[4dogs3cats]

Has it been 2 weeks already? WOW! This pst Wednedsay was 2 weeks since I started the dogs on raw. Coincidentally, I have 3 chicken drumsticks (4 oz each), and one chicne quarter left (12 oz.) This is not enough for dinner. So lets go guys, what do you start mixing?

I have done a lot of reading, but I like hearing from you guys. Whats the best thing I can start adding.

And also- using Kody as an example, he gets 8 ounces a day, does that include bone. Like if I am giving him a liver, and there is no bone, do I cut down the amount. I just need to know what to do next basically!

I know twice a day is what I should be feeding them, but I tried that and they wouldnt eat that night. All during the day they arent hungry, and they look good, is it okay if I keep them at one daily feeding, or is that really bad for them?


Thanks, you guys rock!

[heidiann]

I'm no expert by any means, we've only been raw feeding since December, but here's what we do.

Onyx is approx 35-40lbs and she gets 5-6 oz 2x daily
Topaz is 65 lbs (give or take a couple lbs) and he gets 9-10 oz 2x daily

For their am meal they get Oma's Pride Turkey Mix which is ground turkey, bone and some veggies (I believe organs as well) and we usually give them 1/2 or 3/4 meat and then mix in canned pumpkin, cottage cheese and/or natural apple sauce. Onyx has been getting Honest Kitchen lately as well because I got some freebies from them and she really likes it and Topaz can't have it because it has rosemary in it. (We also add apple cider vinegar and coconut oil and a joint supplement when/if we have it and also on the weekends I will sometimes add in a raw egg) It's not as complicated as it sounds lol

The evening meal is their Bone meal and we have been giving Chicken Backs lately due to the cost. We started out giving them turkey necks and have given chicken necks and chicken wings in the past.

I found out about raw from an alternative pet food store that moved into the animal shelter we volunteered at. The woman who owns the store has been feeding raw for years and she is like my raw feeding "Mentor" of sorts lol she helped me get their meal plan together and answers my questions and everything.

Anyway, that's what we feed. Breakfast is anywhere from 9am-11am and dinner is generally around 6:15...depending on what we have going on. Because Topaz is epileptic, we try to keep the meals as close to the schedule as we can.

Edited to add...I weigh their meals out too, so I know that it's the right ounces and we weigh bone and all....so like Onyx's morning meal may be 2oz pumpkin, 1oz cottage cheese and 3.5oz meat mix.

[briteday]

I always keep chicken as one meal of the day, almost every day. Then at this point I would add in probably a pork meal. Although I don't think you have to get too technical about it you shoould try to balance the meat with the bone. You'll know though by watching their stools. If they are constipated or have very white chalky stools, cut back on the bone. If on the other hand they tend towards dark and runny then cut back on the meat.

At this point though I would probably buy a bunch of pork, enough for a week's worth of meals, and go with that. And I think since you are feeding one meal per day I would do 1/2 chicken and 1/2 pork in the same meal.

And as far as the two meal thing goes, I think it is better for any animal to eat more than once per day. Twenty four hours is a long time to go between meals. And blood sugar tends to drop in the hours before the next meal. I also believe that digestion may be better with two smaller meals. One of our neighbors recently made the transition. She normally feeds once in the morning. So she skipped the morning meal, gave them 1/2 the daily ration at dinner, then half again in the morning...now they get half at every meal, two times per day.

[rosemaryninja]

I would probably add either turkey or pork at this point.

[4dogs3cats]

Originally Posted by briteday

I always keep chicken as one meal of the day, almost every day. Then at this point I would add in probably a pork meal. Although I don't think you have to get too technical about it you shoould try to balance the meat with the bone. You'll know though by watching their stools. If they are constipated or have very white chalky stools, cut back on the bone. If on the other hand they tend towards dark and runny then cut back on the meat.

At this point though I would probably buy a bunch of pork, enough for a week's worth of meals, and go with that. And I think since you are feeding one meal per day I would do 1/2 chicken and 1/2 pork in the same meal.

And as far as the two meal thing goes, I think it is better for any animal to eat more than once per day. Twenty four hours is a long time to go between meals. And blood sugar tends to drop in the hours before the next meal. I also believe that digestion may be better with two smaller meals. One of our neighbors recently made the transition. She normally feeds once in the morning. So she skipped the morning meal, gave them 1/2 the daily ration at dinner, then half again in the morning...now they get half at every meal, two times per day.

Yeah.. I see your point definately. I may end up switching to 2 meals per day, but they need to start eating their meals faster, or they will make me late for work! lol.

I thought pork had to be frozen for like 3 months before I gave it to them...
I may just keep them on chicken for right now... Can i start adding in chicken livers?

Originally Posted by rosemaryninja

I would probably add either turkey or pork at this point.

Its hard to find turkey!

[rosemaryninja]

Okay, I guess maybe pork or fish then? What is readily available to you?

I also wouldn't start feeding organs for another three weeks or so, depending on your dogs' stomachs.

[4dogs3cats]

Originally Posted by rosemaryninja

Okay, I guess maybe pork or fish then? What is readily available to you?

I also wouldn't start feeding organs for another three weeks or so, depending on your dogs' stomachs.

I found some turkey.. kind of expensive... but the dogs liked it. Chance didnt. took him a while to finish... I gave them each some turkey and some chicken... I'll hold off on the organs, thanks.

[RawFedDogs]

Originally Posted by 4dogs3cats

I found some turkey.. kind of expensive... but the dogs liked it. Chance didnt. took him a while to finish... I gave them each some turkey and some chicken... I'll hold off on the organs, thanks.

Somehow I missed the beginning of this thread, but had I been here I would have suggested turkey for the next protein source but pork is fine. I wouldn't use both. Normally you only want to add one thing at a time. The reason is that if there is some problem, you will know what caused it. I also wouldn't feed the new stuff exclusively. At the very least, alternate meals. I would go slow introducing new things to the diet. Afterall you have a lifetime to feed them a raw diet. Taking a few extra weeks in the beginning won't hurt things in the long run.

Feed either chicken and turkey or chicken and pork for a week. If no problems after this week, add the other turkey or pork into the mix and alternate between the 3. There is no need to freeze pork if you are in the US and buy it at a grocery store. Almost every week I feed pork from the grocery store the same day I buy it.

It is not all that important how often you feed. I know many raw feeders who feed once a day and I also know quite a few that feed every other day or maybe 3 times a week. Dogs can adapt to most anything.

[InverseLogic]

Originally Posted by 4dogs3cats

Its hard to find turkey!

They sell turkey necks at Wal-Mart for under $3. You get 5 of them. They are at most Wal-Marts, but not all of them.

[4dogs3cats]

Originally Posted by RawFedDogs

Somehow I missed the beginning of this thread, but had I been here I would have suggested turkey for the next protein source but pork is fine. I wouldn't use both. Normally you only want to add one thing at a time. The reason is that if there is some problem, you will know what caused it. I also wouldn't feed the new stuff exclusively. At the very least, alternate meals. I would go slow introducing new things to the diet. Afterall you have a lifetime to feed them a raw diet. Taking a few extra weeks in the beginning won't hurt things in the long run.

Feed either chicken and turkey or chicken and pork for a week. If no problems after this week, add the other turkey or pork into the mix and alternate between the 3. There is no need to freeze pork if you are in the US and buy it at a grocery store. Almost every week I feed pork from the grocery store the same day I buy it.

It is not all that important how often you feed. I know many raw feeders who feed once a day and I also know quite a few that feed every other day or maybe 3 times a week. Dogs can adapt to most anything.

I added turkey and I did pretty much half and half for their meals. Kody got a full turkey lef though.

Originally Posted by InverseLogic

They sell turkey necks at Wal-Mart for under $3. You get 5 of them. They are at most Wal-Marts, but not all of them.

I found turkey legs and thighs at walmart, but I will keep looking.

[briteday]

You don't have to freeze pork (or wild game for that matter) but I do. But I still freeze it both for 30 days. Once you are in a purchasing routine you will just pick up pork every month, portion it into meals, label the bag, and then put it in the back of the freezer for the next month.

Again, nothing says you HAVE to freeze it. But I work in the medical lab field and have seen enough parasites in humans that I may be a bit more careful than most.

[4dogs3cats]

Oh okay, that makes sense...

I started them on turkey so I will add pork next week!