[pitlove]

Hi Tiffany-

Couple things. The diet that you mentioned was not in fact properly balanced. It sounds like you were trying to do a Prey Model Raw diet, but not following the 80/10/10 rule consistantly everyday. If you want to see how to properly feed a Prey Model Raw diet follow “The Raw Feeding Community” and I also like http://mojoandfriends.blog/.

Onto the sickness issue. My guess would be this is directly related to the wild rabbit they were allowed to eat. As Tyrion said above, wild rabbits/animals can carry a wide variety of parasites, hookworms included. Hookworms can and will cause GI issues like what you experienced. DO NOT allow the dogs to catch and eat wild prey again. This is asking for trouble. If you need to, I would even recommend purchasing your raw meals from a service like wefeedraw.com.

[pitlove]

Hi Chris-

A raw diet is actually one of the most innappropriate diets for a growing large breed puppy. Calcium and phosphorus ratios are difficult to balance in a homemade raw diet which can most certainly lead to developmental orthopedic disorders. If you intend on feeding a raw diet to a large breed puppy it would be best to wait until he/she is fully grown or if you have a breeder that feeds raw and can prove that they have successfully transitioned their pups onto a raw food diet and had them grow optimally with no developmental issues, get that exact recipe from them and follow it to a T. Otherwise, it’s best to use a commercial dry food from a larger company that staffs nutritionists who formulate foods specifically for large breed puppies.

[Chris F]

Ah, this is great topic of conversation and quite a good bit of debate surrounding the issue.

The various studies that have been done imply that nutrition is an important aspect to a growing large breed puppy and can have signifcant impact the quality of his health later on.

The evidence (http://ivcjournal.com/feeding-large-breed-puppies/) suggests that we should not restrict protein from their diet since this play a huge role in lowering the risk of developing joint and arthritis including hip dysplasia later on in their life.

The second suggestion (http://ipupster.com/best-puppy-food-reviews/) as also purported by DFA is that excess calcium can now be linked to skeletal disease.

So the key-takeaway is to find commercial dog foods that are low in calories, are low in fats and have limited calcium.

With that mind, I think the best way to control these is to choose a raw food diet for our large breed puppies.

Dr. Becker at Mercola Pets has a great and detailed video (https://youtu.be/u9gbxLiKaJU) I also found helpful. A tad long but well worth the watch!

[Tyrionthebiscuit]

It sounds like it was caused from the rabbit. Wild rabbits in certain areas are known for worm issues. Ive never allowed my raw fed guys to catch rabbits for this issue. Sometimes it happens too quickly to notice

[anonymous]

Consider what happened a wake-up call. You were lucky that the situation was not worse.

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=raw

I feed a quality kibble as the base, about 2/3rds of the diet, I add a little chopped boiled chicken, plain chicken broth or water, sometimes scrambled egg or a little tuna or something.

My chicken broth recipe /forums/topic/grain-free-2/#post-109751

[Tiffany T]

I have a 55lb. amstaff/cattle dog male (Ronan), and a 47lb. GSD mix girl (Aria).

Over the past two months we had been making the switch from Taste of the Wild kibble to a completely raw diet. It started out as a meal here and there, then for several weeks they had kibble for breakfast and raw for dinner. They seemed to be doing great, and I love how much they acted like they loved their food, and how long it took them to eat it (especially their favorite RMB, turkey necks!).

Since it had been two months, I figured it was time to see if they were ready to have a full week of raw. I was doing great at balancing their food I thought (had been doing research through the roof). They were having 1oz. of liver every day, fish once a week, 1 RMB a day (chicken thighs, turkey necks, pork necks, and the like), and other things like goat milk, carrots, snap peas, raspberries, blueberries, pumpkin, etc.

Well, that Monday they caught themselves a rabbit out in the backyard. And I foolishly let them eat it, not thinking about parasites, disease, etc… they ate the WHOLE thing. Aria got all the guts (including the intestines) and Ronan ate the top half. Later that day, Aria threw up EVERYWHERE. Probably the entirety of the rabbit she had eaten. So I fasted both of them for 24hrs.

4 days pass, and suddenly Aria gets ill. She threw up a very foul-smelling brown sludge all over my kitchen and dining room. I didn’t know what to feed them since she was sick, so I backed up and give them both kibble. And while were were outside that morning, she was unable to poop (straining, but nothing coming out). Immediately I was thrown into a panic thinking she had an intestinal blockage from the pork necks I had given them the day before. We rushed to the vet who did x-rays, but they came back fine, other than she had an abundance of gas (but she’s always been a gassy dog).

So we went back home with instructions to just take it easy. We went outside and she was able to poop a very small amount, but it was also a brown sludge of diarrhea with some blood in it. And then a couple hours later, she threw up her kibble breakfast. So we went back to the vet for another x-ray and the stool sample.

Our diagnoses that day was gastroenteritis and hookworms. We were given antibiotics, and here we are 4 days later, and I finally have my normal Aria back.

I am just shook by this entire experience, because I don’t know what caused her to become ill. Was is the rabbit she had eaten 4 days before her sick episode? Did I get her something that completely threw her off? I had given her anything she hadn’t eaten before…

It is unfortunate to say that we are now back on kibble with the occasional supplement of goat milk yogurt, cooked chicken, and rice. I do not know where to go from here, because I don’t want to pay another $300 vet bill if she gets sick again. Perhaps I am too close to the situation. I just have no idea what I should be feeding them at this point, and even though she did not have an intestinal blockage, I scared myself so badly with the thought that day that I am now worried about it.

If you’ve read this far, thank you… sorry to be so long winded. Any advice is appreciated.

TLDR: Dogs were making a transition to raw. They caught and ate their own wild rabbit. Aria got extremely ill 4 days later, vet diagnoses was gastroenteritis and hookworms. I am now scared to feed raw because of my fear that it may not have been the rabbit that made her ill but I have no idea… and I am also extremely worried about intestinal blockages.

Thanks,
Tiffany

[jennifer m]

Well, she has been on the Nutrisource Lamb Meal and Rice for a few weeks. I bought a small bag. Still having at least 6-8 poops a day. She literally will go about 3 times before she even eats her first bowl of food for the day. I can also tell she does not really like the food.

I tried 2 days of Pure Vida and had less poops so I thought I could possibly transition over, plus she liked the food. Bought a bag, and day 3 was a blow out.

So back on the nutrisource for the time being. At least we are solid on it, but obviously just have not found the right thing.

I am concerned about a raw diet. The holistic vet in the community is known to suggest Honest Kitchen Raw food. She is currently on maternity leave so I may see her when she gets back.

I am beginning to think it may be peas. The foods I have tried have varied by proteins, but the two she has had the most success with contact no peas. It’s been hard to find a good quality food that doesn’t have peas in it.

[pitlove]

I’m not sure. I haven’t looked that hard, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about that company. It used to be called ReelRaw.

[Vishakha G]

Hi Pitlove-
Thank you for your input, I have been looking for decent sized bags and have been unsuccessful, glad to know it just does not exist, so I can stop looking.

Is wefeedraw.com the most cost-effective of its kind?

[pitlove]

Hi puppypiles-

Yes Corgis are technically suppose to be a fed a large breed puppy formula because they are often plagued with the same growth disorders large breeds get.

For puppies the best thing to do is use a commercially available dry food that is suited for the growth of large breed puppies and then once he/she is an adult switch to a raw diet. You also can talk to the breeder or multiple breeders and see what they recommend. Make sure you are talking to breeders that know what they are doing though.

[pitlove]

Hi Vishakha-

I have yet to find a brand of raw that makes bags large enough to last a month for larger sized dogs. I guess they feel it would be so expensive that it would discourage people from buying it. Not really sure.

There are services out there like https://www.wefeedraw.com/ where they ship you pre-packaged raw food enough for either 2 weeks or 4 weeks. This is a prey model raw diet however.

[Vishakha G]

Hello,
I am looking for a commercial raw dog food. Something thats convenient yet decently priced and available in bags big enough to last me a month. I have 2 dogs one 20 pounds and one 40 pounds.
My oldest one ( even though she is ageless, 9 but acts like she is 2) has trouble on even the best kibble ( yeasty ears and itchy paws) and she used to eat Ziwipeak but they discontinued the big bags. My younger does well on anything, but I wont feed just ONE of them raw.

I used to feed her the honest kitchen but she dislikes it and won’t eat it unless I top it off with an egg or something. Plus I am looking for kibble like convenience.
I tried REAL MEAT – Dog food, but their poop was horrible on it. ( Any information regarding this?)
I also briefly tried raw feeding them the regular way, buying meat and organs in bulk but I couldn’t manage to do it in the long term, time commitment etc.

Any recommendations are welcome !

[puppypiles]

We’re interested in adding a Cardigan Welsh Corgi to our family in the near future and have questions about their nutrition. I’ve been reading corgis need large breed food as to control their growth. I’m also interested in feeding raw, but again have concerns about controlling growth. Any advice would be appreciated!

[aimee]

I think rawhide can be an appropriate chew but needs to be matched to the dog. This product though may be purchased by an owner who wouldn’t purchase a rawhide based chew of the same form. Also the danger with this product is that it is a mish mash of pieces inside of a cover sheet. Very easy for a dog to disassemble and swallow one of the inside pieces whole.

Through Freedom of Information Act Test ran was inconclusive. Hopefully FDA will run a more definitive test soon.

[Susan]

Hi Ellies Parents,
why dont you feed them home made raw diet when you get to Canada? go & buy the same ingreients in Canada if you can.
Go onto “Rodney Habib” facebook page he lives in Canada & has a Dog Shop, ask him, Dr Karen Becker or people that follow Rodney might be from Canada aswell & they’ll point you in the right direction, but if you make home made raw now then make the same raw diets while you’re in Canada & make enough for the amount of time you’ll be there & freeze small meals, that’s if your staying with friends….
Try & stick with the same diet your feeding now especially if you have a dog with Stomach poblems, the stress of traveling might upset the dogs, so try & keep their routine the same if possible…

[InkedMarie]

Very sad. Back in the early 90’s, before i knew better, I bought rawhide chews weekly for my dogs.

[pitlove]

Hi Jessica-

Since you have a dog with food sensitivities, the issue is not so much the lower of the amount of meat in the food, but whether or not they have added any other proteins to the diet. I also wouldn’t stress over whether or not it will remain a 5 star food. The rating DFA gives the food has no correllation to why your Frenchie has done well on it.

However, if your concern IS the fact that they have added more fruits/veggies and you are trying to stay with more of a meat based diet, you could consider a Prey Model Raw diet like the ones provided from https://www.wefeedraw.com/

[Susan]

Hi Patrica,

*Canidae has new formula’s “Canidae Pure Petite” Small Breed freeze dried raw coated.
https://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products just scroll down a little look to your right & click on page 4 & all the Pure Petite formula’s will come up.
* Ziwi Peak Air Dried Raw
https://www.ziwipets.com/

When dog foods were tested for toxins & contaminates these brands & formula’s below got 5 stars…..
* “Buckley Liberty” Grain Free Freeze Dried – the Beef, Lamb & Chicken formula’s
* “Canisource Grand CRU” ALS dehydrated raw – the Turkey, Pork & Lamb & Reat Meat Formula’s
* “Natures Variety” Instant Raw Market Meals Blend & Chicken Recipes with Sweet Potatoes, Peas & Blueberries
* “The Honest Kitchen” Grain Free Proper Toppers Chicken Recipe

[Ellies Parents]

My dogs love Ollie and PetPlate (I feed them both because they like the variation in recipes). I also feed them raw when I have time.

I’m going to Canada for vacation and I can’t bring raw into Canada, and I can only bring some Ollie / PetPlate. Does anyone know what the best pet food in Canada is?

My dogs have done absolutely amazing on Ollie and PetPlate with some raw. One used to have so many stomach issues and the other is so picky. Both eat and are much healthier now. I’m worried that when I go to Canada and run out of Ollie my dogs will starve themselves… Everything I am finding online is canned and I don’t want them to get sick in Canada from eating canned food with all those chemicals and preservatives

[Susan]

Hi Brianne,
My boy has IBD, he gets bad acid reflux & gets Pancreas/stomach pain lifts his right paw up whinges & wants me to rub around his stomach & Pancreas area, we have done the blood test & Ultra scan for Pancreatitis & everything comes back OK his Gastro vet says its his IBD, its his stomach….
If your dog isnt really interested in his Blue Bufflo kibble change it & find a kibble or low fat wet can or Freeze Dried raw kibble to feed him, I have found I need to rotate between a few foods that agree with him, they must be low/medium fat around 10%min to 14% max in fat, Protein over 25% & Carbs under 30% & fiber under 4%..
A dogs digestive tract is short & ment to digest a raw meaty diet not these processed dry kibbles, this is why I think so many dogs are having stomach & bowel problems……

My boy loves the Hills I/d Chicken & Vegetable Stew wet can food & the Royal Canine Intestinal Low Fat wet can food I just get a paper towel & pat down & dry all the oil from the Royal Canin low fat wet food, Why I buy teh Vet Diet Wet can foods cause the fat is low where pet shop went can foods are higher in fat…
Patch gets his acid when a food has fish/salmon oils, he does well on Canola & sunflower oils…
Have you tried an ant acid reducer like Pepcid or Zantac ? you give 30mins before 2 of his main meals a day, my boy is on an ant acid blocker now he started off on Omeprazole (Prilosec) took it for 2 yrs then around December last year I moved & Patch went down hill really bad, I asked his vet can he do another Endoscope + Biopsies you must ask for the Biopsies so the vet knows what is really happening in stomach, my Patches Sphincter flap isn’t closing & the acid is coming up his esophagus into his mouth & went back down into his wind pipe this probably why he became so unwell the beginning of the year, I nilly put him to sleep he just gave up it was awful to watch, also his Helicobacter-Pylori were come back & he had Gastritis stomach…so he was put on 21 day triple therapy meds Metronidazole Amoxcillin & Prilosec given every 12 hours with a full meal, then after the 21 days I continued giving just 1 x 20 Prilosec tablet of a morning for his acid reflux & to keep his Helicotor away, it lives in their stomach walks & loves sugary carbs (kibble)
In the end I had to stop any wet foods cause they kept coming up into hois mouth causing bad acid reflux, I found Wellness Core Large Breed dry kibble & he’s doing really well now, he’s acting like a puppy, he isnt a large breed dog he’s an English Staffordshire Terrier, the Wellness Core Large Breed formula is low/med Fat-13%, Protein-35%, Carbs-31% low in Kcals per cup -345Kcals per cup & is high in Omega 3 & has Glusomine & Chondroitin helping his joints & bones he’s 9ys old & it has no chickpeas or lentils…

I’d change his diet, if you can cook 1-2 of his meals a lean white meat with boiled sweet potatoes, sweet potato freezes really well & feed his other 2 meals the Wellness Core large Breed formula, try & feed 3-4 smaller meals a day, I feed him at 7am, 9am-1/2 cup kibble both times 12pm-wet can food or cooked food or his freeze dried raw food & 5pm -1/2 cup kibble & 8pm-1/3 kibble, & try an ant acid reducer first either the Pepcid (Famotidine) or Zantac (Ranitidine) 30 mins before 2 of his main meals, if they dont really help him then ask vet about trying Omeprazole (Prilosec) 20mg best given first thing of the morning just wait about 20mins then feed him but you dont really dont have to wait before feeding him as Prilosec is a Protein Pump Inhibitor (PPI) sends a msg to the brain not to make as much Hydrochloric acid in the stomach, where the Zantac & Pepcid works differently & I found didnt really help Patch… You will see results within 2-3 days after using the Omeprazole..
Sometimes I also give Patch either 5ml liquid Mylanta or 1/2 a Quick-eze chew when he has vomited up acid these line his throat & eosphagus & make him feel better…

[Patricia A]

I’m still hanging in there trying to find a freeze dried topper my picky eater likes and my 8 year old Chihuahua that tends towards easy weight gain. Anyone have good things to say about Bixbi Freeze dried? It rates as average Fat low carbs vs Stella’s and Primal with above average fat as a whole for all recipes. I just recently saw this in the Pet Supply store I go to.

[jessica n]

Hi Raw Food Experts –
I have been feeding my dog Nature’s Instinct Variety Raw (Beef + Lamb) his entire life. He is a French Bulldog, and with all their allergies and health issues, he does extremely well on this diet, so we’re careful that he only gets this food.

Nature’s Variety has changed this food and I am very concerned. The primary change I can see if that it went from 95% meat to 85%, and the fruits went from 5% to 15%. It is clear that they did this to lower price.

They’ve also introduced a new frozen raw food line, now their “Signature” frozen raw line that maintains the 95% meat, and is only sold at independent retailers.

What do you guys think about the change to 85% meat and the new recipe? Will this still be a 5 star frozen raw food? Or, should we consider moving to their new Signature recipe (if we can find it!)?

Details here:
https://www.instinctpetfood.com/newraw

[Zeke S]

Hi Patty! Is there some other place in your home that you could do the meal prep? Mine is usually done in the garage, where we keep a second fridge dedicated to raw diet foods.

[Zeke S]

Yep, raw carrots are great! I’m surprised that dogs like them, but carrots are good for them, so I’m glad!

[Sloane K]

@Jessica M, I’m glad you chose not to listen to anon101. There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to support the legitimacy of feeding a raw diet.

[Sloane K]

@anon101, let me refer to this point in that article:
“APN was also associated with feeding raw chicken. 96% of APN dogs were fed raw chicken while only 26% of control dogs were. Only 1 APN case was not fed raw chicken, and this dog had daily contact with live poultry.”

Where in this information does it state that APN was associated with raw chicken? Those numbers don’t make sense. Further, dogs with APN being fed raw chicken does not conclude a causal relationship.

[Sloane K]

Very helpful info! I feed my yellow lab rescue a homemade raw diet but have been thinking of switching to a name brand. Might give this one a try.

[Sloane K]

Very helpful info! I feed my yellow lab rescue a homemade raw diet but have been thinking of switching to a name brand. Might give Top Quality a try.

[Jackie K]

I’ve been making my own raw dog food, using a grinding technique, according to Dr. Becker‘s book, about four years now. It’s specific recipes, including vegetables, fruits, etc. I do my own butchering, and I am interested in obtaining professional analysis. Can anyone recommend facilities and/or specific test to order? I live in Oklahoma, if that makes any difference.

[Kalii16]

I have my daughters beautiful 10 year old Pit Bull girl Kalii. Recently took her to the vet for her checkup/shots & the vet said she’s 12lbs over weight. She should weigh 55lbs and weighs 67lbs. When we play in the yard, she does come back in limping. She definitely has arthritis and the extra weight is not helping! My daughter had her on Taste of The Wild – smoked salmon. Recently I was told to put her on Zignature Catfish Formula. She’s been eating that for two days now (mixed with her Taste of the Wild). In the past, we have had issues with her skin. So we assumed she had allergies & took her off grains and chicken etc… and her skin cleared up. I guess my question is, is this Zignature food the best choice for her and will it help her lose weight? I give her two scoops a day. Also, what should I be giving her for the arthritis? Should I consider a raw diet and if yes, how do I go about that? I know zero about any of this! I just want her to be healthy and to live as long as possible pain free and happy. Thank you to anyone who can help me. Appreciate it very much!
Jean & Kalii

[haleycookie]

You’ve fed other dogs raw before right? It’s the same deal but twice the amount per body weight until a year/year and a half. What type of dog is it? With large breed puppies it can be more difficult as you have to make sure you’re giving them the correct calcium phosphorus ratios until atleast 2 years old.

[ThreeDoodles]

I have fed raw in the past to my older dogs but I have a new 10 week old puppy. He is not doing well on kibble and I know he will do just great on raw. With kibble he has had nothing but mushy poop. Tests all come back normal. My question is, how much to feed him. Is there a chart? I want to feed him a raw ground mix. Thanks for your help.

• This topic was modified 7 years, 10 months ago by ThreeDoodles.

[Susan]

Hi Jennifer,
I have a Staffy with Food Sensitivities Environment Allergies & IBD, I would be making her your own raw diet with human grade meats, no pre-made raw dog food, I went thru animal nutritionist in Australia & we started PAtch on a raw elimination diet to work out what ingredients he is sensitive too…
Dogs have a short digestive tract, their intestinal tract is make to digest a raw diet quickly so if the meat they have eaten is spoiled etc it quickly moves thru their stomach then onto their small bowel onto the large bowel then a small poo, kibbles are high in fiber & some grainfree kibbles are even higher in fiber especially if it has peas, lentils, chickpeas, I have found kibbles that have sweet potatos & potato work the best for Patch, if you do go back to a dry kibble look at “Natural Balance” LTD Sweet Potato & Bison or Natural Balance Potato & Duck formula or look at “Wellness Simple” Turkey & Potato formula..

If you can afford it look for a Holistic Vet in your area.. My boy went down hill last December & now I’m feeding my boy “Frontier Pets” Freeze Dried dehydrated raw thats free range grain free raw diet human ingredients, I started to slowly introduce & give to him at Lunch time only they’re small balls & you add warm water, straight away he started to get better I saw good results like you have seen he also eats “Wellness Core Large Breed dry kibble he isnt large breed dog but this Wellness Core large breed formula is high protein-36%, low/med in fat-13% low in carbs-31% low in Kcals-345Kcals Per cup… & has no lentils or chickpeas…You need to work out what agrees with your dog…or even join a few Raw feeding groups on facebook someone will help you get your dog onto a balanced raw diet with homemade ingredients not a pre-made raw….
Start with 1 meat protein she hasnt eaten before & you blend some green veggies & fruit,I used peeled apple, take out any seeds, broccolli, celery & parsley blended then put in ice cube tray cover with cling wrap & freeze, you add 1-2 spoons of the Veggie/fruit mix 1-2 frozen veggie/fruit ice cubes to 1 cup of meat…I balanced diet with Natural Animal Solution Digestavite Plus powder….

[Kimberly S]

Jennifer M,
My opinion is because she is still a puppy stay away from raw foods. Even full grown, there have been so many recalls on them lately and ALOT have been silent recently!!! That’s just my opinion, I would stick with ONE food and let her system get used to it. I think that is what is causing her GI upset. I have a German Shepard who has a very sensitive GI system and When I change her foods I have to give her system at least a month to adjust to the new food. Like I said, just my opinion. Good luck.

[jennifer m]

We have a bulldog puppy. We got her from my mom (who is the breeder) when she was 4 months old. The litter was large and my mom did not realize she was reacting to her food until we got her. Here is a little of what we have done. I know it’s a lot of food changes. Nothing has worked. We have had up to 10 poops a day, blood in stool, and diarrhea. I just don’t know what to do.
weened-4mo old: Blue Buffalo
Way too many poops and smelly gas. She also did not like the food
Large Puppy Orijens (went through one large bag before switching)
She loved the food. Better stools but still went 5 times a day. Mom was too concerned about this being too much protein for a bulldog.
Pure Vita Salmon and Pea (went through 2 bags)
She liked it fine. Stools were very soft and she went a lot
Health Extensions
Mom switched her to this while keeping her for a few weeks. Terrible gas and by the time we got her back she had diarrhea.

At this point, we just went to our vet. He said that we have done too many food changes. No parasites or worms. Put her on 5 days of purina probiotics and metronidazole. This did nothing. She went back to vet and he put her on a high energy GI Royal Canine. This is the first time we went to having 3-4 poops a day but they were still soft and she would have blood in them. He also gave her another 7 days of antibiotics.

I decided not to give the antibiotics and immediately took her off of the food. I went back to the natural health food store. She recommended the stella and chewy lamb patties and nutrisource lamb meal and rice. Also added goat’s milk. She does not love the food but loves the patties and goat’s milk. So far the stool is back to solid which I haven’t seen in over a month. However, this morning she has gone 3 times before she even ate breakfast. Could this be just a transition period?

I like the solid stools but I don’t want to be back to a point where she’s going 7-8 times a day.

Mom said the grain free foods were using a lot of peas and this could be an issue. That’s why we are trying the rice formula. The food store also recommended Honest Kitchen raw food.

What should I do? She’s only 8 months now and I am sure she wants to feel better and stay on a good food.

[InkedMarie]

No, raw coated kibble is not close to BARF. It’s kibble

[MATT C]

Yup, I’m still here (at least getting notifications) but no, I did not transition him to raw. We were able to trace many of his digestive problems to the heartworm medicine that we had him on. We stopped giving him this medicine and both the severity and frequency of his flare-ups drastically decreased.

[Sloane K]

Matt –

If you’re still around on these forums I am curious to learn how your pup reacted to the transition into a raw diet. Let us know! Thanks

[Sloane K]

Surprised to hear that raw beef heart would cause sickness in your dog. I am sorry to hear, but glad to see he had gotten better after what appeared to be a scary scene. You are probably no longer considering a raw diet, but on the off chance you do in the future I wonder if slowly introducing the raw diet would’ve helped made the transition easier. Very seldom do I hear or read of stories where going raw resulted in ill pups. Take care

[Sloane K]

Jr S-

If you’re still around I’ve love to hear an update on the status of your pup after trying out a raw diet with them? Thanks

[Anand V]

Hi Sloan,
I did switch but went with Quest Raw…they are a subsidiary of Pets 4 Life. She’s done very well on it and with supplements I’ve added as well, skin and fur look great. I feed her their Turkey, Salmon, Duck and beef. They’re preprepared patties…she loves them.
Anand.

[Sloane K]

Would raw coated kibble still be considered appropriate for a strict BARF (Bones & Raw Food) diet? It is an interesting concept and I believe my pup would make an easier transition from kibble to raw coated kibble.

Thanks for the advice in advance.

[Sloane K]

Glad to see some positive results on the raw diets!

Quick question – is frozen raw the same as free-dried raw? And if not, what would the differences be? & What would be preferred?

[Sloane K]

Patty –

It’s a very controversial topic right now, but just like with humans, cutting down portion sizes & introducing more exercise is a great way to burn fat. You could also replace any treats you give your dog with healthier options such as carrots, for example. There’s a chance your pup is not receiving the right nutrients, either. Any diet, raw or not, should be balanced to allow for your pup to receive different nutrients throughout the day.

However, I am not a licensed professional & I always advise people to consult their veterinarian before introducing new diet plans to their pet – including a raw food diet.

Wish your pup the best.

[Sloane K]

Connie L-

Here’s a great beginner’s guide to check out before starting the raw food dog diet:
https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/raw-dog-food-dietary-concerns-benefits-and-risks#1

I would also consult my veterinarian on these choices before starting.

Wish your pup the best.

[Sloane K]

Both raw & cooked carrots are fine for dogs. Chances are the commercial dog treats you feed them are much worse for your dog than the carrots are.

[Sloane K]

Wendy M-

Very true, most veterinarians are similar to Western doctors in that all they are concerned with is $$$. They want to run this test & that test on your pup, prescribe medications, etc.

As the raw food industry grows more & more it will create a need for more types of these specialists so that they aren’t so scarce.

[Wendy M]

Sorry AIRSEABATTLE-I didn’t mean to disparage you at all. I am a proponent of RAW

[Airseabattle]

Health problems??? My child doesn’t have health problems. She’s an eleven month puppy. She was checked prior to raw and after and both times was given a perfect bill of health. Don’t use my baby for anti raw propaganda. She was vomiting because she was scarfing the food so fast. When I broke up the food with a fork she was fine.

[Wendy M]

I have to wonder if your dog’s health problems are the result of raw feeding.