Jess041
Forums Enthusiast
I am definitely lucky to have a vet who supports raw feeding, and a bunch of friends that also feed raw. I have a lot of resources when I have questions!
Need advice
- Thread starter Cleo2014
- Start date
Cleo2014
Forums Enthusiast
Thanks everyone for all the information. Now I just need to decide if I should buy the premade stuff or try to mix it all myself. Mixing it would require me to hunt down places that have organs and such and I have no clue if the Asian markets in town sell that. I never go to Asian markets so I guess that would be a good place to start if any. We only have 2 here I think. Going to compare pricing and see what I can afford. Decisions, decisions.
Margi
Premium Member
I guess the thing that always stopped me from buying pre-made raw is I still wouldn't know for sure what's in it. When I give the boys dinner I know its all human grade food.
Have you looked to see if Terre Haute has a raw feeding co-op? Or anywhere else close by? We get big discounts on cases of meat thru group buying. There are raw feeding groups on yahoo and facebook where you might find folks in your area.
I get the majority of my raw food thru the Mexican and Asian markets and our local group of course. There isn't a lot to mix...most grocery stores will have some chicken livers and hearts.
Have you looked to see if Terre Haute has a raw feeding co-op? Or anywhere else close by? We get big discounts on cases of meat thru group buying. There are raw feeding groups on yahoo and facebook where you might find folks in your area.
I get the majority of my raw food thru the Mexican and Asian markets and our local group of course. There isn't a lot to mix...most grocery stores will have some chicken livers and hearts.
Cleo2014
Forums Enthusiast
I did some looking and didn't seem to get anywhere. When I have more time than I do now, I will take the time to dig deep into it more. Would some place like a local meat market be a place I could start?
Margi
Premium Member
We had some luck with local butchers, but most didn't want to mess with us. I buy lots of what we jokingly call "used meat" LOL--you know the stuff marked down cuz its gonna expire? This is why a freezer is a good idea--when the chicken livers were 10 cents a package 
I bought em all!
Our raw feeding group got a supplier that delivers when we order 500 lbs of meat. Here's a link to our order form if you want to see what we are paying.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wTzqKtzUK6-5cCIppX27tx6OlntDPmdYQIDAznfM9mc/viewform
I bought em all! Our raw feeding group got a supplier that delivers when we order 500 lbs of meat. Here's a link to our order form if you want to see what we are paying.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wTzqKtzUK6-5cCIppX27tx6OlntDPmdYQIDAznfM9mc/viewform
Horse Chestnut
Forums Regular
Margi, those are good prices on the game hens and beef! The prices on organs are comparable to what I pay at the Asian market I shop. Does your group also buy green tripe? I wish I could find a group, but the ones I contacted in Columbus all have their pick-up times in the evenings, and I work second shift.
Margi
Premium Member
Yes they get the tripe thru a different source. I used to order it, but the smell was ummm overwhelming 
This is another source we use:
http://www.freshrawdogfood.com/
Wonder if Cincy or Dayton has a group? Or pay a neighbor kid to go get it for you
This is another source we use:http://www.freshrawdogfood.com/
Wonder if Cincy or Dayton has a group? Or pay a neighbor kid to go get it for you
My advice before looking for a brand is to make sure your vet supports your switching to a raw diet. With a previous puppy who was already on a BARF diet, my vet didn't and I actually needed to change the diet to kibble which isn't all that easy when the pup is used to BARF. (I was constantly told that the seeds from the vegetable purees that I added to the ground meat would interfere with fecal testing, the bones were unsafe, and the raw chicken was bad for the pup.) With both my primary vet and emergency vet so adamant against BARF I finally gave in and switched to a kibble (and during the time of the switch, I ended up having to daily bring pup for weight checks--it was not fun for pup or me.)
Oh my gosh! I nearly forgot about my vet's reaction to the fact that about once a week, I would add fish to the BARF. From her reaction I thought I was lucky not to be reported for animal cruelty! She was definitely NOT a vet that approved of BARF.
Cleo2014
Forums Enthusiast
Yeah, I like my vet except for their choice in pet food. When my cat was having bathroom issues, I asked what I should be feeding him and she told me she thought it was a behavior thing and that Purina was fine because that's what she feeds all her pets. Well I didn't listen and I switched his food to a much better quality and stayed away from Purina (which is what he was on), and no more issues. So I'm sure with Cleo I would get a lecture.
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