For those who feed raw

sherry · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:46 am Post subject: For those who feed raw

I am seriously considering switching Jag to raw but I have a few questions( a couple may be stupid ones).Exactly what supplements do I need, I know that he will need fish oil and calcium.Do I use people vitamins or are there doggie vitamins.Our butcher makes a raw mix with chickens and I plan on adding cooked pureed vegetables. How do you how much raw to feed them each meal. Jags' sitter feeds them kibble treats during the day...does that matter if he is on raw?I am just so tired of trying to find a food that is good for him,I think that feeding raw would be so much healthier for him. Thanks for any help.

iris · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:11 am Post subject:

There are several options when considering a raw diet.
I started with commercial raw bc nothing else worked with Rocky, his health was terrible. Then afterwords, i found a provider in the area (check your local co-ops on yahoo groups) that had chicken, pork, lamb, turkey, and beef ground up 80% meat 20% bone. I used to live in an apartment and could not give Rocky a whole chicken, i used to add a mashed up veggies, organs and vitamins. Vitamins i used to give him were:
KELP
ALFALFA
VITAMIN C
VITAMIN E
DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
FISH OIL
It got really hard and complicated and after joining a DOGSTER raw feeding group on line i realized that i was stressing myself way to much and i was overdoing it with the vitamins.
If you feed a complete raw diet you absolutely do not need all the supplement i mentioned above. I only give him fish oil not that he thinks its the best treat in the world. I feed him the meat like it is, once a week i feed him a meal of organs, and once or twice a week a feed him mackerel or sardines. I also fast him a meal a week.

versatilek9s · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:50 pm Post subject:

I supplement fish oil, and that's it.

After doing research forever (which I think everyone does) I decided that's really all they need. I do make an effort to switch up the protein source a lot so hopefully that helps them get everything they need. One day I do canned salmon (bones in), one day I do chicken, one day I do beef, one day I might do lamb if I find it on sale, one day I do turkey, then eggs (with shell) usually more like twice a week when nothing else is thawed! I also try to have an organ day at least once a week (heart, kidney, or liver) but it tends to give them diarrhea, so definitely no more than once a week.

There are some specific supplement mixes for raw feeders, but I honestly doubt they are any different from a multivitamin that you could buy at the grocery store. If I was only doing it for one dog, I might go overboard with supplements--for my head, not their health--but for three it gets too expensive!

whenever I find myself overanalyzing (often) I try and remember that they eat rotten carcasses for the love of god! LOL

iris · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:57 pm Post subject:

I agree. I as well only give him fish oil and a couple of times a week I give him eggs to with the shell for calcium. I completely forgot the one thing that smells the worse TRIPE, green tripe. I give him this to sub for veggies and he goes absolutely nuts for it. Brace yourself thought bc its absolutely disgusting.....

versatilek9s · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:02 pm Post subject:

Yeh, I'm with ya about the tripe! It is hands down the grossest thing imagineable! And I'm a nurse, so that's saying something! LOL

Since I started feeding raw I have this thing with the way raw meat smells, too. Blech. But it's for the dogs, right? Very Happy

sherry · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:19 pm Post subject:

WOW, after researching everywhere I found this place 1 hour from our house, and they deliver. We are getting a sample package this Saturday.We are very excited to switch over. This is the web address,www.totallyrawdogfood.com

weimdawgs · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject:

They love tripe.

I just give them the Nupro Joint supplement.

2kids2weims · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject:

I have not been doing nearly as long as some, but I did start with prepared foods which gives confidence your dog can thrive on it. Now I've moved to organic chicken backs which often have a bit or organ attached. $16 feeds 2 dogs for 15-20 days (2 backs each per day).

One vet did tell me that an adult human multivitamin every 2nd day was a good idea. I never did try it. I bought a kelp based vitamin powder early on which has not run out yet. Use it once a week plus digestive enzymes several times a week.

Generally, I add my fish oil, eggs, kelp stuff, pumpkin or fish to yogurt for a snack before bed. I have to be very sparing with the veggies/fish (sensitive tummies), so I tend to go a tsp each time. If you have to do this, invest in special ice cube trays to freeze fish or pumpkin.

I use 1/4 Orijens kibble for treats which is "vitaminized", but it has no wheat or grains or rice, just meat/veggies. I don't feed the kibble with raw food.

BluesandBoots · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 2:32 am Post subject:

Is Jag a puppy or adult?

You only get one chance when your puppy is growing to feed him correctly. If you mess up the supplements for example to much calcium you could cause a whole heap of growth problems. I have a few friends who feed raw but they waited until their dogs were over 12 months old before making the leap to a 100% diet with no kimble. My guys get part dry food part raw. Having that good quality kimble gives me peace of mind that they are getting the correct balance of vitamins and minerals + the benefits of getting some raw too.

That's just my input anyway Smile

Idaviruma · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject:

I feed part raw part kibble, usually mixing raw with enzyme/probiotic blend and then squeezing couple fish oil capsules over kibble.

iris · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:14 pm Post subject:

Just making sure: Those of you feeding both raw and kibble....do you mix the two together or do you feed as separate meals?
From what i understand feeding raw and kibble in the same meal can really mess things up since the body digests them so differently. I have experienced this first hand when i tried to mix caned tripe (which is cooked) with raw meat, Rocky had really bad diarrhea. But when i feed the caned tripe separate from the raw meat he does just fine.