Originally Posted by lara2913 (Post 1299674)

My three yorkies are on a raw diet and I can honestly say they have never looked healthier than they are on this diet. I also think they get alot on enjoyment out of having different foods every day of the week.

I think alot of people have a knee jerk reaction to a raw diet, thinking that its gross because they would not like to eat it personally. However as much as we all think of our dogs as babies at the end of the day they are canines and as canines they have very different nutritional requirements to us. Dogs bodies were made to rip, tear and crunch up raw meat and bones just like their ancestors did years ago.

Before switching to raw its very important to do your research, the most important thing is to get the right balance between the different foods.

Ideally you want them to be eating about 60% raw meaty bones, these are small edible bones covered in meat such as chicken wings, lamb chops, chicken drumsticks, turkey's necks (chopped up for the little guys) etc. They won't get stuck in their throats because they crunch them up before eating them however if you are really worried then you can give the rmb a bash with a hammer so that the bone is crushed before you even give it to them.

Then about 30% of their diet should be muscle meat, this is meat without the bone such as breast meat or ground meat.

Then about 5% offal (organ meat) such as liver, lidney etc

Finally although this is widely debated most people like to do 5% fruit, veg, live yogurt (this is very important) and raw eggs.

Large, hard bones such as beef bones are classed as recreational bones and are fine for dogs to chew on but aren't classed as part of the diet as they should not be consumed.

You don't feed all of these things at every meal however because the aim is to balance their diet over time, so for example you may try to get all the ratios correct over a period of a week.

When feeding raw there is a very small risk of neosporum caninum however this risk can be eliminated if you freeze the meat for a minimum of 48 hours prior to feeding.

It is however important to remember that just like our own diets what suits one dog may not suit another and you can tweak the diet to suit your own dog.


(p.s I want to make it clear that i'm not preaching the raw diet but I thought my input may help people who are considering it as an option for their dog)

Originally Posted by lara2913 (Post 1299674)

My three yorkies are on a raw diet and I can honestly say they have never looked healthier than they are on this diet. I also think they get alot on enjoyment out of having different foods every day of the week.

I think alot of people have a knee jerk reaction to a raw diet, thinking that its gross because they would not like to eat it personally. However as much as we all think of our dogs as babies at the end of the day they are canines and as canines they have very different nutritional requirements to us. Dogs bodies were made to rip, tear and crunch up raw meat and bones just like their ancestors did years ago.

Before switching to raw its very important to do your research, the most important thing is to get the right balance between the different foods.

Ideally you want them to be eating about 60% raw meaty bones, these are small edible bones covered in meat such as chicken wings, lamb chops, chicken drumsticks, turkey's necks (chopped up for the little guys) etc. They won't get stuck in their throats because they crunch them up before eating them however if you are really worried then you can give the rmb a bash with a hammer so that the bone is crushed before you even give it to them.

Then about 30% of their diet should be muscle meat, this is meat without the bone such as breast meat or ground meat.

Then about 5% offal (organ meat) such as liver, lidney etc

Finally although this is widely debated most people like to do 5% fruit, veg, live yogurt (this is very important) and raw eggs.

Large, hard bones such as beef bones are classed as recreational bones and are fine for dogs to chew on but aren't classed as part of the diet as they should not be consumed.

You don't feed all of these things at every meal however because the aim is to balance their diet over time, so for example you may try to get all the ratios correct over a period of a week.

When feeding raw there is a very small risk of neosporum caninum however this risk can be eliminated if you freeze the meat for a minimum of 48 hours prior to feeding.

It is however important to remember that just like our own diets what suits one dog may not suit another and you can tweak the diet to suit your own dog.


(p.s I want to make it clear that i'm not preaching the raw diet but I thought my input may help people who are considering it as an option for their dog)

Originally Posted by Sookie (Post 1299283)

I heard that raw meat is good for dogs with allergies but I also heard that a dog that is on only raw meat sometimes has a strange odor.

Originally Posted by TLC (Post 1300296)

I have been feeding raw since March 07

I started out on the NV - but for me at the end of the day...it still is a commercial pet food. I just have some doubts about that brand.

So, I found a local distributor that has researched 'premade' raw and only carries the best of the best.

So, I switched them over to a brand called mOrigins (www.morigins.com)
They love this product, but after a couple months, and some input from others, I just felt the fat % was a little too high for my two.

Next, I went to Aunt Jeni's (www.auntjeni.com) - So far they have had the Rabbit flavor. I have the Lamb in the freeze now, so that will be next. But I wanted to keep switching flavors (I have heard it is best to switch things around). So, right now they are on a beef flavor from Healthy Pet Products (www.healthypetdiet.com).

Mine really love the raw diet. They like beef the best and they like it still frozen. I let in thaw in a baggie on the granite counter top for about 10 mins. Then it is soft enough for me to cut into tiny pieces, when I am all done, it has been defrosted for about 15 to 20 mins. - which is enough for them to be able to chew the meat pieces, which helps to clean their teeth.

Now, I am considering getting some chicken drumsticks from the Market. Mine didn't really like the chicken flavor premade, so I don't know how they will like real raw chicken. I think I will cut off the chicken from the bone a freeze the little pieces for 48 hours (as was suggested) and try it that way. Also, the main reason I want to try this is b/c I would like them to chew and eat the bone. Roxy's teeth are in such bad shape. They have gotten a little better, but within the next 6 months, she gonna need a cleaning. She lost a tooth a couple of months ago and the Vet thinks another one is loose. It sucks b/c she is going to be 3 soon. IMO too young to be loosing adult teeth. I do what I can with brushing her teeth at least 3x a week and I use the PetzLife spray. I don't know....so I am hoping that the chicken bones can help her out....I am soooooooooooooooo nervous about it though.

Is the Perdue brand ok to get???? :confused:

Originally Posted by TLC (Post 1300371)

OMG - I wish I could go there!

I want the Goat and I want the Sardine and I want the Duck and Ostrich...

Ok, I am gonna have to make a trip back to my home town (Rockaway) to visit my brother and I have to go to this store!

AWESOME - kalina82 - Great Job!

...about NV - I can't really pin point what it is about it, I just feel that there are BETTER brands that's all ;)

Originally Posted by TLC (Post 1300408)

That whole law thing - it is so baffleing. The business' must be so pissed at all the $ they lose out on. I never understood that whole thing :confused:

Anyway, let me know what you think about the place, b/c if you say it is good, then I am going to call them and place a 'huge' order to pick up next Saturday! I am so excited! The place I go to carries those brands, but not all flavors...

This is what I am going to get:

Aunt Jeni's - Goat 3 lbs
Bravo Ground Elk - 2 lbs
Bravo Ground Ostrich - 2 lbs
Bravo Ground Duck - 1 lb (2x)
Bravo Ground Salmon - 1 lb (2x)
Primal Sardine Ground - 2 lb

That should last me a few months (hahahaha)

Originally Posted by TLC (Post 1300296)

Now, I am considering getting some chicken drumsticks from the Market. Mine didn't really like the chicken flavor premade, so I don't know how they will like real raw chicken. I think I will cut off the chicken from the bone a freeze the little pieces for 48 hours (as was suggested) and try it that way. Also, the main reason I want to try this is b/c I would like them to chew and eat the bone. Roxy's teeth are in such bad shape. They have gotten a little better, but within the next 6 months, she gonna need a cleaning. She lost a tooth a couple of months ago and the Vet thinks another one is loose. It sucks b/c she is going to be 3 soon. IMO too young to be loosing adult teeth. I do what I can with brushing her teeth at least 3x a week and I use the PetzLife spray. I don't know....so I am hoping that the chicken bones can help her out....I am soooooooooooooooo nervous about it though.

Is the Perdue brand ok to get???? :confused:

Originally Posted by lara2913 (Post 1301224)

Thats great Safire but can I just suggest that you don't leave the kibble down at all? Because if he should eat some of it and then you gave him raw within 5 hours of that it could cause problems as they are digested at totally different rates.