I know that alot of members here feed Raw...I would just have a hard time with it. In all my years of owning animals I have never had one of them get sick because of what they ate. I had a golden that lived a very healthy happy life until 15 yrs and a cocker that was the same age. I think the word raw just doesn't sound good to me..JMO

What exactly do you think kibble IS? :rolleyes:

It is "people food" (and often, it is the "people food" rejected by the slaughter houses) that is processed to death, with a whole bunch of additives and preservatives - and made into KIBBLE.

And, btw, the size of any dog has nothing to do with what it can or cannot eat. I'm 5'4", my friend is 5'0" - would that determine what our bodies could eat?

We all do what we believe to best for our dogs. I do not criticize people for feeding kibble, I have no problem with people feeding kibble.

I have never once started a thread about feeding raw, not once. I simply answer peoples questions about raw when they come up.

There are discussions on this forum about all types of feeding, different kibbles, canned foods, home cooking, premade raw and prey model raw. I see that as a good thing, it means there is a wide range of opinions. Obviously when there is a raw feeding thread, i'm going to post in it, because I know about raw. If there was a thread about you type of kibble you feed, im sure you would post in it.

I feed raw because my dogs thrive on it, more than they did on anything else and if I can help others by advising them on raw then I will. My PM box is filled with people asking questions about raw every day, and I answer every single one of them, because i'm happy to help. What I don't appreciate is being criticized for doing nothing more than trying to help people and their furbabies.

Just because some people choose to do something different than that way you do it, or the way most people do it, doesn't mean they are wrong.

http://www.ruffkutz.co.uk/page4.htm
http://www.rawdogranch.com/
http://www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm
http://rawfeddogs.net/
http://www.naturalpetcare.co.uk/nutrition/dogdiet.htm
http://www.holisticvet.co.uk/nutrition.htm
http://www.ukbarfclub.co.uk/
http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.rawmeatybones.com/
http://www.ukrmb.co.uk/showcontent.toy?contentnid=7232
http://www.raw4dogs.com/calculate.htm

I recently switched my guys to NV, and Marcel has a history of digestive issues - but is doing great!

His nutritionist said to use venison, rabbit, and lamb at first - to stay away from beef and chicken either entirely, or to add it waaaaay later. That's just one opinion though, and it was specifically for Marcel. Also, she recommended we continue w/ Marcel's mashed potatoes w/ his meals - and we do. He adores his potatoes to no living end, so who knows if we'll ever be able to discontinue it, lol.

My point is, maybe try one of the other meat - and perhaps mixing it w/ a bit of potato will help ease any tummy upset (a bit of carb may help w/ that).

When you're feeding your dogs kibbles(such as I do), and you give them table scraps(which I still feel isn't good for them), then they're going to be pickier eaters(that's a fact)! Just like the ones feeding raw, if you ever go back to kibbles, well, you probalby wouldn't, but, you probably couldn't, because these dogs would be too used to eating the foods that you've been giving them..
Wylie, you're not a dog..?? you're a human..I'm telling you from years of experience, big dogs are able to eat things that upset the little dogs stomaches...

I hope your little one is feeling better this morning,
 

it can be soooo scary when they are sick. Please keep us posted.

Not that you asked, but here is my 2 cents on the raw diet:

I for one will not feed raw. That being said, I am not saying that those of you who feed RAW are wrong. When Ginger developed allergies, I researched raw, homecooked, etc., After reading, and reading, and reading I went back to high quality kibble. I just feel that enough actual research has not been done on RAW over a long enough period of time. When I search using Google, I don't read the opinions of any company that is seling a product. What is left is overwhelmingly negative. I've decided not to risk it.

Good luck to all of you who do. I truly hope that in ten years you are still singing the praises of RAW...maybe by then there will be loads of new research to persuade us all.

Why on earth would I want to go back to feeding them kibble?

And i'm telling you from years of experience that small dogs don't have different dietary requirements to big dogs. Dogs is dogs, whatever package they come in they are all essentially wolves.

The reason some small dogs may appear to be more sensitive than big dogs would essentially be down to quantities, a regular sized treat you might buy would be nothing for a large dog but could fill a little ones tummy and would therefore obviously have more of an effect on them. Comprehend?

To be honest, my personal opinion is that not enough thought goes into kibble, kibble has not been around for long enough for dogs to adapt to being able to process it properly. Kibble has only been about for maybe 70 years tops, not even a whole human lifetime. Dogs still have the digestive systems of wolves, I dred to think what state the canine race will be in a 100 years. It is a fact that illnesses, defects, cancers etc etc etc are rising more and more in dogs. Its a sorry state that we are in that we no longer feel we have the ability to provide a healthy balanced diet to our canine friends from natural raw materials and as a result of that our dogs are not able to enjoy the food that they were destined to eat.

Actually, Wylie is a dog. I was trying to use an analogous question, using humans, to put it into terms that would help you understand my point. Obviously, I was not successful.

So here's my point again: DIGESTIVE ISSUES ARE NOT DETERMINED BY THE SIZE OF THE DIGESTIVE PARTS - human, canine, or otherwise. That's not an opinion based on "years of experience" - that's a fact.

Hi Ginger - I don't base my research on just the most recent data regarding raw. I DO base it on canines eating raw for about....a gazillion years BEFORE we forced them to eat kibble. That's pretty persuasive for me. :)

Exept that domesticated canines were eating scraps for hundreds of years before eating kibble...usually cooked scraps.:) Anyway, that is once again, just my opinion. I admit freely, that I may be wrong. I just choose not to risk it with my guys. There are just so many who feel it is dangerous and, again, no current valid research. Sorry...

Judy

Back when dogs ate everything, they never had their teeth cleaned by a vet either..how many of you still take them in for a teeth cleaning? I don't brush my dogs teeth, nor do I take them in and have their teeth cleaned..the greenies seem to be doing a good job, as the 5 year old yorkies teeth are still in good shape..If you all want to feed raw, that's your decision, you have your own opinoins, and the ones of us that feed kibble, and continue to do so, have our own opinions..maybe in the next few years, we will see which way is best...so far, I've had a dog live to be 18, and the next oldest is about 10..she's never had anything other than kibbles, and probably in her whole life of 10 years, has had anything but her kibble(chicken or beef roast bites), maybe a dozen times...she's still very healthy..her total vet bill for me, other than her puppy shots and spaying and rabis, has been a total of $0....she's always been healthy, as have the other ones..other than the money I just put out to have a tumor taken off the one yorkie...so, I must be doing something right, dont' you think??

I never said or thought that you are doing anything wrong whatsoever! I fully support kibble feeders,homecookers, and raw feeders. I'm not trying to persuade you to feed raw, so I'm not sure why you feel like anyone is saying you're doing "wrong". Do what you feel is best in your situation - and allow others to do the same. I'm not trying to be "right" here or win any contest.

No need for apologies, my friend, I respect your opinion! :)

Out of curiosity, during your research, did you find current and valid research that convinced you of kibble being superior to "real" food? Bc, personally, I always found info to the contrary....and that was a big part of why I veered away from the kibble.