“Safe” depends on your dog. They are considered an acceptable item in the raw world for a dog to have, but if the dog is too aggressive of a chewer or gulper, it would be an issue. make sure youwatch them.
My GSD, five years old, has had lifelong skin issues. Allergy shots for three years did not work. He has no fleas. He is currently on cyclosporine and ketoconazole which was effective at first but less and less. He’s back to biting bloody holes in himself. He eats raw and Primal and Origen, bolstered by lots of exercise and attention—alot of attention. He cannot be left alone or he bites. I’m now trying herbal calming tincture, nordic fish oil, and coconut oil—still biting. Here’s my question for the forum: I would like to try iodine but how much? Maybe he has a thyroid condition. He has a beautiful coat, weighs 106 and other than bite mutilation, perfectly healthy. Any input from the savvy, informed, and experienced will be appreciated.
@Cyndi Thank you for your reply:) My dogs eat dry kibble..Is it ok to give it to them after their kibble or would it cause stomach problems?
TO ANYONE WILLING TO RESPOND…….
Currently, my dog is on Hills Prescription I/D low-fat, dry and canned. He’s on that for a reason (will spare the details), and he was stabilized, until I started introducing some raw (very small beef bone with marrow in it…..a very tiny bit), but it gave him the runs pretty good. Was a big NO-NO, as it turned out. He rebounded well and ate his next meal with no issues. Thought he was over it, but it appears that he still has some pretty loose stools today.
So……my question is this: since he has always tended to have digestive issues on and off, (food, stress, illness now) can someone recommend some digestive probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes that I should probably be using for him? I would love to eventually get him on a much better diet, but due to his illness and needing to keep him as stable as possible, I would love to get something in him that will help with his digestive system. He has always been on kibble, and I’ve always tried to feed the premiums or naturals, which as I’m learning, are just awful for dogs. Now he’s stuck on something even worse……Hills.
I have used yogurt in the past, I do have pumpkin that I’m giving today, but I also noticed that THK has a powder mix that when mixed, is kind of a milky drink. It says it has the pros, prees, and enzymes in it. So before I get some of that just to have on hand, has anyone used it? Or can you give me other options?
As long as he’s on this Hills, I feel like I should be giving him something extra and soothing to his gut and good for his body, so I’d like something I can use regularly.
Thanks!
Turkey necks are perfectly safe to give your dogs, except they may be a bit big for them. I have a border collie mix and she’ll eat a half of a turkey neck for part of a dinner. Chicken necks and duck necks are smaller. Now that I think about it though, some of the pug owners here give their pugs turkey necks, so I guess they may not be too big. You don’t have to freeze them for any amount of time, just thaw them out and give to your dogs. You don’t have to cut anything really off of them unless there is a lot of skin on them, then you might want to take some off. The ones I get from my butcher don’t have a lot of skin so I just give them as is.
I’m a RMB first timer:) I apologize in advance if I have too many questions. Are Turkey necks safe for a Toy poodle and a Rat terrier? My Toy poodle is more of a gentle chewer and the Rattie is more of an aggressive chewer.
I just bought some Raw turkey necks at the meat section at Stop and shop it’s from a brand call Shady Brooks Farm and it’s already cut in half..Would these be ok for them to eat? Do I give it to them straight from the package? or do I freeze them first and for how long do I freeze them before I give it to them? Do I cut of the skin and meat or leave it on?
Patty: Oh my yes- years ago I made my own scented oils for Aromatherapy & some soaps. It was wonderful. I could make the mixtures I needed. It was wonderful.
Cyndi: it’s a small freezer but w/ only 1 dog on partial raw it’s enough for me & for $45 (originally $160) I couldn’t walk away! My Hare Today is going to be painful heehee
You could probably get away with feeding some of it, but you will have to be careful not to overdo it. I feed a high fat diet, but I don’t feed more fat than protein. I’m not sure how you can know how much fat you are feeding every day on completely homemade raw. You can make sure that you are only adding some of the pork fat on days that you are feeding lean meats like chicken and turkey, or wild game, but I would probably not add it on days that you feed pork or beef.
My mini freezer is up and running- YAY! I’ve delayed another order until I was sure it worked. I can get the raw out of MY freezer now! And better yet start an order. It feels like Xmas (and that’s absolutely pathetic LOL). Forget sugar plums – I’ve got visions of goat, tripe, and duck feet & necks dancing thru my head 🙂
My dog is on 50% home-raised raw, could I just mix them in with the food then? I’d hate to throw them out, it seems like such a waste.
Many vets want to see dogs on nothing but dry because of the old mistaken belief that dry keeps the teeth clean, but kibble fed dogs get nasty teeth too. The only way to guarantee good clean teeth is to brush them every day. The second best strategy is to feed raw meaty bones every few days.
Nancy M,
Sorry to hear that, but I wouldn’t have started off by giving fatty marrow! Now he might need a bland diet for a week. How about starting with just a bite or two of regular raw food. Just a bite or two per day and increase from there. Instinct comes in bite sizes and you know Primal comes in the small 1 oz size. Half an ounce in the morning and the other half at night when he feels better. Be sure to check the guaranteed analysis on the different flavors and make sure there’s less fat than protein.
Well, looks like we’re not off to a very good start with the raw. Gave my little guy a SMALL (a little larger around than a Ping pong ball, about 1/4 inch thick) beef bone, with the marrow in it (just got from the butcher shop this morning), and already have the runs. Not a good indication of things to come if I keep with my plans to start a raw diet! Any comments?
I agree about the liver. I just started feeding my dog raw 5 1/2 months ago and I started with just chicken backs & chicken leg quarters for a while and then turkey necks. I didn’t introduce liver (chicken) for about a month & even then I gave just small amounts with a few raw meals each week, and even THAT made her stools soft.
Maybe cut out the liver for a bit and see if her stools firm up and when you reintroduce it, do it slow, in smaller quantities.
Fewer poop is normal, but I think it’s too soon to be giving liver. The liver is probably causing the diarrhea.
If you follow this guideline, organs should only be introduced at week 7.
http://preymodelraw.com/page/articles.html/_/raw-chat/how-to-get-started-feeding-a-prey-model-raw-diet-r19
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This reply was modified 12 years, 2 months ago by
GizmoMom.
Maybe she needs more time to adjust. Do you still have her old food? Maybe one meal of her old food, and one meal of raw until her poop situation is stable. You can even (instead of using her old food) feed some canned food or feed her some dehydrated food (they generally have veggie matter that will give her fiber) with her raw meals or feed her pumkin daily. Raw poops are usually alot smaller and can be firm but it can be concerning when they seem constipated. The vet can also administer an enema. Does she chew the bones down or is she a gulper? If she’s a gulper, you might consider feeding ground food or tie the piece of meat onto something so she can’t swallow it whole or smash the bones with a mallet. I mostly feed ground but do give necks and pork ribs whole. And mine still eat kibble too.
Nancy, if you buy the book “Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet,” there are some recipes in there for a high protein, balance low fat diet and also recipes to feed to a puppy. I would make them and then start adding a little bit each day to their current diet. My little one transitioned very quickly but I think that was because she is so picky and absolutely loves raw. Good luck!
Duh! LOL, we have a spare bedroom: it’s the laundry room and dog grooming. There’s no AC but that would probably be the best place in the summer and I’m probably smart to NOT stock up on dry food in the summer.
No one’s eating raw at this time. I’m having a heckuva time with Boone’s ears (anyone reading happen to have an ingredient list for the old Brothers allergy formula) so he’s eating just THK Zeal now, Gemma has been constipated twice & needed an enema so she’s getting THK with canned & some Abady granular. Not buying raw just for Ginger.
Hmmm..neither would seem to work. I use our spare room which is heated/air conditioned to store the dry. Here in NY we have the same problem with humidity etc. So, that is where the dry “lives” For the dehydrated/canned, I had hubby install some cabinets on the wall of my “mud room”. Then, I simply remodeled the kitchen, lol, that was old and outdated. With 4more cabinets, I now have two spots to keep the canned-some in the kitchen, some in the hallway : ) I split our freezer giving the dogs two shelve for their raw for now, and am looking into a chest freezer to store bigger quantities.
I have already written on different topics, but basically right now, what I really want to do is get started. I have read almost non-stop on this subject, ordered a couple books, but need to start a beginning program. Right now I have a 3 year old Sheltie who is on a Hills I/d diet (dry and wet) and will be getting my new Sheltie Pup next week who is being fed ProPlan Focus Puppy Chicken/rice, with Pedigree Wet chicken/beef. I want to get both of these dogs switched over to a much better diet, preferably raw or combination/mixture of that.
How can I get this started? Just by adding a little raw meat/organ meat/meaty bones a little at a time, with their current kibble? The puppy will be easier, I think, but the older one is on the Hills diet for a reason; must have as low fat as possible…..also has issues with sensitive stomach.
Please advise ASAP.
P.S. I ALREADY HAVE ABOUT A HALF BAG OF PRIMAL FROZEN NUGGETS (sardine and turkey formula) to finish using up so I thought I might just start back in mixing some in with the kibble for awhile. I had started this once, but then I had to go out of town for a bit, and decided to start back again later. It’s later, so I’m ready to begin again.
I have gotten my dog into the habit of having an after meal snack/treat, which was originally intended to be for the purpose of teeth cleaning, and something he thoroughly enjoyed chewing on……the CT Dental chews. However, over time, he has started chewing the smaller/thinner ones so quickly, that he swallows larger pieces and then regurgitates them. This has become a growing concern to me, obviously. He loves to have something for “dessert” that is chewy. Other than raw bones, are there any suggestions out there, that would be nutritious and enjoyable as a “chew”? It has to be very low fat, non-greasy and help with tooth care. I’ve given him raw bones, but he gets bored with them once the meaty parts are gone, plus I don’t want to give him too many of those. I need something he can spend some time on, as he loves to chew. I’d love to find some type of bones or chews that would fit this description and would give him some real chewing action. Suggestions welcomed!
Is chicken quarters, chicken breasts and beef liver all you’re feeding her? How much of each? That’s really unbalanced. If you’re feeding too much of the bone-in chicken that could be causing constipation. She may also need some fiber if that’s all she’s getting.
Personally I would suggest checking out a book with balanced recipes (such as “Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet” by Steve Brown) or getting a pre-mix (such as The Honest Kitchen’s Preference or See Spot Live Longer Dinner Mix) and feeding the balanced mix as at least half of her meals, you can feed raw meaty bones and offal for the other meal or just feed raw meaty bones a few times a week supplementally. You may also want to get her on a quality multi-strain probiotic supplement. Loose and/or mucusy stools can be normal during the initial transition as your dog’s body is adapting and detoxing. My dogs didn’t have any issues at all switching to raw but I know some others’ on here have had problems so maybe they can give you a more detailed time frame of how long it should take the dog to adjust.
My 8yr old welsh terrier got her blood work back:
Low red blood count, indicating a spleen issue(?)
Low albumin, indicating a liver issue and protein absorption issue ..maybe leaky gut?
There are 6 other blood abnormalities according to my vet…as I don’t have the blood report, yet.
Other issues:
Growing mammary tumors that don’t seem to bother her when touched (she was spayed prior to first heat cycle.) She has a few other masses that don’t seem to bother her – in the upper pit of her back right leg and the backside of her left leg.
She’s very itchy. Not sure if it’s a food allergy or possible cancer-related itchiness?
She’s still pretty spunky but is more listless and seems more depressed than her usual self.
DIET questions???
I fed her purina pro plan sensitive stomach “select” for years until late September (2013) when she stopped eating it (throughout late august/early September). She also got very bloated like she was filled with excess liquid. She had diarrhea for a few days, the vet put her on antibiotics, which seems to help to reduce the bloat, but her mammary tumors which the vet thought could have been swollen glands, continued to grow. I switched her to Acana rangelands (high protein) beef formula and have since eased her into Origin’s fish formula in the morning and the Origin fish formula + Primal raw food at night. She’s less hungry in the morning and will eat well at night. She’s starting to show signs of weight loss.
My vet seems to want to address the tumors first. And am going to call him tomorrow about nutritional options… Wondering what you all think – would probiotics be a good thing? If so what kind? Should I feed her more raw food to ramp up her protein intake? Could the liver issues be the cause of the tumors? I have a hard time picturing what sort of food could help the lumps/tumors, but have you all found such a thing?
There is a lot to address! – liver then tumors… Or try to tackle both at the same time? Nutrition for albumin and liver, biopsy of tumors?
It’s been about 2.5 weeks since I switched my 2 year old, 50 lb dog to raw. I’ve been giving her whole chicken cut into quarters, beef liver, and chicken breast to start out. She loves the food and seems happy and healthy… Except for her stools. She barely poops and when she has I believe the only satisfying one was induced by me giving her canned pumpkin. She hunches over to poop but nothing comes out. When she has its been like diarrhea. I’ve pressed on her tummy and felt around… She doesn’t react badly… I don’t have a job and I’m honestly embarrassed to tell a vet that I’ve switched her. I’m also worried they will take advantage of my worry and ask to do unnecessary things to her. I don’t know if she’s sick or I am doing something wrong. I have to no qualms on taking her to the vet if need be… But I am also told quite often that I over worry… BUT NO POOPS WORRY ME! Any help would be great.
She came up to me tonight, ears up and eyes wide and showed me to the door. We went outside and she ran to her poop spot, circled forever, finally squatted… And nothing. Maybe a squirt… She walked around squatting for a bit then ran to the apartment.
I have an english bulldog that is 1 1/2 years old. She has spina bifida and is completely incontinent. Sometimes I have to assist her with the number 2s. Changing her diapers gives me the excellent and horrific view of her poops. Sophie has an EXTREMELY sensitive stomach. I am very well versed in dry dog food but am extremely incompetent when it comes to supplements. I have read nearly every thread on here and it seems like information overload! I currently feed Sophie Nutrisca. That is the only kibble that hasn’t made her bowels completely crazy. I work at a pet food store, so I have tried nearly everyone. Anytime I remotely try to switch her, its diarrhea, pure liquid. She gets dehydrated quickly and that scares me! She has done well on the Nutrisca, however I am interested in switching her to a commercial raw diet. Again no matter how slowly I try to transition, its pure diarrhea, liquid and I am changing diapers every 5-15 minutes. Poor baby. So the Nutrisca we have stayed on, however, now even on the Nutrisca her bowels switch from rock solid I have to help her excrete them to pure liquid. I have her own cranberry extract powder, and salmon oil. Occasionally I give her raw eggs. I am looking for a digestive enzyme or SOMETHING to help keep her number 2s more consistent. Pumpkin doesn’t work. Haven’t had much luck with yogurt. Anytime I take her to the vet (who delivered her and wouldn’t put her down when the breeder wanted him to due to the SB and who is an expert on SB and has pooled his resources all over the country for Sophie’s SB) he suggests switching her back to Science Diet which is what he had her on when she was living with him before I adopted her. Yes then her poops where normal, no problems but I absolutely refuse to put her on that and I refuse to go to another vet, not many in my area are spina bifida literate. There has to be a supplement of some kind to help her. I don’t hear a lot of tummy gurgles. Like I said she goes from being constipated to diarrhea by the day. Any suggestions for my poor baby?!
Nancy M
I buy my kibble online and from the local feed store/garden supply store. I buy canned foods from a wholesaler but there are alot of them that get dented on the delivery so it would be better for me to pick the order up from the loading dock but I do buy several cases at once. Basically, I just bought about a dozen cases, not for sure. There’s several still on the floor that aren’t on the shelf! There is also a non-profit store where fosters can buy food for dirt cheap like Merrick cases for $2.50 (and they are in date, not expired). I haven’t bought from them so my cases are around $16-$30. My preferred cans are Weruva, Tripett, Merrick, Wellness, Nature’s Logic, just ordered some Hound & Gatos. For freeze dried/dehydrated I’ve used The Honest Kitchen and Sojo’s with added protein, and Addiction with added protein. My other favorite freeze dried is Vital Essentials freeze dried nibbletts since I get a big bag of this for $15-$18. For kibble, I keep Nature’s Logic, Nutrisource, Brothers Complete, Instinct, and Epigen, sometimes Nature’s Select grain free. I have anywhere from 6-12 dogs at a time and when they leave my house, I send them with a gallon ziplock bag about 3/4 full and a couple cans. I like to use wet foods on their kibble, but usually make sure to feed the seniors extra wet food. My raw is from a local source or with a group bulk order from GreenTripe.com in California. Retailers also carry this brand but for twice as much as when ordering with my raw feeding group.
Sandy,
Loved the info in your post of 10/7…… Great info! Thanks for sharing!
HI Nancy-
Several of my dogs are schnauzers which are very prone to pancreatitis, and need the fat closely watched as well. With that said, I choose lean meats, and then still trim off what I can. So far, in the past two weeks, they have eaten homemade raw(used commercial made before) using chicken, lean beef, beef heart and venison. No problems with them so far..
That’s great news!…thanks for telling me that! At least I feel like I’m on the right path….you’ve been very helpful. The thing for me is I’m trying to keep fat content down to a bare minimum and I’m very leary of doing his raw diet with the ground beef…..I’d have to do something quite different. My 3 year old Sheltie has CYHLOTHORAX and the fat content in the blood/chyle (which is somehow leaking into the chest cavity) is a bad deal for him, so fat in the diet has to be closely monitored. Thanks again! Not sure what I’m going to do.
Dinovite is how I started on raw. I did his yeast starvation diet for half of my dogs’ food. And then I kept looking into other recipes for raw food and got a couple books. I read every website I could find and talked to other raw feeders. Now, I use Darwin’s commercial raw, grinds from Hare Today and My Pet Carnivore that I have to add stuff to, meat from the butcher, and even one of my buck goats. I use premixes like Dr. Harvey’s Veg to Bowl and Steve Brown’s See Spot Live Longer, that you add to boneless meat. I have used DinoVite and am soon going to try CarnivoreRaw with bone in meat.
I felt like using DinoVite let me start feeding raw quickly and gave me time to learn more, so I could take the next step.
I switch kibbles every week and I swich raw every meal. It took a few months of slow transitions to get one of my dogs to where she could just switch without any transition, but I stuck with it and now she switches easily.
I would like to get some well founded information as to the concept of “food rotation”. I have done this in the distant past, but would like to hear others opinions as to the general way of doing this; how often, is it basically a rotation of the type of food you’re feeding (kibble, canned, fresh, raw, etc….). Is it basically a rotation of the protein source, or other ingredients? Transition time and process? Would love to hear from all of you. Thanks!
Nancy M,
I don’t think there is one correct way. You could start for the first few months of slow transitions between some of the foods you pick for your rotation and use probiotics to help “build up” the gut. Then after a while, you can try switching foods without a transition. Change every bag or change 3 or 4 times a year or even have 2 or 3 different foods open at once so you can feed a different food for each meal. I use different toppers – cans, freeze-dried/dehydrated, raw. No particular pattern. Just whatever I feel like grabbing. I don’t fast the dogs each week like HDM does.
Molzy,
I use CarnivoreRaw without Calcium in my meat/organ grinds. The one that neezerfan mentions above. I asked Urban Wolf about their’s and it’s only for boneless meat.
Hound Dog Mom,
I have read several of your posts, the last one being about puppy food…..I have thoroughly enjoyed your obvious experience, so I want to ask you this: you and others do talk often about food rotation. I have become familiar with that concept over the years and use to do it some. Many others say it is not necessary or hard on the dog’s system. And I’m sure it can be, if you don’t do it correctly. So tell me your opinions on the correct process of rotating dog foods. And whether or not it would be different when the rotation is from raw to cooked to, from kibble, to any of them, etc. You catch my drift here? Some say you must “fast” the dog for 24 hours, some say, to just do it gradually.
Also, I’m getting a new Sheltie pup next week (12 weeks old) and want to know the best foods/diet I can start him on, once he gets through the adjustment period. At this point, I’m not ready to go the raw way (outside of maybe some raw beef bones), but I’d like to start this little guy off on the right foot and improve from there.
Thanks for your insight and great discussions…..
I have a 12 year old standard poodle that I recently switched to a RAW food diet (SOJOS) and now he is loosing weight he is down to 39 pounds – he loves the food but seems like he is hungry all the time. Should I switch to something else – any suggestions?
Thank you again!
I have another question for you though, this time pertaining to a new 10 week old Sheltie puppy I am getting next week. Do you have suggestions as to which HK formula might be best, along with opinions on the pro-biotic, goats milk supplement? I want to start this new little guy off the right way with a good nutritious diet. I am not raw food savvy, but in time, I want to combine some raw with a good cooked/prepared food.
I welcome all comments, from all members.
Thanks for the replies…..
Specifically to InkedMarie:
Actually, I have tried the HK, Preference formula, which seemed like it had the lowest fat content, but depends on the meat/protein you use with it. I had added a tablespoon of some Primal nuggets that I was trying to use up (the turkey/sardine) and within about an hour or two, he was passing very loose stools, so I stopped and returned to just what he had been on. But yes, I like the HK concept and the simple preparation, compared to either raw or cooked. Thanks for your input. I love the SHELTIES…..have had at least one in my life since 1992.
I have A “just turned 3 year old Sheltie (yes, just 3!), who was diagnosed with CHYLOTHORAX (chyle leakage into the chest cavity) in May and must be on a low-fat diet (less than 10%, but preferably around 6 or 7). He is currently doing very well, almost can’t tell he’s got anything wrong, except for high respiration rate. He has been on the Hills I/D low-fat dry/wet, along with the Rutin supplement, for several weeks, but I absolutely cringe at the ingredients of their foods. Because he IS doing well right now, I hate to change anything, but still wish their was something much healthier for him. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this? I tried replying to a vet (can’t remember her name) who had posted some good information on low fat diets, but I don’t think it went through…….I wasn’t finished with it anyway. I’m not too keen on the raw diets so I would prefer something that’s cooked/homemade, but at this point I would do just about anything to save this dog. He has been the best dog ever…..
There’s only so low-carb you can go if you’re looking for mid-protein and low-fat. Middle protein will be around 30. That’s Nutrisource, Amicus, Pulsar, Nature’s Logic lamb, Instinct Limited Ingredient Diets, Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Chicken, Merrick Classic, Avoderm Revolving Menu, Simply Nourish grain free, Wellness Small Breed, Wellness Simple grain free, THK Thrive and Embark. The 4 to 4.5 star foods are mid-protein, generally speaking. A few of them are 3.5 because they have some potato or pea protein or other gluten meal boosting the protein content. You can always mix two kibbles up to get a combo that you like.
I like adding in Vital Essentials freeze dried nibbletts. It firms up anything here. But you could add more raw mix to his meals. The bone content generally helps. Have you tried ground psyllium? 1/4 teaspoon per 10 lbs. This is my first choice on my fosters and they actually only need about 1/4 per 20 lbs. Or even chia seed, dosage varies, but I give mine 1 teaspoon for 20 lbs. Ground flaxseed and hemp seed has fiber too. I’ve heard of people using some oatmeal too.
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/chia-for-pets/
Also, sometimes feeding a little less helps since you’re adding calories with the add-ons. Also, are you giving kefir and enzymes and tripe in the same meal? That’s like triple duty. Just use one.
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This reply was modified 12 years, 2 months ago by
pugmomsandy.
So Harry has been eating his Natures Logic kibble w/ coconut oil, kefir, & digestive enzyme in the AM. For the PM meal he gets a kibble/raw mix- alternating bone in mixes from Hare Today,or tripe,or sardines and once a week the See Spot Live Longer premix. But as is common with Greyhounds his stool is never quite firm. It’s formed most of the time as opposed to milkshake consistency he used to have before I knew about his poultry intolerance.
Any suggestions as to what I can do to firm him up? Things I’ve tried in the past have been pumpkin, yogurt, shredded beet pulp and I’ve even tried the Greyhound go to of Iams Green Bag Kibble. I know I know – I was desperate. None has really worked. As I’m getting a bit braver w/the raw & I now have a new small freezer 🙂 is there something I should be concentrating on?
Any advice appreciated.
Jeanne
Nature’s Variety Instinct Healthy Weight Raw Boost Chicken Meal is 32%. You might be able to find Nutrisource grain free and Solid Gold (Sundancer recipe) at PetCo/Petsmart as well. The grain free foods range from 25-28% and Sundancer is 30%. At a feed store/tractor supply store, you might find Amicus 30%, Pulsar 28%. All of these are actually in the “medium range” of protein.
How do I safely add sardines and eggs into my puppies diet without changing the amount of calcium they will be getting. I have looked at nutritionals on sardines and it seems they do have a solid amount of calcium. Also what other raw natural foods do you think I should be adding into her diet and how do I go out about that. Obviously the base of the diet will consist of dry but I definitely want to add natural raw in as often as I can and as early as I can. Also , chew like Elk and Deer antlers have calcium as well. I just want to make sure they are not getting an abundance of these minerals from the toppers or treats.
Hello,
First off, thanks for all the help with my previous questions.
I just found out that MPC is delivering near me this weekend, and I can still order by Thursday! But I’m very confused on what to order. At this point I want to stick with ground meat for my dogs digestive issues, so I was looking at their ground whole chicken or chicken super mix. What is the difference? How is the bone to muscle meat to organ ratios on these?
Right now my plan is to start with a pre made raw (bravo), and use MPC meat for part of each meal, so that I know he’s getting the vitamins and minerals he needs. Hopefully I’ll become comfortable to gradually switch. I have purchased and skimmed through dr. Becker’s book and the ancestral diet book recommended here, but both seem to have recipes geared towards chicken thighs or ground meat without bone, so I can’t figure out where the ground whole fits in.
If anyone can help with what a good first order would be, it would be much appreciated! I promise I plan on doing a lot more research, but I feel like I’m at a road block.
Thanks a ton!
The treat i mentioned in the other post is a raw dehydrated treat. Only 1 protein source and no fillers.I want to transition my guy into raw foods once he gets above 9 months
I’ve just been going by what people on here feed their dogs for treats. I buy Vital Essentials Freeze dried Niblets that I use for treats & I also have a bag of Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Treats. I also make my own Turkey or Chicken little meatball treats that my dog loves. Ever since I switched my dog to a raw diet, 5 months ago, I don’t buy any of those crappy treats anymore. Some of those Purina or Del Monte treats are made with chemicals and poison, I’ve read, just like their dog “foods”.
http://goodnessgracioustreats.wordpress.com/2010/06/12/where’s-the-beef/
I just started using TOTW about a month ago. I have to say, even though it’s Diamond which made me shy away from it for years, the food is working better than anything I’ve ever, ever fed my dogs over the years. I’m feeding the Pacific Stream. I started feeding it because my dog’s breeder/former owner is using a food I can’t readily get but the Pacific Stream has the most similar ingredients of any other food I’ve found. I have an allergy dog, which made me choose a different food than what I was feeding. I have fed many top of the line foods….Orijen, Acana, Wellness, Zignature, Merrick, Nature’s Variety, premade raws, freeze dried, etc. and this food is top notch for my 3 dogs. My daughter and son-in-law have fed TOTW (at my recommendation some years ago) for their animals for years and still love it. Never any problems. I know all about Diamond’s reputation and history, and I will remain aware, but I am going to feed this food as long as it works.
Adam, I am so very sorry for your loss. I went thru a similar experience with my cat and my Doberman a couple years ago. I was feeding him Pedigree and then Purina One. They both died suddenly and with no explanation. I adopted my new dog Bailey in January, although I was still heavily grieving for my best friend that I lost. I happened on this site and did a ton of research and it’s been 5 months since my Bailey has eaten any commercial dog “food”. I feed her a raw diet and she’s never been healthier. It is a bit more expensive. I even took on a second part time job to be able to keep feeding her a raw diet. She eats better than I do. I will NEVER feed another pet crappy commercial dog food again.
Hang in there. There is another dog that is out there waiting for you, just wait until you’re ready. Take your time to grieve. Believe me, I know it’s really hard, and the pain does ease up some. It’s been 2 years and a month for me, but I can just think of my Moose and the tears start flowing.
Good luck to you!
