[Cyndi]

Thank you losul! I appreciate all that information. Regarding that section of the book on kibble storage, I was in disbelief when I read all that. It totally makes sense, but I never thought of that when I was feeding kibble. It really explains alot! & good for you for pointing that out to your friend. I always try to nicely pass along information I’ve learned over the past 4 or 5 months since being on this site. Most of the people I try to “educate”, don’t believe me when I tell them what goes into most kibble. I always have to send them links to the articles on this site.

[Cyndi]

My opinion, not that anyone asked but it’s never stopped me before, go to your local shelter and adopt a dog that might otherwise be put to sleep. 🙂

[Cyndi]

I can’t say I blame you at all. I know what you mean about not wanting to rock the boat. There are so many things that I want Bailey to try, but she’s doing so well right now, I also want to leave well enough alone right now. There’s no hurry for Harry to have a turkey neck. They aren’t going anywhere. Enjoy Harry as he is, doing well on his new food! 🙂

[Cyndi]

I always use Bailey’s food up within a month anyways. Probably even less than that. I know I’ve heard before that freezing foods can destroy some nutrients, but I never remember the specifics. That book is very informative. I let my boss borrow it and I’ve shared with him alot of the stuff I’ve learned these last few months and he has completely changed the way he feeds his dog. Next I have to work on my boss of my second job. I found out that she feeds her dogs Shep! I was shocked when I saw the bag of Shep in her house. Ugh!

Thanks for your help, as always! 🙂

[Cyndi]

Yay for Harry!! 🙂 I’m so glad he’s doing so well! Have you fed him a turkey neck yet?

[Cyndi]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help! Now that I know a bit more about raw feeding, I’m gonna have to read thru that whole book again. I absorb more info when I actually read things more than once. & asking stupid questions doesn’t hurt either, lol!

[Cyndi]

Hi losul, I do have that book, on my generic iPad. (I bought it when I first came onto this site and HDM recommended it) Not sure which edition I have, but I’ll look that up. I do remember reading the info on the storing dry foods, which I never knew, but I no longer feed dry dog food, but I did pass along that info to people I know.

I’ll look up the info you mentioned on the frozen storage though, thanks! Now that I already froze Bailey’s food, with the premix added, that book is probably going to tell me not to do that, right? Lol!

Thanks for the info! 🙂

[Cyndi]

Ok, thanks HDM! 🙂

[Cyndi]

Quick question for anyone that knows. I would imagine it’s ok to do this, but figured I’d ask. Is it ok for me to mix the Grandma Lucy’s premix up into Bailey food ahead of time and freeze it? I can do either, but I was just getting ready to mix up the beef, organs and tripe and thought it would be a time saver to just add the premix before I portioned it up and just refreeze it all together….

[Cyndi]

Ok, now THAT is something I could have gone the rest of my life without knowing! LOL! That is just gross! I’ll never look at a cherry tomato the same way again!

[Cyndi]

Oh, ok. Well, I don’t think Bailey has any issues with potato, so I’ll see. The Dr. Harvey’s has a lot more ingredients too. I may just have to leave it up to Bailey, lol!

[Cyndi]

Yes Patty, it does, here are the ingredients:
USDA Potatoes, Flax, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Celery, Apples, Bananas, Blueberry, Cranberries, Pumpkin, Garlic, Rosemary, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Niacin, Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus, Zinc, Riboflavin, Thiamin, Potassium, Manganese, Chloride, Copper, Magnesium, Pyridoxine, Cyanocobalamin

I’ll just have to wait and see which one I like better I guess. They both looked good to me, lol! Thanks Patty!

[Cyndi]

Thanks HDM! Yeah, I meant the fine ground of the Dr. Harvey’s. Patty mentioned that yesterday after I had seen that Chewy had it. Good to know they both have your approval. I am going to order both and figure out which I like better. The Grandma Lucy’s is cheaper, but the Dr. Harvey’s does have quite a bit more in it, so we’ll see…

[Cyndi]

Patty, I thought you were able to “stomach” that kind of stuff? I really thought I’d be ok watching Bailey eat it, because I always watch her eat. Nope, couldn’t do it. I have been getting the whole carcass rabbit grinds, so far, but thought I’d try the whole quail. I’m sure I’ll buy them again, just won’t watch her eat it.

Sandy…..that’s really gross, lol! I hope your friend didn’t see her dog do it. 🙁 That’s a little surprising to me that a Pug would do that.

[Cyndi]

For anyone that uses the premixes, does anyone use either of the two I mentioned…Dr. Harvey’s Veg-to-Bowl Grain free pre-mix or Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Grain Free Pre-mix? Which do you think is better?
I may order both, but if someone recommends one more than the other, I may do that…

[Cyndi]

Thanks HDM! The grind I use for Bailey’s breakfast is just the beef and organs and tripe, that I mix myself. No bone. I wouldn’t use the pre-mix on days when I feed the whole ground rabbit. Thanks for letting me know.

& Patty, I saw they had a fine ground one & that’s the one I had decided on. Makes more sense to me. I think I might just get both the Dr. Harvey’s and the Grandma Lucy’s and use one til it’s gone, then use the other. Maybe Bailey will prefer one over the other, lol!

Thanks guys! 🙂

[Cyndi]

I have another question for you experienced ones. If I start using a premix, which for some reason I’ve never thought of doing before, do I still need to add a one a day vitamin and the Dr. Harvey’s Multi Vitamin Mineral & Herbal Dog Supplement and eggs and stuff like that? I’m kind of figuring I wouldn’t have to still, but figured I’d ask. I order from Chewy and I am leaning towards Dr. Harvey’s Veg-to-Bowl Grain free pre-mix or Grandma Lucy’s Artisan Grain Free Pre-mix. I would add the pre mix to Bailey’s breakfast grind, which is ground beef, ground organs, and ground tripe, I feed that to her every other day in the a.m. and I have been doing the whole carcass ground rabbit on the other days.

As usual, thanks in advance for your help! 🙂

[Cyndi]

Well, Bailey just ate her whole quail. My stomach doesn’t feel so good, lol! I watched her for a few seconds and then I just couldn’t handle it anymore. I don’t know how you guys, Patty and HDM, can watch your dogs eat a whole animal, but I can’t. Ugh! I will feed her those regularly, but, I just can’t stomach that. If it’s just raw meat, without a face or a body, I’m fine. I’m ok with the blood and liver and everything else, but holy cow, it really turned my stomach to watch her for the few seconds that I did! 🙁 BUT, Yay for Bailey!! Lol!

[Cyndi]

Lol! I think you mean ‘if Hound Dog Mom can do it, Cyndi can TRY to do it!’ Lol!

[Cyndi]

Damn HDM, I dread mixing up the 1 lb packages of beef, & organs & tripe to portion them up. I’m glad I don’t have to portion up THAT much! That would suck!

[Cyndi]

Hi HDM, I’m actually going to visit family, so I won’t be staying in a hotel. (even though I’d rather stay in a hotel, lol!) But I am going to gross them all out by bringing a whole quail for Bailey to eat while I’m there. Lol! 🙂

I’ll have to look into the dehydrated or even a pre-mix and see if I can get any of that before I leave. That would be easier than trying to remember to bring everything I feed her in a 5 day period… Bailey has never had any of that before, so I hope, if I do go that route, that none of that messes with her system.

[Cyndi]

Lol! I try not to let stuff like that bother me, but it still does, lol!

[Cyndi]

There are a couple people on here that have the same kind of dogs. I’m sure one of them will respond and hopefully help you out. Or someone else that might know what’s going on… Hang in there!

[Cyndi]

Yeah, that’s true, but it WILL drive me crazy. I’m only going to be gone 5 days.

[Cyndi]

That WOULD be a good time to use a premix, but I’ve never used those. I’m just gonna have to make sure I remember to bring everything I add to her food. I just know I’m gonna forget something, lol!

Thanks Patty!

• This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by Cyndi.

[Cyndi]

Thanks, SanDnMila! I order from Hare Today all the time, and I knew that, but that didn’t even cross my mind, lol! I have SO much on my mind these days I just plain forgot that I do that all the time too. I thaw my grinds out to portion them out and then refreeze. I guess I was just worried about thawing and refreezing the stuff again and again. I’m sure it will still be fine though.

[Cyndi]

Hi everyone! I guess, by reading this thread, my question is for Hound Dog Mom, or should I say “Hot” Dog Mom! Lol! Sorry! I will never do that again, lol!

Anyways, I am driving to New Jersey next week with Bailey. It’s a 7 hour drive. I have a cooler for her food. My question is, I’m wondering if, in 7 hours, if her food will thaw out, and does it matter if it does and if I can just refreeze it once I get to where I’m going? I have like 4 ice packs and I will get some regular ice to cover her food once it’s in the cooler, so I don’t know if stuff will completely thaw or not, but I would imagine it’s ok to refreeze the stuff.

Another question, for anyone that has traveled with their dog that is raw fed, is there any problems that you ran into or anything that might help me in knowing ahead of time, so I can prevent it from happening to me? Like, maybe you forgot something, or didn’t use enough ice, or in my case I’m wondering how I’m going to make sure her dinner is thawed enough to eat, cuz she’ll be eating on the road…

Any help/tips anyone can give me would be GREATLY appreciated!

[Cyndi]

FreeholdHound ~ I was there with the turkey necks too. I’m sure Harry will be fine and love it as much as the grinds you’re feeding him. & I highly doubt he’ll try to swallow it whole. He’ll know what to do.

& HDM, I couldn’t do the quail with the feathers and all, so I got the dressed one. I figured the less it looks like a real animal, the better (for me). Maybe once I get used to it I can do the feathered one for her, but right now, we’ll see how it goes with the one I got. I am excited about it though. I’ll be sure to take pictures, lol!

[Cyndi]

You are totally right Marie!! I am SO very thankful I found this site. I had ended up on a couple other ones before here, and some of the info I was reading on them, contradicted things I had read in many other places. I also tried to ask a question on a forum and, more or less, got “yelled” at for asking an off topic question. A few days later I ended up here and the rest, as they say, is history, lol! As you can see I never left!

I have an “on topic” statement. I ordered Bailey a whole prey quail today. I’ll be honest, I’m a little nervous about it. Not for Bailey, but for me, lol! Hopefully I don’t pull it out of the box and think ‘Awwww, the poor bird. I can’t feed this to my dog!’. Lol! I will just have to keep in my head that Bailey will love it, and it’s good for her and it’s something new and different and it’s her dinner! Lol! Wish me luck! 🙂

[Cyndi]

One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish……what? Lol! I won’t even begin to try to understand what Patty said! Lol!

FreeholdHound, I am so happy to hear that Harry is doing well on the raw. Good for you! & good for him! 🙂 The possibilities are endless!

[Cyndi]

LOL!! Patty, I’m “garlic challenged” too! Lmao!!

[Cyndi]

The turkey necks I get from my butcher are about 1-1 1/2lbs also, but they cut them in half when they get them in, which is perfect for me to feed Bailey. I feed Bailey a half of a turkey neck along with gizzards and heart and/or liver.

[Cyndi]

I TOTALLY agree about buying the 1lb. chubs instead of the 5lb ones. I ordered a 5lb one with my very first order and I will never do that again. I get all 1 pounders now. They are MUCH easier to work with! Let us know how Harry likes it! 🙂

[Cyndi]

I am just posting here to bump up your question so someone, more knowledgeable than myself, can answer it for you. Your post, FreeholdHound, made me laugh. I was in the same position you are just a few months ago when I started my dog on raw. Good Luck to you…..& Harry! I hope he LOVES his raw food!

[Cyndi]

My Bailey loves the beef…..and the Rabbit…..and the Tripe….and everything I’ve given her. I love Hare Today’s products!

[Cyndi]

You shouldn’t give a dog any cooked bones. & most of those bones that they sell at pet stores break off into shards of bone because I believe they are cooked or something. I had gotten one of those for my other dog and he was breaking off big 2-3 inch shards of sharp bone. I immediately thru it away and will never buy another one. Raw marrow bones or nylabones or bully sticks are all I’ll ever give to my dog.

[Cyndi]

I think this should be posted on the Royal Canin thread in the review section. If no one else does, I will, but I can’t do it right now from my generic iPad.

I am just sickened that this still goes on… 🙁

[Cyndi]

That’s a good idea. It never hurts to ask. I feed chicken feet quite a bit too. I get mine from Hare Today. I haven’t been able to find those anywhere around me.

[Cyndi]

Awesome! Now you’ll be able to get your rmb’s. & I was going to mention that about your dog’s coloring when you mentioned the Bernese Mountain Dogs, but I forgot, lol!

[Cyndi]

Oh, well that’s good. Maybe you’ll be able to find a local place that has carries them. I bet that picture is cute. I love those dogs. I thought about getting one before my doberman came into my life. Glad I didn’t now though, because I would have missed out on an awesome 11 years that I had with my Moose. 🙂

[Cyndi]

Betsy, if I’m not mistaken, I think Mypetcarnivore.com carries turkey necks. I’ve never bought anything thru them, I stick with HareToday, but I think I’ve seen them on their site.

Yep, I just checked, they do carry them…

• This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by Cyndi.

[Cyndi]

Yes, turkey necks are perfectly safe. They are a staple in my dog’s raw diet. Good luck!

[Cyndi]

Absolutely! You can even feed the whole rabbit!

[Cyndi]

Hi Ceara,

I think Patty answered your questions better than I could have. I didn’t have too much of a problem with my Bailey choking. Even when she got down to a piece the size that I thought was too big for her to swallow, and she tried to swallow it, she made sure to chew it a few more times and then swallowed it. I don’t think you have to worry too much about your dog choking. The bones in chicken crunch right up and once they get the hang of using their teeth the way they were meant to, they’ll have no problems. Oh, and, like Patty said, when I started, I did remove the skin from the chicken. Even now, sometimes I’ll take most of the skin off.

They say to fast for one meal before starting on raw. I feed Bailey twice a day, so, when I started, I fed her dinner one day, skipped breakfast the next morning and then started her on raw for dinner. As you may have read early on I had a few concerns, but I feel silly about all the concerns I had. Your dog’s gut just has to get used to eating & digesting food that it was meant to have. You may see pieces of bone in his poop some, that’s normal, and he may even throw up some. Don’t give up, just hang in there. You’ll be doing the very best for your dog feed him a species appropriate diet and he’ll thank you for it! 🙂

[Cyndi]

Hi Ceara. You are in the right place, for starters. I have been feeding my dog raw for a little over two months now. I did a TON of research online and eventually, thank god, found this site. This forum section and the wonderful people on here, have been a HUGE help. Here is a link to the thread I started before I began feeding raw, while I was still in the research/question stage:

/forums/topic/help-with-starting-my-dog-on-a-raw-diet/

It WAS overwhelming, I do know that. Read thru that thread and maybe that will help. I asked alot of questions, so maybe some of that will help you…

I can’t help on the canned food topic, I’m not that knowledgeable, but I guess if you just go to the review section and look under some of the 4 and 5 star wet foods, that would be a good place to start. Also Kudos to you for not listening to your boyfriend about Beneful! That wouldn’t have been any better than the Science Diet.

Good Luck! 🙂

[Cyndi]

That really is a bummer! Wonder who had it first? I bet I know….

[Cyndi]

Oh my, Dr. Mike, lol! I wouldn’t waste my money on that “stuff” or subject my dog to it! LOL! I just responded to your email.

[Cyndi]

Ok, sorry. Just thought it might help…

[Cyndi]

Go to Earthworkshealth dot com. That site is about Diatomaceous Earth. Click on “Organic Pest Control” on the top left of the home page…

Read up on DE and see if it’s something that might work. A few people on this site, me included, use it for fleas and I give it to my dog, mixed in her food, to help internally. You could probably mix it in the bag of food when you buy it to manage the mites. I’ve read people on farms mix it with their livestocks’ feed to control bugs.

Maybe someone else would have other suggestions for you…

[Cyndi]

No problem at all! Glad I could help!

[Author]

Posts