Oranges and Yogurt

For breakfast, along with the treats. I gave them some low fat plain yogurt and some orange slices. They weren't really fond of this combination. I think it is because both items are a bit tart. They did eat a little of the of the oranges and the yogurt so it was a small success. This alone was not enough for him to eat before the insulin injection, so I supplemented it with some of the chicken liver cakes.

Cod Dinner

One of the first dinners I made was with fresh cod. Again, this was a big success.

Recipe:
Boneless Fresh Cod (buy as much as you like, I only got about 1 pound)
Fresh Spinach leaves
Fresh Parsley
Cooked Fresh Cabbage

Cook the cod on 350 degrees for 45 minutes in a baking pan. Boil the cabbage until soft (time may vary), mix parsley in with the cabbage. Spinach should be uncooked.

I combined the fish (cut up into pieces) with the parsley, cabbage (also in smaller pieces), and spinach in a salad mixture on a plate. I also poured some of the juices from the cod over the leaves and over the plate. This served to make the spinach and cabbage more appealing to Tramp. he ate it all.

Chicken Liver Cake Treats

I found a recipe online for beef liver cake treats. However, when I went to Kroger, they don't carry beef liver. So I substituted beef liver for chicken livers and hearts.

Recipe:

1.25 to 1.5 pounds of fresh chicken liver and hearts

0.5 cups of wheat flour

2 eggs (no shells)

 

Mix into a blender. If possible mix everything all together in the blender. You can make them so the ingredients are more liquid and smooth, it also works if it is a little chunky. Spread into a brownie pan. Cook for 20 minutes on 350 degrees.

My blender wasn't working and even started smoking when I was trying to mix up all the ingredients. Luckily I was able to mix them fairly well. The mixture was still a little chunky but it turned out well. The dogs love them and so I count it as a success. Although, I will be getting a new blander soon.

Helping Insulin

Along with the insulin there are things you can do to help your dog and to help the insulin work better. The first thing you can do is to change their diet. I have done research online and there are a lot of different and often contradictory things out there.

1st, using a combination of dry/wet dog food with homemade food ensure your pet is eating and happy.

The dry and canned food I have found works is Merrick brand. I went with grain free because it seemed like the best option to me. There are several other brands that work so find one that your dog likes the best.

When it comes to homemade foods, there again is a lot out there. However, I had trouble finding recipes for different meals. Both of my small dogs love people food. There is a difference though in table scrapes and meals.

Finding Out

I found out that my dog Tramp had diabetes. He is a 15 year old spaniel mix. The first vet I talked to was overwhelming and made it seem like my life would have to revolve around his injections, it was going to be crazy expensive, and that he was going to have lots of overnight vet visits. Naturally, I was scared for him due to his age. So I consulted another doctor.

The new doctor helped me to see that it was not going to be that bad and the ultimate goal is to help him to feel better and to keep us both stress free. So don't worry! Everything will work out.