[pugmomsandy]

Here is a really good page about Satin Balls

http://www.holisticdog.org/Nutrition/Satinballs/satinballs.html

and a modified version:

5 lb hi fat ground beef (27% Fat)
5 lb bag Mirra Coat
2 lb (approx) Creamy Peanut Butter
18-24 Eggs
16 oz bottle of Dyne

and

3 lbs meat, 3 cups oatmeal, 3 cups cereal, 6 eggs, 6 tabls molasses and 6 tabls oil, 1 tbls garlic powder

However some folks use a concoction of coconut water, banana and nut butter.

[pugmomsandy]

jpminnix,
My vet recommended vitamin C daily and I also give d-mannose/cranberry supplement.

[pugmomsandy]

They’re probably still in recovery mode so their gut is still probably not optimal. Are you giving them extra supplements or their normal dose? It hasn’t been that long has it? I thought they might still be on the homemade rice and turkey.

[pugmomsandy]

Dr Langers is buy 1 get one free at Swanson’s right now.

[pugmomsandy]

Vigilent,

You can give additional fish oil and/or coconut oil to help her skin.

[pugmomsandy]

kcarter137,

The Asian and Mexican supermarkets will also have a selection of organs, feet, and also hearts and gizzards. I buy wild caught sardines from the Mexican supermarket on sale for 1.19/lb. For my small dogs, one 3 oz sardine is a meal but you could use it for a topper too.

http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u651/pugmomsandy/pictures%20for%20posting/IMG_4047600x450_zpsf34c6610.jpg

http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u651/pugmomsandy/pictures%20for%20posting/IMG_60801024x821_zpsad7d39eb.jpg

[pugmomsandy]

DieselJunki,

I started introducing raw with commercial frozen patties. I gave them a few bites a day and that was it and slowly increased it to a whole feeding. Then one day I decided to try chicken wings a couple times a week. As they did well I increased the types of raw I fed like legs and necks and ribs. They were also eating kibble. Then I bought the recipe book by Dr Becker. Actually I bought that book and read it and thought it was difficult so it sat around for a couple months until I decided to do it – make my own grinds. So after my first batch (and purchasing a grinder) I decided it was easy like 1 – 2 – 3. Just go at your own pace and what you have time for and maybe keep some backup food. I still feed kibble as I’m the only one in the house that feeds the dogs raw so when I’m not home, they eat kibble. Also good to have when going on trips or leaving the dogs at home for a pet sitter.

[pugmomsandy]

How brave!! Is hubby participating too?

[pugmomsandy]

Ha! Thought so! I’m Pugtown.

[pugmomsandy]

CSollers,

Are you a Pugvillager?

[pugmomsandy]

You can supplement their diet with the freeze dried raw food but usually it is alot more expensive per pound unless you can also get that wholesale.

[pugmomsandy]

I use krill oil, emu oil, Udo’s oil and sometimes coconut oil. Not all together. Sometimes 2 of them together.

http://www.uniquelyemu.com/AB15001/Animal-Basics-AniMend-EFA-Pet-Capsules.htm

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/2_6/features/5220-1.html

[pugmomsandy]

Thinly slice your meats and place on lightly greased pan on lowest oven temperature for at least 3 hours.

“Tip #5: Prepare Homemade Treats for your Pet

If your dog happens to be wild for dehydrated chicken strips (chicken jerky), you can make your own quite easily.

Just buy some boneless chicken breasts, clean them, and slice into long, thin strips – the thinner the better. Place the strips on a greased or non-stick cookie sheet and bake them for at least three hours at 180 degrees. The low temp dries the chicken out slowly and the strips wind up nice and chewy.

Let the strips cool, and then store them in plastic bags or another airtight container. You can also freeze them.

If you buy commercial canned food for your dog or cat, you can ‘repurpose’ a can for use as a supply of healthy treats.

Open a can of your pet’s favorite brand, preferably something with a strong aroma, and spoon out little treat sized amounts onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.

Put the baking sheet into the freezer until the bite sized bits of food are frozen. Then move them to an airtight container and back into the freezer they go until you’re ready to treat your pet to a treat! (Most dogs will enjoy the treats frozen, but you’ll need to thaw them to a chewy consistency for kitties.)”

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/02/10/easy-to-make-pet-treats.aspx

I don’t take the time to make treats anymore. I buy freeze dried foods or organs like Vital Essentials and Fresh is Best.

• This reply was modified 11 years ago by pugmomsandy.

[pugmomsandy]

I’ve heard that Victor and Earthborn are budget friendly. I’ve used Nutrisource which is mid-priced ($45-$50) for a large bag in my area and it has a higher calorie count so I do use less. Also Nature’s Select has competitive prices as well and they discount for rescues.

[pugmomsandy]

Rotate the proteins and use organ meats and eggs and also rotate veggies. And as stated already use calcium and omega 3’s.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/real-food-for-healthy-dogs-and-cats-cookbook.aspx

/choosing-dog-food/karen-becker-best-worst-dog-food/

[pugmomsandy]

If they’re already eating raw foods then they *should* be ok. Nectarmom had a bad experience with it just recently. Her girls have pancreatitis.

[pugmomsandy]

Yes you can freeze them. I put mine in small bags 3 to a bag. Be sure to cut claws off before feeding. I’d start with 1/2 a foot and see how they react over a couple of days. Do your dogs normally eat mod-high fat foods? Have you tried just a small chicken wing? You can give a couple times a week for teeth cleaning after you’ve decided that they can handle it. And it’s good for making chicken stock. Recipes at eatmedaily(dot)com search for chicken feet.

[pugmomsandy]

http://www.all-natural-dog-treat.com/pumpkindogtreatrecipes.html

Grain free pumpkin dog treats. You can also substitute coconut/garbanzo/fava flours for grain flours in other recipes.

[pugmomsandy]

That is horrible! So sorry for your situation. I hope they have a speedy recovery.

[pugmomsandy]

Wallyworld,

Vital Essentials has freeze dried nibblets. They are small from pea to macadamia nut size. And they would count as food so no wasted calories on snacks.

[pugmomsandy]

Defrosting – yuk! Make sure your upright is frost free!

[pugmomsandy]

He-He! Has anyone signed up on the carnivorefeed-supply yahoo group? Can’t believe there are so many products available. Surely one of them delivers to your states? My group down here even gets food from Ohio (I think) delivered. Medford Meats?

[pugmomsandy]

You can try a small amount like a teaspoon of local raw honey daily, and/or stinging nettles with quercetin, and a supplement for the immune system, an allergy herbal, coconut oil, and even omega 3 oil (fish oil, krill, sardine, other fish) to help with environmental allergies.

[pugmomsandy]

I found mine at 40% off because it had the front digital panel replaced and might have had a scratch. There’s always some frig/freezers/chest freezers that are marked down due to some surface defect at the store. You just have to go by and look every so often. You know you’re just gonna (I’m Texan) have to get a grinder next!!

[pugmomsandy]

For any upright freezer I would consider how many shelves it has and are they adjustable or removeable incase I needed to put in custom racks. The one shelf I have that has about 100 lbs on it seems to be just slightly bulging downward and the sides of the rack aren’t very far into the sides of the freezer so I think it has the possibility of falling down. But you know, I have way too much food! The bones take up alot of space since they’re not anywhere near being uniform in shape.

[pugmomsandy]

I’d stick with the Fromm’s. The vet is only taught those brands in school. Try finding a holistic vet. Mine actually sells raw foods in her clinic. http://www.ahvma.org/

This is from Dr Wysong:

“TRUTH 82: YOU CAN’T RELY ON EXPERTS

I took 8½ years of college credits learning to be a veterinary physician and surgeon. Only one course in nutrition was required. And that concentrated on food animals, not pets.

With that I was supposed to be a nutrition expert. After graduation clients came to me seeking my “expert” nutritional advice. This is the most profound thing we veterinarians graduate with: Feed a name brand, not a generic, and don’t imbalance the foods by feeding table scraps. Obviously, as you are learning, I don’t agree with me any longer. But at the time I was quite proud of myself for being able to dispense such wisdom.

It’s what my professors taught me to say. Their wisdom came from what they learned from brochures provided to veterinary schools by the pet food companies. The pet nutrition taught in veterinary schools is not a product of critical evaluation, but rather results from some manufacturers (with the deepest pockets) providing free products for the teaching hospi­tals along with polished marketing materials. Pet food companies are no dummies. Brainwashing infants (in this case, veterinary neophytes) is highly effective and will more than pay for itself when graduates move to prac­tice and recommend all they have come to know.

Medical schools make nutrition seem like a soft science, a branch of homemaking so to speak. Students and professors are much more enthralled by dissections, microscopes, surgery, syringes, and x-ray machines.

Besides, all those “name brand” pet food companies had all the details figured out. All that pets needed to do was eat their “100% complete and balanced” foods and nutrition could be put out of consideration as a factor in health.

Most other pet professionals – pet store clerks, breeders, groomers, boarders, etc.- know even less since no formal scientific training at all is required of them. But pet owners need to rely on the advice of someone, so they go to those who say they are experts. These “experts” don’t purposely try to mislead the public. What they have to say is just all they know, or it’s where the money is because they represent a particular brand.

A veterinarian has an excellent background in the sciences to use as a base to gain some true nutritional understanding. A few do this, but not many. If you find one, pay attention. Pet professionals, unless educated well in the sciences, have a more difficult task and are more easily bamboozled by pet food technomarketing or popular lore. Their lack of scientific depth also makes them vulnerable to reducing pet health and feeding to simplistic myths such as the benefits of a certain ingredi­ent or the horrors of another. Usually they happen to be selling the brand that has the special ingredient and is without the horrible one.

So there is no easy way for you. You cannot simply trust someone who puts themselves forth as an expert. For you to even know what is or is not good advice, you must engage your mind, learn a little, and put truth first. Ultimately, in matters of health for yourself or your pets, you are the most reliable expert.”

[pugmomsandy]

I’m only on the first bottle of Mercola ubiquinol and so far the pump is fine. I also get the hibiscus tea in the pump bottle and it has been fine as well.

[pugmomsandy]

You might want to get either some canned pumpkin puree or ground psyllium to give with feeds to help his stools during transition and some probiotics to help maintain a healthy gut. I usually feed about 50-75% of what a normal serving would be for 2 days before giving full servings when switching cold turkey. Otherwise you can take as long as you want to transition over to new food. From 10 days to 2 months. Digestive enzymes will help too so he doesn’t throw up little piles.

[pugmomsandy]

You’re welcome. I started out feeding bad food years ago and worked our way up to the good stuff! I put my fosters on “mid-range” food. They’re not with me long enough to put them on higher stuff.

[pugmomsandy]

Tractor Supply will have some grain free kibble choices. They have their own brand called 4health Grain Free also. It might be too much for him to go from Iams Proactive Health to Blue Buffalo Wilderness if you were thinking of going grain free. Blue also has Freedom which you might consider first. It’s a mid-protein range grain free food. Wellness also has a allergy line called Simple.

[pugmomsandy]

Can’t think of many foods except Pioneer Naturals Grain Free and Great Life RX LID/Dr.E’s both made by Great Life.

http://www.doctorsfinest.com/Healthy_Chicken_dog_food_p/dr.%20es-gfd.htm

Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream, Pinnacle Peak.

[pugmomsandy]

Are you looking for single protein foods? Merrick 96% Grain Free and Hound & Gatos and Fromm Four Star Nutritionals comes to mind. Party Animal has some organic choices and Weruva has some that are just chicken or tuna and are low fat.

[pugmomsandy]

Fallow,

Blue Buffalo Wilderness and Core have reduced fat/weight management recipes. Also with the higher protein foods I have always fed less than the recommended amount. There is also The Honest Kitchen Zeal formula which is high in protein and low fat and it is a dehydrated food so if you fed 1 cup of dry you would need to add at least 1 cup of water with it so you’re feeding extra volume which might help your dog feel full.

[pugmomsandy]

Did you get Sojo’s Complete or the Mix?

[pugmomsandy]

If they’re still in the acute phase I might lightly cook the turkey just to get the most fat out of it and then continue to feed low fat for at least a week and then very slowly increase the fat amount in weekly increments. That way you can judge the amount of fat they can handle and possible follow up with bloodwork. I’m thinking it could take a couple months. What amount of fat were they eating before raw food?

[pugmomsandy]

If she needs help being regular then keep on using it if it was working for you until you can get the daily dose adjusted. I haven’t looked at any “colon cleanse” products but a reduced daily dose might help keep things moving so she doesn’t go 3 days in between stools. Works for me! I would think olive oil is better than castor oil or mineral oil! And I love psyllium. Buy it in bulk! Whenever we have GI issues here we go to a “simple” diet and psyllium. I have chia seed to. Tripe is suppose to be a “perfect food” yet it is very plain and simple. Even being a raw feeder I will make homemade “cow-dom”. I’m pretty sure that’s not how it is spelled since it’s Thai but it is basically rice porridge with meat/eggs/greens, anything I want to put in it and feed it to my 14 yr old foster with his kibble. I just got him at age 14 so I didn’t want to bomb his system with raw! I dog-sat him in December and he came with a bag of W/D which I begrudgingly fed him since he was not my foster. I work with what I have and feel comfortable with and make adjustments over time.

[pugmomsandy]

If you could feed her mostly canned food or canned/kibble combo at her age that would be great. They are less processed than extruded kibble and are high in moisture (of course) which is a good thing for all dogs any age. Be sure to get a product that is ‘complete and balanced’ versus ‘for intermittent or supplemental feeding only’ to be sure she is getting vitamins/minerals. A green/superfood supplement is beneficial as well. I’ve used Dr. Harvey’s supplements or similar. My 14 yr old is eating 1/2 cup of kibble with 1 cup of wet food/home made food with supplements (probiotics, green supplement, joint supp) or just wet food. Some sort of fiber of your choice (I use psyllium) will help bulk up her stools. She can have 1 teaspoon of psyllium. Or you can use canned pumpkin or even chia seed for fiber.

[pugmomsandy]

Is she getting Great Mender and olive oil? If so, maybe a reduction in those and some psyllium for bulk. If the first two are making her go, then at least the fiber will make it solid. Can’t say I’ve had any of those problems with all my fosters. I did get a 8 or 9 year old foster who I put on a canned food+raw diet with some psyllium and no problems. He needed to lose weight. Also try giving her less variety until she normalizes somewhat. Can you just feed her tripe for now till she settles?

[pugmomsandy]

What kind of bowl do you put her food in? I would use something very big so you can put some soup cans in there with her kibble so she has to work around them like a bin of some sort. You can find bins/food prep-ware at restaurant supply stores or Sams Club maybe Costco. Also Merrick Grain Free, Pinnacle Peak Performance and Orijen are pretty high in protein.

[pugmomsandy]

My foster dogs and mine have lost weight on grain free foods like Blue Buffalo Wilderness, Horizon Amicus, Wellness Core and Brothers Complete over the years and not the “diet” ones, just regular recipes. Recently my very obese foster lost 10 lbs on a grain free canned food/raw food combo diet – very low in carbs. My group only poops twice a day. Now they will poop during a walk or at the dog park just because they gotta leave one of theirs when they smell someone else’s and it’s usually not as formed because it’s usually not the time for them to go normally.

[pugmomsandy]

Cyndi,

You can also find turkey backs at some grocery stores. Sprouts has them. Chicken heart and gizzards are also easy finds as is various livers. Only feed 5 % liver though.

[pugmomsandy]

Yikes! You can also get there by going straight to dogforums(dot)com and searching for “raw feeding pictures thread”.

[pugmomsandy]

Here is a thread just for raw feeding:

http://www.dogforums.com/dog-food-forum/112667-raw-feeding-picture-thread-7.html

[pugmomsandy]

I believe lamb and mutton are fattier meats (as well as water fowl). I ground a duck and a goose in my grinder and I had to back out the fat custard that was created! Yuk!

[pugmomsandy]

HMD,

Hubby works in the restaurant biz and he’s building a new one right now. Just broke ground about 2 weeks ago so I told him to just tack on a freezer for me when they make the equipment order. I’m paying for mine of course. I got the dog freezer on sale for 40% off since it had the front panel replaced and there was a scratch on it somewhere I think. Just happened to be at Lowe’s looking for light bulbs or something – right place, right time. There were a couple of other refurbished items on sale too. There’s actually a store here that sells dented/scratched appliances at discounted prices.

[pugmomsandy]

HoundDogMom might have the answer. She makes her own raw as well. I have a recipe book by Dr. Karen Becker/Beth Taylor and it actually gives all the breakdown of protein/fat/carbs as well as a nutrient analysis for all the recipes.

[pugmomsandy]

How envious would you be if I told you hubby was getting me a restaurant size walk-in freezer/frig combo this fall?? LOL!

[pugmomsandy]

Sorry to hear about your ordeal. Unfortunately dog food manufacturers can change ingredients any time and can get the ingredients from different sources. That’s why I feed several different foods so my dogs don’t get used to one product. If a recipe suddenly changed then they would be ok.

[pugmomsandy]

Probably more than 6 months. The top shelf is just random bones. The very bottom drawer is 36 lb of pork. The next shelf up is 100 lbs of tripe/tripe blend in the laundry basket. The next shelf up is 20 lbs of chicken hearts in the blue bag and 50 lbs of beef blend in the brown box. The next shelf up is homemade 16 oz containers and 20 lbs of beef heart. The door has bags of kidneys and some other random bones. That photo was from November 2012 when I got my first order of texastripe products (250 lbs) and filled the freezer up with the new products and what was in the freezer already . I rotate my homemade containers or put them across from the old ones. And when the tubes get low then I order some more and just put the few old tubes on top or move them to the door.

[pugmomsandy]

It varies. Tonight they are getting a sardine each. If they were eating only raw it would be about 19 ounces a day! BUT they eat kibble, canned, and freeze dried too. Those tubes in the freezer are 2 lbs each. I bought 180 lbs of tubes of tripe/tripe blend/beef blend/wild boar/organs.

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