Fatten Balls

submitted by Eileen Andrade
as discussed on KerryBlues-L newslist

Here are the recipes for "Fatten Balls". We are using these with success on Karly, the rescue who came in as a skeleton. I know that professional handlers use them for dogs that have trouble keeping weight on when being traveled and shown. Karly has responded to these with great interest - but then again she is interested in all food. Worth a try though. Another thought - canned mackerel. Smelly and oily, always a favorite with my dogs.

Here are two recipes for Fatten (or Satin) Balls

1.

Homemade dog treat recipes like this is one can really help in putting weight on an animal quickly, as some use it for putting a couple extra pounds on a show animal prior to the big day, or an animal that may have been ill and needs a weight gain program. It has also been reported that these homemade dog treat recipes will help with some forms of hair loss, such as when your dog(s) blow their coat, to keep the coat healthy and shiny. This recipe is intended to be fed raw.

  • 10 lbs hamburger meat
  • 1 jar wheat germ
  • 1 large box of oatmeal (uncooked)
  • 1 1/4 Cup vegetable oil
  • 10 eggs
  • 10 small package of flavorless gelatin
  • 1 1/4 cup flavorless molasses
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1 large box Total cereal (2 lb)
  • You may also add a pinch of garlic powder to add flavor

Mix all ingredients together well, much like a meat-loaf, then put into separate freezer bags and freeze, thawing out as needed. It puts weight on in a very short time, not to mention the gloss in their coat. You can use it every day when they have a show to do and it does not produce diarrhea. It can be fed alone or with kibble.

2.

The following recipe was sent to Wellpet by Diana Carreon, R.N.,C. It quickly became one of the most requested posts on Wellpet.

  • 10 pounds hamburger meat [the cheapest kind]
  • 1 large box of Total cereal
  • 1 large box oatmeal
  • 1 jar of wheat germ
  • 1 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 1/4 cup of unsulfured molasses
  • 10 raw eggs
  • shells 10 envelopes of unflavored gelatin
  • pinch of salt

Mix all ingredients together, much like you would a meatloaf. Divide into 10 quart freezer bags and freeze.

Thaw as needed and feed raw!

Uses

"I take a frozen pack to dogs' shows with me, kept on ice, and
never have had any trouble with it spoiling, even in the heat of
Texas summers..."

"All my dogs go crazy over this stuff...but you have to be careful,
it will put weight on the dogs pretty fast if you feed enough....I
feed a pack a day...half in am , half in pm."

"When I want to increase the weight on a dog, I feed more; so far I
haven't got to the point where they won't eat anymore, and believe
me, Satin has eaten a lot at one setting. It will put on the
weight, make the coats soft and blue black (on black dogs at least,
that's all I have)."

"The dogs stop all the itching and chewing at their coats/skin,
their eyes get this bright look and the energy level goes out the
roof (not that Belgians need any more energy)."

"The bitch that I got this recipe for is a picky eater, but when
she in on the food (I long ago stopped trying to "bury" it the
other food; they just hunt it down to eat first, and making a mess
trying) she eats much better. It seems to whet her appetite."

Comments

Per the information received after having the Satin Balls recipe checked by several vets/labs:

Satin Balls is a total canine diet. It can be feed by itself or as a supplement, for however long you wish. My dogs have been on Satin
Balls for over a year; the only time that I have fed it alone is when I had a sick dog needing to be built up or an underweight dog that I plan on showing.

The only problem with feeding it by itself is figuring out the amount. It will put weight on a dog in a few days...that's why it is so great to feed just before a show. If you have a dog that is in good weight, but you just want to build coat/endurance, you
would have to figure out how much to feed (cal per kg), or you would end up with a fat dog in a very short time. At one point, I let Satin eat as much as she wanted, just to see how much she would consume. I never got to that point! After a pound pack, she was
still looking for more, so I stopped. I have been told a dog will stop eating when full on it, and that you can then gauge the amount
needed to maintain weight!

I just find that per the pocketbook and ease, my dogs do very well on it as a supplement. I give about a 1/4 pound each night to
maintain beautiful coats, energy level, and a full appetite...no picky eaters here.

Just don't try to hide it in the kibble...they will make a mess throwing out the kibble, digging for the Satin Balls! My dogs have never gotten sick on Satin balls...not even when I am at a show and feed only that. I feed less kibble, so I save money there. There is also less stool to pick up as the dogs are able to digest all of the Satin Balls.

I have been playing with the recipe. I now use the Knox Joint Gelatin instead of the plain Knox unflavored gelatin. Since this is high in Vitamin C and protein, and is good for the joints, it would be good for the dogs. They don't seem to mind the added flavor.

I am also adding Flaxseed oil. They probably don't need the added oil, but so far I have not seen it hurt anything.

Fix some up and let your dogs enjoy. They will love you forever and forever!