When I was just a young pup, I had some problems with my fast growing bones. I was a big puppy and when Ruth brought me home from the dog pound, she wanted to make sure that I had everything I need to be healthy. She bought me top quality name brand puppy chow and I scarfed it up as quick as she'd put it out. I grew faster and faster. But after a few weeks, I started hurting big time. I hurt all over from the fast growth spurts. I started limping sometimes and would lay down and moan because I hurt. Of course, that necessitated a trip to the dog doctor. The doctor gave me a thorough exam and said, simply, I was growing too fast. She put me on pain medication and told Ruth to quit feeding me that wonderful puppy food and to think about trying a raw food diet instead, along with adult low protein kibbles. The doctor also said that I would need hip surgery by the time I was a year old. That was scary news.

So Ruth changed my diet completely. She researched the raw food diets for dogs and decided to give it a try. I started getting raw chicken legs, ground raw turkey meat, raw hamburger, cooked rice and veggies, and all sorts of incredibly delicious yummy foods. Within a few weeks the pain symptoms started going away. Pretty soon I was off the Rymadahl and just needing an aspirin for pain. A few months later, I did not need any more pain meds whatsoever. I was feelin' good!

Since then, I have grown up to be a strong, healthy Lab with absolutely no joint issues, no pain problems, no skin conditions that are common to Labs, no teeth problems, etc. The only thing I have tons of is energy and enthusiasm for life. I can run fast, play hard, and have never had a weight problem. As I grew older, due to the cost of the raw meat diet, Ruth had to modify my diet which now includes a high quality brand of kibbles with all natural ingredients and no preservatives and less raw meat. It works for me, and I highly recommend that any dog having health problems should look at diet first. Just like people, we are what we eat. Ruth's friends would think she was nuts when they'd see her give me a raw chicken leg, but I'd crunch it down, no problem. You see, chicken (and turkey) bones are only brittle and dangerous to dogs after the bird is cooked. Raw bones are just fine (and good for you!).

Along with the good meals, treats are an important part of my diet. Of course, there's no way that my person would feed me a great diet then screw it up by giving my a junky treat (which I'm sorry to say, I see her doing with herself!). Nope, I have lots of nutritious snacks that she cooks up just for me and my friends (and brother Jackson). Here's a sample recipe of one of my favorites:

Aunt Bianca's Dog Biscuits

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg -- beaten

Flavoring: Meat drippings, broth or water from canned tuna (enough to make a stiff dough). Combine flour, powdered milk and garlic powder in a medium sized bowl. Add beaten egg, flavoring and mix well with hands. Dough should be very stiff. If necessary add more flavoring. On a well floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with shaped cookie cutters of your choice. Place biscuits on cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Bone Bonanza

1/2 pound ground beef -- uncooked
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup black beans, cooked -- mashed
1/3 cup cottage cheese
1 teaspoon soy sauce

Combine ground meat and chicken broth in a bowl. Add the black beans and cottage cheese. Add soy sauce. Mix all of the ingredients together thoroughly. Mold the mixture into bone shapes and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 45 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Let cool.

Cheese And Garlic Dog Cookies

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups cheddar cheese -- grated
1/4 pound margarine -- corn oil
1 clove garlic -- crushed
1 Pinch salt

Cream the cheese with the softened margarine, garlic, salt, and flour. Add enough milk to form into a ball. Chill for 1/2 hour. Roll onto floured board. Cut into shapes and bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until slightly brown, and firm. Makes 2 to 3 dozen, depending on size.

Now, in case you're wondering - yes, some dogs are allergic to some ingredients like flour, just like people. And we all know that too much bacon is just plain fattening. But remember, these are treats not the full diet. Most dogs love garlic, and bacon and cheese especially are big hits. But many people don't know that lots of dogs, like me, love cottage cheese and beans! The Bone Bonanza recipe is great because it has both. Along with the ground beef, it's pawsitively perfect in my diet book!

These recipes and many more can be found in this book: Pamper Your Pet, 130 Recipes for your Canine Friend. I'm selling this book to help raise money for my work related expenses (memberships, travel, classes, etc.).

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