WHAT IS YOUR OPINION???

luana80it · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:51 am Post subject: WHAT IS YOUR OPINION???

lately i am a little confused on what to feed to my dogs. i want to sitch their food but i haven't made a decision yet. i thought i would che ck the "RAW FEEDING" option, and i read all kind of good things about it. what is your guys opinion on raw? i am very interested to know what everyone's opinion is. thanks in advance

Banshee13 · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:13 am Post subject: experience with raw

I,too, wanted to switch to raw, but I found that 1) it was a LOT of work, and 2) my dogs did not seem to like it very much. they didn't mind some things, like chicken feet and CUT up beef, but they didn't want to touch raw chicken or other cuts of meat. There was a brand of frozen raw patties that they liked, because it was ground up like ground beef, but it was too expensive to use ONLY the frozen stuff. Plus, my husband was worried about salmonella poisoning and feeding our dogs grocery store/packaged/hormone-induced meats--which isn't exactly the same as a "fresh kill" out in the wild. And my dogs had diareah, which might be just from the "switch"--not enough time to adjust to it.

Lots of folks on here feed raw diets, and LOVE the results, but it just wasn't for me or my dogs.

Peri

NenaGunther · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 10:43 am Post subject:

I used to feed kibble (IMO now a horrible brand), years ago our chow/lab mix was diagnosed with liver disease at 10 years old, after different vet opinions they thought that diet had a lot to do with her disease. She lived 2 1/2 years with the disease and holistic care. Not a fun disease to watch your older dog live with.

I changed to a natural kibble then to totally raw. I've used Omas Pride Raw Diet and supplement with other meat, the cost isn't that different from a high quality natural kibble.

Their coats are great, poops are much smaller and basically turn to dust within a week or so. Their teeth are white and I never brush their teeth.

I'm very happy with the results.

anne · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 11:06 am Post subject:

I've been feeding raw for 8 years, and my last litter was 3rd generation raw fed. I do believe in the principle of "you are what you eat." Kibble is by its very nature processed food. I don't mind feeding it but not full time.

It is an adjustment to those that are used to throwing kibble in a bowl, but I don't find it to be too much more work. Whenever people mention the issue of salmonella and e-coli... my response is that our dogs lick their own butts, chock full of germs! Dogs have short digestive systems. They are scavengers by nature. Wild dogs, feral dogs, do survive on half rotting food. It's not an issue in a healthy dog IMO. As far as balancing the dogs food, well... people with a basic knowledge of nutrition for people manage to feed their own children just fine, it's not that hard for dogs. It's just a matter of educating yourself.

My advice to anyone contemplating feeding raw is to do your research, read about pros and cons. Try it, give it a chance and see if you like the results. There are many benefits IMO, but it's not for everyone. I personally love the results.

anne · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 11:13 am Post subject:

Just for fun....
Here are puppies eating chicken necks. They started at 5 weeks or so. They were weaned to fresh unpasteurized goat's milk and fresh eggs from a friend's "farm" and went straight to raw meat and bones after that, their diet was pretty much exactly like an adult's raw diet at about 6-7 weeks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KJ-Nu-6OZY

Banshee13 · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 1:39 pm Post subject:

Cute puppies, Anne.

sherry · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 2:57 pm Post subject:

I too am trying to decide on a different food for Jag( he is now on Canidae).I have considered raw before. Two things concern me,1 is that I am worried that I won't be giving Jag the proper supplements and two is the salmonell, but like Anne says there is a lot worse things in their mouths after licking themselves, not to mention what he gets into while he is hiking with his sitter.I guess maybe it is time to really do some research on it.The money or the time is not such an issue as is being worried that Jag is really healthier..

luana80it · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 4:53 am Post subject:

i have been doing a lot of reading, and i talked about it to my husband and we are thinking about it. but i am confused in things like:

can you buy the meat at the grocery store or only at the butcher?

do you have to feed certain types of meat per day or you can feed what you want?

if there are circumstances like "boarding..and things like that" and you have to feed kibbles, will your dog be sick?

how do you know how much to feed and how many times?

i didn't really find any answers to those questions. i am not really concern about the price, i don't care, i just want my babies healthy, and plus we think that it would be fun for them, cause you change meats all the times.

kamfam · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 7:46 am Post subject:

I've started supplementing Darby's kibble with raw chicken wings a few times a week, to help with her teeth. weimdawgs had suggested a book called "Switching to Raw". It is very informative and in "MY' language and not a whole bunch of technical terms that I do not understand.

You can buy the book online - it's less than $20 and I received it in the mail within a few days of ordering.

BTW, we are loving the results of Wellness CORE - ocean. Darby is doing amazing on it!

versatilek9s · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject: