raw poll

**CathyBogart** · 08-25-2006, 01:12 AM

I haven't fed raw for very long yet, but so far so good.

Border Collie Lover: Did you switch them over cold turkey? Sometimes if they're switched abruptly they go through a "detox" period of a week or so since their bodies aren't used to the rich food. That being said, some diets just don't work for some dogs, and I think you're a great owner for figuring out what works best for your dogs.

**Vela** · 08-25-2006, 06:54 AM

Runner isn't a large dog, I would not start off with a whole chicken. THe easiest thing I started off with was chicken legs, not the whole leg and thigh at first, just the drumsticks. The smaller pieces are easier to manage and first until they learn it's dinnertime. I started out by giving my two two raw chicken drumsticks at a time for a meal. THey now eat thighs, turkey drumsticks (quarters are too big for them and they don't finish them and they are larger than Runner). You can give chicken and turkey necks. We butcher a homegrown cow every year so we have access to lots of beef, we also do the same with a pig every six months, but the only bones I fed are from poultry, and the occasinoal oxtail (much softer "bone" and they can chew that). I am not an expert but it's often best to start off with smaller amounts of meat and stick with one kind for a few days to make sure she's not having any reactions. If you start off feeding lots of different things, and she gets sick, it can be harder to pinpoint what cuased it. I also feed plain yogurt, cottage cheese, raw eggs. For red meat and pork I only feed boneless meat (except the oxtail) because I don't what them to break their teeth on the harder bones. I am hoping to get some venison this hunting season from a friend. You can also buy chicken and beef liver in the meat departments for cheap, I also feed beef heart from the store and ground beef from our steer. There are great ideas in the nutrition thread on the raw thread about what the dog eats each day but just start off slowly, add new things one at a time so she gest used to it and doesn't throw up or get runs. Mine never had bowel issues since I didn't feed too much at a time to start and took my time adding new foods.