Feeding Raw?

[Kimberly Risley]

Okay I plan on feeding raw, but also canned food. The reason is I'm considering when we have hurricanes or tornadoes and loose our power say for more then one day. By the way we went without power for 8 days during the 2004 hurricane season.... Of course back then we went to stay with family and only had a bird to worry about.... 

For people that say they feed their dogs 100% raw do you have a backup plan when you can't do that? Plus I'm thinking when I take our dog to stay with people that they may not be inclined to feed raw.

So, my plan was to feed raw and canned. What do others do?

Sorry if this has been talked about, but didn't really find this subject or just didn't search for it right.

[Cheryl & Matey & Checkers]

I feed my GD and LD raw but change it up one or two meals a week with Newmans organic beef and liver in a can. The food is grain free and I like to supplement their usual Bravo blend diet with some liver. They have both been on a raw diet since they have been puppies and they are now 3 and 5 years old, healthy and lean.

[Vivian & Mojo]

I was feeding 100% raw but decided to do the morning meal raw and the evening grain free kibble. My back up plan when 100% raw was freeze dried raw. I still keep it on hand but with 50% kibble can always give the kibble for both meals.

[Gail and Bailey]

Look into Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw food.  It would work perfectly in all the situations you mentioned.  I use it as a topper on kibble but it can stand alone as a raw food.

[Kimberly Risley]

Thanks for the replies..... Gives me some ideals..

[Trudy Harlow]

We feed Raw Meaty Bones -- that is, our dog eats the same sort of meat we do:  a lot of meat with a little bone (but never beef bones).  There is good evidence against mixing kibble with raw, so I can't recommend that.  The easy thing about RMB is that because our Paddy eats the same food we do (without the grains, dairy, veggies and fruits), it's always on hand.  In case of prolonged power outages, it's been really handy to have him help us eat up what's melting in the freezer.  Also, he does eat raw eggs, and they last in a cool spot pretty well.

I have not yet had anyone refuse to feed him his raw food, but OTOH, I would not leave my dog with someone who refused to feed him his usual diet.  My concern would be that, on top of the anxiety produced by our absence, he'd be dealing with stomach issues too from having a different type of food.  Not a good combination.  So I think if you packed up portion-sized bags of food for your dog and took that along with the dog, then it wouldn't be any sort of huge issue.

Because grocery stores are always available, I don't have any backup plan.  It's that easy!

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

I would like to know if chickens are corn fed, can that affect the dog if they are sensitive to corn?  I am going raw and would like to give my doodle chicken...is it different from giving her the kibble that was chicken based?  She has been licking her paws & under her tail.  The vet checked her out and said it may be food or it may be environmental.  Told me to start her out on one protein for four months and see how she does.  Then try another protein.  I have been doing research on raw because she has so many issues already and I thought I was doing right by giving her a quality kibble.  Any help is appreciated.

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

Thank you ever so much for responding.  I have been trying to do as much research as I can and learn for myself.  My Vet is not real supportive, because of the samonella issue, he does admit it is a bigger issue for the humans handling the raw.  Anyway, he is aware I am switching her to raw.

As for the organ meats, I was starting to give her 1 ounce per day. I read this on Dr. Karen Becker's Mercola.com site.  Do you think I should wait?  Actually I have to semi cook the organ meat because she was not eating it.   She weighs 51#'s and needs to lose 3#'s.  I am giving her 1/2 # of chicken in a.m. and 1/2 in pm.  I am also giving her digestive enzymes & glucosomine.  She is taking the glucosomine for mild hip dysplasia...altho she is only 2.  She has had issues with anal glands also.  I thought I was doing all the right things by this new and wonderful puppy, but I realize I have a lot to learn.  Thank you again for your much appreciated help.  I just don't want to admit that I do not know what cannon butt is...is that the loosies?

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Yes, cannon butt is the loosies.  I also have a question regarding raw.  I used to top off his food (The honest kitchen) with chicken necks..then I noticed he would throw up at night, and I would actually see the little vertebrae in his throw up (sorry, I know its gross) I stopped topping his food with the raw necks, and now instead I top with cooked chicken breasts.  Any thoughts on to why he would throw up from the necks?  I would like to switch back to raw, but I am scared of him throwing up bone...

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

He usually is not a gulper..though, by finding the vertebrae ..ugh, who knows! So would a turkey drumstick be the best to start out with? I think I am most nervous about pieces of the bone splintering off..

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

Thank you very much for the advice...When you say that the dogs should not have the large weight bearing bones, what exactly do you mean?  I have been giving my dog a beef marrow bone from the grocery store once a week..I get it cut to about 5-6", and trim some of the fat off.  He just eats the meat around it, and the marrow inside..is this not a good idea? I see what you mean about the bone being very dense...

[Trudy Harlow]

No beef bones, period.  All are too dense for dogs' teeth.  When I feed beef shank, I remove the meat and dig out the marrow for my dog, then either store the bone for my own use (stock) or toss it.  If your dog is getting bone in his regular food, he does not need the additional chewing time on the marrow bone.