Folic Acid

I think it's important to add, too much Vit. A will cause cleft palettes. How much is too much? If you are wanting to supplement with a multi-vitamin during pregnancy, for example, more than 1/4 of a PetTab (regular formula) or Concept-A-Bi*ch, have formulations with too much for a pregnant Pug.

Supplementation should only be done under direct supervision or advice from a Canine Reproduction Specialist. To find a list of veterinarians that are specialists in canine reproduction, go to this link:

http://www.therio.org...

there you will find a search page that allows you to find one in your area.

Another known cause of cleft palettes would be stress on the pregnant girl's system. This is usually the case in a female that is bred after her prime reproductive years, which varies by individual, or one that has a dead fetus. Carrying a dead fetus requires more than a live one, and will take away from her body's ability to provide the needed nutrients to the surviving pups in that section of her uterus. This is why when you have a dead fetus, you will also more than likely find one or two pups with cleft palettes. According to Dr. Cindy, the one or two pups next to the dead one will have cleft palettes 98% of the time, as witnessed by her during c-sections. (As a specialist, she does more c-sections in one month than most GP vets do in a year.)

Keep in mind that dog kibble is not formulated for pregnant dogs, and all food given, including ANY supplements have the potential to do harm to an unborn litter. ANY substance, ingested or inhaled, in the wrong quantities can be as dangerous. Too much, as well as too little, either can have tragic results.

And, yes, there is a inherited component to the mom's metabolism and storage of folic acid, so you can say you could have cleft palettes in a line, if you want to look at it that way.

Since most general practice veterinarians do not know much about nutrition, canine reproduction, or newborn puppy care, it is always my recommendation to seek the advice of a specialist before, during, and after a girl is bred. GP vets usually know enough to support a normal healthy pregnancy and pups, and most do an adequate job of performing c-sections when there's a problem. They do not usually have same level of knowledge or experience as those who dedicate their practice to a specialty. We use specialists for our health care for certain areas of human health care, and so it is with veterinary medicine.

Proper nutrition, especially during pregnancy, is VITAL to the on-going health of the mom & her pups. If you're going to breed, take the time to do your research and don't assume the dog food companies are providing everything necessary in their kibble for a healthy litter. I'm sure Linda would be happy to provide us the link to the list of tainted foods they've delivered to us.

~Sandra M.

And how much do you give??

one tablet which is 500mcg... Linda thanks for that great info - yes I did check thoroughly on the toxicity of folic acid before using it. One of my girls is in co ownership with her breeder and it was the breeder who askede me initally to put her on it - she has had no clefts since using it..

Proper nutrition, especially during pregnancy, is VITAL to the on-going health of the mom & her pups. If you're going to breed, take the time to do your research and don't assume the dog food companies are providing everything necessary in their kibble for a healthy litter. I'm sure Linda would be happy to provide us the link to the list of tainted foods they've delivered to us.

~Sandra M.

Many major commercial pet foods are filled with polluting chemicals: pesticides, herbicides, petroleum food coloring and toxic carcinogenic preservatives such as ethoxyquin (most manufacturers don't put this on the label but use it to preserve animal fat - see http://www.holisticve...), heavy metals (especially lead, mercury and aluminum). Animal meat by- products carry the noxious energies of drug dewormers, vaccines, and drugs given the animal during its lifetime.

Most major commercial foods also fail to tell consumers that their pet foods contain the 4 "D"s of meat products ? Dead, Diseased, Dying and/or Decaying animal parts. The fact is when a dairy cow or farming chicken becomes ill, they don't dispose of the body, they SELL it to pet food manufacturers. This represents millions of dollars to the ranchers of the world. Some pet foods actually contain sawdust, chicken beaks, animal toenails and proven cancer causing agents. This is a gross topic with gross injustices to our pets? nutritional needs.
See: Get The Facts: What's Really in Pet Food and IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT DOG FOOD. And it continues: http://itchmoforums.c...

I am an avid advocate of home-prepared food. It is my belief that the fresh food that I or anyone prepares at home for my/their pet(s) is more wholesome than ANYTHING I/they can buy in a can or a bag. The quality of the meat, vegetables, and grains that I or anyone can buy far supersedes the ingredients in commercially available highly processed pet food products. Even the vitamins and minerals listed as additives on bags/cans of dog food are, most likely. not of the highest quality and may not be absorbed into the system properly. And the "high end" "holistic" or "natural" pet food products, although perhaps lower in or free of additives and preservatives, can leave a lot to be desired depending on the grade of meat and ingredients, and how fresh they are. Those details are basically unknown to the consumer no matter how fancy/slick the marketing is. So even if these "high end" foods are the food of choice, the addition of fresh vegetables, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, digestive enzymes and Omega-3 fish oil is highly recommended.

On the subject of grains, there is a misconception among some that feeding grains are bad or inappropriate because "dogs would not eat them in the wild." The reality is that dogs have lived over the centuries with various peoples; they ate what humans ate, i.e., cooked grains and other starches that grew in their geographic and climatic regions. Grains add balance and stability to the body and are an important form of starch that adds protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and calories. And they promote digestion. They should be whole and cooked. Unfortunately, the grains that are added to commercial pet foods are, for the most part, inferior in that they are not WHOLE grains with all the nutritious elements, i.e., most often they are polished, bleached, laden with pesticides, and in the case of wheat, are without the embryonic center of the grain, i.e., the wheat germ which is rich in B vitamins. This over-processing leaves the grains with little or no nutritional value but with the potential to be allergens.

I've opted to feed my fur-kids fresh, home-made food. See: http://pug.meetup.com... Section 6

Recipes

Simple Chicken or Turkey Broth:
1 1/2 cups cubed chicken or 1 1/2 cups ground turkey or 1 1/2 cups chopped chicken hearts and livers (12 ounces)
2 1/2 cups water

Boil the chicken or chicken parts in water for 45 minutes, the ground turkey for 30 minutes. Strain the meat from your liquid and refrigerate for use in other recipes. Reserve the broth in an airtight container in the freezer. Or keep it in the refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for three or four days.

When the broth is cooled, it will become gelatinous, which actually makes it easy to spoon and measure. Yet it thaws and liquefies rapidly when spooned over heated ingredients.

Simple Vegetable Broth:
Whenever you boil vegetables for the main dishes, save the cooking water - that's a vegetable broth. Vegetable broths can add nutrients to your recipes when they are substituted for plain water.

Some vegetables produce very aromatic and colorful broths, such as beets. Beet broth looks like red wine. If you use vegetable broth for cooking rice, it becomes truly beautiful.

Simple Beef Broth:
1 1/2 cups ground or cubed beef, or 1 1/2 cups ground or cubed lamb
2 1/2 cups water

Boil the ground beef or lamb in water for 30 minutes, the cubed meat for 45 minutes, until tender.
Strain the meat from the liquid and refrigerate for use in other recipes. Reserve the broth in an airtight plastic container in the freezer or refrigerator.

Kidney Healing Meal:
This recipe if for those dogs who are afflicted with kidney disease. It is proportionally low in protein. make it as soupy with broth as you can; the dog's kidneys need to be flushed out.

1 cup ground beef (8 ounces)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups cooked whole long grain white rice (regular - not instant)
1/2 cup (or more) beef broth

Brown the beef in the olive oil in a large skillet over low heat until cooked through, approx. 20 minutes.
Combine the beef and rice in a mixing bowl with the beef broth.
Cool to room temperature and serve.

Variations
(Full-Week Recipe)

7 cups ground beef (3 1/2 pounds)
1/2 cup olive oil
14 cups cooked whole long grain white rice
3 1/2 cups beef broth

Protein: You may substitute ground chicken or turkey for the beef in the same proportions. Make the broth consistent with the meat - that is use chicken broth for a chicken dish and turkey broth with turkey.

Cinnamon, Pumpkin, & Blueberry Oatmeal*

Ingredients:
1 cup steel-cut oats
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cinnamon stick
1/4 cup preserved pumpkin or pumpkin pie filling
1/4 cup fresh or dried blueberries

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Stir in the oats, salt and cinnamon stick. Reduce heat slightly and boil for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stir frequently until oatmeal thickens. (If you are using dried blueberries, add them now) Stir pumpkin into oatmeal. Serve lukewarm topped with fresh blueberries or toasted slivered almonds.

*Makes 4 servings.

More to follow.......

Pumpkin Pork Stew

Ingredients:
4 cups pumpkin, peeled and cubed
1 clove garlic
1 cup chopped pork liver (or chicken livers)
2 cups ground pork
½ tsp black pepper
1 small piece ginger root
½ tsp. Sea salt
8 cups water (add more if necessary)
½ cup pearl barley
½ cup brown rice
1 cup home-made chicken stock or soup

Directions:
Put all the above ingredients into a large pot*, (a crock pot is perfect) mix well and set on low or slow cook). Bring to a boil and simmer for approximately one hour or so, adding more liquid if necessary. Stir occasionally.

*(non-aluminum)

Pork & Pumpkin Casserole

Ingredients:
1 cup of chopped & cubed yams
½ cup of chopped broccoli
1 cup of chopped carrots or green papayas
3 cups of cubed pork butt
( you can substitute beef or lamb if you like)
1 clove of crushed fresh garlic
½ teaspoon sea salt or kelp + ½ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup of canned plain pumpkin (non spiced)
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 can of health food store variety (no MSG) of either chicken broth or cream of corn soup

Directions:
Mix garlic with olive oil and spread all over the bottom of the pot, then mix everything together and place into the pot:
yams/carrots or green papaya/meat/broccoli/and pumpkin
Then season with salt and pepper

Pour about ½ to ¾ can of soup broth over everything

Place in a ceramic crock pot/cover and heat on low heat for 4-6 hours

For Cooking in the Oven:
Preheat oven to 350, then turn down to 325 F and put casserole into the oven for about 1- 1 ½ hours.

Kidney Healing Recipe
The kidney healing recipe alone would be for short term (acute) kidney problems since a varied diet is important when treating kidney problems (see below). Acute kidney problems are often seen to be reversible and the kidneys will resume normal functioning with any needed treatment for this condition. Acute kidney problems can be caused by poisoning, leptospirosis or other insults to the kidneys. With proper treatment and supportive care, the kidneys can return to normal function. Chronic kidney problems (long-term, on-going) are not seen as reversible, but can be managed with special care.

Recipe #1
Mix 1/2 cooked sticky rice** (sushi rice) cooked in unsalted butter with 1/2 HIGH fat hamburger or dark meat chicken (lower in phosphorus than white meat). Add two cooked egg whites (no yolk) per cup. You can make as large a batch as needed and freeze for daily portions. Save the egg shells, and add back one teaspoon of egg shell (dry overnight, grind in a coffee bean grinder) per two pounds of food. The egg shell is good for calcium and also acts as a phosphorus binder.

#2
Cook sticky rice** (sushi rice) and add unsalted butter. Mix at 1/3 sticky rice, to 1/3 boiled sweet potatoes, and add 1/3 either ground pork, lamb or fatty hamburger. Add one egg white per cup. (You can substitute boiled potatoes for sweet potatoes).
Green tripe is also a pretty good food lower in phosphorus than other foods.

It is also good to occasionally add beef kidney, a bit of liver and egg yolks. While these are high in phosphorus, they do provide needed nutrients.

You can also mix either the rice or the vegetable mix with drained mackerel or salmon for variety and the fish already has bone steamed with it, so it is balanced properly for calcium. Because of the bone, fish is high in phosphorus and so should be used in limited amounts.

Again, save the eggshells, and dry them overnight. Then grind them in a coffee bean grinder and add to the food served at 1/2 teaspoon per pound.

It is important to select fatty meat. So pork and lamb are also good choices to mix with the rice and they add a nice variety. Fat offers calories for energy and weight gain, and fattier cuts of meat are lower in phosphorus.

More severe kidney problems can lend to loss of appetite. It is important to offer a variety to keep the dog's interest and appetite hearty.

Include vitamin B-complex in the dog's diet, as well as vitamin E. Both of these are helpful for support of the kidneys. Additionally, coenzyme Q10 (one milligram of COQ10 daily per pound of body weight) reduces serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen and increases creatinine clearance and urine output. Fish or salmon oil needs to be 1,000 mg per ten pounds of body weight to be renal protective.

Here are a few web sites that may be of help:

Diet & Supplements for Dogs with Kidney Disease

yahoogroups.com K9KidneyDiet

**For sticky rice, cook medium or short grain rice as directed on the package. You can also use long-grain rice, using more water than traditional recipes. Do not rinse the rice, as this removes surface starch which makes the rice sticky.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup rice
2 cups water
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 stick unsalted butter (4 TBSP)

Preparation:
Combine rice, water and salt and butter in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 20 minutes, until rice is tender. Remove pot from heat and let stand 10 minutes longer to steam. 4-6 servings

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See additional recipes at: Getting Back To Basics **Recipes**

For additional information see: Handy guide to being owned by a pug! Section 9

(These suggestions are for informational purposes only and are not medical advice.)

I'd like to add that I put a fryer in the crock pot and cook it down till all the bones are mush. Then I pull out the meat, cube it, and mash the broth through a sieve. I add steamed fresh veggies and use this to warm and spoon over the kibble to give my Pugs some extra nutrients. I also use the canned SOlid Gold Tripe, much to Ron's disgust, although he knows his Malamutes LOVE it. LOL!!!

Anyway, I make a "Pug Stew" once a week, as do a couple of my friends. We also give raw once in while, especially raw bones to chomp on.

~Sandra M.

Have you ever had a problem with the tripe, giving diarrhea or possible salmonella poisoning your pugs.

Wow Linda that was alot of typing, thank you for the recipes:)

fantastic recipes Linda! thank you!

More Recipes:

Red Cabbage and Chicken Cornucopia

This recipe is high in antioxidants and will help revitalize your dog's internal organs; especially the liver.

Ingredients:

½ cup grated red/purple or red cabbage

½ cup chicken hearts and gizzards

½ cup salad greens

1 cup cooked brown rice

½ cup chicken meat

1 tbsp coconut oil

½ clove garlic

½ tsp ginger powder

Directions:

In a wok or frying pan heat oil with garlic and ginger for 1 minute on medium heat. Add your meats, cook on medium heat for 5 minutes, then add the cabbage and mix in well. Cook for another 5 minutes and then add the brown rice, cooking for another 5 minutes more. Stir in your chopped salad greens, mix well, cover and remove from heat. Let cool and serve at room temperature.

Chunky Raw Beef & Greens

The following recipe is perfect for physically active dogs that need to eat raw meat diets. Combined with vegetables of high antioxidant activity, this meal is very balanced and health promoting.

Ingredients:

4 cups beef stew meat cut up into chunks

1 cup ground round steak

2 raw eggs

½ cup raw sprouts (mung bean, broccoli, or alfalfa)

1 cup finely chopped raw salad greens (romaine lettuce, spinach, beet greens, dandelion greens)

1 cup cooked or steamed broccoli (minced)

1 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice

Directions:

Mix the raw eggs with the sprouts, greens and broccoli, and then mix with the beef chunks. Mix the ground meat with the grains and then combine these two mixes together very well. I like to mix with my bare hands so that my smell is incorporated into the food. My dog seems to like that! You'll have about 3 meals which can be the first of three during the day.

Green Beans Buckwheat and Beef

This meal provides lots of fiber, antioxidants, and minerals, that will keep your dog (or kid) healthy. If your dog has digestion or kidney problems, this diet is helpful. It can be fed to young and old dogs alike. Obese dogs will lose weight because buckwheat is high in complex carbohydrates that will not be stored as fat, and instead helps rid the body of excess fat because of its high fiber content.

Ingredients:

1 cup steamed green beans (chopped up)

1 cup cooked buckwheat grain or soba noodles

1 cup beef stew meat (cubed)

½ clove garlic

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp butter

Directions:

In a wok, heat the olive oil, butter, and garlic for about 1 minute on medium high heat. Add the beef and brown it for about 5 minutes and then add your green beans and stir well. Remove from heat, and add the last ingredient, buckwheat! *For best results, buckwheat can be cooked in a rice maker. Instead of water, use 1 cup of organic chicken broth mixed with enough water to cook your buckwheat.

Some Notes on BUCKWHEAT:

-According to Chinese Medicine, buckwheat is used for problems with digestion. This grain cleans and strengthens the intestines and improves appetite and is used as a food medicine to treat dysentery and diarrhea.
-Rutin, a bioflavonoid found in buckwheat and-according to Western medicine-strengthens capillaries and blood vessels, stops bleeding, reduces blood pressure, and improves circulation to the hands and feet.
-Buckwheat is a "heart healthy" food ingredient.
-Rutin is also an antidote against radiation exposure.
-Buckwheat is a great substitute for other grains that your pets may be allergic to.

Turkey, Chard and Cabbage Stir Fry

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped turkey meat

½ cup Swiss chard (chopped or shredded)

½ cup red cabbage (chopped or shredded)

2 tbsp coconut oil

½ clove garlic, minced

1 inch piece ginger, minced

1 tsp dried blueberries

Directions:

In a wok or frying pan heat oil, ginger and garlic together for about 1 minute. Add chicken and brown on high heat for 2 minutes. Reduce heat and stir fry your vegetables until they are wilted; about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, sprinkle with blueberries and feed at room temperature.

Why Blueberries?

Blueberries provide many different kinds of flavonoids (anthocyanins), antioxidants, and minerals. They help to support the blood vessels, brain, eye, and liver health. Preferably, blueberries should be organic or picked wild. Unfortunately, non-organic blueberries are heavily sprayed with agricultural chemicals. If your berries are not organic, soak them in a solution of ½ cup apple cider vinegar and 2 cups of warm water for 20 minutes. Then rinse well with cold water. *Dried blueberries are less expensive and easier to mix in the food.

OK so I finally got around to the drug store and picked up some folic acid, the only size I could find was 1mg tabs. So if I give my girls 1/2(500mg) tab daily that should be enough? In Sandra's post she mentioned ng, but I'm not sure what an ng is? Did you mean mg Sandra???
Thanks for all the good feedback

OK so I finally got around to the drug store and picked up some folic acid, the only size I could find was 1mg tabs. So if I give my girls 1/2(500mg) tab daily that should be enough? In Sandra's post she mentioned ng, but I'm not sure what an ng is? Did you mean mg Sandra???
Thanks for all the good feedback

First of all, I do not give folic acid and I really give nothing special to my girls. The last were kept on adult food the entire pregnancy with nothing more than some yogurt, fish or chicken and broccoli. They have big, healthy babies and whelp easily.

The last time I gave folic acid (religiously) I had a litter of two. A boy with nada testicles and a girl with a fatal cleft palate.

Myra