WHAT IS THE BEST FOOD FOR YOUR MINIATURE SCHNAUZER
The real food revolution is sweeping the pet world and informed pet owners are making changes to their pets diets! A healthy dog is a happy dog. The bottom line is that dogs need a FRESH, NATURAL , UNPROCESSED, VARIED and BALANCED diet just like humans for optimum health! There are much healthier options than just dry kibble/pellets and your miniature schnauzers will say thank you! You will save on medical bills and see their coat change and they will get a sparkle in their eyes!
Healthy food = a happy healthy miniature schnauzer
Founder Deborah, Thomas, Max and Rosabella
Schnauzer Friends founder Deborah says "My precious Rosabella got very sick at age 6 months with a potentially fatal type of stomach gastro called Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE) where they poo bloody diarrhea and vomit yellowish bile. It kept on happening and I was regularly at the vet with a very sick schnauzer over the next few months. The vets (I went to three) would put her on a drip, prescribe some medicine, recommend I still feed only Hills dry pellets (which they sold) and charge me a fortune!
Out of desperation I started doing my own research and realised that nutrition had a huge role to play. By me feeding her only dry pellets, Rosabella was on a highly processed fast food unhealthy diet everyday, and her body was resisting! Dogs needed a FRESH natural unprocessed varied balanced diet just like humans for optimum health. I adjusted her diet and Rosabella got better and our regular vet visits have stopped! She is now 8 years old and has not been sick since. The only people who are sad are the three vets, because I am no longer funding their holiday homes'"
WHAT I LEARNED!
Serving dry processed packet dog food to your schnauzer everyday is the equivalent of you eating Mac Donald's everyday. They are NOT good for your dogs! The brands from the supermarkets are the WORST, and the ones from the vet are not much better. Refer http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com
Out of desperation I started doing my own research and realised that nutrition had a huge role to play. By me feeding her only dry pellets, Rosabella was on a highly processed fast food unhealthy diet everyday, and her body was resisting! Dogs needed a FRESH natural unprocessed varied balanced diet just like humans for optimum health. I adjusted her diet and Rosabella got better and our regular vet visits have stopped! She is now 8 years old and has not been sick since. The only people who are sad are the three vets, because I am no longer funding their holiday homes'"
WHAT I LEARNED!
Serving dry processed packet dog food to your schnauzer everyday is the equivalent of you eating Mac Donald's everyday. They are NOT good for your dogs! The brands from the supermarkets are the WORST, and the ones from the vet are not much better. Refer http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com
Max, Rosabella, Thomas and Annabella enjoying a healthy meal.
Dogs can and should eat FRESH protein, vegetables and some fruit. Would you want to eat dry processed foods from a packet your whole life? Add fresh protein, vegetables and fruit to your dogs meals!
Dogs need a varied diet. Imagine if you ate the same food day in and day out for your whole life. The same food everyday can also cause allergies.
Many schnauzers are allergic to some of the common ingredients in commercial dry pet food, especially the grains and preservatives. Have you ever wondered how come the food has a shelf live of a couple of years?
Dogs need a varied diet. Imagine if you ate the same food day in and day out for your whole life. The same food everyday can also cause allergies.
Many schnauzers are allergic to some of the common ingredients in commercial dry pet food, especially the grains and preservatives. Have you ever wondered how come the food has a shelf live of a couple of years?
Scambled egg, chopped up raw chicken necks. grated baby arrow, cooked pumpkin and a dash of olive oil added to the kibble.
Schnauzers are prone to pancreatitis and hyperlipidemia. Avoid giving them any food that is high in fat or fatty titbits and treats.
Vets are not dog nutritionists, and tend to treat symptoms and not the cause. Most vets just sell and push the usual processed kibble brands that all have grain and that they get commission from. This food is NOT good for your pooches! Most also still recommend annual vaccinations, which is also so out of date. They do not study nutrition and are indoctrinated by the large vet food and pharmaceutical companies. Most vets are still stuck in the dark ages and are far behind the latest dog nutrition and vaccination research. Have read of this article: What does your vet know about nutrition.
Vets are not dog nutritionists, and tend to treat symptoms and not the cause. Most vets just sell and push the usual processed kibble brands that all have grain and that they get commission from. This food is NOT good for your pooches! Most also still recommend annual vaccinations, which is also so out of date. They do not study nutrition and are indoctrinated by the large vet food and pharmaceutical companies. Most vets are still stuck in the dark ages and are far behind the latest dog nutrition and vaccination research. Have read of this article: What does your vet know about nutrition.
An example of the type of foods you should be feeding your dogs
IN CONCLUSION:
A 100% FRESH, NATURAL, UNPROCESSED, VARIED and BALANCED (preferably raw) diet is the best for your schnauzer.
Commercial packet pet food is easy but is not good for you schnauzer! Here is an article to give you an overview of what is in commercial dog food: Dogs Naturally Magazine: Nutrition. Dog Food the 10 Scary Truths.
You can make your own raw/fresh food or there are various raw/fresh food suppliers these days where you can buy the food. Personally I use Pawsome Raw. If you are nervous to go 100% fresh then start adding fresh food to your schnauzers meals. Any fresh food is better than none!
A 100% FRESH, NATURAL, UNPROCESSED, VARIED and BALANCED (preferably raw) diet is the best for your schnauzer.
Commercial packet pet food is easy but is not good for you schnauzer! Here is an article to give you an overview of what is in commercial dog food: Dogs Naturally Magazine: Nutrition. Dog Food the 10 Scary Truths.
You can make your own raw/fresh food or there are various raw/fresh food suppliers these days where you can buy the food. Personally I use Pawsome Raw. If you are nervous to go 100% fresh then start adding fresh food to your schnauzers meals. Any fresh food is better than none!
STEPS TO A MORE HEALTHY DIET
Step 1 - Learn more about healthy dog diets from the leaders in the pet world.
The real food revolution is sweeping the pet world and there are some great sources of information and recipes:
Rodney Habib wrote the book called "Forever Dog" and making huge strides in educating pet owners. Rodney's own pet dog was affected by pet food contaminated with melamine. He is now on a mission to change the world and educate pet parents. He is schnauzers Max, Rosabella, Thomas and Annabella's hero!
Rodney Habib wrote the book called "Forever Dog" and making huge strides in educating pet owners. Rodney's own pet dog was affected by pet food contaminated with melamine. He is now on a mission to change the world and educate pet parents. He is schnauzers Max, Rosabella, Thomas and Annabella's hero!
- Click here to listen to his TEDX talk video called: Why don't dogs live forever?
- Click here to watch his video called a Homemade Dog Food Recipe.
Step 2 - Start transitioning to healthy fresh unprocessed food
Many people are nervous to make the change to 100% fresh food, so this is my suggestion to start transitioning to a more FRESH natural unprocessed varied diet and away from the processed kibble/pellets.
Pellets, raw spinach, scrambled egg, cooked chicken breast, cooked pumpkin and a dash of coconut oil.
Step 1: Use good quality kibble/pellets as the base
Use a good quality kibble! Supermarket kibble/pellets is the absolute worst you can feed your pets! (Have you read the ingredient list on the kibble/pellets you are feeding your schnauzer?) After learning more, I changed from Hills and Royal Canine dry kibble to a brand with less grain and more protein and natural ingredients. Visit the dog food advisor website to learn more about kibble ingredients.
Step 2: Add fresh protein.
Protein like chicken, beef or ostrich, scrambled egg, tuna in brine, liver, grated biltong, chopped steak, tinned pilchards, tripe, liver or some liver bread etc. As long as it is FRESH lean protein. It doesn't matter if it is cooked or raw as long as you give them some!
Step 3: Add fresh vegetables/fruit.
Finely chopped or grated raw spinach, broccoli, baby marrow, grated carrot or cooked pumpkin, butternut and sweet potato. Experiment here and try some fruit too - mine enjoy grated apple, blueberries. As long as it is small fine pieces, my dogs will eat. Initially they looked at me strangely, but now they gobble the vegetables and fruit.
Step 4: Add Supplements/Healthy Oils
There are various supplements available, just like for humans. Add some HEALTHY oils like Miracote from the vet, olive oil or coconut oil. Try adding ginger spice, tumeric spice, fish oil, kelp powder, natural yoghurt, a probiotic etc. Maybe add some ground bone meal from the butcher. All of these add to a varied healthy diet.
Use a good quality kibble! Supermarket kibble/pellets is the absolute worst you can feed your pets! (Have you read the ingredient list on the kibble/pellets you are feeding your schnauzer?) After learning more, I changed from Hills and Royal Canine dry kibble to a brand with less grain and more protein and natural ingredients. Visit the dog food advisor website to learn more about kibble ingredients.
Step 2: Add fresh protein.
Protein like chicken, beef or ostrich, scrambled egg, tuna in brine, liver, grated biltong, chopped steak, tinned pilchards, tripe, liver or some liver bread etc. As long as it is FRESH lean protein. It doesn't matter if it is cooked or raw as long as you give them some!
Step 3: Add fresh vegetables/fruit.
Finely chopped or grated raw spinach, broccoli, baby marrow, grated carrot or cooked pumpkin, butternut and sweet potato. Experiment here and try some fruit too - mine enjoy grated apple, blueberries. As long as it is small fine pieces, my dogs will eat. Initially they looked at me strangely, but now they gobble the vegetables and fruit.
Step 4: Add Supplements/Healthy Oils
There are various supplements available, just like for humans. Add some HEALTHY oils like Miracote from the vet, olive oil or coconut oil. Try adding ginger spice, tumeric spice, fish oil, kelp powder, natural yoghurt, a probiotic etc. Maybe add some ground bone meal from the butcher. All of these add to a varied healthy diet.
Pellets, cooked peas, cooked gem squash and butternut, chopped up cooked steak and a dash of coconut oil.
By introducing some fresh foods to their diet, your dog can live a longer, happier life. Unfortunately, not everyone has the means or time to switch to a completely fresh food diet. Yet many owners still want to improve their dog’s health and longevity, and nutrition is the best way to do that. You don’t have to completely switch to fresh food for your dog to experience some of the benefits of a fresh food diet!
The more fresh healthy food the better, but remember ANY fresh food is better than none!
FUTURE: Over time reduce the amount of pellets/kibble in the meals. A suggested mix would be about 80% protein, 15% vegies and 5 % supplements. Don't stress if it is not exact. It will balance over time just like our own human diets.
The more fresh healthy food the better, but remember ANY fresh food is better than none!
FUTURE: Over time reduce the amount of pellets/kibble in the meals. A suggested mix would be about 80% protein, 15% vegies and 5 % supplements. Don't stress if it is not exact. It will balance over time just like our own human diets.
Some examples of starting to add fresh protein, vegetables/fruit and supplements to your schnauzers meals.
Step 3 - Feed fresh healthly unprocessed food
Once you see the positive changes in your schnauzers and you will naturally feed more and more fresh food and less and less processed pellets. Over time the goal is to transition to a 100% homemade, fresh, natural, unprocessed, varied and balanced diet.
What do Max, Rosabella, Thomas and Annabella eat ?
Enjoying my homemade dog food
Deborah - Founder Schnauzer Friends South Africa says
"Seven years ago I started slowly adding fresh food as per the instructions above. When I saw the health results and how much my schnauzers loved it, I was hooked.
I vary my schnauzers meals. I always try and feed as much fresh food as possible. Sometimes I don't feed any kibble and only fresh food. Sometimes I buy my fresh food meals from a supplier. (There are quite a few suppliers who make good quality fresh food for dogs. ) Sometimes I make my own fresh food. Sometimes I just add some fresh protein and vegetables to some pellets.
I am experimenting with more and more types of healthy food. e.g. apple, natural yoghurt, tumeric spice, tinned sardines, tuna, coconut oil etc. as I learn more.
My schnauzers are happy and healthy and they love their food and my vet hardly sees us anymore!
I am proud to be providing my schnauzers fresh, natural, unprocessed, varied and balanced diet! I LOVE seeing my schnauzers health thrive and this is the best reward for me as a schnauzer mommy as I want my precious pooches to live forever!
"Seven years ago I started slowly adding fresh food as per the instructions above. When I saw the health results and how much my schnauzers loved it, I was hooked.
I vary my schnauzers meals. I always try and feed as much fresh food as possible. Sometimes I don't feed any kibble and only fresh food. Sometimes I buy my fresh food meals from a supplier. (There are quite a few suppliers who make good quality fresh food for dogs. ) Sometimes I make my own fresh food. Sometimes I just add some fresh protein and vegetables to some pellets.
I am experimenting with more and more types of healthy food. e.g. apple, natural yoghurt, tumeric spice, tinned sardines, tuna, coconut oil etc. as I learn more.
My schnauzers are happy and healthy and they love their food and my vet hardly sees us anymore!
I am proud to be providing my schnauzers fresh, natural, unprocessed, varied and balanced diet! I LOVE seeing my schnauzers health thrive and this is the best reward for me as a schnauzer mommy as I want my precious pooches to live forever!
SCHNAUZERS MAX, ROSABELLA, THOMAS and ANNABELLA's BALANCED DOG FOOD RECIPE
Below is a basic recipe that you can use as a guide to start experimenting. It is based on the balanced recipe from Planet Paws with some tweaks.
LEAN MEAT +- 1kg
Minced and made up of:
EGGS 2 eggs (without shell)
VEGETABLES +- 180g
Grate/chop into small pieces: e.g. Carrot, zucchini, broccoli, cabbage, cooked pumpkin, sweet potato, beetroot, cauliflower, kale, spinach and cooked gem squash. (Don’t use onion or potato, grapes, raisins as they are toxic for dogs.)
SUPPLEMENTS (optional but nice to have)
OPTIONAL ADDITIONS
The above is a guide for the mix and quantities. Don't stress if it is not exact. It will balance over time just like your own diet.
METHOD
Below is a basic recipe that you can use as a guide to start experimenting. It is based on the balanced recipe from Planet Paws with some tweaks.
LEAN MEAT +- 1kg
Minced and made up of:
- +- 70% muscle meat (Lean - Beef, chicken breast, ostrich etc.)
- +- 10% bone meal (This is ground bone that a butcher should have)
- +- 10% organ meat (ox/lamb/chicken liver etc.)
- +- 10% offal/tripe
EGGS 2 eggs (without shell)
VEGETABLES +- 180g
Grate/chop into small pieces: e.g. Carrot, zucchini, broccoli, cabbage, cooked pumpkin, sweet potato, beetroot, cauliflower, kale, spinach and cooked gem squash. (Don’t use onion or potato, grapes, raisins as they are toxic for dogs.)
SUPPLEMENTS (optional but nice to have)
- Mirracote OR Efazol oil OR 4 tsp hempseed oil and 1 tsp cod liver oil" +- 5 tsp
- Kelp powder +- 0,5 tsp
- Ground ginger +- 1 tsp
- Tumeric powder +- 1 tsp
OPTIONAL ADDITIONS
- Natural Yoghurt
- Grated Apple
- Blueberries
- Frozen Peas
- Sardines
- Tuna
- Coconut Oil
- Cinnamon spice etc.
The above is a guide for the mix and quantities. Don't stress if it is not exact. It will balance over time just like your own diet.
METHOD
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Refrigerate up to 3 days (or up to the use-by date of the meat)
- Or portion into dog specific serving sizes and freeze up to 3 months.
SERVE TO YOUR GRATEFUL HEALTHY HAPPY SCHNAUZERS
Feedback from schnauzer parents
Below is some feedback from Schnauzer owners from our Schnauzer Friends Facebook page:
- Carol Colwin Pincus " I want to tell everyone about my experience of changing from dry pet food to raw food. My amazing miniature schnauzer is such a fussy eater, every meal was such a stress not knowing whether he would eat or not. It could take ages to tempt him and give him bits of food with your hands to make him eat. Also, you were never sure if he was sick because he often wouldn't eat. He then stopped eating. I changed to fresh food. My life has changed completely, and my pet's life. I put the food in his bowl and by the time, I have washed my hands, all the food is gone . I sometimes have to do a double take because I can't believe it is the same dog. The change to fresh food has been so easy. I found two suppliers. You store the food in the freezer and take it out for every meal. It is thanks to Schnauzer Friends and posts on this site that I was able to find excellent fresh food for my pets!"
- Lucy Landstone "Once you switch to raw and SEE the benefits you will never go back and no vet can tell you otherwise. All my dogs live VERY long lives, we've never had obesity issues, thyroid problems, skin conditions, diabetes or anything else. Obviously they get old and die like any other creature - but they live happy, full lives up until that point free of any of the chronic conditions that are present in so many of today's companion animals."
- Pia Marangoni "I had spent a fortune on prescription food - my girl was overweight and none of the "metabolic" foods did anything. I switched to raw food less than a month ago - and both my doggies are happier than ever, and my baby girl now svelte and so full of energy. I think she was just bloated from eating kibbles. My boy was such a fussy eater - now he can't wait for dinner"
- Pam Du Toit "I think a varied diet is important. We have been so brain washed into thinking that feeding ONLY kibble is good because it is scientifically balanced. Nutrients come from 'food' like good sources of protein, veggies, yoghurt, fruit, herbs etc."
- Giulia Claire Chambers "Our little Stella one of the rescue pups, sings & dances for her Acana but if mom doesn't put veggies & yummy fresh meaty treats in her bowl there's trouble. I have found your advise to be so helpful & eye opening!! Thank you for all your tips."
How much to feed
According to most websites, dogs eat around two to three percent of their ideal adult weight per day. So for example for a 10 kg dog it would be between 200g and 300g of food a day split into two meals. If your dog is very active, you may need to feed a little more than 3%, or if your dog is more of a couch-potato, you may need to feed a little less than 2% – every dog is different. The best way to tell if you are feeding the right amount is watch the weight and condition of your dog and adjust accordingly.
Nutrition articles from schnauzer mom Nicole
Feeding Dogs a More Natural Diet. A schnauzer mom's experiences.
Vegetables - An important part of your dogs diet!
Bones: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Bone Broth: yummy, healthy doggy jelly
Is your schnauzer itching or licking?
Vegetables - An important part of your dogs diet!
Bones: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Bone Broth: yummy, healthy doggy jelly
Is your schnauzer itching or licking?
Healthy Schnauzer Treats
Avoid commercial processed treats, especially when they are coloured and full of preservatives etc. Stick to healthy natural unprocessed treats like Schnauzer Max, Rosa, Thomas and Annabella's WORLD FAMOUS FAVOURITE Liver Bread Recipe.
Other healthy treat ideas
Avoid commercial processed treats, especially when they are coloured etc. AVOID FAT and NO RAW HIDE!
Stick to healthy natural treats like:
Avoid commercial processed treats, especially when they are coloured etc. AVOID FAT and NO RAW HIDE!
Stick to healthy natural treats like:
- biltong (no fat)
- bits of steak
- scrambled egg
- cooked/dried chicken
- bits of cooked liver
- apple pieces/frozen blue berries
- tinned tuna/pilchards
- grated or whole carrot
- frozen peas
- raw marrow bones
- Click here for healthy treats from Dogs Naturally Magazine.
Useful links
The Dog Food Advisor website is published as a public service to help people make a more informed decision when shopping for dog food. It is hosted in the USA. It was started by Mike Sagman who says " In 2007, I lost a wonderful little shelter dog named Penny to my unquestioned trust of commercial pet food. food. So, after that heartbreaking experience I made it my personal goal to never again let anything like that happen to any dog in my care. And I’d like to help you make sure what happened to Penny could never happen to your dog either."
Miniature schnauzers are special dogs and we LOVE them! We are proud schnauzerholics!
Our mission is to spread joy and happiness to schnauzers and schnauzerholics!
Our mission is to spread joy and happiness to schnauzers and schnauzerholics!
