Veggie Tension

[John Popp]

Not sure where this is coming from, but Dino and Dooley are all about green leafy vegetables as well as cucumbers and zucchini. Jumping into the refrigerator, stealing them from the counter, growling at one another protecting their prize and outright tug of wars over cucumbers and zucchinis.

Dino is to the point now that he won't even look at chicken until he's certain there won't be any veggie opportunities. He does better with rabbit, but kale, spinach or other leafy veggies can take him off course in a heartbeat.

Not sure Dooley is on the same program, but he chokes down what his big brother is fond of to be in the club.

Anyway, I'm starting to believe that there is something else in play. Dino's stools are almost pure calcium/bone and as skinny as a pencil. Perhaps he believes he needs the greens to stay regular, or I have too much bone in their diet.

Secondly, I'm wondering if there is too much liver in my chicken recipe. Currently I add two pounds of hearts and one pound of liver to twenty pounds of chicken thighs. Should be the highest meat to bone ratio, the liver seems low enough to be far removed from other issues.

Any help is appreciated, and I have a regular vet check up with Dino on Thursday.

 

[DumaLove]

That's definitely not too much liver. If it was the poops would be going in the opposite direction. We use 1 lb of chicken liver per 10 lbs of chicken thighs. If you think his stools are too chalky I'd actually add more liver (start slowly and work your way up) and possibly more boneless meat. When you feed rabbit what're too do you use? Whole rabbit actually has a higher bone content. So that probably doesn't help either.

 

[John Popp]

I had started cutting back on the liver as I thought that was part of their contempt for it. They'll eat chicken, I just have to short feed them on their prior meal so they are a little hungry going in.

Cutting some bone out of the chicken is easy, but rabbit is a lot harder, or way more expensive.

Any thoughts on some additives that may make them more regular?

 

[DumaLove]

Have you tried doing half chicken half rabbit mixture? That worked to get our guys happy with their raw again. Then you could do some of the chicken thighs boneless to make up for the extra bone in the rabbit. Or get some boneless rabbit to add into their rabbit meal. Where do you get your rabbit from?

You could also add some psyllium husk for fiber. (Unflavored Metamucil)

 

[John Popp]

I'm a little bit scared about mixing their food, past bad experiences and also fear of being hung out to dry if they stopped eating it.

i guess i'll try the psyllium husks and cutting out some chicken bone.

hopefully then it returns to being safe to eat a salad at home.

 

[DumaLove]

Lol!! You could just defrost some of each and mix just a little bit.

 

[Jacq]

In my opinion, that is way too much liver. I grind 35 pounds of chicken, and only put in about 10 oz plus a large package of hearts and gizzards. Liver toxicity is a real thing, and I know cats that have died from it.


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[Jacq]

Also, I add fresh grass or slivered green leaf lettuce to their dinners for fiber and healthy coats.


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[John Popp]

Thanks Jacquii!

I have already decided I am going to drop the liver to 1lb for 36 pounds the next time I make food. Also making 40lbs of rabbit this evening, 24lbs whole carcass and and 16lbs boneless.

Other things I have tried to feed them is lamb and they seem to at least tolerate it. Goat is on deck when the opportunity arises.

 

[John Popp]

OK, I am finding success with cutting up some cucumbers in his food along with spinach. Also have now introduced goat to their diet and both seem to tolerate it. Hopefully in time they'll both enjoy it.