Let's compare notes for those of you that stayed with raw food.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Many of you have decided to stick with the raw food diets your puppies were raised on. Here is a chance to share what you find works for you. Any questions?
Here is a plate made up for Ruby during her 'morning sickness phase' when raw meat was not appealing to her.
Carrots, apple, strawberries and yogurt

[Nancy - Opal, Meadow & Tariki]

Yeah my girls love carrots and apple, and yoghurt, haven't tried strawberries. On a hot day I will slice up an apple and then pick some carrots from the garden and just throw them on the lawn and the girls get a nice cool snack. Also that canned tripe is a HUGE treat here.... I think it is dog chocolate! It makes me gag but Opal would bathe in it I think, if she could.

[Katherine]

Hugo LOVES the canned tripe. It is disgusting smelling - I take the can straight out (left it in the kitchen garbage the first time and the smell permeated the room. Blah.) He loves yogurt, eggs. I have been buying the pre-made frozen food. Pricey. I also have a kibble called Evo that I use for training treats - the shop where I get the raw food recommended it as close to raw (no grains or anything and again pricey). He loves it even though it is just little pieces also some really stinky salmon bits called grizzly bites or something like that. Marrow bones are a hit. No aggression either - I took the marrow bone away in mid chew (they last about 1 1/2 hours) just to see, thinking if he was going to get worked up about anything...it was just a little test, I gave it right back. I tried carrots - cooked and raw. He sniffs them and then just looks at me with a "you are kidding right?" expression.

[Nancy - Opal, Meadow & Tariki]

Yeah I dump my tripe can in the sink with dish soap before I even finish serving. I used that Evo food for Opal last time she was pregnant - well actually both girls ate it as Meadow thought she was pregnant too and was difficult to feed. They loved it and you didn't have to feed as much. I have been feeding some meat/bone/organ mixture that comes in .5lb patties. I am keeping red meat days seperate from chicken days - Opal seems to get a little bit of the runs when I mix the meats I think. Chicken days they get 3/4lb of chicken mixture with this Sojos Europa mixed in for breakfast and a plate of wingtips for dinner. The Europa mix is all the veggies, some oils, egg, and other additivies... the girls love it and I feed 1/4 of the recommended amount. The girls get half a beef brick in the mornings and elk or lamb for dinner on red meat days. I throw in yoghurt when I think about it and an egg... when I am feeling really nice I cook a sweet potato and mix it with butter and honey. When I am in juicing mode I freeze the left over pulp in little packets to mix in with their food. I am researching some other raw food will let you know if I find anything interesting, It's hard to beat the price at Surrey Meat Packers $50 for 50lb (plus tax/delivery) but it's not very convenient and they changed the mixture and my girls are not all that fussy about it any more. I may end up back there.. the stuff I feed right now is costing me $7.50 a day for elk and $4.50 a day for chicken - total for both dogs. That's a little more than I want to spend.

[Nancy - Opal, Meadow & Tariki]

I forgot to mention that I also use GSE (Grape Seed Extract). I add 2 drops to their drinking water in a large bucket in an effort to keep their water more bacteria free from anything hanging around their mouths.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Actually Nancy, we [you and I] use GSE for yeast type things. I put silver colloids in the water for bacteria.

[Nancy - Opal, Meadow & Tariki]

And I do what I am told... lol... thanks for correcting that Barb. Apparently I was confused!

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

You do what your told very well, obviously without question. lol What a great guardian mom you are.

[Nancy - Opal, Meadow & Tariki]

Okay here's a question.... I am going to give my girls one meal that is bigger than the other... should it be breakfast or dinner? I know I should shake things up and they get variety of tastes... just wondering what thoughts there are around meal amounts.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Depends on their walking/outdoor schedule. Since I know basically what your girls are doing, I would say morning for the bigger meal. I do that myself because my dogs are outside during the day a lot.
For people that work and mostly walk their dogs in the evening, I suggest that dinner be the bigger meal.

[Nancy - Opal, Meadow & Tariki]

That's what I was thinking too.... they are getting much more exercise int he day now. So... would you do the patties with veggies etc for breakie and keep to fewer wingtips for dinner to cut down? After yesterdays gruelling day they got a 1/2lb chicken patty and half a can of tripe each this morning. Opal just seems SOOO big to me right now... can't find any ribs on her. Mind you her coat is thick thick thick.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I love the raw diet. Ive been feeding my cats it for over 5 years, and everyone comments on how wonderful their fur is! Cooper, the new puppy, is loving it too! Our neighbour feeds his dog raw too, and at 3 years old she is in perfect health. We get it delivered from Wild Thyme in Port Moody and share the delivery cost. I occasionally give them Now from Petcurean, I find dried kibble handy for when I forget to get out meat to defrost and they love it as treats! Its grain free and is made from only fresh, hormone free, deboned meats (Absolutely no rendered meats or oils), Farm Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, pre-biotics, pro-biotics and digestive enzymes.

Yummy!