Just started raw today

[Kimberly and Mikey]

We just started raw today for my doodle. We have had a long road battling allergies and food sensitivities so this is what was recommended. I bought the pre made chubbs of vital essentials in turkey. I am new to this and have no clue about raw. I was feeding his kibble twice a day. Do I feed him raw once or twice a day?

Any tips would be appreciated. 

Thanks

[Trudy Harlow]

Hunks of meat, with a little bone. Chicken wings and necks are far too bony to feed to dogs. I suggest you try her on a chicken leg or a chicken breast. I do buy organic liver, but otherwise my dog eats what I eat (I don't like liver!). Larger pieces of meat (never ground) will enable her to work at her food, which is excellent for her teeth and gums. I have yet to have to have my dog's teeth cleaned. He's nearly 8 years old. Pork ribs are great, with some additional meat on the side since they, too, are bony.

Raw food sellers are going to want you to buy their products. There's no reason at all to buy expensive prepared raw foods when all you need is at the supermarket. Stella and Chewey's is handy for travel, but I agree that for a medium or large sized dog, it's enormously expensive.

You will hear that dogs are "omnivores" but that is simply not true. Check out the species classification at the Smithsonian, which states that dogs are extremely close physically to their wolf ancestors. Their digestive tracts are very short, which allows them to eat all kinds of bacteria-laden food without getting sick (this is why we don't mix kibble and raw food -- it slows digestion down and can risk an infection). Their digestive juices are very strong, able to dissolve bone.

Contrary to popular thought, wolves do not eat vegetables and fruits. They do not eat the contents of their prey's stomach. They go for the liver and other high-value organ meat, and muscle, and (in the case of large animals like deer) smaller bones that are easily chewed. Truly, your dog does not need vegetables or fruit (just look at what comes out the other end when they do eat those things), but if you choose to feed her that, that's fine. If you feed her an all-meat diet in the right quantities, she will not gain weight.

I urge you to read Tom Lonsdale's book. It will open your eyes!

[Shari Becker]

Okay, this is helpful. And perfect timing since we are trying to cut down on our dog costs. $30 a week is a little crazy. Do you cut the breast into pieces or let the dog gnaw at it straight? And how do you know how much to feed? Do you ever add in canned salmon? I know you have to be very careful with fish, but these itchy pups need the oil, right?

BTW, I am always somewhat amused when raw food is recalled .... 

[Trudy Harlow]

I don't know how big your pup is, but mine is 50 lbs and I feed the whole thing. The idea is to let the dog gnaw, which helps gums and keeps teeth clean, plus releases endorphins in the dog's brain.

I just feel my dog's ribs from time to time to see if I should be feeding more or less. You have to understand that my Paddy is a VERY picky eater. He doesn't eat much, except about once a week, he'll pig out. So it's useful to know your dog's eating habits. Most Labs, and therefore many Labradoodles, are chowhounds and their owners have to limit how much they have available to eat. This is from the Raw Meaty Bones group's raw feeding brochure:

Very roughly your dog should be fed about 20% of his total target body weight in food over one week.

Examples:
A dog weighing 9k (approx 19lbs) should have approx 1.8k (approx

3.5lbs) per week.
A dog weighing 18k (approx 38lbs) should have approx 3.6k (approx

7.6lbs) per week.
A dog weighing 50k (approx 110lbs) should have approx 10k (approx

22lbs) per week.

 

[Trudy Harlow]

I occasionally feed canned sardines because my dog will not eat raw fish, but raw fish is always preferable to canned. Best to give him salmon oil, which you can buy online.

I really urge you to join the Yahoo group and read there. It all sounds confusing at first, but it quickly becomes just what you do and is second nature.

[Kimberly and Mikey]

I bought the ground package of vital essentials. It was recommended from the pet nutritionist we use. I have no clue. It's def not cheap since he is 75 pounds

[Helga, Nimbus, Sierra, Clooney]

The book "Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs " by Lew Olsen was very helpful to me.