[sharon b]

HDM, I realize all these post’s are old, so not sure if you are still posting here. I just started feeding my two dogs raw. I like your meal plan, however wondering why so many supplements? Do your dogs suffer from any health issues? I have a Newf puppy 7 months and an 8 y/o husky and only adding coconut oil, salmon oil, and right now some Pumpkin as he is a bit constipated at the start as I am awaiting getting more meat alone from next order. he is getting a ground mix that is a 80/10/10 mix, so should be complete, yet even with a lot of water added he needs the pumpkin and stools are now good.

[sharon b]

Inked Marie, sorry, I am in Windham NH, and Vincent, and the other Gentleman, can’t see your name, I can’t get a list of prices either. Website still being built, If you could e-mail or forward, I would greatly be appreciated @ sbmc64@yahoo.com.
Has anyone ever had a dog get really sick, or die from salmonella or e-coli? I read a thread where a man lost his 9 $ 1/2 y/o dog. I have a weak immune system and although I will glove up, I am a little concerned. Also mentioned on a thread for advice on my raw diet, For those of you that do your own grinding, how? Do you have a special grinder? My pup is going to be 150+ pounds, so this is not going to be inexpensive, but I know it’s the best for him. just trying to find the most economical way. What about hormones in store meat, does that concern anyone, or do commercial companies avoid them, or do we not know. Darwin’s did list a grass fed price list. Sorry, so many questions from the newbie.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 9 months ago by sharon b.

[sharon b]

switched thread to advice on my raw diet

[sharon b]

Following! I started a thread on raw for large breeds but have not seen any recent comments. I thought I was mixing raw in their kibble, an 8 y/o husky and a 6 m/o Newf, only to find out the package “Vital Raw” is misleading and not Raw. I was going to just switch to raw as my pup has an ongoing infection when I read on another link of a man losing his 9 & 1/2 y/o Pitbull to I believe it was e-coli from chicken, but may have been salmonella, so decided to wait and see how others weigh in on this. It does not seem this has been an issue for others. I did want to ask a bit about the supplements though as others recommended omega 3’s and salmon oil’s for mine, but you mentioned flax seeds. Do you grind those daily and add them? Just a comment about flax seeds, as they are only active the day you do that, as they oxidize and then are of no benefit otherwise, including all the gel-tab’s etc. The market has us fooled, I am an R.Ph and learned that in an continuing Ed, only helpful w/ husks off for a couple hours.
Because my dogs are so big this seems like a very expensive way to go, even though I know it’s healthier. Does anyone do kibble in the AM, and Raw in PM? What about all the hormones in the meat from grocery stores? All concerns of mine.
Also for those of you that grind, how? Do you have a special grinder that does the bones? Trying to figure the most economical way to do this?

[sharon b]

I also am more confused than ever. I have another thread going on starting to feed large breeds raw. Also not only concerned about the pathogen’s that I would think if buying commercially would be at minimal risk, I would think that dogs in general would have the enzymes in their GI systems (that humans do not) to kill these serious bacteria?? But I read one article where a man lost his 9 & 1/2 y/o dog after twice taking him to the vet and the e-coli didn’t come up on routine test’s because they don’t test the GI tract.
Also of concern to me is I myself have a very weak immune system, but want what is best for my dogs, so could wear gloves, but what about where they walk, lick, one is a drooler??? Can’t control all aspects of it just with gloves. Think I will also get this book on my kindle.

[sharon b]

Thanks Cheryl, I did hear back from the vet. He got a sample of the “snot” and tested positive for 3 bacteria, I am not sure which exactly. I am a pharmacist, so I know med’s, based on them, He has been on Augmentin and Metronidazole for a month now, they must have been some gram positive staph type, and possibly an anerobic maybe? He is being switched to cephalexin now, another broad spectrum. The infection is mostly in his nose/sinus’s, but he is congested in the throat too. Lungs are clear as of last exam and no sign’s of difficult breathing. Vet didn’t seem to think it was allergies, said he was too young, although my boyfriend thought that comment was in regards to me saying I was going to switch to a raw diet. Seems sometimes they need to be educated, especially when they don’t see a particular breed often. As far as the vomiting, it is hours later, and the other dog is outside much of the day (old habits). Curious on why no turkey necks? are they bigger? I am not sure if my freezer is going to be big enough for this, and my home is small and not enough room for an additional freezer unless I get the porch I am hoping for added on. I would just look for one on Craig’s list and put it on the deck put have heard the winter weather if on or off ruins them. Obviously if below freezing wouldn’t need to run it. I will do small batches of food for the time being.
My guy is pretty good with his paws, he eats bully sticks and hangs on to them, and we have given them both beef bones before, mostly rib from pet stores, not raw.

[sharon b]

For the second day now, my Newf puppy has thrown up. Seems to be a lot of mucus, most likely this infection or allergy. Not going to wait, switching to raw, even if it/s from a pet store, and grocery store now. Since I am not even sure it’s an allergy, and I have some chicken patties, I will start with that tonight. Tomorrow get more, or possibly just go straight chicken and add as I go. Waiting for vet to call back but puppies can’t afford not to be eating or loosing their meals. He is acting fine, but very congested in the throat and still sneezing with crap coming out. I may prefer organic but more than that, I prefer that my dog get the nutrition he needs first and foremost. This is not a typical allergy, It came back positive for 3 different bacteria’s, but the infection may be secondary to something underlying, IDK. Either way, going Raw cannot hurt, it can only help.

[sharon b]

Also, I feed twice a day even though I am home, although my 8 year old husky still is used to once a day. I am aware of bloat but they recommend having that surgery done when neutering is done. He sometimes goes to doggie daycare, so the food mixing I do now and refrigeration and such we decided was too complex for three times a day. Raw food would be even harder at daycare, although they will have to deal when he is there and we are on vaca and he is on raw, hopefully by then. My boyfriend is flipping out a bit on the cost of this raw food, even though it really isn’t much more than what we have been spending, and the puppy’s food will decrease after another 4 months or so. Any suggestions how to get him aboard? I can’t even get him to eat healthy w/ vegetables, so trying to play the healthy card. Any discount on pet insurance?? that would help?

[sharon b]

Thank you Cheryl and Vincent and Marie. I am on disability for neck and shoulder injury so cutting and chopping would not be good for me, but I do have and rarely have used a meat grinder on a kitchen aid mixer. Wonder if that would help?? I am a bit of an organic freak so doubt I would find chicken on specials that are hormone free? Was the chicken you found hormone free? Does anyone go to a local butcher and ask for chicken and turkey necks and various other bones they normally would be buying?? Just a thought, might also make it more affordable. I looked into Darwins, and getting into Perfectly Raw and checking also into shipping cost’s. Darwin’s I believe stated no hormones and sells grass fed meat.

[sharon b]

This is all very helpful. I am still overwhelmed when I look at the way it is sold. I know I want the chicken necks for their teeth, and all different sources of meat. It seems one post seemed to suggest that possibly chicken might be the reason for her particular dogs allergies. My puppy has had this sinus infection for what seems like forever and the antibiotics are not making it better. They have been getting a taste of raw in their food, and love it, now won’t eat it without. I just am not sure how much to give them in comparison to kibble, especially the puppy, who eats sometimes up to 4 to 5 cups twice daily. Other days not as much. My vet said, just let him eat for about 15 minutes, but
he tends to eat till he is full, and we then pick it up, not letting him pick all day. I went to Darwin’s and it calculates based on dog’s weight, but I can’t use that for him, he eats more at this stage. Cost is also a factor, especially shipping, so was looking into perfectly raw. Does anyone have experience with them? How do most people order for their larger dogs? I don’t have a giant freezer.

[sharon b]

I am getting quite an education which is what I need. See newest post from me. Trying to find source, and seems I have, and how to switch my Newf and Husky to a raw diet and this is the first post from someone with a larger breed that I have seen. I am so sorry for your loss. All of your St. Bernard’s, but would love to know their previous feedings as I embark on this. Hard to extrapolate from people feeding schnauzer’s and such. I also am in NH and both the Cambridge and NH sources seem very possible.

[sharon b]

I want to add I like the idea of them eating food that helps clean their teeth and obviously the ground raw patties I am giving is not doing that. So does it need to contain crushed bone? Totally new to this. Also the puppy has had a sinus infection pretty much since he was 13 weeks and been on antibiotics but not really affected his behavior greatly. Two weeks initially on antibiotics that we thought cleared it, then once pollen came out it re-appeared and is now on his 6th week of two antibiotics that are quite expensive and he does not seem much better. Every morning (mostly) blows brown snots especially when he sneezes so he may have an allergy even though he tested positive for 3 bacteria’s at the vet. It may just be the mucus keeps getting infected. I also want to make sure he has the appropriate nutrients like glucosamine sulfate & chondroitin for a large breed etc.

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