Taking the Plunge...Raw - YorkieTalk.com Forums

KristinJ · 07-30-2008, 09:04 AM

I still don't have a Yorkie, and I've only been on this site a matter of days. Even so.. you guys have already convinced me to go raw for my Maltese, Stanley.

It's going to be a huge change for me, and will require a lot of planning ahead once school starts, but I have a month until then to get the process down pat.

I still have a lot of reading and research to do. I don't really know where to start. I do know I plan on giving him mainly the "Prey model" diet, but that I want to occasionally through in some aspects of the BARF too, by adding veggies every now and then, maybe a little bit of fruit. Unless of course, I learn that it is a bad idea to do that.

Anywho.. just thought I'd post up on here to maybe get a little help and support. Or at least to keep myself from going nuts trying to figure it all out.

How much exactly am I looking at feeding him? He weighs 5-6 lbs, and is still young, 8 months.

Thanks for all the help you guys have already given!

Wylie's Mom · 07-30-2008, 09:19 AM

Good for you! I've been feeding raw for quite a while now and just love it for my guys. I feed NV's raw medallions, but I do think prey model is wonderful. For prey model, you'd feed 2-3% of the dog's ideal body weight, per day. A great person to hook up with would be RawfedYorkieluv (Nadia) - she feeds prey model and helps many people on YT make the transition.

KristinJ · 07-30-2008, 10:02 AM

Thanks!

I actually have some NV Raw Medallions in the freezer, and was thinking about using them to maybe help him over to raw. (I got a pound for a dollar!)

Wylie's Mom · 07-30-2008, 10:57 AM

I found the transition using NV so very easy. Many people just do a hard switch - meaning, just switch right to raw. Some dogs do a bit of a detox, some have no detox at all (mine did not).

KristinJ · 07-30-2008, 11:16 AM

I wonder if it has to do with what they were fed before.. (The detox/no detox)

Since I have a whole pound of NV I think I'll go to that first, then go on to prey model from there.

So many choices!!

tjdmom · 07-30-2008, 11:47 AM

I feed prey model raw! Good for you for making the switch. I hope I can reassure you that not only is it the best thing for your pup, it is not as hard as you might think. Both my dogs only eat once a day now. My yorkie is 1 and a half and I was really nervous about that but she is actually the one who started refusing the morning feeding so I went with it. Both of my dogs have been picky eaters and always underweight but no more! They look forward to dinner time like they never did before. I started with chicken and fed that for about a full week and then slowly branched off to other things. Since chicken is the most econimical, that is their mainstay but they also eat a fair amount of pork and some beef too. They have tried lamb and LOVE it but it's a little pricey so it's not an every day thing. They've also tried fish but my yorkie was not crazy about that at all. The hardest thing is remembering to take out their food the day before to thaw it and I've become pretty good at remembering that. My girls did not have any tummy upset when we made the switch cold turkey and only my older dog had a little diarhea when I first tried pork. She's the one with the sensitive tummy so I kinda expected it. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions....

KristinJ · 07-30-2008, 12:54 PM

My baby hasn't eaten all day. I tried to go ahead and just give the NV medallions since I had them, and he refuses to touch them. Think it would be more appetizing for him if I just went cold turkey to prey model?

tjdmom · 07-30-2008, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristinJ

My baby hasn't eaten all day. I tried to go ahead and just give the NV medallions since I had them, and he refuses to touch them. Think it would be more appetizing for him if I just went cold turkey to prey model?

My girls looked at me like I was nuts the first time I gave them a chicken breast so you might get the same reaction. I would first try breaking up the medallion and see if he will eat it from your hand. If that does not work I would very very very litely sear it in a frying pan. Just not too much. In other words, don't cook it but just litely brown the outside. He will smell that and I would think it will be very appetizing for him. Let us know how it goes. By the way... you can also give him a little bit of time although I know that can be scary with these little guys.

KristinJ · 07-30-2008, 01:06 PM

I tried breaking it up and feeding by hand. I got him to lick it once or twice, then he backed away from me up against his X-pen like he was terrified of it!

I'll try searing it.

Thanks.

Wylie's Mom · 07-30-2008, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristinJ

I tried breaking it up and feeding by hand. I got him to lick it once or twice, then he backed away from me up against his X-pen like he was terrified of it!

I'll try searing it.

Thanks.

Not uncommon. Some dogs go crazy for it, others look at you like "huh?". Sometimes, it depends on the flavor too. Which flavor do you have?

I found the most appetizing to be (in this order): organic chicken (NOT regular), lamb, beef, venison, rabbit.

KristinJ · 07-30-2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Not uncommon. Some dogs go crazy for it, others look at you like "huh?". Sometimes, it depends on the flavor too. Which flavor do you have?

I found the most appetizing to be (in this order): organic chicken (NOT regular), lamb, beef, venison, rabbit.

Mine is chicken flavored, but I don't think it's the organic type. I think I might just go cold-turkey raw.

For his first feeding, what chicken parts would you all suggest? I'd like for it to be as easy on his tummy as possible.

Wylie's Mom · 07-30-2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristinJ

Mine is chicken flavored, but I don't think it's the organic type. I think I might just go cold-turkey raw.

For his first feeding, what chicken parts would you all suggest? I'd like for it to be as easy on his tummy as possible.

You could try a chicken drummette or wing - freeze it first, then thaw and feed. RawfedYorkieluv would also have great suggestions and I'm sure she'll be on here today!

ANGELA GORE · 07-30-2008, 03:19 PM

Hello, sorry to sound a bit dumb but what is NV? I live in Chile which may explain my ignorance.
I cook chicken/liver/minced beef plus carrots, potatoes and other veg plus a little rice. Is this OK do you think? They are quite fat though.

tjdmom · 07-30-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristinJ

Mine is chicken flavored, but I don't think it's the organic type. I think I might just go cold-turkey raw.

For his first feeding, what chicken parts would you all suggest? I'd like for it to be as easy on his tummy as possible.

I was told on another forum to start with a bone in chicken breast. It's a bit large for a yorkie. I'm sure you're little guy would never finish it! You might want to cut some of the breast meat off. I have a good pair of kitchen shears and sometimes I just cut off pieces for the yorkie and give the rest to my collie. But in any event, I heard that the breast meat was the easiest on them and I will say that mine both made the switch with no problems at all.

tjdmom · 07-30-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ANGELA GORE

Hello, sorry to sound a bit dumb but what is NV? I live in Chile which may explain my ignorance.
I cook chicken/liver/minced beef plus carrots, potatoes and other veg plus a little rice. Is this OK do you think? They are quite fat though.

NV stands for Nature's Variety which is a commercial raw dog food. We are talking about raw foods here which we believe is the best choice for dogs. You sound like you are doing a home cooked meal but personally, I believe raw is the best for a dog. I'm sure there are others who disagree....

07-30-2008, 09:04 AM	#1
KristinJ Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 12	Taking the Plunge...Raw I still don't have a Yorkie, and I've only been on this site a matter of days. Even so.. you guys have already convinced me to go raw for my Maltese, Stanley. It's going to be a huge change for me, and will require a lot of planning ahead once school starts, but I have a month until then to get the process down pat. I still have a lot of reading and research to do. I don't really know where to start. I do know I plan on giving him mainly the "Prey model" diet, but that I want to occasionally through in some aspects of the BARF too, by adding veggies every now and then, maybe a little bit of fruit. Unless of course, I learn that it is a bad idea to do that. Anywho.. just thought I'd post up on here to maybe get a little help and support. Or at least to keep myself from going nuts trying to figure it all out. How much exactly am I looking at feeding him? He weighs 5-6 lbs, and is still young, 8 months. Thanks for all the help you guys have already given!

07-30-2008, 09:19 AM	#2
Wylie's Mom Marcel + Wylie = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,221 Blog Entries: 2	Good for you! I've been feeding raw for quite a while now and just love it for my guys. I feed NV's raw medallions, but I do think prey model is wonderful. For prey model, you'd feed 2-3% of the dog's ideal body weight, per day. A great person to hook up with would be RawfedYorkieluv (Nadia) - she feeds prey model and helps many people on YT make the transition. __________________ ~o~o~o~o~o~o~My Goofy Blog: Velvet Lava Cafe~o~o~o~o~o~o~ Ann ~ Mom to Marcel Verdel Purcell & Wylie "Floop" Fitzsmudge We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. ~ Immanuel Kant

07-30-2008, 10:57 AM	#4
Wylie's Mom Marcel + Wylie = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,221 Blog Entries: 2	I found the transition using NV so very easy. Many people just do a hard switch - meaning, just switch right to raw. Some dogs do a bit of a detox, some have no detox at all (mine did not). __________________ ~o~o~o~o~o~o~My Goofy Blog: Velvet Lava Cafe~o~o~o~o~o~o~ Ann ~ Mom to Marcel Verdel Purcell & Wylie "Floop" Fitzsmudge We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. ~ Immanuel Kant

07-30-2008, 03:19 PM	#13
ANGELA GORE Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: CHILE Posts: 14	Raw Diet Hello, sorry to sound a bit dumb but what is NV? I live in Chile which may explain my ignorance. I cook chicken/liver/minced beef plus carrots, potatoes and other veg plus a little rice. Is this OK do you think? They are quite fat though.

07-30-2008, 10:02 AM	#3
KristinJ Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 12	Thanks! I actually have some NV Raw Medallions in the freezer, and was thinking about using them to maybe help him over to raw. (I got a pound for a dollar!)

07-30-2008, 11:16 AM	#5
KristinJ Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 12	I wonder if it has to do with what they were fed before.. (The detox/no detox) Since I have a whole pound of NV I think I'll go to that first, then go on to prey model from there. So many choices!!

07-30-2008, 11:47 AM	#6
tjdmom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 3,060	I feed prey model raw! Good for you for making the switch. I hope I can reassure you that not only is it the best thing for your pup, it is not as hard as you might think. Both my dogs only eat once a day now. My yorkie is 1 and a half and I was really nervous about that but she is actually the one who started refusing the morning feeding so I went with it. Both of my dogs have been picky eaters and always underweight but no more! They look forward to dinner time like they never did before. I started with chicken and fed that for about a full week and then slowly branched off to other things. Since chicken is the most econimical, that is their mainstay but they also eat a fair amount of pork and some beef too. They have tried lamb and LOVE it but it's a little pricey so it's not an every day thing. They've also tried fish but my yorkie was not crazy about that at all. The hardest thing is remembering to take out their food the day before to thaw it and I've become pretty good at remembering that. My girls did not have any tummy upset when we made the switch cold turkey and only my older dog had a little diarhea when I first tried pork. She's the one with the sensitive tummy so I kinda expected it. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions....

07-30-2008, 12:54 PM	#7
KristinJ Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 12	My baby hasn't eaten all day. I tried to go ahead and just give the NV medallions since I had them, and he refuses to touch them. Think it would be more appetizing for him if I just went cold turkey to prey model?

07-30-2008, 01:06 PM	#9
KristinJ Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 12	I tried breaking it up and feeding by hand. I got him to lick it once or twice, then he backed away from me up against his X-pen like he was terrified of it! I'll try searing it. Thanks.