Raw and Kibble. To mix, or not to mix...

[Karen & Maple]

As to the claim that kibble digests at different rates than raw, and therefore stresses the GI in some way, or affects absorption, or causes raw food to sit too long in the stomach...where's the science, what's the deal?

M has fought me on eating kibble since forever. She loves Stella and Chewy's. It is $$$$$. Not that I'm ruling it out, to be honest I'm just more inclined towards a raw diet if it's complete and doable. But is there real harm in mixing the two?
Or for that matter- What about mixing cooked meat with kibble re: digestion?

I thought this was interesting:

https://therawfeedingcommunity.com/2015/01/08/digest-this-kibble-ma...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The values they're giving are by volume. You can extrapolate the actual protein percentages by subtraction.

The website gave me this info for the Surf N Turf Frozen Patties. 

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein - min 15.0% 
Crude Fat - min 12.0% 
Crude Fiber - max 2.0% 
Moisture - max 65.0% 

So if we take 100% as the whole, and subtract 65 for the water and 2 for the fiber, we get 33% actual macronutrient content by volume. If protein represents 15% of the whole, then more than 50% of the actual macronutrient content is protein. 

[Karen & Maple]

How'd ya get to be so smaat? Thanks Karen that is good to know. So if I find her stool to be, not very bulky, it would not be unreasonable to add a little sweet potato or green beans?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think it would be fine. If you use green beans, I've found that most dogs prefer the canned green beans, slightly warmed. I buy the "no sodium added" variety. 

[Shari Becker]

Lexi's stool is definitely half the size when she's eating only raw. I never worry about it unless she is straining or seems too dry. Personally, I consider it a gift to have tiny, firm stools that are easy to pick up and trash. :-) Maybe I'm wrong, but the bulk of her diet is commercial raw, and I feel like it has what it needs in it. She gets fish or primrose oil daily. I occasionally add probiotics or slippery elm if her stomach seems a little off. For the most part, the raw meat I give her has the right proportion of bone to meat. If we've gone a few days off commercial, I'll lightly cook a little piece of liver and feed it to her. (She won't eat it raw.) I'll throw in some fruits or vegetables. I figure I'm on commercial 80% of the time, we're good to go. You can post questions in the Raw food group here, too. 

[Karen & Maple]

No kidding, small poo-Why complain, right? No I'm just wondering because sometimes Maple's anal glands leak and I'm thinking good n' fat poos are better for empting them (yuck! I can't believe I just typed that) BUT since starting on S&C about 2 weeks ago, this hasn't happened. We'll see, maybe more firm poos will help.
She's also on EPO and added fish oil for allergies, and probiotics cuz I'm a big believer.
I do follow the raw group but not too closely as I have it in my mind they mostly follow hard core meaty bones diets, but maybe that's not the case.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's pretty much the case, I'm afraid. To the point of handing the dog a lump of frozen solid meat and sending them outside to gulp it down, every single meal, every single day, rain sleet, or snow. :(

[Karen & Maple]

So funny I was curious once what Maple would do, so I put a chuck of fresh chicken thigh down on a towel. She looked at me like 'what the heck am I supposed to do with that?' And ran the other direction. Just as well I think.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And that was at least thawed out and indoors, lol. 

[Shari Becker]

Yes, they are pretty dedicated. ;-)  I think there is a middle ground as there is in everything. Lexi loves, loves tackling a small piece of previously frozen raw meat. It's like a game for her to figure out how to eat it. But you have to leave it with them in the beginning for a while until they figure it out. Don't give another meal, just keep offering the meat. Eventually they figure it out. If you want to try something easy, you can pick up a pack of frozen poultry necks at a pet store. Make sure they sit in your freezer for at least two weeks because you can't be sure how long they've been in the store. Then defrost one in the fridge, and if you are worried about your floor, put down a cardboard box or wipe it down with lysol when you are done. Necks are excellent for cleaning teeth, but don't really substitute for a complete meal. Too many bones. 

[Karen & Maple]

Thanks Shari. Nice idea on the cardboard. We seem to have an abundance in our house.