Raw Diet - Info Needed

[omega]

Thank you for responding to all this! Yep, it can be a little overwhelming to make sure they are getting what they need.

So, chicken and turkey neck/back bones aren't worth feeding? Are the wings any better?

I am reading different things about pork - some for and some against. I know pork chops are not good - what other kind of pork would be good for them? The riblets are ok from what I've read, but those bones are pretty small - they're still ok?

Thanks for your info.. I'm sure I'll have more questions.

[omega]

Ok, more questions.

When I'm just feeding meat with no bone, they do not chew it. It doesn't matter if the piece is small or large, one big gulp and it's down. Is that ok for them? I wouldn't know how to get them to chew it anyways.

My little one started getting the hang of chewing on the bone tonight. YEA!!! Her little body was shaking she was so excited.

For two of my dogs, the feeding calculator says 1 oz. at each meal. (twice daily) That seems like such a tiny amount! Can they really do well on that small of a portion?

[abbie's mom]

Originally Posted by omega

When I'm just feeding meat with no bone, they do not chew it. It doesn't matter if the piece is small or large, one big gulp and it's down. Is that ok for them? I wouldn't know how to get them to chew it anyways.

How large is "large"? Seems like you have gulpers. Soooooo....feed larger, and teach them how to tear/pull meat off the bone. You may need to hold it for awhile. Orrrrr, take the time to cut the meat into bite-sized pieces. But, that omits some of the benefits of prey model feeding.

My little one started getting the hang of chewing on the bone tonight. YEA!!! Her little body was shaking she was so excited.

heheheh....don'cha just love it!?

For two of my dogs, the feeding calculator says 1 oz. at each meal. (twice daily) That seems like such a tiny amount! Can they really do well on that small of a portion?

What chart is that? From one of the links provided here? While it's true that a guideline for portions has been provided, most folks feed according to need. Some of the mid-size/larger breeds are on a gorge/fast rotation. Of course, we can't do that with our little ones' metabolism. Mine seem to regulate themselves. Some days Mo turns his nose up at anything I offer. Other days, it seems he has a bottomless pit! Abigail will often just eat 5 or 6 bites, and she's satisfied (I feed her 2/daily). Other days, she can eat a whole drumstick or just can't seem to get her fill of whatever. I have always fed this way. I'm no expert, but I feel dogs eat according to need, and if their nutritional requirements are being met, they need less and will eat accordingly. Now, if / when you feel they may getting a bit heavy, then don't feed skins/fats for awhile. I may be doing this with Abigail, btw. She looks good (I don't like skinny Yorkies), but when I pick her up, she feels heavier than a lap dog should! Of course, muscle is heavier than fat, and other people remark that she is 'solid'. She could probably loose a few ounces and still be fine.

[omega]

raw4dogs is where the feeding calculator is that I was looking at.

Gosh, it seems like if I let the dogs eat as much as they want, they'll never quit! They all want to keep eating and eating. Only one of them "should" gain a bit of weight - the others are at an ideal weight.

When they have the meat on the bone, they tear it off and stuff, but it's when they don't have the bone with it that they are such little piggies. I'm just afraid that if I give them larger portions of meat alone that they - two especially - will try and gulp it and choke.

Am I being overly concerned about them choking? The two piggies are about 8-10 lbs.

Guess I'm still a nervous newbie.

[girltime]

Originally Posted by mminichan

Ok...update on Chloe...so, she just finished her first RAW meal...but she chew it for like few seconds, then swallow the whole thing?? Is this okay? Would she choke later? OMG! I am so worry now esp after the flossies accident! I was feeling her NV organic chicken medallions....should I cut those in smaller pieces? But other than she swallow the meat, she basically finished her breakfast (2 medallions) in few min!

Have 2 4lb Yorkies and one of mine is a gulper. My two are on NV beef medallions and I defrost the night before and then seperate each medallion into small pieces.

I also buy chicken wings at the grocery store and break it in half for each as a treat. They love raw chicken wings. I usually feed these to them when I'm sitting outside...I've never had one choke on a bone, but I never want to chance it.

[abbie's mom]

Originally Posted by omega

Gosh, it seems like if I let the dogs eat as much as they want, they'll never quit! They all want to keep eating and eating. Only one of them "should" gain a bit of weight - the others are at an ideal weight.

How long have you been prey model? I forget . Usually, once they realize this isn't just a dream they'll wake from soon, and the food will be there consistently, they even out. It could also be a pack thing. I think you said they sort of challenge each other over food? If that's the case, you could either feed them in separate places, or (if it's safe) allow them to find their place in the pack/eating order. You know them best. In our house, Abigail is the alpha (because Mozart gave her that position ), and Mo will wait until he's pretty sure she's satisfied before he will enter the room. I can call until I'm blue; but, he won't come until he's ready. I figure it's a pack thing, they've worked out. Well, either that, or he just gets tired of her pushy attitude. He could easily hurt her with one bite; but, he won't. He either knows he can hurt her, or she really has him intimidated. LOL

From what I've heard from other prey model feeders is that the weight usually evens out. Overweight dogs drop what they need to after awhile, as they're not having to fill up on all the carbs in other dog 'foods' to get the amount of protein their bodies need. Underweight dogs fill out, because they finally are getting the nutrition they need in the amounts they do eat.

Am I being overly concerned about them choking? The two piggies are about 8-10 lbs.

Guess I'm still a nervous newbie.

Maybe, just a little ; but, it's not anything most of us haven't been through, too. I was TERRIFIED when I first started. Mozart did have a bit of a problem one time with a piece of bone that got lodged in the roof of his mouth But, I was right there to notice he was pawing at his mouth. I reached in and disloged the bone, and while I was thanking God, he nonchalantly reached over, took it from me, and ate it Just use good judgment, and be available when they are eating. And, if you do have an incident...? You'll take care of it. We don't hear all the close calls on k***le, and very few are reported on chew toys. But, for some reason, the world awaits for one of our prey model fed pups to gag, so they can say: "Seeeeee....told ya!" LOL

Try to relax, and enjoy this step toward better health for your pups.

[omega]

Originally Posted by abbie's mom

How long have you been prey model? I forget . Usually, once they realize this isn't just a dream they'll wake from soon, and the food will be there consistently, they even out. It could also be a pack thing. I think you said they sort of challenge each other over food? If that's the case, you could either feed them in separate places, or (if it's safe) allow them to find their place in the pack/eating order. You know them best. In our house, Abigail is the alpha (because Mozart gave her that position ), and Mo will wait until he's pretty sure she's satisfied before he will enter the room. I can call until I'm blue; but, he won't come until he's ready. I figure it's a pack thing, they've worked out. Well, either that, or he just gets tired of her pushy attitude. He could easily hurt her with one bite; but, he won't. He either knows he can hurt her, or she really has him intimidated. LOL

From what I've heard from other prey model feeders is that the weight usually evens out. Overweight dogs drop what they need to after awhile, as they're not having to fill up on all the carbs in other dog 'foods' to get the amount of protein their bodies need. Underweight dogs fill out, because they finally are getting the nutrition they need in the amounts they do eat. Maybe, just a little ; but, it's not anything most of us haven't been through, too. I was TERRIFIED when I first started. Mozart did have a bit of a problem one time with a piece of bone that got lodged in the roof of his mouth But, I was right there to notice he was pawing at his mouth. I reached in and disloged the bone, and while I was thanking God, he nonchalantly reached over, took it from me, and ate it Just use good judgment, and be available when they are eating. And, if you do have an incident...? You'll take care of it. We don't hear all the close calls on k***le, and very few are reported on chew toys. But, for some reason, the world awaits for one of our prey model fed pups to gag, so they can say: "Seeeeee....told ya!" LOL

Try to relax, and enjoy this step toward better health for your pups.

Hee Hee... I've been feeding it for at least a week. Seems like a lot longer, though.

I feed them all in the kitchen and they pretty much are next to each other as they eat. The smallest one wants to take hers and run off somewhere, but I want them to stay in the kitchen, hopefully on the towels.

One dog especially will wait around when she's finished to try and take any food that may touch the floor for one second. So, as they finish eating, I put them in the living room and stay with the ones still eating.


Thank you for sharing all your knowledge!

[abbie's mom]

Originally Posted by omega

The smallest one wants to take hers and run off somewhere, but I want them to stay in the kitchen, hopefully on the towels.

Yes. You must set this parameter. We really can't have raw meat all over the house. When I was training Mo, I had an easier time, as he was my only. If he took the meat off the feeding towel, I made him put it back. He eventually learned that the towel actually aided in his mealtime, as then it didn't slip all over the floor. If he left the kitchen with the meat, I took it up and he did not eat until the next meal. Now, I had more wiggle room with him, as he could afford to miss a meal now and then; but, our little ones should not. Nonetheless, however you can make this rule stick, they must learn: feeding towel = food. Abigail seems to have taken Mo's lead, and stays in the kitchen, on the towel with hers'.

[omega]

Originally Posted by abbie's mom

Yes. You must set this parameter. We really can't have raw meat all over the house. When I was training Mo, I had an easier time, as he was my only. If he took the meat off the feeding towel, I made him put it back. He eventually learned that the towel actually aided in his mealtime, as then it didn't slip all over the floor. If he left the kitchen with the meat, I took it up and he did not eat until the next meal. Now, I had more wiggle room with him, as he could afford to miss a meal now and then; but, our little ones should not. Nonetheless, however you can make this rule stick, they must learn: feeding towel = food. Abigail seems to have taken Mo's lead, and stays in the kitchen, on the towel with hers'.

I had to laugh the other day - my Maltese was eating a small bone/with meat. She eats very slowly so she is usually the last one done. Anyway, for some reason I didn't have a towel down for her. (can't remember why.) She kept trying to leave the kitchen which she usually doesn't do.

I finally put a small towel down on the floor and she ran over to it and finished off her bone. It was pretty cute.

[omega]

Another one, that is.

How important is variety? How often do they need a different variety of meat? If they are doing well on one kind - can you keep using that with an occasional meal of something else or is that not giving them the nutrients they need?
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[abbie's mom]

Variety is very important. There are two schools of thought, here.

1 - Introduce new protein sources one at a time for a few days. Once you're sure there are no adverse reactions to that meat, then add another to the list.

2 - Throw as much variety at them as one can as soon as one can; thereby, getting them accustomed to their diet being under YOUR control - not their taste.

Whichever path one takes, variety is not an 'option' - it's a must. Also, don't forget your innards!

[carole goodman]

I have started Caji on raw diet and he loves it, but seems hungry all the time.
He really likes the lamb and the beef. He has got a runny stool form the turkey.
I had my other Yorkie on raw and he loved the buffalo . I do also feed Caji Royal Canin kibble for one of his meals so his diet is balanced.
Can you feed raw all the time or should it be alternated such as I am doing?
I have not tried him on raw bones as yet afraid to, but after reading the postings here I might just do that.
I agree with a previous poster that dogs are carnivores and thier digestive system is made for raw instead of manufactured dog food.
I have also bought buffalo and made up my own raw food for him, I just dont trust a lot of manufactured dog food as you dont know what is in it.
Carole

[omega]

Originally Posted by carole goodman

I have started Caji on raw diet and he loves it, but seems hungry all the time.
He really likes the lamb and the beef. He has got a runny stool form the turkey.
I had my other Yorkie on raw and he loved the buffalo . I do also feed Caji Royal Canin kibble for one of his meals so his diet is balanced.
Can you feed raw all the time or should it be alternated such as I am doing?
I have not tried him on raw bones as yet afraid to, but after reading the postings here I might just do that.
I agree with a previous poster that dogs are carnivores and thier digestive system is made for raw instead of manufactured dog food.
I have also bought buffalo and made up my own raw food for him, I just dont trust a lot of manufactured dog food as you dont know what is in it.
Carole

You don't need to keep feeding kibble if you have a balanced raw diet.

I switched all of mine to raw and they are doing great. I feed them bones too and have had no problems. Of course I stay with them while they eat just in case.

Are you feeding ground meat or chunks of meat?

[carole goodman]

The raw I get is ground (Jake and Daisy)
He also likes the lamb , it comes in a different form sort of like a little round patty.
thanks for the info I will keep him on raw totaly when the other runs out.
Carole

[omega]

Originally Posted by carole goodman

The raw I get is ground (Jake and Daisy)
He also likes the lamb , it comes in a different form sort of like a little round patty.
thanks for the info I will keep him on raw totaly when the other runs out.
Carole

OK, so you're using a premade raw like Nature's Varitey or another one?

Just make sure you don't feed the kibble too near to the raw meal. They digest at different times and could potentially be problematic.