Help with RAW - Page 1

I'd just like to ask about raw meat for feeding. I've tried searching for local meat places or raw feed for dogs that are reasonable here in KY but hadn't had any luck. Would it be the same if I purchased meat or produce from WalMart or Kroger, etc to feed my dogs? Also is their a guide chart that can help me determine how much i should feed my dogs. Any input will help me out, Thank You. please pm me or post on here. I've also tried to search for old posts about raw feeding but still cant.

sorry, there* instead on their.

Rule of thumb is 1 to 3 percent of ideal body weight. I go by how my dogs look. If I think they need to put on more weight, I up it a bit, if they look like they are putting it on too quick, I cut back a little. I shop sales. Look for stores that may discount meat near end of buy by date. Be cautious of chicken that is enchanced. There are several good raw feeding lists on yahoo which will help you through the process.

There are many, many different styles of feeding raw.

One thing that is important, meat alone is not complete.  What I mean is just buying a package of ground meat is not complete.  Dogs need to eat bone for the calcium and other minerals.

My dogs eat a lot of chicken legs and thighs which I buy at the supermarket.

I grind up whole chickens, bone and all, and mix it with Honest Kitchen Preference which is made to mix with raw meat.  I also through in Liquid Health K9 vitamins, salmon oil, a few drops of Vitamin E and some apple cider vinegar. I mix up a lot at a time and freeze the extra in portions for easy living in the future.  They get a cup or two 7 days out of 10 along with chicken thighs and drumsticks.  Some days they just get chicken parts.  Some days they get commercially prepared defrosted patties with chicken parts.  I buy stuff on sale and stock up my "dog" freezer in the garage.

   

When I am lazy, I use Stella and Cheweys burgers or Instict burgers.  There are other brands-all expensive.

  

I do about 40 percent whole chickens, 30 percent organs, whatever animals are available,15 of which is liver and the remaining 30 is fish, pork, ostrich, green tripe, eggs, whatever else looks interesting really. Max weighs 39.2 kgs, and eats between 1 and 1.3 kgs a day, fed once in the morning. Leia weighs 25 kgs and eats 500-600 grams per day. Max is a fair deal more rigorously active than Leia hence the difference in terms of percentage. Nothing in excess and everything in moderation, pretty sure I read that here, and it is the best advice, and keep reading, there are nice links on Jenni78's kennels website, my favorite being http://rawfed.com/myths/feedraw.html Good luck, you have no idea how much better you are about to make your dogs lives.

How much to feed depends on the individual dog, their age, their activity level, their metabolism. Some dogs will need more to stay at a good weight, some dogs less. Keep an eye on your dog and adjust amounts accordingly. As a rule of thumb, plan on feeding two pounds a day on average. Though as mentioned, it will depend on the dog - my GSD can easily get 3+ lbs a day and he stays slim. My 65 pound rottie mix gets about 1 1/2 lbs a day, and puts on weight easily, so I have to adjust accordingly. 

I get a lot of deals at the supermarket when meats go on sale. Anything under a dollar a pound is a steal. I buy pigs' feet, liver, spleen for cheap at grocery stores. Turkey necks, and chicken leg quarters and whole turkeys when on sale.