Pre made Raw diet

weim2mom · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject: Pre made Raw diet

So, I was looking for a place that sold Canidae, and I looked at the store's products...

I came across two brands. Has anyone heard of/used these before?

1. Bravo http://www.bravorawdiet.com/index.html

Here is there product chart... any ideas which type would work?

2. Primal Pet

I am leaning toward this.. http://www.primalpetfoods.com/canine/formulas/canineVenison.htm

The other types of food - say that it is not a complete meal.

I am so lost when it comes to the raw thing, but I only want the best for them, and it's been evident that raw is just that. (I just hope it's not an arm and a leg Confused

)

Any ideas/advice would be greatly appreciated ! Very Happy

Ooooh... also, it gave some tips. Do those of you who feed raw follow tese guidelines?

Detoxification
As you begin to introduce your dog to its new diet, you may notice changes in physical appearance. Do not be alarmed. This is simply the natural process by which dogs heal themselves by eliminating toxins from the body. Discharge from the eyes, excess wax in the ears, loss of coat, minor skin rashes and soft, loose stool are just a few of the common signs. By gradually transitioning your dog to Primal Canine Formulas, you will allow their body to adjust properly. Keep a watchful eye on your dog, and take notice of any changes. We suggest consulting your pet’s practitioner during the transition process.

Fasting
Another important component in feeding your dog a raw diet is the process of fasting. This age-old practice, used to aid digestion and cleanse toxins, is common among dogs in the wild. Although not essential to the well-being of your dog, we suggest fasting your adult dog one day per week, from breakfast to breakfast. The necessary amount of fasting time will vary from dog to dog. Be sure to provide plenty of fresh, purified water and extra love and attention to your companion throughout the fasting day.

weinyrhymer · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:08 am Post subject:

Interesting. I have never heard of the 2nd one. I'm not sure I could follow it for Atlas - I'd be worried he'd start to lose weight.

I did not notice any detox-type changes, just changes for the better.

When I told Atlas' holistic vet that I had switched to raw, the one thing she mentioned was to be careful that the diet was AAFCO (I may have the acronym wrong but ..) approved.

iris · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:38 am Post subject:

I have never used Bravo but i researched it some when i started feeding raw. I am really not a big fan of it mainly bc not all their varieties come with bone. I like Nature`s Variety because it comes complete with bones, organs, veggies, and supplements. If you live in MD though i can give you the name and number of the guy i use. I buy the meat from him ground up with bones and organs and i add my own veggies or tripe + supplements. It got pretty expensive buying pre-made raw so we do this instead.

weim2mom · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject:

NenaGunther · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:46 pm Post subject:

Bravo and Primal are pretty expensive in my neck of the woods. Nature's variety is too, but is a much more complete diet.

I feed Oma's Pride and then just modify it with other stuff to make it complete. Adding in muscle meat, etc.

I just subscribed to something that may be helpful to you, The Whole Dog Journal, lots of info on dog food and raw diets.

greydogs · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:53 pm Post subject:

i started feeding nature's variety about 4 weeks ago. i started with 1 medallion per meal, then 2, then 1/4 patty, then 1/2 mixed in with their regular food. took about 2 weeks for the total transition.

things went really well and now i buy chubs since they are cheaper.
i did not see any detox symptoms, and i did not do the fasting.
the dogs look very healthy, and their poops are tiny!