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If I was going to switch to a raw diet, should I do it slowly? I have 3 dogs, and my rotti gets a little aggressive when it comes to giving her bones, she will growl and bark at the others dogs if they come near it so I don't like giving her bones. Also will is cause stomach upset at first?

Sometimes a gradual switch is better, sometimes a straight switch, depends on the dog. Just remember not to feed any kibble within 5 hours of raw.

Simply feed your rottie RMB's separate from the other dogs, dogs don't 'do' sharing.

It could cause an upset stomach at first, just as when you introduce any new food. It doesn't for most dogs though.

:thumbup: Exactly! Dogs are NOT human; therefore, 'rules' that apply to people, do NOT apply to dogs. Dogs (regardless of how tiny and civilized) are carnivores. Look at their teeth - no grinders for grains or veggies - all canines. Because they do not need veggies or grains, and most often grains are detrimental to their digestive systems. We will progress so much quicker, and our furfriends will benefit from longer, healthier lives when we stop thinking of them as people. I know it's a difficult transition. Believe me! I was TERRIFIED when I switched to RAW Meaty diet five(?) years ago with my Mozart (mixed Shih-tzu/Maltese/Silky). But, I know this saved his life. Very long story there :). Abigail has been fed RAW Meaty diet since she was 9 weeks old, and 2.2lbs. She's doing great, and looks forward to her meals! She can put the hurt on a chicken leg, I'll tell ya! It breaks my heart to see so many posts by people who love their pets, saying that the pup won't eat. My theory is that it's most often because the dog knows what his/her body needs, and it's not the fillers, plastic, grains, diseased animals in the kibble set before him.

--stepping down from soap box, now :D

Coulden't agree more! :) :thumbup:

Alot of people have asked me about the raw diet and if it good for teeth. The reason why it is better for a dogs or cats teeth than dry foods is because it does not have the carbs that dry foods have. Dry foods help clean the teeth some but the sugar from the carbs settle on the dogs teeth. Besides the raw diet for treats you can give then raw chiken necks and wings. I know this sounds gross but think of what they would eat in the wild. My boxer is very allergic and only raw foods and treats (you can even go to the butcher shop and get bones) keep his ears and skin under control. It is more expensive than other foods, but cheaper than going to the vet every time he had an ear or skin infection.

Thanks for all the information, it seems a little overwhelming and scary but I would love to do the switch to raw, I always thought chicken bones were dangerous for dogs because they can choke on them, is that not true? How do you know how much to feed? With a rotti, a cocker spaniel mix and a yorkie it would require alot of raw meet each week.

It is overwhelming and scary at first, but it just gets easier and easier.

Cooked bones are dangerous, they are brittle and can splinter.

RAW bones are safe, they are soft, pliable and are simply crunched up and consumed.

Beef bones and the leg bones of large animals should not be included in the diet as they are too hard to be consumed.

The general guideline is 2-4% of an adult dogs weight and 5-10% of a puppies weight however I have always simply fed to condition as it also depends on how much excersize they get and their metabolism.

Thank you so much for all the info, i am definitely going to study up ore on the raw diet make sure I have all I need to know so I can make the change safely.

At first, your pups will do one of two things:

-Look at you like you've surely lost what common sense God gave you

or

-Eat like they've been starved their whole lives.

I just let my two feed to fill. I think they know what their bodies need. If they're scarfing it down like there's no tomorrow, this will eventually even out, once they realize this isn't just a great day of feasting and will continue. As their bodies adjust to 'real food', less will be required. And, remember: more of the RAW meat and bones will be utilized by your pet's system than is pooped out. They won't need to eat as much as often because nutritional needs are being met. Some people eventually move to a once/day feeding, depending on the size of the dog and amount of exercise. For instance, I would say your Rotti & Cocker Spaniels would be candidates for once-daily feedings; whereas, the yorkie will need to stay on a twice-daily routine, as their metabolism is faster and they require more frequent fueling. And, as far as amount, for instance - this morning I fed Pork. Abigail ate maybe six bites, and she's satisfied. Later this evening, I'll offer her more. It's a matter of "know thy dog". Her coat is shiny, and her teeth are sparkling clean. Her weight varies between 7 - 7.5, and she's...well...'sturdy' - muscular.

I highly recommend joining this group, and ask any question. There are 9,739 members from all walks of life, with all kinds of dogs - pets, show, agility, service. The members are serious about educating people about RAW feeding, and they have nothing to sell - except better/longer lives for the pets entrusted to our care.

Thank You abbys mom for the information. I will surely join that group.

Lacy is 7.5lbs and gets 4 medallions a day. You can go to www.naturesvariety.com and they have an estimated feeding chart. You put in your dog's weight and activity level and they tell you how much to feed. It can be a little trial and error at first though..but you'll learn how much your dog needs to keep it at a healthy weight.

The best way to switch to raw is to just switch cold turkey..not gradually like you do when switching kibble. I did this with Lacy and she had no problems whatsoever. I had researched raw and every website suggested switching cold turkey. You're more likely to have stomach upsets if you continue to feed kibble while you switch to raw.

As for price, it depends what meat-source you buy. The Chicken/Turkey is the cheapest at $10 for a 3lbs bag (48 medallions). The most expensive is the Rabbit which is almost $15 for a 3lbs bag. The venison I buy is about $13.00 a bag. There is also beef, organic chicken, and lamb but I'm not sure how much they are but somwhere between 10 and 15 dollars.

ok. So if you did not get the medallions and actually fed raw... would you give them say, just a freshly thawed chicken wing or a pork chop and that's it? And I would worry that my dogs would grab it and run into the living room to eat it on the rug. For some reason they like to do that kind of thing. Do you give them anything else like eggs or cottage cheese? For some reason, this raw diet really fascinates me yet scares me at the same time.

I don't mix raw myself so I'm not of much help, but you can't only feed like a chicken wing. There has to be a certain ratio of meat, bones and organs. You don't have to get that exact ratio in there every day but what you feed over time has to balance out so that your dog is getting that ratio. Hopefully someone that mixes it can give you some help :)

I have to tell you I was leery of feeding the raw at first,But Tia my first dog was having so many problems with various brands of kibble ( throwing up all the time) that I took a chance on it mainly because I was running out brands of kibble to try. I couldnt believe the difference in her coat on the raw and her poops were so small too! (bonus!).....I now have found about three brands of kibble that dont make her throw up but she still gets the raw at the evening meal.
Eileen;)