[Kibblelady]

As for the OP no, I do not think Raw is always the answer. You know, I never put it down and never degrade people for feeding it but must say I am sick of such references toward kibble on this thread. My dogs eat a great diet, the base of that diet is kibble and they have fantastic health. They do not go to the vet bla bla bla, they have no skin issues. stool issues or health problems either, Their teeth have no tarter on them at all and the oldest is 9yrs of age.

It is great to be excited about something you support but it is possible to be excited about it witout putting other's decisions down or trying to make them feel like lazy shmucks.


I feed kibble and I am proud of the great health my dogs enjoy as a result of *MY* proper and responsible care of them.


Cherri

[sheltiemom]

Alright, I'm gonna try this, sounds pretty easy and I have a small freezer in my garage I'm not using for anything, sooo, couple questions.....would a membership to something like sams club be beneficial, and also, ot a little bit, but what about cats? Do cats eat bones? What about a senior cat?

[RawFedDogs]

Originally Posted by sheltiemom

would a membership to something like sams club be beneficial,

I don't know, I have never belonged to one of those membership places. I get chicken leg quarters at Walmart for around $.50/lb. in 10lb bags. I also pick up some pork roasts, beef roasts, and pork ribs when they are on sale. Most of the food I buy, I get a small independent grocery store to special order for me by the case. I buy chicken backs & drumsticks, turkey necks & wings, and beef heart by the case. I get beef liver on my regular trips to the grocery store.

what about cats? Do cats eat bones?

My cats eat raw. It's a little more difficult convince them that its good for them. I feed my cats chicken drumsticks whenever the dogs get chicken or turkey. When the dogs get anything else, I always cut some off their portion for the cats. So the cat's diet is almost identical to the dog's diet.

What about a senior cat?

I haven't had a senior cat on raw yet but I see no reason why it should be a problem. If you have trouble with him let me know and we will work it out.

[Criosphynx]

Originally Posted by sheltiemom

Alright, I'm gonna try this, sounds pretty easy and I have a small freezer in my garage I'm not using for anything, sooo, couple questions.....would a membership to something like sams club be beneficial, and also, ot a little bit, but what about cats? Do cats eat bones? What about a senior cat?

I have a costco membership. Found it pretty useless for raw. Most of the meat (at least at mine) was beef very little chicken it was mostly the "expensive" beef too, like filet mignon. So if you don't have a membership, i wouldn't get on just for that purpose.

I actually get alot at the regular grocery store when its "on sale" i don't store any of it tho for more than a few days.

My cats eat it fine. You may have to cut it up small at first or mix it with their dry/wet food so they get that its actually food.

[BoxMeIn21]

Yeah, I haven't found much savings at Sams or Costco. Another option, if you don't mind doing a little leg work, is you can run an ad on Craigslist for freezer burnt meat. I have been able to score a good amount of free meat here and there.

[sheltiemom]

I had a membership that I let expire back in March, I'll skip renewing it for now. I looked at some prices at Kroger last time I was there and the only thing that was decent priced was chicken, forget about beef, lamb, fish, crazy expensive, and they didn't have turkey or any organs. I haven't even begun to shop around yet though, there's walmart and the mexican grocery store.

The 2 y/o cat I'm not worried about, she's a former feral and will eat literally anything. The other is 12 y/o and I can't imagine her eating a bone. I was first thinking ground meat for her, but I read on a cat site that that's bad?

Originally Posted by BoxMeIn21

Yeah, I haven't found much savings at Sams or Costco. Another option, if you don't mind doing a little leg work, is you can run an ad on Craigslist for freezer burnt meat. I have been able to score a good amount of free meat here and there.

I could feed them for a week off the freezer burnt meat in my own freezer...

[cshellenberger]

Sheltiemom, you're best off finding a wholesale distributer or slaughter house to buy from. You can also go to places such as Shoppers Warehoue and get the short dated meats at a discount.

[briteday]

First, I'm on a road trip and this has been the first time in about 2 weeks that I've checked in. I've been feeding raw for a few years now, best thing I ever did. However, there are a few things that I think are important to watch for.

1. Pacific salmon...no, not ever. Too much of a risk, can be fatal to dogs. Besides, there's so much other fish out there to feed, why risk it.

2. Cheap chicken finds..read the labels. I have recently been seeing the brands change at our Walmarts and some of them have up to 12% added salt water. Not good for you or your dog!

3. Trich in pork...not completely eradicated even in the US. I work in the medical filed and there have been recent articles about this. I feed pork to both my human and dogs/cat. But we plan ahead so that we can freeze for 30 days before eating. Aos buy from a reputable source. I would not be looking for pork at my local ethnic (in my case hispanic or asian) markets.

Last, there is a good sticky thread at the top of the food forum about feeding raw and those of us who do so contributed our favorite websites. There is tons of good info in there, probably one of the best all 'round sources for feeding raw.

I feed my dogs 2x/day. So the night before I take out the food for the two meal for the next day, thawing them in a plastic shoebox (avoids confusion by visiting hmans to our house about what is human food and what is dog food) in the fridge.

When I have a "find" (make friends with the butchers at the groceries so you know when they do the markdowns, let your friends who hunt and fish know that you feed raw, make a few trips to the local ethnic markets...you might be amazed at what they offer for human consumption) I bring home the goods, baggie it up into meal portions and put in plastic baskets on one particular shelf of our freezer. I prefer to divvy up my foods by "chicken basket", "pork", "organs", "fish", you get the idea.

After I bag up the food I am very careful to disinfect the counter top so as not to contaminate my family. And I would never consider doing the raw food bagging up while I am preparing a meal for my family at the same time. Just too much chance of cross contamination.

[sheltiemom]

Do you all measure this stuff out, or do you approximate? After a while, I'm assuming you can just eyeball it? Also, say with the chicken quarters, that would be too much for my dogs for one meal, splitting one quarter into two meals shouldn't be a problem, should it?

[RawFedDogs]

Originally Posted by briteday

1. Pacific salmon...no, not ever. Too much of a risk, can be fatal to dogs. Besides, there's so much other fish out there to feed, why risk it.

It's only WILD CAUGHT salmon from the pacific NORTH WEST. SOME of them have a parasite that is dangerous to dogs. Freezing salmon for a few weeks will kill the parasite. Farmed salmon and salmon from other parts of the world are ok. Salmon is one of the most nutritious fish you can feed. Lots of O3's.

2. Cheap chicken finds..read the labels. I have recently been seeing the brands change at our Walmarts and some of them have up to 12% added salt water. Not good for you or your dog!

You are talking about enhanced chicken. It is injected with either a saline solution or with a chicken broth. Neither is real harmful. Saline solution is what they inject into you or your dog for dehydration. 80% of our and our dogs bodies are saline solution. It is critical for life. Broth is nothing more than chicken juice. It's the juice left over when chicken is cooked. It is used to enhance the flavor and moisture of the chicken. I have been feeding enhanced Walmart chicken to my dogs AT LEAST twice a week for 4 1/2 years. We all eat enhanced meats all the time. Who ever ate meat without putting salt, pepper and other flavors on it? Most of the meats you get at the grocery stores these days is enhanced, particularly at those stores that don't cut the meat on premisis. Enhancements are nothing to fear.

3. Trich in pork...not completely eradicated even in the US. I work in the medical filed and there have been recent articles about this. I feed pork to both my human and dogs/cat. But we plan ahead so that we can freeze for 30 days before eating. Aos buy from a reputable source. I would not be looking for pork at my local ethnic (in my case hispanic or asian) markets.

If you are talking about grocery store pork, there is no problem. There has been no trich found in domestic farm raised pork since 1992. There is no danger in the US, Canada, Austrilia, Great Britian and most of western Europe. If you are feeding a wild boar or pig or a pig raised by a farmer not selling to grocery stores, it would be a good idea to freeze the meat for a few weeks before feeding. I have been feeding grocery store pork to my dogs at least once a week for 6 years with no problems. I rarely freeze it as I usually feed it the day I get it.

All the rest of briteday's post is very informative and accurate.

[Striker2807]

Alright well I am just about ready to start feeding my dog a prey model diet soon.

I just have a question for all the raw feeders do you add supplements to your food? I know some do and some don't it is all a matter of opinion and I know it isn't really necessary, but I still am curious to who does it.

I am thinking of giving my puppy a fish oil tablet a few times a week along with feeding her fish of some sort once a week. I am also debating giving my puppy a Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplement a few times a week as well.

What is your guys opinions on supplements and do you do it?

[RawFedDogs]

Originally Posted by Striker2807

I just have a question for all the raw feeders do you add supplements to your food? I know some do and some don't it is all a matter of opinion and I know it isn't really necessary, but I still am curious to who does it.

Hehe, I think you mean do we add it to our dogs foodl. There is no need to give any supplements to a healthy dog. Your dog may have some physical problem that would benefit from one or another of the supplements. Giving supplements "just because" is a waste of time and money. For example if a dog is getting all he needs of a certain nutrient in his diet, giving him more will not do any good. Your dog will get all the nutrients he needs with a prey model raw diet with one possible exception. If you feed only or mostly grocery store meats, bones, and organs, the diet is probably low in Omega 3 fatty acids. A fish oil capsule occasionally will take care of that or just feeding some wild caught fish occasionally will be sufficient. I try to feed my dogs salmon, mackerel or sardines at least once a week. I give no other supplements at all with one exception listed below.

I am also debating giving my puppy a Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplement a few times a week as well.

I wouldn't give it to a puppy just because puppies in general don't need it. If you know the puppy has a joint problem then yes, but otherwise no. When the puppy starts to become a senior citizen, then yes definately give it. I give my 8yo Dane 4 Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM pills/day.

There is also a good deal of glucosimine built into the prey model diet.

[Striker2807]

Originally Posted by RawFedDogs

There is also a good deal of glucosimine built into the prey model diet.

Good to know! What if you dog doesn't eat all that you provide him? Do you just freeze it again and give it to him again for his next meal?

[RawFedDogs]

Originally Posted by Striker2807

Good to know! What if you dog doesn't eat all that you provide him? Do you just freeze it again and give it to him again for his next meal?

Hehe, that's never happened in 6 years of raw feeding but if it ever does, I will just put it back in the fridge and offer it again next meal.

[Kathyy]

I have been evaluating my younger dog's raw diet and find his diet is low in iodine, potassium, manganese, magnesium and iron. Low in vitamin E but I am already supplementing that. Probably more but that is all I recall off hand. Compare the AAFCO to what you can find out about the foods you are offering your dog from websites like USDA and nutritiondata it will really help you understand and feel sure you are doing right by your dog.

I am adding a mineral supplement and kelp to my dog's diet. I will be giving him glucoasmine, vitamin E, fish oil and kelp.

http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=662
http://www.nutritiondata.com/

[RawFedDogs]

Originally Posted by Kathyy

I have been evaluating my younger dog's raw diet and find his diet is low in iodine, potassium, manganese, magnesium and iron. Low in vitamin E but I am already supplementing that.

What kind of raw diet are you feeding? I have been feeding a raw diet for 6 years and have never given a supplement of any kind until I started my older dog on glucosamine a few weeks ago. Feed a dog a variety of animal parts from a variety of animals ... mostly meat, some bone, and some organs and he will get all the nutrients he need for a long and healthy life. It has worked like that for millions of years.

[rosemaryninja]

Originally Posted by Striker2807

Alright well I am just about ready to start feeding my dog a prey model diet soon.

I just have a question for all the raw feeders do you add supplements to your food? I know some do and some don't it is all a matter of opinion and I know it isn't really necessary, but I still am curious to who does it.

I am thinking of giving my puppy a fish oil tablet a few times a week along with feeding her fish of some sort once a week. I am also debating giving my puppy a Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplement a few times a week as well.

What is your guys opinions on supplements and do you do it?

I supplement with fish oil tablets and Solid Gold Seameal. The former because they do not get enough O3s from the regular raw meats I can find at my local supermarket (RawFedDogs touched on this); the latter because I find it just makes their coats look great.

When my raw-fed dog (prey model) was on kibble last year, she had noticeable problems with stiffness, especially while climbing stairs and just after waking. She was slowing down SO much, even when I supplemented with glucosamine and chondroitin. I started her on raw at the start of this year and the problem is now reduced to a small amount of stiffness right after she wakes up, which is completely gone after she has a good stretch. She is going on ten this month and still runs up to 4 miles with me, with no joint problems.

In short - no, I don't think you would need to provide any joint supplements. A raw diet, if properly fed, should take care of all your dog's glucosamine needs.

[JayBarnes]

Have any of you gave your dog the little cornish game hens? I found some for about a buck each at Wal-Mart and was wondering if they were okay to feed them.

[RawFedDogs]

Originally Posted by JayBarnes

Have any of you gave your dog the little cornish game hens? I found some for about a buck each at Wal-Mart and was wondering if they were okay to feed them.

I have never fed them but they are just small chickens. No reason not to feed them, particularly if they are cheap.

[Striker2807]

OK well I think I have had all my questions answered! Let me just sum it up really quick to make sure I have the basic idea.

Feed your dog a variety of meat, with some bone, and some organ and it will all balance over time. With Organ meat you will want to feed it a few times a mouth and make sure you throw fish in there say at least once a week?

Also just out of curious because I won't be feeding a small dog raw, but how would you feed a small dog raw? Wouldn't you need to take extra precaution with bones? Also I was reading an article in a magazine today that said bones carry no nutritional value I thought it provided things like calcium?