Canned cat/dog food

[Trogdor]

As I stated earlier on this post, and on a different post today, I too have been rethinking it. I started phasing it out, just using up what I had left. Now that I am out, I don't plan on buying more. Its been a month now since I have used any, and it seems that their poop has become more solid, which I appreciate. I started using more real meat items mized with veggies. Chicken, snails, pinkys, ground turkey, and superworms. They don't come in a can, and I feel much better about it.

[Zach]

Agreed! I freeze boneless checken breast, then cook them on in the crock pot. Then I finely chop greens, put the sliced chicken in the chopper, and tap the button 3 times. It mixes it together perfectly without dicing the chicken.

[Tigergenesis]

Jenn, just boil whatever meat you use until done or toss in the crockpot (4-5 hours on low or 8-10 hours on high).

When I feed Phoebe canned cat/dog food her poo wasn't that runny (but I also used a high quality all natural brand), but since I've stopped using it I do still see a difference in her poop - even though it wasn't really that runny before.

[Usersafe]

Frankie is three and I've had her for the last two years. From what I could figure her last owner fed her mostly cat food and sometimes fruit. She was picky last winter but this winter seems to be even worse. She has turned her nose up at can o snails and pinky mice! She ate a live one last week but even then she would only eat one. My other northern Spike is the opposite. He slowed down a little durning the winter but is now eating like a pig again. He's always had tons of veggies and stuff so I think that is the difference.

How does Bella shed?

She has no problems shedding. If Lori helps her, she doesn't mind at all. She has the best temperament. Jerry, on the other hand......

[Reptayls]

Okay, I am going to toss the wrench into the machine.....

When we had BTS before (a couple of years ago), the first 2 were rescues from a single owner that only fed them cheap cat food (any kind - not even pure chicken or turkey). They came to us malnourished, to say the least.

The female had massive scarring on her back (burns) - but also was covered in bruises when we got her. The guy shipped them with no padding inside the box - no paper - no nothing. The female lived less than a week, due to internal bleeding.

The male had been beaten up too - by the female. He was missing almost all his toes. He was thin and had runny poo. He was skiddish as heck.

I went to the store for food supplies and purchased a few canned items: snails, grasshoppers; juvenile iguana diet. Yes - canned iguana diet (juvenile formula). This is what we used to mix the fresh cooked chicken; veggies; eggs and fruits together with.

The male loved it. He couldn't get enough - ate every day. He loved eating fresh-cooked chicken (warm) from my hands too. It was a wonder he never bit me - but he didn't.

A few months later, we came across another BTS that needed a new home - (another male?) - a northern. He had been taken care of a lot better, but was a fussy eater. He took to this new diet with ease.... he loved the iguana diet.

Both were plump and fat when they left us - spoiled to the max. The northern was a couch potato, and expected to snuggle and get snacks while watching HBO. The IJ was a bit more independant - but formed a bond with the northern. They ended up co-habitating in our corner tub in the master bath. Never once did they show agression.

We thought it odd, but they were pals and even slept snuggled with each other. The IJ was sold to a breeder, and the Northern got a great home with a teenager that had been looking for a BTS for 2 years.

We missed having them, so we got more.
And now I am considering going back to the canned Iguana diet. If it is good for other herbivore reptiles - why not blueys??? It must be a balanced meal. Has anyone read the label?

Any thoughts?

[Zach]

Frankie is three and I've had her for the last two years. From what I could figure her last owner fed her mostly cat food and sometimes fruit. She was picky last winter but this winter seems to be even worse. She has turned her nose up at can o snails and pinky mice! She ate a live one last week but even then she would only eat one. My other northern Spike is the opposite. He slowed down a little durning the winter but is now eating like a pig again. He's always had tons of veggies and stuff so I think that is the difference.

How does Bella shed?

She has no problems shedding. If Lori helps her, she doesn't mind at all. She has the best temperament. Jerry, on the other hand......

Jerry has problems shedding?

[Tigergenesis]

What exactly is a bad/problem shed with a bluey?

[Zach]

I've never been a fan of the "pre-reptile meal" lines of foods, and isn't it only for iguanas? If it were for other reptiles too you'd think they'd say "Iguana and other reptile food" (or something) it would make them more money for goodness sake, so why advertise only for iguanas unless it was specially formulated for only that specific species of animal.

[Tigergenesis]

Here's ZooMed's Iguana Diet info:

"Our most popular canned food! Contains ingredients such as apples and carrots, with a natural flavoring agent and bright color to entice iguanas to feed. Both Juvenile and Adult formulas have a cross over application and can occasionally be fed to other reptiles such as box turtles, tortoises, blue-tongue and prehensile-tailed skinks, water dragons, bearded dragons, hermit crabs, etc. The main difference between formulas is the protein levels. The Juvenile formula has a higher protein level for proper bone development in young iguanas."


Adult Formulation

Guaranteed analysis
Crude Protein, min., 12.0%
Crude Fat, min., 4.0%
Crude Fiber, max., 20.0%
Moisture Content, max., 15.0%
Ash Content, max., 9.0%

Feeding directions:
Feed free choice Change daily Adding fruits & vegetables makes a great occasional fresh treat Always provide clean drinking water.

Ingredients:
Sun-Dried Alfalfa, Wheat Bran, Soybean Meal, Collard Greens, Mustard Greens, Kale, Spirulina, Glycerin, Beta Carotene, Vitamin D3, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine, Biotin, DL Alphatocopherol (Vitamin E), Stable Ascorbic Acid, Choline Chloride, Cobalt Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate.

Juvenile Formulation

Guaranteed analysis
Crude Protein, min., 24.0%
Crude Fat, min., 6.0%
Crude Fiber, max., 14.0%
Moisture Content, max., 14.0%
Ash Content, max., 8.0%

Feeding directions:
Feed free choice Change daily Adding fruits & vegetables makes a great occasional fresh treat Always provide clean drinking water.

Ingredients:
Sun Cured Alfalfa Meal, Dehulled soybean Meal, Ground Lima Beans, Wheat Middlings, Vegetable Oil, Collard Greens, Mustard Greens, Kale, Glycerin, Yeast Culture, Dried Spirulina microalgae, Vitamin E Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Silicon Dioxide (carrier for liquid antioxidants) Ascorbyl Phosphate (stabilized Vitamin C), Choline Chloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate (source of Vitamin B-2), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K acitivy), Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B-1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B-6), D-biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Iron Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite.

[Reptayls]

Zach,

The powers that be could never make enough canned diets to satisfy all the herps. They have chosen the ones that are most popular and zeroed in on their needs.

This is a moist diet - much better than cat food. It smells great and has lots of veggies and fruits. I will get the ingredients from the label for you.

[Reptayls]

Thank you Tiger...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Usersafe]

Frankie is three and I've had her for the last two years. From what I could figure her last owner fed her mostly cat food and sometimes fruit. She was picky last winter but this winter seems to be even worse. She has turned her nose up at can o snails and pinky mice! She ate a live one last week but even then she would only eat one. My other northern Spike is the opposite. He slowed down a little durning the winter but is now eating like a pig again. He's always had tons of veggies and stuff so I think that is the difference.

How does Bella shed?

She has no problems shedding. If Lori helps her, she doesn't mind at all. She has the best temperament. Jerry, on the other hand......

Jerry has problems shedding?

No, he sheds fine, he's just a little more tempermental than Belle.

[Tigergenesis]

Thank you Tiger...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No problemo!

[Tigergenesis]

I also forget this part:

All Natural, Soft-Moist Iguana Food

All natural! No artificial colors, flavors, scents or preservatives. Just the good stuff!

Naturally fortified with Spirulina, bee pollen and beta carotene. Natural additives provide essential amino acids, enzymes and vitamins to promote overall health and vigor! Yummy!

Vitamin C naturally preserves freshness.

First soft moist pellet formula. No need to add water!

Sun dried alfalfa based (naturally calcium/phosphorus balanced 2:1) instead of corn (unbalanced calcium/phosphorus 1:13).

We don't use unnecessary fillers or bake our foods full of air to cut costs! (Less expensive per ounce than corn-based foods.)

Food is based on legumes, which is what iguanas eat in the wild!

[Reptayls]

So.... now what do you think of "canned juvenile iguana food"..???

[Tigergenesis]

Yeast, beans, soybeans, wheat...... are these okay for blueys? Even with this I'd still end up adding a lot of greens and veggies. It just doesn't seem like a lot of what they need to me. I dunno....I'm not a fan of convenience foods (so I'm already biased). I'm still all for the "Fresh is Best" feeding strategy.