How many of us feed raw??

[Esmiles04]

I have really become interested in feeding raw to Sophie as well as my kitties. This is due in large part to the fact that Emmie, my overweight kitty has gained weight, even having tried 3 different weight loss formula foods and these were high quality kibble foods. I've not switched Sophie yet because she's had bouts of diarrhea that only recently cleared, so I wanted to wait for her immune system to improve a bit. Not to mention, I've tried home cooking and found out that Sophie has a food intolerance to grains and having to worry about the supplementation is not fun either. It's tough, I just want the best for my babies. When they say feed 10% this, 20% that, and so on, how do you figure out how much to feed of organ meat, muscle meat, and bones?

 

[GeeRome]

80% muscle meat, 10% edible bone, 5% liver, 5% secreting organ.

Check out my link to starting raw FAQs:
http://sheltie-hair.blogspot.com/2008/09/raw-food-diet-for-dogs-starting-raw.html

 

[Esmiles04]

Thanks GeeRome. I'll take a look.

 

[romeosangiovese]

Anyone has any thoughts on giving supplements while feeding raw? Whether vitamins and minerals or stuff like oils, garlic, sea kelp, etc?

 

[Crestlynn]

Anyone has any thoughts on giving supplements while feeding raw? Whether vitamins and minerals or stuff like oils, garlic, sea kelp, etc?

Right now my dogs are mostly on venison so I don't really have to add anything as I'm told they have plenty of Omega 3's. I will add that once I change my meat source. The only other thing that I add is a bit of kefir when I feed the organs since we are still getting used to that and I don't want loose stools. They also get diatamaceous earth (when I remember LOL) for the parasites. Other than that, I don't add any vitamins or such and they are all show ready

 

[GeeRome]

Here are my views on supplementing a raw diet:
http://sheltie-hair.blogspot.com/2008/11/supplements-for-raw-feeding.html

 

[Ania]

Crestlynn, what does the kefir do? Does it help with loose stools? Maia gets very loose stools from organ meats, especially liver, which she needs, and from Omega 3's. She refuses to eat raw fish, so I have to supplement the Omega 3, and then watch her carefully as she gets the runs. Otherwise, she has has a stomach of steel.

 

[Crestlynn]

Crestlynn, what does the kefir do? Does it help with loose stools? Maia gets very loose stools from organ meats, especially liver, which she needs, and from Omega 3's. She refuses to eat raw fish, so I have to supplement the Omega 3, and then watch her carefully as she gets the runs. Otherwise, she has has a stomach of steel.

Kefir is a natural probiotic much like yogurt but this is not processed. I make my own from ancient grains but I do use processed milk since I can't get raw milk near me. I feel that it does help with the loose stools or hard stools too as it is supposed to restore the natural balance in the intestines. It works wonders on people This is also lactose free so I don't think it is hard on the dogs tummies. I know most raw feeders don't like any type of dairy in the diet, but I think this is different and I don't make it a main staple of the diet.

Thankfully I was blessed with quite a lot of venison and haven't even had to try fish yet. I bet my guys will eat it though....they eat everything else! If not, I do have some Omega 3 oil to add if I need it. I'm really pretty lucky that I haven't had to deal much with stool issues.

 

[BarbV]

I feed mine raw and it is great. They both love it, have small, non smelly poops, and great looking teeth and coats. I do not find it hard to feed. I belong to a sheltie-naturals forum that discusses feeding shelties a raw, natural diet, and then there are a few members here that feed it too that give great advice if I have any questions. With raw, I know exactly what they are eating, and I like that. It gives me peace of mind and they are HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!

Can you send the link to the forum?

Thx

 

[romeosangiovese]

Sheltie Naturals
I just joined!

Geerome, thanks! Your website is as ever, very informative! I'm gonna go study up the nutritional values of the meats I'm giving my boy. I find it a little ironic that I'm reading and working out how to feed him raw properly so that he gets the healthy optimum nutrition he needs while I eat a big Mac (and fries!) at my desk!

Kefir? Interesting. I have found that when I gave chicken gizzards to Romeo he didn't take well to it and his poop went abit mushy. It is probably due to me giving too much too soon tho'. I am going to try again and work it in slowly instead.

Ania, have you tried freezing salmon fillets? Romeo didn't like it raw and room temp but seems to take to it frozen (I forgot to take it out the night before to thaw!) Like a fishy popsicle stick.