[Amy S]

Hi Melissa,
I know this is an old thread. I see you are an experience miniature schnauzer owner and signed up to hopefully learn a little from you about diet because I’m pulling my hair out. I’ve been feeding raw for 2 1/2 years, basically since I rescued Lilly. First I started with chicken thighs and i would also buy organic pieces of beef from whole foods that were for beef stew, then I started using a co-op. For about 4-5 months I’ve been using Darwin’s Natural Pet Products. Just recently I’ve noticed a difference in her. Some days she is herself. Following me around, happy, and, consistently begging when I’m eating. Then the next she is lethargic and won’t even move when I’m eating (very odd for her) but on all of these days, she still eats. She is 22 pounds and i would say about 5 years old. Not positive of her age because she was a rescue. Now I very concerned that maybe she is getting too much fat and it’s effecting her pancreas. I thought I would be able to message you privately. Could you possibly e-mail me? [email protected]
Thanks,
Amy

[Dori]

Hi C4D. I figured that was what your concern was. I don’t think raw is an issue but if it will make you feel better than feed canned but please don’t forget that canned is not without it’s own bacterial issues. As to anti-inflammatory supplements I would look into feeding anti-inflammatory fruits and veggies. Just google them. I’ve never had any luck with turmeric or golden paste made with turmeric for any of my girls including myself. Also, don’t forget to avoid any and all pro-inflammatory ingredients. Google that also.

[C4D]

Hi Dori & C4C,

She had 2 incisors pulled after finding pockets in the gums. I was concerned only about the potential bacteria from raw. As you probably already know, I normally feed 1 meal raw & 1 canned/kibble mix. I can easily just feed canned food for several days. I was looking for others with experience in this situation.
While we’re at it, any thoughts on natural anti-inflammatory? I do have turmeric.

[Pitlove]

I use antlers as well for my pit and I haven’t had any issues, however as far as I know my pit doesnt have any allergies. Trying to keep it that way by changing proteins a lot. I also use freeze dried raw treats with one ingredient in them. Maybe that could be something to look into for a nice healthy treat for her.

[Dori]

Hi C4D. I’ve done it in the past with no issues, never even occurred to me that there would be an issue. With that said, we all know that all dogs are different. Was the tooth extraction because of an infection or a cracked tooth? Was it a molar or a tooth? It would also depend, I think, on how long your dog has been a raw fed dog, meaning that his gut/immune system would be in peak performance. If you’re at all worried and you feed on occasion a quality canned food, then you might just want to do that for the first couple of days or so after extraction. Anyway, just my opinion.

[C4D]

Hi All!
I have a possibly silly question. Can a dog be fed Raw immediately after tooth extractions? I haven’t run into this problem before. But now I have this dilemma. Thanks!

C4D

[Dori]

A complete and balanced raw diet. Either home prepared or feed as I do and that is commercial raw frozen formulas. I feed a few different ones. I rotate brands and proteins. One of my girls has a tumor in her bladder and a mass on the lobe of one of her lungs. Diagnosed 15 months ago and remains asymptomatic.

[aquariangt]

Canine Caviar advertises a bit towards dogs with cancer, other than that I would try to go grain free for the anti inflammatory properties, or even better raw

[Samantha F]

Hi- just found this board while looking for something to help with my 5 yr old Bella who is a blue brindle full APBT. First, we know she has chicken allergies. The first year we had her we battled with bumps. She was on and off antibiotics because the vet thought that was what would help since nothing else they tested her for showed up. She would have bumps, runny/mucousy stool, gas and an always rumbling tummy. After a lot of reading I decided to cut chicken out of her diet as I read that it was a fairly common food allergen. I changed her food to Orijen 6 Fish (we tried Orijen Regional Red and that affected her also) and I also started her on probiotic/digestive enzymes because of being on antibiotics so much. She was completely normal within 1-2 weeks. We rarely have issues unless she gets a treat with chicken meal or something. I am very careful what we or any visitors feed her. I check all treats that I buy for any kind of chicken products. I recently gave her a Bully stick and a different type of dry cookie. I’m not sure if it’s one of those or something else, but my poor baby has tons of hive looking bumps on her head, ears, underarms, etc. (one of her worst reactions yet). She rarely gets itchy when she gets them, but it looks horrible and Benadryl doesn’t seem to be helping. The only other thing we’ve added to her food is Answers Raw Goats milk, but she has been getting that for about 2+ months – so I doubt it’s that. Any ideas on how to bring down these hives would be greatly appreciated. 🙂

[El]

Hi Udi

I wouldn’t worry about whether or not you did something wrong at this point. If you get another dog I would wait at a bare minimum until he or she is fully developed before I consider spaying or neutering them.

By the way I have never spayed or neutered a dog that was still intact when I rescued or adopted them. I am a firm believer in dealing with dogs the way you deal with children. You don’t remove body parts to change unwanted behaviors and you don’t castrate them as a method of birth control.

You seem like you really take good care of your lab and are very concerned with his well being. Being on the small side is a good thing and puppy food can be fed until your guy stops growing (around a year or so).

Taste of The Wild is a very popular food and if you ever want to “upgrade” spend a little time over on the review side of this website and check out the 5 star, freeze dried, dehydrated and raw foods.

Keep up the good work!

[Kristin C]

I’m not sure I qualify for what you would consider as preparedness. I feed my dogs mostly raw, but provide 2-3 kibble meals per week because it suits our lifestyle. When we travel we do find kibble to be convenient, particularly for our car sick pup. My dogs eat a combination of grinds, RMBs, and kibble. I actualy have a calendar on the frig with their meals listed about 2 weeks out so I guess I am prepared now that I am writing this. A bag of 5lb kibble lasts about 3-4 months for our 25 lb dog.

[pugmomsandy]

A company around me has a monthly delivery route for raw pet food (and human food). He has 3 or 4 monthly routes to certain areas of the state. A detailed ingredient list of the products would be nice.

[Michael B]

I am looking to start my own Pet food line, mainly Dog food. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I own a meat manufacturing plant that is all natural and USDA certified. I was thinking of mass producing Raw food thats all Human grade. Any thoughts?

[Jennifer H]

I keep some high quality frozen kibble in the freezer in case of emergency, if the power goes out just thaw it out and I’m good. I also have a flock of free range chickens, so my dog would be supplemented with a daily fresh egg. Also if the power went out the food would still be edible for the dog for a few days if kept in a cooler with ice. I also keep a few cans of dog food on hand in case of emergency.

I feed my dog a raw diet and I love it. I’ve been formulating my own recipes somewhat based off of HoundDogMom’s (check out her stickied thread.) but with more ‘parts’ aka a lot of variety in bones and meats. It’s been kind of getting to be a pain in the butt lately though, so I think I’m going to fully switch to her model with a few minor tweaks to suit my small dog. Instead of grinding my own meat I’m just going to be preground meat from Hare Today (probably going to use the whole rabbit and the goat instead of chicken/beef, and then use chicken necks and feet as his evening rmbs, because chicken bones are the only ones he can safely eat.)

Be careful feeding kibble and raw in the same meal. Some dogs can get digestive upset from this, although some dogs tolerate it fine.

[Connie T]

Hi there, I am currently cooking for my dogs and seriously considering switching to raw. I do still feed a small amount of their dry food and always want to keep it on hand in case of a situation where running to the store is not an option (power outages etc.) So if I did switch to raw I would still give them a small amount of dry food and always keep plenty of it in air tight containers. In a worse case scenario, dry would be better than nothing. Is anyone else into preparedness and have you considered your pets and how you would feed them say if the power went out for a week?

[InkedMarie]

When the PawfectlyRawNE’s website comes back up, check them out. They do have what you’re looking for.

[InkedMarie]

Cheryl,
Check out Reel Raw (google for the website). Shipping is free, depending on where you live and how much you buy. I’m not sure if Pawfectly Raw NE has what you’re looking for.

[Cheryl F]

I’m in search of another raw dog food supplier in the northeastern section of the country. Hare todays quality is very good, but the prices are quite high comparing to some others.

I started another investigation this morning looking for some suppliers where I can get actual food, not a blend, freeze dried or combo. Looking for RMB’s of chicken/duck/turkey necks, chicken paws, stuff like that.

Many of the companies that supply raw dog food that is recommended by this forum are all blended foods or freeze dried combos.

What am i missing? Why dont people want to feed their dogs actual bones instead?

[Bobby dog]

Hi D O:
On Dr. Wynn’s website she had a document posted on hypoallergenic treats with a link to a website that sold exotic meats. The company was located in Washington, but it looks like it closed recently. I found this site through a Google search, they are located in California:
http://www.exoticmeatmarkets.com/expetforaw.html

Did you check out this option on Balance IT?
https://secure.balanceit.com/marketplace2.2/details.php?i=17&cc=

Here’s info on individual consultations:
https://secure.balanceit.com/info/acvnecvcn.php

I am going to try out their Carnivore Blend for Bobby and the cats next month.

There’s also Just Food For Dogs custom and Rx diets. I want to give one of their DIY kits a try:
http://justfoodfordogs.com/vet-support-diets.html
http://justfoodfordogs.com/custom_prescriptive

Here are some sites I have come across and bookmarked. I haven’t really looked into them too much, but maybe one of them has some options for you:
http://www.raynenutrition.com/default.asp
https://www.petdiets.com/

[Susan]

Hi, you need to find a new vet, one that knows about IBD…. some vets are useless when it comes to SIBO, EPI & IBD, was your dog put on Metronidazole for 3 weeks?? Metronidazole is an antibiotic for the Stomach & Bowel…Or Tylan Powder get some Tylan Powder & give 1/8 teaspoon with food once a day. Tylan Powder taste awful so I put 1/8th teaspoon in those empty capsules & make Tylan capsules up, it can turn dogs off their food
when just added to their meal, it taste very bitter, Tylan Powder makes poos nice & firm..
Joined this Face Book group “Dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disorder” they will help you where to buy the Tylan powder some people give the Tylan twice a day, vet said to start with 1/8 teaspoon with breakfast or dinner once a day….find a new kibble with limited ingredients, have you tried, “California Natural” Lamb & Rice it has just 4 ingredients, Lamb, Brown Rice, White Rice, Sunflower Oil.. no peas no potatoes my boy cant eat potatoes…another thing I had too do was lower the fat% the California Natural fat is 11%min Protein is 21%min fiber is 2.5%min http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products/1211
Boiled rice can irritate the bowel, Pumkin can make poos sloppy as its high in fiber.
I boil Quinoa instead as its gluten free… I buy extra lean beef grounded mince for humans, I bake mini meat loaves with blended broccoli, celery & carrot not much I add 2 spoons of the blended veggies to 1 kilo (2lb) mince mix thru, no egg then I add the cooled Quinoa with the beef mince & veggie mix about 1/4 – 1/2 cup boiled quinoa…. I make little rissole as treats & mini meat loaves….add less of everything then after a week when poos are firm add more of the veggie mix make sure you blend any raw veggies in a blender or mini processor..dogs cant digest veggies especially raw veggies..

I wouldn’t feed raw at this time, until you work out what’s wrong..
I went thru a Naturopath 2 months ago to start a raw diet & I had to add Digestive Enzymes with every meal so his poos were firm & there was no jelly mucus, diarrhea or gurgling rumbling bowel noises & he didn’t feel sick…. raw can make some dogs feel sick..
I also had to add a live Probiotic to help firm up the poo Patch wasn’t allowed no bone or organ meat until we fixed his stomach & bowel…I cook the raw diet now (meat loaf) as my boy was regurgitating the raw meal 3 hours later, water kept coming up into mouth…

Start again you will either need the Metronidazole or Tylan powder & a limited ingredient diet no treats nothing except his meals….
the only way a vet or IMS will know what is wrong is to do a Endoscope & biopsies or to be cut open & biopsies taken from the small & large bowel, you can have Colonoscopy like humans have but I think they can not get to the small bowel that’s way the Endoscope is the best to have done…..a lot of people in the Dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disorder Face Book group just do the Endoscope & Biopsies that’s what I had done…..shop around as prices very…….

[Jack B]

Our terrier mix has been having problems the past 2 years with his poop and we are goign crazy figuring out what to do. One day about 2 years ago we noticed some blood and mucous in his poop. We had him checked out and the Vets found nothing wrong. We can;t afford to do all the testing they want us to do, so we switched his good to a Rabbit based food and it cleared up after about 3 weeks. Then about a year later he started having blood again and his poop is very soft and sometimes mostly liquidy. He also strains to go and goes sometimes 4-6 times in one walk. We did a allergy test where you send out a piece of rope that they chew and get saliva on and the results said he was allergic to a few things, but I dont know if those tests are even accurate. We took him again to the vet and he put his on a prescription food with chicken with was supposed to be easy to digest. His poop started coming out in small nuggets but he was still straining and still had some blood. After 3 weeks we went back to his Rabbit based food and things didn’t get better. His poop get much looser and is almost always mostly liquidy and still has some blood. So what do we do now? Try a different food? What would you recommend? SHould we try a raw diet? Totally different protein souce? Why did the rabbit based food work for a while and now no? Thanks in advance.

[Vincent L]

I have not yet tried them but probably will. Try contacting through the FB page I know they have had trouble with their web page. I requested a price list and one was sent to me very quickly. I requested through a private message in Face Book.
FYI if you live and/ or work in the Boston area I just found a Poultry supplier in Cambridge that caters to raw feeding. The name is Mayflower Poultry and they are on 621 Cambridge Street in Cambridge. I went there yesterday and picked up chicken backs, necks, feet as well as turkey necks. great way to try it out as they have smaller batches you can try but they also sell by the case. Their prices are about the same as Pawfectly. I just walked in no need to call in an order ahead of time unless your looking for specific items that they may not normally stock. They also had trachea, Tripe, Ox tails…I would have purchased more but I don’t have a freezer yet.

[Marta W]

hi there,
i live in southern metro west and i was looking into pawfectly raw myself but couldnt get info on the meat, do they have the meat inspected at all? is it good quality? what do you know about them?
At the moment i am doing victory dog food and it costs me around $16 for 5lbs of ground chicken mix with vegg in it, turkey is ~$17 anf beef ~25 for 5lbs which is too steep for me but i would like to introduce diff proteins to my dog diet

[Marta W]

Vincent, do you like Pawfectly RAw? I have emailed them with questions regarding quality and origin of their meat and they never replied to me.
They prices seem pretty good so i would like to try it, especially since i work in Natick and they deliver somewhere around there right?
Would you recommend them? Have you talked to them??

[Miss Koa]

Thank you Red for the PDF. I hadn’t searched it. It has very interesting info. I appreciate that! I like that I can refer to it on my tablet because I have it with me all the time. 🙂

Hi, crazy4cats! Thank you for sharing your experience with me. I know, the thought of raw meat kind of gives me the heebie jeebies. 😀 Where can I find this “commercial premix” stuff? Is it expensive? Is it sold in regular stores or do I have to order it online? Right now I’m doing a raw chicken in the morning and kibble in the evening…at least until I can figure stuff out. 🙂 At least my husband isn’t complaining….yet. 🙂

Hi Kristin C! Thank you for your reply! What is “homemade raw”? Do you grind the muscle meat, organs and supplements together? Also, do you feed it at the same time with the raw meaty bones or are they separate meals? I’m glad to hear that you haven’t had any contamination issues. That’s my main concern. I am very diligent about keeping my kitchen and work area very clean. ( I’m a bit of a germaphobe…lol! ) I was concerned more like if my dog ate her chicken, then she walked around the house, would it get on my socks…then if I went to lie down, will it transfer from my socks to the bed….that kind of thing. 🙂 Maybe I’m over thinking this too much.

I agree. It is a process and I can’t say for SURE that this is the best diet…still researching…but I also feel that I like the idea of feeding my dog food that I know is not filled with unnecessary chemicals and fillers.

Thank you everyone for your opinions and input. I appreciate all the help I get! 🙂

[Kristin C]

Hi Miss Koa-I feed both my dogs raw, mostly homemade and raw meaty bones, no more than 2-3 kibble meals per week. The ratio between homemade raw and commercial raw I feed depends upon the time of year. Right now, I will buy more commercial raw since the summer gets busy and it’s also easier to feed RMBs. I also buy raw nuggets from Steve’s Real Food For Dogs. It’s not HPP treated though, which I prefer. I also order grinds and RMBs from Reel Raw in Maine, and occasionally get turkey necks from a grocery store. When I make homemade food it’s a combo of muscle meat and organs plus a supplement. When I feed RMBs I make sure I add matching organs in proportion (this is cheaper I am finding). I also add some fish oil and vit E a few time per week (or sardines) plus a raw egg and cottage once or twice per week.

I have not found feeding raw to have any contamination issues. When I make the food I take the same precautions as if I was making food for me and my husband. Children,and the ill, I would watch out for though as others have mentioned. I only feed raw grinds inside, I feed in small mason jars. RMBs I feed outside, but my dogs don’t use their paws.

The final thing I can add about feeding raw is that I think it’s great IF it works for your dog. It is definitely a process. I have changed how I feed my dogs several times in the last year, keep reading and form your own opinions on what works for your dog and household.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Miss Koa-
I only regularly feed my dogs fresh once per week. I buy fresh ground turkey or beef and lightly brown it and add a commercial premix to it for the proper vitamins and such. I’m not that worried about salmonella in the meat, but I just cannot bring myself to feed it totally raw. But, it does get pinker and pinker every week. Hope you find a comfortable solution that you both agree on.

C4D-
Good tip for dissinfecting the “wipers”!

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if you saw this when/if you used the search button, you may find some useful tips http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

I like The SkeptVet, I was listening to the homeopathic vets and some of what they say just doesn’t make sense to me.

I find The SkeptVet”s opinions to be to be more science based. http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2013/11/raw-diets-for-pets/comment-page-1/#comment-111864

[Sarah M]

Hello All,
I have two Dobermans that tend to be on the thin side (vet confirmed). They are active but not overly so. Does anyone have recommendations for putting weight on a dog? Any dog food brands or supplements that have worked for you? I’ve tried upping the amount of kibble and canned but there’s a point where it’s too much food and they get loose stools. I also tried raw but they lost weight on the recommended amounts and it became cost prohibitive.

Thank you for taking the time to read my question!
Sarah

[Miss Koa]

Good morning! Thank you Aimee and C4D for taking the time out to reply! It is pretty overwhelming… Interesting study regarding the vacuum contents. I had no idea! So my fear isn’t THAT irrational then. Lol! But yeah, I’m trying to figure out if this is right for me or not. I appreciate any input for and against raw feeding…I rather be well informed than just go into it thinking “people say it’s best, so it must be true” kind of thing. Thank you C4D for the links! I have heard about the sponge thing and was told to throw them in the dishwasher once in a while, but I like your idea of nuking them for two minutes. Thanks for the tip!
I am looking at recipes and nutritional information and feel overwhelmed a bit. My husband is one of those people who figures all they need is meat and sometimes some organs. He’s very stubborn. >:(
Also, I am in Canada, so I don’t know if I can find the same brands of commercial raw dog food here. Do you order online or do they sell them at pet stores or? Chicken and meat in general is expensive here, but we also want what’s best for our dog. 🙂 Thank you again for all your input! So much to read, so much to learn! 🙂

[C4D]

Hi Miss Koa,

First let me say I am not a fan of skeptvet. I do feed raw but I use a commercial raw to feed my dogs. Most of them are HPP processed, especially on the poultry to reduce the possibility of salmonella. If you are feeding your own prepared Raw Diet you do need to be very careful to balance the nutrition properly. If you’re doing this I would research online to get some balance recipes. Many people are simply throwing their dogs some raw meat and calling it a raw diet but that’s nutritionally wrong. theBCnut did give you some good advice and Aimee is correct on some companies using the HPP process and that it can be and is found in kibble and treats. If you research the commercial raw websites, they generally will tell you which are/are not or if all products are HPP processed.
If you are really uncomfortable with feeding raw, you could cook fresh meat and use a premix (Grandma Lucy’s, Sojos, The Honest Kitchen, etc) to feed a fresher diet. I do this on a regular basis in my rotation as well.
I’m not sure if you are aware of this, but the dirtiest/germiest thing in your kitchen is you sponge (if you use one). I microwave my dishrag for 2 minutes every morning and sometimes during the day. I’ve never had any issues with Salmonella since raw feeding. I also have 2 sets of bowls for my dogs and they go in the dishwasher every night.

I’m including some links on homemade raw diets and salmonella from the CDC:

Whole Dog Journal:
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_7/features/Home-Prepared-Dog-Food-Nutritional-Information_20568-1.html

CDC Salmonella, general info:
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/

Some cleaning tips:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling/cleanliness-helps-prevent-foodborne-illness/CT_Index

http://www.livescience.com/1248-study-microwaves-kill-kitchen-germs.html

[Vincent L]

Pawfectly comes to two towns that are within 30 minutes of where I live so no problem there. I also found a poultry company in Cambridge, Ma, Mayflower Poultry that caters to raw feeding. I am going to call them today and see what their prices are like and how much variety they have.

[aimee]

Hi Miss Koa,

Bacterial transference is a concern, not only from the material on her mouth and legs but also from the other end too. Salmonella can be a hardy bacteria and a simple wash down after eating is unlikely to eliminate it.

I had a reference, and may still have it, just don’t have time to look, in which the contents of the vacuum cleaner was cultured from homes with raw fed dogs in them, 10% cultured positive. However, homes without raw fed dogs cultured positive as well. It was a much smaller number but statistically there wasn’t a large enough sample to be significant. The stuff gets around. Avoiding raw altogether doesn’t eliminate risk completely as kibble occasionally tests positive and raw protein “treats” are a source as well ( dehydrated chews ie pig ears)

Salmonella is more common in poultry products so you could just avoid those. Another option would be to use a commercial high pressure pasteurized product. Both options would reduce risk. Some companies test and hold their products.

theBcnut summed it up nicely. If there are immunocompromised people in the home, children and I may even add adults on acid reducing medications the risk will be increased that transfer could happen to the individuals in your home. I decided raw wasn’t appropriate for my household. Not just for Salmonella but for other reasons as well.

For great clicker training videos see kikopup on youtube. Her website is dogmantics dot come.

[Miss Koa]

Thanks, theBCnut! Good points. Yeah, the bone thing is mainly for the teeth. We’re all pretty healthy here too. I guess I’m just more anxious. We had dogs before (one just recently passed on at 17!) And they were on kibble. My husband wanted to try the raw diet for this one…..but I’m the one doing all the work!! So it’s all very new to me. I still have lots to read on balancing out nutrition etc. I’m glad I found this forum though! Thanks again for your input! 🙂

[Miss Koa]

Hi there! New to the forum and new to raw feeding. I had a question re safety….(I’m sorry if it’s been asked before…if it is a repeat, could someone direct me? Thank you in advance.) I was just curious, where do you feed your dogs? When they have raw juices like chicken juice on their paws and all over their mouth, is that safe and also safe to run around the house after eating? I have to admit, I’m paranoid about salmonella in the house. At first I started to feed my pup in her crate and then after, carry her straight outside. The weather has been good lately so I started to feed her outside..not in the crate because she would whine and not eat. Then she started to run into the garden with her chicken, which scares me because I know some plants can get salmonella. Lol! My husband thinks I’m paranoid about nothing. That may be so, but I still don’t like the thought of chicken juice paw prints all over the house, clothes,toys and on our bed. I wipe down the kitchen area after handling raw meat…I guess my main concern is about transference of salmonella onto things after she eats. Obviously I won’t let her give kisses or anything like that right after she’s eaten. Hahaha. Do you wash their paws? Or do nothing? Thanks in advance! 🙂

[Vincent L]

InkedMarie, we are in Beverly, MA. I did find the FB page for Pawfectly Raw NE and saw the schedules. I asked her for a spreadsheet of the pricing and products as she was offering to send them to people while the site was down. I will probably give them a try.

[InkedMarie]

I don’t know if Pawfectly goes your way but Reel Raw is free delivery for you if you get at least 30lbs

[Cheryl F]

On the Hare food, our cost is about $500/month. I KNOW!!!!

We have 4 dogs currently.

1 14 yr old Bassett – 60lbs
1 10 yr old Mix – 60lbs
1 5 yr old Basset – 50lbs
1 7 month Border Collie Mix – 50lbs

That price is food + delivery (we pay about $60.00 for fedex 2nd day delivery as Hare is too far away to drive to).

Average it out, we are spending about $125/dog per month. (give or take). I’d love to investigate some of these other providers I think i need to at Pawfectly RAW NE and others near me. (I’m in northern NJ right next to the border of PA/NJ)

[Melissa L]

I haven’t tried this dog food yet, but I’m curious about Merrick’s new “Raw Infused” dry dog foods. I was wondering if you could review this new line Merrick has out?

[InkedMarie]

Vincent,
Hare is more than the Pawfectly Raw NE I talked about but they have great quality! My plans are to get the bulk of my grinds from Pawfectly but get the more exotic proteins (goat, rabbit) from Hare. I cant tell you the cost from Hare sorry, we only figured out the cost for six weeks of Pawfectly.

[Vincent L]

Those of you using Hare today what is your cost to feed per month? I have 2 older 15-18lb Schnauzers with some missing teeth that I want to feed ground raw and we have a 1 year old hound mix who weighs 70lbs that we want to feed a prey model/ ground raw combo. It seems to do this would cost me somewhere over $300 per month based on 3.50/lb many of the mixes I saw on Hare Today were more than that per pound unless I am not seeing something.

[Vincent L]

What is the NH based co? Pawfectly Raw NewEngland?
I am considering them myself. I am hoping to get my older Schnauzers with some teeth removed on a good ground raw diet without spending a ton of money. My son (and us) also own a hound mix boy who is 1 year old and would like to get him started on a prey model/ with some ground raw as well. He is about 70 lbs.

[CircaRigel]

Agreed. A lot of those Petsworld foods and treats are definitely not premium and have alot of fillers your dog doesn’t need. As for Holistic Select, while mostly premium, it contains green tea extract… Wellness, Eagle Pack, Old Mother Hubbard, and Holistic Select all began putting it in all of their foods recently… but there’s a problem. I found a fair bit of research on PubMed that shows it to cause liver toxicity in dogs. Granted, the doses are higher and its worse if given in a fasting state, which wouldn’t be the case in food products, but I still wouldn’t want to risk my dog by touching the stuff.

Galen, my 6-month-old Shiloh is now on Canidae Grain Free Pure Sea for kibble, and Trippett (Green Beef Tripe, Tripe & Venison, & Duck Salmon & Tripe) for his canned food. I decided to follow the recent research that suggests giant breed pups may do best on an adult diet that has the low calcium and phosphorus, as it doesn’t have a lot of extra empty calories. I chose the Pure Sea formula because it has few key ingredients, the first 3 are meat and meat meals (fresh smoked salmon, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal), and is absolutely LOADED with Omega 3’s (brain food and excellent for the immune system, plus anti-inflammatory… perfect for a service dog in training like Galen, or a service dog). It also has the highest rating from Dog food Advisor, and includes probiotics and even some enzymes, like cellulase, which increases the bioavailability of polysaccharides as an energy source. The tripe in Trippett also contains digestive enzymes, which again is beneficial for digestion and increasing the bioavailability of nutrients.

Everything I feed Galen is for a reason. Even his treats, which are Sojo’s Simply Lamb… Only one ingredient- raw lamb, conveniently freeze dried.

[LexiDog]

I would think so. You are feeding her a quality food right now. If it is dehydrated raw, the big difference is the moisture content.

[Susan]

Hi Liane M, I tried a raw diet 3-4 weeks ago Kangaroo cause the fat % was 3% & blended broccoli, carrot celery & apple, I also added a digestive Enzyme 1/2 capsule & probiotic so he doesn’t feel sick, I went thru a Naturopath she said raw can make some dogs feel sick when the Pancreas isn’t working properly, he seemed hungry all the time cause the Naturopath wanted him on just 2 meals a day to rest his stomach & pancreas.. he was waking up2am & sitting in the kitchen to be feed, so I’ve been cooking the raw & have gone back to 4 smaller meals a day….he did real well on the raw for his skin it all cleared up but he was regurgitating the digested raw after 3 hours of eating the raw he was bringing up water & I’d see him swallowing & swallowing then he was getting acid reflux from regurgitating sometimes..
I’ve been soaking kibble in water then when kibble is soft I drain & put thru the mini processor, he doesn’t regurgitate the soaked kibble, I’ve been cooking extra lean beef mince adding blended broccoli, blended carrots, blended celery & making small meat loaves (rissoles) that I freeze & take out the night before & give for breakfast & dinner …I give soaked kibble for lunch & I do another late dinner around 7.30pm some soaked kibble blended it seems to work for him…I tried wet tin food, there was no real low fat wet tin foods fat was all around 5-7% to high & for the price it’s better to cook & you know what they are eating….look into digestive enzymes if you do, do raw..

[Liane M]

Hi! I am new to the pancreatitis world. My yorkiepoo had his first and hopefully only BAD case just the other week. He stayed at the vet for five days. I had the ultrasound to confirm pancreatitis. Prior to the flare up he was eating Hills Science Diet along with boiled chicken and other table scraps. It had to of been an on going thing for him because we were at the vet at least every three months due to vomiting and his vet never had him tested. Any who, after his five day stay he was sent home on a trial basis with SIX different meds. Just the other day he was somewhat back to himself playing and being the dog everyone loved but still NOT eating on his own (he had to be syringe feed). Just today he ate a bit of CANNED TUNA.The fat content is 0% so I figured if he’s eating on his own SCORE! After his dose of meds I mixed a bit more of the tuna with boiled chicken and he ate it all. I know vet wants him to eat Hills RX kibble once he recovers. Now I have read up on this food and most people have said their dog have had MORE flare ups. My local pet store had pointed out a few wet foods that have a fat content as low as 2%. He wouldn’t touch it. Neither would I. I would love to make the home made food for him but everyone says he wouldn’t get the nutrients that are formulated in dog food. A new thing is raw diet. Ground whole chicken and beef. Has anyone consider or tried the raw diet?

[Anonymous]

If it has been going on for more than 1 year/4 seasons and the dog has not shown improvement despite food changes, frequent bathing, etc and continues to suffer.
The allergens that the dog is responding to are probably environmental, impossible to avoid and not diet related.
If you use the search engine above on the forum home page and look up “allergies” you will find a lot of my posts and some articles that are very informative.
/forums/search/allergies/

I suggest you consult a dermatologist/specialist as there are other reasons for the symptoms you describe other than food intolerances.

Helpful article below:
By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[Susan]

Hi Sue, my boy gets the red around the bottom of his mouth, what I did was change diet & be careful a lot of these grain free diets have Peas, Potaoes, Sweet potatoes that make skin worse, I buy the Huggies Thick Baby Wipes the Cucumber & Aloe after Patch finishes eating I get a baby wipe & wipe his bottom mouth & chin as the food & spit must irritate his skin…I also bath in Malaseb medicated shampoo weekly baths, here’s the raw diet that made Patch all better http://naturalanimalsolutions.com.au/natural-diet.html scroll down till you see “Skin Allergy Diet” & click pick a protein that your girl has never eaten before also pick 2-4 veggies & 1-2 fruits, I picked Kangaroo & broccoli head, 2 carrots 5 celery sticks & 1 apple to start with…. peel then cut up veggies & fruit & put thru a mini processor & blend so the raw veggies & fruit are real fine stop before they become water/pulp, then I had to add 2 heaps spoons veggie/fruit mix to 1 cup of raw Kangaroo meat freeze the rest of the veggie/fruit mix into 2-3 spoon sections & take out the night before put in fridge for next day.. Patches red paws, stinky itchy body started to clear up within 2-3 days I couldn’t believe his red paws went away just after 2 days on the raw diet vet kept telling me he has environment allergies to pollen & grass…. then I bathed him in the Malaseb medicated shampoo its excellent & I haven’t needed to bath him for 1 month since starting the new raw diet… I don’t know if your girl has yeasty skin or environment allergies or food intolerances…Raw is best then cooked if you cant do the raw.. if you feed a kibble you need a limited ingredient hypoallergenic kibble something like “California Natural’ Hypoallergenic limited ingredient kibble.. try the Lamb & Rice it has just 4 ingredients, here’s their link to have a look they also have treats on the same page… The Science Diet Grain Free Ideal Balance has Potatoes & chicken…. if you don’t see any improvement take back for refund & get the California Natural & give that a go if you don’t want to feed a raw or cooked diet… I do both cooked for breakfast & a hypoallergenic gluten free kibble for dinner http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products

[Sue L]

I have 2 blue nose pitbull females.They are my children since I lost my 7yr old Bluenose to cancer last summer and he never ever complained about anything up to the day he passed.I got my new babies right away because I was so lonesome without him. Their names are Ava and Nina,Ava is blue/grey with white paws .belly and nose and my Nina is almost totally blue/grey but I’m having issues with Ava’s skin ,mostly where she’s white ,she’s raw .Vet has given her steroids, Benadryl ,A&D Ointment but still around the side of her mouth is so red and raw ,please if anyone has any suggestions please feel free to contact me . They are both weaning off puppy chow grain free to Hills science Diet and grain free treats are also given to them .Please help if possible !

[chris]

Wow, thanks Bobby. That site is great for showing what is toxic and non toxic. I was surprised how much of a list it actually has. I agree some they have listed are questionable, but that is just something that common sense should think about.

For instance they have no raw meat bones, but everyone on here would probably disagree to that lol