[Stones] Diet

[becky3518 at comcast.net]

It's my opinion that, while you don't want to flood their diet with calcium, it's much more important to keep the ratio of calcium to phosphorus at a favorable level.  With very few exceptions, the fruit of any plant (i.e., cucumber, tomato, apple, etc.) almost always has quite a bit more phosphorus than calcium.  Also, if you consider that fruits and veggies are quite a bit heavier than greens, just a very small amount can really throw off the balance.

I strongly suggest you weigh your food for at least a few days, a week if you want to really get a feel for the ratios, and enter the amounts on the food calculator (I think it's on the Stones site?)  That's the only way to really know what their ratio is.

Limiting the calcium can cause more harm than good, particularly if their treats involve the fruit or root of any plant.  If you lower the calcium and increase the phosphorus through the treats, it can contribute to sludge and stone formation.

My sludge pig was passing globs of sludge on a regular basis when she was about 3 1/2.  Within a year of starting the diet and supplementing with hydration subcues for the first six months, she was sludge-free.  She's 7 1/2 now and has had absolutely no sludge.  I'm a fanatic about their diet.  I'm pretty convinced it has helped keep her genetic disposition to stones/sludge (her sister died from stones) in check.

Good luck.
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Evelyn Baker <ebak at ca.inter.net>
> I've been checking out the food analysis charts for vegetables that  
> I've been feeding Phoebe. As near as I can figure out everything is  
> either too high in calcium or the phosphorus ration is wrong. So what  
> is the best fresh foods to offer our little ones. I do give Phoebe a  
> lot of fresh treats.
> 
> Taking her off the wheat grass has helped already.
> 
> Evelyn
> 
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