[Sloane K]

Hey Jeff, how did everything turn out with your pup?

[Sloane K]

All of the meat choices seem a bit extravagant to me. Where’s the chicken??

[Sloane K]

@Jessica M, I’m glad you chose not to listen to anon101. There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to support the legitimacy of feeding a raw diet.

[Sloane K]

Like others have said, grain isn’t necessary to include in your dog’s diet. My parents stopped feeding grain to our previous dogs after one started losing hair around his nose and another developed a skin condition. None of our dogs since then have been fed grain-based anything.

[Sloane K]

I feed my dog chicken only because that’s what she likes. Whenever you transition from one food to another, you’ll need to mix them regardless. I know that doesn’t answer your question, but mixing seems inevitable.

[Sloane K]

@anon101, let me refer to this point in that article:
“APN was also associated with feeding raw chicken. 96% of APN dogs were fed raw chicken while only 26% of control dogs were. Only 1 APN case was not fed raw chicken, and this dog had daily contact with live poultry.”

Where in this information does it state that APN was associated with raw chicken? Those numbers don’t make sense. Further, dogs with APN being fed raw chicken does not conclude a causal relationship.

[Sloane K]

I don’t recommend basing your information on studies done on humans. Our systems are not the same as our canine friends. I’m not familiar with commercial raw diets but I think you should wait until you’ve spoken to your vet before making that switch.

[Sloane K]

Very helpful info! I feed my yellow lab rescue a homemade raw diet but have been thinking of switching to a name brand. Might give this one a try.

[Sloane K]

Wow, so much helpful info in this thread. Thanks everyone!

[Sloane K]

@ThreeDoodles, but what is the pup’s current weight?

[Sloane K]

To reiterate what others have said: no! No, no, no. Bone splinters may be a myth, but I am not willing to take that risk. I suggest that you don’t, either.

[Sloane K]

Thanks for your reply, Anand!

[Sloane K]

Very helpful info! I feed my yellow lab rescue a homemade raw diet but have been thinking of switching to a name brand. Might give Top Quality a try.

[Sloane K]

Matt –

If you’re still around on these forums I am curious to learn how your pup reacted to the transition into a raw diet. Let us know! Thanks

[Sloane K]

Surprised to hear that raw beef heart would cause sickness in your dog. I am sorry to hear, but glad to see he had gotten better after what appeared to be a scary scene. You are probably no longer considering a raw diet, but on the off chance you do in the future I wonder if slowly introducing the raw diet would’ve helped made the transition easier. Very seldom do I hear or read of stories where going raw resulted in ill pups. Take care

[Sloane K]

Jr S-

If you’re still around I’ve love to hear an update on the status of your pup after trying out a raw diet with them? Thanks

[Sloane K]

Anand-

How has your dog been? Did you decide to switch?

Dogs shouldn’t be fed grains of any sort to my knowledge, or carbs for that matter so it’s no surprise that a food boasting chicken & quinoa wasn’t doing the trick for you. But I’m eager to hear an update. Thanks in advance.

[Sloane K]

Pat-

Can you update us how your pet has been doing since introducing them to Top Quality? Thanks in advance.

[Sloane K]

To add to the conversation-
If you go back and analyze what pets were eating back then they did not have access to commercial foods (mainly grains) that they do now. And I don’t believe pets have adapted quickly enough to be able to ingest the commercial kibble sold in stores (loaded with fillers and grains, aka carbs). Pets have always eaten meats, both fatty and lean, as well as bones.

[Sloane K]

Chuck-

Curious how your pets are doing now from the diet switch? Been thinking of switching my pet’s diets and trying to gather as much info here as possible. Let us know if your diet switch results were positive or not.

[Sloane K]

Haven’t tried it, yet. Doesn’t appear to be much info on them. Did you decide on trying them out? What did you think?

[Sloane K]

Carrie –

Generally the higher price you pay for the food, the more likely it will contain more protein than fats. There are many brands now flooding the market and it’s been confusing figuring out which one is the best. If you find any other insight, please share.

[Sloane K]

Would raw coated kibble still be considered appropriate for a strict BARF (Bones & Raw Food) diet? It is an interesting concept and I believe my pup would make an easier transition from kibble to raw coated kibble.

Thanks for the advice in advance.

[Sloane K]

Glad to see some positive results on the raw diets!

Quick question – is frozen raw the same as free-dried raw? And if not, what would the differences be? & What would be preferred?

[Sloane K]

Patty –

It’s a very controversial topic right now, but just like with humans, cutting down portion sizes & introducing more exercise is a great way to burn fat. You could also replace any treats you give your dog with healthier options such as carrots, for example. There’s a chance your pup is not receiving the right nutrients, either. Any diet, raw or not, should be balanced to allow for your pup to receive different nutrients throughout the day.

However, I am not a licensed professional & I always advise people to consult their veterinarian before introducing new diet plans to their pet – including a raw food diet.

Wish your pup the best.

[Sloane K]

Connie L-

Here’s a great beginner’s guide to check out before starting the raw food dog diet:
https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/raw-dog-food-dietary-concerns-benefits-and-risks#1

I would also consult my veterinarian on these choices before starting.

Wish your pup the best.

[Sloane K]

Both raw & cooked carrots are fine for dogs. Chances are the commercial dog treats you feed them are much worse for your dog than the carrots are.

[Sloane K]

Wendy M-

Very true, most veterinarians are similar to Western doctors in that all they are concerned with is $$$. They want to run this test & that test on your pup, prescribe medications, etc.

As the raw food industry grows more & more it will create a need for more types of these specialists so that they aren’t so scarce.

[Sloane K]

I think raw diets are perfectly fine. I mean – think back to when dogs didn’t have access to commercial food (i.e. kibble) as they do now… what did they eat? They hunted prey, killed & ate what they had killed.

But for anyone considering a raw diet for their pet, I would consult a professional first before trusting someone’s advice on a forums website.

Just my .2 cents.

[Sloane K]

Wow! That would be enough for me to stop using this brand and switch to another brand with possibly higher quality ingredients, better reviews & a better manufacturing process. This is a growing industry so some brands may take shortcuts. Who knows the restrictions governments impose in this industry. Thankfully your pet is alright.

Thanks for providing this info, I will be staying away from this brand.

[Sloane K]

I haven’t personally used them, but I noticed they don’t seem to have many reviews yet so until they build some reviews I would be conservative and wait it out. There are plenty of other raw food brands out there as it seems like this industry is growing rather quickly.

Wish your pet the best.

[Sloane K]

Maikolo-

Making the switch to a raw dog diet does include a few changes. For the sake of simplicity, a rule of thumb is to feed your dog 2x per day: noon & dinner time. But your dog should be fed every day.

Prepare your raw food once per day, but split it into two meals: one for noon & one for dinner.

Your dog will likely act hungry during this switch, but you sohuldn’t give in to this. Use their weight as a guide to more or less food.

But ultimately I would seek out a professional such as your local veternarian for the best advice.

Wish you the best.

[Sloane K]

I’m not a vet, so take what I say at face value, but if I was told my pet isn’t digesting her bone-in items very well, I’d start by removing all bone from her diet and give her just meat for a few days.

Then I would reintroduce a smaller amount of bone into her diet. Once she was back to normal, I’d make sure I continue to give her less bone-in items than I did initially.

Ultimately you should seek out advice from an experienced professional such as a vet or dog nutrition specialist.

Wish your pet the best.

[Sloane K]

To add to what pitlove said –

Is your furry friend experiencing problems? How are you aware that your pet is “overweight”? Advice given here on a forums website should be taken with a grain of salt. If you are seriously concerned with your pet then I would recommend a check-up with an experienced professional, such as your local veterinarian.

Speaking from experience – You could be doing everything right for your pet & still not see the results you want. Things are often deeper than what we can see from the outside.

I wish your pet the best.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Sloane K.

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