Commercial Dog Foods In Thailand

[Smithson]

I've been reading that dry foods aren't so good for dogs. I'm not sure about tin foods, but they're not that cheap.

So I was wondering if there's better and cheaper alternatives available at markets.

I was thinking about buying cheap rice and mixing it with raw chicken, fish etc. Fresh fish can be brought for as little as 10B a kilo.

I'd be very interested to hear members thoughts on this.

[Nienke]

Rice, lots of veggies and fruit, some herbs, animal protein (eggs, fish, chicken, pork, beef, etc) and to powder blended egg shells for the necessary calcium. Sometimes some yoghurt. Twice a week organs with rice and veggie-fruit mix. Wouldn't give milk, though. Everyday a tbsp coconut milk or grated meat through each meal.

The veggies you can cooklightly or blend it raw. Fruits also need to be blended before giving. Papaya and pumpkin pits are pretty good and should go through the belender as well.

Personally, I'm not in favor of the premade frozen dogfood packs, available at the supermarket. I rather buy the meat at the local market and let them mince it in front of me.

VARIATION is the secret to a good health. Meaning you vary in the animal protein and veggies.

[Smithson]

What about raw chicken and other bones? Do you think a mix could be made, then refrigerated, with the rice being added just before feeding the dogs? I've been using dry and canned foods, but have been reading they contain little nutrition.

[elfe]

hi smithson, there are quite a few threads here on this forum with a lot of good info on alternative feeding.

raw chicken is very good, just avoid the thick chicken leg bones. no added rice needed there actually.

[Nienke]

Hi,

Below two threads with info on raw feeding. Searching this topic I find a bit difficult as the word 'raw' has only three letters and the search machine doesn't take three-letter-words. I searched on 'cooked' and food.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=118851

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...;hl=cooked+food

There is a huge difference between feeding cooked bones and feeding raw bones!

Major rule is: NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! ... ... Cooking bones changes the chemical composition of it, making the bones extremely hard and killing or decreasing the bio-availability of the nutrients. Once it breaks it can splinter, which is very dangerous for the dog as it can perforate the stomach or intestines (this is NOT only poultry bones, this is the same with pork bones!).

In Thailand there are still many dogs (owned and not owned) that eat cooked bones, of which a lot are chicken bones.

Dogs are carnivores and their digestive sytem is designed to eat RAW meat and RAW bones and RAW organs. Evolution doesn't go that fast that it has changed the digestive sytem of a dog so much that it can't eat bones anymore.

Feeding raw meat and bones have enormous advantages for the dog, as all the goodies are in there in their original state. Raw bones are extremely nutrious, ... ... The bone and bone marrow is full with nutrients, such as calcium. I have seen many dogs improving in health a lot after simply changing their diet to raw. This, of course, doesn't mean that by simply changing to raw all the health problems will be solved, as that depends on the problems the animal has.

When you give only bones or carcasses, there is chance on constipation, therefore it is always suggested to feed RAW MEATY BONES (approx. 50% bones and 50% meat) and not only bones.

For over 6 years I feed my dogs on a daily basis a raw food diet, and never once I had a problem with bones such as getting stuck. Of course, there's always a slight chance that this happens, nothing is prefect. There are also exceptions that can't handle a raw food diet anymore due to over and inbreeding, and the huge amounts of toxins that is put in the animals body throughout its life. But then, there are also dogs that choke on a piece of kibble and loads of dogs that get all sort of (skin) problems, just by eating kibble only.

Thousands of people all over the world feed their animals very happily a raw food diet, this include vets, (top) breeders, veterinary immunologists, veterinary nutritionists, (top) behaviorist and trainers, etc etc. And this group is growing fast.

So, YES, you can feed RAW bones to your dog! Best is, though, to feed it separate from rice or kibble.

Nienke

Personally I hardly ever give rice to my own and some of the guest dogs. It's not advisable to mix animal protein with rice/cereals. Has something to do with digestive enzymes.

Canned food I find very expensive water (75 - 80%) with a little dry matter (20 - 25%) in there. Although, I still use it once in a while when I have a difficult eater, who only will eat the dryfood when mixed with 1 or 2 tablespoons of canned food.

Although made fresh each time is better, you can make veggie-fruit mixes for a 2 week period and then freeze them in as daily portions. It is not advisable to thaw them in the magnetron or oven, though. Any supplements you plan to give should be put in the food just before you give it to your dog.

IME you can feed ALL the bones of poultry. Dogs are capable of digesting them. From pork and buffalo or cow I give only the softer and smaller bones.

The big marrow bones are recreational bones for the dog to chew in while killing time, not given as a meal. Teeth of dogs that aren't too strong can worn down by chewing big hard bones.

Puppies can and should eat bones. By eating them the gums get kind of massaged making them stronger. During teething the teeth come loose easier and new teeth become stronger. Next to this the nutrients are of extreme important for a proper teeth and general growth.

Of course, the pup should not be given only bones but in combination with muscle and organ meat and other ingredients. For more info on how to prepare the diet (there's a schedule) I would like to refer to the article 'feeding your dog the natural way' on my website, see profile.

In case you don't trust the chicken bones, then I suggest you take a big hammer and smash the bones untill grinded, as long as you give ALL the bones.

Nienke

Edited August 31, 2007 by Nienke

[November Rain]

Just a quickie Smithson. I've been following Nienke's raw diet for 1 meal each day (the other being brown rice, chicken & offal, egg, veggies etc) for 4 of my dogs who were sick (3 distemper, 1 skin & other problems). They wolf the food down & have almost recovered from their illnesses. Take a look at the articles on Nienke's website to show you the proportions & foods suggested. Really worth a try, particularly for dogs that need that little bit extra strength. (I've been alternating fish & veg, pork, chicken etc - no beef, but only because it's too expensive for dog center budget!)

[Smithson]

Before reading all this I'd bought 2 bags of kibble (one for the pup and one for the adult), from what I've gathered I'd be best providing one raw meal and the other kibble each day. Does this sound right?

Then when all the kibble is gone I can add rice if I like or maybe just stick to the raw diet.

Apparently you can buy freshwater fish (plah nin) for 10B a kilo at a market (talad plah) in Bangkok. My dogs quite like this.

I've got a two other questions:

If the meals are frozen why is it bad to defrost in the microwave?

Are raw fish bones a problem if they've been chopped up?

Is it OK to give eggs raw?

[elfe]

that's great if your dogs like the raw fish

if you give kibble in addition try to give high quality kibble. for puppy it is surely an advantage to have kibble as well as it is still developping and maybe you make some mistakes with right balancing the raw and cooked diet.

try a google search about raw feeding or other, you will find some very intersting and informative websites. also special dogforums which are plenty out there discuss the feeding and nutrition issues.

[girlx]

Rice, lots of veggies and fruit, some herbs, animal protein (eggs, fish, chicken, pork, beef, etc) and to powder blended egg shells for the necessary calcium. Sometimes some yoghurt. Twice a week organs with rice and veggie-fruit mix. Wouldn't give milk, though. Everyday a tbsp coconut milk or grated meat through each meal.

man your dogs eat better than i do! where i live it is too difficult to get my dogs fresh fruits and veggies and raw meat, and even if i gave it to them, they would spit them out. they eat pedigree canned food mixed with rice- occasionally some pla kapong and rice. they are quite healthy.

Edited September 1, 2007 by girlx

[Smithson]

How can I judge what's high quality kibble? I'm using the Pedigree brand (pup and adult), which is about the most expensive, but I'm not sure high price means top quality. I was reading that the kibble in the US is mostly grains, the add tallow and this is the 'meat' source.

[elfe]

pedigree is not high quality and also not that expensive. high quality kibble you won't find in supermarkets but in petshops or you can order them. names are for example royal canin, hills science diet, nutro, eukanuba. the price is about 2000 baht for 15kg. i use the farm type royal canin which is this price for 20kg, but still mix it half with a cheaper local brand which i made good experience with.

btw pedigree is from usa.

[Nienke]

I've got a two other questions:

1.If the meals are frozen why is it bad to defrost in the microwave?

2. Are raw fish bones a problem if they've been chopped up?

3. Is it OK to give eggs raw?

ad.1 It has something to do with micro waves. It has been explained to me in detail, but I only remember the most important part and that is 'it's not advisable to defrost in the microwave'.

ad.2 As long as the bones are raw, it's no problem to chop them up and then give to the dogs. Careful with worms in freash water fish, though.

ad.3 yes it's ok to give raw eggs with shell and all.

How can I judge what's high quality kibble? I'm using the Pedigree brand (pup and adult), which is about the most expensive, but I'm not sure high price means top quality. I was reading that the kibble in the US is mostly grains, the add tallow and this is the 'meat' source.

My judgement is based on observations/experience and from what I've studied on the dog food subject.

Not only the kibble in the States has grains as major ingredient, all kibble available in Thailand are the same.

Pedigree is among the cheaper dryfoods and it's not imported but Made in Thailand.

man your dogs eat better than i do!

That's what my ex also was complaining about. But when I offered to cook for him, he definitely refused. Well, not completely true; I cooked for him in total 3 times in many years. The last time he almost got the pan on his head and I never cooked again. That's at least 8 years ago. Now my maid cooks, I go out or eat bread, fruit or musli.

I have to admit, i'm not the greatest cook and he is a very good Italian cook. And as he's such a good cook, I never understood why he didn't do his best in making his own food better than the dogs' food.

[elfe]

nienke, at least our dogs love all the food we cook, that's a clear advantage to boyfriends

[Tony Clifton]

My dog regularly visits the vet, still, it vomits quite often, gets pus around the eyes, low energy. It seems to happen often since I've decided to feed it dry food, different brands have been tried. It's tied up, doesn't eat garbage or laced food. Looking at the incidents with tainted pet food from China, I wouldn't be surprised that most food here is well below standard as well.

Meat is so cheap that I've started cooking big batches again that last for a few days. Mixed with rice and leftover vegetables.

The pet food industry is a scam.

Edited September 1, 2007 by Tony Clifton

[Gary A]

My Golden Retriever refuses to eat Pedigree dry dog food. He sniffs and walks away. He will eat nearly anything EXCEPT Pedigree. His favorite dry dog food is Tesco beef flavor. The one in the brown bag, not the white bag. I was against feeding him cooked chicken bones but everyone else thought I was stupid. He eats fish bones and chicken bones and they don't seem to bother him.

[elfe]

My dog regularly visits the vet, still, it vomits quite often, gets pus around the eyes, low energy. It seems to happen often since I've decided to feed it dry food, different brands have been tried. It's tied up, doesn't eat garbage or laced food. Looking at the incidents with tainted pet food from China, I wouldn't be surprised that most food here is well below standard as well.

Meat is so cheap that I've started cooking big batches again that last for a few days. Mixed with rice and leftover vegetables.

The pet food industry is a scam.

well done!

some dogs are also allergic against dogfood and develop skin problems, eye discharge and vomitting. i can see these effects in some of my dogs here as well if i give only kibble for some days. other dogs will just do fine on kibble for a long time... mostly dogs are not only fed their kibble but also left overs or treats etc during the day, that mostly makes the healthiest part of their feeding. even high quality kibble which use lots of vitamins and add-ons and use real meat instead of only protein from soy bean, still contain other stuff which should be avoided...

[Tony Clifton]

I choose whatever is cheapest by the kilo at Tesco's.

Avoid the frozen slabs of meat for dogs, I bought one and the dog never touched it. Even the hungry soi dogs smelled it, looked at it for a while and left.