Satin balls - dog food

[KimandAutumn]

I had to go out of town for work last week despite my every efforts not to. Hubby rearranged his schedule so he would be around to tend to the dogs at lunch time and be home right after work. Everything went smoothly for him and no real problems except the fact that Autumn, who is more bouncy and fun loving than affectionate, spent the week laying around the house moping rather than her usual play and roughhousing.

I came home and its quite apparent that she lost quite a bit of weight; I'd guess around 10 lbs or so. Nothing in her daily regime or feeding schedule changed so the weight loss is interesting. Poor girl. She hasn't really left my side since I got home on Thursday night.

I've made a batch of satin balls for her to help put a few pounds back on but I'm unclear how much to feed. Most of what I've read said let them eat until they don't want anymore but not a real good idea with Autumn as she'd eat until she made herself sick. I just made the batch up last night and gave her 1 large meatball tonight but like I said not real sure how much to give a 105 lb Great Dane.

[TeriM]

I'd just use them as a supplement to your regular food. I used them for a bit with my lab to put some weight on. I just gave one "tennis ball" size each night with his dinner.

[Frenchy]

Tennis ball size, that's what I used with my great dane foster too. One a day. Any pics ? of the great dane not the satin balls

[luckypenny]

Do you feed the satin balls raw or cooked? I used to give Lucky a raw ball about an hour or so after his regular meals (2x per day) until he reached the appropriate weight.

Did she eat normally while you were gone? 10lbs seems like quite a bit of weight to lose in such a short time. It might be a good idea to have her checked by her vet . All the same, I'm sure she's glad you're home.

[KimandAutumn]

yep she ate normally while I was gone but if she were a people she would be a Type "A" personality. She's been to the vet many times, healthy as can be but a worrywart and keeping weight on is a struggle at the best of times.

I feed 1 raw ball 2x per day but mine are about the size of a plum so I figure combined would be tennis ball size.

No pics yet... middle of house renos ... can't find camera.... found computer tonight.........lost dalmatian for about an hour in house somewhere, later found sleeping behind closet doors..........*hate renos*

[marine's girlie]

ummm....please forgive my ignorance, but what are 'satin balls' ?
i'm just trying to understand what people are talking about here. are they meatballs?

[SableCollie]

but what are 'satin balls' ?

They are a special recipe, sort of like a meatball, made specifically to put weight on dogs. Most recipes are pretty similar, here is a recipe.

[marine's girlie]

thank you!! i'll try these, they sound yummy. a couple questions, though:
my dog doesn't like egg shells (had him on semi-raw for a while and he never adjusted to them) can i leave these out?
also, could this be given to a cat or has anybody done this? i'm looking to put weight back on my hyperthyroid cat now that her thyroid level is stabilized. perhaps this would work? she has a great appetite, and i free-feed her, but nothing seems to stick very well. she's in perfect health other wise.

[SableCollie]

You could try it with a cat, they might like it better if there were less grains though.

If you are feeding these just as a treat, I don't see a problem in leaving out the eggshells. If they were a main component of your pet's diet you would have to replace them with another calcium source, such as bonemeal.

[Frenchy]

Meb999 gave me an easier recipe

cooked ground beef
raw eggs (without the shells)
cottage cheese
canned pumpkin (not the pie filler)
cooked rice
and I added some bread crums to make it stick better

[SableCollie]

That does look easier!

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by SableCollie

That does look easier!

You bet , Nelly is pretty lucky because I usually don't cook if there's more than 3 ingredients

marine's girlie,if you just need to make treats, if your dog doesn't need to put more weight , there's a good salmon treat recipe too , in here somewhere. My goldens love them.

[marine's girlie]

no weight gain necessary, and i'm not replacing his diet, i just want to treat my babies. i'm actually more likely to make them for the cats, he he. sometimes i think i need to buy their affections, lol. they are cats afterall. what i really had in mind, though was putting weight on my hyper thyroid kitty now that she's regulated on her meds. i can probably play around with the amount of grains, since she's a cat, and make something less grainy.
thanks all!!

[want4rain]

sorry.... but i just *had* to say somethign. its been KILLING me for days now.... i cant help but read the title to this thread and chuckle. im sure my husband has exclaimed that about his a few times.

boy i sure got a gutter brain.

-ashley

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by want4rain

sorry.... but i just *had* to say somethign. its been KILLING me for days now.... i cant help but read the title to this thread and chuckle. im sure my husband has exclaimed that about his a few times.

boy i sure got a gutter brain.

-ashley

Don't get me going on this

[marko]

OMG - I was thinking the EXACT same thing ...I guess I have a gutter brain too

But I think, for clarity, I'll change it to Satin balls - dog food

........not that that is much better - hey maybe Satan balls. ok

....back to the thread.

Thanks all!

Marko

[want4rain]

*relief* at least im not the only one!!!

-ashley

[marine's girlie]

are you kiddin' me?? of course you're not the only one.
i wouldn't even have read the thread if it didn't have "balls" in the title. (does that tell you how shallow us gals can be as well?)
glad i did, tho'. i learned something new