Please Please Explain RAW - and pros & cons & allergies

[lemonlauren]

I'm pretty sure my pup is done with the intestinal parasites he had when we got him (grrr), but his poops are still a little on the large side and still kind of soft. He's on a good food, but I'm thinking that he may be allergic to something in it, so I am looking into switching foods.

I am trying to be open-minded, even though raw sounds really weird to me, lol.

So, could someone please explain to me RAW options? Do you need a supplement, like with home-cooking? Or is RAW just a store-bought thing, frozen, that you heat up and it somehow includes vitamins? I also heard someone mention RAW in kibble form, I think? I really like kibble - less work, and at least a smidge better for the teeth from what I understand. I also live a little bit in the middle of nowhere, so are there places I could mail order from? I don't think any stores around here offer it.

What made YOU decide to feed raw instead of kibble or homecooked? Also, could RAW be good for a dog with allergies? Obviously I don't yet know for sure if that's my pup's problem, so I certainly have no idea WHAT he is allergic to specifically. I just don't understand RAW enough to be able to factor it into a fully-informed decision... I'm hoping those of you who have researched raw and/or feed it can help me. It's an interesting option that I'd never considered before joining YT. :-)

Thank you so much!

Lauren & Nikko

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by lemonlauren

So, could someone please explain to me RAW options? Do you need a supplement, like with home-cooking? Or is RAW just a store-bought thing, frozen, that you heat up and it somehow includes vitamins? I also heard someone mention RAW in kibble form, I think? I really like kibble - less work, and at least a smidge better for the teeth from what I understand. I also live a little bit in the middle of nowhere, so are there places I could mail order from? I don't think any stores around here offer it.

What made YOU decide to feed raw instead of kibble or homecooked? Also, could RAW be good for a dog with allergies?

Raw can be either pre-made raw (like Natures Variety) or you can feed prey-model (where you give raw meaty bones and they eat the bone and all, and organ meats) or freeze dried raw. I have never heard of raw kibble - that would seem like an oxymoron to me, lol .

Raw is considered a complete diet, so supps. are not necessary - although many people do still supplement -- like Omega 3&6, probiotics and digestive enzymes etcetera. You do *not* heat raw. Pre-made is bought frozen - I usually dethaw about 4 days worth and keep it in the fridge. Raw is GREAT for teeth bc the natural enzymes in the raw meat actually do some work on the tooth surface, keeping them cleaner. Raw can be purchased online - you can either put the brand in a google search - or just go to the brand's website and look for store/online locator.

Freeze dried raw is just that - NV has freeze dried and so does Honest Kitchen. My dogs didn't like HK, but I know others on here love it. It comes in a powder and you have to re-hydrate it, and then you can also add in your own cooked or raw meats if you like.

I used to feed kibble, then I homecooked, then moved to raw. I made the choice bc 1) the more research I did, the more raw made the most nutritional sense to me and 2) balancing supplements for homecooking is very complicated and if you don't do it properly, you put your dog's health at risk.

Lastly - yes, raw can be excellent for allergies if your dog has a food allergy and you can pinpoint the allergy. But, you can eliminate ingredients whether feeding raw, cooked, or kibble. It could also be seasonal or environmental too, though.

Hope that helped.

[omega]

Here is a link to a thread here about feeding raw - prey model.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...odel-diet.html

This is one way of raw feeding. Feeding the raw bones helps keep the teeth clean, which kibble does not.

The pre-made is better than kibble (dry dog food) but those are pretty expensive compared to feeding meaty bones and some organ meat.

[amandawash]

Ann (wyliesmom) is an EXCELLENT source for raw info! I feed my boys raw, and they are doing amazing. I went from NV to Primal, and have recently been trying The Honest Kitchen, which is a dehydrated raw food. I don't care for it as much as the Primal true raw, but Ranger has a super sensitive GI and my vet feels that he may be a bit too sensitive for totally raw food. The boys LOVE THK so far, so we'll see.

Anyway, I know you have been struggling with parasites for a while. It can take what seems like forever to fully resolve and heal the digestive tract after so much trauma. I honestly wouldn't switch him right now, but would DEFINATELY a good probiotic and digestive enzyme to what you're feeding right now. I would wait a good month or so after complete normalcy to switch.

Anyhow, take the mean time to research research research about the raw. It is a FANTASTIC way to go (in my opinion), but I have seen recently where someone suggests something, and the person jumps on the bandwagon without fully researching and understanding, then when something happens it kind of gets messy. But that should be said about ANYTHING we do with our babies health, as that is number ONE on the top of the priority list!!

Also, as I don't think your baby is very old, food allergies are highly unlikely at this point. Good luck!!

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by amandawash

Ann (wyliesmom) is an EXCELLENT source for raw info! I feed my boys raw, and they are doing amazing. I went from NV to Primal, and have recently been trying The Honest Kitchen, which is a dehydrated raw food. I don't care for it as much as the Primal true raw, but Ranger has a super sensitive GI and my vet feels that he may be a bit too sensitive for totally raw food. The boys LOVE THK so far, so we'll see.

Anyway, I know you have been struggling with parasites for a while. It can take what seems like forever to fully resolve and heal the digestive tract after so much trauma. I honestly wouldn't switch him right now, but would DEFINATELY a good probiotic and digestive enzyme to what you're feeding right now. I would wait a good month or so after complete normalcy to switch.

Anyhow, take the mean time to research research research about the raw. It is a FANTASTIC way to go (in my opinion), but I have seen recently where someone suggests something, and the person jumps on the bandwagon without fully researching and understanding, then when something happens it kind of gets messy. But that should be said about ANYTHING we do with our babies health, as that is number ONE on the top of the priority list!!

Also, as I don't think your baby is very old, food allergies are highly unlikely at this point. Good luck!!

I agree.

There are many benefits to feeding a raw diet, but it's not appropriate for every dog. A dog needs to have a healthy immune system to handle the bacteria. My Lady is a diabetic so she can't do raw. Raw is also not appropriate for dogs with liver disease so I would make sure my puppy had a bile acids test before switching to raw.

You need to build up your puppy's immune system as parasites have depleted it. Then check with your vet to make sure raw is a good choice for him.

[lemonlauren]

Thank you all so much for the replies. This raw thing is really fascinating, particularly the different types of raw - in a tube, frozen meat with bones, freeze-dried. LOL, very interesting. Thanks for the link to the Prey Model Diet thread as well.

My pup is on a probiotic right now, a powder we sprinkle on his kibble. I don't plan to do any switching immediately, maybe in a month or two if I end up doing it at all (like Amandawash and Ladymom suggested), but I'm trying to give myself plenty of time to research the options before it's time to make any decisions. Raw is the option I know the least about, so I figured I'd start there. :-)

By the way, I saw awhile back on another thread that you can give your dog raw (not cooked, I know!) bones, whether they are on the raw diet or not. Good for chewing, good for teeth cleanliness, good nutrients maybe too I guess? Do you think this would be safe to give a teething puppy, after I'm 100% positive he's done with the parasites, and assuming he's otherwise healthy? (until then we are being really pretty strict with what he eats, and not introducing anything new). ALso, I think it was a specific bone... some kind of round one? Shank, hank, maybe I'm making this up, uggh I don't know my meat terms very well - I'm more of a boneless skinless chicken breasts kind of person for my own meals, lol. There's so much info on this forum, my brain can't seem to remember everything well enough... :-)

I can't tell you all often enough how much I appreciate all of you who take so much time to post on this site, and share what you know.

Thank you!

Lauren & Nikko

[amandawash]

Originally Posted by lemonlauren

By the way, I saw awhile back on another thread that you can give your dog raw (not cooked, I know!) bones, whether they are on the raw diet or not. Good for chewing, good for teeth cleanliness, good nutrients maybe too I guess? Do you think this would be safe to give a teething puppy, after I'm 100% positive he's done with the parasites, and assuming he's otherwise healthy? (until then we are being really pretty strict with what he eats, and not introducing anything new). ALso, I think it was a specific bone... some kind of round one? Shank, hank, maybe I'm making this up, uggh I don't know my meat terms very well - I'm more of a boneless skinless chicken breasts kind of person for my own meals, lol. There's so much info on this forum, my brain can't seem to remember everything well enough... :-)

Oh my goodness that made me spit out my soda!!! Too funny! I think the term you are thinking of is "shank" but I could be wrong. However, I am fairly certain it isn't "hank" - he's the butcher that cuts the shank

I sure wouldn't give him ANYTHING for a good two or so months after he is completely back to normal. At that time, it is supposed to be great for them. I keep meaning to get some for my boys but I don't like the thought of them carting them around all over. I guess I could crate them.... hmmm...

[BellieBoo]

We are on a prey model raw diet. I can tell you from our experience it was the best way to go for us-- as for bones we only feed chicken bones (uncooked of course) since pork/beef bones are too dense for little ones... the grinding and pulling of the raw diet, helps to clean their teeth, chewing on the bone also...

[lemonlauren]

Omega, thank you so much for pointing me to the The Benefits Of A Prey Model Diet thread - I have been pouring through it for hours now, and I think I'm only like halfway through it, lol. Totally fascinating... and seems to make logical sense as well. It all seems a little too good to be true? Anything I can't find anything negative about scares me, lol. I wouldn't mind the extra work of feeding prey model, and I do love the anecdotes about how healthy everyone's dogs seem after starting it - and the no teeth brushing sounds awesome too.

Well anyways, I just wanted to thank you all again for replying to this thread. Back to researching for me, now that you've pointed me in some good directions for understanding raw. YT is wonderful! I don't know what I'd do without this place... I would be so lost raising my lil' boy.

Lauren & Nikko

[TammyJM]

Originally Posted by lemonlauren

Thank you all so much for the replies. This raw thing is really fascinating, particularly the different types of raw - in a tube, frozen meat with bones, freeze-dried. LOL, very interesting. Thanks for the link to the Prey Model Diet thread as well.

My pup is on a probiotic right now, a powder we sprinkle on his kibble. I don't plan to do any switching immediately, maybe in a month or two if I end up doing it at all (like Amandawash and Ladymom suggested), but I'm trying to give myself plenty of time to research the options before it's time to make any decisions. Raw is the option I know the least about, so I figured I'd start there. :-)

By the way, I saw awhile back on another thread that you can give your dog raw (not cooked, I know!) bones, whether they are on the raw diet or not. Good for chewing, good for teeth cleanliness, good nutrients maybe too I guess? Do you think this would be safe to give a teething puppy, after I'm 100% positive he's done with the parasites, and assuming he's otherwise healthy? (until then we are being really pretty strict with what he eats, and not introducing anything new). ALso, I think it was a specific bone... some kind of round one? Shank, hank, maybe I'm making this up, uggh I don't know my meat terms very well - I'm more of a boneless skinless chicken breasts kind of person for my own meals, lol. There's so much info on this forum, my brain can't seem to remember everything well enough... :-)

I can't tell you all often enough how much I appreciate all of you who take so much time to post on this site, and share what you know.

Thank you!

Lauren & Nikko

My guys have recently made the switch from Natural Balance dry food to Nature's Variety raw. They are all doing great and LOVE it!!!!

They also chew on this bone that you are talking about (the marrow bone). We go to our local butcher and ask him to cut it in a 1 and a half inch thickness and then we take the fat in the midde out of it before giving it to them. It has helped a lot with their teeth. In fact, one of ours had two retained baby teeth and since chewing on the bone, they have both fallen out.

Good luck with your decision.

Tammy

[AVERYxo]

Originally Posted by amandawash

Ann (wyliesmom) is an EXCELLENT source for raw info! I feed my boys raw, and they are doing amazing. I went from NV to Primal, and have recently been trying The Honest Kitchen, which is a dehydrated raw food. I don't care for it as much as the Primal true raw, but Ranger has a super sensitive GI and my vet feels that he may be a bit too sensitive for totally raw food. The boys LOVE THK so far, so we'll see.

Anyway, I know you have been struggling with parasites for a while. It can take what seems like forever to fully resolve and heal the digestive tract after so much trauma. I honestly wouldn't switch him right now, but would DEFINATELY a good probiotic and digestive enzyme to what you're feeding right now. I would wait a good month or so after complete normalcy to switch.

Anyhow, take the mean time to research research research about the raw. It is a FANTASTIC way to go (in my opinion), but I have seen recently where someone suggests something, and the person jumps on the bandwagon without fully researching and understanding, then when something happens it kind of gets messy. But that should be said about ANYTHING we do with our babies health, as that is number ONE on the top of the priority list!!

Also, as I don't think your baby is very old, food allergies are highly unlikely at this point. Good luck!!

we feed Nature's Variety & Ziwi Peak. along with rotating in other frozen & dehydrated RAW foods, as well(the honest kitchen, primal..)

it has been GREAT for us!! good luck to you!!

The Many Myths of Raw Feeding
New Generation Raw Foods

[lemonlauren]

Allright, I think I'm totally crazy, but...

Both my DH and I are ready to switch Nikko over to a prey model raw kind of diet sometime soon. We both kind of come from somewhat hippy upbringings (don't laugh ), and so the "all natural" argument is resonating a bit with us, and thankfully neither of us are at all squeamish about raw meat and cleaning up afterward. Actually, I think it'll be kinda cute to see Nikko tear into a chunk of raw meat like the wild little monster he is, lol. We're waiting for an absolute positive no-parasites date, and waiting at least several days after the next set of vaccinations to make sure reactions aren't going to be confused with diet change issues, and we'll also hold off if it seems like his teething is causing any major chewing ability issues (he lost his first two teeth today! I'm such a proud mommy!!!).

I know there are lots raw feeding posts about how people hate many, if not all, vaccinations, but I've decided we are still getting the core vaccinations as a puppy, and at least the first set as an adult. There's a lot of information out there on how and what to feed a dog, and I've sorted though a massive amount over the last couple of weeks - literally hours and hours online. I still don't know for sure that this is the right thing to do, but we can only do the best we know how I guess, right? And this feels best to us right now. If it doesn't work out, I'll switch back to a grain-free kibble probably. Allergies or no, it sounds good. Even humans had pretty healthy teeth and bones before the introduction of massive amounts of corn and bread and other carbs into our diet. It seems to me that dogs would be even less suited to eating wheat/corn/etc than we are, biologically speaking.

I really appreciate all the information and links you raw feeders have given me directly and by proxy though my searches. I started out with disbelief about raw, then curiousity, and now it's hard to believe that we are actually hopefully planning on making the switch in the near-ish future.

Thanks again,

Lauren & Nikko

[Wylie's Mom]

Well, you know I won't think you're crazy! But, I don't know if that's good or bad!

Good luck, I'm excited for you! By the way, if he doesn't do well w/ chewing bones, you can always buy pre-made or make your own grinds.

[Wylie's Mom]

Well, you know I won't think you're crazy! But, I don't know if that's good or bad!

Good luck, I'm excited for you! By the way, if he doesn't do well w/ chewing bones, you can always buy pre-made or make your own grinds.

[ch774]

I have been feeding my babies green beans with there kibbles ("Chicken soup for the puppy lover) and some can chicken. But now I hear about raw bones What is that? And do they like them. I saw on Dog Whisper where he was feeding some dogs bones.(what kind of bones?)


Thank You
Cheryl