed with food in one of the feedings. Puppies need 1-2 teaspoons. Replacing natural or commercial food with baby food alone is unacceptable.
Children's products cannot replace dog food, because they are not a complete source of nutrition for dogs, they have the wrong consistency and the wrong set of minerals and vitamins. Of course, fruit and vegetable purees that do not contain grapes and other components that are toxic to dogs can occasionally be given to beloved pets, but meat puree or meat pieces are not the best food.
Meat products for children are usually crushed or very overcooked, so do not forget that dogs do not digest minced meat well, and they need roughage. If we talk about dairy products, then we can give children's cottage cheese, sour cream, kefir with a low percentage of fat content.
Why it is not recommended to give baby food to dogs
It is not recommended to feed baby food, especially mashed potatoes, because regular feeding of such products alone does not put pressure on the teeth, and the dog must train the jaw muscles. In addition, there may be problems with the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, vomiting, and allergic reactions.
The benefits of natural raw meat, not subjected to heat treatment and excessive grinding, are greater than from boiled meat. It is better to feed even sick old and toothless dogs with natural products, grind them yourself, scroll raw beef liver with carrots in a meat grinder, give low-fat cottage cheese, eggs.
Baby food is not as satisfying as special foods, and the food needs of an animal are quite different from those of humans.
