Finally took the plunge!!-NV RAW!

[Lolapup]

96 medallions for $14.00??? That's a steal!! Now that things have settled down a bit, I think I'll go back to raw and do exacrtly what you're doing. Medallions in the morning...Evo at night! She loves both so it won't be a problem. I was as excited as you are when I first started. I drove poor Wylie's Mom crazy with all my questions!! I wash Lola's face at the same time I clean her eyes and brush her. Early morning. Lola's hair grows like crazy on raw.

[Ivy Lucille]

Hmmmm, this thread has got me thinking again. It seems like I am always on the hunt or the "perfect" food. I have always been intrigued with raw but just have never done it. I have even had a bag in my hand but I just always felt like I didn't "know" enough. I guess I better read some more, although I have scoured threads on this before.

If I add raw, do you just do it or is there a way to go slow?

[viviansnickers]

I just took the plunge and started raw one morning which was last week and Snickers has LOVED his 30 second breakfast (he eats so fast) for the past few days. I made sure Evo was good for Snick for the past 2 months and then added raw. I didn't plan it but works out since Evo and NV Instinct are very similar (protein % etc.) I'm not sure if you were planning on doing 100% raw or a rotation like Lola's mom and I do.

I SERIOUSLY think it is the best for my Snickers. I am the same as you, always wanting the best!! I was thrilled when Snick thrived on Evo, I was nervous since so many Yorkie's do not do well on it regardless of it's amazing quality ingredients. I really can't believe how EASY the NV raw medallion are!! I don't ever barely touch the stuff (besides frozen when I put it in the fridge the night before & a bit while I am washing his dish.)

My husband and I are just beyond THRILLED! The poop is INCREDIBLE!! TINY hahahahahahaha!!!!

[amandawash]

Yay!! I am so glad you went raw!! I switched my boys to raw in September and will never go back The only thing that it makes harder is traveling but there are ways to get around that.

I am so glad Snick loves his food and that you are so excited! Oh, and I don't wash my boys' faces everyday, they just don't get yucky. Now when they were eating The Honest Kitchen (dehydrated raw) they did get yucky and I had to wash them all the time.

I can't wait for you to start seeing the changes in Snick's physical appearance.

[drabinowitz43]

Wow, reading this is getting me wondering about it. I have Joey on a special rx diet for his liver condition, which includes soft food, and I feel so bad keeping Sadie from his food and making her just eat the kibble. Maybe the raw would work for her. I know one of my fellow liver-compromised Yorkie owners suggested it, but I was a little afraid of it. I'm not a red meat eater, barely eat chicken, so the idea of handling raw meat....does it have any odor? Does it just defrost overnight in the fridge. Also, if you do a rotation, does the kibble have to be a high protein like Evo. I feed Sadie California Natural and that kibble works well for her. I'm really considering this. Amazing what you learn here. Snicker's Mom, your enthusiasm is contagious!

[viviansnickers]

Originally Posted by drabinowitz43

Wow, reading this is getting me wondering about it. I have Joey on a special rx diet for his liver condition, which includes soft food, and I feel so bad keeping Sadie from his food and making her just eat the kibble. Maybe the raw would work for her. I know one of my fellow liver-compromised Yorkie owners suggested it, but I was a little afraid of it. I'm not a red meat eater, barely eat chicken, so the idea of handling raw meat....does it have any odor? Does it just defrost overnight in the fridge. Also, if you do a rotation, does the kibble have to be a high protein like Evo. I feed Sadie California Natural and that kibble works well for her. I'm really considering this. Amazing what you learn here. Snicker's Mom, your enthusiasm is contagious!

Yayyyyyy!!!! I can't tell you how much WE are loving this!! He's such a happy babyboy!! Ok, there is NO smell, non! Yes, it defrosts over night, I take 1 medallion out of the bag and put it in a small container and in the morning dump it on his stainless steal plate (most hygenic) and use a plastic knife to make smaller pieces. As he eats, I clean everything with hot water and dishwashing/antibac soap & then immediately clean his dish. I just feed him in the laundry room as thats the sink I use for everything Snickers Then I put warm water on a babywipe and wipe his lil beard. I am not sure about the kibble choice, hopefully Ann can help you there. I do know Raw his more protein so perhaps a higher level protein kibble is needed? Ann?? Anyone??

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by drabinowitz43

Wow, reading this is getting me wondering about it. Also, if you do a rotation, does the kibble have to be a high protein like Evo. Amazing what you learn here. Snicker's Mom, your enthusiasm is contagious!

Isn't it? She makes me want to stop raw, just so I can start all over again and be excited!

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

Yayyyyyy!!!! I can't tell you how much WE are loving this!! He's such a happy babyboy!! Ok, there is NO smell, non! Yes, it defrosts over night, I take 1 medallion out of the bag and put it in a small container and in the morning dump it on his stainless steal plate (most hygenic) and use a plastic knife to make smaller pieces. As he eats, I clean everything with hot water and dishwashing/antibac soap & then immediately clean his dish. I just feed him in the laundry room as thats the sink I use for everything Snickers Then I put warm water on a babywipe and wipe his lil beard. I am not sure about the kibble choice, hopefully Ann can help you there. I do know Raw his more protein so perhaps a higher level protein kibble is needed? Ann?? Anyone??

It doesn't have to be high protein . The Cal Natrl is fine .

[viviansnickers]

HOORAY!!!

Don't forget to register for your instant Buy One Get One Free coupon!! That's how I got the 96 medallions for 14 dollars and you can find a vendor close to you!! Each bag is between 13 & 17 dollars. I started with Chicken & Venison.

Welcome to Nature's Variety | Nature's Variety

Yipppppeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

One more thing, I do give Snickers yogurt daily for natural probiotics, it's supposed to help with digestion.

If you need mroe pumping up...let me know!! Hahah LOL

[Ivy Lucille]

Ok--I'm gonna do it. I just have a few questions. I hope nobody minds if I ask here since we are talking about it anyway. I just don't want to hijack the thread

Right now I free feed my two dry kibble. So if I fed them a medallion (do they just get one?) say once a day, should I still free feed or just feed them at another time? (the dry)

It would suit my schedule to give them the raw in the evening around dinner time for us--would that matter or is morning time best?

What kind of meat is best to start with do you think?

I am excited too! I might run over there today and see what is available.

One more thing: Where did you get the BOGO coupon???

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ivy Lucille

Right now I free feed my two dry kibble. So if I fed them a medallion (do they just get one?) say once a day, should I still free feed or just feed them at another time? (the dry)

It would suit my schedule to give them the raw in the evening around dinner time for us--would that matter or is morning time best?

What kind of meat is best to start with do you think?

I am excited too! I might run over there today and see what is available.

One more thing: Where did you get the BOGO coupon???

You can do what you think feels best - if you want to still free feed that is a-okay - they'll probably begin modulating their kibble eating once their system comes to know they'll be eating a meal at dinner time. There might be some folks who say "feed raw and kibble at least 8 hrs apart" and that is simply not true at all - no matter what kind of kibble it is. The basics of how digestion works (chemically) puts that to rest. I won't go into detail - but the tummy doesn't care if a food is raw or not, or whether a meal is just protein -or- protein, carbs, and fat - it is capable of digesting in any case.

Dinner time is just fine.

NV's organic chicken is super well liked by most dogs as it is very soft. Venison is also a nice one to start with - but *might* not be liked by all dogs (just depends). Other good brands of raw are Primal, Stella & Chewys, Bravo and a few others. Might want to avoid NV's rabbit - they source it in China.

I'm excited for you!

[viviansnickers]

Click on this link!! Welcome to Nature's Variety | Nature's Variety Fill it out and there you go. It is store specific though, it will ask which store you want the coupon for, so I would call the store 1st and be sure they have what you want in stock.

There are several users on here that feed the medallion in the evening. Snickers does get free fed his kibble in the evening from about 4-8pm. He does finish all of it usually. I started with Chicken and Venison b/c the Evo I am using is chicken based and I used to mix in canned venison so I chose those 2. I would chose a meat your pup is used to and then switch it up gradually.

Don't feel bad about highjacking threads, ask away, you're a concerned mama just like the rest of us I would have never made the switch without all my asking!!

[Ivy Lucille]

ok, well I just got back from using my BOGO and I decided to go with the chicken to start with. I was hoping to start today at dinner but it won't be thawed by then. So i guess I will start tomorrow.

I was looking at their kibble as well Instinct and Prairie. I think I would like to work in to a rotation type diet. I decided to finish up with the dry I have now. The instinct bags have a $5 coupon for raw so....I will be using that the next time! (I haven't bought the dry yet)

Just to be sure--one medallion is 1 oz right? I'm not sure how to accurately split them when I need .something.

[viviansnickers]

Yayyyyyy!!!!

Yes, 1 medallion is 1 oz. If you go the their website Nature's Variety you can input your pup's weight and activity level and they will tell you how much to feed. Snickers is about 3.5lbs so I put in 4lbs and it told me to feed him 1 medallion and then 1/8 cup kibble. He eats exactly that, maybe a tad bit more kibble (like 3 tablespoons.)

I hope this works for you!!! Yiiiipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

You're gonna LOVE the poop!!!!

Remember, if your pup is not super active, you might want to stick to the Cal Natural. The higher the protein, the more exercise you want to give your pup b/c if they do not exert that energy it will turn to fat instead of being burned off (just like humans.) I feel this diet is ideal for Snickers b/c he is super active, and we walk him ALOT!! I told myself to take Snick off the Evo if his ribs were not easily detectable and after 2 months, he was the same.

Hooray!! You're gonna love to see your pup so happy to eat!!

[Ivy Lucille]

I need to finish up the RC mini that they are on. That seems to be the one we gravitate back to after trying a new one. I did some calculations but I am not sure how much of that to give.

It says a 1/4 of Instinct for both of them. I wonder if I should just free feed that for now (the RC). Neither one of them tend to overeat. Does anyone here use Instinct or Prairie?

I am sorry to be so anal about this. I have a tendency to overthink things.

What do you think? Anyone?

[viviansnickers]

Oops so sorry, got you mixed up with drabanowitz43 who is feeling California Natural.

So wait, I'm confused...are you going to switch to Instinct eventually? I recommend you do that transition while you have some of the RC left and mix it in w/ Instinct over about a week. Then hopefully your pups will be ok on Instinct and you can add raw. This is JMO of course do as you see what is fit for your doggies. Trying to transition Snick to a new food was a waste of time, he would just pick out the new and leave the old, so we always ended up switching kibble cold turkey.

I don't think you're overthinking or being anal...just cautious which is being SMART!!! I am the SAME!! I have a feeling when I have skinkids...I am gonna be a basket case lol!