Anyone else feed their dogs raw??? - Raw Food Chat

greenbunny · 09-28-2007

I keep on checking in to see if anyone else out there is feeding their dogs raw food.

Boogie and Fluffy have been all raw longer than me now. The precious creatures! I love my dogs so much and they don't have a choice of what to eat except what I give them - and I know better - so I got them transitioned fully before I could do it for myself.

Fluffy is a 16 year old maltese and raw basically saved her life.

Boogie is a 6 year old beagle and my love. I want her to live forever.

Greenbunny

Kristen's Raw · 09-28-2007

Would you mind sharing what you feed them? Is it raw vegan? or just raw? I want the best for my dog, but I struggle with what to do. So...I change it up. Sometimes organic vegan, sometimes organic salmon/lamb (non Raw for both).

My vet says my dog being vegan is fine... but what to feed him that's Raw that he'll like? Any recommendations?

Thanks!

greenbunny · 09-29-2007

Hey Kristen,

My vet says (which have researched to be basically true) that a wild dog or wolf's diet is 90% raw meat and 10% or less plant matter. I feed my dogs raw meat. My beagle will get a turkey or chicken leg once in a while and they both will get some chopped meat from the store, but mainly I feed them patties and freeze dried foods that I get from a pet store around here. That's really really really easy for me. It's just as easy as giving them kibble. Ideally I would give them more raw meat from the grocer and just a little of my juices and smoothies. Dogs can't digest fruits and veggies very well whole because they don't have the same enzymes in their mouths like we do. We could live on all meat, but we aren't designed to do that ideally and dogs can eat all vegetables and survive but they aren't designed to do that. Their teeth and digestive systems are designed for raw meat. The vet explained to me that dogs have been bred for size, ear shape etc but haven't been bred to do better on cooked food so their digestive systems are basically still the same as a wolves - so they can handle bacteria that would kill us. You should see Boogie "wolf" down a big bone and chew it to pieces. Fluffy had few teeth left when I got her but still wants Boogies bones. It makes them incredibly happy to get raw meat. I used to have to force feed Fluffy, but now she eats like a little piggy and is 3 times the weight. It's like she was saying "finally! real food!!!" I once bought her chopped sirloin and I thought that she would jump out of her skin she was so happy.

I know that dogs can be vegan and if it's important to you that your dog is vegan I would NOT suggest you feed them raw. Raw veggies are hard for doggies to digest unless broken down in the blender.

I have to say that only eating raw fish, eggs and dairy and having been a vegan for decades in the past I was very glad to find the freeze dried foods. I don't like going to the meat section of the store - but I will do it for my Boogie (at least sometimes).

Anyway, That's what I do. I can tell you the names of all their little packaged foods. You really don't need packaged foods for dogs with teeth. Just throw them a raw bone and they know what to do with it! Wait unti you see how happy it makes them!

Greenbunny

SnowBunny · 09-29-2007

I feed my dog raw on occasion and I'll make sure to do an entire raw meal... so it's not mixed with kibble. I've been told that this is very important. I'm not prepared to go 100% raw for her, mainly because when I travel she stays with my dad who has three other dogs. One, the other dogs would be very jealous and two, I don't want to put my dad through the extra effort and I doubt he would be willing anyways.
I also don't have her raw all the time when she's home with me, because that would be too much yo-yoing for her between raw and cooked and I know that she wouldn't feel good with that either.
We're getting ready to move and when I do that I'll be having a friend stay at the house and I'll also be getting another dog. So then I'm more likely to swtich to 100% raw for them.

She gets fresh organic eggs and she absolutely LOVES avacado. She gets SOOOO jealous when she sees me eating them now! So I always share

I have a butcher near by so I've given her chicken necks and chicken bones before. After thanksgiving turkey will be cheap and I'll get that for her too. I've been told to stay away from beef until their digestive system is used to eating raw, she hasn't had that yet. When I gave her her first raw bone she had no clue what to do with it!! She just kept looking at it and then at me and back and forth, ever so often licking it. It took a while but she likes them now.

SnowBunny · 09-29-2007

She just ate a grape! I dropped one and she started munching on it.

She also really likes eating flies and poop and grass, especially when she's been with my dad. When she's fed raw more frequently I don't catch her eating poop, not that she doesn't but I just don't catch her doing it. ew~

greenbunny · 10-01-2007

Hey Snowbunny,

What kind/size dog do you have?

The reason I ask is because I have two small dogs: one is only 7 pounds and the other less than 30. I get this stuff called ZiwiPeak Natural New Zealand Pet Nutrtion Daily-Dog Cuisine Veinso Recipe A Natural Balanced "REal Meat" Diet. Contains real, air-dried meat and essential vitamins and minerals 100% Natural - no preservatives, no colours, no fillers or grains.

The dogs just love it and it's just as easy (or easier) to feed a dog than kibbles. It's dried and comes with it's own scoop. You just scoop it out and put it in a bowl and it's gone..... fast!

I mention it because if ease when your father takes care of your dog is the only problem this is as easy as it gets.

There are other foods too that you add some water to or that come in bigger patties - but this comes in little pieces. They would be cheaper but necesitate two steps instead of one.

I ask about the size of your dog because it could be expensive for a big dog. On the back of the package they don't even give instructions for feeding a dog that weighs more than 60 pounds.

There is some debate about whether or not it is good to have a dog on part cooked and part raw diet. Something about bacteria and digestion that I don't remember well enough to explain. My vet told me to just transfer them over to raw food all at once. The biggest problem was that I overfed Fluffy at first because it was delightful to see her interested in food.

Greenbunny

SnowBunny · 10-01-2007

She's a least 80 pounds! She's a big girl and when we get a new doggy, he'll be at least 70 also.

I've heard some controversy on feeding partially both ways. It's just that I notice she does SO much better during the day when I feed her raw in the mornings. Mainly I've read that it shouldn't be mixed together and enough time in between meals so that it will digest. But if you hear or read anything that says definitively otherwise, please post a message because I definitely don't want to be doing any more harm.

So far though, she's been looking good, more energy (she's 8), and like I mentioned earlier I don't see her eating poop and grass anymore. But I will definitely look into it more myself because i know issues could sneak up on her if taken lightly.

greenbunny · 10-04-2007

Thems is some big dogs! Forget about feeding them dehydrated food - it would cost a fortune.

Check out the BARF website. I think that's where I read about mixing cooked and raw foods.

It's great that you see a difference. Basically, I would do what feels right and your dogs do the best with.

I think that many people do mix and find no bad effects. This is all new and I really don't think that people really know. I doubt if any good experiments have been done. Who would pay for them?

Chow,

Greenbunny

jenp · 03-15-2008

When I rescued Houdini (little escape artist, don'tcha know) from the SPCA two months ago, I had already gone 50% raw myself. And three months ago I had the misery of losing my 14-year-old cocker, who had numerous health problems (which I believe if I had put her on better food instead of pellets would have lived a much healthier life). So I vowed that I would give Houdini a better shot, now that I knew better. I give her about 95% raw at my house, mixed with some non-raw treats. My boyfriend, when he has to keep her because of my travel, gives her the same meals, but many, many more treats (he's a softy). I'd say that drops her to 90% raw, as he does love to give his dogs and my visiting dog many treats. Mostly I alternate her between beef ribs and chicken, so she gets some bone in with the meat, and she seems to quite enjoy that. I will admit, however, that when she's visiting and sees a dog dish filled with pellets, she'll have a few bites (not clean it out though). At dinner time, she doesn't attack her food like she's starved, but rather is dainty about it, and leaves the meaty bones for later, if she's not really hungry at the time. (I do pick up anything she hasn't touched in 15 minutes though.) She will eat a little fruit, usually sweet banana but sometimes some apple if I share. She has filled in quite nicely from the thin dog I rescued from the SPCA without porking out. She also does get a decent amount of exercise.
So far, I haven't considered giving her any supplements, but if I notice anything about her health that makes me nervous, I will consider it.
And SnowBunny, I agree, as a vegetarian I hate the meat section of the grocery, but I go there for my sweet dog. In fact, there's only one area of the grocery that I enjoy, the rest is a direct assault on the senses (especially the meat and chemicals aisles)!