RAW FOOD VS DRY/CANNED I need opinions
 

Please help, I have been to vet's' over the past weeks and
now I actually have taken my Yorkie to a dermatologist for
animals.

Now I will refresh in case you dont remember. My Jack has
been loosing fur in patches and there has been no sign of
fleas or any other type of parasites. Each vet we took him
to, recommended that we change his food and try fish oil
vitamines and change his shampoo as he probably has a
food allergy. His blood has been checked for thyroid and
any other possible hereditary or other blood disorder and it
all came up negative (thank heavens).

So today the dermatologist highly recommended a frozen raw
food diet, she told me there is most likely an allergy to grains
which is very common, and that raw food diets are good in
many several ways.

Please any feedback would be appreciated as you all have way
more experience then anyone.

Thanks ahead,
Love Jack and his mom

I too, am still researching the RAW benefits and it seems like SO MANY Yters are feeding raw. I have learned a lot by doing a search on the forum for "raw diet" and I have read A LOT of valuable info.

You will definitely find what you are looking for that way. Just LOADS of valuable info. so a search for "feeding raw diet" here.

Thanks very much I really appreciate it. Funny thing, even before I got Jack, I concidered raw food. Now I am being told it will help with his immune system. I would do anything to keep him healthy, his fur is looking so bad
and I am trying so hard to keep him in good shape so if the vet has no idea
and the dermetoligist is giving suggestions I am open.

Again thanks,
Jack and his mom

There is a member here - "Wylies Mom". She is extremely knowledgeable about nutrition. I know she highly recommends the raw diet. Do a search in this section, I know she posted about this in the past few days.
This week, I switched my little Mango to raw. She absolutely loves it. I am waiting to see how she handles it as it's only 2 days now.
Good luck!
Lauren

Here are two links:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=123950
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...highlight=diet

Raw, in my opinion, is the best thing you can give your dog. Layla won't touch it however. We have tired MANY times to get her to eat it but she doesnt' like it, so we still home cook.

Thanks very much I really appreciate the help and answers,
I am having a little problem getting Jack to try it out because
he is so picky he won't try different things. There is hardly a
treat even that he likes.

I've been feeding raw for almost 2 years to Lacy with great results. I will never go back to kibble again.. And my older cat has had severe allergies her entire life with no foods helping (even special allergy foods), but when I switched her to raw (and I feed her the NV rabbit), she grew all her hair back and stopped scratching. She looks better than she has since she was a kitten...it's truly amazing how wonderful she is doing on raw

What is Lacy's favorite raw? Do you alternate the varieties too? I saw the beef medallions last year when we contemplated changing to the raw. The girl at the pet store gave me a bag free to try it. I only gave them a few pieces and they got scared about it so i had to stop. but when i gave it to them- they ate it and totally loved it. it was different too- it wasn't like introducing a new treat and seeing them get all worked up over it. it was i was bringing out the "dog" in them. Like they got all crazy for it. They LOVED it and they WANTED IT like as if they could not get enough of it. :-) the looks on there little faces- omg!!! it was so funny. the beef medallions didn't gross me out but the chicken sure did! yuk- but that is just something i will have to get over. :-)

They were sniffing EVERYWHERE (where i gave it to them in the kitchen) after I put it back in the fridge.

I like to hear you've been feeding it for 2 yrs. My girls itch and suffer allergies too. I am so excited once we finally talk with a nutrionist (we are waiting for a upc recheck in 2 wks first so we have the most recent labs.. they went 2 wks ago for complete blood work up)

Lacy eats Nature's Variety. She's had every protein source they offer. I normally give venison, lamb, and rabbit and normally alternate between 2 of them every other day.

I am so glad to see you post this. About a month ago, Mango developed a habit of chewing on her front paw, not every day, but often enough to concern me. I am hoping that if is the start of allergies, the raw diet will alleviate the development.
I do have one question for you though. She was spayed on Monday, and threw up constantly for the next 2 days. It was really scary. The Vet thought it was the antibiotic and switched it.On the advice of Wylie's Mom, I gave her mashed potato to absorb the stomach acids. This was the first thing she kept down in days. I also started her on the raw, on the advice of the local pet store that stocks the better grades of food. For the past few days, I have been mixing half a raw medallion with the mashed potato, so as not to shock her little tummy.

However, last night after dinner, she threw up for the first time in days. Could this be because of the introduction to the raw diet? She is otherwise full of her usual energy and gives no indication of feeling sick.
Sorry this was so long,
Lauren:)

Hope you don't mind if I butt in here, girl :). The paw thing - could def. be seasonal - go to www.pollen.com - and check your area - right now it's off the scale in my area and Marcel is at his paws. So, it may be the time of year - or, it could be food related.

As for the nausea - I kind of doubt it's bc of the raw - esp. after a few days. Could she have gotten into anything? Is she still on antibiotics? If she is, the combo of antibiotics and diet change could do it (or, the antibiotic alone). So, see how she does and try to continue. Is she on lamb or? Give her a smooch for me!

Yorkie Food
 

I am only too delighted for your insight! She is still on the antibiotic, until the small bottle is finished. I started her on the lamb - Nature's Variety, as you recommended in another thread. She loves it, whereas before I had to always coax her to eat her Evangers kibble, by coating it with their cooked chicken.
As for the paw licking, I don't know if this is coincidental or not, but she has not done this at all in the past few days. I will check out that pollen link though. I live in the hills here, and there is just SO much of it right now.

Anne, thanks again for saving our butts last week with that fabulous mashed potato idea. Mango was like a different dog after this "cure".
Hugs,
Lauren:)

some dogs are more sensitive to change than others. I never had problems switching Lacy cold turkey to raw..but it might take a few days for her stomach to become accustomed to a new food

Many people have had problems with their dogs being itchy from eating Royal Canin

Thanks for the response.:thumbup::thumbup: I think her tummy is slowly adjusting...... even her little poops look completely different>> much smaller somehow?
Lauren:)

oh yeah..poop from raw-fed dogs is definitely different. Much smaller, firm, and usually light in color. And Lacy only poops once a day. And it will turn white and disintegrate into powder in a couple of days

cant they get worms or anthing from raw?

I don't think worms is the concern as much as food-borne illness. This is very rare in dogs but can happen if they have a compromised immune system. It's a risk that I am not willing to take...

PLEASE Any thoughts at all on ways of coaxing or other products
 

I am definitely sold on the raw food from what you wonderful
people have written, I feel like I have researched as I would
have when my other three kids (who speak for themselves at
least now) and they did good they are all grown up now.

My biggest obstacle has been the first introduction to the chicken.

They gave me PAWS-itively Raw Foods starter for 2 weeks it starts
with "plain ground" chicken (necks and backs), bones in and adding
marine and olive oil and a digestive enzyme to each meal. Well I got
down on the floor I tried pretending that I was eating it I did what
they said and mixed a bit of warm water and he HATES it. He tried and
"literally gags". I dont care that the start up cost $30. I dont care
if I have to try something else but PLEASE PLEASE any suggestions.....
please let me know.....

I am desperate :confused: :confused: I cant starve him...:(

I will buy other product or shop in Buffalo or buy your product if
you guarantee it

Thanks Tracy (Jacks mom)

Lucy is doing really well on raw. I'm very happy I switched her over...

Royal Canine is great
 

Hi,
I just wanted to agree with Pooch Lady in saying the Royal Canine for Yorkie's is great. Mine loves it, but due to his allergies I've had to put him on the IAMS prescription diet from the vet. So if anyone else is having skin, ear or allergy problems this food is wonderful also. It comes in Salmon and another flavor I've forgotten but Spike loves the salmon. AND his skin and ears are getting better. He transitioned from the Royal Canine to the prescription diet very well. :aimeeyork

Try Evangers wet food-Chicken Drummet. Its a little pricey but they love it and you can actually see the whole drummet including the bone which is cooked soft already and ready to eat. Talk about very picky Yorkie, I have one. Picky to the point that he'd rather throw up than eat his food.

I must agree with this. Mango has also been such a picky eater, to the point I was worried she would starve herself. I tried every high grade dog food I could find. The Evangers was the only one the little snot would deign to eat, until I tried her on the Nature's Variety Raw.
Lauren:)

Oops! I forgot. Here is a great coupon for those that want to try the Nature's Variety Raw diet. It was sent to me by another member:
http://www.naturesvariety.com/tryit/index2.lasso

Thanks so much
 

Again thanks so much for your help and opinions. Jack, being the very very
picky boy he is, is going to have to try and try again. Tonight, while at work
my daughter felt very sorry for him because he has avoided his food and she
set him up with cooked chicken breast even though she was told to wait. (I
believe my husband was also in on this) so its back to the drawing board.

Where can I find Evangers wet chicken? I will be glad to start tomorrow as
probably anyone of you knows cost doesnt matter with our babies they are
the heart and soul of our day. Heaven knows, even Jack knows he is my prince.

Again, thanks so much
Jacks mom (Tracy)

Oh I totally understand when you say your babies are the center of your universe. I feel exactly the same way....actually I think I am Yorkie possessed.:animal36:):animal36 Evanger's makes a product called "Cooked Chicken" and that's exactly what it is. Their newer one, I believe, is even organic. This will help you locate a store in your area:
http://www.evangersdogfood.com/locator/
Another choice that Mango seemed to like was Merrick's Grammy Pot Pie - it even has little pieces of veggies in it.You will find it here:
http://www.merrickpetcare.com/store/canned_dog_food.php
Good luck!
Lauren:)
Edit:When I was getting really desperate to tempt Mango's fussy palate, I just went to a higher end Pet Supply, and literally brought home tons of different cans in the small sizes. They let me return what I did not use.

Thanks so so much, and btw is that Mango there on your picture there. That
is such a great picture. Do your have other pictures of Mango? Thanks again
for all your help.

Tracy