[Tinker'sMommy]

Originally Posted by abbie's mom

Please, don't be "more confused than ever"! Yes, I feed Abigail (6lbs) a RAW diet since she was 9weeks old. Yorkies are our babies, but they are CANINES not humans. No matter how much we dress them up, froo froo them up and treat them like people, they are still dogs - with the digestive tract of wolves. Think of it this way. You wouldn't try to feed people food to a horse, would you? Why? Because it's not a human. It's an animal built to graze on grass and grains.

I realize that this is a seemingly foreign thought; but, it really isn't. Many, many people are returning to RAW diets for their beloved pets, as they've realized that commercial and cooked foods are causing so many problems with their canine and feline pets. Is it a bit hard to get used to? Sure - at first. But, the results are:

- Watching a pet eat his/her food with gusto, instead of the pickiness reported in so many toy breeds.

-Strong, white teeth - no tooth brushing necessary. NO doggie breathe!

-A marked improvement in allergies due to fillers in commercial dog 'food'

-Marked improvement in symptoms of arthritis in senior pets

-A marked improvement in coat texture and sheen

I have been feeding RAW for four years, to my now 13y/o Mozart (mix Shih-tzu/Maltese/Silky) and can testify to seeing positive results in him in each of the above areas. He got very ill in his 8th year - throwing up several times a day, almost daily on Vet-prescribed 'food', and then I started cooking for him out of desperation. He was still throwing up on the cooked food (chicken, rice and carrots) Dogs are not meant to eat rice! Cooking the meat just took all the nutrients out for him. The vet wanted to do "exploratory surgery", but I just couldn't let them cut him open without having a clue as to what they were looking for. In desperation, I switched him to RAW. Was I afraid? Yes. Did he take to it right away? No. But, we had no choice. It was horrifying to watch him wretch and wretch until he was so weak. Mo is into his 13th year now, and I truly believe a species appropriate diet saved his life. The vet can't believe his teeth for a dog his age - she hasn't recommended a cleaning. His last weigh-in was 28lbs; but it's muscle, not fat. I know the vet staff is watching Abigail to see how she fares on this diet, and that's OK. So am I .

WOW!! So you just give them raw meat, poultry?? I think it might be scary at first but who knows, I mean it makes sense what you are saying about the rice and stuff, but I must admit it sounds scary. Do you supplement? like give them Missing Link or any other products?? Thank You for the info Is that all you feed your dogs?? just meat??