[theBCnut]

I totally agree about dog food manufacturer being a big contributor to inhumane housing practices with food animals!!

I don’t consider feeding practices that the animals don’t understand or feel harmed by to be inhumane, but they may be unethical, which is a whole different, but relevant, issue. I, also, wouldn’t consider over 1 hour travel time to be inhumane anymore than I think it’s inhumane for my kids and myself to travel in the car for more than 1 hour, but there are limits, and travel conditions are another matter, definitely inhumane sometimes.

I don’t think from reading what is stated about Darwin’s that you can assume that they aren’t humanely raised, by your standards. Feeding cattle feed while on range doesn’t mean there isn’t grass, etc., but it may mean that it isn’t enough grass for them to be totally grass fed. They don’t say anything about antibiotics, hormones, travel time, etc., so I don’t know what the practices are.

I don’t know of any raw dog food manufacturers that are up to your standards. But you might want to check out Hare Today and see if you might think they are close enough. They aren’t complete foods though. Good luck in your quest!

[Peggy]

Ok so, new question –

There is an Amish Marketplace here in town, most everything is home made, and I mean everything!

They have a meat dept where we get all of our chicken, lamb chops, pork steaks, bacon, etc. So, I’m going to ask if I can buy some bones for my dogs.

What should I ask for? I’ve never purchased raw bones before.

[simmy]

Free range is a small part of it.

I don’t think it is humane to force animals to eat something they are not suppose eat to gain more body weight fastest possible to get ready for slaughter.

for me, humanely raised means:
– proper animal husbandry
– have access to grass and open pastures
– not given antibiotics or hormones
– must travel less than an hour to the slaughterhouse not in a crowded truck
– slaughterhouses must be committed to humane slaughter practices.

I believe the pet food industry is one of the biggest contributor of animal abuse since they are all trying to source their meat cheapest possible. We all count ourselves animal lover and most of us are participating this practice too even when we buy premium brands without even knowing it. I am not criticizing anyone though, it’s just what it is.

I was wondering if any raw food brand are paying attention any of these or they are just new members of the industry using touchy marketing words…

• This reply was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by simmy.

[crazy4cats]

Shoot, that is what I am afraid of and have not tried the raw food yet that I bought. It’s so frustrating when you think you have something great for them and they sniff and turn. Or funnier yet, one of my cats tries to scratch at the wall or something close by as if he is trying to bury it. LOL! When he was a kitten he could get the cloth matt I had under his dishes to come up and cover up his food he didn’t want. He is the quirkiest orange kitty I’ve ever had! 🙂

[Bobby dog]

“They seem to be wondering why I’ve ruined the nice raw turkey they had smelled.” Very funny, maybe your cats are related to mine? 🙂

[jakes mom]

Just an update on the cats and the KBPF mix. I’ve tried the raw mix for a couple of days, so far, no go. They seem to be wondering why I’ve ruined the nice raw turkey they had smelled. Everybody has had a sniff and a taste but that’s all. Might end up being toppers for Jake’s food. He loves it of course. Will try for a few more days….

[l h]

glad your dog is doing well, again i will have yet to respond to their latest email which i posted info for above. Going to ask what type of fish they use, as a rule salmon, trout must always be cooked or deep freezed to remove a specific parasite that only affects dogs eating it. I won’t touch the fish type with VE either. Not so sure about other forms of fish, still, I would only do fish cooked, ditto with pork because of the specific bacterias it contains. beef, venison, rabbit, chicken, turkey are all fine raw.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Sam D-
I mix the Nature’s Variety frozen raw medallions with my dogs’ kibble a couple times a week with no issue. In fact, there “output” is generally better when I add in the raw rather than canned. Also, I believe that all of the Nature’s Variety raw products are already complete and balanced and would not need to be mixed with the HK base mix. I think that a few of the other brands of commercial raw such as Primal offer some raw that is not balanced and could be mixed with the base mix.

Have fun with that lucky puppy!

[Dori]

I have no input on Raw Bistro, but Darwin’s is only available on their own site through an auto subscription. They have no need for distributors or retail shop fees or retail facilities. Maybe that’s how they keep their costs in check. Also they have reduced their protein levels in some of their foods and raised the fat levels. It’s the reason I stopped feeding Darwins. I’ve never fed Raw Bistro so I no nothing about them.

[simmy]

I was thinking that too. Raw Bistro listed beef heart is the #1 ingredient in their product. But it still doesn’t add up properly. Even beef hearts are not that cheap when they are grassfed. Aunt Jeni’s says they get their meats from grass-fed farms.

Here is an article a farmer shares his cost http://www.humaneitarian.org/uncategorized/why-grass-fed-beef-costs-so-much/#.VLYAeorF_60

Still quite interesting how come they keep their production cost under $2 per pound while offering all these “quality” products.

[simmy]

Here is the deal,

There are some raw pet food brands they claim the meat in their product is grass-fed. For example: Raw Bistro or Darwin’s Natural Selections.

Their retail price is about $5-7 per lb. (http://wetnose.com/products/raw-bistro-frozen-beef#.VLXb6orF_60) How do they afford putting grass-fed beef into their products? Average wholesale price of grass-fed beef is around $3.50 – $4.50 per lb. considering their big volume purchases. Let’s say their muscle meat ratio is about %60. That brings their muscle meat cost between $2.10 $2.70 alone. Let’s add organ meat, vegetable other ingredient and all other production cost, I am going to assume it should be close to $4 per lb. without any markup. Their markup, distributor markup, retail markup… It just doesn’t add up.

here is average wholesale meat prices published by usda.
http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/nw_ls110.txt

Formula 1
Product cost $4 per lb.
Manf. Markup 100% = $8 per lb.
Dist. Markup 40% = $3.2 + $8 = $11.2 per lb.
Ret. Markup 40% = $4.48 = $15.68 per lb.

Formula 2
Product cost $4 per lb.
Man markup 50% = $6 per lb.
Dist. Markup 40% = $2.4 + $6 = $8.4 per lb.
Ret. Markup 40% = $3.36 = $11.76 per lb.

How come they can sell grass-fed beef product that low? It just doesn’t add up unless they keep their cost per lb around $2.

So… What am I missing?

[l h]

Interesting, quick update, received an e-mail after all. Stating they use the whole carcass, which I have always thought was good… one liver, two kidneys per bird etc. Etc. blood for the chicken formula for iron, tripe for the calcium and no bone in their beef. Mentioned nutrient panels being made in and for AAFCO, and that they are as someone mentioned above expensive. Found the feedback positive, as I do know that dog food is not a”science” as the AAFCO and the food industry would like you to believe. This brings me back to my friend who started feeding her seizure husky raw food and lives in CANADA. This has helped her dog tremendously no more bowel issues, no more itching, and seizures much further apart. Most of the reputable well loved brands she gets their have NO synthesized vitamins, no AAFCO breathing down their back, and a couple of the companies again, say they use whole carcass, but do not have the bone, muscle, organ ratios…. But, the most positive is that they are test batching their food with NONE of the potato to see how consistency is with removal as it is a binder. If they do this, I may just give it a go….

[l h]

What an excellent read on this! I too am leery of this food had e-mailed back and forth and kept getting scripted vague answers, such as bone content is not important we use the whole carcass, fermented veggies and fruits are more digestible. Anyway, finally got no response when I said I found it very odd that there was no nutrient panel, and no bone, muscle, organ ratio something disclosed by most every raw company I have dealt with.

As for the fish formula and peoples dogs getting ill, I for one would not feed raw fish, and there are varying opinion, but many who say fish, and pork are two meats to stay away from in raw, dehydrated or frozen for various reasons, bacterial level and other.

Yes their food calculator is way off, but then I have found the same thing with a number of brands… including darwins and vital essential freeze dried. A food with high protein and fat GA … yet food like Stella and Chewys, Primal with added veggies etc and lower fat I need LESS of, but with VE, a richer food, which you would assume you need less of, in fact you need MORE calorically.

Hard to trust so many foods, one of my dogs has major allergies, and GI sensitivities. I had hoped to add BDN into the mix, but am leery as to their lack of forthcoming info that is easily disclosed by other companies.

On their positive side, the whole bacteria and air drying process.. that is a catch 22… any food that is air dried( think people that used to make jerky long ago not in an oven) will risk that. Even frozen raw has bacteria once thawed… you cook the meat over a certain temperature, and BDN having supposedly bone in content, then you risk cooking the bone, and making your pup very ill. Plus a healthy dog, should be able to eat all these forms of raw… no issue and digest.

If BGN ever decides to disclose more info I may try, but I find their responses and secrecy very strange… sad as it does look like a good option, with the fermented veggies and all as a better way for the dog to process and digest, rather than pooping them out the other end. That being said, not fond of the potato in it although they insist only 3% as everyone knows starch and raw meat and bone digest at different rates.

Oh, and lastly for those that feed pre made raw, MOST companies Darwins, S&C, Primal with their added vitamins the vitamin E/tocopherol mix, and any Lecithin of course are most always soy based. So if you have a dog with soy among their allergies like mine, many of these foods are a no go, one of the reasons I had hoped to try BDN no synthesized vitamins, which again, unless a company claims are usa sourced are usually from China.

Yes I have researched and contacted many companies… sigh…

[Dori]

Hi Cheryl. I have fed OC Raw from time to time. Yes, it’s difficult to find. One of my not too local stores will order it for me but it’s just a pain so I don’t feed it to frequently. Girls like it and they do well on it.

Commercial raws don’t have to contain fruits and veggies to be complete foods. Some raw feeders don’t even believe that dogs need fruits or veggies. I prefer my girls have them in their diet but as I give them all fruits, and veggies as treats and I feed a rotation diet, I’m not a stickler about whether they are included in the meal or not. Eventually with a rotation diet it all works out.

By the way, how are Millie and Pepper doing with raw??

• This reply was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by Dori.

[Dori]

Freeze dried is typically more expensive than raw but it works well as a treat or for traveling, camping, long hikes, whatever. The freeze dried is typically exactly like the raw, just freeze dried. All the moisture is taken out but it is not cooked in any way so it’s like raw but not. Ingredients are the same. Dehydrated is a totally different process. There is heat involved therefore taking some of the nutritional value out of the food. Not that much but enough to no longer get the benefits of feeding raw. Dehydrated I also like because it’s great in a pinch for traveling for sure, but if you’ve forgotten to defrost their food. Sometimes I’m running home just to feed them and I don’t even have the time for the Primal Pronto or small size raw to defrost so I start to rehydrate their food, take them for a walk, feed them and run out the door again. Freeze dried is the most expensive, then typically raw, then dehydrated, then canned and last but not least is kibble. Typically that’s the way the pricing scale goes. Not always, but most of the time.

Also with this particularly freeze dried the bits are so small that you don’t have to add water to them if you don’t want to. If you squeeze them they’re sort of like dusty, dry like. You can add water to them if you want. Just depends on how you like to feed. If your dog doesn’t drink a lot of water then adding water is always a good way to get more moisture into them.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by Dori.

[crazy4cats]

Thank you. I think I’ll give them a try. I’ve used the frozen raw nuggets occasionally, but never the freeze dried. I guess then you wouldn’t have to worry about defrosting them. Are they a lot more expensive? Is being freeze dried better than dehydrated or frozen. Not really sure of the difference.

[Dori]

Ignore this post. I was trying to post a coupon for $4.00 of Instinct raw One Bag of Instinct Raw Freeze Dried Meal or Mixer For Dogs but as you all know, I DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO IT AND IT NEVER EVER WORKS FOR ME!!!!!!! Sorry everyone

• This reply was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by Dori.

[deborah d]

Tuckers raw Turkey and Pumpkin is not on here yet. I had been going between Primal turkey and sardine and Bravo turkey. I have two cockers on raw and wanted to find something good but not crazy expensive. So far am loving the Tuckers. Can’t wait to hear your reveiw

[Cheryl Pepper Millie Sophie]

Dori, have you heard of or ever fed OC raw?
It seems like a good for-may be hard to find though.
I was curious, since I am trying to get some back up brands to have on hand.
I noticed the VE does not contain any veggies or fruits like the Primal yet it is a complete & balanced product correct?
It’s funny Shawna had tried years ago to get me to transition pepper to raw, and I just couldn’t do it, now I just hope she tolerates it so she can go all raw!!!
Life

[l h]

Someone mentioned this food with high praise. I researched, and e-mailed and checked their facebook forum. As good as it may be in some ways, very leery as to their responses which are over and over the same, as in scripted. No nutrient panel, no bone content ratio, they just say thats not important cal/phos is. Total avoidance of disclosing things that normally most any raw, or good food company would for that matter. Plus see many dogs that have A initially vomited on food? and B how the food ratios to feed seem way off base.

In many ways looks like a good food but the above has me wondering, can anyone post as to their experience with it? More so, why this so called good company cannot provide simple nutrient guidelines when asked, or a meat, organ and bone ratio as most raw and raw dehydrated do?

• This topic was modified 10 years, 11 months ago by l h.

[Dori]

Okay, with Primal if the word Formula is in the title that means it is a complete meal. If it says raw mix or raw grind, it’s meant for supplemental feeding where you can tailor your dogs meals with your own supplements.

Vital Essential Raw’s lowest fats, I believe, are their rabbit and fish. Their fish are available in their raw patties.

[Cheryl Pepper Millie Sophie]

Hi again Dori,
Just went to petfooddirect thank you .
Quick question have you tried or do you know the difference (beside size?) of the Primal Pronto & the primal Raw?
it looks like the rabbit & venison have about the lowest fats, I could maybe try the chicken, but for now I think I have to stay with the lowest fat profile versions.

[Cheryl Pepper Millie Sophie]

Hi Dori,
Well, i took a deep breadth a gave pepper a tiny bit of the raw rabbit she gobbled it up -picked up her head as if to say that’s all I get??
Now I wait to see how she does-digestive wise. Fingers & toes crossed
I went to a local feed store and they can get the VE raw for me-can you guide me in the varieties that are not too high in fat-I guess i should stay away from beef.
Thank you

[Cotons mom]

Just an FYI for those who use VE frozen 6lb patties, I found on their website that until the end of February their beef, chicken and turkey are on sale for 24.99 and turkey is 29.99. I went to my store that I use for my pups raw food and told them about the sale on the VE website, they didn’t know anything about it, and they matched the price, so of course I had to buy 4 bags and will go back before the end of February and get more.

Hope you can take advantage of this sale.

[Dori]

Hi Cheryl. I have fed the Vital Essentials freeze dried. As a matter of fact I have a bag in the pantry right now. It takes a very long time to rehydrate though they do say that it does not have to be rehydrated and can be fed, as is. Vital Essentials is a very good company with good products.

Petfooddirect.com carries Primal Raw and they also carry Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Food Bites. Nature’s Variety Instinct is another good raw food which I have in rotation with no issues.

[Cotons mom]

Has anyone ever used this? What did you think about it, how was it received by your pet. I know that it is given 5 stars in the regular review but can’t find it on the editors choice.

[DogFoodie]

I wouldn’t feed them either. I don’t feed bones that aren’t raw and I thought that smoking was akin to cooking anyway.

You’re better off offering something like these lamb trotter bones from MPC:

https://www.mypetcarnivore.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=99&virtuemart_category_id=17&lang=en

[Cheryl Pepper Millie Sophie]

Dori,
I did look up the vital essentials -I saw the freeze dried tripe treats, that’s the way I will go on that issue.
I wish I could get the VE raw, but there isn’t any websites that sell it. So if i want to feed commercial raw it will have to be Primal because Wag.com is the only place that sells it-I don’t live in an area that has small pet stores that sells the higher end foods, so Primal it has to be.
For freeze-dried (if you feed that) id you ever try the Vital Essentials?
I so miss not living in a city that has access to everything!!
Millie did well with the raw you were correct-I might give Pepper a little tiny taste with her sweet potato for lunch.
I will report back later.
Have a great day!
I know I keep saying this but thanks so much for everything

[theBCnut]

I only feed raw bones. I would be afraid that these would splinter or break off chunks. There is so such thing as “natural liquid smoke.” Smoke is not a liquid. I’ve read that smoked flavoring is a cancer causing agent. I’d pass.

[Akari_32]

SSLL can be used with raw or cooked, so I don’t really see why raw would be a problem, other than the whole anti-raw standpoint they may have. Once I’m on a computer I’ll mess around on the website and see it there’s a way to contact them or any FAQs or something.

If I find anything else I’m considering, I’ll post them here for review, if you don’t mind 🙂

[Akari_32]

Yeah well next time she needs ear drops or a nail trim, I’m calling you! She won’t look like such an angel then…. Lol

Blood test is going to be $130-something and dental a little more. Extractions are extra, though I wasn’t told how much. If a blood test was only $40 here, I’d have one done just for the giggles. Lord knows there’s more wrong with her than just meets the eye, and I’m sure theres something nasty going on with all the tumors on her body. But very few people want a dog this old with her list of problems, both mradical and behavioral, as long as hers, so I just deal with them as they come.

Cats can’t even hardly digest carbs, so what good would that even do? Raw diets are actually shown to reverse a lot of diseases in cats and dogs. Canned with low carbs (less than 5%) would be the next best thing. Vets all think high protein is too hard on the kidneys when in reality it’s usually high protein with not enough water that is so hard on them. Protein takes a lot of water to be properly broken down and processed. So do carbs, so why add carbs and take that water away from digesting what the body really needs (protein)?

[aimee]

Yes, Balance it is for a cooked diet. You could call and find out if it could be used with raw, but I kinda doubt they would approve of it…because of the raw aspect. I think Dr. Bartges at Tenn is a vet nut who will balance raw diets.

[Akari_32]

Interesting. Thank you. I’m not sure if that website is also the company that makes the product, but I can’t really find anything else about them. There is one other site that sells it cheaper.

I’ve not looked into Balance it yet because the site doesn’t like my phone very much. However, it is true that it’s for a cooked diet only? Or can it be used with raw? I don’t have time to be doing any cooking (i barely even cook for myself!) lol

[DogFoodie]

I use raw tripe from MPC. It truly smells like dirty socks. It’s really not horrible though.

[Dori]

Akari. I’m so glad Bentley is doing better with his skin issues. He’ll continue to get better. If his paws are still itchy I would suggest what BC has stated in other posts and that is that you keep some sort of container….rubbermaid rectangular type or any brand for that matter, right outside the door you taken him in and out of and rinse his paws in the water just before bringing him back in the house. Keep a towel inside the door to dry his feet. That should help if it’s due to environmental issues.

Just another thought. Don’t forget to remove carbs from his treats. We so often forget that most store bought treats are full of carbs and other inflammatory ingredients. Which is another thought….try to remove all inflammatory ingredients from anything he eats. Some are white potatoes, tomatoes (all night shade plants). Rice is another pro inflammatory ingredient. Every little bit that you can remove from his diet is going to help. Some commercial raw foods contain white potatoes which is an ingredient that, if your dog isn’t allergic to, you don’t think to remove. Just google inflammatory foods, fruits and veggies. I’ve had to do that because of Hannah’s arthritis so Katie benefited from the removal of inflammatory ingredients which wreak havoc on the allergy prone animal and human.

[Dori]

Cheryl, thanks for your kind words. I’m hardly an expert on raw feeding or animal nutrition I can only relate my experiences with my dogs.

I don’t feed kibble and I don’t feed canned. The only canned I was somewhat ok with is Weruva but it contains caraggeean (can never spell that word) and it’s also made in Thailand. A very good trusted by most company that makes raw and dehydrated is Vital Essentials. Vital Essentials sells (as treats I believe or at least that’s how I’ve fed them) a bag of tripe. That’s a way you could go if you wanted to introduce some tripe into their diet. I don’t use commercial treats (too many carbs and ingredients that allergy girl, Katie, can’t have and I also just don’t trust them with all the recalls out there) so I’m always on the look out for something I can give them as a dry quick treat for training purposes. The dogs love them and they have not caused any gastro upset either.

A sardine every day is imo way too much! Only two or three times a week is more than sufficient. That’s probably why Pepper was no longer doing well with the sardines. You can go back to feeding her sardines if you want to but maybe a couple of times a week, not every day.

If Millie is already eating a freeze dried food and doing well with it then she should have no problem with raw at all. Freeze dried is raw. I would certainly switch her as soon as possible to the raw and get her off kibble. You can then feed both dogs the same foods.

Cheryl, you are not asking too many questions and you are certainly no bother. We all started where you’re at now. It takes a while to get the hang of it. Anyway, we are all still asking questions as we should be otherwise how else would we continue to learn.

I’m a Virgo. Perfectionist would be a kind description of me and, I too, suffer from migraines. I’ve had them since I was 10 years old. Hereditary I believe because my mother always had them. Anyway, ask all the questions you’d like. If I can’t answer any, I’m sure others will. Eventually you’ll be the one answering posters questions. That’s how it works around here. Learn and pay it forward.

[Akari_32]

Dori, since starting on raw, Bentley has gone from chewing the fur off his body from his ribs back to just chewing his feet, but not to the point where they’re bald, just red and stained fur. Taking as much carbs as possible out of his diet has helped so much! I still think a grass/pollen allergy is part of the feet-chewing problem, but his skin is no longer red all over his body, and his fur is growing much more fully. He’s actually less hyper on a raw diet, though he is a young terrier, so he’s always got energy when he thinks he needs it (which is almost always LOL). But he doesn’t have pointless, wired-up-for-no-reason energy.

[Dori]

Hi Cheryl. I started Hannah on raw when she was 12 years old. She was 15 last Sept. 9th so I certainly don’t think Pepper’s age is an issue. If she were my dog I would give her a taste (just a tiny taste) and see how she does and probably eventually have them both on raw. As to rotation, you need to do that slowly. When I first starting rotation with my girls I rotated with each bag, then I would have a couple of different raw foods in the freezer from the same brand at the same time and rotated weekly, once I realized that I could do that with no issues whatsoever I realized that I could introduce different brands. Then I realized I could switch and rotate daily and, of course, now I rotate with each meal or sometimes daily. Whatever happens to be in the fridge as far as fruits and veggies and whatever commercial raws are in the house. Twice a week I also give them sardines in water that you buy in any grocery store. I open the can and split it with the three of them. I also keep in the refrigerator a bottle of Nature’s Logic Sardine Oil. On days that I don’t give them sardines I add a tiny splash of the sardine oil, from the fridge, to one of their meals of the day just before I put their bowls down for them. Great source of omega 3’s.

Until you know how Millie (and Pepper) do on the different foods, I would feed the foods for different meals. It’s easier to keep track if they are having an issue with a particular protein or ingredient in a food.

I will say that there are many thoughts about feeding different foods together in the same meal or should they be fed separately at different meals. I’m one that feeds at different meals. I don’t ever mix different foods together. Even when I first started feeding raw, I had been feeding grain free kibble, I did not mix kibble and raw.

Also on THK it did take a while before their poops became normal size. Initially I questioned whether I would continue with it due to the size of the poops but as I had the box which is as you know very expensive and that was the only issue I had with the food I kept feeding it and then without my even really realizing it their poops were a normal size like when I fed grain free kibble. Now it’s a none issue. Of course raw poops will always be smaller, dryer, and no smell whatsoever. Another advantage of raw feeding.

[Cheryl Pepper Millie Sophie]

Oh Dori,
Thank you for your loving, kind thoughts. Yes we do go on but the mind never forgets and the heart hurts.
Yes, At night we have a routine,pepper & now Millie are in bed we watch tv read -its funny watching Millie navigate her position, Queen Pep has her own pillow & Millie side steps it, but is always trying to put her paw or face on the pillow, i got her her own pillow of course, and she wanted nothing to do with it. Only pepper’s, so now she just lays in my arms, its so sweet-they are so adorable!
I think Pep will be ok with the pro den , I can ask the vet, but if its like its always been she will have never heard of it and will want me to buy something she sells.
Millie INHALED the rabbit, i may have done a no-no but i gave her 2 nuggets for lunch- gone in a matter of 2 seconds.
I did notice her poo a little soft on our walls just now,but, I think that due to me giving her a few TBSP of THK w her dinner.
I will hold off on that tonite, since she just got the real raw today.
I don’t want her system to go into overdrive.
She also loves THK. At least I know I can put that into her rotation-I guess the hard/new part for me will be figuring out her rotation-weekly or daily, it may be easier/better for her to rotate on a weekly basis instead of at each of her meals, this is so new to me with pepper I never had this luxury.
Pepper is still going quite a bit,I guess it may take weeks for her to adjust to THK.
I know Pepper smelled the rabbit -she walked over to Miilie’s bowl,oh Dori I wanted to give her a taste,but am so scared she would have a negative reaction.
In your opinion given her age (11 1/2 ) & the fact she never has eaten raw & her gastritis would you give her a taste ,I know or I should say I think Shawna gives her audrey some raw & she is the kid that has kidney issues.
I am such a wreck when it comes to Pepper & giving her something entirely new.
Oh well I can obsess on that question for a while 😉
Thanks again for your continued support

[Dori]

Cheryl. No do not put them in the microwave. I usually scoop them out of the bag from the freezer into their bowls. I leave them on the counter until they’ve softened up a bit which doesn’t really take more than 15 minutes or so then I feed it to them. If you want to defrost a little faster you can put the frozen nuggets in a zip lock bag and put the bag in a warm (not hot) bowl or tupperware, whatever, in the sink or counter until they soften up. You do not want to have raw cook in anyway (reason for no microwave or hot water) because you will lose some of the nutritients in the raw food, negating the purpose of feeding raw.

As to the Pro Dent Plaque Off, Hannah has been on it for at least a couple of years or so, as have Lola and Katie too. Hannah has had hypothyroid for at least half her life. Her thyroid levels are checked every quarter because she has been and still is on Soloxine so the testing is necessary. Also at 15 years old (last September 9th) I would be taking her for blood worth every six months anyway. Her thyroid levels (on her Soloxine….dose has never had to be adjusted) are always spot on perfect. So maybe iodine affects some thyroid patients and not others. Fish has always been in her diet and that has also never affected her thyroid levels. As I mentioned, I had checked with her vet before purchasing the Plaque Off and she told me that it would only affect her if she was hyperthyroid which she isn’t. Good Luck.

[Cheryl Pepper Millie Sophie]

Good AM,
I have been reading the posts, i guess you all are talking about the ProDen..,
Dori,
Pepper is hypothyroid & is on medication , & I know from being hypothyroid myself iodine consumption has to be watched, I ordered the pro den already, I guess it will be o.k to try, I am going to start on the lower end (as I always do with her because of all her issues)-I hope it doesn’t affect her thyroid, i will wait & since she is due for her yearly thyroid test I will see.
I have a question bout the primal raw, I defrosted a few of the nuggets last nite, do you just feed them cold directly from the frig. or do you zap them in the microwave for a few seconds?
This is the big day at lunch i will give Millie 1 nugget instead of the orijen freeze-dried.
Thanks as always for all the help!!

[Dog_Obsessed]

If the commercial raw is balanced then you shouldn’t need base mix.

[Jennifer H]

Can you mix commercial with that base mix? Wouldn’t that be too much calcium? I was under the impression that THK bases were to be mixed with boneless but maybe I am wrong….

Or do you mean mixing regular (not base mix) THK with frozen raw?

[theBCnut]

Read here.
/forums/topic/kibble-may-digest-faster-than-raw/
Most raw feeders here do mix raw and kibble with no issues. I personally think the tummy troubles from mixing that some claim to experience are rare or an old wive’s tale.

[DogFoodie]

Thanks for sharing this, Sandy! It’s very intriguing!

I always thought that when Sam barfed a bit of bile in the morning, after a meal of raw the night before, it was because his stomach had been empty for too long, now I’m thinking that.

[Sam D]

We have a puppy where we want to give him a varied diet. High quality puppy kibble one some days and raw food (like honest kitchen, Aunt Jeni’s and Instincts frozen raw) on other days. So far he’s only had Taste of the Wild grain-free puppy.

If raw and kibble digest in the gut differently….then how can you really mix the two types of foods for a proper transition? We were just going to start him on Instinct Raw frozen chunks in his Honest Kitchen base mix but we’re worried he will not handle it well and then we won’t know if its the sudden change OR the food itself that’s bothering him.

Advice? Tips? THANKS!

[Dog_Obsessed]

This is super interesting, even though I’m not a raw feeder. Thanks! I do wish they had done it on more dogs though, for more concrete evidence. It’s a good place to start.

[theBCnut]

Ivana R
Your dogs problems are likely related. One of the common symptoms of food intolerance is ear and/or eye discharge. Try Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Rabbit and see if it clears up. If you don’t have that where you are, look for limited ingredient diets and see what is available to you. You want one that has ingredients that she has not had before.

Weezerweeks
After a bath, you can put 2 drops of rubbing alcohol in each ear. Massage the base of the ear before your pup shakes his head to mix the alcohol with the water. The rubbing alcohol decreases the surface tension of the water and that makes it shake out easier and it also makes it evaporate faster. Don’t use this if there is any raw tissue in the ear, it will sting. And don’t use it if your dog won’t let you put things in his ear, because you don’t want to wrestle with him and get it in his eye.

[Cheryl Pepper Millie Sophie]

Thank you Sandy for posting that -never read it now its bookmarked!!
Dori, I am going to my freezer now & opening a bag of the raw!!! 🙂

[Dori]

I had read that article. It’s one of my favorite raw sites. Thanks for sharing it Sandy.