Raw dog food (Primal ect) versus High Quality Kibble

[paolaRN]

So my Franklin has now transitioned to adult food now that he's 1 . He was on Orijen puppy but due to high BUN levels with unknown cause, we decided that it was probably due to high crude protein % that Orijen has (38%). SO now he's on another high quality kibble "Now Fresh" for small breeds. Due to his pickiness I have had to top his food since the day I got him, went from chicken until I could'nt keep up with it, to now freeze dried raw stella and Chewys and its worked great. The owner of the shop I get his kibble now highly recommends a raw diet from Primal, but my worry is the protein % is higher and could potentially worsen his BUN levels if thats even the cause of it.
Has anyone had this issue or switched from kibble to raw and seen improvements in their dog? The conveience of kibble is awesome as well but when Im having to moisten and top his food, I feel its not as convenient as it should be right?
HELP! This is all new to me as we only have 9 glorious months together. Thank you!

[mimimomo]

Kibble actually puts stress on the kidneys bc it lacks moisture. I used to moisten their kibble when they were eating it & they often had tummy issues.

I feed my guys Primal & Stella & Chewy's (both frozen & freeze dried) & they're doing fantastic. It might seem a little complicated @ 1st, but it gets so much easier. It's so simple & convenient. The freeze dried is especially handy when traveling.
The best part is that my guys do not have any digestive issues eating premade raw food & we haven't been to the vet for tummy issues in a very long time. In fact, the only time they see the vet is for their annual check up. They love every meal time, like it was their 1st time eating it. I also rotate proteins & they have no issues whatsoever. We love it!

[Wylie's Mom]

I've been feeding raw for about 5 years now and I love it - I feed mostly Primal. As for what it does to BUN, that's going to be hard to say....the only way to know is to try it and see.

[Lovetodream88]

Have you talked to your vet about it?

[Island Girl]

We switched from kibble to raw because Sachi did not like kibble. We mainly use Primal frozen raw and freeze dried raw (Primal & Orijen) here and there. She's been on it for about a year and eats like a little piggy. Had blood work done about a month ago and everything was .

[107barney]

What was the BUN? How elevated was it? Were other kidney values also elevated? What did your vet say about this?

[Verbena]

I am feeding Primal and Stella and Chewy freeze dried food. . .he loves it.

[paolaRN]

Originally Posted by 107barney

What was the BUN? How elevated was it? Were other kidney values also elevated? What did your vet say about this?

His BUN was as high as 107 the first time and then 108. His creatinine levels though were normal, everything else looks normal. My vet doesn't really know what to make of it. I even went to a second vet for a second opinion and they said the same thing. At first night that I could be a G.I. bleed, and put him on Pepcid and Carafate for about a week. And we haven't gotten him rechecked because they recommended at least three months in between. Like I said the other thing was they said it could be the protein but it's unsure of. This new kibble he'll eat sometimes and sometimes he doesn't. I do i too it with the Stella and Cheweys freeze-dried and he sometimes will just eat that and one or two kibble here and there.

[paolaRN]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

We switched from kibble to raw because Sachi did not like kibble. We mainly use Primal frozen raw and freeze dried raw (Primal & Orijen) here and there. She's been on it for about a year and eats like a little piggy. Had blood work done about a month ago and everything was .

That's exactly what I think it is. No matter how high-quality the kibble is, and I buy expensive stuff, he doesn't really like it. This is why I want to go the other route. I want to enjoy his food like we do. I know most people say he's a dog and he'll get used to the routine, but he's my baby and I want him to like what he eats.

[paolaRN]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Kibble actually puts stress on the kidneys bc it lacks moisture. I used to moisten their kibble when they were eating it & they often had tummy issues.

I feed my guys Primal & Stella & Chewy's (both frozen & freeze dried) & they're doing fantastic. It might seem a little complicated @ 1st, but it gets so much easier. It's so simple & convenient. The freeze dried is especially handy when traveling.
The best part is that my guys do not have any digestive issues eating premade raw food & we haven't been to the vet for tummy issues in a very long time. In fact, the only time they see the vet is for their annual check up. They love every meal time, like it was their 1st time eating it. I also rotate proteins & they have no issues whatsoever. We love it!

Is it difficult switching them from the raw and the freeze-dried like when you travel? I am really gearing this way he's just such a picky boy.

[Lovetodream88]

You could home cook

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by paolaRN

His BUN was as high as 107 the first time and then 108. His creatinine levels though were normal, everything else looks normal. My vet doesn't really know what to make of it. I even went to a second vet for a second opinion and they said the same thing. At first night that I could be a G.I. bleed, and put him on Pepcid and Carafate for about a week. And we haven't gotten him rechecked because they recommended at least three months in between. Like I said the other thing was they said it could be the protein but it's unsure of. This new kibble he'll eat sometimes and sometimes he doesn't. I do i too it with the Stella and Cheweys freeze-dried and he sometimes will just eat that and one or two kibble here and there.

If his ceatinine level was normal, then it could be dehydration or stress. I'm guessing his urinalysis was also normal? There's no concrete evidence of dogs or cats eating higher protein diets having higher BUN levels.

As to your other question, my guys don't have a problem eating frozen or freeze dried, not picky @ all when it comes to raw food. I only feed Mimi & Turbo freeze dried bc they throw up whenever they eat or drink cold food & water. I like that Stella & Chewy's has a lot of different protein options for freeze dried (as well as frozen). They also eat Primal.

[107barney]

Dehydration or stress would be a couple points over normal. A BUN that high is alarming. I have a dog with kidney disease who runs a 40 to 50 BUN.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Dehydration or stress would be a couple points over normal. A BUN that high is alarming. I have a dog with kidney disease who runs a 40 to 50 BUN.

Wow, I surely don't know the #'s...
Wonders if there needs to be any additional testing?

[107barney]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Wow, I surely don't know the #'s...
Wonders if there needs to be any additional testing?

I'm not sure. I would think that it's not dietary at that level.