My RAW review

CoverTune · 05-18-2007, 11:16 PM

Alright, it's still too early to see any major results or changes, but I started Corona, my 10 week old Chi, on Mountain Dog raw complete meal patties about a week ago. Right from the first meal, she has EAGERLY scarfed down every morsel of food... whereas before, on her kibble, she would eat only a half dozen pieces or so, and then wander away, and then pick at a few more... but never really consumed a lot.

He system was "off" for a few days, LOTS of poop! But it only lasted about 3 days or so, and she seems to be settling now, back to just a couple of poops a day.

It's great to see her so excited about her food! We'll be picking up a chicken neck, or back, this weekend and try her with that as a good chew toy early next week.

Ginny01OT · 05-19-2007, 08:56 AM

that's great!!! your dog will never be healthier or happier-

briteday · 05-19-2007, 07:50 PM

Our small papillons are doing well after one month on raw. At first they had some bowel issues. That has settled down, except when I've given them too much of a good thing! Now that they are more settled in, there waste is almost microscopic!

borzoimom · 05-22-2007, 02:55 PM

A increase in stools or change after switching to a more digestable diet can easily happen. Its there for 2 reasons
* the body has alot of fiber stored in the gut and bowel that was retained on the old food- and it leaves as digestion progresses.
* the body is detoxing from minerals stored then flushing from the liver detoxing.

CoverTune · 05-25-2007, 12:34 AM

Well, she's been on the food for nearly two weeks now and the news isn't great. She's up to having as many as 6 or 7 bowel movements per day when she only had 2, MAYBE 3, per day on her kibble. I can't imagine she would have a whole lot of "toxins", or fibre, in her system as she was only on kibble for a week or two (prior to that was, of course, mom's milk). She also seems to still have extremely dry skin, but maybe I was wrong in thinking that the raw diet would help clear that up?

She also seems to have a severe reaction to the turkey meal... within 2 minutes of starting to eat she begins trembling violently... it lasts 5-10 minutes and then she is fine again. She continues to walk around and whatnot, but seems visibly upset during these periods. So, needless to say, I am going to try her back on the beef or chicken and hopefully she'll be fine on those again.

luv4gsds · 05-25-2007, 06:38 AM

What is in the Mountain Dog raw patties?
I have never heard of a dog pooping that much on raw.

Quote:

So, needless to say, I am going to try her back on the beef or chicken and hopefully she'll be fine on those again.

When starting out on raw you need to stay with one type of meat source for a while until your dog gets use to it.

CoverTune · 05-25-2007, 10:30 AM

Here's a link to the food... it's a "local" company, in that they're in the same province as me... and their food is what was recommended to me at the feed store.

http://www.snss.bc.ca/productstwo.html

luv4gsds · 05-25-2007, 11:09 AM

Are you feeding the Full Meals or the Veggie and Fruit Combinations?

CoverTune · 05-25-2007, 01:40 PM

Full Meals

luv4gsds · 05-27-2007, 01:47 PM

It maybe the liver causing the poop problem.

MagicToller · 05-27-2007, 02:05 PM

Good to hear your Chi is doing well

Personally, I prefer giving my dog Koi actual slabs with meat and bone so that he can work and grind it to clean out his teeth as well as get some tantalizing meat. He gets chicken, short and regular beef ribs, lamb shoulders, beef neck bones, oxtail, and rabbit when I can get it - as well as carrots, apples, bananas, and today we discovered that he likes pineapple! Raw is better than no raw though, so she'll be much happier

CoverTune · 05-27-2007, 04:18 PM

I've had to take her off of the raw food now, as per my vet's instructions. We cant figure out what is causing her massive trembles at meal times, so the vet wanted to try her on a commercial food. Unfortunately, we just tried her first meal on the vet recommended food, and she still trembled, but we will stick with it for a couple of days and see if there is any improvement.

borzoimom · 05-27-2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoverTune

I've had to take her off of the raw food now, as per my vet's instructions. We cant figure out what is causing her massive trembles at meal times, so the vet wanted to try her on a commercial food. Unfortunately, we just tried her first meal on the vet recommended food, and she still trembled, but we will stick with it for a couple of days and see if there is any improvement.

This is what I thinik it is- considering the breed and the symptons. I think she is having problems with hypoglycemia. Its common in chis. A mid day meal ( I would rather do the raw.. but I would leave that alone)- and give her a mid day meal. Or like a peanut butter cookie in it. Also- if the food is cool, with such a little dog- quite frankly it could be a sudden drop in body temp. WArmed food would help. Since you cant cook raw- use the food you have and add a warm broth to it. or even just hot water a little and wait until its still warm but not to hot..

briteday · 05-27-2007, 05:12 PM

I was thinking the same thing about cold food. I would try adding some warm water or broth at feeding time.

borzoimom · 05-27-2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briteday

I was thinking the same thing about cold food. I would try adding some warm water or broth at feeding time.

Yea I think so. chis do not have much body fat and since the dog is so tiny- the little one would feel cold faster. Same thing as you having a hot cup of coffee to warm you up- this is in reverse..

CoverTune · 05-27-2007, 07:30 PM

We tried that as well, making sure the food was not cold. That is not the issue, sadly. She is also already getting three meals a day, she always has. Unfortunately, at this point, it is sounding like a portal hepatic shunt... I am trying to find more information on it and can only hope that it isn't something I have caused by having her on raw.