Raw Diet - Info Needed

[011011]

Okay I am so intersted in this I am seriously considering it for my 7 fur kids,I am going to check into it this weekend when I go shopping.

[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!

[abbie's mom]

mminichan - I'm so sorry for this scare!

OK...all the medallion-feeding folks, please don't jump down my throat about this, but: Just another reason the prey model diet is preferred over pre-packaged. Especially if you have a gulper - which it seems Miss Chloe is . With RAW meaty bones, your dog must take time to rip, tear and CHEW! They get exercise in a number of ways, not provided with foods that have all the work taken out. a)They have to actually figure out how to eat this thing (mental accuity) b)Ripping and tearing exercises jaw and neck muscles. This is, primarily (plus the fact that pre-packaged usually has stuff they don't need), the main reason I don't give in to the temptation to feed pre-packaged when I'm so tired of messing with raw meat every day. It would be so much easier to just hand them a few medallions and go about my day...*sigh*

[lara2913]

No need to worry Fan, when I feed chunks of muscle meat, they basically do the same thing. Dogs do not possess the flat molars necessary for chewing anyway.

As abbie'smom said, this is an issue with premade. Although they get alot of the health benefits associated with raw feeding, they don't get the mental benefits (i.e figuring out how to eat it), the muscle benefits of the ripping and tearing of the meat or the dental benefits from the bones.

Sounds like she enjoyed it though!

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by abbie's mom

mminichan - I'm so sorry for this scare!

OK...all the medallion-feeding folks, please don't jump down my throat about this, but: Just another reason the prey model diet is preferred over pre-packaged. Especially if you have a gulper - which it seems Miss Chloe is . With RAW meaty bones, your dog must take time to rip, tear and CHEW! They get exercise in a number of ways, not provided with foods that have all the work taken out. a)They have to actually figure out how to eat this thing (mental accuity) b)Ripping and tearing exercises jaw and neck muscles. This is, primarily (plus the fact that pre-packaged usually has stuff they don't need), the main reason I don't give in to the temptation to feed pre-packaged when I'm so tired of messing with raw meat every day. It would be so much easier to just hand them a few medallions and go about my day...*sigh*

i completely agree. I do feed mostly premade and morgan will eat it within 30 seconds. There is no type of workout for her teeth or mind and i know she isn't getting all the benefits of raw by eating the medallions. i do give her chicken drumsticks as meals sometimes but i know its not enough. To fully benefit from the raw diet you should be feeding a prey-model diet which is what Jen had wanted to discuss with this thread.

I do get a little worried now with this big threads about raw because people are seeing that it can be as easy as giving them a few medallions and their feeding "RAW" now. I encourage people to look at all the links Abbie's Mom and Lara posted. I read all these sites before switching to any type of raw. I know my dog as well and knew she could handle it. It took my a few months to finally decide to make the switch after doing my research. ALso i would like to make the full switch to prey model and i am actively looking for easy ways to do this. Now its mostly about where to get the meat and not spend a lot of money. a good butcher is hard to find here and the few i asked about chicken feet, necks, and backs looked at me like i was crazy, then said we don't have that.

so anyway, abbie's mom and lara and some others can give you the best information on feeding prey-model raw and if you are looking to get into raw this is what you should be striving for IMO. the pre-made can be a jumping off point.

[kalina82]

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!

morgan gulps it up too. I make sure i break it into smaller pieces tho so she won't choke. i break each medallion into 5 pieces or so.

[mminichan]

Thank you, Abbie's Mom and Lara! I feel better now...at least I know she will be fine and won't be choke by the raw meat while I am at work.

I also have another Qs....Chloe tends to pick out the meat and drop it on the floor and pick it up and eat again? I was watching her eating. When she dropped the meat on the floor, I picked it up real quick and dropped it back into her bowl. I was worry the floor is too dirty!! Is there a way I can avoid this?

[lara2913]

You could put her bowl on a clean feeding mat or towel so that she can move the food around without the worry about the floor not being clean. Its natural for her to be curious, she was probably wondering what this new exciting food is

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by mminichan

Thank you, Abbie's Mom and Lara! I feel better now...at least I know she will be fine and won't be choke by the raw meat while I am at work.

I also have another Qs....Chloe tends to pick out the meat and drop it on the floor and pick it up and eat again? I was watching her eating. When she dropped the meat on the floor, I picked it up real quick and dropped it back into her bowl. I was worry the floor is too dirty!! Is there a way I can avoid this?

nope. LOL didn't she do this with her kibble too? take a few pieces, put them on the floor and then eat them. I feed morgan on a floor i can easily wipe after she's finished.

[abbie's mom]

Originally Posted by lara2913

Dogs do not possess the flat molars necessary for chewing anyway.

Oh yeah......I'm the one who usually 'preaches' this point (see...you do pick up my slack..lol)...no grinders, therefore, no need/equipment for processing veggies or fruit! But, mine do masticate enough not to choke.

Thank you, Abbie's Mom and Lara! I feel better now...at least I know she will be fine and won't be choke by the raw meat while I am at work.

As always...you are most WELCOME! Thank you for being brave and taking this step for your pet. I really do encourage you, however, not to leave food down for Chloe when you are not in the house. It's just best all around to give her a certain amount of time to eat, and then pick it up. Plus, it completely gets rid of the chance she might choke. "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure" .

I also have another Qs....Chloe tends to pick out the meat and drop it on the floor and pick it up and eat again? I was watching her eating. When she dropped the meat on the floor, I picked it up real quick and dropped it back into her bowl. I was worry the floor is too dirty!! Is there a way I can avoid this?

OK, take a deeeep breathe, and repeat with me: "Chloe is a dog...Chloe is a dog....Chloe is a dog".... As Kellie pointed out, there's no way to keep them from being dogs<*gasp!*>. With prey model feeding, a lot of us who feed inside, feed on old cloths or old towels that can be washed/sanitized. This helps the dogs hold their food without it slipping all over the floor. And, of course, we clean up the floor if they get off the feeding area.

[mminichan]

Originally Posted by kalina82

morgan gulps it up too. I make sure i break it into smaller pieces tho so she won't choke. i break each medallion into 5 pieces or so.

I am going to do that also..cut those medallion into smaller pieces!!

[mminichan]

Originally Posted by lara2913

You could put her bowl on a clean feeding mat or towel so that she can move the food around without the worry about the floor not being clean. Its natural for her to be curious, she was probably wondering what this new exciting food is

Yea, I know...She looked at me this morning and was like..."Mommy, what in the earth are you giving me to eat?! " She picked it up, dropped it off, I picked it up...then she finally decide to eat it!

[mminichan]

Originally Posted by abbie's mom

As always...you are most WELCOME! Thank you for being brave and taking this step for your pet. I really do encourage you, however, not to leave food down for Chloe when you are not in the house. It's just best all around to give her a certain amount of time to eat, and then pick it up. Plus, it completely gets rid of the chance she might choke. "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure" .

OK, take a deeeep breathe, and repeat with me: "Chloe is a dog...Chloe is a dog....Chloe is a dog".... As Kellie pointed out, there's no way to keep them from being dogs<*gasp!*>. With prey model feeding, a lot of us who feed inside, feed on old cloths or old towels that can be washed/sanitized. This helps the dogs hold their food without it slipping all over the floor. And, of course, we clean up the floor if they get off the feeding area.

Yes, She is a dog! hehe...Just I was just worried the bacteria on the floor might come in contact with the raw meat. Haha..I guess I did worry a little too much! Silly me! Okay, I am repeating after you...Chloe is a dog, Chloe is a dog, Chloe is a dog.......

Also, I don't leave any food for her while I am at work also. I used to leave her kibble, but not anymore!

[abbie's mom]

Originally Posted by kalina82

I do get a little worried now with this big threads about raw because people are seeing that it can be as easy as giving them a few medallions and their feeding "RAW" now.

Very good point

ALso i would like to make the full switch to prey model and i am actively looking for easy ways to do this. Now its mostly about where to get the meat and not spend a lot of money. a good butcher is hard to find here and the few i asked about chicken feet, necks, and backs looked at me like i was crazy, then said we don't have that.

Great! IMO, one needn't even bother with back or necks. There's not enough appreciable meat on backs or necks, and if you have a gulper, the chicken necks can be a choking hazard. It is, of course, a matter of "know thy dog". With mine, I coud trust Mozart with chicken necks; but, wouldn't dare leave Abigail alone with one! I know this because I watch them eat. Mo is a careful eater, and Abigail just scarfs things down. And, chicken feet are not a staple - many people cannot get them or they just don't include them. I feed them because they are a natural source for glucosamine, which my senior needs, and hopefully will strengthen Abigail's patella. As far as expense: I'm surprised at how inexpensive prey model feeding really is. Of course, I'm not feeding a Great Dane, either! But, with RAW feeding, what the dog doesn't eat in a meal can be picked up and offered at another meal. I shop at the local supermarket, and look for bargains. Bargain-hunting is a huge pasttime w/prey model feeders! LOL

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by abbie's mom

Very good point Great! IMO, one needn't even bother with back or necks. There's not enough appreciable meat on backs or necks, and if you have a gulper, the chicken necks can be a choking hazard. It is, of course, a matter of "know thy dog". With mine, I coud trust Mozart with chicken necks; but, wouldn't dare leave Abigail alone with one! I know this because I watch them eat. Mo is a careful eater, and Abigail just scarfs things down. And, chicken feet are not a staple - many people cannot get them or they just don't include them. I feed them because they are a natural source for glucosamine, which my senior needs, and hopefully will strengthen Abigail's patella. As far as expense: I'm surprised at how inexpensive prey model feeding really is. Of course, I'm not feeding a Great Dane, either! But, with RAW feeding, what the dog doesn't eat in a meal can be picked up and offered at another meal. I shop at the local supermarket, and look for bargains. Bargain-hunting is a huge pasttime w/prey model feeders! LOL

morgan's not a gulper when it comes to prey-model eating. she's quite slow actually when it comes to actually working for her food. I asked about the feet because she has LPs and wanted the benefit of the natural glucosamine. I found a package of them at one shop rite and couldn't buy it. It was a huge package of fresh feet and i wanted to puke LOL i'll have to try that again next time. hopefully they'll have a smaller package. the necks and backs wouldn't be the staple of her diet but i hear that some people can get them for free from their butchers because they are scraps. I have the chicken thing down. Its the other meats i have to look into more. i'm still unsure of what "package" of other meat to pick up at the store. i swear i need a sign over the package saying 'buy me, i'm good for your dog'