How much to feed: Raw

[ruthcatrin]

Most vet's freak at raw, they'll use "OMG!!BACTERIA!!!" as a reason. But honestly you are no more likely (and possibly less) to come in contact with bad bacteria with a raw fed dog than with a kibble fed dog (did you catch the big Diamond recall last year? A large number of people who got sick weren't the ones feeding the dogs the kibble). And a healthy dog has no problem handling the bacteria on raw food.

Yes, raw fed is just that, raw meat bone and organs. Some variations use vegi's and fruits too, but I'm not aware of anyone hanging around here who uses that variation.

Ask away!!

 

[Wyo- Dogue de Bordeaux]

About what age can you start the raw diet. I have done some research and they said with puppies don't start on them until they are 6 months. We are also a little worried since bedsides the two ddb's, we have an 9 year old min pin with allergies that you wouldn't believe and a 21 week old teacup chihuahua, and how are they going to react? The other issue is that our ddb pup who is about 14 weeks old now wolfs anything down that we give him besides regular kibble and I don't know if that bowl would work for raw.

 

[Smart_Family]

You can start puppies on raw as soon as they wean from mom.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Well, my dogs are fed in their crates, it allows me to seperate them for meals as well as giving me an easy clean up spot. Some dogs DO have problems with food guarding when they start raw. It usually fades once they realize its for real and not going to go away, but it does have to be managed, especially in a multi-dog household.

You can start raw as early as you want, though with younger dogs you want to be really strict about their bone intake. But alot of folks aren't comfortable starting that early. Thats up to you. You can do raw with everyone, or just with the one. The tiny dogs can be hard to portion for the organs and bone, just because the portions are so small for them, most of the tiny dog folks I've talked to just do organs and bone once or twice a week instead of spreading them out like I usually do. But raw might help with the one's allergies.

 

[VentiandMe]

I'm right at about 5 lbs per day of raw stuff....this morning he had his first mooshy poop, but not sure if it was from the raw diet or some kibble he ate out of my BT's bowl! (he's a food thief for sure).

Question about chicken. His staple is whole chickens....and I thought that the whole chicken has a pretty good ratio of bone to protein...is that not true? So far his poops are dark brown..not white. Should I be cutting out the backs? What's the verdict on that? He does get other proteins on top of the whole chicken as well, beef, turkey, pork, etc.

Also, some of my local Asian stores do not carry beef liver, kidney, heart......however, the Mexican grocery stores do!!! just FYI.

 

[ruthcatrin]

You ideally want his bone at 10%, whole chicken tends to be a bit more than that TBH, but if he gets the runs when you cut back on the bone then add it back in. Its a balancing act. To much bone = to much calcium, which can = to fast bone growth, but at the same time not enough bone can sometimes result in the runs. so you balance it to what works.

 

[VentiandMe]

lol, I was afraid you would say that! Ok well his poops were a little mooshy this morning...but I did give him a ~1 lb of raw beef/veggies/organs for a third meal because he was acting like he was starving last night at about 7 PM. Poops should be firm but not white correct?

 

[ruthcatrin]

Yup, if they're starting to get pale-whitish then its to much bone.

 

[VentiandMe]

Thanks!! Sorry to hijack the thread OP!

 

[joshuagough]

Your good, I'm new to the raw feeding though I've been reading about it for a while now.. I enjoy all the different questions, opportunity to learn.

I highly suggest contacting a local Chicken distributor if you continue down the chicken being a base, we are under $.50 a pound to feed now. We had been buying retail prior to yesterday when we picked up our 200lb order, it's a good bit of work given some things were frozen but we've got a month & 6 days worth of food for way less than what we'd spend on kibble & our EM loves it and you can noticeably see a difference in a few areas with him.

Thanks!! Sorry to hijack the thread OP!

 

[VentiandMe]

Well I'm at about .89-1.00 per pound right now..and that's just chicken. I will hunt around for a distributor in the area to see if I can get it lower. I think I will need to pick up an additional freezer first. I'm going to need about 150 lbs of stuff per month I'm thinking. 31 lbs a week x 4 wks. < that may be on the low side too. But I'll know better in next couple of weeks.

 

[ruthcatrin]

You'll need a freezer lol

But yah, look around for wholesalers and resturant suppliers who'll sell to the average consumer. YOu usually have to buy by the case from them, but its worth it.

 

[joshuagough]

We found a 6ft freezer in great condition on CL for $75 bucks.. can't beat it with a stick.

Well I'm at about .89-1.00 per pound right now..and that's just chicken. I will hunt around for a distributor in the area to see if I can get it lower. I think I will need to pick up an additional freezer first. I'm going to need about 150 lbs of stuff per month I'm thinking. 31 lbs a week x 4 wks. < that may be on the low side too. But I'll know better in next couple of weeks.

 

[Sadies Mom]

We found a 6ft freezer in great condition on CL for $75 bucks.. can't beat it with a stick.

Don't beat it with a stick, that would = not so great condition!!! I have been on the hunt for a freezer as well, but so far they want an arm and two legs for it

 

[Wyo- Dogue de Bordeaux]

So I have always been taught not to give dogs chicken bones due to them splintering and can cause problems. Is this just the cooked bones? Sorry for so many questions.......

 

[ruthcatrin]

That is cooked bones. If you take a raw, un-frozen and wet chicken thigh, and hit it with a hammer, and do the same to a well cooked thigh, you'll see the difference. Raw breaks differently, and even digests easier, though dogs new on raw will sometimes pass small pieces of bone till their stomachs totally adjust.

 

[Wyo- Dogue de Bordeaux]

Does anyone know about this raw/frozen dog food? We were wondering if it would be easier to do it this way or doing it ourselves.

http://m.naturesvariety.com/locator/us/82935

 

[ruthcatrin]

I found them more expensive than doing it myself.

Also some of the same concerns about whats getting put in and where they got it from. However many folks do use prepackaged raw for trips, or for when someone else has to feed the dogs.