Tear Staining

Melissa writes:

Tear Staining? It's a thing of the past with our 3 Bichons.
I began home-cooking for my female Bichons when they were pregnant, and nursing and noticed that there was no staining at that time. Now, I home cook for them all the time, and they are all tear-stain free.

It requires little time, and a few good wholesome recipes.
Along with the homemade moist food, they get a quality, all natural dry dog food.

I add Essential Fatty Acids to their food as well. It works wonders for humans with skin problems, and makes a noticeable improvement in the skin and hair coat of my fluff's. They're usually suffering from winter-itch by this time of the year after the furnace has been on all winter, and the house is dry. There are several good brands on the market. I would just make sure that your source is fresh, and that it is kept refrigerated after opening. I purchase mine, which is made for dogs, at a Health Food Store.

DarStar responds:
Please tell us about your recipes, etc. I am in agreement with you after reading Protect Your Pets on our recommended reading list. I don't want to feed my doggies & kitties unknown animals from the rendering plants and who knows what.

The pet food industry is very profitable but not looking out for the health of our loved ones. We need to inform ourselves and be open to new and different feeding and care. After all, we chose to be responsible for them Right now I am switching to Flint River Ranch dog and cat food (gradually of course). But I am open to home made recipes if the results are so positive :)

Ronny responds:

I have never had a tear staining problem with my Bichon Spencer, I also am careful with what he eats, I home cook foods along with a premium dry, although Bichons have a difficult time digesting fats, a small amount is a good idea, he is tear free and healthy.
Spencer also has the winter itching, which will go away shortly, I make sure he is shampooed with an oatmeal based shampoo and a conditioner with emollients included in the formula. Because Spencer has skin problems anyway, as most Bichons do, I give him a small amount of Benadryl per his vet.
I was also told by another Bichon owner, that he was told to use alcohol free baby wipes to clean the eyes, this helps prevent infection and staining.

Melissa responds:

Hi, DarStar asked me to share a recipe for my homemade Bichon food.

The recipe that I use most frequently is easy and fast to make and my gang love it. The ingredients that I use are organic, and the meat is from cattle or chickens that are fed organically grown/produced feed.

I boil lean ground beef until it's just cooked.
While it's simmering, I steam a sweet potato then puree it. It's rich in beta carotene, vitamin A, and is high in fibre.
To this I add cooked brown rice. I also add either steamed spinach, Swiss chard, broccoli, or green beans.
Once everything has been steamed and chopped or pureed, it's added to the cooked beef mixture.
Finally, I add either soaked, cooked, black beans or lentils.
As far as spices are concerned, I keep it simple.
A bit of salt (for the iodine) is added.
I also add roasted garlic. When roasted, the garlic is not as pungent as sauteed garlic. I always return a bit of the broth from the boiled ground beef to the mixture.
Dogs require a certain amount of fat in their diet from an animal source.
I find that the beef is lean enough that I can return a couple of ladles of the broth without adding too much fat.
If I use chicken instead of beef, I refrigerate the broth until the fat has solidified and then I can easily skim most of it off the top.
I pour the broth into ice-cube trays and can then take a couple out, zap them in the microwave, and add a bit of the organic broth to their dry food in the morning, just for a little extra taste.
I can use the cubes in cooking for Tim (dh) and I, too.

My male Bichon, Good Karma, has a sensitive gut. His system handles this recipe well.
There is also a product on the market that you mix with your meat and veggies to make a meat loaf. It smells great when baking, and the dogs love it.. It's made by a Canadian Company, "Essex Cottage Farms". I find it convenient when I have a nursing female as I go through so much food ensuring that mom has lots to eat. The loaves are convenient, and easy to make. I'm sure there is a Company in the U.S. producing a comparable product.