New to Raw diets...where do I start?

[PrincessDiana]

Originally Posted by Sweet Apple

very good post...do you use "regular" protein products from local grocery store, or, perhaps organic? Since I only give my little guys between one ounce and 1/2 oz. per meal, do you weigh the meals? Would you give a whole egg to 4 or 5 or 6 lb. pup? What are the amounts of the suppements, and where do you purchase them from...I'm out the door, for my daily 'rounds, and won't be back 'till 3, but thanks, in advance, for all your info...

I use both! I try to get organic but we all know that can be expensive so as long as the meat is not enhanced (companies add chicken broth and sodium to make meat more flavorful and tender), we feed it. I have a scale that we use to weigh out meals. It can get difficult when the portions are that small so I'd just weigh out a days worth or maybe two days worth and then split it up after that. That way, you are feeding around the right portion. The beauty of prey-model raw is that the numbers are just a guideline. Once you get a feel for what works for your dog, you don't have to weigh anymore. If your dog gains weight, feed less. If your dog is skinny, feed more.

Also, if you feed a balanced prey-model raw diet, you don't need to buy supplements, just like with kibble. The only thing some people add are probiotics and/or fish oil.

Oh, and on the egg - Franklin and Maggie have gotten raw whole eggs but I find it's a little too much so I usually split one between them. Cooked eggs they get one to one and a half.

[lmperez]

where can you find the marrow bones? And is there a good website for the prey model diet? I feed raw and love it. I use the premade diets. I also use the freeze dried products but I don't like them as much. Maybe when on vaccation.

[PrincessDiana]

Originally Posted by lmperez

where can you find the marrow bones? And is there a good website for the prey model diet? I feed raw and love it. I use the premade diets. I also use the freeze dried products but I don't like them as much. Maybe when on vaccation.

This thread was SO SO SO helpful to me when I was doing my research. So you are interested in feeding raw ... - Raw Food Diet Forum

This one is good too. http://www.dogster.com/forums/Raw_Fo.../thread/511303

[lmperez]

Thank you, I will check it out!!

[KimberlySRN]

So... We tried raw today and it didn't go so well. Lace my older girl ate all of it immediately. My two younger ones licked it and refused to eat it. I bought the primal starter pack and tried the beef today. Maybe they just don't like that one?

[PrincessDiana]

Originally Posted by KimberlySRN

So... We tried raw today and it didn't go so well. Lace my older girl ate all of it immediately. My two younger ones licked it and refused to eat it. I bought the primal starter pack and tried the beef today. Maybe they just don't like that one?

Sometimes it takes time for them to warm up to it. For a lot of dogs, the idea of eating fresh raw meat is foreign to them because they've only known kibble. A lot of people add parmesan cheese or yogurt/cottage cheese to entice them. Canned pumpkin would also work and could help with any digestive problems that result from the switch. Some people suggest lightly searing the outside to make it smell more appealing but I personally don't suggest this because cooking the meat defeats the entire purpose of raw feeding.

[rachelanne820]

I have one that won't eat raw, too. I just feed it to my other one in the morning. Sometimes Nick will want some so I offer but he hasn't tasted it yet. I don't force it - he likes his kibble so that's fine with me. Daisy likes the raw so that's what she gets for breakfast.

Originally Posted by KimberlySRN

So... We tried raw today and it didn't go so well. Lace my older girl ate all of it immediately. My two younger ones licked it and refused to eat it. I bought the primal starter pack and tried the beef today. Maybe they just don't like that one?