JamieHalverson
Well-Known Member
So I think we are going to do this. Lillie just turned a year old and we cannot get rid of her acne and recurrent ear infections. 28 day course of antibiotics just finished and within 2 days she started breaking out again; within a week her chin is covered with open, bleeding acne sores. She had ear infections while on the antibiotics, so I'm assuming that's yeast related. The zymox works great, but it's a constant cycle. I'm not 100% that it's food related since I haven't done an elimination diet, but I do know for sure that chicken makes her head explode, so there's at least that. I've managed all the things I think I can; no plastic bowls, wiping the chin after drinking, cleaning out her bowls and changing water, we use stridex pads daily... all to no avail. She's in pain and is now shying away from having her face or ears touched at all.
I already spend a small fortune in high quality kibble, so while I have not made any estimates what so ever, I don't think feeding raw can be that much more expensive, if at all. We have a great raw food supplier in the area, and my cousin raises organic grass fed free range whatever beef and pork, which we already buy for ourselves. We already have a freezer and Lillie being a year old alleviates a lot of my concerns as she's mostly done growing.
I'm not 100% on the whole prey model, there's some research indicating that our dogs have developed the need for some veggies and starch and such and that the barf diet may actually be better... not sure on that one either so obviously I have some research to do! We just got our free frequent buyer bag of kibble so we have enough for about 2 weeks, so that's going to be my goal no more kibble after this is gone, full switch by then.
I already spend a small fortune in high quality kibble, so while I have not made any estimates what so ever, I don't think feeding raw can be that much more expensive, if at all. We have a great raw food supplier in the area, and my cousin raises organic grass fed free range whatever beef and pork, which we already buy for ourselves. We already have a freezer and Lillie being a year old alleviates a lot of my concerns as she's mostly done growing.
I'm not 100% on the whole prey model, there's some research indicating that our dogs have developed the need for some veggies and starch and such and that the barf diet may actually be better... not sure on that one either so obviously I have some research to do! We just got our free frequent buyer bag of kibble so we have enough for about 2 weeks, so that's going to be my goal no more kibble after this is gone, full switch by then.