What to Feed Your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier??

Trying to figure out what to feed your Wheaten can be challenging. This is particularly true if they have allergies, the gulpies, IBD, are a fussy eater or have other health issues. As my girl Grace, and I have struggled with her Gulpie attacks I have tried a variety of different diets hoping to reduce them.

I see loads of pet parents struggling and asking "What should I feed my Wheaten?"

So I’m going to list exactly what I am feeding Grace. She is ten and a half years old now, and was pretty easy to feed until a couple of years ago. I have slowly transitioned her to this current mix of food items due to her ongoing struggles with the gulpies and occasional abdominal discomfort after meals.

If you are going to change up your dog’s food you need to do the change very slowly to prevent stomach troubles and diarrhea .

Breakfast:

Grace gets her breakfast anywhere between 10:30 and 12:30. It just depends on what time we get out for our walk and what else is on our agenda. Breakfast includes:

• 1/3 cooked (boiled) chicken breast (or turkey, pork, fish, kangaroo)

• 1 large tablespoon of canned salmon or sardines

• 1 large tablespoon of pure canned pumpkin (not pie filling)

• 1 large tablespoon of cooked scrambled egg

• 1 tablespoon brown rice

• 1 tablespoon of mixed chopped green beans, peas and blueberries (I use frozen and thaw them, I used to cook the vegetables but am now giving them raw)

• 1 tablespoon chopped raw broccoli

• 1-2 teaspoons of plain organic Kefir or fermented goats milk

• 1 teaspoon of chopped ginger

• 1 teaspoon cooked giblets (liver, heart, kidney)

Snack:

She gets this about three hours after her breakfast and a couple of hours before her supper, as I want her stomach to be empty when she eats.

• 1/3 cup Acana Pacifica

Supper:

Grace gets this generally between 4 and 6pm, at least 2 hours after her snack.

• 1 cooked medium sized ground beef patty (does not need to be a patty, this is just for measurement purposes)

• 1 large tablespoon of cooked scrambled eggs.

• 1 tablespoon brown rice

• 1 tablespoon of mixed chopped green beans, peas and blueberries (I use frozen and thaw them, I used to cook the vegetables but am now giving them raw)

• 1 small tablespoon of cooked giblets (liver, heart, kidney, all or just one of the three)

• 1 tablespoon chopped raw broccoli

• 1-2 teaspoons of plain organic Kefir or fermented goats milk

• 1 small teaspoon of fish oils

Snack:

Grace gets this before bed, at least 2 hours after supper. With her gulpies struggles this seems to work for her. Some Wheatens do better not eating before bed.

• 1/2 cup of The Blue Buffalo Co., True Solutions Digestive Care

Supplements:

There are so many supplements out there for dogs. What I find really discouraging about this, and this applies to supplements for us as well, is what is posted on the label is often not what is in the product. Numerous studies have been done. Products have been tested. Some have none of what is listed on the label. Others have small amounts, far less than what is stated on the label. It’s not easy to find quality supplements.

That said yes I have used supplements and here are some I have purchased on Amazon and used with my dogs:

• Purina Pro Plan, Forti Flora (helps with diarrhea and gulpies)

• Fera Pet Organics, Probiotics Prebiotics

• Zesty Paws, 8 in 1 Chews

I'm giving Grace the same fish oil supplement that I take. I feed her the same organic plain kefir that I drink. I freeze it in ice cubes and take a few out at a time for her. I chop and freeze fresh ginger and we both eat it. Cooking, chopping and freezing various food items gives your Wheatie the best source of nutrients available. Frozen vegetables and berries are great. Cook a batch of brown rice or quinoa and freeze it in a thin layer in a large baggie so you can break some off to keep in the fridge as needed. Do the same with your meats. A large can of pure pumpkin freezes nicely in a few large baggies and you just break some off as needed. I take it out the night before and it thaws in the fridge overnight. You can take enough out for a few days and keep it in tupperware or old yogurt containers in the fridge.

I also feed her small amounts of fresh cucumber, carrots, and brocolli when I have them available.

Do what works for you. Being retired it's easy for me to take time to do this for my girl. If you are working full time it's not so easy. Even if you just add small amounts of real food to your kibble it's better for your Wheaten.

One of the best things you can do for your dog is feed them real food.

Feed Real Food

It's less expensive than a good quality kibble and so much better for your dog.

Frozen broccoli and cooked giblets. Keep a few thawed in the fridge and add to meals.

Organic plain Kefir. Freeze it in ice cube trays, put it in a large baggie in the freezer, and take out a few cubes as needed to keep thawed in the fridge.

Pour equal amounts of chopped frozen green beans, peas, and blueberrries into a container to keep thawed in the fridge and use as needed.