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

[mcleodcon]

i had her weighed on the 9th and again yesterday she has only gained a pound and usually it is more. I will have to start with turkey next week, hopefully that goes better than chicken.

 

[ruthcatrin]

thats not to bad, now if she's STILL not gaining in another month....but for the moment I'd note be hugely concerned.

 

[musicdeb]

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?

Good to hear that she doesn't have a URI.

 

[mcleodcon]

Good to hear that she doesn't have a URI.

Thanks! Me too! Costly visit just to find that out though!!!

 

[mcleodcon]

Ok seriously I think she is the hardest dog ever!!!! She doesn't like turkey! Now what do I do?

 

[Sadies Mom]

Ok seriously I think she is the hardest dog ever!!!! She doesn't like turkey! Now what do I do?

Keep offering it to her. She might eat it, she might not. Sadie likes turkey necks, but not drum sticks and thighs You might find that she will hesitate to eat a new protein in the beginning, but then it will be her favorite, or the opposite. Sadie Loved fish in the beginning, now she will turn her nose up to everything that comes out of the sea. It is like babies when they start to eat solid foods. Keep introducing new food. You could also try to lightly sear the turkey in a little bit of butter, to see if that makes her more interested in it.

 

[mcleodcon]

She finally ate it. And my math skills this morning after 4 hours of sleep were not so good so she ended up not getting enough bone and now she her gas is ssssoooo bad!!! LOL kinda glad I have to work today! Hopefully it is just because she didn't have enough bone and not that she can't have turkey either because if thats the case I will have to go back to kibble!

 

[Sadies Mom]

She finally ate it. And my math skills this morning after 4 hours of sleep were not so good so she ended up not getting enough bone and now she her gas is ssssoooo bad!!! LOL kinda glad I have to work today! Hopefully it is just because she didn't have enough bone and not that she can't have turkey either because if thats the case I will have to go back to kibble!

I give Sadie Gas-X with every meal. Might give that a try.

 

[musicdeb]

Don't give up, you will normalize her food intake. Gas X works great for gas. I'm going through the same thing with Titan. He refuses to eat chicken and turkey. He will only eat pork and beef but continues to eat chicken livers. He used to eat chicken feet but refuses those now.

Feeding raw is better for the pup than feeding kibble but if the whole process of raw diet is stressing you out which in turn stresses out the pup, then you need to do what is best for the both of you.

 

[mcleodcon]

She actually adjusted to the turkey now. So she no longer stinks and she no longer has any runs which is great. My main worry is that she isn't getting enough but now I have switched her to eating 3% of her predicted body weight. So she shouldn't be hungry right?

 

[ruthcatrin]

in theory, but watch her too, she's young enough that she MIGHT need more, if she starts looking skinny then adjust a bit!

 

[mcleodcon]

If she needs more I will have to go back to kibble. Paying $3/pound is expensive as it is having to pay more is just way too much. I wish we had meat prices like you guys do!

 

[musicdeb]

I would think the amount you are feeding her will satisfy her appetite.

 

[mcleodcon]

Thanks musicdeb! Her body is finally adjusting to it all and I would really like to continue it. I have been feeding raw for about 4 weeks now. Do you think it would be fine to add in organ meat now? Her poops are always solid and sorry I have a poop question. Everything I read says her poop should be white within a day or 2 if I don't pick it up but hers don't seem to be that way. What am I doing wrong?

 

[musicdeb]

You are doing nothing wrong. If her poop turns white then ok, if not, do not worry about it. When it becomes white and chalky, that means too much bone.

Start with a little organ meat and see how she does. Maybe try chicken or beef liver.

 

[ruthcatrin]

trust me, poop questions are normal here!

I have to add that even if she were to need more food NOW, its going to be temporary, and as she gets past her puppy growth her appetite will fade a bit and she won't need nearly as much!

 

[mcleodcon]

When she is full grown will she eat less than 6 pounds a day?

 

[ruthcatrin]

Alot of the mastiffs eat less as adults yes.

 

[mcleodcon]

Ok I was starting to get seriously stressed out! She stopped eating the turkey all together. I was trying to buy cheap meat but couldn't find any anywhere (other than 1 place he made it for dogs it was ground for a dollar a pound) the rest of the meat I bought was at least 3.99 a pound. I couldn't find a freezer within my budget so I GAVE UP! Sorry people! I wish I could have stuck with it but I was getting too stressed out and having to get meat every few days was just not in my budget anymore plus I felt guilty having to leave her every time I did it. I really appreciate all of you helping me out though. You have been a tremendous help! Maybe I will find a rich man to be my husband than I can feed her Steak!! LOL

 

[ruthcatrin]

Yah, without a freezer its hard to do raw for these big guys

Do I remember right she had all sorts of issues with kibble? What kibble did you try and what can you get?