Here are some webpages on feeding raw diets. You don't just want to feed your dog a meat source, there are additives for vitamins and other supplements that must be added to a meal.

Natural Diet: Don't "Just Do It"

Home Cooked Pet Diets,Home Made Recipes And Pet Nutrition

Bones and Raw Food Diet

Each site has their own recipe. Like with the dry food, you're going to have to figure out what works for you...

Good luck

Thanks, I've been looking into some sites regarding real food. There's still a ton of things to consider. Who thought food would be so difficult?
I found a couple of sites regarding commercial dog food. Has anyone heard of Orijin? It's made in Canada and looks like a really high quality. Their site is www.orijen.ca/
Also I found a site that lets you rate dog food based on the ingredient list. It's www.acreaturecomfort.com/ratingpetfood.htm
Any comments on either? Thinking about mixing human food with dry dog food to ensure all vitamins and minerals are being met and also to help with teeth cleaning.

My sisters dog eats orijin, it's very high in protein so you have to be very careful when giving it to older dogs, I would go with evo instead of orijin.

That's what I was wondering. What could be some problems in feeding a high protein diet? Also, if I'm mixing it with human food as well would that matter?
Also, I don't think EVO is available where I live. Any thoughts on Wellness Simple for allergies? It's suppose to limit it's ingredients to one grain (rice) and one protein.

I wouldn't recommend Orijin to your dog Mftaylor. Evo would be a much better choice, especially if you get a weight management or a type specific for older dogs. Wellness is a good choice, you just need to be careful of the protein. What kind of human food are you feeding her?

What about the protein do I need to watch out for? Charlotte is an older dog, 12, but she is highly active and not overweight, she may actually but a tad underweight.
I use to fed her human food all the time but stopped due to vet advice regarding allergies. When I did feed her I always mixed it with her dry kibble because I was afraid ahe wouldn't get the right nutrition and the dry kibble would help clean her teeth. I would cook her a protein (chicken, beef, salmon mostly), a carb (usually rice, sometimes oatmeal, toast or potatoes) and a veggie (usually peas and/or carrots). I would like to keep cooking for her but with all the info on-line I'm afraid I'll leave out something crucial so I would rather mix it with dry food. Of course I will have to limit her food to specific ingredients until we figure out this allergy thing.

To be honest, I've been doing some additional reading, and I spoke to one of the professors at the local agricultural college about high and low protein diets for dogs, and I found some new information. I think I was basing my high protein diet thought thinking about less stress on her organs, as in the past people have always been told that high protein diets are hard on kidneys especially in older dogs.

How ever, on the other hand and not to contradict myself, truth is that there is no reason to feed a lower protein diet to most healthy senior dogs. While lower protein diets have traditionally been recommended for senior dogs, we now know that a protein-rich diet is especially important for older dogs, because their systems are less efficient at metabolizing protein. Recent studies show that healthy older dogs may need as much as 50 percent more protein than their younger adult counterparts.

When a dog doesn't get enough protein in their diet, they actually break down their muscle to get what they need.

Your vet, or speaking to an animal nutritionist would be your best bet, and I am not a vet nor am I am nutritionist, I am only basing my answers from what I have learned at either school or the shelter where I volunteer, or my own experiences with pet owning.

Thanks Aurora_Bell. Charlotte has a re-check on Wednesday so I'm going to bring up diet then.

Update:
Charlotte is doing MUCH better. She had her re-check and the vet was very pleased with her recovery. Her x-rays were clear and her heart doesn't look enlarged. I'm weaning her off her meds and the vet thinks it may have been pneumonia, not heart failure. We have to keep an eye on her to see how she reacts to the lower dose of meds. If she gets sick again then it's heart failure and we will put her on heart medication.
As for diet I am giving up commercial pet food and going with home cooked. Right now I'm giving her anything and everything although as she gets better she is showing some allergy symptoms again. Once she's 100% and off the meds I will introduce 1 protein, 1 carb, 1 veg and 1 fruit for a month to see if I can figure this allergy thing out. I'm suppose to pick novel foods that she hasn't had before but I'm having trouble with the protein. She's had just about every meat. I'm leaning towards lamb or salmon. I'm going to use couscous because I've never given it to her before and carrots and apples. There are just too many horror stories out there for commercial dog food and she doesn't seem to enjoy them much anyway. She is definitely much happier with the home cooked.

Oh great to hear! I was getting worried there. I think she will love the home cooked meals! You are such a wonderful mommy to Charlotte and she is lucky to have you!

Again, thanks for keeping us updated, feel free to stick around offer help when you can. You might enjoy this thread as well.

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/lounge...ts-416334.html

Ok, Charlotte is now on her new homemade allergy diet. She's eating salmon, couscous, carrots all drizzled with a little olive oil and apple or banana. We are on day 3 and of course way to early to see any improvement. I am hoping she will start to feel some relief soon. Lately she's been really itchy and upset tummy.
Also, since cut her meds back her cough has started to increase so she's fully back on one med and has another re-check on Wednesday. The vet thinks we may have to put her on heart meds then.

Ok, Charlotte is back on Furosemide twice a day and now Vetmedin twice a day. I'm hoping her cough will go away and we can all get back to normal.
She's doing well on her homemade diet. I'm increasing the amounts because she has lost some weight since her last vet visit. The house and Charlotte constantly reek of salmon which wouldn't be so bad if I actually liked salmon.
Hoping she's finally on the mend.

I hope so too Michelle. You have sure been through a lot with Charlotte. You are a great mom, and she is very lucky to have you. It makes me smile, because I know what you are going through as far as the food thing goes. I had to walk miles for a Shih Tzu. She had a stroke, and she lost a lot of teeth, so we had to make her special food, and as she got older she became increasingly fussy. And on top of that she developed allergies. At the end she was 13, on her last leg, we fed her what ever the heck we could get into her.

I hope miss Charlotte is on the mend as well. Thanks for keeping us posted.

You're a great mom! Most people would have said screw it and put her down, but your going to the end of the earth to make her better! I love hearing story's like this one and it makes me feel that the human race is a little less cruel (Yes, most days I think that). I hope she gets better quick and if not at least she has a mommy who will stick with her while she is sick!

Ok, wondering about allergy symptoms. Charlotte has been eating a salmon, couscous, apple, carrot, oil diet for a month now. I know it can take up to months for symptoms to go away. She has not had any diarrhea at all and no vomiting or gurgly belly. Also she has gone from pooping 5-10 times a day to 1-3 times. She still has the itchy ears, face and butt. Bites and licks her feet and sheds like crazy. She was licking and dragging her butt so much the other day she had it red. I'm starting to think she may have both allergies and food intolerences and maybe the allergies could be environmental or seasonal. Any suggestions? I'm also thinking that if it is food related that maybe she's allergic to the carrot or to grains. That may be my next step although a little wary on feeding her just meat and veg for 2 months.

It could be the couscous, but like you said it could be environmental. Has your vet okay'd you to give her bennadryl? Works wonders on itchy pets.

I've been meaning to call and check about the bennadryl. She's already on two medications and I didn't want to put her on another, especially if I'm trying to pinpoint the food allergy and was hoping the itching going away on its own would give me some answers. If she's on bennadryl how will I tell if the diet is working?

The thing is you won't. But she will be comfortable. Some dogs have environmental allergies, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Thanks Aurora_Bell. I spoke with my vet today and she said to try her on the Benadryl, 25 mg pill up to 3x a day. Charlotte weighs about 20 lbs. She just got her first pill and I'm hoping she find some relief soon. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks Michelle. Bennadryl has been my dogs saving grace. She has food and environmental allergies as well.
I REALLY appreciate how you have kept us updated. Poor Charlotte had me worried. I am glad she is starting to feel better.

All my friends on here call me Bella. :)

I meant to say, it sounds like your new food is really doing wonders on her tummy. Glad to hear you found something that works.