We tried raw today!!

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

It is the NV brand. Marcel's nutritionist really likes this brand and has used it on her own dogs. Because of Marcel's post-giardia ibs/ibd, she wanted to see how he did with a "meat" back in his diet (currently eats white fish as his protein) and she felt that starting w/ the freeze dried would be the least aggressive way to start "raw".

She likes venison the best as a meat, then rabbit and buffalo - they are the "cleanest" and the least likely for dogs to be allergic to (whereas chicken is highly allergenic). She is iffy about trying lamb right now, she said that would be 6-12 mths. down the road. Duck can sometimes be okay too.

I'm tellin' ya, they LOVE the freeze dried! So I'm sure they'll be in heaven once we progress to the raw medallions/patties. We'll do that after a month on the freeze dried. Let me know if you try it!

Originally Posted by Tissy

The above was originally posted my Wylie's mom.....may want to message her and see if she can help.

You have a good memory! And they are doing GREAT on the freeze dried. I'll probably pick up some raw patties/medallions in about 3 weeks. I don't even add water to the freeze dried, I just "sprinkle" it on top of their warmed potatos and fish, drizzle w/ flax oil and serve! Really easy.

[lauraopi]

Originally Posted by sillyjacki

I think you should be fine trying the venison or rabbit- I haven't had a problem with a small dog eating it. Since they are only eating between 3-6% of their body weight (more or less depending on your dog), the protein shouldn't be too much.

We've had questions about that before at my store, and I have suggested that, if there is a concern with it, to go every other day with the rabbit and for instance, the beef.

Nature's Variety also makes Lamb, which might be worth a shot. Some DO have adverse allergic reactions to different types of raw protein, so you have to work around it.

SillyJacki, thank you SOOO much for all the info. So far, so good. She seems to LOVE the raw..she was actually crying for her food this morning, which she NEVER did with kibble (can't say I blame her). How many do you recommend she eat if she weighs b/w 6-7 lbs. I know I will have to play around with it depending on how her body metabolizes it, but just to start off.. I was thinking 1 1/2 in the morning and at night..I also sprinkled some acidophilus and enzymes on it to help her belly...How long should I wait to switch her to another source...use the whole bag up and then try something new, or before that? One more question, do you recommend any specific treats that I can give her?? You are so wonderful for taking the time to explain all this to me. I have also read on the BARF food, but the holistic vet told me to do this one...It's so different though...It really doesn't seem like she is eating a whole lot, but I guess its quality, not quantity!!

[7TimesBlessed]

........that is awesome.............your baby is going to love you for this........imagine ....looking forward to mealtime and not being disappointed!!!.........I had gone to a seminar in Seattle 5 yrs ago and met w Dr Tom Lonsdale who wrote RAWMEATYBONES.......he has a new book out that explains simple ways to feed raw (Work Wonders) so I got on his site to order it and also signed up for the newsletter.....hadn't corresponded for 5 yrs and he sent me an email last wk so i directed him to the threads on YT regarding the raw diet ....he emailed me back and said he was so excited that people are catching on and doing right by their fur babies...he was very impressed by the information given on YT!!

[lara2913]

Tom Lonsdale is fantastic, myself and some others spoke with him a while back about trying to do a raw feeding stand at some local dog shows. Both of his books are great too. Oh and fyi anyone who wants some information on raw from a vet, if you email him he will always email you back.

[lara2913]

double post

[sassypup]

Sillyjacki, do you know of any brand raw that does not contain carrot or peas? My girl is very allergic to these and I want to switch to raw to help with allergies but can't find a good one. We tried her on the honest kitchen and she hated it, didn't touch it...that has a real strong smell to it though...smells like some sort of grass.

[Sookie]

Kalina eats the Primal raw and I started her on the lamb. I always thought lamb was the one protein that was best for allergies, so I'm surprised to hear it isn't. She scarfs up the lamb. I took her off the kibble and onto the raw Primal cold turkey and she never had a problem with diarrhea or anything else. We went through 4 bags of lamb and I just bought Primal chicken. She doesn't seem to like it as well as the lamb, but she eats it. Her favorite is, of course, green tripe, but I don't give that to her every day.

I am so happy with the raw diet. Kalina has boundless energy and looks good too. I just wish they sold variety paks. That would be great for small breed dogs. Oh - I don't think the Primal lamb has carrots or peas.

[lara2913]

Sassypup if you can't find a premade that works you could always just mix it yourself. I know it seems overwelming but its not as hard as you think once you start.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by lara2913

Sassypup if you can't find a premade that works you could always just mix it yourself. I know it seems overwelming but its not as hard as you think once you start.

How DO you do it, btw? Do you mix in the bones too, like in Nature's Variety?

[lara2913]

Well I do know of some people who own grinders and grind the bones and meat up so it would look like a premade, but thats only because they have dogs who have are elderly and have missing teeth or for weaning puppies etc.

I give consumable raw meaty bones, which they crunch up and eat so thats where they get their bone from. Then I also of course give raw muscle meat, organ meat, green tripe and occasionally other bits too.

[labrown]

Originally Posted by sillyjacki

NV makes a grain free dry food too, which is my best suggestion for people who can't handle either the cost or the commitment to raw.

I bought some of this today! My dogs loved it, and it was about the same price as the Eukanuba Yorkie food I was feeding (about 2 bucks a pound). I am so glad I can feed my pups something good for them and affordable! It is rated a 6 on the kibble scale!!!

[Tissy]

Originally Posted by labrown

I bought some of this today! My dogs loved it, and it was about the same price as the Eukanuba Yorkie food I was feeding (about 2 bucks a pound). I am so glad I can feed my pups something good for them and affordable! It is rated a 6 on the kibble scale!!!

The only thing that worries me about this is the high protein content. You are talking abou the Instinct, right? Also, I wanted to give the raw bones to get the dental benefits....can you feed them this kibble and the raw bones without upset? It would be nice to have this kibble as an option and if it causes no problem to mix it with "sure 'nuff" raw.

[lauraopi]

Today was day 3 of feeding raw and knock on wood reese seems to be handling it well. I am just hoping these itchy, awful allergies that she has will be helped by this!!! For those of you who have seen the benefits and changes in your pups from feeding raw, about how long before you start to see a difference...weeks, months??

[lara2913]

Originally Posted by lauraopi

Today was day 3 of feeding raw and knock on wood reese seems to be handling it well. I am just hoping these itchy, awful allergies that she has will be helped by this!!! For those of you who have seen the benefits and changes in your pups from feeding raw, about how long before you start to see a difference...weeks, months??

I'm glad its going well for you, as far as changes it depends. Some dogs do detox either mildly or more extremly for a few days, or a few weeks where they may even appear to become worse, its the releasing of the toxins that have built up from the kibble, and then they begin to improve. Fortunatly most don't though. I think I started seeing changes in my dogs from 2 weeks afterwards and within around 2-3 months of starting my Indy's dry, itchy skin and coat completly dissapeared. The obvious changes in all of them were whiter teeth, fresher breath, smaller harder poos, shinier coats, better skin, less tear staining, more consistant energy levels and happier dogs who enjoy their food immensly.

Originally Posted by Tissy

The only thing that worries me about this is the high protein content. You are talking abou the Instinct, right? Also, I wanted to give the raw bones to get the dental benefits....can you feed them this kibble and the raw bones without upset? It would be nice to have this kibble as an option and if it causes no problem to mix it with "sure 'nuff" raw.

IMO a high protein diet is the best thing you can do for a healthy dog. Well some people do mix raw and kibble but personally to be safe I would say wait 5 hours after you give a raw meaty bone before giving the kibble.

[mizzwanned]

I wanna try it too