Raw Food a Few More Questions.

[Dagonvein]

I want to start feeding my 2 10 month old English Mastiffs on a Raw Food Diet, now I just have to convince the wife, she is a professional skeptic.

Question 1. Does anyone know any breeders or vets that feed Raw diets to their dogs? I've found breeders that feed presidents choice and Kirkland kibble Yikes! It would be nice to have a breeders or vets opinion.

Question 2. As I've always been a kibble feeder and have been told to look for a kibble that has a certain percentage of protein in it (approx 23%) for young mastiffs as you don't want them to grow to fast for their joint health. How does this translate to a raw food diet? If you're feeding raw chickens, organ meet, beef shanks etc... aren't they getting 100% protein, are there risks of your puppies growing to fast or is all that just dog food industry propaganda.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Well, Apollo's breeder has in the past fed raw. She doesn't currently because she's got enough dogs on site she didn't feel up to keeping them all balanced.

I'll let SmartFamily answer the protein question....but I will say theres actually a signifigant moisture content in raw, and bone isn't all protein at all.

 

[Smart_Family]

The protein level is incorrect. It's not protein, but calcium and phosphorus that's important. You want a appropriate level of calcium (1.0-1.6, ideally 1.4-1.6, absolutely not over 1.7 until after 2 years) and the correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus (1.2:1). If you feed raw correctly, and there are many people on here who can help, there will not be an issue with them growing too fast.

 

[angelbears]

Yes, there are many breeders that feed raw. I believe this is where the movement got started years ago, that and the numerous recalls starting mid decade. One of my dogs is under the care of a homeopathic vet which feeds and advocates raw. I can't believe how much better his skin condition is under his care. As far as other vets, well they make a lot of money selling dog food don't look for them to be advocating raw.

As far as protein in raw. Don't quote me but meat is like 70 to 80% water so the actual protein level is where you would want it to be.

 

[musicdeb]

I feed raw and follow the 80/10/10 rule per week. 80% meat (chicken, beef, pork and fish), 10% bone (bone with meat: chicken leg quarters), and 10% organs (liver). You do not have to follow exactly 80/10/10 but approximately. If you follow the raw diet with meat, bone with meat, and organs, your dog will receive all the nutrients he needs to grow healthy and strong.

Titan eats 2.5 to 3 lbs a food per day which is 17.5 to 21 lbs of food per week. 80% of the food needs to be meat, 10% bone with meat, and 10% organs.

That's my 2 cents...

 

[Oak Hill Farm]

Many breeders feed raw a fe I know off hand are:
Sunapee Akitas, Von Hapsberg Danes, Bell Lavoro Dobermans, Proudfoot Boerboels, Thunder Mountain Central Asian Shepard, Bendegeit Mastiffs

In a correctly balanced 80-10-10 Raw diet you will be in the 20-25% range, depending on types of organ and meat fed. Meat isn't 100% protein.

 

[Kelly]

As far as vets go, my vet is holistic and she and most of her staff feed raw. I could post what they gave me, but Im not sure how different it would be for pups so I would confirm with others here who are more knowledgeable. I did post it on the thread I started if you wanted to check it out.

 

[Dagonvein]

Thanks everyone that is some good information 80-10-10. Exactly what I needed to know and thanks for the names of breeders, I think I am pretty well armed with the knowledge that I need. Going to visit and independent meat packing plant this week that my buddy suggested. My buddy does maintenance work for the plant and says he can get me some good deals on all sorts of stuff...Pork neck bones $29.68 for 50lbs.

 

[Tailcreek]

There are many breeders out there that feed raw. We have been feeding raw for many years now and I would never, ever go back to feeding kibble.

The protien level is a total myth.

There is a ton of propaganda put out by the pet food industry to make people fear feeding raw diets. When they keep people in fear from feeding raw they don't lose sales...

The books written by Tom Lonsdale on raw feeding are very informative.

Jennifer
www.tailcreekmastiffs.com