• Diet Recommended by Kim Ondaatje
• Dog Biscuit Recipe
• Diet for Puppies
• Diet for Expectant and Lactating Bitches
• Water
• Dog-and-Master Vegetable Soup Recipe
• Sensitivities
• Slight Urinary Tract Problem

Diet Information

Dalmatians lack the enzyme to handle purine-type proteins. All other dogs posess this enzyme. After years of research I suspect that the reason for this is that the spotted dogs of Eqypt are the Dalmatian's ancestors. The Egyptians fed these dogs mainly on a diet of unpolished rice which is an alkaline diet, and this could account for the missing enzyme in Dalmatians that are true to their line.

Dalmatians are a high-energy dog and need protein, but they must not have the purine type of protein found in beef and all organ meats, and in vegetables belonging to the cabbage family and, particularly, asparagus. Nearly all commercial dog foods contain purine-types of protein and for this reason it is best to create your own food for your Dalmatians. Unfortunately, it's not commercially feasible to create a dog food just for Dalmatians. If you wish to use a commercial dog food, avoid any containing beef or organ meats. Dalmatians needs a lot of water to wash such food through their system and canned food is therefore by far the best.

It is important to know that Dalmatians produce uric acid instead of urea, necessitating the low purine diet. Otherwise they can develop skin problems, frequency, the need to drink an unusual amount of water, and, after a long period on an incorrect diet, crystals in the urine, and even kidney stones. The wrong diet makes the dog uncomfortable, hyperactive, and even agressive. It takes time for most of these problems to develop and an even longer time for the dog to recuperate, so it's best to avoid them altogether. If dry dog foods are used, add water or broth to increase the dog's liquid intake.

For additional information, we recommend the Dalmatian Club of America web site. Their Red Book has information on seizures, skin and allergic disorders, urinary stone forming, and hearing problems. They're also working on articles on hypothyroidism and musculoskeletal disorders. Of special interest are their articles "Urinary Stone Forming in Dalmatians" and "15 Years' Data of Almost 3,000 Dalmatian Urinary Stones". (External links current as of 15 March 2008.)

At Blueroof Farm, where dogs have lived healthy lives for up to 15 and 16 years, we cook for them twice a day and the diet which is very similar to that recommended by the Dalmatian Research Foundation is as follows:

Diet Recommended by Kim Ondaatje

Please remember that each dog is unique, and that the amounts will vary according to the particular needs of the dog. The following diet should be fed twice daily.

• 2 heaping serving spoons of cooked brown rice* or large-flake, old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1 heaping serving spoon of steamed vegetables**
• 1 level large serving spoon of lean ground meat*** 
  or 1/4 to 3/4 can of top quality commercial dog food
• ½ to 1 whole tin of all-natural canned lamb or chicken & rice (up to 9.5% protein, and 3 – 7% fat, depending upon the dog)
• plus extras throughout the week, such as 2 or 3 eggs
• please read about dry dog food**** 

Mix well, serve lukewarm tested with finger (rice stays hot a long time!) Always add warm water to dry food in equal amounts.

Blueroof dogs are also given one tablet of Halibut or Cod Liver Oil daily. Older dogs, expectant and lactating bitches, and any dogs or pups recovering from surgery, cuts or bites, also get 200 units of vitamins C and E daily. If the dog has received an antibiotic, all-natural yogurt is added to their food to restore natural bacteria to their colon.

*Brown Rice:

Brown rice is recommended. Rice can be cooked ahead, but wash the rice before cooking to remove the preservative powder that is dusted on the rice. A two or three day supply can be kept in refrigerator. Remove from fridge about an hour before serving so that it will be room temperature when served. At Blueroof, the dogs get old-fashioned large flake oatmeal in the winter with their morning meal, and rice with the evening meal.

**Vegetables:

Carrots, squash, potatoes, yams, celery, zucchini, garlic, onions, tomatoes, chick peas, beans, peas, are all good for Dalmatians. Green and yellow beans in moderation. Corn goes straight through. None of the cabbage family (including broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts) or asparagus. The Dalmatian Club of America has posted a listing of foods containing purines that might be of interest.

***Meat:

Lamb, chicken (fat-free, skinless), boneless fish, or even fat-trimmed pork. Remember to avoid liver and other organ meats (kidney, brain, heart) as they are high in purines, toxins, and drugs. Many commercial dog foods have toxins which you want to avoid. The Dalmatian Club of America has posted a listing of foods containing purines that should be of interest.

****Dry Dog Food:

Use dry dog food only if you are absolutely sure the dog has no tendency towards forming urinary crystals, adding lots of water or broth, rice, vegetables, etc. At Blueroof, we avoid the associated risks by simply not using it.

****Things Good for Dals:

The following are good treats for your dalmatian:

• sardines
• yogurt
• cheese (especially old cheddar bits)
• hardboiled eggs
• pasta
• toast.

Number of Servings and Ideal Weight

Serve two or three small meals per day with treats (see below) in between, but judge the amount and frequency to the needs of the individual dog. It is important to remember that a lean Dalmatian is healthier than a fat one. If fine boned at the lower end and large boned at the other, they should weigh 35 to 55 pounds, and the very large boned should weigh in the range of 60 to 75 pounds.

Bowls

Food dishes should be washed with warm water and soap after each meal. Heavy porcelain bowls are less prone to tipping than plastic.

Treats are very important

All-natural, crunchy vegetable biscuits are best, such as the Northern Biscuit brand of All Vegetable treats (www.northernbiscuit.ca). Locally, these may be bought in at Pet Valu, on Princess St., Kingston, just west of Sir John A MacDonald Blvd. (Northern Pet Products also has a toll-free number to find the nearest vendor: 1-800-561-3401.) You may also use bits of cheese or hardboiled eggs. Occasional tightly-rolled rawhide bones are okay, but should be removed when they become too soft as they may be a choking hazard. Puppy chews contain too much protein. No other bones of any kind should be given except the hard, nylon type (Nylabone).

Dog Biscuit Recipe

(From Joan Rorke With Thanks)

• 1 cup all-purpose flour or 2 cups whole wheat flour
• ¼ cup rolled oats
• 1 tsp. Wheat germ
• 1 egg
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• ½ cup skim milk powder (used dry)
• 1-1 ½ tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. or more grated cheese

Mix all the ingredients together. Add only enough water (approximately ½ cup) to make dough stiff. Roll out (approximately ¼ inch thick) and cut into various shapes (dog bones shapes, etc.). bake in oven at 350 for about 20 minutes. Turn oven off and leave biscuits in oven for 1 hour.

This biscuit recipe is very similar to the Northern Biscuit all-vegetable biscuit (www.northernbiscuit.ca). Both are extremely good for your Dalmatian's teeth. Considering the large amount of water added to their meals, these brittle biscuits are very important for their dental health.

Diet for Expectant and Lactating Bitches

She should be fed 4 to 6 meals a day. She should not lose weight even when nursing her own weight (weight of all the puppies equal to or less than weight of bitch). Her weight must be kept even.

Water

Dogs and pups (over 4 ½ weeks) should have water available at all times. Wash water bowl with soap and change water halfway through the day and at end of day. The purer the water the better, and water with no chemicals at all is best.

Dog-and-Master Vegetable Soup Recipe

For The Ailing Dalmatian

If your dog is not well, you can try this recipe in moderation. Courtesy J.C. Lowrey of the Dalmatian Research Foundation. If your dog has urinary problems (crystals, etc.), add a little tuna instead of the chicken, or make it an all vegetable soup.

• 1 lb. extra lean chicken (without fat or skin)
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 2 cups chopped celery hearts
• 1 clove chopped garlic
• 12 cups pure (chemical-free) water
• 1 16 oz. Can chopped tomatoes
• 2 cups chopped carrots
• 1 cup diced potatoes
• 1 cup uncooked barley
• 1 cup brown rice
• 2 chopped zucchinis
• 2 diced green peppers
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 package frozen green beans

In a large pot, boil water and add barley and rice. Crumble chicken and brown well. In a large pot (Dutch oven), heat oil, then add onions, celery and garlic and sauté until golden brown. Add mixture to rice and barley and bring to a boil over high heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Add remaining ingredients (except for beans), reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 2 hours. Add beans and simmer for additional 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature, transfer to 2-cup, covered, plastic refrigerator containers and freeze. Serve about ¼ cup of soup over 1 cup of washed and boiled rice, preferably brown, or simply serve about 1 cup of the soup itself.

Sensitivities

Dalmatians can be prone to allergies, each one being unique in his sensitivities. Therefore, the cleaner, more organic their food (water & environment), the better. You may introduce foods other than the ones listed (fruits, vegetables, fresh bread and pasta) one at a time. Because of their thin skin, dalmatians may be allergic to synthetic fabrics as well as all kinds of sprayed pesticides, paints and fertilizers. At any sign of allergy, discontinue the suspected food. Like humans, more and more dogs are getting cancer. Avoid chemicals and drugs as much as possible. The Dalmatian Club of America has posted articles on allergies and skin disorders which you may want to refer to.

Slight Urinary Tract Problem

If a Dalmatian shows signs of a slight urinary tract problem (i.e. frequency), Blueroof recommends dissolving 1 tsp. baking soda in drinking water, cutting out all vegetables, adding 100 milligrams of Vitamin C to food morning and night, and feeding mainly rice with a little lean lamb or chicken with salt sprinkled on top. If condition persists by third day, take a urine sample to your vet. You can get a urine sample easily by placing a clean aluminum pie plate under the dog when he urinates, removing it just before they finish. Transfer the urine to a clean jar, or pick up specimen jars from your vet beforehand. Do not refrigerate the sample, but get it to your vet as soon as possible. Take samples first thing in the morning. The Dalmatian Club of America has posted a list of emergency procedures for Dalmatians that cannot pass urine which you may want to refer to.

© 2002-2008 Blueroof Farm
Dalmatian Information and Rescue
Updated:15 Mar 2008
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