feeding raw meat?

[kalina82]

I've done a lot of research this weekend on the raw diet. I'm still alittle nervous about strictly feeding RMB and organs, and i don't think its something i want to get into right now. I am going to continue feeding the nature's variety and then switch to Primal, Bravo, and Aunt Jeni's. ( i have samples of the Primal and the actual patty itself just looks better then NVs) I also think i'm going to try giving a chicken leg quarter here and there, and maybe the guy at the holistic store i discovered will get me to start feeding small RMB as an occasional thing.

[TLC]

Well, I bought some Organic Chicken Drum Sticks tonight (they are in the fridge). I am still reeeeaaaallllyyyy unsure about this. I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do. I don't have very much time in the morning, I have a lot to accomplish and then I am off to work, so I really can't wait an hour for them to chow down on a drum stick. Plus, I'd be too paranoid, I would have to sit with them the whole time. So, that just won't work in the AM. My main goal right now is the bone. So, I think I am going to clean off the meat and skin and try out the bone first. Baby steps - for Momma And then I will go from there. This is a BIG step for me

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by TLC

Well, I bought some Organic Chicken Drum Sticks tonight (they are in the fridge). I am still reeeeaaaallllyyyy unsure about this. I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do. I don't have very much time in the morning, I have a lot to accomplish and then I am off to work, so I really can't wait an hour for them to chow down on a drum stick. Plus, I'd be too paranoid, I would have to sit with them the whole time. So, that just won't work in the AM. My main goal right now is the bone. So, I think I am going to clean off the meat and skin and try out the bone first. Baby steps - for Momma And then I will go from there. This is a BIG step for me

LOL i'm with you on this one. Let me know how it goes!

[TLC]

I will. I am doing this (brave step) for Roxy and her teeth. Brushing and PetzLife is just not cutting it right now and I need to take other measures to help her teeth get better. Oh boy! ...in the beginning of the raw adventure, I swore I'd never feed them raw chicken and look, I bet in a week or two, I will sit down with them and let them go to town on a whole drumstick

...last week, I bought 3 extra pieces of tuna and 3 of salmon (raw) from my sushi lunch. I came home and froze it for an hour and then cut it up.
Roxy LOVED it...TJ only ate a little bit of it

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by TLC

I will. I am doing this (brave step) for Roxy and her teeth. Brushing and PetzLife is just not cutting it right now and I need to take other measures to help her teeth get better. Oh boy! ...in the beginning of the raw adventure, I swore I'd never feed them raw chicken and look, I bet in a week or two, I will sit down with them and let them go to town on a whole drumstick

...last week, I bought 3 extra pieces of tuna and 3 of salmon (raw) from my sushi lunch. I came home and froze it for an hour and then cut it up.
Roxy LOVED it...TJ only ate a little bit of it

i've given morgan the raw salmon from my sushi too, tho i didn't freeze it

have you seen this site? http://www.rawfeddogs.net/ some of the 'recipes' include heads.... *shudders* that is a big NO. LOL

edit: Oh and i am getting morgan's teeth cleaned on the 22nd of this month. She still has pieces of a baby molar and i believe are making her breath stink. its horrible. So i'm hoping that after the dental i won't ever have to do it again if she stays on this raw diet.

[lara2913]

I know its really nerve racking but honestly you will feel so much better once you've done it. TLC, it would be much better to give them the whole drumstick because the meat sort of lubricates the bone and makes it much easier and safer for them to eat. Think about it like this, if they are just eating the bone then they have to swallow all that dry bone by itself which is hard and rough on their throats but if its with the meat then once they have crunched the bone they can pull pieces off and it and consume the meat and bone together. Its also much easier for them to digest the meat and the bone together.

Heres some good websites-

www.rawdogranch.com

www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm

www.naturalpetcare.co.uk/nutrition/dogdiet.htm

[abbie's mom]

Please take some time to peruse these sites. Very valuable info and advise therein regarding RAW feeding. Yes, I know it's scarey. I was terrified when I switched Mozart. But, I'll never feed another pet of mine kibble or canned.

*Feeding Your Dog

**Learn How Easy it is to feed a RAW diet

***RAW fed dogs

Everything I've read concerning RAW feeding has the emphasis on the MEATY in Raw Meaty Bones. Both my dogs love the bones, and would be most happy if they only got bones. But, I know that's a seriously unbalanced diet. Our friends are canines - they need fresh, raw MEAT to build strong muscles and connective tissue. Also, what goes in, must come out. Too much bone can make for a very uncomfortable bm for Fifi or Fido. (*ouch!*)

Please consider joining this RAW feeding group (9,000+ strong), and ask any question you'd like. These people are dedicated to helping educate folks who want to improve the lives of their fur friends.

[TLC]

I have read through lots of stuff over the past couple of months. I agree with you and the sites...it's just me being nervous

I have already joined the rawfeeding group over at yahoo months ago. I find them very hard to navigate and they are totally against the 'premade' raw foods, so I am afraid to post over there, b/c to be honest, I know that I will never switch completely. The premade is great for my lifestyle right now. Like I said before, I don't have a lot of time in the morning to watch them eat a chicken drumstick, so that's where the premade raw is very good for us.

But since I have bought the Organic Drumsticks yesterday, I will clean off most of the skin and any fat and freeze them. This Saturday, I will sit with them and let them go to town on it.

Here's my question: TJ is 6.8 lbs and Roxy 5.2 lbs. (I have Cuddles too, but I am not switching her to raw just yet, soon though) - Anyway, is a (1)Drumstick each too much??? Should I have gotten the Wings??? Currently they eat in the AM and PM - So what should I do??? Thanks!

[lara2913]

I think one chicken drumstick each is fine, my babies weigh between 5 and 12 pounds but they would all have 1 drumstick each for a meal. As I usually buy alot at once there is a choice of sizes and I would just choose which drumstick was appropriate for which dogs (i.e a big one for my 12lb boy and smaller ones for my 5 and 6.5lb babies). For them that would be 1 out of 2 meals in the day.

Just like in the wild its not nessasary for them to have exactly the same amount each meal, so if you gave them quite a big rmb for their last meal, give them something smaller the next meal (and vise versa).

[abbie's mom]

Originally Posted by TLC

Here's my question: TJ is 6.8 lbs and Roxy 5.2 lbs. (I have Cuddles too, but I am not switching her to raw just yet, soon though) - Anyway, is a (1)Drumstick each too much??? Should I have gotten the Wings??? Currently they eat in the AM and PM - So what should I do??? Thanks!

The general guideline is 2% to 3% of your dog's ideal adult weight. This is only a starting point. Each dog is different. Watch your dog's waist and ribs. If your dog gets too chuby, cut back on what you're feeding. If your dog gets too thin, increase what you're feeding.

The above quote taken from RAW Feeding FAQs, and is the generally accepted guideline. Please take a moment to read the rest of this page.

With my own dogs, I offer two meals a day, and let them eat to fill. I keep threatening to cut back to feeding once daily, as most of the time food is left over. Clearly, these dogs are not hungry! You may find that once your pups start eating real food, they may not need as much to satisfy growing requirements. But at first, they may eat like they've been stranded on a deserted island for a month. That's OK - their little bodies are starving for digestible nutrition. They'll settle in to a reasonable routine.

[lara2913]

Or sorry another suggestion, you could work out how much they need daily using the calculation that they need 2-4% of their body weight daily (depending on how much excersise and the particular dog etc) , give them the rmb (weigh it) and then work out from that how much they will need for the other meal from that. I did this to start with and it was easy because I do one rmb meal and one muscle meat (plus offal and anything else you are feeding that day) meal. I don't do this anymore though, I just work it out myself based on how they are weight wise, excersise etc.

[TLC]

With the 'premade' raw that I feed now, I was using the 2% of their ideal weight.

Roxy is a bit flabby and I feel if she could get down to 5 lbs that woudl be great (for now, plus she needs more exercise...it's just she been in LP recovery for the past year) - So she should get 1.6 oz a day (I split it into 2 feedings)

TJ is pretty muscular and I feel he was best at 6.5 lbs - So he should get 2.08 oz a day (I split it into 2 feedings)

I just bought a digital UltraShip scale - I am hoping that it works well with weighing oz. - other wise I will have to buy a portion control scale.

Back to the Chicken Drumsticks - they probably weigh alot more than that, but I should have the scale today and I will figure it out

[abbie's mom]

Originally Posted by TLC

Oh boy! ...in the beginning of the raw adventure, I swore I'd never feed them raw chicken and look, I bet in a week or two, I will sit down with them and let them go to town on a whole drumstick

Yep, you'll soon find yourself feeding them good stuff like offal and *errrmmmm* chicken feet, without batting an eye! I never imagined I could feed chicken feet; but both mine just love 'em! They are a great natural source of condroitin and glucosamine - wonderful for joints and ligaments.

[lara2913]

Lol yep thats true, i used to be squeamish at have to handle raw chicken, now I don't bat an eyelid when chopping up whole raw hearts!

[lara2913]

Originally Posted by TLC

I have read through lots of stuff over the past couple Like I said before, I don't have a lot of time in the morning to watch them eat a chicken drumstick, so that's where the premade raw is very good for us.

You woulden't have to do that if you fed their muscle meat, offal and other bits in the morning and the rmb's in the evening. Thats what works for lots of people.