Would you feed raw?

[wolfsoul]

If you had all the time, money, and resources in the world, would you feed a raw diet?

[sammy101]

Yes i most likely would.I would like my dogs in the future to be on a raw diet.

[.sarah]

I'll never not feed it, it's produced too good of results in my dogs for me to ever go back to kibble.

[wolf_Q]

Honestly I'm not sure. I cannot stand to touch raw meat (yes I know I'm weird) so I'd have to use gloves. That's not really my issue though. Nebo has a very sensitive stomach, with other foods he's had some diarrhea problems. When he was on a different food (regular formula Natural Balance) he had that problem so bad he ended up going in the house several times. I changed his food (Nat. Balance venison and brown rice) and that problem stopped. I just really don't want to screw that up and my parents would NOT be happy if it happened again. :o The main ingredient in the other formula was chicken so I'm wondering if he's allergic to chicken? *It is possible something else have caused it and not the food ingredients, the vet didn't find anything wrong with him though* I'm also worried about him choking or chipping a tooth on a bone. I don't need bones to keep his teeth clean, I brush them.

Umm I guess my answer is I would consider trying it if I could find raw venison, convince myself to not be grossed out and paranoid by raw meat/bones, and I had the time to prepare it and a place to put it.

I have one question, is a home cooked diet not as healthy as raw? Is it at least better than kibble?

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

I really wish I could feed raw and I definitely will once I get my Toller, but until then, I can't..

[Crazy-Cat-Lover]

I already do - and I would never go back to kibble. I spend less on a diet that is much better for my dog.

[K9soul]

Absolutely! Doing the best I can at the moment which is Innova Evo, my vet feels it is the closest thing to Steve's Real Food.

[The Cat Factory]

I already feed Chester raw. He does so well on it, i'll never switch him back to kibble. I wish I could feed it to my cats too, but they won't eat it.

[.sarah]

I have one question, is a home cooked diet not as healthy as raw? Is it at least better than kibble?No, it's not as healthy as raw because you destroy the nutrients when cooking.

If properly balanced, yes it is better than kibble because it is fresh and doesn't contain grains, or at least not as the main ingredient. However, it is hard to get all of the nutrients a dog needs in a cooked meal, that is why there are so many artificial vitamins and minerals added to kibble. You would probably need to supplement in order to balance everything.

My dogs were on home cooked food for a month before I switched to raw. I didn't notice any changes from kibble, but a month is hardly enough time for changes.


I wish I could feed it to my cats too, but they won't eat it.You have to do a lot of trickery to convince cats that it is food. Go to http://rawfedcats.org - read this page (http://rawfedcats.org/practicleguide.htm) for info on how to switch them.

[cloverfdx]

Already do :) and the dogs love it and have never been fitter.

[joycenalex]

i voted yes b/4 i saw the i already do. alex the wonder dog has been on a raw diet since 12/00, peanut has eaten a raw diet since may 2006. she walked away from her premium kibble and pushed her brofur away from his raw food. alpha dog gets first pick ;)

[Eastwood Danes]

We have been feeding raw to our Great Danes for nearly 4 years now. I could never feed kibble again. I have a lot of information about the raw diet on my website if anyone is interested in looking. I have a sample menu, getting started page, links and other info on natural care. The links page has several articles on commercial food, raw diet, vaccines, and much more.
Also if anyone is interested in seeing and hearing our African Grey Parrot talking.. I have put up a few video's of him! ;) www.eastwooddanes.com/Aiden.html

www.eastwooddanes.com
Kim E.

[Cookiebaker]

I'm with Amy -- I'm paranoid about feeding raw. My two labbies are hog-gobblers and I am so afraid of them choking or chewing a bone wrong. Also, whenever I introduce one of those big smelly bones as a treat, they start to get a little snippy. The last thing I want is to start an agressive issue. Right now, my two are very healthy, very well sized, and no issues. I don't want to mess with a good thing. ;)

That said, though, if we ever get a puppy that isn't a gobbler, I think I would definitely look into it.

[zoomer]

No. It's too expensive and I much perfer dog food, don't know why, just do.

[k9krazee]

Yep, we have the time, resources and money...but the parents won't go for it. But I will definately feed my future dogs raw.

[slleipnir]

I honestly don't know. The idea freaks me out for some reason.

[Eastwood Danes]

It is not expensive if you are a bit of a scavenger. There are lots of good deals out there. I feed my 5 Great Danes for a lot less money on Raw as I did a so called 'premium' kibble. Plus, I no longer have the vet bills I used to have. Fleas and ticks are no longer interested in my dogs so I also don't spend any money on those types of preventatives.
As for the person who said they can't imagine touching raw meat.. Don't you handle raw meat for your family? Make hamburger patties? It's no different. The raw meaty bones in my freezers for my dogs can be thawed out for the family. In fact, we just made BBQ leg quarters for a cook out and I got it out of the dogs freezer!
If someone was going to be freaked out about what they are feeding their dogs, they should be freaked out at the facts about kibble. Not to mention that all the nutrients and vitamins that a kibble fed dog receives are in synthetic form. All of the original nutrients have been cooked out in the kibble making process so it is as comparable to a person being made to live on box after box after box of Total cereal. Sure you may be receiving the required nutrients to stay alive and you might even have shiny hair after eating Total cereal for 10 years. But I guarantee you would not be as healthy as the person who is eating a variety of foods. Hard to tell from the outside what is going on in the inside. We all know that fresh food is good for us. For some reason people have gotten into this mind frame that dogs should not be afforded the same quality diet.
It feels great to be able to see, smell, touch the food you feed your dog. It's a much better feeling then handing them a bowl of the unknown. Not knowing whats in there. Safe to assume it was rotted and not good enough for people though.
A great book that I have read is by Anne Martin called "Foods Pets Die For". I highly recommend that to everyone.
Anyway, it is not time consuming or expensive and doesn't require a degree in nutrition to feed a dog a healthy raw diet.
Dogs are MUCH easier to feed then humans and we are not sitting around calculating vitamins and nutrients and shopping for our families according to the needs to stay alive. We eat a variety of foods and balance happens over time. There is NO living being that eats a balanced meal at every meal. Nature never intended it that way.
Commercial dog food companies have succeeded at literally brain washing people into thinking THEY are the only ones qualified to know how to feed a dog or a cat. It is ridiculous to say the least.

Kim E.
www.eastwooddanes.com

[Roxyluvsme13]

Already do! I've only been feeding it 4-5? Days, and I already am noticing slight improvements. Roxy's teeth are looking better, and Lily's actually eating her food. So, I hope my mom doesn't make me go back to kibble, because I LOVE Feeding Raw! :)

[Muddy4paws]

I would love to feed my dogs raw, When im older with my old place I think I would defiantly look into it before buying a dog because I've heard nothing but good things about it and I know the dog food I feed now isn't perfect but at the moment its the only option for my dogs whilst living at home

[bckrazy]

Yes, definitely. =0) I already do, and I cannot predict the future but it would take a lot to force me to switch back! Jessica, I love Steve's Real Food. You have that in MN? It is so convenient and I love their formulas. I feed it occasionally for treats, but I'm feeding Farmore now because it costs about half as much and it has 2 more meat formulas than Steve's. I highly recommend both of these, though. Primal is very good pre-made, too! It's so easy to start off with pre-made raw and supplement with RMB's, it makes the transition much easier.

Zoomer, is $0.50 per day for 2 medium-sized dogs REALLY way too expensive?

[K9soul]

Jessica, I love Steve's Real Food. You have that in MN? It is so convenient and I love their formulas.

Yeah my vet sells it, though it's just more than I can afford right now and I don't have a freezer. A freezer (larger one) is the biggest reason I'm not feeding raw at the moment. My vet believes in raw, as well as holistic medicine in addition to conventional. I'm very fortunate to have him for a vet. One of the biggest reasons that moving away from this area is hard to think about.

[lv4dogs]

I voted I already do. Even though they went 2 days with kibble (due to other circumstances of much more importance). Just because I don't feed it ALL the time right now doesn't mean I don't feed it at all.

PS, just found chicken quarters on sale for 38 cents/lb, they will be on raw all the time by tonight. (gives me some cheap meat fast until I can really go grocery shopping)

[Logan]

Time is my issue, nothing else. That's why I voted "No". I have many friends who feed their Golden Retrievers the raw diet and it has worked wonders with skin problems and allergies. Plus, you know exactly what you're giving them!

Logan

I need to learn to read down to the explanation before I answer the poll!!!!! :o If I had read your actual question, Amy, I would have voted yes.

I also need to learn to read WHO asked the question!!!! Sorry Jordan!!!!!

[Glacier]

I feed a mixed diet, like most mushers. My dogs get meat, bones, fish ect four times a week or so(more often in the winter) and a working dog formula kibble the rest of the time. They always have bones available just for recreational chewing. Meat is usually wild game(moose, bison & caribou). I just started getting some beef and pork too. I get all my meat for free and pay 10 bucks for 100 pound blocks of arctic char. My food bill would more than double if I fed straight kibble.

I used to get very worked up about what people fed their dogs. Then I got Kayleigh, who had been starved by her first owner. She weighs a healthy 108 pounds now, but came to me at 70 pounds. She has major food issues that will never resolve. So I've changed my opinion and don't really care anymore. Do you feed your dog enough food every day? That's all that matters to me anymore.

When I was a kid, we fed our dogs a wide variety of junk kibbles--whatever happened to be on sale. They lived long, healthy lives. My GSD died at 16, my Irish Setter at 14. I've never fed my own dogs junk and my Hoodoo died before his fifth birthday! Sometimes *@&^ happens, even to dogs who have the best of everything!

[pitc9]

I would like to, but like Amy... mine have VERY senstive tummies and I have to be careful what they eat. I'm sure feeding Raw would help them with that overtime but for now they eat ProPlan senstive stomach and are doing good on it. But when the "Grade your dog food" came out I did it and it mine got a "D" but ProPlan Natural Lamb and Barley got an "A", so I think I'll be switching to that!!

[Kfamr]

Curious as to why 9 people said no?

It really is the best, healthiest thing for our dogs - and it's very easy once you get a hand of it.

[caseysmom]

I voted "no" but that really wasn't accurate. I would need to learn more so my answer should be "I am not sure" but that was not an option and I wanted to vote to see how the votes were going.

Casey has such a sensitive stomach and I really am not educated enough about it at this time. I take my hat off to all of you who do it though, it is obviously better for your dog when done right and sounds like more work.

[luvofallhorses]

I voted no, because I, too am afraid of touching raw meat. I know it's better for your dogs and everything I just have that fear of touching raw meat. :o I may feed it someday, though once I am educated on it. if that makes sense.

[BC_MoM]

Yep. I definitely would. Once I get a job I'm going to try it out.

[RobiLee]

I voted yes but that is only if I needed to for some reason. Right now my girls are thriving on their Eagle Pack and I don't see any reason to switch. Katie is a very picky eater and it took us forever to find a food that she liked and did well on and I'm not about to play with that right now.

[Suki Wingy]

Yes I would.
ANd Kim, Aiden is so funny!

[dogzr#1]

Yes, I definitely would want to feed raw. I'm in the process of convincing my parents.

[dappledoxie]

I voted yes. I'm very interested in trying to start feeding raw soon actually. :) I need to do more research though so that I'll feel comfortable about it. :)

[finn's mom]

One of the biggest reasons that moving away from this area is hard to think about.


You can always come here, your vet sounds exactly like my vet. Dr. Ballard is an advocate of raw, and, will go holistic as often as she can. She also still works with conventional methods, too.

[Lori Jordan]

I have for years!!!My Lacy just loves it!

[dab_20]

Yep! At this moment we do not have the money, so my mom won't by it. When I am older and itf I have the money and time, yes I would definatly feed raw.

[Kfamr]

I'm incredibly afraid of touching raw meat, so, I don't!

You can wear gloves, use tongs, etc.

[Chilli]

Yeh, I would... but we don't have a butcher in town, so our only place to get it is somewhere like Wal-mart, and I don't want to feed my dogs that.
If there was still a butcher in town, i would, though.

[cyber-sibes]

I just started to add raw chicken, after reading a number of recent posts. I'm hoping it will help with their teeth, and Star's tendency for hot spots. Two separate people at the dog park tonight come up to me & told me about how their dogs came to them starved, so I don't really care what people feed their pets, as long as they feed them. Ruby, a little chow-mix only weighed 15 lbs, now weighs 32. And a beautiful little pittie-boxer mix was rescued by her present owner's sister, who stopped the old so-called "owner" as he was taking her outside to SHOOT her...poor thing was beaten & starved. She's looking good now.

[GiantSchnauzer]

I would if I had the time.

[jackie]

I would love to, but i don't have the freezer space.

[.sarah]

Yeh, I would... but we don't have a butcher in town, so our only place to get it is somewhere like Wal-mart, and I don't want to feed my dogs that.
If there was still a butcher in town, i would, though.
But meat from Wal-mart is still better than kibble ;)

[My Peanuts]

I would to everyone but Jimmy. He can't eat meat and he's on a special food.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I voted no. Dogs are still suseptible to bacteria and food poisoning, so I would be more inclined to feed a homemade cooked diet. All cooking destroys some nutrients, but that does not mean that dogs are unable to get anything from it. And personally I think the risks involved with eating raw meat outweight the potential benefits of getting more nutrients from a piece of meat simply from not cooking it. I was initially interested in it, but after more research I guess I don't quite feel comfortable with the idea.

I am also somewhat wary of people who advocate a raw diet to the point of lunacy- I've googled it and gotten some pretty outrageous claims! A better diet will certainly improve a dog's health, but it can only do so much- genetics and environment still play a big role. And, I'm not trying to give anyone else advice, this is just my opinion! ;) I respect other's choices in what they want to feed their dog. :)