
I've had many people asking at parks and online what I feed Lexi and its definitely been a journey to find what is best for her individual needs and what my schedule and budget allowed.
This is a post on what and how I feed her now. Please keep in mind these are
suggestions only and what works for one dog might not work for others.
However, Lexi has had many surgery and health problems since she was a puppy. Here is a list of what she went through:
Ear Crop - This was a cosmetic choice her breeder and I chose. I have many regrets but also appreciate the way she looks. I now think differently about ear cropping, although I can understand both options...I still say sorry to Lexi once in a while for making her go through unnecessary surgery when she had so much more to go through that I had not yet known. Ear crop done by
Dr. Sophia Koster at Millstone Animal Hospital in Clarksburg, NJ.Spay - This was a choice I made for her in regards to her health, temperament, and overpopulation of dogs.
Microchip Adverse Reaction - When
HomeAgain chip was inserted she grew a small hump on the site. Inflamed tissue surrounded the chip and never went away. I wish I was told sooner about such reactions to the microchip. She's never leaves my side, she never needed the chip.
Xray & MRI - These were to find out the causes of her inability to walk without pain. Doctors thought it might be displaysia, disc problem, lyme disease etc. She had to be put under anasthesia each time for xrays. Finally, the MRI results were able to identify the wobblers.
Spine Surgery - A vertebrae had grown into her spinal cord which disabled her back legs from functioning. This is congenital disease also known as wobblers which is common in dobermans, great danes, dalmations etc.) She whined and yelped in pain with every step before she had surgery. She has fully recovered from her surgery by excellent
Dr. Jason Berg at VCA in Yonkers and is an avid ball catching maniac!
Dew Claw torn off - This happened from playing ball. The dew claw had to be removed by surgery but the claw still grew back but crooked....
Chin Acne - More frequent washing and wiping chin after eating. No prescriptions worked and were unnecessary.
Hair Loss - This was due to surgery and to much chemical medications and rubbing off of hard surfaces. Fish oil, bathing, and
Eqyss shampoo helped a lot of the regrowth.
Ok, so after all that how could I not research the best foods?
This is what Lexi and Wilson eats and their coats are gleaming and their stools are perfection!
Morning Meal:
1 Boiled Chicken Leg Quarter & 1 Boiled Drumstick
(fat trimmed)
1 Scoop of Pumpkin (for Vitamin A and fiber - optional, could also use Baby food vegetables)
1 Garlic clove (mashed, to fight off bugs)
1 Tbl of Apple Cider Vinegar (for trace minerals and fight bacteria)
1 Scoop of brown rice steamed in Chicken Broth (optional for when chicken is smaller amt)
Evening Meal:
3/4 lb Boiled Beef (usually Chuck Roast or sale items fat trimmed, ground for easy digestion)
1/2 Can of Tripett
1 Scoop of ground Anchovy ($5.99/8 0z at asian grocery)
Supplement with one of following -
Glucosamine, Shark Cartilage, Omega Oils, Taurine (rotation)
Frozen Raw Meals:
1 Cornish Hen or 1 Steak with Marrow Bone
Frozen Raw Snacks:
Marrow Bone
Pig Neck
Pig Back
Pork Ribs
Beef Ribs
Tendon
**Make sure to clean surfaces and mouths and chins after raw feeding. I use vinegar + water for the vinyl tablecloth - chemicals could be harmful**
Commerical Snacks:
Wellness Whitefish KibbleWellness Yogurt BarsDogswell Chicken JerkyOrganix Chicken/Cheese Biscuits
Commerical Food for No-Time-To-Cook-Days:
Nature's Variety Can FoodEvo Can FoodTripett (Supplement feeding only)
To feed home-cooked you will need to hunt for cheap meats by looking at the per/lb price.
I find America's Choice chicken family packs at A&P for
as low as 69 cents/lb. Thats so much cheaper than premium can foods and so much better for them. You can also feed the chicken raw, but Lexi preferred boiled. I always have fresh chicken broth from boiling their chicken everyday! You can boil brown rice in the broth to give them back the nutrients.
I bought a chest freezer to accommodate their meats that I pack in ziplock bags. In the morning or at night, I just defrost one of the meal bags in the microwave and boil. Once its boiled I rinse off in cool water and debone the chicken in the morning, and grind the beef at night.

I then add the other goodies like pumpkin, anchovy, garlic, brown rice, any healthy leftovers, and supplements like glucosamine, omega oils, or taurine, mix it all up and serve. They love it, and once you get the routine going its just clockwork. Its actually cheaper than commercial food and they are so very healthy and energetic!