Food Sprinkles

[Busderpuddle]

I am trying to get some weight put back on Ruby and have recently switched her food to a higher calorie one. She did great with it the first 3 days, but started being picky tonight and only ate a bit of it.

In the past I have used parmesan cheese and chicken broth to perk up the food, which seems to work pretty well for a while each time.

Does anyone know of a food sprinkle that is meaty flavored and smelling that I can try ? I would like it to be a dry powder type thing in case she doesn't eat all the food. Does anyone know a good smelly dry food or product that I could grind up to make it more flavorable ? I asked at the pet food store the other day and they only had some gross gravy stuff that was all chemicals and fats. I have thought about grinding The Green Bag up to add the sprinkle but not sure how flavorful it is. What about dry gravy mix ? Wondered about the sodium in that. How about ground dehydrated lung ? I just need a little something to perk her taste buds. Seeing all her ribs and hips sticking out is so sad.

Thanks for any ideas.

[RedHead]

I buy a liver powder. It is 100% pure liver ground up into a powder or sprinkle. It has the same smell as the dehydrated liver treats so most dogs love it. I use a local brand, but I believe Benny Bully makes it as well as a few other companies.

http://www.bennybullys.com/eng/?flavour-savour

 

 

[a_daerr]

Yes! I've used bully flakes to get Henry to eat after chemo treatments. Magic!

[Feisty49]

All good suggestions above. My suggestion is to change the additives out every couple of days. Do two days with one; two days with another; etc. Hopefully this will ensure she doesn't get tired of one thing and she'll never know what to expect next. I know you'll end up with a lot of stuff for Ruby, but don't we all have lots of stuff, from food to treats to meds? I swear Annie's stuff takes up more room than mine.

 

Additives I put in Annie's food sometimes just 'cause (no large amounts of any of this):

 

Cottage cheese with chives (1 big tablespoon)

Mac & cheese (a couple of tablespoons)

Other pastas, such as when I do something with egg noodles or spaghetti

A small taste of cat food (I'll swirl water around an empty can and make a soup of the bits of food left)

FortiFlora (does it taste beefy?)

Sharp or American cheese

 

Pretty much if I have something I think she'd like, I mix it in her supper. If I don't have anything, she gets nekkid food. :-)

[rsieg]

I have been adding some tuna to the food on some days, going with "human-grade" low sodium tuna packets in water. Both dogs love it. Not sure if there are any issues with tuna as an additive, but I figure if it is low sodium it should be ok. I usually go with the smallest sealed pouch variety, put half in each dog's food, so they are not actually getting that much. And of course it is super-convenient :-)

[Busderpuddle]

Bully flakes are ground up bully sticks right ? Her tummy does not do well with the sticks at all so am a bit hesitant to try that. I will look into the liver powder. That is a good idea and I think she would like it. I tried mixing plain noodles into her food the other day and she picked around them. Guess they are not on her menu.

Appreciate the ideas..........keep them coming.

[FiveRoooooers]

I use canned puppy food to help the seniors keep up their weight. You could start with just a tablespoons' worth to see if Ruby would like it. Around here, it's been gobbled up first before any other noms in the dish.

[DocsDoctor]

These are not exactly 'sprinkles' but are popular add-ins for my skinny old chap: a couple of lightly-scrambled eggs; a portion of chicken boiled up in water then stripped off the bone, with the broth; a small tin of lovely smelly sardines (I think in the US you can also get something called jack mackerel which is even smellier?!); frozen green tripe (again I think you can get pure canned tripe in the US?); a bit of raw beef mince - cheaper fatty stuff is fine; left-over human soup or stew, if not too highly seasoned.

 

I find extra protein works better than extra carbs or fats for adding/keeping on weight - and the vet told me it's the easiest for them to metabolise.

[Guest sireltonsmom]

I've seen peanut butter in powder form at the grocery store. My kids will eat, take meds etc. If peanut butter flavor is involved.

[tra708]

i use a piece stella and chewy's freeze dried food, crushed up and sprinkled on top. my dogs love it.

[nessa]

I second the Stella and Chewy's freeze dried treat crumbled on the food. For my picky one who needs to eat, I add pieces of lunch meat on top. Tuna out of the can, broken up treats that I know she will eat ( if given as just a treat).

[KickReturn]

Try wetting her food with beef or chicken stock. Campbells has low sodium and no sodium types available. A $2 container can last many meals.

[Guest Houston1219]

I recall someone here on GT said that their dog liked a sprinkle of parmesan cheese? High sodium, I realize, but it does have a fairly strong smell/flavor.

[Feisty49]

I recall someone here on GT said that their dog liked a sprinkle of parmesan cheese? High sodium, I realize, but it does have a fairly strong smell/flavor.

 

I sprinkle Parm cheese on Annie's food occasionally. It would never cross my mind to worry about sodium with a sprinkle of anything.

[Guest Houston1219]

 

I sprinkle Parm cheese on Annie's food occasionally. It would never cross my mind to worry about sodium with a sprinkle of anything.

For sure not an issue for most, just not sure about any special diet dogs if you know what I mean. And Annie was just the dog I was trying to recall :-) I tried it just to try after I read your post and Houston approved! The next meal he was waiting for sprinkles lol

[Feisty49]

For sure not an issue for most, just not sure about any special diet dogs if you know what I mean. And Annie was just the dog I was trying to recall :-) I tried it just to try after I read your post and Houston approved! The next meal he was waiting for sprinkles lol

 

To set the record straight, I do sprinkle parm once in a while but the idea didn't originate with me. Somewhere along the way I read it on here but don't remember where.