Thinking of feeding raw or cooking my own - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Hedley · 12-03-2009, 01:02 PM

My pup had a bad start with giardia but this has been treated. He gets diarrhoea still and Im still sending in fecal samples to the vet, he is being monitored. He is fit and well generally though and hasnt shown any real signs of ill health.

My problem is, I have tried quite a few of the better quality dried foods available in UK and non suit. I have concentrated on hypoallergenic ones but even with gradual introduction they still give diarrhoea.

I found one bland canned food that suited him and he had that for a while with the vets agreement, but he has gone off it and refuses it. He does seem to prefer the crunch of dried food but it doesnt like him, it always upsets his tummy, even if I only give a bit whilst training etc.

So now, I dont want suggestions for commercial foods, I am thinking of making my own. I have a vetrinary vitamin and mineral supplement in powder form which I can give to address all his needs (SF50).

I have started to read up about raw foods but there is no way I dare give him a chicken wing, raw, I just dont trust chicken bones. I have had many dogs and never ever given chicken bones.

How can I start a raw diet for my Yorkie using easily available ingredients?

Or should I just cook my own meat and vegetables from a dog recipe?

Ellie May · 12-03-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hedley

My pup had a bad start with giardia but this has been treated. He gets diarrhoea still and Im still sending in fecal samples to the vet, he is being monitored. He is fit and well generally though and hasnt shown any real signs of ill health.

My problem is, I have tried quite a few of the better quality dried foods available in UK and non suit. I have concentrated on hypoallergenic ones but even with gradual introduction they still give diarrhoea.

I found one bland canned food that suited him and he had that for a while with the vets agreement, but he has gone off it and refuses it. He does seem to prefer the crunch of dried food but it doesnt like him, it always upsets his tummy, even if I only give a bit whilst training etc.

So now, I dont want suggestions for commercial foods, I am thinking of making my own. I have a vetrinary vitamin and mineral supplement in powder form which I can give to address all his needs (SF50).

I have started to read up about raw foods but there is no way I dare give him a chicken wing, raw, I just dont trust chicken bones. I have had many dogs and never ever given chicken bones.

How can I start a raw diet for my Yorkie using easily available ingredients?

Or should I just cook my own meat and vegetables from a dog recipe?

This is really a personal choice based on what you are comfortable with. I wouldn't feed a dog raw and others wouldn't feed homecooked...

You can get premade raw. The bones are ground up in it. I don't know if you can get it in the UK and I am not recommending it, but it is an option if you don't want to give whole bones.

If you cook, supplements will have to be added, but the recipe needs to be balanced by a nutritionist.

Hedley · 12-03-2009, 01:52 PM

Yes, we have some frozen raw dog foods. I have been looking into them on the net, and I will have a look what my local pet superstore has in.

Its a case of not knowing what to do next.

Ellie May · 12-03-2009, 02:32 PM

Welllll, if you want opinions, I would say if you can't do dog food, do homecooked.

WinstonMom · 12-03-2009, 04:33 PM

I have been feeding raw off and on for many years. When I use kibble I use it mostly because of convenience. Raw chicken bones do not splinter, but when they are cooked it is a different matter. Never give a dog any kind of cooked bones. I feed ground raw but if you want to feed wings if you are afraid of your dog choking on a bone you can always pulverize the bones with a chicken mallet so there are no large pieces, I have done that with great success. I have a good friend who is the "canadian guru" of raw dog food, she has a very large company that makes ground raw. Her website is
Carnivora. It has a wealth of info on raw feeding. Hope this helps.

PrincessDiana · 12-03-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinstonMom

I have been feeding raw off and on for many years. When I use kibble I use it mostly because of convenience. Raw chicken bones do not splinter, but when they are cooked it is a different matter. Never give a dog any kind of cooked bones. I feed ground raw but if you want to feed wings if you are afraid of your dog choking on a bone you can always pulverize the bones with a chicken mallet so there are no large pieces, I have done that with great success. I have a good friend who is the "canadian guru" of raw dog food, she has a very large company that makes ground raw. Her website is
Carnivora. It has a wealth of info on raw feeding. Hope this helps.

I think breaking the bone causes a much larger choking hazard than the bone in it's original form. When dogs chew on raw bones they gnaw at them and sort of grind them up. Even if they crunch off little pieces, the bone is soft and pliable and digested in their stomachs perfectly fine. I would think that with small, sharp pieces there would be a much larger chance for a piece to be stuck sideways or cause a perforated bowel. We try to not "cut" any bones for this particular reason. My 9 and 11 lb dogs eat chicken wings with no problem.

tjdmom · 12-04-2009, 12:13 PM

I'm a PMR feeder as well and my dogs have also eaten raw chicken bones with no issues whatsoever!

Hedley · 12-04-2009, 01:35 PM

How are lamb bones? I found some in our supermarket today and have put them in the freezer hoping they will be of use later. If not I can always make stock with them. I also found heart, minced lamb as well as the usual kidneys and liver.

Today I cooked white fish with mashed potato and he seemed to enjoy it, bowel movements back to normal. It isnt much trouble to prepare.

12-03-2009, 01:02 PM	#1
Hedley Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: YORKSHIRE, UK Posts: 88	Thinking of feeding raw or cooking my own My pup had a bad start with giardia but this has been treated. He gets diarrhoea still and Im still sending in fecal samples to the vet, he is being monitored. He is fit and well generally though and hasnt shown any real signs of ill health. My problem is, I have tried quite a few of the better quality dried foods available in UK and non suit. I have concentrated on hypoallergenic ones but even with gradual introduction they still give diarrhoea. I found one bland canned food that suited him and he had that for a while with the vets agreement, but he has gone off it and refuses it. He does seem to prefer the crunch of dried food but it doesnt like him, it always upsets his tummy, even if I only give a bit whilst training etc. So now, I dont want suggestions for commercial foods, I am thinking of making my own. I have a vetrinary vitamin and mineral supplement in powder form which I can give to address all his needs (SF50). I have started to read up about raw foods but there is no way I dare give him a chicken wing, raw, I just dont trust chicken bones. I have had many dogs and never ever given chicken bones. How can I start a raw diet for my Yorkie using easily available ingredients? Or should I just cook my own meat and vegetables from a dog recipe?

12-03-2009, 02:32 PM	#4
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	Welllll, if you want opinions, I would say if you can't do dog food, do homecooked. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

12-03-2009, 01:52 PM	#3
Hedley Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: YORKSHIRE, UK Posts: 88	Yes, we have some frozen raw dog foods. I have been looking into them on the net, and I will have a look what my local pet superstore has in. Its a case of not knowing what to do next.

12-03-2009, 04:33 PM	#5
WinstonMom YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 384	I have been feeding raw off and on for many years. When I use kibble I use it mostly because of convenience. Raw chicken bones do not splinter, but when they are cooked it is a different matter. Never give a dog any kind of cooked bones. I feed ground raw but if you want to feed wings if you are afraid of your dog choking on a bone you can always pulverize the bones with a chicken mallet so there are no large pieces, I have done that with great success. I have a good friend who is the "canadian guru" of raw dog food, she has a very large company that makes ground raw. Her website is Carnivora. It has a wealth of info on raw feeding. Hope this helps.

12-04-2009, 12:13 PM	#7
tjdmom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: upstate ny Posts: 5,847	I'm a PMR feeder as well and my dogs have also eaten raw chicken bones with no issues whatsoever!

12-04-2009, 01:35 PM	#8
Hedley Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: YORKSHIRE, UK Posts: 88	How are lamb bones? I found some in our supermarket today and have put them in the freezer hoping they will be of use later. If not I can always make stock with them. I also found heart, minced lamb as well as the usual kidneys and liver. Today I cooked white fish with mashed potato and he seemed to enjoy it, bowel movements back to normal. It isnt much trouble to prepare.