Anyone else feed an all RAW diet?

[Pembroke_Corgi]

This is quite an interesting thread, I've been following it, and I wanted to ask a few questions to anyone who can answer.

I would like to feed my dogs a homemade diet, but I'm unsure about having all that raw meat in my house. My husband and I are both long-time vegetarians and it would be a difficult adjustment. (I hate for that to be a concern, but it would bother me). If it was raw meat, I would also not want to feed them anything but organic.

Is there any pre-made product for dogs to supplement their kibble until I am ready to switch?? Bckrazy, I know you mentioned Steve's Real Food, are there other products like this? I have always thought about switching to a homemade diet, but have consoled myself with feeding better dog food, but this thread is making me want to improve their diet! Thanks in advance.

Oh yeah, does anyone here have cats that they also feed raw?

[wolfsoul]

Is there any pre-made product for dogs to supplement their kibble until I am ready to switch?? Bckrazy, I know you mentioned Steve's Real Food, are there other products like this?

Oh yeah, does anyone here have cats that they also feed raw?

There are tons of premade raw products that you can buy. The only downside is that they can be expensive, and there aren't alot suited for dogs like mine, who is on a prey-model diet. You can't feed it WITH the kibble -- but you can feed raw in the morning, and kibble at night, or whatever your schedule is with feeding. The problem is that raw and kibble are digested differently. Kibble is harder to digest and so it takes longer -- it can keep the raw back and let the bacteria in the raw affect the dog.

If you want to find some premade raw, look at small pet supply stores rather than big pet stores -- they typically have better foods than bigger companies. Also try finding a holistic vet in your area -- they may sell premade raw as well.

Here are some premade products. You may be able to ask them if there are any stores in your area selling their produicts, or it may even be listed on the website.

Nature's Variety Frozen Raw
Jake And Daisy's Raw Pet Food
Top Hand Pets Go Raw Oma's Pride
Bravo! Raw Diet

These are the only ones I know of. Nature's Link unfortunatly went out of business, which is unfortunate because they were based right here in Kelowna.

I fed my cat raw (he lives with my mom now and eats kibble). He loved it and was much thinner than he is now. The litterbox was also a much easier task.

[bckrazy]

Yep, call around to local pet stores/whole food stores to see if any of them carry good pre-made brands Steve's Real Food is one of the best available in my area, and the cheapest. It's about $2.50/lb. I'm just using it mostly as a start to raw, because it does contain 5% grain and 5% veggies, along with bones and supplements, so it's pretty much all-in-one. I've been giving him RMB's a few days a week too, hopefully I'll be able to just feed the premade occasionally, as regular organic meat costs a lot less!

I'm also a vegetarian, but when it gets down to it, I have no problem feeding my dog animal meat because that's what is healthiest for him! It's also a lot better to give them meat that you prepare and that is organic rather than feeding kibble that has meat from who-knows-where.

[wolfsoul]

Oh, I forgot about Mountain Dog Food and Amore Pet foods. Visa's breeder fed these to her dogs when she fed RAW.

[Giselle]

There's also:
FarMore Dog Food
BARF patties

You can also feed a dehydrated raw food like the Honest Kitchen

In all honesty, I think you'd feel better knowing what exactly goes into your dog's food and where it comes from. Kibble companies obtain their meat from factories and certainly not organic farms like you and I might prefer. Of course, there are exceptions like Karma and Artemis who claim to be certified organic, but these kibbles can be difficult to find and quite pricy. Although you'll have to deal with raw flesh and blood (and while it may be against your principles), your pups could actually be eating in a more eco-friendly manner when you're feeding raw VS. kibble. Some food for thought

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Thanks for all of your replies! Yes, I do think knowing where my dog's food comes from is better then not, and I know I would hate to eat what seems like dry fortified cereal at every meal.

I found some Nature's Variety Frozen Raw at our co-op yesterday and gave it to them this morning. They all loved it of course, right now they are running around checking each other's bowls. I gave a small bit to Seine (our cat)- and she liked it a lot but she never eats much food at a time so I gave the rest of hers to the dogs. I'm assuming they need to eat it all in one sitting so it doesnt gather bacteria?

Where do you find fresh bones that are big enough so they won't splinter and eat them?

[CathyBogart]

Where do you find fresh bones that are big enough so they won't splinter and eat them?

There are a few butchers near me and I stop by occasionally and ask for large bones. I've had the best luck at my local Asian grocery store though...better prices and better selection.

[bckrazy]

Nature's Variety is very good quality I find it insanely expensive, though! ZOMG. It's good to start off on, though, until you get the hang of raw portions. Steve's is very cheap at my Whole Foods Market, less than $2.50/lb, and he doesn't eat much of it because he gets RMB's and kibble also.

It is fine for RMB's to be left in the grass or buried for a short while, with a cooked bone that wouldn't be good however. Gonzo likes to eat his bones in the grass and he sometimes leaves them there for an hour and goes back out later.

[Giselle]

Where do you find fresh bones that are big enough so they won't splinter and eat them?

Cow femur bones at a local Asian market/butcher. You're bound to find one Ask them to cut it into fourths or fifths depending on the size of the bone.

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

This is probably a stupid question but I was just wondering, when you feed raw (not the premade stuff) do you have to feed outside?? That's what I've been told by numerous people and was worried since I do not put my dogs outside in the winter just to eat...lol.

[wolfsoul]

I don't put Visa outside. She doesn't make a mess, but she does like to put some of her food on the floor, so I make sure she eats in the kitchen (the other day, she kept bringing a whole fish onto my livingroom carpet -- I finally had to lock her out of the livingroom ).

[Misty_Pearl]

This is probably a stupid question but I was just wondering, when you feed raw (not the premade stuff) do you have to feed outside?? That's what I've been told by numerous people and was worried since I do not put my dogs outside in the winter just to eat...lol.

What would be the reasoning for putting them outside?? No, Pearl eats inside with everyone else.

[finn's mom]

This is probably a stupid question but I was just wondering, when you feed raw (not the premade stuff) do you have to feed outside?? That's what I've been told by numerous people and was worried since I do not put my dogs outside in the winter just to eat...lol.

It's not a stupid question at all. I put Finn outside on the patio to eat. When I first got him, I put him in his crate to eat, and, did that for probably the first six months or so. But, it's just easier to put him outside. it's completely up to you, though.