facts on dog foods

[wolfsoul]

Not all kibbles are created equal, that's for sure. I feed raw but I atleast know what to look for in a kibble. Every kibble-fed dog I've had has had some sort of health issue. I look back and KNOW that a raw diet could have prevented it.

[borzoimom]

I feel the same way. Raw would have prevented the 3 deaths of my dogs, as well as keeping my toddler safe. Those months with her on those tests, and what they were testing her for, allllllll seems like a hellish nighmare.
Caution to parents- if you have a toddler, either dont use kibble diets, or put it up unless the dog is actually eating it. My daughter went through child gates ... I had no clue, althought I didnt like it, that a food my dogs were eating would be anything other than a choking hazard for my baby.. NONE.. I mean one piece a day of a found dog kibble on the floor caused all that?? I am a beliver now..
* by the way- now she is 20)

[bluebird]

Raw would have prevented the 3 deaths of my dogs, as well as keeping my toddler safe. Those months with her on those tests, and what they were testing her for, allllllll seems like a hellish nighmare.

Not necessarily! If a toddler were to manage to sneak a bite or two of raw food a day; the results could also be very serious.

[BC_MoM]

I think you're exaggerating, borzoimom. IAMS didn't kill your 3 dogs - it probably only added to problems that would have come on their own.

Feeding raw wouldn't have kept a toddler safe, it would have made her sicker than the dog food would have.

[cali]

no I have to agree that raw would have been safer to the toddler then kibble, because there wouldnt be raw food laying around for the toddler to eat, it would be either in the dogs mouth, tummy, or put away in the fridge with childproof locks.

[borzoimom]

yes cali- you are right... exactly!

[bluebird]

evidence... evidence..

Excellent point. This is a real shocker and certainly would have been a nightmare. But anyone who reads this can't help wondering if these claims are verifiable!

There have been some publicized cases of settlements due to bad batches of dog food that resulted in the death of dogs. But if a dog food company was sued for deliberatly making bad food that even harmed a child, that should have made headlines and led to landmark changes in the production of dog food!

When did this happen, how many dogs were involved and how did you manage to prove that the chemical the toddler had in her system came from dog food?

[borzoimom]

Excellent point. This is a real shocker and certainly would have been a nightmare. But anyone who reads this can't help wondering if these claims are verifiable!

There have been some publicized cases of settlements due to bad batches of dog food that resulted in the death of dogs. But if a dog food company was sued for deliberatly making bad food that even harmed a child, that should have made headlines and led to landmark changes in the production of dog food!

When did this happen, how many dogs were involved and how did you manage to prove that the chemical the toddler had in her system came from dog food?

Nope- mine is a real case.. Its me.. its us.. they paid.. but it didnt relieve the worries years later.. And reason why iams is now available in walmart.. They went from a top food to garbage.. And they found it in my daughter at NIH .. its a easy test once they know what they are looking for .. It starts as "toxic substance present"..

[fionapap]

Bobbie is my first dog so I am quite illiterate as far as dog raising goes. I follow whatever our vet tells us, but lately I am thinking that perhaps this is not the road to follow.

My 4 year old medium sized Griffon was brought up on whatever handouts were provided as she was raised on the streets in the "care" of a homeless alcoholic. Handouts consisted of potato chips, French fries, sandwiches, nuts and God knows what else. After having adopted her, we have tried to get her to eat dog food. We have tried all leading brands and the only one she grudgingly eats and that on occasion is PEDIGREE dry food and FROLIC dry food. Forget the canned stuff. She turns her nose on that.

She loves fish, chicken and meat in general, spaghetti or any kind of past, dairy products and doggie treats, especially salmon kibbles and smoke flavoured bone chews.

Both vets we have taken her to, insist on feeding her HILLS or SCIENCE PLAN "in order to avoid later health problems". I suspect however that they are promoting these labels for their own interest. They also said to leave her without food for 2-3 days in order to teach her to eat dog food. Well sorry, but after 3 days I couldn’t bear sitting at the table and having her watch our every spoonful.

I have tried cooking various fish or meats with rice or pasta (no onions or salt added) and included a little grated carrots or zucchini in hope that she would get some vitamins in her. Somehow she managed to eat all the fish or meats and leave the rest on her plate.


I have read in many of your comments that you feed your dogs raw food. The vets however are very stern about avoiding raw meats. Can you please give me some advice on what to feed her? Perhaps I should give her some dog vitamins as a supplement?

I want to keep her healthy but also have her live a happy life.

[borzoimom]

I saw your other post and will put most of the information here.
I have been feeding raw for 18 almost even 19 years now. It does take committment to do so, but I have found wonderful results. First of all- dogs would naturally eat raw meat. SEcond they can NOT GET salminella, or worms from raw meat etc like humans can because their digestitve enzymes are harsher, and their body temperature is higher than ours. As far as protection to yourself, simple meat preparation like you would for your own family- use a plastic cutting board, washing with soup and water, and your hands as well. I also use kitchen wipes that have bleach on them to wipe the counter surface.
To feed raw to an adult dog, you are feeding two percent of their body weight over two feedings or one percent twice a day. So my hundred pound dog gets a pound of meat twice a day. I then add in a food processor- a beta caratine veggie ( mine like yellow squash, or sweet pototoe, zuccinni) when add raw egg and the shell ( for calcium) yogurt or cottage cheese, process this- then add a vitamin- I like Missing link granular, and for my show dogs- I add " Hair of the dog" which is an Omega 6 and 3 vitamin made for long coat length. ( now all of mine get this hair of the dog, as I saw a result in my rescue to help with her thyroidism.)
For meat I use chicken thighs, or tripe, or ground turkey, chicken necks-backs, chicken livers, tipoli fish or mackeral.
How big is your dog in weight? Then I will pm you with ideas for the meat source.
All of this is raw. Including the veggies. If you cook the veggies, you will loose over half your beta caratine vitamins.

[Lady's Human]

As politely as possible.......

Dogs ARE susceptible to salmonella, and they most certainly can get worms from raw meat.


Feed raw, feed whatever you want, but DON'T SPREAD MYTHS!

[fionapap]

Bobbie is 31 pounds (14 kilos). She is what you would call a medium sized Griffon (probably mixed up with something else).

Thank you for the help.

[fionapap]

I thank you both for your opinions but now I am even more confused

[borzoimom]

Its simple- people that feed raw swear by it- those that dont, do others. Whatever you decide just stick with it. My vet supports raw diet, and several in my family in dogs do as well. Most borzoi people also feed raw, as the main concern in any deep chested dog is bloat. A raw fed dog will not bloat at least not from food swelling in the gut causing GVD.
The way kibble is made is with a process called extrusion. ( well at least most of the foods). This is at a high temperature destroying most of the B vitamins.
At 30 pounds the dog would eat a 1/3 of a pound of meat with about two tablespoons of the mixture I listed above. At 30 pounds chewing larger chicken bones would be hard, so I would use chicken wings or drumstick ground in a processor. If your dog has a poultry allergy, use beef, or fish, venison. I avoid pork. Its too high in a fat content raw. And usually seasoned as well.
If I can help you farther, just pm me. All of us believe we are feeding our the dogs the best we can and believe in it. I also like the fact that feeding raw doesnt need chemical preservatives or the use of vitamin E to preserve that can go racid in shelf life. ( one of the main basis for kibble recalls in recent years.)