PreMix for Cooked Diets

[Caro]

I use a pre-mix product (called Vets All Natural - VAN). It is a very popular product in Australia, and is used extensively in raw diets, although I cook the meat before I add it because my dogs prefer this. The idea is it provides the extra nutrients not provided in a plain raw diet - in particular it adds the items that in the natural environment a dog would get by eating the stomach contents of animals. The ingredients are air dried and the one I use contains grains.

I dont have the time or energy to muck around with balancing their diets myself and find this a much easier way to provide fresh and healthy balanced meals. It is the same with most other people I know who use the VAN, its just easier than remembering to add everything and a healthier alternative to processed kibble. My dogs enjoy it too and havent bothered getting into the horse feed since they started on the VAN.

VAN has been in Australia for around for 15yrs and is probably the most popular holistic food, if the ones you are looking at are anything like VAN then definately give it a go. You may be able to write to the companies and ask for samples to try it out first.

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

The idea is it provides the extra nutrients not provided in a plain raw diet - in particular it adds the items that in the natural environment a dog would get by eating the stomach contents of animals.

I think the stomach thing is bogus. They have observed wolves in the wild shaking out the stomach contents to get to the better stomach lining. I even know of raw fed dogs who do the same thing when given a whole deer stomach. When we had a cat who was a small animal eater, she would leave us the stomachs and some intestines on the front porch. That and some feathers was how we knew she had gotten one.

http://www.rawfed.com/myths/stomachcontents.html

But if you dogs like to eat it, then that's fine, but it's not necessary to their nutrition.

 

[jkerr]

That's the thing that has been driving me crazy since I started out on this venture. I guess I am the type of person that needs to know right from wrong. One thing says grains (like the reference to contents in prey's stomach) but then others pride themselves on grain free since dogs and cats do not need grains. I am hoping my dogs will help me figure out what works best for them

I started a blog yesterday to document our journey through all other this. Right now it is focusing on Ellie and her progression. I noticed today, that while her scabs are not get smaller length wise, I believe they are coming inward width wise. I will eventually cover my experience with the holistic vet and the diet that works best for my dog (once I am more comfortable with it). The blog is not intended as a learning tool, because I am learning myself. I am hoping it will help me document everything a little better. But, there are a lot of pictures, so if you are curious about my pup, check it out.
http://mylove4shelties.blogspot.com/

 

[Justicemom]

I think the stomach thing is bogus. They have observed wolves in the wild shaking out the stomach contents to get to the better stomach lining. I even know of raw fed dogs who do the same thing when given a whole deer stomach. When we had a cat who was a small animal eater, she would leave us the stomachs and some intestines on the front porch. That and some feathers was how we knew she had gotten one.

http://www.rawfed.com/myths/stomachcontents.html

But if you dogs like to eat it, then that's fine, but it's not necessary to their nutrition.

I had some green tripe that I got from a friend. They got it as a whole rumen and chopped it up themselves and there was a lot of feed left in the pieces of tripes. The dogs did just as you said, they shook out the feed and ate the stomach lining.

The tripe I get now the butcher rinses it out and course grinds it. Don't get your fingers in the way when they get that. No shaking it off needed.

 

[Caro]

Its a good idea to let your dogs guide you. As mine would actively seek out grains through eating horse food I had no doubt they enjoyed grains and had no problem with them. I dont feed my cat grains as she is a carnivore and would rather eat the horse than its food.

Dogs are not wolves just like we are not monkeys so I am not a fan of either cave man diets or wild dog diets (and as an executive in human health this is something I see a lot). But I do believe in giving the dogs the same quality in their food I expect for myself so I give them fresh meat, but I also dont want to risk dietary deficiencies and I find the premix provides that balance and I do not have to give them supplements.

I can understand your concerns about giving Emma a balanced diet because of her health. All I can say is premix is very popular in Australia and has been for years. But we dont tend to have the health problems in pedigrees we see overseas so while I know many who use it for dogs with allergies or arthritis I have not seen it used for other ailments.