Question for the Raw feeders.

jmwgomz · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:28 am Post subject: Question for the Raw feeders.

Are all of you preparing your own raw meals or do you use a manufactured raw product (BARF, Nature's Variety, etc.)?

I just got Zeke switched over to Raw as this seems to be the only food that works for him. If he gets any kibble (I've tried Canidae, Royal Canin, Innova, California Natural, even a kibble made by Nature's Variety) he gets severely gassy and has soft to soupy stool. I'm feeding him a raw meal made by Nature's Variety but the cost seems a bit high to me. It translates to about $8/day. Just wondering if most of you prepare your own or buy pre-made. If you buy pre-made, what brands are you using and what are your thoughts on them?

Thanks in advance.

youhavenoidea · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:50 am Post subject:

I think Lynn may supplement with a ready-made raw product, but don't quote me on that.

I don't feed raw, because it's just not for me for various reasons, but many here do, so I'm sure you'll get some good feedback.

greydogs · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:11 am Post subject:

mine eat nature's variety.
i hesitated for a long time, because of the cost, but vishnu has never been better. before he almost always had stomach trouble. it is solved now. and considering that he ate 4 cans of wellness a day, this is actually cheaper.

(except when my partner forgot to put the leftover meat and its plastic back in the fridge and vishnu swallowed the meat with the casing. 80 dollars at the vet to make him puke. but then we did not have to worry when and if it would come out.)

NenaGunther · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:38 am Post subject:

I feed Oma's Pride and supplement with other meat to make sure they are getting enough muscle meat. Also give salmon oil and glucosamine.

anne · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:28 pm Post subject:

I've fed premade for convenience but it's far more cost effective to make it yourself especially if you have a big freezer. There should be a co-op in your area, it might be the same as mine www.socalbarf.com. You can get chicken for about $0.50 a pound, and if you feed about 2-3 pounds a day, well that is a big savings. I like Nature's Variety but you are right it's very expensive.

Oh this is a bit far for you but Shelton's in Pomona (they sell their poultry to places like Whole Foods) sells backs for about $0.70 a pound. Also even Whole Foods sells backs and necks, but for about $1.29 or so a pound, no more than $1.50. If you don't have space in your freezer you can go there. Some of the raw food storefronts will carry necks for about $1.99 a pound. Still a LOT cheaper than Nature's Variety and other premade. You'd have to do the veggies yourself though but if you do it in bulk it's not so bad.

jmwgomz · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:26 pm Post subject:

WOW, I'd never heard of that co-op. Thanks! It seems like the orders are huge though. I only have one dog and am currently feeding about 1.5 lbs/day. If I ordered through them I would definately need a separate freezer. How long would the meat last in the freezer? I don't think I could go through an order even in a month! Especially since the order would have to include different meats (each item between 10-40lbs).

+ I think this would totally ruin my attempts at a vegetarian diet! I miss meat too much to have steaks readily available!!!!! mmmmmmm, steak!

DanniGirl · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:43 pm Post subject:

BEANSnBERRY · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:44 pm Post subject:

I'm both a vegetarian and a raw feeder... i do it homemade, if anything it's strengthened my resolve!! Nothing like cutting spleen in pieces to kill your appetite, it's very ick. But, you do get used to it... I still do not want to eat meat, though!

I go by Ian Billinghursts books (amazon.com will have books) some prefer www.rawdogranch.com

It is MUCH cheaper to go go raw home made. Logan's at 2#'s a day, at about $3.00 a day.

I personally juice (not that kind. Razz

) and i give him juicing remnants, which is usually spinach, carrots, apples, pears, peaches, berries... etc, along with yogurt, for the vegetable matter.

Works great for us! Smile

versatilek9s · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:06 pm Post subject:

I make my own, too. I'm working it out as I go along, since it's only been a few months. And with Maya eating about 2# daily, and Sage eating around 1# we have to be thrifty about it. I base their diet on chicken thighs. which I get at wal-mart for about $7-$10 for 10#. I add ground beef (which I but in bulk from a local organic farmer) and odds and ends that I find on sale at the grocery store. I wouldn't say it's cheaper than kibble since I tend to splurge and get them ground lamb and fresh salmon on occasion, but it's not a whole lot more expensive.

iris · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:25 am Post subject: Re: Question for the Raw feeders.

2kids2weims · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:53 pm Post subject:

I started out with prepared that cost $13 for 10 patties - at 2 patties a day per dog, that could not continue.

I feed chicken backs & pay $16 for about 10 days worth (2 backs each a day) from a pet food store that brings them in for me. If I did chicken necks I could get 40 lbs for $32 from a poultry distributor. I did find the backs meatier & often have a bit of kidney or liver attached which makes life easier & my dogs actually chew backs. They can swallow necks whole which led to a few vomits.

If you can get the supply regularly & dependably, 20+ lbs can be stored in a fridge freezer with stacked rectangular plastic containers. (Ours are ziplocs stacked 3 high with a 4th thawed in fridge to feed those several days.) I found at first I just made a bit more of cooked veggies that we were eating, saved & mashed them for veggie day.

jmwgomz · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:26 am Post subject:

I've been going crazy trying to find a place that sells "chicken backs, necks," etc. I am having big trouble finding them. I don't even know what a "chicken back" looks like! Zeke is doing great on the Nature's Variety patties. I've researched Oma's Pride and B.A.R.F. and they don't seem to be any cheaper. The shipping to California kills the savings for both. Plus, correct me if I'm wrong but it seems B.A.R.F. charges a yearly membership fee in order to purchase their products. Since Zeke is still a Puppy, he's eating 3-4 patties/day. I'm looking at about $200-300/mo. If he were already full grown I don't think I would mind as much (he would be eating half as much).

NenaGunther · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:37 am Post subject:

anne · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:18 am Post subject:

SilverMist · Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:44 pm Post subject:

I also use the Natures Variety. Misty does great on it.