dumpster diving for my dog

I agree with Diana. I'd just make sure that this diet, if you're going to keep him on it long term, is fully balanced. Dogs have specific mineral needs in particular that may be lacking (calcium comes immediately to mind). While the kibble will give him much of what he needs, I like to ensure that what I'm supplementing is equally balanced, especially if he's getting quite a lot of it.

I recommend Dr. Pitcairn's guide (although there are others). You can get it at Amazon for cheaper than his website, I think.

As for potatoes and tomatoes being nightshades plants, this is particularly important for dogs that have arthritis (and similar inflammatory syndromes). But if yours doesn't, I don't see know of any reason that you can't feed them to your dog, just because they're nightshades. There is one concern if you're "dumpster diving" for potatoes (getting potatoes past their freshness date) though:

~~The nightshade plants contain an alkaloid steroid called solanine. The foliage & unripe fruit contain dangerous levels of this steroid. The ripe fruit are the least toxic part of this family of plants but may be deadly under some circumstances. Solanine is also found in potato sprouts and the green spots on some potatoes. Sweet potatoes and yams are totally safe.

A toxic dose of solanine will manifest itself by creating severe digestive upset, trembling, weakness, difficulty in breathing and/or paralysis. Before using potato tubers as food remove all eyes/sprouts by digging them out of the tuber. Never use any form of nightshade foliage/fruit/tubers as forage for livestock.

Potatoes gain their green color and solanine concentration from being allowed to be exposed to the sun while drying after harvesting.

Solanine inhibits the formation of the collagen that makes up cartilage. It is highly recommended that anyone/thing who suffers with any form of joint ailment stop ingesting all nightshade plants. To avoid any type of 'growing pains' as the vet called Pano and joint dysfunction, especially if predisposed, avoid all consumption of nightshade plant material. http://www.doglogic.com/food.htm

So, watch those sprouting potatoes and not quite ripe tomatoes carefully. And I wouldn't make either or both the *bulk* of his diet. But in moderation (as with nearly everything we do with dogs), and assuming there are no clear inflammatory orthopedic issues, it seems to me they would be a healthy, if somewhat limited, part of his diet.

Yeah, times are tough. We're all feeling really pinched. I know that a lot of raw food folks buy their meat at Wal Mart. I find that most meats are cheaper at my warehouse store than at my grocery store. (Though I religiously check weekly sales ads to be sure).Others use co-ops. The really lucky ones get to shop at military commissaries. (But they pay in other ways, eh?)

I'm always foraging at the grocery store clearance section. But often, I find things that are still more expensive than I can find at Costco. I found a large-ish t-bone steak that was $3.45 in the clearance section. (It had the sell by date for the day I was shopping). That was marked down from the sale price of $7.98. The regular price was $14. Who the heck can afford $14 for one darn steak? We sure can't. At Costco, I can get a whole tray of boneless steaks of better grade for that price!

So I guess what I'm saying is keep looking. I know that your grocer is giving you his best deals, but sometimes, you can still find better deals out there. So keep your eyes open! You're never "too late" to the whole dog food thing! You're already getting it!