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Originally Posted by RawfedYorkieLuv  True, the prey model group does not support ground mixes and they don't believe in feeding veggies and other things. BUT there are other support groups on there that will support NV as it's formulated to the B.A.R.F diet by Dr. Billinghurst. If you search those terms on yahoo groups you will find quite a few. Depending on your location you might even find a city specific group. There are choices out there for sure and I myself feed prey model, but I would definitely advocate to start out with NV or similar pre-made raw like Primal, Bravo and others. It gets the dog used to the switch and the easy to thaw portions are easy to handle for both mom and baby. What exactly are you looking for as far as support goes? I'm always available to answer any questions and Wylie's mom is, too. |
You are too kind! And I thank you for asking me what i am looking for as far as support goes. :-) Here is my issue:
I have 2 Yorkies. If we didn't have the kidney issues I would already be feeding the raw diet. I am not scared to feed raw at all. My husband is a little, but I am reallllly convincing him that this is the way to go. The specialist we saw won't talk about feeding raw though and that is what makes my husband worried. The specialist told my husband that he is worried about ecoli and semonella poisoning... and that is sticking in my husbands head. The specialist has helped my girls immensely with their health but I really feel like I am going to TICK him off if I go against how he feels. I really am not going to lose sleep on it either though. I don't think he knows enough about it to support his reasons really. and every day i read something about raw i show it to my husband and I pretty much have him convinced :-) the only issues I have is because the kidney protein loss scares me. I know my dogs aren't going anywhere just yet (at least I hope not) but still it worries me and it's on my mind a lot.
We have not been diagnosed with kidney failure yet... we are dealing with protein loss in the urine and high UPC ratios (7.3) And the high pancrease values due to renal loss. the UPC part could maybe get better if they were on raw diet (so i've been reading) let me add that I mean it could help them with their condition. Nothing will repair lost kidney function bc I know we are entering the early stages of that with all that has gone on with the protein loss.
BUT- Because the girls right now do not eat anything greasy ever! They are on wellness wft mgt for now because it was the lowest fat food I could find. (6-10%) I don't know if feeding raw diet is low enough in fat for them?
I checked out the venison and the chicken and also the organic ones. I have not yet checked out Primal or Bravo.
I have one dog with horrible allergies, watery eyes, the licking of the paws and the scratching they do from kibble. The wellness don't get me wrong has helped a lot. But also they are eating the poo sometimes and that tells me that they are missing something from their diet.
This food has A TON of fillers in it so the poos are constant and i have 8 piles of poo every day in the yard. They poo also is such a large amount for such little dogs. One is 6 lbs and the other is 12 lbs. it's crazy. and the poos are not as hard as i would like them to be.
This is the only thing I am afraid of- doing the switch cold turkey and causing my one with the higher pancrease values into full blown pancreatitis.
I have read that doing the switch slowly could cause digestion upset.
Both of my dogs devour the soaked kibble (that I soak overnight iin water) I hate this. 25 seconds or less and the bowl is empty. This can't be a good thing. I've tried giving small portions to slow them down but she is so hungry it's crazy!! literally. I hate feeding them they about knock me down before i put the bowls down. :-)
Maybe I could add some digestive enzymes. I've read a lot about that and was told my one nutritionist that I talked to that feed raw and add the digestive enzymes is easy.
I am not scared to feed raw- I am scared of the switch process and don't even know if anything would happen. I will be clean and sanitary with it. I will defrost over night and never leave out to thaw. It can't be any more harder than the routine I do now which is soaking the food and measuring it out each day. Washing the feeding dishes after every meal. and also washing the water bowl every other day. My dogs have had the raw last year when I contemplating making the switch and they devoured it and LOVED LOVED LOVED it. But I got scared ?? who knows why- probably the same reason every body else gets scared when they try the first time. Now I have researched a whole year and I am ready but the kidney issues are getting in my way of making the switch.
Truse me, I have told myself 5 times this w/end that TOMORROW I am going to buy the Natures Variety :-) A pet supply store sells it I could easily go and get it when I leave work on my way home tomorrow. we have a visit this coming Friday with a holistic vet- I KNOW he will tell me to feed raw. But what if he says no to raw? Oh so confused just want my girls to get the best of the best. and they are not getting it with the wellness weight mgt I don't think. :-(
I can post their values if you would like me to. The BUN i know is 60 for my one dog and 16 for my other. UPC is 7.3 and 2.3 and the lipase and amylase values are high on one dog. Only high lipase on the other.
Oh one more thing I know that phosphorus should be low for dogs with kidney problems but i don't know if raw diet is low in phosphorus?
appreciate YOU!!!