Cost of Raw feeding vs kibble...also starter protein?

[spritemk3]

Have been asking lots of questions about raw feeding and getting lots of good feedback. Since we hunt, have lots of venison, wild hog etc. My husband is concerned that the cost of feeding raw will outweigh kibble because of having to add other poultry etc. We don't harvest as many turkeys as we'd like to. Anyway, I'm pretty adamant about wanting to feed raw as she's really not eating her kibble very well. At 9 weeks she weighed 19.1 # (she's a Neo). So, to get to the point i guess, what would be the best protein to start her on...venison? We're overloaded right now and trying to clean out the freezer before the new season starts. Thanks!

 

[angelbears]

Personally, I wouldn't start with venison. You need a lot of bone in their meal when you start out on raw. I would think that deer ribs would be too much of a challenge at her young age. I would start with chicken, drumsticks and thighs. A lot of people start with backs and necks but in Texas I'm able to get leg quarters cheaper than backs and necks.

Even though you may still have to buy 50% of her raw meat, I don't see how it would be higher than buying premium kibble. You have the red meat covered and for most of us that is what is so costly. I would not do a raw diet unless you're committed to providing at least 4 different proteins at the very least. IMO, the more variety the better. Do you hunts birds too? The heads and feet are wonderful for our dogs and you don't have to give up the good parts. Also can you hunt rabbit, even squirrel?

 

[Sadies Mom]

Traditionally you start with chicken with bone in, like drum sticks. Below is a link with lots of information on how to get started. As far as the cost on raw vs. Kibble, it all depends on where you get the meat. For me, it is more expensive to feed raw, but the money I save on vet bills out weighs the expense on the food.
http://puppybutt.weebly.com/uploads/7/6/9/2/7692088/beginners_guide_to_prey_model_raw_rv.4.1.pdf

 

[spritemk3]

After I posted I realized we could harvest quite a few jack rabbits and cottontails. We never hunted rabbits as I don't like the taste, and we don't kill anything we won't eat. But if Baci will..... I wonder is it the same with the pork about freezing for two weeks to kill any parasites? Also curious about organ meat. My husband eats the venison heart and liver, so we may have a tug of war over that, but we're the only ones that do and might be able to talk the other lease members into harvesting their venison organs (heart, liver, stomach, ribs etc for us). So if I start her on chicken wings, how long do I feed that one protein? Till she has firm stools? I know a feeding guide as a link was posted for me, but my printer is out of ink just now. As far as tripe, I know our HEB sells it. Is that too processed to feed?

 

[Sadies Mom]

Usially the Tripe you see in the store is bleached and the nutriens cooked out. You need to find Green Tripe, meaning it is not processed in any way. Organ meats will be one of the last things you add as they are very rich and could cause loose stool or diarrhea. But organs are essential to their diet and is a must. In the link I provided, it will tell you about how long different meats needs to be frozen before feeding if at all. When I started Sadie on Raw, she did well on the chicken and moved on to the next protein after about 4 days. When we got to the introdiction of non-bone meats, it took a little longer, but usually you will check her poop and if it looks normal you can move on. You will become a poop expert. But I would have her on a new protein for atleast 3-4 days to see if there are any upsets. Once you start a new protein you keep it on a rotation.

 

[spritemk3]

Thanks so much...they had bone in chicken breasts for a $1/lb today so I bought a huge package. I think I'll wait to start till after she's finished this course of Clavamox for her UTI so I can accurately gauge her poops. Fun, fun. A new certification...Poop expert, I can hardly wait! lol Thanks for all the advice, I've printed out your beginner's guide and will read it through several times before we start.

 

[Sadies Mom]

Walmart usually has chicken leg quarters for $.59/lb sold in a 10lb bag and is not enhanced with broth. Watch the sodium content in the grocery store meat. It could cause some loose stool as well.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Usually when starting chicken is recommended but some mastiffs are allergic to them. Things are expensive herewhere I live so the price I spend is about the same. However for value purposes raw goes a long way.

 

[musicdeb]

See if you have a Savers store. This week they have chicken leg quarters for 26 cents a lb. I haven't check it out yet. Savers Cost Plus

I've been feeding Titan pork and beef and restarted him on chicken last week. So far so good and so much better on my pocketbook. I spend about $120-$150 a month on food. It's about the same I spent on kibble but healthier for him.

 

[spritemk3]

ok, I'll make sure I do. Thanks.

 

[DennasMom]

I would think rabbits would be nearly equal to chickens for bone-digestibility, too. Nice small, soft rib cages.

I figured raw is about 2x the cost of kibble, but I did that analysis when Denna was still growing. Now that she's 19 months old and slowing down, I'm having to feed her less to keep her from getting chubby. So, we're probably closer to 1.7x instead of 2x, now.

 

[Strait]

When I switched my dog to raw I started with venison and chicken backs. My dog never experienced the rocket butt I heard would happen. I gave him multiple different proteins without any issues, but every dog is different. The funny thing is my dog wont eat fresh squirrel. Only if it is refrigerated and cold.

 

[spritemk3]

Hmmm, Squirrel is the one thing we don't have much of where we hunt. We could do dove I suppose, but we eat most of those. And forget giving her quail, those are MINE. lol Will try the rabbit, wild turkey when we can get it, venison and will add chicken. Will start in a couple of weeks, after she finishes her meds. My husband is worried about the time involved, I told him no worries, I do all the feeding anyway. /

 

[Sadies Mom]

It takes less time to prepare the dogs meal then it takes to prepare your own When I prepare Sadies meals, I put them in "per meal"-sized ziplock bags and freeze. Then I just pull out 3 days worth of meals at a time and dump it in her bowl at feeding time. Yes, when I buy beef heart in bulk, it takes some time to cut it up, but it is not to bad. I cut up 60 lbs of beef heart earlier this week, and it only took about 45 min, start to finish.

 

[spritemk3]

So, I'll tell him to put that in his pipe and smoke it. lol He keeps trying to find excuses for not doing Raw, but I continue to whack him with the threads y'all post. I am very serious about doing this. My vet isn't too keen on the idea however, but I believe this will be the best thing for Baci. Thanks for all the support and great information. It is truly greatly appreciated.

 

[Sadies Mom]

Tell you husband to watch some of these.
dr karen becker raw food - YouTube

 

[angelbears]

Also, vets have a vested interest in kibble. A lot of their courses, events, scholarships, ect. are sponsored by the larger pet food companies. Then they go off and start their own practices. Guess what? Kibble is a revenue generator for their clinic.

 

[Sadies Mom]

I feel that I know more about nutrition then my vet does. Especially when it comes to MY dog. I did have a fight with her before I started Sadie on raw food. Sadie had been battling chronic diarrhea for a year, the vet wanted to put her on prescription food, and her comment was "she already has diarrhea, it can't get worse", so I just took her comment and threw it back at her. She has since changed her tune a bit, since she can see the difference in Sadie. It is not like she I now advocating a raw diet to her other clients, but she is not pestering me about the "dangers" of raw food.

 

[angelbears]

Not to high jack your thread BUT I just got back from the vet. Please when it comes to nutrition and altering your pet, do your own research. Your vet is not GOD. They can be narrow minded and hang on to long held believes that have been disproved by recent science. I was just told that Cane's allergies could be due to the fact that he is unaltered. WTF? He has suffered with allergies since he was 4 months old. Long before sexual maturity.

 

[spritemk3]

Talked to the vet about Raw again today. He said sure, you can do it, but wait til she's a year old. "I'm concerned about her calcium and phosphorus intake" Now, I'm not sure if he meant too much or too little, but he did recommend Orojean (sp.?). That's what he feeds HIS dogs. Not deterred tho, spoke with the breeder today about the hernia, she's willing to do something, but wants a 2nd opinion. That's only fair. Offered to give us a new pup, but HOW could I give up my beautiful girl I'm so in love with?????