[Amanda D]

I seen on Youtube something called a Tick Key that I want to check out as for teeth brushing, if I give raw meaty bones do I stil have to brush his or her teeth and you recommend a dog tooth brush or a finger brush?

[InkedMarie]

BARF stands for one of two things: Bones and raw foods or Biologically Appropriate Raw foods. In any case, Orijen is not BARF.

I suggest you go to Hare-Today dotcom and cliclk on the Raw Food education link. Email Tracey, the owner, with questions. She is full of information.

[caleb v]

I have a 12wk old black lab who right now is eating orijens puppy food which i believe is BARF.

I want to switch him to raw foods that i prepare for him.

To give some background i plan on starting him on chicken only. I have a hookup for organic free range chickens for good prices.

I plan on only feeding him just the meat parts and then if his stools are doing well and his energy levels don’t change in a bad way then ill introduce some organs to him. A week after I introduce organs i will slowly add different meats. such as pork, duck, turkey, beef, lamb, and etc.

Once organs are introduced his diet will be 80% meat 10% bone 5% liver 5%other organ(green tripe, lungs, etc.)

Could someone please let me know if this seems like a good way to do this and my last question is Should I be grinding up his meats and bones together and feeding it to him this way or should I feed it to him whole?

Thank You!

[Susan]

Hi,
I buy human 5 star grounded Beef mince & the 5 star grounded Pork mince, it says fat is 5% that’s all the fats together, the pork is a bit lower in fat-4.8%, I buy 1kg, (2lbs) I whisk 1 egg, chop up a few small broccoli heads, some chopped parsley about 1 heap teaspoon, I chopped up 1-2 kale leaves or spinach leaves, what ever is growing in the veggie patch, I stick with green veggies, I was grating 1 peeled carrot as well but Patch got itchy ears & starts scratching his ears/head when he eats carrots, I also add 1 teaspoon of Flax Almond Baking Meal, Flax meal is high in protein & Omega 3 ALA, Almond meal is another good source of protein, I mix everything together & make 1 cup size rissoles & make them long instead of a round rissole, I put the rissoles on a baking tray that’s lined with al-foil & bake in the oven after they have been cooking for 15mins I take them out of oven & drain any water, fat that comes off the rissoles, then I turn the rissoles over, I only get about 8-9 rissoles from 1kg, 2lbs of mince, it depends on what I’ve added to the mince meat, they only take about 25-30mins & they are cooked, I cool & wrap indavidally in cling wrap & put in a clip lock plastic bags & freeze, I also peel, cut & boil a few sweet potatoes, they also freeze really good, I feed 1 cut up rissole with about 1/3 a cup sweet potato mashed thru the cut up rissole….
My vet recommended I buy the meat whole & not buy grounded minces, she cuts off the fat around the meat then grinds up the lean pieces of meat, this way you know no fat is added, in the Pup Loaf video, the cook grinds the pork steak up cause they couldn’t find any lean, grass feed, organic pork mince..

Acroyali gave good advise using a crockpot if you google “Dr Judy Morgan” has some really good recipes on U-Tube, I think she has about 8-9 dogs, all have different health problems…Bone broth is excellent for their bones, joints, brain & soothes the stomach/bowel…
Here’s Judy Morgan’s Bone Broth recipe & Golden Paste recipe for Arthritis & other health problems- http://www.drjudymorgan.com/category/recipes/
Judy’s “Pup Loaf” recipe for her sick dog- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0tBgV7xU8k

[Susan]

Hi Jasmine, how’s your boy doing are his poo’s firming up?
I buy human 5 star grounded Beef mince & the 5 star grounded Pork mince, it says fat is 5% that’s all the fats together, the pork is a bit lower in fat-4.8%, I buy 1kg, (2lbs) I whisk 1 egg, chop up a few small broccoli heads, some chopped parsley about 1 heap teaspoon, I chopped up 1-2 kale leaves or spinach leaves, what ever is growing in the veggie patch, I stick with green veggies, I was grating 1 peeled carrot as well but Patch got itchy ears & starts scratching his ears/head when he eats carrots, I also add 1 teaspoon of Flax Almond Baking Meal, Flax meal is high in protein & Omega 3 ALA, Almond meal is another good source of protein, I mix everything together & make 1 cup size rissoles & make them long instead of a round rissole, I put the rissoles on a baking tray that’s lined with al-foil & bake in the oven after they have been cooking for 15mins I take them out of oven & drain any water, fat that comes off the rissoles, then I turn the rissoles over, I only get about 8-9 rissoles from 1kg, 2lbs of mince, it depends on what I’ve added to the mince meat, they only take about 25-30mins & they are cooked, I cool & wrap indavidally in cling wrap & put in a clip lock plastic bags & freeze, I also peel, cut & boil a few sweet potatoes, they also freeze really good, I feed 1 cut up rissole with about 1/3 a cup sweet potato mashed thru the cut up rissole….
My vet recommended I buy the meat whole & not buy grounded minces, she cuts off the fat around the meat then grinds up the lean pieces of meat, this way you know no fat is added, in the Pup Loaf video, the cook grinds the pork steak up cause they couldn’t find any lean, grass feed, organic pork mince..

Acroyali gave good advise using a crockpot if you google “Dr Judy Morgan” has some really good recipes on U-Tube, I think she has about 8-9 dogs, all have different health problems…Bone broth is excellent for their bones, joints, brain & soothes the stomach/bowel…
Here’s Judy Morgan’s Bone Broth recipe & Golden Paste recipe for Arthritis & other health problems- http://www.drjudymorgan.com/category/recipes/
Judy’s “Pup Loaf” recipe for her sick dog- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0tBgV7xU8k

[Acroyali]

Even dogs without pancreatitis sometimes don’t tolerate a high fat diet. I have one who does not, and he does just fine on raw provided I stick to low fat options for him. My IBD’er is doing great on cooked; I cook the meat in the crockpot until it falls off the bone and add some broth back in; I then re-add the bones to water and make bone broth for everyone.
Like you I prefer to feed my family (which includes the animals) real food. When I was feeding an elderly pet with organ problems and joint problems, fresh food made all the difference.

[anonymous]

Hi, Aimee
I thought of that, if your vet advises you not to give bones and documents it in the pet’s medical records. The insurance company may have a loophole to deny payment if the pet owner acted against medical advice?

[anonymous]

Best of luck. Oh, and make sure you know where the nearest 24/7 emergency clinic is located and how long it will take you to get there.

http://www.embracepetinsurance.com/blog/harmful-side-animal-sourced-dog-chews (excerpt below) click on link for full article.
Cow hooves and pigs ears are what the name implies. 
Marrow bones are from the long bones of cows and pigs.
Rawhides are the skin of cows. 
Antlers come from either deer or elk. 
So what do you think bully sticks are?  Think about this one.  Give up?  They are bull penises! Hmm.
There are some dangers with all of these items. All of these have the potential and can cause intestinal obstructions, but equally important are the dangers that come from the way these are processed.  They are first soaked for hours in a caustic lye solution to digest the undesirables off the skin and then to remove the lye the skin is then soaked in bleach solution.  Sounds yummy. Many of the rawhides come from China where they have been known to use arsenic compounds to preserve them. 
There is no regulation of rawhides or pigs ears.  You really have no idea where these come from.
Marrow bones and antlers cause many broken teeth.  A good rule of thumb is if you don’t want me to hit you in the kneecap with it, your dog should not be chewing on it. I can not tell you how many expensive extractions are the result of dogs chewing bones.

[FrankiesDoggie]

Thanks anon101, I’d like to take a more natural approach, but brushing is something I will consider if bone chewing doesn’t do the trick.

Susan, my dog would be a cattle dog, so medium sized. There’s a butcher shop by me that sells bones all the time on the cheap, but the variety can vary wildly. I think that’s my ideal, but where I might need a cleaner alternative or something for travel I’ve been exploring alternatives. It’s interesting to learn how the little things can make a difference. For example, bones that are smoked with flavor can get dogs so excited that they excessively chew and wear down their teeth as a result. With antlers, some can break dog’s teeth because they’re so hard (such as deer antlers) while others are more safer, such as elk antlers. Recently shedded antlers are also softer than those that have aged over time (and hence become more harder). I imagine all the horror stories about antlers was due to the mistake of assuming all antlers are the same, but like bones they vary wildly in density and quality. 😳

[Susan]

Hi, I’ve heard a few dogs breaking their teeth when chewing antlers or goat horns…. When my 11yr old cat had bad tarter on his teeth his vet recommended giving him chicken wing cut in 1/2 for breakfast every morning or give twice a week & what a different the chicken wings made after 2 months Jeremy’s teeth were clean, chicken bone is the softest bone out of all the raw bones, does a good job cleaning teeth & the dog or cat enjoys eating them… if your dogs are big look at chicken carcass are excellent….

[FrankiesDoggie]

Hi all,

Do any of you give your dog antlers as a chew toy and to help with teeth cleaning? I’ve been researching this and there’s been several schools of thought: the only definitive thing I found is that there are various types of antlers, some of which may be too hard for dogs and too low quality. Elk was the most cited for being durable but soft enough for ideal chewing.

Since I’m raw minded, I’m looking at raw bones as the alternative for teeth cleaning, as long as they are soft enough not to break teeth, yet encourages the dog to scrape down on them, removing tartar and helping to keep their teeth much cleaner. From what I gathered, weight bearing bones (with the possible exception of knuckle bones) can be too dense and more riskier, as opposed to bones from small game. It can be tough to get consistent, good quality bones on a regular basis, so I’m researching to see if antlers could be a safe alternative or the next best thing. (I’ve also looked at the slow roasted bones they sell in pet stores, but they are pretty messy and still suffer a reputation for splintering risks).

Thanks for any insights!

[LEELINA M]

My puppy “Minnie” also began regurgitating her ground beef meal. Someone suggested lightly cooking the beef. It worked. Maybe she was tired of the taste. I also switched the type of bowl when feeding the beef I put it on a plate or shallow bowl. Sounds weird but it worked. I also added a table spoon of canned pumpkin after heating it to cool it back down and mask the scent for her. She eats a fully balanced RAW diet with different protein every day so i figure lightly cooking only the beef isn’t hurting. You should be feeding her an array of other protein so maybe she’s sick of the taste. I personally say to try switching to chicken, lamb or pork. Once a week start adding a new protein.

On YOUTUBE Rodney Habib “Homemade Dog Food Recipe” is what I follow as a guideline and I change up the protein plus I feed RAW MEATY BONES every other day. Since Minnie is a puppy I also add more calcium and other things to balance this for a growing puppy but it is balanced for an adult dog.

Sounds like maybe there could be a Leaky Gut Issue that is causing the initial inflammation. Go to dogsnaturallymagazine.com “ultimate guide to fixing hotspots naturally” for a list of things to feed to help repair and prevent leaky gut. Good luck. I hope everything works out ok. Keep up posted on her progress to Raw 🙂

Love, Leelina

[LEELINA M]

Dear Ashleigh,
I’m so sorry if you’ve been discouraged by negative postings. I’m also new to RAW and finding more hurdles than helpers. The problem is everyone thinks they know everything rather than just sharing what they’ve learned. I hope you are still looking into and exploring the world of raw. Here is what I’m learning and would like to share…. Obviously every dog(like every person) is different but what works for most should work for all, barring complications. I’m feeding raw with a spin. When Minnie first came home I started her on an organic GROUND WHOLE CHICKEN WITH ORGAN MEAT AND BONE. I’m lucky enough to live in an area of Southern California where that is available to me, made by NATURAL MONARCH. Knowing that she also needs other protein sources i went seeking online and now I follow Dr. Becker. She’s a traditional vet gone holistic and i like that. She has a youtube video with Rodney Habib that outlines a raw food recipe which i follow but i change up the protein. I like that this recipe doesn’t call for too many supplements. In addition i feed Raw Meaty Bones every other day. My puppy is super finicky so we’re only doing Lamb Chops, Pork Spare Ribs and Beef ribs with the occasional Chicken Wing. She refuses to eat chicken sometimes as well as chicken feet and turkey necks. She’s kind of a butthead 🙂 but we’ll keep trying. In all my research I have learned that EVERY MEAL DOES NOT NEED TO BE BALANCED! Just work on balancing over the week. Also, Human grade is best. Dog food or food intended to for pets does not have that same regulation. i don’t care what anyone else says. Let those guys eat dog grade food instead of human graded. Even sale meat is ok for animals, as you know animals have different enzymes in their mouths as well as guts to combat the bacteria and parasites that we as humans cannot without cooking it first. If in doubt just cook the protein in question and feed everything else raw. Minnie doesn’t like the taste of ground beef(youtube recipe) but i already made a giant batch so i cook it then add a tablespoon of pumpkin to kill the scent and smell and she loves it. I also add lots of parsley, kale and mint to ward off any leaky gut issues. Dogs that get sick and /or die from bacteria already have had compromised immune systems so please don’t be turned away by nay sayers. Here is a sample diet of what Minnie eats but keep in mind that she is a growing toy breed puppy and eats 3 times a day but only eats 6.5% of her body weight per day (18 weeks as of today between 6 & 7 ounces per day)
sidenote, I’ve started mixing in the rodney habib video recipe into her already ground chicken mix plus as said before pumpkin to the beef mix after lightly cooking it. The beef, i only heat the beef.

Monday… Lightly cooked Beef mix with pumpkin then a pork spare rib the Natural Monarch Raw Chicken with mix

tuesday… Ground Turkey with rodney habib mix then ground chicken mix

wed… ground beef mix then ground turkey mix then a beef rib

thurs… chicken mix then a lamb chop then chicken mix again

fri… beef mix then turkey mix

sat… beef steak with bone then chicken mix then turkey mix

sun… chicken mix then lamb chop then beef mix

Upon writing it out, i see that i obviously feed lots of ground meat but that’s because Minnie is a spoiled puppy. I feed her enough Raw Meaty Bone to have the benefit of the nice breath and clean teeth and gums plus the calcium from those and her chicken has ground bone as well and the egg shells provide sufficient calcium. I plan to introduce more WHOLE proteins after 6 months. It is safe to fast dogs for a day after that point. But right now she’s just too small and too dang picky.

Pulsing spinach, kale, parsley and other super green veggies into your mixes is also sufficient however, i also juice so i mix in the pulp into Minnie’s food.

I hope any of this was helpful.
Love, Leelina

[anonymous]

I imagine it is similar to Rimadyl a very effective NSAID. Some dogs do very well on NSAIDs for pain management and as an anti-inflammatory.
However some dogs (not all) experience gastrointestinal side effects, not always right away.
I had a senior small breed that did very well on it for several months and then developed diarrhea, so he could no longer tolerate it.
So, I would say keep an eye on him and if he develops GI symptoms, don’t assume it’s GI related, I would hold the med and head right back to the vet.

https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm491552.htm
March 21, 2016
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the approval of Galliprant (grapiprant tablets), a new animal drug intended to control pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in dogs.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition where cartilage – the protective material that cushions a joint – breaks down over time, causing the bones to rub against each other. This rubbing can permanently damage the joint and cause pain, inflammation, and lameness. Older and overweight dogs are at a higher risk of developing OA.
A new treatment option for dogs with OA, Galliprant is a prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) EP4 receptor antagonist; a non-cyclooxygenase inhibiting, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). All NSAIDs carry certain risks, including vomiting, diarrhea, not eating/eating less, and lethargy. These drugs must be prescribed by a licensed veterinarian, because professional expertise is needed to diagnose and provide guidance in the control of OA pain.
Other NSAIDs that are FDA-approved for use in dogs include deracoxib (Deramaxx), carprofen (Rimadyl, Novocox, Carprieve, Quellin, Carprofen), meloxicam (Metacam, Loxicom, Orocam, Meloxidyl, Meloxicam), and firocoxib (Previcox).
The application for Galliprant is sponsored by Aratana Therapeutics

[Susan]

Hi Barbara, stick with the homemade raw diet, change from the carrots to frozen beans you get in supermarket they will thaw, also one day or 2 days a week feed 1 raw meaty bone for breakfast instead of the 1/4 of a cup meal, it can be a chicken leg NO skin, chicken wing, NO skin, chicken bones are soft easy to digest & will clean his teeth & he’s getting a different protein in his diet, also start adding tin sardines in spring water to his diet add about 2 small sardines to 1 of the meals so he’s getting his omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins & minerals for his skin, joints, brain & heart, sardines are very healthy…. watch his coat start to shine after eating sardines or feed tin pink salmon or tuna in spring water drain the water…Replace 3 or all of his breakfasts with the tin salmon instead of the grinded meat, the weight will start to fall off with fish, is his grinded meat very lean, not much fat?? Tuna or Salmon would be more leaner & higher in protein, change the proteins in his diet around a bit, in 1 week he should get at least 3 different proteins in his diet, the bones in the tin salmon are good leave them, just crush them with a spoon if your worried..
It takes time to lose weight, it’s quicker to gain weight but losing weight is hard, do not go back to a kibble, kibbles are very high in carbs unless you see vet & feed the Hills Metabolic + Mobility vegetable tuna stew wet tin food, this vet diet is suppose to be very good & dogs do lose weight..
With his 2 walks a day start walking him at a faster pace, get his heart pumping, at first you start off slow then each week you increase the walk & speed also throw a ball out in the yard or up & down the hallway & have play time once a day, you will get there… if after changing to the tuna sardines & salmon for breakfast instead of the meat & if in 2 months he hasn’t lost any weight see a vet & try the Hills Metabolic + Mobility wet tin food, Hills guarantee your dog will lose weight within 21days from 13% to 60% weight loss… Good Luck oh for a treat or snack, give a few small peeled apple pieces, size of a kibble, you can even add grated apple no seeds or peel in his meals.

[Laura B]

I have a 2 year old English Mastiff that suddenly developed “spots” all over his back, head and face, some scaled (just on back) and some not, dry nose (use nose butter). No itching, no crying, doesn’t seem phased by it. I originally gave him benedryl thinking he may have been bit by something. That didn’t phase the “spots.” I took him to the vet, they said allergies. He’s on prednisone and an antibiotic for an ear infection. I’m assuming it’s his food, but we feed him Fromm and have for the majority of his life. We also have 4 other dogs and we are the nasty free feeding kind (please do not judge, when we did timed feeding 3 out of the 4 gorged themselves and free feeding they don’t). My question is the vet said let him get off his pills and if the spots continue, change foods. We’ve done the grain-free and he had the runs, so swapped him. Now, he doesn’t want his food, only milkbones and peanut butter milkbones. I am in search of a recommendation on how I know if this allergy is his food or just outside allergies (pollen). He does also eat raw chicken and pork (usually chicken) on occasion.

[chris h]

I just got a puppy and I’m trying the raw diet for his second week with me. So far so good. His stomach has adjusted to the meals and he’s plowing through cut up chicken like a champ. I’ve been feeding him sardines for an omega 3 addition. It’s working well and he handles the bones fine.

I wouldn’t worry about the bones. I’d feed it whole, just due to the fact that it’s less work for you. Your dog should be able to handle it. If you feel uncomfortable with bones then you can stand by and watch.

What veggies? 🙂

[Kari P]

I had a foster dog nearly choke on a rawhide bone. It partially obstructed his airway for close to half an hour and I had to encourage him to keep drinking water until it softened enough for him to swallow it. I will never give rawhide to another dog.

The best chews are ones that are hard enough to provide resistance and help clean the gum line but not so brittle that they splinter or can break into chunks small enough to swallow. Really hard chews, like hard antlers and bones, can break teeth. It is important to keep in mind that not all antlers and bones are the same. Elk antlers tend to be softer than those from deer, and split antlers are softer than whole antlers. Also, fresh sheds are softer and much safer for dogs than older sheds, which tend to be whiter in color and very brittle. These antlers are harder and can splinter, but being lower quality they are generally much cheaper. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the broken teeth that vets see are due to people giving their dogs poor quality antlers.

Softer supportive “bones” like tracheas provide enough texture and hardness for dogs to enjoy chewing on but are not so brittle that they will splinter or break a dogs teeth.

Some people have good luck with Himilayan dog chews. Our dog devoured his in less than half an hour but some people say they last weeks. These do have some flavor, but the odor is mild and non-offensive, and they don’t stain.

Whimzees are an all natural dental chew that fall into the “hard enough to satisfy the need to chew but soft enough to be easily digestible and not break teeth” category. They aren’t inexpensive though, and they last maybe 5 minutes with our dog.

Chew toys made of durable but flexible rubber are wonderful as well. Whether or not your dog likes these (or destroys them) very much depends on your individual dog but we have a Kong that has lasted our dog as well as a Bionic Bone that he loves.

Our dog’s preferred chew toy is his Nylabone. It is hard and durable enough to last and satisfy his chewing needs, but doesn’t splinter and is not so brittle that it breaks teeth.

For us, the toys are a good option because our dog will fixate on scented/flavored chews and go at them until they are no more. The toys are better for playing with and redirecting him, as we are showing him what is appropriate to bite/chew on, but not giving a “treat” reward for nipping behavior.

[Kari P]

We use Whimzees, as they are made of all natural ingredients, don’t stain, and appear to be easily digested by our dog. We haven’t had any issues with them, but they are expensive.

I wouldn’t use Greenies based on reports of foam, blockage issues, and questionable ingredients. Dentastix ingredients list is also really long and concerning. Blue Buffalo Dental Bones and Zuke’s Z-Bones are the only other two dental chews I have found that contain natural ingredients, but both are expensive as well. Both have higher protein content than Whimzees though. I personally don’t see any reason to feed a dog a vegetarian product, but both Whimzees and Zuke’s are vegetarian if that matters to you.

Most brands recommend one stick per day, but keep in mind these are extra calories. I prefer to feed dental sticks less frequently because they are so expensive so I tend to give them to our dog on days when he is more active.

[Amelia E]

I’ve just started making dog food and am playing around with various recipes. Has anyone blended poached salmon (including bones and skin)? I’m thinking that I won’t have trouble with the bones if it’s well blended but not sure.

Also, does anyone blend their veggies or do you feed whole?

[Susan W]

Oh! One more thing… Bob, as wonderfully convenient as Milk Bones are, don’t feed them. They’re basically junk food for dogs, consisting of mostly refined wheat. There is no nutritional value whatsoever.

[m h]

I have 5 dogs and am preparing to move to a raw diet. I think that I have the formula down with meaty bones, muscle meats, organs and fruits and veggies. My dogs are 33lbs, 26lbs, 17 lbs , 11lbs and 6lbs. I understand that I will need to use 3 percent of body weight for determining amount of food. Can someone tell me roughly how much of each to buy to last 2 weeks for these dogs and the amounts of each?

Another concern is my smallest dog only has about 18 teeth and she is tiny, what are safe meaty bones for her?

[Lora W]

I am so sorry to hear about your dogs. I am so upset about these bones. I have bichon he been eating them for a year now. Anyways he got so sick and I was up all night with him I thought he was dying. He was panting hard keep getting up he couldn’t get comfortable. He was in pain and was breathing real hard. Took to vet they said he had inflamed intestines. It didn’t cost because we had insurance at Banfield. Thank God!!!!!So put him on chicken and rice diet. He is much better. Now 2 days later my bosses bichon and yorkie mixed was eating them. My boss bought (2) 18.00 plus tax bags the chicken ones. I was giving him 2 bones during the day and one when I left. He got so sick and had to be put to sleep. I am not sure if he had something else wrong with him. It could of been more than the bones. I told his vet about the bones. I pray it wasn’t my fault feeding him them. I will no longer buy these bones. This should be against the law to sell these. Please don’t buy them.

[Susan W]

Have you considered that your dog may have yeast overgrowth? One of my dogs was so itchy and stinky & after doing some reading, I discovered that she has a yeast overgrowth. The DERMagic website has a LOT of great information on the symptoms of yeast overgrowth.
My recommendation for food is VeRUS. Do a google search for VeRUS Pet Foods. If you fill out the contact form, they’ll email you back, ask some q’s, and send you free samples. I LOVE this because coupons for a few dollars off are useless if your dog doesn’t like the food. My yeasty girl is doing really well on this food (better now that I’ve stopped feeding her MilkBones – duh!).
Finally, if you’re worried about fleas, FOOD GRADE DE powder will help with them. Just dust your dog with the powder occasionally & you won’t have problems with fleas. Might work on the horses, too, if they suffer from small biting insects.

[Celeste P]

My puppy will eat Chicken although it’s not his favourite meat and he’d love for anything else he’d rather boiled broccoli than chicken.

Try to give some chicken to him raw? It’s healthy and including the bones (Dogs can digest raw bones but the moment they’re cooked they become hard and dogs stomachs can’t digest the bone once cooked must be raw.)
And raw chicken is good for them their body can withstand salmonella they’re made for that. It’s in their blood.

So try raw chicken, or ground beef, my dog is pickey with his meat unlike most dogs, he loves pork though haha poor piggys.

Try different fruits and vegetables banker dogs love apples mine loves lettuce, boiled broccoli, he doesn’t like peanut butter like most dogs.
Just like a baby learning to eat solids you literally have to try everything that they can et and see what he likes of you wanna give him something to try and you don’t know if it’s good for him or not google it and based on the pros and cons of what you read you really just gotta try.

[Acroyali]

Many people feed boneless raw; they just add pulped (usually steamed) vegetables and sweet potatoes or pumpkin for fiber. The shells (provided you’re giving the correct amount finely ground) would be good for calcium that would otherwise be present in bones.
http://dogaware.com/diet/homemade.html#cooked
There are guidelines in this article for those who wish to feed a raw diet that does not contain bones. Hope this is helpful!

[Erika I]

Acrovali- yes, she has had it in the past and did fine on it. I’m not sure if it is caused by another ingredient. I am going to try a different recipe to see if it’s the ground beef. Thank you for your input on various ingredients. I am a bit nervous to give her bones – I thought the egg shells would have been sufficient, but maybe I need to read up on that more.

[InkedMarie]

I can’t answer your question but want to mention that that is not a balanced raw diet. You need edible bones and organs. You need more proteins….fine to take some time to make sure the dog does well on a certain protein but father two months, she should be on another protein, at least.

[Chayse L]

I do not recommend Greenies!!

Our dog was given a Greenie 2 days ago and has been throwing up ever since. She has no appetite, seems completely out of it and has severe diarrhea.

TropiClear Water Additives are the way to go. It’s a much safer option, and happens to be more effective than the Greenie bones.

Save your pet(s) the hassle and avoid buying Greenies.

[Christie]

My two dogs are not fans of their kibble and I’ve eliminated adding canned food to mix in because I’m trying to reduce their caloric intake (in to help them lose weight). I split a can of sardines (so about 2 sardines each) for their evening meal and split an apple to mix in with their morning meal. Neither dog has had any issues with the tiny bones.

[anonymous]

Ask the vet why he suggested Benadryl? Does he think the dog’s anal gland issues are related to stress, anxiety? Allergies?
You may want to try a grain free limited ingredient kibble, my dogs do well on Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea as a base with a little water added twice a day. Ask the vet if the vet tech can show you how to express his anal glands yourself (and how often), youtube has some good how to videos.
Oh, and I would forget the greenies, maybe an occasional 1/2 carrot instead (don’t be alarmed if you see orange chunks in the feces, it’s all fiber). I don’t like plastic bones either.
And start brushing the teeth once a day, it only takes 5 minutes once you get in the habit, youtube has good videos for this too.
Is he getting enough exercise? Get extra weight of off of him if he’s overweight. Increase walks (optimal for 1 hour a day or more)
Check the search engine here: /forums/search/anal+glands/

From a previous post of mine per:
Excerpts (out of context) from article below: https://www.vetsecure.com/veterinarymedicalclinic.com/articles/136
Overview:
Anal sacs are the reservoirs for the secretions of anal glands which are located on either side of a dog’s anus, at approximately four and eight o’clock. These sacs contain liquid secretions from the anal gland, which, in healthy animals, are normally pale yellow-brown to grayish in color. The contents are usually emptied during normal bowel movements, or when a dog is nervous or scared. In most animals, these sacs empty easily. However, some dogs, especially small breed dogs, are not able to empty the sacs properly and become susceptible to anal sac disease.
Transmission or Cause:
The cause of anal sac disease is unknown. Smaller dog breeds, such as Chihuahuas and poodles, are most often affected. Excessive anal gland production, soft feces or diarrhea, poor muscle tone, and obesity also contribute to higher risk of developing anal sac disease. Anal sac abscess tends to occur after an impacted anal gland has become so severely swollen and infected that the anal sac forms an abscess and ruptures.
Prevention:
Expression of the anal sacs every few weeks or months often will help prevent anal gland fluid from accumulating and becoming thickened again. High fiber diets have been shown to help prevent anal sac disease in at-risk dogs, especially those that are obese.

[Shawn S]

In the past couple months, my dog has started having problems with his anal glands. Took him to the vet and had them released. Two days later, it starts up again. Vet told me to try giving him Benadryl. While on Benadryl the past couple days, he has been fine. No issues with anal glands. Does that mean it is his diet that is causing it? Right now I feed him eukanuba lamb and rice (stuck with this since a puppy due to sensitive stomach), 1 greenies each day during the week, and he chews on a Nyla bone occasionally. Not sure where to start, I know that greenies are not the best for him and I could do away with them and start brushing his teeth more often. My first thought was to change his food to a better product. As I started think more into it and trying to eliminate the small thing, I Was thinking of first starting by cutting out greenies. Maybe the nylabone too? Doesn’t seem like the small fragments that break off those bones are very healthy. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Feel bad for the guy when he is scooting his butt on the ground.

[Susan W]

PS – we just stopped Milk-Bones ‘cold-turkey’. They’re easy but they’re really not worth the heartache caused by the low-quality ingredients. You can also do a google search for homemade dog treats if your dog needs variety.

[elaine c]

the sardine bones are great for dogs! Instead of mixing and matching try Answers Pet food. It is fantastic! answerspetfood.com

[Kirstie M]

I found in some stores have Sardines in water with no bones. They are harder to find then with bones but it’s worth it.

What I do is by the Pollock or Salmon oil in a pump. I had it to their dog food once a day. How much depends on their weight. I usually do it in the Am as breakfast. This is a mixture of dry and little wet and the oil. This way I know they are going to eat it all. I just can’t let it sit in a bowl all day. Not sure if an issue or not but it’s a me thing.

But my girls are always waiting and pushing me to make breakfast in the morning. So they seem to like it. I’ll also do a treat and just put a little of canned plain chicken on it too. A little treat at times. Not much at all, less then a 1/8 cup worth for each and I got a 60 + and 50+ dog.

So there are options out there. You just got to find what works for you and that your little one will like.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 9 months ago by Kirstie M.

[anonymous]

Something to keep in mind:
Sardines are high in sodium. Mercury isn’t the main concern. Choking on the small bones, although they are soft, is a risk to consider.
A fish oil capsule a day would probably add the same benefit (imo)

Also, if the skin condition is being caused by environmental allergies, the sardines/fish oil will have little effect. It has been known to help with dry skin and coat though.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 9 months ago by anonymous.

[Acroyali]

There are risks associated with anything you feed; feed soft pliable bones (no weight bearing bones) and feed size appropriate (a turkey neck for an aggressive large breed chewer can be a serious hazard.)

As far as meat (quality), I do feel there’s a difference between organic and non-organic. I also feel there’s a difference between organic and grass fed. However, feeding organic pastured meats can become very expensive; source human-grade, clean meat from reliable sources and you should be just fine.

I have a lot of respect for any vegetarian or vegan who realizes that feeding their diet to a carnivore is not the best idea. Kudos to you, and best of luck!

[pitlove]

If a dental has already been suggested it is likely that beginning stages of dental disease are starting to set in and the vet is trying to be proactive, not greedy. Now if there are no signs of early stages of dental disease then a combination of brushing and other oral hygiene methods can be started to prevent.

Do not forget there is still high risk in feeding raw bones, especially to a large breed if she is an aggressive chewer. Perforated intestines and esophagus would be my first concern.

[Alexander A]

My 8yr old Jack Russell terrier was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in December. He’d been having intermittent diarrhea/loose stools for 10 months and was prescribed three different antibiotics during that time. His condition, just from the frequent & loose stools, deteriorated over the summer to such an extent that I considered having him euthanized. When he started urinating blood, I took him to a different Vet who made the diagnosis and put him on Science Diet k/d canned food, which was too expensive to be permanent.

He improved on that food, though, and I started cooking for him using Dr. Pitcarin’s Complete Guide To Natural Health For Dogs & Cats. He has some good recipes in there but only two or three for kidney disease. He was urinating less (he was going copiously & frequently) on the combination of canned/home made, but he was rail thin and nothing we could do kept weight on him. His stools were less frequent but still very soft.

When we ran out of the prescription food, I asked the Vet if we could substitute for one of Science Diet’s OTC low protein formulas. He told me there was no need and recommended Pedigree Lamb & Rice instead.

So we started him on Pedigree very slowly, mixing a handful of kibble with rice and boiled liver on Saturday morning about a month ago.

I am sorry for rambling on like this, but the difference was just unbelievable from that first bowl. When I walked him later on, he was frolicking in the snow, jumping over snowdrifts, and being happy to be outside. His personality was back full force; rolling on the couch, showing interest in toys, and that night, after two small meals of the Pedigree, he had his first normal bowel movement in a year.

A month later, and his last blood test showed SIGNIFICANT improvements in his BUN and blood creatinine levels. He has gained enough weight that he has “substance” again, not just a rack of bones with a bit of fat on them. He has muscle mass and energy. His potassium levels are normal. He had been chronically dehydrated before, even to an extent on the canned k/d.

So, yeah. This is my very long winded way of saying if you are looking for a low protein, fat, and moderately low phosphorous food, IMHO, Pedigree is a VERY good option.

[LovelyBear]

Hi pitluv! I agree it is important to clean your dogs teeth and everything. My thought process is set on prevention. I’d rather feed my dog raw and have the good bones clean her teeth and not spend over $300 on getting her teeth cleaned. But trust me if anything happened and it was completely necessary for my girl to get work done i’d spend the money!

Hello Susan! Thank you for your input 🙂 I wouldn’t deprive her of meat either. I just shake my head when I see or hear of people feeding their dogs vegan. I won’t force my views on her, when she is designed to consume meat. But I am reading every website I can and educating myself on feeding raw before I begin. I do rotate kibbles and stay within a brand. She has eaten every flavor of TOTW and is currently on the Pacific Stream. A few months ago she was on the Southwest Canyon one and got a weird rash on her cheek. I think that is the only one with Beef in it and that was the first time feeding to her, so she might be allergic to beef. But i’m not 100% sure that was the cause. I won’t 100% know till I feed her raw beef. These past 2 weeks I have given her bully sticks from beef and she is doing okay though. They cleaned her teeth pretty good. It’s crazy how expensive it can get to clean some teeth when a proper raw bone will do the trick!

Thank for the advice on boarding kennels. The vet office we take her to has a boarding facility and I hope my vet will be okay with my girl being raw. I don’t want to board her and they undermine me and feed her kibble while she is there. I find out haha!

[Susan]

Hi, I’m not much of a meat eater, I can’t stand the smell & all the blood with red raw meat, I eat white meat like fish & chicken only & I make Patch lean pork or beef rissoles, I would never deprive my Patch from eating meat, a dogs digestive tract is short & made to digest a raw diet where our digestive tract is long & heaps bigger & can handle all the grains, carbs etc in our diet…..
I live Australia & most people feed their pets raw kangaroo mince, raw off cuts added with their dogs kibble as well as raw meaty bones for their teeth, chicken bone is the softest bone & easy to digest…or they added the Pre-made Big Dog Raw formulas or the Dr’s B Barf Pre-made raw formulas or some pet shops make their own pre-made raw meals you just thaw & put in her bowl + kibble….
Cause your girl has never eaten a raw diet & is 7yrs old maybe look at the pre-made formulas that have leaner meats & are lower in fat around 3-4% in fat that’s around 11%-16% fat when converted to dry matter (Kibble) same amount of fat she’s eating at the moment 15% fat…Wet tin food when you see 5%min fat on wet tin can 5%min is around 20-25% fat when converted to dry matter & was a kibble ….Some people say not to feed kibble & raw together as they digest at a different rate but everyone I’ve spoken with at the dog park & when Patch was going to his behavior training school seem to all mix kibble with the raw diet & have no digestive problems feeding kibble + raw meat to their dogs….I suppose it depends on the dogs……
I ended up contacting a animal Naturopath when I put Patch on a raw fresh home made diet cause of his IBD & skin allergies, he was 6yrs old, we started with lean human grade kangaroo mince, not pet shop kangaroo mince added 1-2 spoons of blended raw veggies broccoli, carrot, celery & apple + 1/2 teaspoon probiotic +1/4 teaspoon DigestaVite plus powder to balance the meal cause it had no bone or any organ meat in the beginning cause of his IBD, I didn’t want him to get diarrhea, then I noticed about 1 hour after eating his breakfast he was regurgitating water + digested raw up into his mouth after burping causing acid reflux, so we stopped the blended veggies but he still was burping up water, I had to give him some of his regular kibble to wash the acid reflux back down his throat & he seemed heaps better…… cause of Patches IBD bad acid reflux the raw diet didn’t work for my Patch but my kitten/cat 11months old is feed a pre-made cat raw diet + kibble in separate bowl + 1/2 a chicken wing 3 times a week, if I don’t give her any kibble she pinches Patches Taste Of The Wild kibble….
Do you rotate your kibbles? try the TOTW Sierra Mountain, Roasted Lamb, it has the same fat & Protein% as the TOTW Pacific Stream, Smoked Salmon & their mouth doesn’t smell of fish after eating the Roasted Lamb & Patch seems to prefer the Roasted Lamb….

It will all depend on the boarding kennel if they will feed your dog a raw diet normally most boarding kennels just say bring all ur raw pre made & made up in daily sections etc or just before she goes to boarding kennel put her back on her kibble 1-2 weeks before she’s due to go to the boarding kennels & just pack enough frozen raw meaty bones to be given 2 to 3 times a week, I’m pretty sure the Boarding kennel will thaw & give the raw meaty bone …
My boy was biting the raw bone a few bites then gulping the whole raw meaty bone & swallowing big pieces of bone, when I first rescued him, that’s when someone told me chicken frames are the best to feed, the bone in the chicken frame is very soft & flexible & cleans their teeth, so if she is a gulper & swallows any big pieces of bone in the beginning maybe try the chicken frames from supermarket, they digest easier, I use to feed chicken necks but my vet said to stop feeding the chicken necks as they have very sharp pieces of bone & are full of fat, with no meat. In Australia our supermarkets sell chicken necks, chicken frames & brisket bones also turkey legs are nice & big just remove the inner sharp bone…your dogs teeth will clean right up after eating meaty raw bones, my last cat had heaps of tarter on his teeth & to clean his teeth was going to cost $450 to clean & remove any teeth if needed was an extra $50 per tooth, the vet said start giving him a chicken wing for breakfast & his teeth cleaned up….

[pitlove]

Hi LovelyBear-

Maybe someone will touch on all points you’ve brought up but I want to touch on just a few that I feel I can answer.

As far as getting your dogs teeth healthy, nothing can replace brushing your dogs teeth and dentals at the vet. No, they are not simply trying to sucker you for money. Having your dogs teeth cleaned at the vet is just the same as us having our teeth cleaned at the dentist. Between that and brushing is the most effective way to get any bacteria and gunk underneath the gumline. Bones and chews will clean the crowns (what you see), but will not necessarily prevent periodontal disease.

There are a lot of vegans on this site who still understand that meat is a part of a dogs diet. There is no shame in that.

[pitlove]

2-4 Milkbones each day add up quickly and those treats are not low calorie. Is there a reason hes getting so many of them? You will probably see a decrease in weight if you remove those from his diet or even just offer less of them. These are the types of things that will be need to be eliminated from his diet if you can not increase his excersize.

Also make sure when using the calculator you are putting in what weight he should be, not what weight he is and selecting “Overweight”

[Susan W]

Sounds like a good plan. You might want to make sure the moist & frozen don’t come too soon after launch – you might be getting in a little over your head. I.e. perfect the first 2 before branching out. As a consumer, I really like samples as opposed to coupons. Also, FYI – I’ve been told by a couple of different food manufacturers that sending free food to shelters, and disaster crises is a waste as they get SO MUCH. Benebone does a thing where they send a free bone (or bones) from those who sign up from a drawing. He’s a nice man who will likely give you some times if you call him.

[HoundMusic]

new here and in a bit of a panic. i’ve been feeding raw to all my pets for over a decade with no issues. sadly, my 8-year old siberian husky has had issues eating things he’s not supposed to. he had a blockage where they needed to remove 30 inches of his intestine.

In this situation, I would have to agree with your Vet. Raw might cause more trouble than it’s worth in this instance. Particularly the bones, but also, keep in mind there can be a greater risk of infection with a dog who has just undergone major surgery and could very well have a compromised immune system for a while.

BTW, I was also a very long time raw feeder, but around April/May of last year, an older dog ate a raw pork neck that caused an obstruction. He would have been long dead if castor oil and force feeding him broth had not worked, as I cannot afford such a major surgery. Then, towards the end of the summer, that same dog was diagnosed with osteomalacia, which is basically the adult form of rickets. And I am more careful than most about balancing the calcium:phos ratio and including foods rich in Vit D. I ditched raw for home cooked, and let me tell you. My dogs were pooping out old, stagnated bone fragments for a week after being on a diet higher in fiber and of a very soft, digestible consistency. So there is a risk of blockage, and there is a risk of improper nourishment as well.

There is also some evidence that kibble does actually digest faster than raw:

https://therawfeedingcommunity.com/2015/01/08/digest-this-kibble-may-actually-digest-faster-than-raw/

And besides that, bones are going to give this dog an unduly hard time after having had such a surgery. If I can make a suggestion, crock pot food can be very mushy and is incredibly beneficial for sick or recovering dogs. So, if you don’t want to go the prescription diet route, that might be a better alternative.

Otherwise, Science Diet is not exactly my favorite brand, but I have one with chronic prostatitis (also caused, or at least aggravated, by raw) who can eat nothing but SD Sensitive Skin & Stomach or the lower protein/fat Advanced Fitness formula. I mean it. He even has a hard time with boiled chicken & rice. So don’t entirely rule out SD, because it can work wonders on sick dogs.

Just my 2 cents.

[Z B]

Longest lived about 14 yrs – a foundling skin and bones pit bull/Lab mix street dog that i nourished back to health. I fed her purina dog chow her entire life with me (about 11 yrs) She had no health issues her entire life, aside from Cataracts and arthritis near the end. She was a very beautiful athletic healthy dog. Vaccinated her every 1-2 yrs and exercised her hard (swimming and fetch) regularly/almost daily
Heartworm prevention and frontline given about 5-8 times a year.

Shortest lived 5 yrs – pancreatitis, and another 9 yrs – liver failure, don’t know why.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Z B.
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[Susan W]

S/R Aussies – no, I’m not a VeRUS rep. I have just been so impressed with their customer service (sending samples instead of coupons), their company (gathered from the info on their website), the way my dogs have blossomed on their food, and the fact that they have a non-profit that helps both Veterans and rescue dogs.
Yes, I promote VeRUS a LOT because I like to share my positive experiences. EVERY time I’ve had a question about my dogs’ (or my mom’s dog, or my friends’ dogs’) diet, I have gotten a response from VeRUS. A HUMAN response. And I have a lot of questions. If I sent Christmas cards, I’d send one to the VeRUS people – LOL.
I started out feeding my dogs the Opticoat formula – which is fish-based. I’m now feeding their Life Advantage.
What can I say? I gush. I get excited.
Just for kicks, if you’ve never asked VeRUS for a sample, ask for one, open it, and take a big whiff. Then do the same with you dog’s food. I would never, ever recommend anyone taking a big whiff of commercial dog food. NASTY! But VeRUS doesn’t stink.
I could go on & on & on, but I won’t.
I will say, I know what VeRUS food has done for my dogs, and I have experience with holistic bug remedies, PAWZ dog booties, Benebones, and DERMAgic dog skin/coat remedies. I’m not in the employ of any of these companies but I have found their products to be so great that I tend to gush about them, too, when the opportunity presents itself.

[Susan W]

Hi Meghan –
Try to keep in mind that foods that have salmon are usually using farm-raised fish, which don’t have the same nutritional value as wild-caught fish. If you contact Verus pet foods – a company that’s never had a recall! – they’ll send you free samples!
I tried Victor last summer in hopes of supporting a semi-local business. Their food smelled like all the other commercial dog foods I’d tried. To put it simply, Verus has spoiled me. their food smells fresh – not like ground up, burned hair & bones or not like old tuna. They have 2 formulas that utilize fish as the #1 ingredient. The fish is something called menhaden. I did research and found that menhaden is a small fish that breeds like fleas (so they’ll never be over-fished). They are a cold-water, wild-caught fish that is high in Omega-3. If you do a google search for verus pet foods, you’ll find a lot more info on their food on their website. Contact them & they’ll contact you back – by a human! – and send you samples! It’s definitely worth a try since it won’t cost you anything but a few minutes of your time.

[Catherine W]

Long background story:
I have a 2 year old Bernese mountain dog who never had great stools from when we got her. She was on blue buffalo and we always had issues, especially between new bags. But last may we had to evacuate our home from a fire and we ultimately moved, then had a new baby in September, and her stools have just been on and off ever since. They were good in July/Aug on Kirkland salmon but then a mess after new baby and my husband wanted to change foods at the same time to Kirkland turkey because of bad fish breath. Well since September she hasn’t been on 100% kibble, started with a blend of rice/boiled meat/kibble, but the rice started to go right through her so we tried oatmeal. Now she’s on an oatmeal/kibble blend. I supplement with carrots, and a probiotic, and recently I’ve been giving her a multivitamin because I’m concerned. In December I managed to get to 70:30 kibble to oatmeal ratio with great stool then explosive diarrhea for days. Basically it’s been the worst since May, midnight outings every 2 hrs. Oh and I took her to the vet in December who did a deworming and stool sample and put her on Hills prescription w/d canned which made her constipated and bleed, which we then blended back to kibble which didn’t work. I’ve tried adding pumpkin and bran buds (vet recommended) but it’s hit and miss.
Last week I researched all sorts of dog foods and decided on Hills large breed light because of the high fiber and low fat content. She can’t eat anything fatty, raw bones just cause diarrhea, and never gets meat scraps because they just cause upset.

Basically I’m wondering if I’ve tried it all and my dog is just destroyed inside and is hopeless. Thanks.

• This topic was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Catherine W.

[pitlove]

Hi Olivia-

I too, agree with what anon101 wrote. Now that some of the teeth have begun to decay it’s past the point of no return. Those teeth will likely need to be extracted to prevent more damage and infection. Also, periodontal disease can also lead to disease in other organs especially as they get older.

Raw bones, like many other methods of oral care do not reach the gum line of the pet and therefore can not reverse or prevent periodontal disease. Regular brushing and dentals (when suggested by your vet) are the best way to provide a proper oral health regime for your dogs.

And yes, I would absolutely be concerned about any hard bone cracking their teeth with the state they are in as you describe it.