Anyone else feed an all RAW diet?

[PinkSunshine]

All 3 of my dogs are now on an all RAW diet (just switched my female yorkie over last month) and can not rave enough about my decision. Prior to getting our first dog (2 years ago) I reseached dog foods for almost a year. It's quite a bit of work and time (especially feeding a giant breed) but it's made such a difference... Anyone else feed raw?

[Giselle]

I do I do! What's the predominant style that you feed? I love chatting about this, so I'm ecstatic to see another fellow raw feeder.

[.sarah]

I feed raw, prey model style. I'd go insane if I fed Billinghurst's way ... all that grinding.

It's not a lot of work for me, I just take the food out of the freezer and let it thaw and then feed it. I do a lot of hand washing, but that's not a bad thing. Other than that, it's really very simple. Nothing like pouring kibble into a bowl, but still not bad. My dogs have benefited from it. Mandy and Nova no longer need their joint supplements to be comfortable and Buck is growing a lot slower than his littermates. They all enjoy meal time much more too.

[Glacier]

It's not a lot of work for me, I just take the food out of the freezer and let it thaw and then feed it. .

Just curious, but is there a reason you thaw the food?

I don't feed an exclusively raw diet, but the dogs eat alot of wild game and fish.

[BC_MoM]

Buck is growing a lot slower than his littermates.

This is a sincere question:

Is that a good or a bad thing? And why?


I've never fed raw before.. and I have no idea what the pros and cons are. I know my parents would never let me do it. It's not something I've ever really taken into consideration (not because I don't agree with it, I know nothing about it!)..

[Jessika]

I don't have the knowledge or research to do it just yet. I want to make sure if/when I do, my dogs are getting ALL nutrients needed. But I am also waiting for there to be more research on this diet than is currently available (long term effects, etc). It seems to be a relatively new thing that has recently exploded on the "pet" scene, and I just want to wait until I get everything straight (at least in my mind!) before even attempting, if that makes sense!

[.sarah]

But I am also waiting for there to be more research on this diet than is currently available (long term effects, etc). It seems to be a relatively new thing that has recently exploded on the "pet" scene, and I just want to wait until I get everything straight (at least in my mind!) before even attempting, if that makes sense!

It makes sense, but I can help you with the "research" area if you'd like. As far as studies go, I'm not sure there are any, but at the same time there are studies showing that "Dog Chow, if fed properly over the course of a dogs life, can help add up to 2 healthy years", and I know you wouldn't feed Purina!

The proof you need is right in their mouth - their teeth. They have teeth for ripping and grinding meat and crushing bones. Not one tooth in their mouth is made especially for kibble, and there is definetly no teeth that grind grains.

If you absolutely want studies, then the ones you need are the ones that prove that dogs are very closely related to wolves. They share the same teeth, digestive tract, and 98% (I believe) of the same DNA. Wolves and dogs are carnivores, not omnivores like a lot of pet food companies like to boast.

There are thousands of people on the Yahoo group that I am a member of. Most are new to raw because, you're right, this does seem to be a new "fad" in the dog feeding world (and a cool one might I add ). However there are several people who have been feeding for years. There are several people who have watched their cancer-ridden dogs become cancer free. There are several who watched their dog's teeth go from riddled with tarter and stinky breath to pearly white and fresh breath. The benefits outweigh the risks by far. (Oh and just as a disclaimer, it isn't a miracle cure for diseases, and they stress that on the list, but there are quite a few diseases that are onsetted by poor diet and can be fixed by feeding them raw.)

I am having way to much fun with this thread

[Crazy-Cat-Lover]

This is a sincere question:

Is that a good or a bad thing? And why?

It is a GREAT thing that Buck is growing nice and slowly. Large and giant breed puppies that eat a higher protein diet (which raw is mostly water - I found out from Sarah!) results in more rapid growth, and thus more developmental problems, such as canine hip displaysia, panosteitis, osteochondrosis dessicans, and wobblers syndrome.

I found the following from - Canada's Guide to Dogs

"Excessive growth rates lead to an increase in both muscle mass and total body weight. These in turn lead to excessive stress forces on long bones which, in a puppy, are less dense and have a greater susceptibility to being remodelled. As bones of large breeds are relatively weaker than those of small breeds, they are inherently more susceptible to these stress loads."

Hope that makes sense!

[Ravette]

Example of what you feed them and how much? I've always been interested in feeding my dogs an all natural diet but I'm not really sure I can afford it. Do you find it cheaper or more expensive?

[dab_20]

I've never fed raw before.. and I have no idea what the pros and cons are. I know my parents would never let me do it. It's not something I've ever really taken into consideration (not because I don't agree with it, I know nothing about it!)..

Same with me.

[lv4dogs]

I used to feed raw and LOVED it, my finances & freezer space got the best of me though. Hopefully in the near future they will be started back up on it and I can not wait for that day to come!

[Ravette]

I am soooo sold on feeding raw!! I stayed up until 3 am researching and it has so many positive rewards that its worth trying. I know I won't be able to talk my parents into it though I'm looking forward to getting a job lmao!

[PinkSunshine]

Wow this thread sure has taken off

I feed all 3 of my babies pretty close to what Sarah described. I feed frozen as well, but my 3 get fed outside - always - since it takes a while for them to eat a meal and I don't want meat 'parts' thrown around my house. Pork and chicken are my 2 biggest meat ingredients, although when my fiance goes hunting, they get game as well. I do feed fish quite a lot as well.

When going over nutrition requirements with 2 different vets, I decided to add in a few different oils to their meals. Dozer's coat/skin has improved VASTLY since he was switched over to an all raw diet at 6 months old. He used to have such dry/flaky skin but now his coat is in excellent condition.

As far as cost/time goes, I do spend quite a lot of time feeding this way. I usually end up spending 3-4 hours Monday nights getting their meals ready for the week. I work and go to college, so I make sure I have the week planned out for them. I do a lot of hand washing as well

Cost is about the same as if we were feeding dog kibble. Dozer is a huge guy and eats a lot. The last time he ate dog kibble was at 6 months old, so I can't really compare what he eats now to what it would be in dog kibble, but it's not cheap to feed him, in the least. My 2 yorkies eat much less, and I'd compare what they eat to about as much as it'd cost in kibble...

[beyond_me]

Does a raw diet help with weight gain? I have a pitty too that I can't get to gain weight. She did fill out pretty good but we got a new dog and now she stays pretty skinny. I have been feeding her can food now to help but it is not. Also she gets pretty bored with food but I have her on chicken soup and I like it for the price and food, so I don't want to keep changing her food to keep her happy because I can't aford better food but I don't want to give her what petstores sell. Is it a lot more to feed raw? I have 3 about 50 pounds each dogs.

[labmomma]

I feed my two labs Flint River kibble with broth and some lean chicken thrown in. They love it and are doing extremely well. I've dropped their feeding back to once a day (mornings) and my picky eater is doing so much better with this schedule. I have the Flint River on auto ship and the shipping is free and since they don't eat as much of it as the store bought brands it is actually costing me less. I am a very happy camper with my dog's feeding situation.