What did your dog(s) eat today?

[Jessika]

Well Jamie had a nice cruise by the kitty buffet.....

[Jessika]

Natural Choice Nutro..

Tell me a site to read upon natural foods? Charlie would JUST DIE for what you guys are feeding your dogs. But do they get enough nutrients from bones and stuff? How could they possibly get anything good for a bone for dinner?

I'm confused.

If he is doing well on what you are currently feeding, then there is really no need to change. I currently have mine on Natural Choice as well, and they thrive. They are much healthier than any of the pets I've had before in the past. Sure it isn't "top of the line" food, but its definitely up there on the list of good versus bad.

[.sarah]

Natural Choice Nutro..

Tell me a site to read upon natural foods? Charlie would JUST DIE for what you guys are feeding your dogs. But do they get enough nutrients from bones and stuff? How could they possibly get anything good for a bone for dinner?

I'm confused.

Raw feeding is the best diet for them. Check out this thread: http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=101889

If he is doing well on what you are currently feeding, then there is really no need to change.

Well, I actually think there is plenty of reason to change. Raw feeding is the optimal diet for a carnivore. Your dog can't eat any better than what it was designed to eat

My dogs were "fine" on kibble, but I knew they'd be better on raw food and I was right. The only time we've had to go to the vet was for something totally unrelated to food. Mandy hasn't been at all since the switch, and she was always there for something.

A dog doing well on kibble is comparable to a human doing well on cerals, granola bars, etc. Processed food is still just that. You can do well on it, but you will do better eating whole, raw foods. And I need to switch myself off of the crappy processed diet that I eat!

Not trying to rag on you Jessica, but this is just my opinion

[.sarah]

Today Buck is getting half a chicken and the girls are fasting.

Scratch that - I gave Buck a whole chicken. He ate a little more than half of it and then he started whining. He is so full he can hardly walk. LOL!!! He is very happy though. Good to know he does have some self control (or maybe he was just in pain from eating so much?)

[Jessika]

I meant as opposed to other kibbles. In my experiences, raw can turn out to be more expensive than kibble diets... so OF the kibble diets, if what you feed is working stick with it. Don't fix what isn't broken.

[labmomma]

I am not totally qualified with the raw diet. I have a good quality food that I feed them but would love to give some treats. What can I feed them without fear of bone problems?
Please advise,
Labmomma (Donna )

[Crazy-Cat-Lover]

We bought Bailey 33 pounds of chicken leg quarters, so he will be getting that for just over 2 weeks. He is eating 2 pounds of meat a day. His next meat will be beef, I can get 50 pounds for $30.00 at a local meat packer - they have a dog raw diet section.

How often does a dog need to be fasted? Once a week, I feed Bailey in the afternoon instead of in the morning. His last meal is at 6:00, so he really is only fasted for 18 hours, once a week. Is that enough?

[.sarah]

I am not totally qualified with the raw diet. I have a good quality food that I feed them but would love to give some treats. What can I feed them without fear of bone problems?
Please advise,
Labmomma (Donna )

Anything except beef leg bones or leg bones from animals of comparable size (moose, buffalo). A lot of people safely feed them but they are potential teeth breakers. They also can wear down teeth over time if fed often. I gave my crew marrow bones for the first time last week. I had to take Nova's away from her because she was chewing vigorously and I just had the feeling that she'd break a tooth. The others licked at the marrow like it was a kong. So I'll continue to get them for Mandy, Buck, and Luka, and I'll just give Nova something else to chew on.

How often does a dog need to be fasted? Once a week, I feed Bailey in the afternoon instead of in the morning. His last meal is at 6:00, so he really is only fasted for 18 hours, once a week. Is that enough?

At his age, he really doesn't need to be fasted unless if he is sick or something. I would wait until he's a year old or nearly full grown to start fasting. Once he hits a year or so you can start feeding more whole foods or larger meals to mimic what they'd eat in the wild. For example - feed a chicken one day, then not feed the next, then feed a large pork roast, then not feed the next day, then feed something else big, then not feed the next. I haven't tried this feeding schedule because I have to feed Buck twice a day so I tend to feed the girls as well. I'm going to start it soon though, because the girls are getting chunky with all of this food. And now that I'll be getting a freezer () I'll be able to store things like this, whereas right now I have only about a 4 cu ft freezer so I have to buy a lot of smaller things if I don't want to go to the store all the time!

[Crazy-Cat-Lover]

At his age, he really doesn't need to be fasted unless if he is sick or something. I would wait until he's a year old or nearly full grown to start fasting. Once he hits a year or so you can start feeding more whole foods or larger meals to mimic what they'd eat in the wild. For example - feed a chicken one day, then not feed the next, then feed a large pork roast, then not feed the next day, then feed something else big, then not feed the next.

Thanks! He does get duck every once in a while, I just slice it in half. I like the chicken leg quarters because they are really meaty. They also leave part of the kidney, sometimes whole, on the thigh portion. I also love the price, $9.70 for 11 pounds! I will be switching his type of meat every 2 weeks or so, then he gets variety.

This is where I will get my meat next time...

Surrey Meat Packers

If anyone lives close to Surrey, this is the best place to go. They have awesome deals that you just can't get at a supermarket out here.

[.sarah]

Today Buck finished his chicken and the girls got some pork neck bones. They all got a little bit of beef tongue as well. For dinner Buck got beef ribs.

[binka_nugget]

Thanks! He does get duck every once in a while, I just slice it in half. I like the chicken leg quarters because they are really meaty. They also leave part of the kidney, sometimes whole, on the thigh portion. I also love the price, $9.70 for 11 pounds! I will be switching his type of meat every 2 weeks or so, then he gets variety.

This is where I will get my meat next time...

Surrey Meat Packers

If anyone lives close to Surrey, this is the best place to go. They have awesome deals that you just can't get at a supermarket out here.

I was thinking about getting some stuff from them. I'll definitely have to go now!

Do you have to place an order in advance (how in advance)? Or do you just show up and ask for it on the spot?

[.sarah]

Today they had lamb shanks and beef kidney. I have some buffalo thawing for Buck for later tonight.

[bella's_my_lab]

Bella had plain ole pedigree. From what you all feed your dogs, mine sounds deprived. Getting all that good other food. Still new to the dog owning thing though so I'm still learning whats out there.
People are giving them raw chicken? This will sound stupid but can't they get that salimanila (spelled it wrong) poisoning?

Lost in the food debate

[.sarah]

Salmonella is no threat to dogs, and neither is bacteria. They are built to eat raw food, not kibble. Kibble is a totally foreign food to a carnivore and it will not provide them with proper nutrition.

Here is some more reading in case you're interested -
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=101889
http://rawfed.com/myths/
http://rawfeddogs.net/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfeeding/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawPup/

[Crazy-Cat-Lover]

I was thinking about getting some stuff from them. I'll definitely have to go now!

Do you have to place an order in advance (how in advance)? Or do you just show up and ask for it on the spot?

You just walk in and buy whatever you want! They put all of the meat into boxes, and you can buy small portions or large portions. The only things that are special order are fresh green tripe and duck meat with bones and vegetables.