Food and treats

His diet was written by a veterinary nutrition service and adjusted with his specialist. Steadywag checks foods against that plan. It never invents new rules.

Can he have this?

Type a food or treat

Answers come only from the diet plan his specialist and the nutrition service wrote. Steadywag will not guess about foods that aren't in it.

Treats

Treats stay at or under 42 kcal a day, about 10 percent of his food, and low in copper and sodium, per the August 2023 nutrition plan.

Freeze-dried chicken and salmon treats

Records disagree, needs confirmation

The 2026 specialist reports (March through August) list freeze-dried chicken and salmon treats. The August 2023 nutrition plan advises avoiding freeze-dried raw animal products, keeping treats low in copper and sodium and at or under 42 kcal a day, and notes that many seafoods are high in purines. The records do not say which products these are, whether they are raw, or how many calories they add.

Nothing here picks a side. It is on his visit questions, so his team can say which applies.

The recipe, as documented

Original recipe (August 2023, 491 kcal a day): 2 whole eggs (100 g), 50 g raw skinless chicken breast, 70 g dry white rice, half a teaspoon of fish oil, plus the supplement set. Current recipe, as listed in specialist reports since August 2024: 1 large egg, 75 g chicken breast, 70 g white rice, half a teaspoon of fish oil, with salt and a multivitamin.

In September 2023 he was not tolerating the eggs and the family asked the nutrition service to reformulate. Reports through June 2024 list 2 eggs and 50 g chicken. On June 13, 2024 the specialist advised cutting the portion by 25 percent for weight gain. From August 15, 2024 the reports list 1 egg and 75 g chicken, noting the previous amounts 'before adjusting'. The records do not say whether the nutrition service or the family made that specific change, and the revised recipe document is not in these records.

Single source. Change documented in specialist reports. The updated recipe document is not in the records.

The plan's rules

15 rules

AvoidAvoid high-purine foods
Avoid organ meats and many seafoods. Most meats and some vegetables, including spinach and asparagus, are moderate. Grains, eggs, dairy and many fruits and vegetables are low.
Why: A struggling liver can leave extra uric acid, which raises the risk of urate stones. Low-purine ingredients reduce that risk.
Keep consistentFish oil brands are not interchangeable
Use the specified fish oil. Another product must be checked for contaminants such as mercury and pesticides, and potency differs widely between brands.
Why: The recipe's omega-3 amount is calculated for the specified product.
Keep consistentGive the supplements his current recipe lists
His specialist's reports list added salt and a multivitamin once a day, plus fish oil in the recipe. Give them in the specified amounts, added to the food just before serving. They are not optional, because they fill nutrient gaps the plain ingredients leave. Zinc was part of the August 2023 recipe but was removed on September 29, 2023 on the specialist's advice while he takes penicillamine.
Why: The recipe is computer-balanced for this dog only. The August 2023 recipe included zinc, but the specialist team chose to stop zinc while penicillamine is in use. The current listed diet has fish oil, added salt and a multivitamin.
LimitKeep dietary copper low
The recipe is built to stay below the copper level of veterinary liver diets. Do not add copper-rich ingredients such as organ meats.
Why: Copper restriction is used for primary copper storage disease so the body is not taking in more than it can clear.
Keep consistentKeep ingredient proportions exact
Change only the total amount fed to keep body condition steady, never the ratios between ingredients. Weigh ingredients with a kitchen scale.
Why: Changing the ratios changes the nutrient balance the recipe was calculated for.
LimitModerate protein, egg preferred
The diet provides about 25 percent of calories from protein, mostly from chicken breast and egg.
Why: Liver disease can make high-protein meat diets harder to tolerate. Egg, dairy and vegetable proteins tend to be tolerated better than meat protein.
AvoidNever feed foods that are harmful to dogs
Avoid anything with xylitol, chocolate, macadamia nuts, garlic, onions, grapes and raisins.
Why: Each is harmful to dogs.
AvoidNo other supplements unless the specialist directs
Give only the supplements in the recipe. Do not add other dietary supplements unless the specialist directs it.
Why: Avoids nutrient excesses, interactions between nutrients, and possible allergens.
AvoidNo raw animal products and no jerky-style treats
Avoid raw animal products, for example freeze-dried raw chicken. Avoid jerky-type treats, including dried sweet potato.
Why: Raw products carry a significant risk of disease-causing bacteria. Jerky-type treats have been associated with kidney injury in dogs.
Keep consistentPreparation and storage
Cook ingredients plain, with no oil or seasoning, and keep the cooking liquid for the meals. Mix well so nothing is picked out. Batches without supplements keep 2 to 3 days in the fridge or up to 2 weeks frozen. Add supplements and fish oil just before serving and do not thaw or reheat them.
Why: Reheating can destroy some nutrients. The diet has no preservatives, so check for spoilage.
LimitReformulate the diet as low fat
The specialist recommended a low-fat reformulation of the recipe with the university nutrition service. Raised on March 10, April 22, June 3 and August 25, 2026, and still not done as of August 2026.
Why: Very high triglycerides can contribute to repeated pancreatitis. The August 2026 report says a lower-fat diet may become the main long-term treatment.
Keep consistentStay on the formulated diet and supplements for life
The specialist's team confirmed in August 2024 that he stays on the nutrition-service diet and supplements for life, as long as he is doing well.
Why: Because of his copper storage disease. The family had asked whether the diet could ever be relaxed once liver values normalized.
LimitTreats: 42 kcal a day at most
Treats should not exceed 42 kcal a day, about 10 percent of daily energy. Keep them low in copper and sodium. Introduce them only after the diet is well tolerated.
Why: More treats than this unbalances the formulated recipe.
AvoidUse plain home-cooked chicken
Cook skinless, boneless chicken breast at home. Do not use precooked, deli, canned or marinated chicken.
Why: Those products can be much higher in fat and sodium.
Keep consistentWatch the blood count for signs of copper deficiency
Check the blood count periodically for anemia or other effects of too little copper, especially while a copper-binding drug is combined with a low-copper diet.
Why: Copper deficiency in dogs is rare, but it can happen with chronically low intake.