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Raw diet question.....looking for opinions!

mcleodcon

Well-Known Member
Ok so another question. Because she is 5.5 months, should I be giving her more than just meat? (like supplements or veg or anything like that) and when should I start putting tripe in? I have already started with the organ meat but this week she isn't getting it because I am just giving chicken to see what happens.
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Well hopefully the smell was a one time deal. Yes, 6 lbs of food is a lot of food but 220lb pup requires a lot of food. I agree, better buy a farm. :)
 

mcleodcon

Well-Known Member
So lets say she requires 6lbs right now, and as she grows she will need more, so when she is 150lbs how much is she going to require? And also does she need supplements because she is a pup?
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
The 6lbs is based on her expected weight of 220lbs. Feed 2-3% of expected body weight. You can adjust as you see fit based on her weight.
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Nope, of her estimated adult weight.

Actually once she's through the majority of her growth (1.5yrs give or take) her food intake might very well reduce below that, many folks with giant breeds report it.

In the mean time though, if you're in the US, I'll get you a list of raw feeding co-ops, they're groups of people in a region who feed raw and they do bulk purchases together to help reduce the costs. It can be a very dramatic price savings. You'll need a seperate freezer though (if you don't already have one) cause it does require bulk purchases.

Also, check with any farms or 4H clubs, or the like in your region. Some farms will sell scrap for dog food if you negotiate with them, and some slaughter houses/meat processors will do the same.

Once you're sure she's back to normal you can start adding green tripe. Warning, it smells NASTY, but dogs love it and it'll help with digestion.

No additional supplements needed as long as you're getting the organs in properly. Having said that, I add fish oil a couple times a week cause my two won't eat fish, and right now they're getting treats of extra eggs and a biotin supplement cause one of mine has had a screwy shed/coat grow in this year. And many raw feeders will add coconut oil but that varies with the dog.
 

fizzed

Well-Known Member
It may be that chicken is pumped full of all kind of things (especially over here in UK) so perhaps if you can afford it organic chicken may be something to try. Just a thought. Some of my dogs won't touch cheap chicken or if they do it comes back up.
 

mcleodcon

Well-Known Member
Ok well chicken is out. She did fine for a couple days than the gas was so bad it was clearing whatever room she was in (and I was at a party with a lot of people!!) Then she got the runs. I am going with she really can't have chicken. I felt really bad for her!
 

mcleodcon

Well-Known Member
And unfortunately I do not live in the states to get in on the good deals. I have talked to a couple butchers and the local slaughter house. It is still going to cost me a lot either way but at least I won't have to pay grocery store prices anymore.
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Definetly keep checking around for prices. Ask about bulk purchases, and see if you can find who supplies the grocery stores and the like as (at least here in the states) many of them will sell to the consumer as long as said consumer will buy by the case.

To bad about the chicken :( Once she's back to normal, give her a couple weeks to get settled, and then maybe try turkey?
 

mcleodcon

Well-Known Member
Is it normal to hear their tummies rumbling? It is so nervewrecking doing this. I am so scared she isn't getting everything that she needs. Last night she has a cow pattie poop. I am just wondering if this is left over chicken. This morning her poop seemed fine but she has been really whinny today. Then I saw a mucus like discharge from her vagina after she peed but haven't had her pee again yet to see if it was a one time thing. Could this be caused from something in her diet?
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Is she drinking and eating normally? Is she peeing a lot but not peeing large amounts? Mucus in vaginal area can mean an UTI. How many days has she been on raw? Unfortunately, until you balance her meat and bone intake, her poop may continue to be cow pattie type.
 

mcleodcon

Well-Known Member
she seems to be eating and drinking fine and her pees are normal she always has one really big pee and then 2 medium pees she has done this since i got her and i dont think she has had a uti since i got her at 12 weeks. maybe she is getting one, I am keeping an eye to see if it happens again. I have been feeding her for just about a month on raw She had a second poop today and it was glossy but formed I hope it gets balanced soon
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
A month on raw, her system should start accepting the food change. Watch her poop to determine how much meat/bone to feed her. Too runny or soft poop, increase the bone. Too white or chalky, increase the meat.

Keep an eye out for the UTI.
 

mcleodcon

Well-Known Member
So I am kinda getting the balance going she has solid poops. I just need a deep freezer and have been looking for one within my price range on second hand sites and papers etc. I took her to the vet yesterday and they should phone me today over her urine test but her urine really smells so I am thinking she probably has a uti as well. They also checked her for vaginitis. The vet said he is no expert on feeding raw but did not say I shouldn't so I kinda liked him, but he did say I need to make sure that I put carbohydrates in it along with veg. I understand the veg part but do I really need carbohydrates?
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
If you're feeding a properly balanced raw diet (including organs, which you will be) then there's no need for vegi's or carbs for most dogs. And infact adding them can cause problems and put extra strain on the digestive system for some dogs frankly. Most of us use fruits and vegis and hte like for treats, but they're not a signifigant part of the diet by any stretch.

And yes, they can plateau, I'm to lazy to read backwards in the thread, how old is she?
 

mcleodcon

Well-Known Member
She will be six months at the end of the month. I will for sure be adding those and doing a proper balance of it all. I weigh it every time I feed her. The vet also called and said there was no UTI which I am so glad but her urine does stink so I am just going to keep the area clean and hope it doesn't become one. Is it normal for them to plateau around six months? She doesn't look like she is underweight and she doesn't look fat either. And how long should I wait before adding organs and tripe?
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Ideally you want her eating at least two different types of meats (a poultry and a red meat of some kind usually) and have her system doing well on them before you get into organs, and GO SLOW introducing organs, like only barest slivers at first. Apollo had a slight slowdown in growth at 6months IIRR, it wasn't huge, but I vaugely recall that we weren't seeing as signifigant growth and then he spiked again. When was the last time you weighed her?