Raw Diet?
 

Hi I am new here. I just purchased my yorkie from a breeder 2 weeks ago and she has gotten so big really fast!! Anyway, I feed her Eukanuba's Puppy food and I went to this place called Jeffrey's, famous for their raw diets here in San Francisco, and they claim that I should not feed her Eukanuba because it's fatning. And she has gained a tremendous amount of weight....as in chunky weight, not bone development weight. They suggested that I switch to to a healthier food which is their fresh raw food. It basically consists raw processed beef, chicken, lamb, etc with other kinds of veggies.

So I was wondering if anyone has tried feeing their yorkies any raw food? Let me know. Thanks!

Please Research Carefully First
 

It's a matter of opinion.

Personally, I'm just afraid to do it, not trusting our food supply 100%.

There are plenty of "grain-free" kibbles and 95% real meat alternatives.

Research: Innova Evo and Innova Evo Red Meat at:
http://naturalpetmarket.com

It's a great alternative to feeding raw.

Hopefully someone who has success with a raw diet will answer you in depth.

Good Luck with whatever you decide.

I feed mine really high quality kibbles in the morning and in the evening they get Nature's Variety raw. They just get one medallion and a few kibbles. We've tried the chicken and beef and lamb. They LOVE it! They basically inhale it instead of actually chewing it. :D
I haven't had any problems at all....

omega

Actually feeding a RAW diet is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I know alot of people think it's more work or more money... but honestly it isn't. Only at first when you are getting to know what is what.
Right now I feed raw and also mix in about 1/4-1/2 good quality kibble. I mix it ALL TOGETHER not seperate:)

Whoops.. I forgot to say the raw diet I feed is made by ME... I guess it IS expensive if you buy it somewhere PREMADE. Try it yourself.. it's easy and then you just freeze in portions. I do this for my dogs AND my birds and both do great according to the vet, eating like this.

I got a sample pack of raw food from a feed store. It took me a while to try it with Kona and Bernie, but they seem to love it. I actually just finished the pack and need to get more. I would mix the raw food with some of their normal kibble.

What is the recipe that you use to make your own raw food?

Please do not mix raw meat with commercial kibble...

Kibble and meat digest at different rates (kibble takes longer). Feeding them raw/kibble at the same time increases the length of time the raw meat stays in the digestive system, which in turn increases the risk of dangerous amounts of bacteria forming in their systems.

If you're going to continue feeding commercial kibble (any brand at all), the best way is to offer raw at one meal and kibble at the next... several hours apart.

WHOOPS I guess I need to clarify because I said it wrong.
I don't really feed RAW... I feed COOKED human.

We have just decided to put the girls on a homemade diet. I don't mind cooking for them at all. The problem is they are not particularly fond of vegetables. My little one actually stood and barked at her dish until I took out the peas and carrots. What do you think about using baby food veggies? I figure if they can't see them they will eat them.

Thanks!
 

WoW! Thanks! I think this was why she had diarrhea last weekend. But I think I'm doing to stick to Eukanuba for now. Raw food = messey poop. She's only 3 months. :animal36

I also tried cooking human food, chicken and rice. The ckien I blended chopped and mised it with the rice. She loved it, but she threw up after 1 hour and had diarrhea. So I'm going to stick her with Eukanuba. But now that she's had other food, she refuses to eat her Eukanuba. Today I didn't give her any treats or human food. She finally ate when she was starving! Phew! She's still a little picky though! Now the Eukanuba has to be soaked in water

JMO but, I wouldn't think eating ANY kind of meat would be healthy...ecoli, salmonella..etc.....just doesn't sound good to me.

Raw diets
 

Raw diets can be risky and not always "balanced".

Protein/Carbohydrate/Fat percentage and balance is very important. Vitamin and mineral content - vitamins A, B, E, K, Biotin, sulfur and amino acids...all needed for cell growth. What about Omega-3 Fatty Acids - important for your Yorkies skin, coat and overall well-being.

Antioxidants, phytochemicals, chelated minerals and other health promoting compounds are critical to your babies health. As well as Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus Acidophilus which help promote a healthy digestive tract. Which is extremely important because the digestive tract is the barrier between whatever your dog eats and its blood stream.

If you want a healthy food that uses "Human-Quality" ingredients and is complete & balanced. A food that doesn't sit in a warehouse for months (never more than 6 weeks old when you receive it) and shipped direct to your door try Life's Abundance.

It is reasonably priced and guaranteed. If your Yorkie doesn't like it you get your money back. There isn't a healthier or more fresh dog food on the market.

Compare your dog food.

Try samples.

HEY! Monty's Dad!!! I just noticed something!!! We have the same last name:p !! different spelling but, same name...people are ALWAYS putting an e in my name...

Dogs are not people. Dogs are animals. Their digestive system can handle a lot more than ours can. If anyone is interested in all the information I've found on raw diets (or BARF, whatever you wanna call it) feel free to send me a PM.

thefitpet - Out of curiousity, what's your relationship to healthypetnet.com? You're listed as a contact on their website...

Hey B,

Noticed the last names. People are always taking the "e" out of mine. :)

Finally took Monty to the groomer. She is excellent and he was a good boy she said. Waiting for the daughter to take pictures with her digital camera. I don't know how to operate the thing. We will have to be clever because he is very scared of a camera. Don't know why.

Feed your Yorkie a "Healthy Diet" - remember it's the only thing he gets, make sure it's "complete".
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Hello KellyV,

I am an Independent Field Rep. for HealthyPetNet. I found them a little over a year ago when I was searching for a better food for my Yorkie. He had become very lathargic - it was so bad he wouldn't even lift his head.

We spent $$$$ at the vet doing every test available to find the problem. He said he couldn't find anything that would cause the problems he was having and suggested we switch his food.

Monty was on Life's Abundance less than a month when we noticed a significant change. His head was up and his tail was wagging again and his coat is now smooth & silky.

That sold me and I decided to join. Dr Jane Bicks is our formulator - she has a conference call every week, anyone can join in, I have learned a lot from Dr Bicks. She is a holistic veterinarian and has spent most of her career as a vet in nutrition and food formulation. I trust her advice and pass it along here.

I now use California Natural Low Calorie Dry Food ... I use the lamb and rice but soon I am switching to chicken and rice ... just for variety ... but I was told NOT to switch back and forth, it can upset the tummy ... when I used canned food (Hills Science Diet) Monday threw up a lot and had blood in her poop ... since I switched in 9/05 there have NOT been any such instances ....
http://naturapet.com/display.php?d=product-detail&pxsl=%2F%2Fproduct%5B@id%3D%273%27%5D
and Kelly V -- with reference to:
thefitpet---what's your relationship to healthypetnet.com? You're listed as a contact on their website...
Hez obviously a rep kinda like the Avon people .... take it for what itz worth.

Look past the slick marketing....
 

Yes, I am a Rep for HealthyPetNet. I have not tried to hide that or mislead anyone here. If you question my motives please get a bag of your pet food and read the ingredients.

If it contains corn, wheat, soy, gluten, by-products, artificial colors or flavors or chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT or ethoxyquin, or if it has sat in a warehouse for months. I would question the quality of the food and its nutritional value to your pet.

I assume we all want to feed our Yorkies a healthy meal and I don't understand what is wrong with getting pet owners to look past the slick marketing, packaging and advertising. Turn the bag around and look at what is really in your pet's food.

I rely on Dr Jane Bicks and her long career has a holistic veterinarian and food formulator, as my advisor on pet health and nutrition and I agree with her position on raw diets. BLowry's post echoes my feeling on this.

I'm not trying to tell anyone what to feed, or not feed, their pet but I personally would not be comfortable with the risk of feeding a raw diet.

I wish you and your Yorkie the best of health.

I have fed RAW (human-grade meaty bones) successfully for four years. And, my Abigail is thriving on the same.And, it wouldn't "be healthy" if you took a notion to lick a raw chicken leg ;); but, your dogs have enzymes in their mouths that protect them from such nasty things that we are susceptible to. They do NOT, however, have the enzymes to digest grains and fillers in kibble. The more I read about many Yorkies being "picky eaters", and sick, the more I believe it's because their systems just can't handle grains/fillers in dog food, and cooked people food. JMO ummmmm.....where do you get that information? Actually, RAW-fed dogs have far LESS poop, and it's more consitently solid than that of kibble-fed dogs. Because most of the food is digested and used for nutritional needs, less is waste. And, as far as "messy", as with anything else - what comes out is governed by what goes in :). A meal of liver and hearts is going to be more "messy" than a balanced meal of innards, bone and meat. Prey model diet is what we strive for.

Ada you are so right, I'm going to try my dogs on a RAW diet. Before anyone knocks the RAW diet check out this web-site http://www.geocities.com/havens_home/feedraw.htm

If anyone is interested in Nature's Variety kibble or raw, go to their web site and they have a "try it" where you can print a coupon for buy one, get one free of either kind of food.

omega

Lydia ~ Thank-you for being so open-minded about this! :bravo: to you for the courage to improve your furbaby's health.