All you RAW feeder's - I'm in the club! :)

[AlicetheYorkie]

I'm switching to a raw diet, but doing it "home made" (prey model) and Alice and my Akita convinced me this morning

I used to use NV but it got too $$$$

So, I've researched how to use meat and some bones and organs from a butcher shop and grocery store along with ground egg shells and a few other supplimental ingredients and I'm now 100% convinced this is the way to go and it will actually probably save me money since their kibble is really expensive and alot of what I need I can get from the local butcher for very cheap if not free.

This morning, Alice and my Akita didn't want their kibble (like usual) so in the middle of my researching I remembered that I still had a good slab of venison in the freezer from my Dad's hunting trip this winter. I thawed it out in hot water and sliced some up for the 2 of them and - they devoured it WAY better than they do the pre-made raw patties I've tried recently. In the almost 3 months I've had Alice, I've never seen her eat ANYTHING with that much enthusiasm! (this is a dog who doesn't like COOKED chicken) She even ate it right out of the "dreaded, scarey bowl" .

I feel kind of dumb actually for not understanding this before, Miya and especially Alice were trying to tell me something - they're not meant to eat "dog food". No wonder Alice would sniff and walk away looking at me like, you expect me to eat what? It just makes sooo much sense with all the "picky eaters" on here. The dogs understand what they're supposed to eat and we just don't get it.

So that's my raw food excited rant - no more picky eaters, no more fat cats, more more dry skin. Even the best of the best kibble can't compare to what nature intended Seeing picky Alice eat that raw venison so happily was definatly the deal sealer for me Duh LOL

If you're having a hard time with a "picky eater", try a raw diet, start with pre-packaged such as Nature's Variety or Primal or just give a little piece of beef or chicken that's you're making for dinner BEFORE you cook it and see what happens You may just have a "lightbulb" moment like I did There's TONS of information online about it, so if you're nervous, read up, you'll change your mind and your picky eater will thank you

Here's the site where I learned the most if anyone's interested:
www.pet-grub.com/

[xoxodoglover89]

Good to hear! Sasha was the same way when I introduced her to Primal. I was nervous because I had tried NV with her in the past and she ate it for a few days and then wanted nothing to do with it which was money lost for me because I had just bought a big bag of it. A few years later, I began to notice quite a few members on here raving about Primal and how wonderful it is. I started reading up on it and went to their website to see if there was even a store around my area that sells it, which of course I got lucky and there was. They offer a sample pack which has 4 different protein sources, 3 nuggets each. Tried that first and she loved them all and shes been eating Primal ever since. I buy two 4lb. bags with each bag being a different protein source and it lasts me close to 3 months which is amazing. However, I still do give her kibble at night for dinner since she used to be super picky and has always loved Blue Buffalo Wilderness kibble. Still, the smallest bag of kibble lasts almost 2 months. It's such a good feeling to see your dog eating their food willingly. I love watching Sasha eat and be satisfied lol.

[AlicetheYorkie]

Originally Posted by xoxodoglover89

Good to hear! Sasha was the same way when I introduced her to Primal. I was nervous because I had tried NV with her in the past and she ate it for a few days and then wanted nothing to do with it which was money lost for me because I had just bought a big bag of it. A few years later, I began to notice quite a few members on here raving about Primal and how wonderful it is. I started reading up on it and went to their website to see if there was even a store around my area that sells it, which of course I got lucky and there was. They offer a sample pack which has 4 different protein sources, 3 nuggets each. Tried that first and she loved them all and shes been eating Primal ever since. I buy two 4lb. bags with each bag being a different protein source and it lasts me close to 3 months which is amazing. However, I still do give her kibble at night for dinner since she used to be super picky and has always loved Blue Buffalo Wilderness kibble. Still, the smallest bag of kibble lasts almost 2 months. It's such a good feeling to see your dog eating their food willingly. I love watching Sasha eat and be satisfied lol.

No stores here sell Primal but I can get Nature's Variety and one other brand (can't remember the name, but they didn't seem to like it much - Alice wouldn't touch it). I've used NV in the past, never with Alice though, but it can get sooo expensive with 5 mouths to feed (especially since one of them is 75 lbs. lol) so that's why I looked into "homemade". It's simpler than I thought - the main thing you have to add is calcium (egg shell "powder" is best) to aid in the breakdown of the protien (pre-packaged has enough in it) and make sure they're getting some bone and organs, so it's good to know I can "afford" to feed raw . I'll probably use some NV also, just because looking at the ingredients it has a few "extras" in there and I really like that their food has the Montmorillonite clay in it (has something like 50+ trace minerals in it). Ahh, finally though, no more "begging" Alice to eat It was like a miracle this morning lol

[Poochieheaven]

Alice sounds like Duke.

Duke never really liked kibble and frankly wouldn't eat it half the time.

How that we are on raw, he LOVES to eat. haha.

Good luck with the switch!

[candigirl]

I would love to be able to feed Lexie homemade raw because just like your babies when i put down her bowl of kibble she sniffs and just looks at me. Eventually she'll pick at it and eat but probably only because shes hungry and that's all thats there. I get the feeling she doesn't mind it but shes not over the moon about it. The other day i gave her a small piece of raw steak i was preparing and she wolfed it down and even cried for more!. Because i don't have time to prepare homemade i'm gonna start feeding her NV raw, depending on how she does i might switch her completely. We don't have Primal here either and hopefully price wise it will be fine because she's my only pup . Glad you found something you're babies enjoy eating and is so good for them

[Sweet Girls]

Originally Posted by candigirl

I would love to be able to feed Lexie homemade raw because just like your babies when i put down her bowl of kibble she sniffs and just looks at me. Eventually she'll pick at it and eat but probably only because shes hungry and that's all thats there. I get the feeling she doesn't mind it but shes not over the moon about it. The other day i gave her a small piece of raw steak i was preparing and she wolfed it down and even cried for more!. Because i don't have time to prepare homemade i'm gonna start feeding her NV raw, depending on how she does i might switch her completely. We don't have Primal here either and hopefully price wise it will be fine because she's my only pup . Glad you found something you're babies enjoy eating and is so good for them

As a fellow Ontarian, I just want to mention that I use pre-made raw from here in Ontario. The company is called Bold and Raw...Raw Food Supplier For You Dog or Cat Not that I have any concerns about American dog food, but I figure if I can buy local, that is better. My girls have both been on it for about a year, and I really love it. If it is not available in a pet store near you, they will deliver to your door (or they used to, the company is really growing). You should check them out!

[JESSY_RN2B]

Congrats! We switched this week too. Im doing premade as none sell locally and I am not ready to do prey model.

[candigirl]

Originally Posted by Sweet Girls

As a fellow Ontarian, I just want to mention that I use pre-made raw from here in Ontario. The company is called Bold and Raw...Raw Food Supplier For You Dog or Cat Not that I have any concerns about American dog food, but I figure if I can buy local, that is better. My girls have both been on it for about a year, and I really love it. If it is not available in a pet store near you, they will deliver to your door (or they used to, the company is really growing). You should check them out!

Thanks I checked them and wouldn't mind giving them a try but it seems like they only have 2 protien sources right now, chicken and turkey. Lexie's fav is beef and lamb. Hopefully they'll have more selection soon it would be nice to buy locally

[Sweet Girls]

Originally Posted by candigirl

Thanks I checked them and wouldn't mind giving them a try but it seems like they only have 2 protien sources right now, chicken and turkey. Lexie's fav is beef and lamb. Hopefully they'll have more selection soon it would be nice to buy locally

I know they have rabbit (I've used it), and I know they have Elk and Beef tripe...maybe they have not updated their website. But I've gotten the rabbit and have seen the elk tripe and elk bones at my local raw supplier. They are also great if you need to ask questions. I asked about fat content in one of their foods and received an e-mail back within 36 hours...thought it was pretty good turn around time.

[AlicetheYorkie]

Originally Posted by JESSY_RN2B

Congrats! We switched this week too. Im doing premade as none sell locally and I am not ready to do prey model.

I'm actually going to do both (pre-made and "homemade"). Even thoug I've researched it, I don't know if I can handle full on prey model right yet - kinda freaky lol plus I'm just worried I'm not going to do it right (the whole meat/bone/organ ratio). So I picked up some NV patties at a petstore and some of their turkey necks and I'll combine that with the venison I have and chicken from the store.

[JESSY_RN2B]

Great choice. Im with you on being scared to get it wrong. Im doing stella and chewys lamb patties for now and the ordering primal online. she is happy with her raw but it seems such a little bit so she keeps beggjng for more. Lol

[AlicetheYorkie]

Originally Posted by JESSY_RN2B

Great choice. Im with you on being scared to get it wrong. Im doing stella and chewys lamb patties for now and the ordering primal online. she is happy with her raw but it seems such a little bit so she keeps beggjng for more. Lol

Apparently it's easy, you just have to make sure it's 80% meat, 10% soft edible bone, 10% organs. My thing (for now anyway) is, I've always given them raw chicken and turkey necks once or twice a week to clean their teeth, but I only let them go to town on that outside. It's obviously not possible to feed them all outside twice a day (especially the kitties) so I need and easier way to get the required bone in there. As far as organs, lol I don't think I'll ever be able to feed a raw liver blah lol. Freeze dried liver treats are a good replacement for that though I wish I could afford to feed them all just the NV patties, since that's all balanced, with the twice a week raw bones for their teeth and (apparently) "mental" health LOL (something I read) since that would be so much easier. I'll figure out a good system eventually that works for them as well as our pockets I've also thought about using the nature's variety instinct kibble for one meal per day or at least every other day to cut down the cost (this goes against what some "prey model feeders" will say), but the NV website explains that much research has been done to prove that feeding both raw and grain free kibble or canned is fine (I still won't mix it in the same meal though, I'm not convinced it will digest properly) and Alice is fine with this as long as each meal is different and I really rotate (raw breakfast, some kibble w/ canned for dinner and a different protien source of the canned each day). I think they'll be really happy that way too, getting something different each meal and they'll still get the benefits of raw and a completely grain free diet and enjoy eating

Which online co. do you get the Primal from? I've looked at Petfooddirect.com since they have NV and Stella and Chewys at better prices than the store here, but the shipping for frozen is outrageous, so it's not worth it.

[sweet_tikka]

Going raw I read another thread that you have to supplement them with vitamins?
So you can't just feed them the raw meat, occassional egg, etc... is there a good thread about going raw?

Little Pooter LOVES raw steak, but with his sensitive stomach I've been to scared to try him on an all raw diet. I know Tikka would just love it though she's got the stomach of a 200lb man at a hotdog eating contest lol!!

[AlicetheYorkie]

Originally Posted by sweet_tikka

Going raw I read another thread that you have to supplement them with vitamins?
So you can't just feed them the raw meat, occassional egg, etc... is there a good thread about going raw?

Little Pooter LOVES raw steak, but with his sensitive stomach I've been to scared to try him on an all raw diet. I know Tikka would just love it though she's got the stomach of a 200lb man at a hotdog eating contest lol!!

You don't have to give any suppliments as long as you have the meat/bone/organ ratio (80%,10%,10%) right. You can't only feed raw meat and not give the bones or organs. If they don't get the bone they won't get enough calcium to balance out the phosphorus in the raw meat which would be bad for their kindeys and they will get loose stools. The organs have a lot of the other vitamins in it they need (that's why you usually see liver as an ingredient in high quality kibble). If you use pre-packaged frozen raw dog food, it has the right amount of ground bones and organs in it. I read that if you are feeding raw meat only with out any bones, you have to suppliment with ground egg shells for the calcium but that won't help with the loose poops. It's also good to have about 5% veggies and certain fruits in the diet because "prey" would have that in their intestinal tract that the wolf would eat. The veggies have to be very finely ground though for the dog to be able to extract the nutrients from it, otherwise it'll just come out the same way it went in and be useless.

[Sweet Girls]

Some people use the "green" tripe of beef, lamb or elk in stead of veggies/fruit. And although I haven't done a lot of reading on the Prey model, that would make sense, as the tripe is the stomach lining which apparently wild carnivores eat first. My girls love tripe...I haven't yet met a dog who doesn't...but the smell is very very off putting for the humans My raw food store sells the green tripe, raw for dogs/cats...but I've also served Tripet canned tripe, it's very good for picky eaters in general.