[anonymous]

Hope this helps.
https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/
excerpts below, click on link for full article:

Animal by-products
In addition to grain, animal by-products have become “dirty words” on the ingredient list. Although not necessarily appealing to humans (particularly in the USA), the definition of a by-product in pet food is a part of the animal that is not skeletal muscle. This includes organ meats and intestines (not intestinal contents). AAFCO specifically excludes hair, hooves, horns, hide, manure, etc… as acceptable by-products. So in reality, by-products are perfectly healthy and full of nutrients. And you can be sure that a wild wolf or mountain lion is eating “by-products” in nature.

Raw diets
Raw diets are another popular option on the market today. Studies have shown that 20-35% of raw poultry and 80% of raw food dog diets tested contained Salmonella. This poses a health risk for your pet, but also for humans. This is especially true for children or immunocompromised adults, whether exposed to the raw food directly, or the feces of the pet eating the raw food. Additionally, there is increased risk of other bacterial infections and parasitic diseases when feeding raw diets. And the bottom line is there is no reason to believe raw food is healthier than cooked food.
The numerous dietary choices for your pet can be daunting but if you pick an AAFCO approved food made by a manufacturer with a long track record, odds are good that you will find a suitable food for your pet. Most of the large pet food companies employ full time veterinary nutritionists and have very high quality control standards. That is not to say that a small company cannot produce nutritious and high quality food, but you should check out their website if it’s a company that is not familiar to you. Take the time to research, and ask your veterinarian if you have specific questions or concerns.
Please understand that this article is meant to provide basic dietary guidelines for healthy pets. If your pet has specific health issues, then your veterinarian may make specific food recommendations, which may include special prescription diets.

[anonymous]

Here is some research, hope it helps: excerpt below from: https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/
“Choosing the Right Diet for Your Pet”
Raw diets are another popular option on the market today. Studies have shown that 20-35% of raw poultry and 80% of raw food dog diets tested contained Salmonella. This poses a health risk for your pet, but also for humans. This is especially true for children or immunocompromised adults, whether exposed to the raw food directly, or the feces of the pet eating the raw food. Additionally, there is increased risk of other bacterial infections and parasitic diseases when feeding raw diets. And the bottom line is there is no reason to believe raw food is healthier than cooked food.
The numerous dietary choices for your pet can be daunting but if you pick an AAFCO approved food made by a manufacturer with a long track record, odds are good that you will find a suitable food for your pet. Most of the large pet food companies employ full time veterinary nutritionists and have very high quality control standards. That is not to say that a small company cannot produce nutritious and high quality food, but you should check out their website if it’s a company that is not familiar to you. Take the time to research, and ask your veterinarian if you have specific questions or concerns.
Please understand that this article is meant to provide basic dietary guidelines for healthy pets. If your pet has specific health issues, then your veterinarian may make specific food recommendations, which may include special prescription diets.

[anonymous]

Here is some research, hope it helps: excerpt below from:
“Choosing the Right Diet for Your Pet”
https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/

Raw diets are another popular option on the market today. Studies have shown that 20-35% of raw poultry and 80% of raw food dog diets tested contained Salmonella. This poses a health risk for your pet, but also for humans. This is especially true for children or immunocompromised adults, whether exposed to the raw food directly, or the feces of the pet eating the raw food. Additionally, there is increased risk of other bacterial infections and parasitic diseases when feeding raw diets. And the bottom line is there is no reason to believe raw food is healthier than cooked food.
The numerous dietary choices for your pet can be daunting but if you pick an AAFCO approved food made by a manufacturer with a long track record, odds are good that you will find a suitable food for your pet. Most of the large pet food companies employ full time veterinary nutritionists and have very high quality control standards. That is not to say that a small company cannot produce nutritious and high quality food, but you should check out their website if it’s a company that is not familiar to you. Take the time to research, and ask your veterinarian if you have specific questions or concerns.
Please understand that this article is meant to provide basic dietary guidelines for healthy pets. If your pet has specific health issues, then your veterinarian may make specific food recommendations, which may include special prescription diets.

[Jenn H]

I also have a dog with severe environmental allergies.
The 1 thing that I have found to work for him in preventing, managing and relieving his symptoms is raw wildflower honey from a beekeeper neighbor. It works best if he starts getting in Feb.
I’ve tried other raw wildflower honeys when I ran out and the closest to home the better.

If/when he is having a reaction (because we ran out of his honey) there’s a whole routine we have to give him relief.

His brother also has these allergies and his people treat it differently with good success.

I can go thru the whole thing if you want. Just let me know.

[LovelyBear]

My 8 yr young 104 lb rottweiler has been raw for the past day and a half. She has been given 2 chicken quarters a day (1 twice a day), pumpkin puree, coconut oil (she loves it), and some chicken gizzards. All night she never woke me or acted like she would have “cannon butt”. This morning I watched her poo and it was solid and about 4 inches. I couldn’t find in the yard, but ill keep a better eye out them to make sure everything is digested. She is having stinky gas.

For her first meal the texture freaked her out and she got insecure, because she didn’t know what to do. I waited 15 minutes and tried encouraging her. I had to put the food up and try again for dinner. Dinner was the same, but I kept trying. I got meat scissors and cut about 90% of the meat off the quarter and hand fed her small pieces. At first she spit it out and then she realized it is edible. Then I popped out all of the joints in the quarters and hand fed her the bone part. The next day I did the same and she eagerly ate all the chicken pieces. She even chewed apart pieces she thought where to big. Plus she chewed all of the bones slowly and very gentle. I’m glad she isn’t a gulper!

There is something I am stuck on:

Where do you feed your pup? Or what do you feed them on?

The past meals I have been having her eat on a towel, but it gets tedious to wash a bunch of towels. One meal I fed on a trash bag and that seems wasteful to me and she was a little scared of it. I cleaned out her crate to possible feed her in that and since it has been 3 years since she has even seen the thing it terrified her and she wont get in it. Also I’d love to feed her outside in the grass, but my dad uses fertilizer, weed killer, and bug killers……. I do have a lanai though with a concrete floor. If I fed her in there how can I keep the floor sanitary? Although I have a crazy neighbor who spies on my family, so they will probably think crazy things if they see me feeding her raw body parts lol.

My parents are slightly grossed out and apprehensive about raw. I thought that I’d be the germophob, since I eat a plant-based diet lol! They haven’t researched it like I have and I never want to feed my pup kibble again.

Have a great day!

[Peter H]

Switching treats from Puperoni to Zuke’s…..which has garlic powder listed as the 4th ingredient listed. Vet says “not to worry”…..Fritz at Zukes says “OK”.

Raw garlic is probably a no-no……what about powdered garlic ?

Thanks

[anonymous]

Of course, let’s forget about…… I don’t what I was saying. Note to self: Think before you post. I apologize if I upset or confused you in any way.

Corgi’s are barrel chested and they love to eat and tend to put weight on easily. I used to walk the one I had 3 to 5 miles a day, at one point she was up to 40 pounds (34 being ideal).
The weight came off gradually after about 3 months of walking. And of course measured amounts for her 2 daily feedings. Only a raw carrot for an occasional snack.
They say you should be able to feel the ribs, just a light layer adipose tissue covering them. They shouldn’t be sticking out, though.

[HoundMusic]

@ Robin M:
“Also, you can see the “humps” where his hips are on his back. So I am just curious if he is actually overweight?”

Pictures can be deceiving, but it does seem like he has a waistline, and might already be at a good weight. Even correctly build Beagles are a square dog, and people not familiar with the breed often confuse their naturally heavy build for being fat. I have actually had Vets who thought my red & white bitch and her sire were mixed with some sort of bulldog breed, because they were not accustomed to seeing anything other than scrawny puppy mill Beagles 🙁

I stink at posting pics to this site so I’ll add a link to a brace (type of field trial) Beagle site with some good pics of this type of hound – they are all actually slim & trim for their body shape.

http://thebracebeaglenews.com/

@ Inked Marie

Hallo there ::waves::

How are your puppers doing? Oh, and give Boone a treat from me 🙂

[Acroyali]

I’m not sure about yogurt or kefir brands, but if you’ve access to raw goats milk you could make your own yogurt from this. We do it every few weeks, it’s pretty easy 🙂

[anonymous]

Natural Balance for Fat Dogs, check it out, only 250 calories a cup and the ingredients don’t look bad at all. I give a 1/2 raw carrot as a treat (not baby carrots/choking hazard)
https://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dog-formulas/dry/fat-dogs/original

I would feed this to a senior. I might add a little lean ground cooked turkey or a bite of scrambled with water egg to it. Plus a splash of water to the kibble (a lot of dogs don’t drink enough water)
I never give yogurt or any dairy products to dogs. The only supplement I add is one fish oil capsule a day.

Increase walks, activity. Any way you can take him swimming? One minute of swimming is equal to 4 minutes of running! And easy on the joints.

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

[Leslie L]

I have 2 Labs who I would like to give Keifer to. In my grocery store I can get Lifeway plain or Wallaby plain. From a bit of research I know they are milk based but the fermenting process removes 99% of the milk product. I have also read about goats milk keifer but do not know a brand or where to buy. If I gave Greek yogurt, is that as good as the Keifer? I give them Primal raw goats milk now a few times per week. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Amanda D]

@Anon101 Do I need to use puppy formula for the toothpaste or can I use the regular formula? I’ll start a questions list on my Evernote. We’ve always got large carrots in the house so I’ve got that covered, but Im glad you mentioned avoiding baby carrots because that was what I was originally planned on giving as a healthy treat.

Oh I know all about puppy proofing, I babysit for a family that has a 2 yr old German Short-haired Pointer, they always leave crap out and then I have to chase Cinnamon down to get stuff away from her. Going through Cinnamons
puppy stage has made we know everything I want to avoid and do right lol

I’ve got a play yard that will let me cordon off an area in our living room with the crate so the puppy has a safe place to have independent play time. I’ll keep that up for a while until I feel confident thathat puppy will be safe in the larger area that will still have a couple baby gates up to keep puppy from the kitchen and my room that leads into my bathroom where the litter box is.

What plastic toys are you talking about, Nylabones? So fare I’ve only bout Stuffies/Luvies, rope toys and the Nylabone Puppy kit that includes 3 bones for different puppy stages. Puppy will only get the Stuffies when I have eyes on him/her, my friends border collie thinks it’s great fun to pull the stuffing out of them, she doesn’t eat it, just leave stuffing guts all over! Lol

We have an Animal ER that opens just after my vet closes that is open until noon Ishave the next morning. So I have that covered.

I am planning on getting insurance, I’m just not sure which one to go with, I need to compare companies and plans still.

@Acroyali the only bones I was planning on giving it giving are poultry necks, backs, feet, and maybe legs, but no turkey legs. I would never leave puppy alone with raw bones or meat, I’mean planning on crating to help with easy supervision and it’ll be more sanitary and easier to wipe down the crate pan then maybe having puppy drag raw meat ND bone around my living room! Lol

For the clean up would Clorox wipes be safe as long as puppy is out of the crate until the Clorox evaporates?

• This reply was modified 8 years, 8 months ago by Amanda D.

[Acroyali]

Agreed with tooth brushing, especially on smaller dogs. Many toy and small breeds don’t possess a strong root structure so chewing alone usually doesn’t do it for them! Mine (big and small) get their teeth brushed with coconut oil because they like it so well. The little guys get their teeth done 5-6 days a week and the big guys 1-2 times a week. Like Pitlove, my big guys have human toothbrushes and my little dogs have brushes meant for young toddlers. (Small dogs are currently using a Super Mario Brothers brush, their last one was a Hello Kitty brush that lit up, LOL). It’s become second nature. It’s not a chore anymore. It’s just something we do now, and it takes minutes a day (for several dogs) and the benefits are so well worth it. I’ve used finger toothbrushes before but I didn’t feel they did as good of a job as a regular brush.

Even having done so since babyhood one of our smaller dogs is losing his small front teeth. He has a poor bite and a poor root structure, and while the rest of his teeth appear clean and strong, those little front ones are loosening up. He’s a middle aged dog.

Anon raises an excellent point about keeping an emergency vet number on your fridge. Or even program it into your cell. In all my years of pet ownership I’ve only had to use the emergency hospital a few times but each time I needed it I was glad it was readily available and I didn’t have to waste time locating the number, especially while in a bit of a panicked state. Better safe than sorry!

I do give recreational raw chew bones, provided they are BIG and the dog in question cannot get his jaws around the bone part to bite down (no femurs in this house.) Some of our dogs are such aggressive chewers that I am hesitant to offer these, so they get stuffed (black) Kongs full of goodies. The dogs that settle down and chew at a slower pace are OK, but I never ever leave them unsupervised in case someone manages to break off a piece that could be swallowed or manages to chew off enough strappy stuff that they could chew the bone part enough to break teeth. I don’t care for smoked bones or any bones that come from the pet store, JMO. It really depends on your comfort level, your dogs chewing style, and your ability to keep an eye on them while they chew. Many people swear bully sticks are good for teeth, so that might be something to look into as well!

[anonymous]

Raw carrots are good to chew on! Not the baby ones though, choking hazard if they try to swallow them whole. Make sure the puppy slowly works/nibbles on it. A cold carrot will be soothing to the gums too, as the teething process will start soon 🙂

[mountainhound]

Not sure if anyone mentioned it, but beef heart is incredibly rich, so I feed it as an organ meat not a muscle in a raw diet. Only about 1 oz per meal for a 70 lb dog.First time I overfed it as well and my dog had the runs for 2 days. It’s quite possible that it was too much if your dog is used to eating mostly poultry.

[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?

[pitlove]

Hi Caleb-

If you are dead set on doing a raw diet for a large breed dog like a Lab, you will want to contact a veterinary nutritionist to help make sure your diet is formulated safely for a large breed. Large breed puppies have extremely strict dietary requirements during growth to allow for slow growth. They are at high risk for devasting orthopedic disorders like OCD, HOD, Pano, Hip Dysplasia, Wobblers Syndrome etc. I have seen raw diets gone wrong with large breed puppies and it is horrible. They can barely walk, are in horrible pain, lethargic etc. Consider going through a website like BalanceIt.com for help.

[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!

[Janice K]

My 8 week old puppy did the same thing. She had many tests by our regular vet, including a barium x-ray, but nothing showed a cause. Was referred to veterinarian specialists. She saw a neurologist, and internal medicine specialist. Finally a surgeon did an exploratory exam under anesthesia. They found she had an anal structure.(fibrous band). They gave us the option to do a balloon dialation to enlarge the anal opening. We elected to try it. It worked. They said she might have to have it done again as she grew larger, but that is not the case. She is 5 years old now and doing great. She does have to take a liquid (lactulose) medicine daily for life. She has taking it since 8 weeks of age. She is so cute. I say Dolly time for your medicine. She comes to me and opens her mouth for the syringe. Her stools are firm and normal with no more yelping. She eats Horizon Amicus small breed grain free dry food with raw freeze dried mixers mixed in. She is a great little girl. I call her my million dollar baby.

[Heidi B]

I have also added Tylees into the food rotation for my dogs. Although I find it too ‘powdery’ if I thaw it first, it is doing very well and i think it is even better received than the Instinct Raw. I would love to see it added to this websites reviews.

[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.

[Jasmine T]

Hi, i rotate my dogs meat every week. Cooked to slightly cooked, Beef, pork, chicken, lamb, goat , little fish. He gets a raw egg coconut oil, colostrum ,eggshell powder, liver, beef kidney, hearts and gizzards are all part of his diet. A raw veggie mix. Some canned peas or something for more of a filler cus too much veggi mix gives him gas. Oh, probiotic yougurt sometimes,and always a quarter cup OVERCOOKED brown rice. 50% protien, rice and veggies, 10% organ meat(i am looking for spleen and other things in my area)
Hoof soup ice cubes, for the natural glucosamine. Usually two or 3 a day. He is almost 12 and arthritic with torn acl.
I add dehydrated chicken feet. As a treat.
I cook meat in oven, i trim all the fat but its still greasy. I drain the juice during cooking at least once and the the rest after.
I boil my hearts and gizzards ,kidney, lightly cook liver in coconut oil in pan.
Will these things cause pancreatitis? The grease ftom the meat?

[anonymous]

Wonderful news. Now, please play it safe and keep him on a bland diet, maybe 1/2 cooked chopped chicken and rice or something, but use a quality kibble with water added or presoaked as a base (1/2 of the diet).
Two or three meals per day.
You dodged a bullet, stay away from that raw, homeopathic crap. Just my opinion based on the fact that I don’t enjoy going to the emergency veterinary clinic. I tried that stuff too, back when, with negative results. No thank you.

[Susan]

Hi Jasmine, the vet sounds awful, can you see another vet there instead if her, 50% carbs that’s what most vet diets have 50-60% carbs, no good for senior dogs…. sounds like he’s pooing blood, something has irritated his bowel probably the raw food, the Metronidazole (Flagyl) will stop the blood within 3 days, Metronidazole must be given with food a meal twice a day, every 12 hours, just hide it or crush it in the cottage cheese or something he loves to eat boiled sweet potatoes are another good thing to feed with some boiled lean meat/chicken/turkey etc…. this is how I give tablets, I stand behind Patch then I kneel down & sort of sit on Patches back but I’m kneeling on the floor, from behind I open his mouth & I have the tablet in between my thumb & middle finger, I open his mouth & put the tablet on the back of his tongue & push down throat with my pointer finger & I have a big 20ml syringe filled with water near my leg & I put in the side of his mouth so the water washes down the pill, but when Patch is on the Metronidazole I give it in his meals….. He’ll get better soon, it scares you big time, I remember when my Patch was diarrhing light red blood water all night & morning till the vet open, it was like a fountain but the vet told me pink light red blood is better then dark red black blood.. Vet will know if it’s the small bowel or large bowel, I forgot what vet said I think light red blood was from the small bowel. He’s a very lucky boy he has a real good mum that cares….Keep us posted

[anonymous]

GET THE BLOODWORK AND THE X-RAYS! It is the best diagnostic tools vets have. This is what happens…$2000-$3000-$5000 for emergency surgery, not a big deal if you want to save the dogs life.
That’s why I said, stop looking for veterinary medical advice online. Wake up. You made a mistake listening to well meaning idiots. Get the dog the medical treatment it needs, learn from your mistakes and move on
Please give us an update…..ASAP

Ps: The diagnostic testing and emergency surgery that may be needed may not save his life. But, I bet you anything that you will think twice about feeding a new dog raw.
I once spent about $700 to $1000 to diagnose a dog, guess what? Hemangiosarcoma, no treatment options, just comfort measures.
Big deal, an unexpected root canal for a human would cost the same. Talk to the clinic, they will explain your treatment options.

[Jasmine T]

I took him to vet, they wanted bloodwork and xrays. I dont like this vet. She told me i was feeding him wrong, dogs are omnivours , he only needs 25 percent protein and 50 percent carbs . I told her i knew it was controversal and she said it wasnt it just is what it is. And she had such an attitude with me there after.Anyway,i wish she was more helpful , in responding to my questions. I decided to take the meds to make him feel better and if nothing changed i .an apt for an xray the next morning.which i have in an hour . I cant afford xray and bloodwork together. I lost my job and this is all i have , il spend every penny but i only have so much. They gave him two shots and some pills.he WONT SWALLOW the pill. I wrapped it in a tiny peice of canned chicken and tossed it in his mouth and held it shut. Over and over he would spit it out when i let go.so i waited thinking i could wait him out. I did this and he just looked at me when i let him go. I got suspicious and made like i was leaving , i came back twice and he hadnt spit it out . Then i found it later. He litetally waited for me to leave leave to spit it out.the pill was metronidazole. He got a shot of antibiotic,and a antiemetic.
They couldnt test his stool for parasites because it wasnt a stool,it was pink water. He is drinking water,not as much as id like. He had a half a bowl yesterday.
Im bringing my boyfriend to his appt today so that if we get terrible news , he will be there and will more then likely ask his grandmother to help pay. Shes taken her dogs there for years too ,maybe she can request a payment plan. I dont know. I know an xray isnt the end of it.
Maybe he ate a stick or something or glass or poison. I have no idea. It does make the most sense it was the heart.
I read that heart could be fed as a muscle meat ,that it should not be counted as an organ. I read that if it SECRETES then its an organ meat.
Yes too raw to fast.
My dog is 12 in aug. Lab mix. Im trying to stay calm. I am close to freaking out. If something shows in the xray il have to rob a gas station to get the money , im thinking 5000 emergency sugery . What could be wrong with him???
Im counting the min till our appt. I regreted waiting till today shortly after we got home. I thought about it all day and night. I should of just did it yesterday…

[Susan]

I don’t understand how this works, I clicked on the “Dry foods” there is 15 rows of dry dog kibbles, from 5 stars to 1 star….Holistic Select, Adult/Puppy Salmon, Anchovy & Sardines dog gets 3 stars, it’s in row 9, then when you get to row 14 the Holistic Select dog same formula gets 1 star… how can that be??
I did notice when the formulas used chicken & turkey they got 5 stars when the kibble had any type of fish it got 1 star… I seen a few brands that got 1 star that Patch didn’t do well on, when he first started eating them he was OK then by the 3rd week, he went down hill & was doing sloppy yellow poo’s & didn’t really want to eat the kibble no more, Earthborn, Ocean Fusion, Wellness Complete Whitefish & Sweet Potatoes , Wellness Simple Duck & Oats, Canidae Pure Land…..Patches very sensitive stomach/bowel must know when a kibble is CRAP….there was no TOTW formula’s, that’s the only kibble Patch hasn’t ever gone down hill on, no stomach/pancreas pain, no sloppy poos/diarrhea, no acid reflux, I’d love TOTW to be tested, cause why do dogs with IBD, EPI & IBS do really well on it, I’d love to no how many stars TOTW gets?….
This is why I like rotating kibbles, this way they are not on the same formula/brand long enough to get sick…
The ladies that use to post 3 yrs ago knew what they were talking about they always recommended rotating your dog foods…
Like I always say your better off feeding a Raw or Cooked diet, not a dry kibble….
Rodney Habib & others are proving dogs live longer when they eat raw/cook fresh whole food diets….People start adding fresh whole foods to your dogs diet……

[Susan]

Hi how is your poor dog doing?? what did vet do is he on Metronidazole??
All organ meats are very rich & can cause diarrhea when feed too much, my boy gets diarrhea from those liver treats, Beef liver treats chicken liver treats… when I first rescued him 4-5yrs ago, I took him to the Hunter rescue second hand shop they raise money & sell worm, flea products, collars, name tag’s, toys, jackets etc everything for dogs/cats they raise money for people that don’t have the money to desex their cat & dogs, I wanted a new ID tag & a few toys for Patch & showed all the ladies my new rescue boy, the elderly ladies kept giving Patch liver treats & these were real big thick chunky black liver/beef treats, they could have been beef liver, I don’t know, anyway that night we were up all night with bad diarrhea, pain, feeling sick, I took Patch to vet next morning cause I have never had a dog get this sick, he was put on Metronidazole an antibiotic for the bowel & stomach & Royal Canine, Hydrolyzed dry vet diet just to let his bowel rest & heal, that’s when Patches new vet told me organ meats are very rich & can cause diarrhea, so since then I have never given him any liver, beef, or chicken liver treats again…
Years later I went thru a Naturopath to put Patch on a raw diet cause of his IBD & Skin allergies & he wasn’t given any organ meat or bone in his diet cause he has IBD, he was put on a probiotic & digestive enzymes & a supplement powder to balance the raw diet but the raw diet didn’t agree with Patch cause of his IBD, it cleared up his itchy skin & red paws cause we were just feeding Kangaroo with blended broccoli, apple, celery, we were starting an elimination raw diet but Patch kept feeling very sick & regurgitating the raw back up….Maybe stick with the cooked diet, I know raw is so much easier to do there’s no cooking just start with 1 lean white protein & a few blended veggies (2-3) like broccoli, apple, celery etc & only add 1-2 spoons of the blende veggies with 1 cup raw..

[Acroyali]

I’ve been feeding raw for decades and have only had two animals in that time frame that did very poorly on raw, and they got what you’re trying to transition away from–home cooked. They thrive(d) on it! Is there a specific reason you’re wanting to do raw for this dog, and how long have you been trying to transition, because it looks like you’re feeding a lot of possibly novel stuff in a very short time frame.
With that said, I would go to the ER clinic if my dog were doing what your dog is doing, ASAP . I’ve had excellent luck with raw diets over the years and poor results with kibble, but the animals that receive home cooked thrive just as well as their raw fed cousins.
Best of luck to you and your pup.

[anonymous]

Raw diet? Wake up. http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=raw+diet
If it was my dog, I would head over to the nearest Emergency 24/7 Veterinary Clinic, NOW. Not in a few hours.
Stop listening to the homeopathic vets. That being said, there are some good ones and they mean well, however some of them are downright dangerous…. Science Based Veterinary Medicine is best. Just my opinion, blah, blah, blah
Ps: Stop looking for veterinary medical advice online, it’s true, you get what you pay for.
I hope your pup makes a full recovery and you learn something from this experience.

[Erika I]

I am sorry to hear that. I have only ever given my dog raw chicken liver and heart but that was about month 2 into our transition. I am new to raw food but I can say that it took about three months for Bella to transition to completely raw food. I know of some dogs who can do it in less time but she took a while and we are still slowly adding more and more to her diet. Each time I add something new she does usually respond at first with diarrhea and sometimes even vomiting. One thing to note is that heart and liver meat is super rich and should be added slowly into their diet and only in small amounts. I have been told it should only equate to about 10% of their diet.

I hope your puppy feels better- all the best!

[Jasmine T]

Today is april 13 2017 , i have been trying to transition my dog from homemade to raw. I cooked him heart liver and kidney the day before yesterday . All beef. The heart was hardly cooked at all. I boiled it but barly. I didnt realize it was still raw in middle i ment to cook it more. I fed it to him 2 o clock as a snack . He ate dinner as normal 5 o clock . Cooked pork,probaley more heart i dont remember, brown rice and a raw veggi mix i made in blender ,powdered eggshells for calcium.
Later that night i went to give him rice peas and chicken gizzards so he can eat with his caprofen.
He didnt touch it. Wanted to be alone rest of night.the nex t day i found puke piles in yard, and hes been squirting pink meat juice in place of poop. He still wont eat. Vet said to give it till today , that it may not be blood but undigested beef heart. I cleaned up pink water he squirted out all over the kichen floor at 4 am last night.peices of pink pulp.
He is drinking water. And it looks just like meat juice. It smells like meat juice.
He has an appt in a few hours.
Maybe he wasnt ready for so raw a meal?he handles beef pretty much raw just fine, chicken needs to be cooked more.
Maybe i gave him e coli
I am so worried, i just want him to be healthy , on a raw diet. I hahe had bad luck so far with it. He just gets sick, now hes REALLY sick.

[Acroyali]

https://www.tumblr.com/drjeandoddspethealthresource/134679160366/raw-diet-bloodwork-dog

I’m not sure if this will be of any help based on your findings, but it might be something to check into. Is your vet aware that your dog is raw fed?

[Corky J D]

I am feeding my dog raw beef and chicken made by Natures Variety (Instinct). During the day he gets Origen kibble. He’s thriving and has a beautiful shine to his black coat. His energy level is high and he is performing well in agility and personal protection training. Recently some blood work showed up with some small concerns. He is leaking a small amount of protein into his renal tubials and he also has caths in his urnine. I’ve red that too much phosphorus can cause problems with kidneys. Razr is only 2.

Have I caused this by feeding him by what I’m feeding? Any advice would be appreciated.

[Susan]

Hi Samantha, I was told by Patches Naturopath when I started feeding him a raw diet, as long as the diet is balanced over the week your dog will be fine, every single meal doesn’t have to balanced but make sure the dog is getting what is needed in their diet over that week…
Sounds great what your doing, they have proven by adding 1-2 spoons of fresh whole foods to a dogs bowl of kibble reduces their chances of getting cancer, when Rodney asked Steve Brown, if you were to add just 1 fresh food to ur dogs diet what will it be, Steve said Mussels, add 2 mussel, 1 tablespoon salmon & a pinch kelp, do you follow “Rodney Habib” on his face Book page?? watch his video’s, Rodney has really good info, what foods to add to a dogs diet to prevent dogs dying young, preventing cancer, healthy skin & skinny coat, healthy on the inside, start adding tin sardines in spring water or olive oil, a couple sardines a day, some blueberries, teaspoon of coconut oil, there’s more healthy foods look for Rodney’s Video’s also change & rotate the protein source in diet, I stay away from chicken, it’s full of hormones unless your buying organic chicken, here’s Rodney F/B page he has just released a new video, “pet owners no longer trust vets” 2 studies this week just released, Pet owners DO NOT what to talk to vets about nutrition.
https://www.facebook.com/rodneyhabib

[anonymous]

Mar 01, 2013
By Alice M. Jeromin, RPh, DVM, DACVD
DVM360 MAGAZINE
Excerpt from above article below, unable to provide direct link, if you google DMV360 MAGAZINE and then search “dust mites” at the search engine at that site it will take you to the full article.
Where are storage mites commonly found?
These particular mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Acarus siro) are present in dry foods, cereals, grains, straw and cheese—i.e., substances that can get moldy. Like dust mites, storage mites can cause nonseasonal signs, including pruritus, erythema and recurrent otitis in dogs and cats. They’re well-known in humans for causing asthma and allergic rhinitis (“baker’s lung”).
Data have shown that storage mites live in conjunction with house dust mites and can be found in bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture and fabrics. One study in humans found storage mites to have overtaken dust mites as a leading source of allergy.
A popular misconception is that storage mites are present in bags of food or cereals from the manufacturer. In one study, out of 10 bags of dry dog food, one was found to have storage mites, but the rest developed the mites after being in the owners’ homes.

[anonymous]

FAQs about house dust mite and storage mite allergies
By bringing pets into our homes, we’ve increased their exposure to these common skin irritants.
Mar 01, 2013
By Alice M. Jeromin, RPh, DVM, DACVD
DVM360 MAGAZINE
Excerpt from above article below, unable to provide direct link, if you google DMV360 MAGAZINE and then search “dust mites” at the search engine at that site it will take you to the full article.
Where are storage mites commonly found?
These particular mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Acarus siro) are present in dry foods, cereals, grains, straw and cheese—i.e., substances that can get moldy. Like dust mites, storage mites can cause nonseasonal signs, including pruritus, erythema and recurrent otitis in dogs and cats. They’re well-known in humans for causing asthma and allergic rhinitis (“baker’s lung”).
Data have shown that storage mites live in conjunction with house dust mites and can be found in bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture and fabrics. One study in humans found storage mites to have overtaken dust mites as a leading source of allergy.
A popular misconception is that storage mites are present in bags of food or cereals from the manufacturer. In one study, out of 10 bags of dry dog food, one was found to have storage mites, but the rest developed the mites after being in the owners’ homes.2

[anonymous]

FAQs about house dust mite and storage mite allergies
By bringing pets into our homes, we’ve increased their exposure to these common skin irritants.
Mar 01, 2013
By Alice M. Jeromin, RPh, DVM, DACVD
DVM360 MAGAZINE
Excerpt from above article below, unable to provide direct link, if you google DMV360 MAGAZINE and then search “dust mites” at the search engine at that site it will take you to the full article.
Where are storage mites commonly found?
These particular mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Acarus siro) are present in dry foods, cereals, grains, straw and cheese—i.e., substances that can get moldy. Like dust mites, storage mites can cause nonseasonal signs, including pruritus, erythema and recurrent otitis in dogs and cats. They’re well-known in humans for causing asthma and allergic rhinitis (“baker’s lung”).
Data have shown that storage mites live in conjunction with house dust mites and can be found in bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture and fabrics. One study in humans found storage mites to have overtaken dust mites as a leading source of allergy.
A popular misconception is that storage mites are present in bags of food or cereals from the manufacturer. In one study, out of 10 bags of dry dog food, one was found to have storage mites, but the rest developed the mites after being in the owners’ homes.

[Natasha C]

Have you had your dog allergy tested? It could be food allergy but it could also be a storage mite allergy. My dog has storage mite and dust mite allergy. All dry dog food has storage mites so unless you switch to wet, raw or home cooked food he may still have symptoms. Mine had the watery eyes, chronic ear infections and itching. I started cooking his food which helped tremendously. He is on apoquel too which takes care of his dust mite allergy so he stopped the constant paw licking. Also consider using a novel protein. I found after many months that my dog is also allergic to both chicken and beef, but that wasn’t obvious until I addressed his other issues. Allergy testing at least pointed me in the right direction so I could focus on the environmental allergies first and then the food allergies. Good luck!

[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.

[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….

[Susan]

Hi Jazzlover,
Have you increased the Omega 3 in your dog diet? tin sardines in spring water are excellent, add about 2 small sardines to the raw diet a day, how come your only feeding 1 raw meal a day? is this raw meal balanced properly, is it home made raw or premade raw diet? after adding the Sardines you watch Jazz’s skin & coat start to shine & improve….
Have you tried using High Potency Vitamin C powder for dogs? Vitamin C is a Natural Anti histamine & strengthens the immune system, we use Vitamin C in Australia, it’s also added to our dog foods, here’s the Natural Animal Solution site, I’m pretty sure Jacqueline Rudan the Naturopath does sell her products in America, the Skin Pack is really good & a good price, it will balance the raw diet if it’s homemade diet, I used it when Patch was eating a raw diet…. done the bottom of my post is a link when you have clicked on the link read about Vitamin C then go to the top & click on “Pet Health” look on your left, scroll down a bit then you’ll see “Skin System” there’s a little green arrow facing down, click on arrow & all skin conditions will come up, click on “Skin Allergies” the last one, it’s a really good read, make sure you bath weekly or twice a week or daily in the bad seasons to wash off the pollens & allergens on the skin, bathing relieve the itch I also use “Malaseb Medicated Shampoo” it’s mild & can be used daily, excellent for red paws…
For Jazz itchy lower back tail & bum area have you tried “Sudocrem” it’s a healing cream sold in the baby Section at Supermarket or Chemist, when Patch starts rolling body on carpet & bum surfing on my carpet I should bath him but some days you don’t feeling like bathing the dog so I buy the Huggies baby Wipe the Coconut Oil wipes there’s also Cucumber & Aloe. I wipe his fur down then get another coconut oil wipe & wipe his bum & around his tail area, then I apply the Sudocrem, then straight away the itch stops… When he gets his itchy bum it’s from food sensitivities, as soon as he eats something he’s sensitive too he starts rubbing his bum on carpets…
http://naturalanimalsolutions.com.au/Shop/product/high-potency-vitamin-c/

[anonymous]

Per the search engine here, a variety of opinions
/forums/topic/bully-sticks-or-rawhide/
I have found that daily brushing makes a big difference, takes about 5 minutes a day. YouTube has some excellent how to videos.

[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]

To Pitluv:
I am truly sorry for the loss of any beloved furry family member. As I previously stated I am also new to RAW and we are all learning, this is why we come to these forums. To listen, share and hopefully help. I literally read more and more on the subject online every single day. I’m petrified of getting it wrong and harming my baby girl. I’m 110% committed to her health and nutrition as well as education and training.

While I appreciate your passion, you come off extremely strong for no apparent reason. As the rest of us post advise in which someone was seeking you never actually answered her question, you simply tried to shoot the idea down. My advise to you is to NOT BE SO COMBATIVE. I’m guessing that you work in a traditional vets office or maybe for a big name pet food company. Not judging but the 2 seem to go hand in hand these days. I considered not responding to you at all and writing you off just as Ashleigh did because people like you spend far to much time trolling online for things to be negative about.

In regards to my “questionable remarks” as you put it… I’ll do my best to address them in order they were received. If you read Minnie’s Meal Plan you’ll see that IT IS BALANCED DAILY as Dr Becker recommends. I believe in balance over time as a standard but for now Minnie is a growing baby so I’m gonna pack everything she needs into every single day. On that note Dr. Becker also says to “feed the best that you can, the best you can afford” and the best that I can afford and do for my pet is A HOMEMADE RAW FOOD DIET. I choose homemade because I know exactly what is in it. I wouldn’t feed her anything I wouldn’t eat. The best I can afford is FULLY ORGANIC MEATS AND VEGGIES FROM TRUSTED BUTCHERS AND SOURCES. My situation isn’t everyone else’s situation. Some can only afford sale meats. My advise is simply to do the best you can just like Dr. Becker recommends.

In dogsnaturallymagazine.com there is an article about Salmonella:The Bad Bacteria by Dana Scott and she references a couple vets who break down a dogs mouth and intestines so that its easy to understand why a healthy dog should not be harmed by food borne pathogens. In the case of the poor rotti, there is just no way that you can be 100% sure that his gut wasn’t already compromised. It is very sad and stories like that are why I feed Minnie foods rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids to help prevent a leaky gut issue.

I guess all I can tell you is where I started like naturalmonarch.com and it just ballooned out from there. I’ve been to too many websites to keep track of or site for reference and I continue to learn every day. I implore everyone to do the same. Also, seek the guidance of a Holistic Vet and or Holistic Pet Nutritionist in your area. Nothing against traditional vets but their clinics and/or schools are funded by major pet food companies and pharmaceuticals. And now i sound like a nutjob, sorry for that 🙂

Everyone please have a beautiful afternoon. Minnie and I are off to the beach
Love, Leelina

[Jennifer T]

Just thought I’d mention…with some of these homemade diets, you can source your meats from highland packers on stoney creek mountain. They supply all sorts of products for raw feeders, and yiy xsn just cook the meat etc for home cooked meals. Just call or email them to ask for their list if what they offer. This makes homemade diets much more cost effective. Grocery store etc meats would cost way too much.

Another good book is Raw and Natural Nutrition for dogs by Lew Olson.

[pitlove]

Hi Leelina-

“i went seeking online and now I follow Dr. Becker” “In all my research I have learned that EVERY MEAL DOES NOT NEED TO BE BALANCED! Just work on balancing over the week.

It is interesting that you follow Karen Becker, but have adapted the balance over time theory, which is exactly what she warns against doing.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/11/08/best-to-worst-pet-food-types.aspx

“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.

Mechanical breakdown of food in the mouth is what begins the digestive process in canines unlike humans.
Could you provide a credible source for your statement that animals have different enzymes in their gut and mouth that allow them to destroy pathogenic bacteria & parasites? Information from PubMed or Google Scholar will be just fine.

And lets not forget the risk involved for the humans in the home when feeding a pet raw grocery store meat.

“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.”

Again, I’m going to have to ask for a credible source of information on this considering my boyfriends Rottweiler was very healthy before he passed away of E.Coli poisoning.

https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/42/5/686/317224/Human-Health-Implications-of-Salmonella

“Fecal shedding of Salmonella organisms was evaluated in 20 dogs in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to determine whether dogs would shed the organism after consumption of homemade raw food diets [25]. Salmonella organisms were isolated from 30% of the 10 dogs that were fed homemade raw food diets, but they were isolated from none of the 10 dogs that were fed commercial dry food.”

and in another study

“In a similar study conducted in 2004, research beagles were fed commercial raw food diets identified as being contaminated with Salmonella organisms. Five of the 7 dogs that shed Salmonella organisms after consuming a raw food diet meal shed a Salmonella serotype that matched the serotype isolated from the diet that was fed [26]. This study used commercial frozen raw food diets that were naturally contaminated, and clinically healthy dogs became colonized after ingestion of a single meal.”

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide to some of these questionable statments!

[pitlove]

Hi Leelina-

“i went seeking online and now I follow Dr. Becker” “In all my research I have learned that EVERY MEAL DOES NOT NEED TO BE BALANCED! Just work on balancing over the week.

It is interesting that you follow Karen Becker, but have adapted the balance over time theory, which is exactly what she warns against doing.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/11/08/best-to-worst-pet-food-types.aspx

“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.

Mechanical breakdown of food in the mouth is what begins the digestive process in canines unlike humans.
Could you provide a credible source for your statement that animals have different enzymes in their gut and mouth that allow them to destroy pathogenic bacteria & parasites? Information from PubMed or Google Scholar will be just fine.

And lets not forget the risk involved for the humans in the home when feeding a pet raw grocery store meat.

“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.”

Again, I’m going to have to ask for a credible source of information on this considering my boyfriends Rottweiler was very healthy before he passed away of E.Coli poisoning.

https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/42/5/686/317224/Human-Health-Implications-of-Salmonella

“Fecal shedding of Salmonella organisms was evaluated in 20 dogs in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to determine whether dogs would shed the organism after consumption of homemade raw food diets [25]. Salmonella organisms were isolated from 30% of the 10 dogs that were fed homemade raw food diets, but they were isolated from none of the 10 dogs that were fed commercial dry food.”

and in another study

“In a similar study conducted in 2004, research beagles were fed commercial raw food diets identified as being contaminated with Salmonella organisms. Five of the 7 dogs that shed Salmonella organisms after consuming a raw food diet meal shed a Salmonella serotype that matched the serotype isolated from the diet that was fed [26]. This study used commercial frozen raw food diets that were naturally contaminated, and clinically healthy dogs became colonized after ingestion of a single meal.”

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide to some of these questionable statments!