[pugmomsandy]

I’ve only used the new Orijen treats which my pugs love, but pugs don’t snub any kind of food or treat 99% of the time. Mine already eat raw and they eat different forms of food so they are used to food/treat changes.

[Akari_32]

Uum, I spend $20 a month to feed one of the dogs on all raw…. Lol This price also includes his pre-mix, as well, so really it’s about $16 not including the pre-mix.

Thankfully he only weights about 8 lbs, and only eats 5 oz of meat a day! I think I manage pretty cheaply, though! I buy meats that are $2.50 a pound and less (mostly less), though I did recently buy a small package of ground beef to give him a couple meals that aren’t chicken parts, ground pork, or beef or chicken heart lol And I found beef Kidney in the grocery store! So I bought some of that, too lol

[Martha S]

We are at about $60 per week, but also do rotate in commercial raw.

Hildie, your 55 pound dog eats 3 pounds a day? Mine eats 2 pounds per day, and is a 50 pound puppy at six months of age. Hmm, maybe I’m not feeding enough??

[Hildie V]

Hi Susan they do sound alike 🙂

She does best on food I make myself. Also, NRG raw dehydrated, but unfortunately she’s developed a wheat allergy in these wheat germ in NRG so I can’t use anymore.

I’m going to try a ground turkey, beef liver, beef heart, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, and potato next. I supplement with eggshell calcium because I don’t feed her bones. I also give Simon oil, vitamin E, digestive enzymes, probiotic, and a multivitamin and mineral specifically designed for dogs by a holistic vet.

I would suppose just as in humans certain things trigger acid reflux but it can be different in every person and also in every dog. I suppose there’s also an underlying reason why acid reflex is there to start with which is what I really want to get to the bottom of. That is, assuming she actually does have acid reflux and this isn’t something to do with something else because no one seems to know 🙂

I think finding foods that work for the dog is specific to each dog and it’s trial and error. Kibble can be a lot harder for them to break down than fresh food. Fresh food is highly digestible, and usually easier to digest. I would not touch a vet prescribed food with a 10 foot pole… But that’s not saying it doesn’t work for some people and their dogs, is just disgusting to me 🙂

If you want to make your own homemade food but are scared that you might not do it right you can buy a cookbook called Hillary’s Complete and Balanced and you can buy her supplements to go with it and then follow her recipes for homemade food. Her cookbook is only available through veterinarian offices in Canada and off her website in the USA. My girl did great on her venison and potato limited ingredient diet for five months until I couldn’t find the venison anymore at an affordable price :-). That is when I switched her to NRG…

Nothing I have done is a fix for sure, my dog is still having problems, and I like reading about what other people do to try and help myself as well 🙂

[Naturella]

@aquariangt , his weight seems fine. I think he had lost a visible amount in his first bout of being sick (my mom said he looked like he had shrunk to her), but I didn’t think it was anything to worry about. And he looks fine now. He’s on the lean/muscular side, and he doesn’t look famished anymore, lol. He only did so the 3-4 days of the first bout of sickness, when he couldn’t hold anything in and didn’t want much either. He just ACTS hungry, probably from not getting all of the nutrition his little body needed for 2 whole weeks (or getting it on and off for a bit), but I guess once I begin introducing his usual stuff (THK, coconut oil, yoghurt, sardines in water, raw egg, RMB – one by one over a few days each), he will be ok?

[DogFoodie]

Yes, the formulas have changed.

Take a look at their website: http://www.instinctpetfood.com/instinct-raw-boost-healthy-foods-pets

When you click on the ingredients tab, you can see the current ingredients and the former recipe.

[theBCnut]

They have reformulated some of their foods to contain less protein. I don’t know if the Raw Boost formulas have been reformulated or not.

[Howard C]

I have been feeding my 2 Goldens’ Natures Variety Instinct Raw Boost for a long while. It is a very expensive food but the results, in my opinion, made it justifiable. However, for the last couple of months I have noticed that the bags contain a smaller amount of the raw boost pieces and both dogs’ stools have changed. They have become softer—almost runny at times.
It was never like this before. Has anyone else had the same experience with Natures Variety Instinct?

[theBCnut]

With kibble it is usually about 4 cups per pound. Some kibbles are denser, some airier. I have 3 dogs and feed about 1 lb a day of dry and 1 lb of raw.

[Hildie V]

Hello 🙂 I too have a Boxer who gulps (swallows hard repeatedly), licks the air, licks the floor, tries to eat everything that isn’t nailed into the ground, sometimes throws up. This happens randomly and almost always between 1am and 3am, although sometimes just occasionally it happens during the day.

She has been seen by 6 different vets for this. I have had her tested for almost everything possible. Tests involved: x-ray, barium x-ray, stool sample, extensive stool culture, urine cultures, blood work, autoimmune disorders, megaesophagus… the only thing I have left to do is an endoscopy but that will either turn up negative or show something we already know that we’ve been doing trial therapies on.

At first I was told it may be: acid reflux or tonsilitis. I was told to give her Pepcid AC (fomatidine) and Sulcrate Suspension. This worked for a bit (give 1 hour before or 3 hours after food). I stopped using Pepcid and continued with the Sulcrate when she had an episode. It doesn’t work anymore.

Now, after all these tests she is on her third treatment for Heliobactor, just like someome else here mentioned. She also is on Amoxicillin and Metronidazole, as well as Pepcid and Pepto-Bismol. This is her thrid go-around in four months and she’s still randomly doing this.

I have come to several personal conclusions. Firstly she CANNOT eat grain. The last time she was on a good-streak I made oatmeal cookies for her and she got an episode that night. Secondly, she cannot eat high fat things. Another good streak, I gave her eggs before bed and she got an episode. Another good streak and she snuck into the garbage and ate beef fat strips, got an episode that night. I really believe this is acid reflux. I don’t know what is causing it. I REALLY hope the antibiotics do the trick this time for Heliobactor.

If she has an episode, I know it’s usually 2am but I don’t sleep anyway so I take her for a long walk and you would never know she was having a problem. Until we get home, then it’s back to the gulping. She seeks comfort in me rubbing her belly in a firm was as to burp her.

So…Along with doing whatever it takes from my vet’s suggestions (He is AMAZING) I am also gonig to treat her as if she has acid reflux. No big meals before bed. No eating after 8pm. Multiple smaller meals throughout the day. No more kibble (she has tried every food possible, kibble, dehydrated, raw, fresh homecooked and it doesn’t make a difference). I will stick with a low-fat homemade highly-digestible meal plan and give probiotics (Dr. Peter Dobias) and digestive enzymes (Prozyme). I will keep Pepcid and Pepto Bismol on hand (you can give together).

I am PRAYING that this stops. It is the scariest thing when it happens. She begs to me to help her but there isn’t anything I can do to make it stop.

[jakes mom]

I have a friend whose Chihuahua/border terrier has just been diagnosed with diabetes. There’s also another chi in the house who’s had issues with pancreatitis. Can anyone suggest a good food for them both? Budget is a very big concern. I’m sure raw is not an option, both because of the cost and also the “yuk” factor for the humans. I’m thinking something in the 3 star range, since they eat Purina now.

[Travis A]

No I havent heard of that, I’m a little hesitant with Purina anything though. But thank you for the advice I appreciate it. I just picked up a temp bag until I get paid again of the Rachel Ray stuff which i know isn’t the best but still better than Kibbles N’ Bits and my dogs still don’t eat it up, they will go for the Kibbles everytime though so idk but i gotta get them to eat some better food. They’ll eat the food i give them but it will take them a long time of picking at it here and there. I’d like to go raw but that’s expensive too and i don’t have the time to prep it all myself so idk what i’m going to try next but i appreciate the suggestions, thank you very much.

[Genevieve K]

How many times are you feeding her? Puppies need to have 3 meals a day. (I do think it’s adorable that she carries her food bowl around.) Using the caloric information on the packaging, I calculated the ideal daily feeding schedule and use that as a guide (it’s been close to the suggested servings). If you’re feeding multiple foods, I recommend doing this to ensure she’s getting what she needs. Perhaps you could do this with the different foods that you’re feeding.

In addition to a Boerboel puppy, we have two other large breed dogs. I do feed the puppy far more than I feed the adults because I know he needs the additional nutrition and the extra calories to support his quickly growing body. I keep a close eye on his body shape to ensure he’s not getting over-fed.

Having fought a weight loss battle with my Ridgeback, it’s important to keep an eye on his waist. I’m fine with him carrying a little bit more weight because I know he will use that for growth and energy but it’s important to ensure he doesn’t cross the line into “fat.”

Because of the our Boerboel puppy’s multiple allergies (arg!), we decided to use Annamaet’s Aqualuk and are now feeding it to all three dogs. It’s is appropriate for large breeds in all life stages and is listed on HDM’s list of recommended large breed dog food. The Calcium/Fat percentages are excellent and, personally, I was drawn to its EU certification which requires does not allow the 4 D’s (diseased, dying, disabled, and dead) animals.

Large dogs usually have a shorter life span and the additional cost is worth it to ensure my family is eating a very healthy food which, hopefully, will extend their life span. One wonderful side effect is that my Ridgeback’s farts, known to literally clear a room, have significantly decreased in frequency and are not nearly as foul!

No, is not an inexpensive food but we were previously feeding a different, high quality 4 star food that was only a bit less than Annamaet. There are very few retail locations that carry it so I order it online from Wag.com but there are other sites that carry it. The Annamaet website has a list of retailers – online and brick & mortar shops.

Long story short, I’d feed her as much as she wants – to a point. For training purposes (and your sanity), maintain a feeding schedule so that she doesn’t learn that she can manipulate you. The last thing you want is a dog who know that when she drops her bowl at your feet, she gets food. They’re slick little critters!

[Akari_32]

Heya, Bobby Dog! I’m Happy be off that stupid boat. There’s nothing to do on the ship if you don’t drink, and I can’t even stand the smell of alcohol. I sat in the room most of the time and read the first book and half of the Harry Potter series, and played a good 1/4-1/3 of Pokemon X (one more gym and the league to go!). In three days…. LOL Night before last I did eat an entire pizza by myself, though. That was quite the accomplishment XD Wasn’t bad for frozen cruise pizza :p

They closed down for good. They bought the practice from a terrible vet, and filed a law suit against them and everything. They were actually doing pretty good, but all the legal crap from the other vet dragged them down. Plus he wasn’t a very good business manager and bought equipment they didn’t need and stuff. All in good intention, but you can’t do that when just starting out, and under a bad name already, at that! He did a great job with his clients, though and most of them will follow him wherever he goes. I probably will if I ever figure out where he’s going next and he’s close enough! I really did like him. He’s very nice and cares so much about his patients and their owners. Turns out, the crappy vet is coming back. I will tell everyone I know not to go to that place! I did not like the reviews I read about him on line. Not a single good word has been said about that guy!

So after some looking around, her reverse sneezing probably an allergy thing (she normal sneezes when we go out side, but not inside other than a few little huffs every now and then) or her breathing in random stuff due to her small size. Everyone is having terrible allergies around here right now, and even Bentley on his no-carb raw diet is back to chewing his feet and itching. I’ve been living on sudafed for the last three weeks, even lol Anyways, I guess it’s not something to worry too much about. Still don’t like it, though…

[theBCnut]

I believe the Earthborn recommendation is for adult weight, they often doube that for puppies, but please feed bsaed on your actual dog’s actual body condition since those recommendations are rarely accurate. I would not free feed. Feed about the same amount you were feeding before, and adjust feeding amount as needed. Don’t let her get fat, thin is important while they are still growing.

EArthborn and THK are a great combination. You will definitely have to adjust the amount.

Yes, stay with foods on HDM’s list until she is 10 months old then you can feed her other foods as you want.

Tinned sardines should be one can a week. Pasture raised eggs, either raw or lightly cooked 2 times a week, no shells for her until she is regulating calcium uptake at about 10 months, but then you can occasionally give her the whole egg. Raw green tripe can be given as often as you like, I like to give it at least once a week for the probiotics. It smells pretty strongly, just a warning. Unbalanced additions to her diet should be less than 20% of her diet, but all of those are pretty safe.

[Nancy C]

Bought a 2 pound GOAT NECK at the butcher. It’s very meaty looking with a bone in it (the neck bone?) which is not large — The neck is in the freezer now and I want to use it. Does anyone know anything about GOAT NECKS and are there any particulars I should know before giving it to my dog? It is NOT fatty. He’s a 75 lb GSD and calculations show he should eat betw 1 1/2 and 2 pounds a day of raw. So I should probably only let him eat half of this at a time, tugging and pulling. Eh?

Thank you to anyone who can make suggestions. (I am new to raw)

[theBCnut]

Too true. And if someone is absolutely not going to give raw bones or brush their dogs teeth, I would rather they give lousy ingredients as often as necessary, than have their dog suffer with bad teeth or undergo anesthesia on a yearly basis. So those things do have their place.

[AspensMom]

Hello everyone, I am new to this site and forum and I want to thank everyone who has posted such good advice. Due to the recommendations on this forum and the recommendations for the site’s 4 and 5 star rated dog foods and HDM’s lists, I have begun to switch my puppy’s food. I have a 4 month old (will be 5 month in a few days) female English Setter named Aspen who is currently 32 lbs. I was feeding her Nutro Natural Choice kibble alone twice a day, but a few days ago started the switch to Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch and Meadow Feast. I also have gotten several samples of The Honest Kitchen and she really likes this mixed in with her food, and I see that THK LOVE is recommended for LBP.

The Nutro said for a 30 lb dog I should be feeding her 3 1/2 – 3 3/4 cups food a day, but the EH says 1 1/4 – 1 3/4 cups a day. I am currently at a 50/50 split with old/new kibble and currently giving her 1 cup mixed kibble along with 1/3 cup THK sample topper at each feeding, however she still seems hungry. She carries around her food bowl sometimes, leading me to believe she is hungry even a couple hours after feeding her, so I wind up giving her a small handful of food when she does this and she devours it. I don’t see how when I am fully transitioned to EH 100% that only 1 1/4 – 1 3/4 will be enough for her a day, even with THK as a topper. I have a couple questions that I would like all you knowledgeable people to help me with please.
1. The EH back states “You may keep EH Coastal Catch before your puppy at all times; most puppies will satisfy their nutritional needs as their appetite dictates”. Is this for puppies that are younger than 8 weeks of age, or does this apply to older puppies, and if so up to what age? (sorry if this sounds stupid) What amount do you suggest I feed her of kibble, considering she will also be getting 1/3 cup THK LOVE?
2. Do you feel that feeding her either the coastal catch or the meadow feast along with THK as a topper is a good combination? Is her feeding of 1 cup kibble with 1/3 cup THK OK or is she getting more than she needs? I am not going the raw food route and I really like the convenience of THK compared to buying cans and having to store the remaining canned food in the fridge. With THK she can get warm fresh food with her kibble and I find it really convenient for me.
3. I am considering Aspen a LBP as our vet said that she will probably get into the 60 lb. range and to feed her a LBP food, although I want to stay with the all stages food. So am I correct that I can stay with coastal catch or meadow feast and THK LOVE until she is 10 months old and after that I can start to give her any flavors of the EH and THK (or any other recommended food to rotate her)?
4. I have also at times given her organic canned pumpkin or sweet potato and she loves those as well, but I saw other suggestions on here such as tripe/sardines/cooked eggs. If I use tripe/sardines/eggs as a topper how much of those should I give with her kibble?

One final question is that I looked and don’t see a place to upload a profile picture, could someone tell me how to do that? Thank you in advance for any help and recommendations you can provide me, I appreciate it!
AspensMom – Shelly

[Melissaandcrew]

Some dogs do not do well grain free. One of my Italian greyhounds will get rail thin without carbs and grains. He is a small Iggy at under 10 lbs to begin with, and when eating raw, he gets a full 8oz of meat, and 1/2 cup of rice or sweet potato. My 6lb dog eats 5% of his body weight, and for comparison, my dobes eat 2.5%.

[theBCnut]

Yes, they can. Many of the regulars here, including me, for one reason or another, can’t feed only raw. Most of us combine foods however suits us, with no digestive upset in our dogs at all. Mine get half kibble and half raw, in the same meal. Some feed a raw meal once or twice a week using the principles in Steve Brown’s booklet “Feeding the ABC Way.” Some feed kibble one meal, canned the next, then raw after that.

Dogs are just as capable of eating variety as people are and feeding variety is better for their immune system. Most of us rotate kibbles and rotate raw. And maybe dehydrated, freeze dried, and canned too.

[Sam D]

Hi all,

We’re getting an Aussie Shepherd puppy in December. Our breeder is wonderful and responsible and has been feeding her dogs Taste of the Wild for years. She says she loves the brand and her Aussies have done well on this food. She’s not against raw at all but she just doesn’t choose to follow the raw diet.

So here is my question(s) We want to start the puppy out on TOTW kibble and, ideally, make a few meals a week raw (turkey necks, beef, chicken, liver, etc…) We’ve also looked at The Honest Kitchen. We want a lot of variety! We want our dog to be able to tolerate both kibble and raw (just not in the same meal, together)

Can dogs do well having a diet that rotates with kibble too?
Thanks, kindly!

[Kristin C]

Hi-I know this is a crapshoot, but does anyone have advice on how to get my dog to gain weight, gluten/grain free? The rescue we got her from says she is part chihuahua, but we were stumped on what other breed(s). She has webbed feet so we thought redbone coonhound, which is possible as she is from Tennessee. I do believe she is part whippet or greyhound though based upon her bone structure. You can see her bones-ribs and hips, and that’s been since the day we got her last December (2013). I fed her 3-4 times per day earlier this year and every time I think she’s putting on weight, she isn’t. She had some food sensitivity issues after we got her so she is currently 80-90% raw. I do add oatmeal or cottage cheese to her food when I can, and when it’s convenient. I thought after she turned 1 she might fill out but that’s not happening. The vet says she is strong, and yes she is very peppy, so maybe she’s burning off more than I am feeding her and I just need to give her more food? She gets 3-4% of her body weight, sometimes more. Any input will be greatly appreciated.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone had advice on how to effectively brush a dog’s teeth. When I first adopted Lily, who is ~3, the vet said that there was some plaque on her teeth, not enough to need a professional cleaning, but that we should brush her teeth. Well, I decided to wait a week or two because she was new to our house. Then, I took the doggy toothbrush I had bought for her and put some TropiClean toothpaste on it. I put it near her mouth, and somehow expected her to open it. Not surprisingly, she didn’t. I then searched google for “how to brush a dog’s teeth” and I found something by the ASPCA about how to slowly acclimate them to having their teeth brushed with treats. I began to touch her teeth while she licked peanut butter off my hand, and then tried lifting her lips and giving her treats. Now, two months later, she has made a ton of progress, though i have not been able to really brush her teeth with a toothbrush. She will let me lift her lips for a few seconds and open her mouth for a split second as long as I am giving her treats, or let me rub toothpaste on her teeth. Sometimes she lets me touch the brush to her mouth. She is not a huge fan of any of this, but tolerates it. I also changed toothpaste, I now use CET poultry favored enzymatic toothpaste which she loves.

I give Lily “dental” Nylabones to chew, the flexible non-edible kind. These actually work for her, she chews them but doesn’t destroy them to much. I kind of doubt it helps that much though. She also sometimes gets edible chews, such as Himalayan chews. I know RMBs can help with teeth, but neither me nor the rest of my family is quite ready to use raw bones. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on her getting more accustomed to tooth brushing, because while she is making progress I am not sure if I will ever really be able to thoroughly clean her teeth. Thanks!

[Kristin C]

So I am giving the raw beef ribs a thumbs down. Yes, they gnaw off the meat and the bone is clean. The problem I had today is that both my girls didn’t want to give up the bone afterwards. I was running around the yard trying to get them to drop it. Even my youngest one grumbled at me, but they weren’t aggressive just playful and protective. Once I got them into the fenced area I took out one of their chicken dinners and they both came running inside. So they will be sleeping it off in the garage for a while:) And I will be sticking with consumable bones and treats! I feel like the ribs are more like the marrow bones where they could break a tooth, another reason I am only trying this once.

[Nancy C]

Kristin — I bought 3 turkey necks from HARE TODAY and they are in the freezer still. HOW exactly did you feed them? They look big. Hare Today says they are 1 1/2 pound each. According to the 2 -3% body weight my GSD can eat approx 2 pounds of raw a day. so it would seem to me that ONE neck would be a meal in that he eats two meals a day — but perhaps I should cut it in half?
Were your dogs able to chew it up easily? Did they eat it frozen? Did you feed it outside and just lay it down on the ground (as some say to do) ? I sound so stupid — I just have NO experience and I do not know of anyone around here who feeds “basic raw raw” (meaning raw pieces as in the wild – not “prepared commercial raw’ like Darwins, Primal etc). What I am scared of is choking and the possibility of biting off more bone than can go through the “tubing” in the body.
I think I have read that beef bones are comparatively hard whereas goat, lamb, duck, chicken are softer bones and that would infer easier to chew up. Thank you for what you can say.

[Nancy C]

Kristin, thank you! I am anything BUT an authority but my Fear has pointed me in the direction of getting info. For starters my RMBs are LONG too. Measuring the curved side they are 8 inches long from end to end which means they are really longer than that. My dog is 75 pounds w big jaws and teeth… however, I have just moved him in the last 2 weeks to raw and I have changed vets to a homeopath vet to whom I am adapting. My regular vet for 12 yrs is a fine clinician if the dog needs surgery (was #1 in her vet class) but as for holistic she is NOT there. She is the one who drew titers on my shepherd back in Sept, called to say parvo was negative and I needed to bring him in for REvaccination. The vaccine her animal hospital uses is a combo of parvo and distemper. She was willing to REvaccinate him for distemper even though his immunity for it (according to the titers) is very strong. THAT is when I found the homeopath who was willing to ONLY vaccinate for parvo. (Singles ARE available). That homeopath RE tested him for titers recently and sent the blood to the Univ of Col Vet Sch for lab work and the parvo was very strong. Go figure. Anyway, if there is trouble w this bone then I will have to make a decision betw WHICH VET and I do not want to do that!
Also – FYI from the NON EXPERT ME — According to my reading marrow bones are not recommended for dogs because they are from the load bearing bones (leg – femur) and dogs can easily break a tooth on those bec they are particularly hard. Dr. Tom Lonsdale DVM is a very respectable vet in Australia who has written two books worth seeing and one is titled RAW MEATY BONES. Can type that in and read more. He has a website. I think it is http://www.rawmeatybones.com. There is another website where his second book is ON LINE FOR FREE. It is RAWMEATYBONESMYTH.com (I think). Google that in and see if it comes up. Otherwise I will go find the exact title…. it gives a little info. Knuckle bones are also bad for tooth breaks.
Let me know how it goes this afternoon. I am thinking about giving mine today or tomorrow. I just gave the GSD his first BEEF last night, continued this morning. And I might wait till tomorrow just in case there is a probl so I can call the homeopath and not the Emergency Vet – they charge so much esp on weekends!
Good luck. Will wait to hear. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW is what happens AFTER the meat is all chewed off. !!! Thanks.

[InkedMarie]

The best way to get more water is to feed a raw, canned or dehydrated food. If you must feed dry, add some canned to it with water.

[pugmomsandy]

You can also feed a raw meaty bone (chicken thigh, drumstick for example) in place of three meals per week which will help with cost. Also, your dog should be able to eat varying amounts of fat and protein so I would still keep Darwin’s in the food rotation with other foods like the FreshPet you mentioned. There are premixes that you can just add raw or cooked meat to and a little bit of oil and that’s it. Pretty simple. I think Tuckers Raw and some of the Bravo raw foods come in the individually wrapped serving size.

[pugmomsandy]

You would actually need to contact the food companies and ask how much liver is in the diet or ask for a nutrient analysis rather than just assume that a food is high in liver since USA dog food companies aren’t required to list ingredients by percentage. Take Primal Beef Formula raw food for example. It has liver as ingredient number 2, but their analysis shows vitamin A within guidelines at 11765 (minimum 5000, max 250,000).

http://www.primalpetfoods.com/product/detail/c/7/a/c/p/all/z/b/t/a/d/b/id/2

[InkedMarie]

For another prepared raw, I like Vital Essentials. I do ground raw that I get from Hare Today and Reel Raw. All you need is a scale, weigh & feed.

[Cheryl O]

Many of the freeze dried raw diet foods that are ‘enthusiastically recommended’ have a significant amount of liver. I’ve heard that because of the high Vitamin A content of liver, this can be toxic to dogs. I’ve been feeding Stella and Chewy mixed with Wellness grain free. Also been giving Orijen freeze dried treats. Any comments?

[Judy M]

Which do (u all, and Mike) consider to be the most “budget friendly” raw diet (already prepared ready to feed – so that I don’t have to source and grind and mix ingredients myself). I MA currently feeding my 7.5 ur old, 22-lb spaniel mix dog Darwins. naturals, mostly duck, but exploring other options die to q new higher fat ratio formulation combined with an increase in price. what to do the best for my dog’s health and longevity, but keep the budget in mind. I felt the naturals, ( no antibiotics, no added chemicals and or hormones,organic better for her health, which I am ok with spending more for her (tho I can’t really afford to so for myself but dogs live such short lives not want to do the very best for her, but it has to be do-able, convenient enough that I will have time for it and not end up wasting ingredients that Ia don’t have time or energy to psirce ingredients, prepare prepare and, mix and prepare and have enough energy and nough time to prepare it myself and not end up wasting ingredients when. I do t have energy to learn how to and do the work of concocting thr daily ears foe her myself. (Darwins is so easy, just thaw, open and feed. is it worth the extra cost by being that much more healthy for her, or would it be just as healthy to switch to something else. ,( I notice that even Fresh Pet (available at grocery store) has received 4 stars). is premium or gain raw really that much vm open Should I stick with Darwins (given those considerations, even tho they at hey will n exchanging the ingredients formulation,raising the price and at same time adding more fat? should d I not be concerned with the fat increase I. the new formulation. like I said, just want my 7.5 ur old beloved dog to live as long and healthy q life as possible. any advice welcome. thanks for all replies , sorry for any typos. touchscreen learning curve)

[Naturella]

Hey, Korey! What other brands have you tried? Maybe a fish-based food will help, or, you could start adding raw, organic, unrefined, cold-pressed coconut oil or wild salmon oil to his food. Walmart or Costco have affordable coconut oil, but only get the unrefined stuff. It has made a ton of difference for my Bruno

I have also used Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch with great success. Other affordable brands besides Earthborn Holisitic are Victor, Dr. Tim’s, NutriSource. Rotational feeding is also a plus both for the dog and for the wallet – this way you can take advantage of sales and add variety to Max’s diet. 🙂 If you’re into ordering online, you can use websites such as petflow.com , chewy.com , wag.com , petfooddirect.com . They often have great sales and deals.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 5 months ago by Naturella.

[DogFoodie]

You’re not feeding the salmon raw, are you?

[theBCnut]

Lucky you!! Dogs need calcium in their diet, that’s what they were talking about with the egg shells. You can either feed consumable raw bones(which are great for teeth) or eggshells with each meal. For bones, they need to be 10-15% of the animal portion of the meal. For eggshells, it’s 2 shells for every pound of meat.

They also need organs. About 10% of the animal portion of their food should be organs. Half of that should be liver and the other half should be other secreting organs. Heart coulnts as muscle, but kidney, spleen, etc. count as organs.

They need a regular source of omega 3s. The salmon should cover that as long as it isn’t too overcooked. Or add an Omega 3 supplement, 100mg of DHA and EPA combined per 10 lbs of body weight daily.

They need vit E and D, zinc and selenium, manganese, and a whole food supplement would be good.

If you want an easier way to do it, they sell premixes for boneless meats. Look for The Honest Kitchen Preference, See Spot Live Longer Dinner Mix, or Dr. Harvey’s Veg to Bowl fine ground.

[Sandi S]

I work in a large steak house and can get unlimited amounts of cooked beef. Filet mignon, NY strip, rib eye and prime rib. I wash them very well before use. I also get sweet potatoes. I know the cuts of meat all have different percentages of fat and protein and that is my biggest concern. Also what else do I need to add to make a complete daily balanced dog food. If I completely stop feeding dry dog food what is the best way to keep my dogs teeth healthy? She doesn’t get cooked bones, Should I give her raw bones? Also I read that she needs raw chicken and egg shells? occasionally I also give her chicken and salmon that I get at work I’m trying to keep this as simple as possible.I refuse to feed my dog cheap dog food and I really can’t afford the better dog food on the market. It is hard for me to throw it all this meat away! Thanks to anyone who can help 🙂

[Karen J]

Good information, any thoughts on canned foods or just freeze dried raw with water added? Looks like there is some Calcium Ascorbate from Ester C in Cranberry Comfort.

I have to get the PH strips and trade in kibble for no grain. She really loves the BB canned, this morning I added too much water and other stuff to some canned and she wouldn’t eat it, so I’m concerned about just freeze dried raw with water, someone told me to just give her that and make it like oatmeal. I don’t think she’ll eat it.

I re-did her food this morning with a small amount of filtered water and less Stella and Chewy on top. She ate some of it, but she usually gobbles the BB canned with a scoop of the cranberry. Not eating isn’t an option either. I usually put the kibble with Stella and Chewy topping in separate bowl and she nibbles at it.

I have to figure out a combo she will eat.

[theBCnut]

We ate about 10 lbs of blackberries and I froze more than 10 lbs, but I think I’m down to the 3 lb bag I’m saving for a huge blackberry crisp on Christmas morning. I have about 6 lbs of blueberries and the strawberries are all but gone.

[theBCnut]

I use frozen berries all the time. We have U Pick fields all over the place, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries. I try to pick enough to last me until at least New Years. The antioxidants in the berries are as good for the dogs as they are for people.

[pugmomsandy]

You’ll probably get several different answers from us as well! And we’re not vets. But, these are some suggestions. (1) increase moisture intake (canned food, freeze dried/dehydrated foods (rehydrated), fresh/frozen raw foods, even kibble flooded with water) to help keep the bladder flushed out. (2) avoid feeding only dry food. (3) more frequent potty breaks. (4) cranberry/d-mannose supplement daily.

If she has alkaline urine, you can also add (1) small vitamin C capsule or a methionine (amino acid) capsule daily. (2) or a commercial pH reducing product (ex: Wysong Biotic pH-) or “grass saver” type product with methionine. Purchase pH test strips so you can monitor the urine pH.

I haven’t heard of fish being a problem regarding struvites.

[JeffreyT]

We recently stopped feeding pet food fish b/c of the rancidity factor that BCnut refers to and also the ethoxyquin.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/01/03/fish-as-a-protein-source.aspx

You could use a pre-mix with fresh fish, canned sardines if you can’t bring yourself to feed other types of animals, and alternate with some veg meals (humane certified eggs, veg pet food, etc).

You can also buy the highest humanely rated meats (already prepared or raw) at Whole Foods and use with a pre-mix. If you can’t deal with the preparation aspect, Primal and Answers pet food are certified by the Global Animal Partnership…the same system used by Whole Foods that rates humane conditions and certifies feed gmo-free. And there are hopefully more out there I don’t know about.

Some companies use pasture raised and pasture finished so no factory farms or feed lots, like Healthy Pet Products, Stella and Chewys and Dogs for the Earth.
Dogs for the Earth raises their chickens above and beyond humane guidelines. Generally pet foods with wild boar/bison are free range too. Just some options you may want to consider.

[pugmomsandy]

I’ve mix yogurt or kefir, frozen fruit and some juice and maybe some Garden of Life Raw Meal and make a smoothie.

[pugmomsandy]

There are combo products on the market from many pet brands like Total-Zymes Plus Probiotics. I like to use a product that has several strains of organisms in it. If you read the ingredient list of the Total-Zymes products, you can get an idea of what I’m talking about. That being said, human products are less expensive and you can also give it to your dog. You can use sardines and even mackerel instead of salmon. I feed raw sardines.

[theBCnut]

If you get another commercial raw and a premix or 2 to rotate between, the only thing I would want to make sure of is tripe at least once a week or a multistrain probiotic and the omegas. If you are feeding twice a day, one meal of oily fish is enough Omega 3s. Their fish was only part oily fish, so may not be enough. If you are adding a fish or krill oil supplement, then you want 100mg of DHA and EPA combined for every 10 lbs of body weight daily. Skip flaxseed oil, it has the wrong form of omegas for dogs.

[Angie]

Thank you the BCnut,

I will look into another or two raw food suppliers or get a premade and mix in my own.

Should I get some liver and kidney to add to the mixture of Big Country Raw? Also is there any vitamins I need to give?

I do give a tripe blend they have sometimes.

Thank you so much,
Angie

[Karen J]

Trixie a 1 year old Terrier Mix/Chinese Crested 12.8lbs, has some crystals in her urine, no infection no stones. I’m getting not one straight answer from any one on what to feed her.

I’m now using filtered water not tap.
I crumble Stella & Chewy onto her Blue Buffalo kibble but take out the dark bits. Was told I should get “low ash” kibble.
Was told not to give her kibble and wet food?
Was told to give her only freeze-dried raw.
I’m putting Cranberry Comfort powder on her food.
I give her bully sticks as treats and Natural Balance dental chews.
I was told to stay away from all fish products.
The vet wants to put her on some prescription food, I don’t believe that is best for her.
I’m so confused.

Karen

[Karen J]

Trixie is a rescue, she just turned 1 year I’ve had her for 8 months, a terrier mix/chinese crested. Diagnosed with urinary crystals. No infection or stones. But she peed in house twice, there is a dog door and she walks and goes to daycare.

Since diagnosis 2 days ago I’ve switched her to filtered water and add Cranberry Comfort to her food, was told to get low ash food and also raw dried. I put Stella and Chewy on her kibble and she loves it. I give her Natural Balance dental chews. I also remove the dark kibbles from her Blue Buffalo kibble.

Right now she eats Blue Buffalo canned chicken and lamb and small dog kibble. She weights 12.8lbs. I’ve heard this brand and food are really not the best for her condition.

[theBCnut]

Personally, I would feel better if you were also using raw from another company or two. With this company, all their recipes have apples, carrots, pears, kale, etc. That means that every day your dog gets the exact same fruits and veggies and never any others. I also don’t think that they use enough variety of organs. Every formula should have 5% liver and 5% some other secreting organ. Some of the formulas only have liver, some have heart, which doesn’t even count as an organ, some have kidney and spleen. I noticed that the chicken formula used beef liver, what’s with that? On the whole, I liked their recipe, and I would try it with my dogs, but I would rather see one formula have one set of fruits and veggies and another formula have another set of fruits and veggies.

[Angie]

Hi Guys!

I looking for advice from some of you avid raw feeders. I have been feeding Big Country Raw dinners to my two pups for the last 4 months. I have a Samoyed that’s just under 2 years old and a Shih Poo who is almost 8. The samoyed is 65lbs and the Shih Poo is 16 lbs.

My Samoyed had Coccidia and Giardia as a puppy and he has been treated for it a few times and since then his digestive system haven’t been the same so we tried raw for him and it was almost a miracle. He has small solid poops to where I don’t have to bathe his butt every morning before work.

Anyways the main reason for this post is that.. is there anything I need to add to their diets? They are getting a rotation diet of Chicken, Turkey, Beef, Lamb, Breeder Blend, and Fish Dinner. Is there a supplement I need to add since they will most likely been on this diet for a while. I do give them chicken and Turkey Necks once a week and Bones to chew + Brush their teeth a few times a week.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated,
Angie

http://www.bigcountryrawstore.com/Dinners-s/1818.htm

[Ry K]

I’ll definitely start keeping track of his day to day – that’s a great tip.

I virtually bathe in coconut oil myself, so I’ll definitely start applying it to him topically or even adding a bit to his food.

Another person just mentioned to me that it may be fleas. I made a 50/50 apple cider vinegar and water mix and sprayed him today – hoping that will help. He’s really not that bad lately to be honest – it’s always so hard to tell why it gets worse and then goes away.

I don’t add any carbs like sweet potatoes to his diet – the raw food comes with the proper vegetable ratio already added into it. I never considered yeast – definitely another possibility.

Thanks again – great info!