We've been feeding raw for over 10 years now, everything from puppies to geriatrics. As a medical biochemist, I did the same thing at first, weighing out, measuring, calculating. Over time I relaxed more when I realized our dogs are doing great even when I was too busy to make up their special brew. As long as your dogs are getting a good variety of healthy meat (try to source the best possible meat you can afford), strive for balance over time (there are weeks our dogs get all chicken, other weeks all beef...but it balances out over time), and watch your dog's condition. Our vet does not recommend raw due to the liability, but she has been a great help at wellness visits knowing that our dogs eat a raw diet. Our dogs have always been extremely healthy and long lived so she has had no complaints about our feeding.
Our biggest hurdle to raw feeding was finding a reliable and dependable source. We started with a good grocery store meat source, but that can be expensive even when we were watching sales and stocking up. Then a local ranch sold to us but they ended up hooking up with a large breed breeder who was buying in massive quantities. Now we have found a rancher who raises meat solely for raw fed dogs and also sources fish and tripe. He delivers to our area once/ month so we keep a separate freezer now for dog meat. I shop the ethnic market every few months to buy goat, chicken feet, and other delicacies not normally found in the American diet.
I can appreciate the energy you are putting into feeding raw. There are some pinned posts around here for raw feeding to look at too for ideas. Good luck!
Our biggest hurdle to raw feeding was finding a reliable and dependable source. We started with a good grocery store meat source, but that can be expensive even when we were watching sales and stocking up. Then a local ranch sold to us but they ended up hooking up with a large breed breeder who was buying in massive quantities. Now we have found a rancher who raises meat solely for raw fed dogs and also sources fish and tripe. He delivers to our area once/ month so we keep a separate freezer now for dog meat. I shop the ethnic market every few months to buy goat, chicken feet, and other delicacies not normally found in the American diet.
I can appreciate the energy you are putting into feeding raw. There are some pinned posts around here for raw feeding to look at too for ideas. Good luck!
