What’s 4 Dinner Doggie - Page 1

I know we have discussed this topic in the past and I have read through the threads and also Googled articles, but I’m looking for current thoughts and fresh ideas with regard to what people are feeding who are NOT feeding kibble.

I’ve research kibble and have exhausted that topic personally. I currently feed Redford Naturals Potato formula which has salmon, turkey meal, and chicken meal as the first three ingredients. It’s a good food as far as kibble go, but I’m kinda done with the concern that goes with feeding manufactured foods.

In light of the current concern with Diamond on the other thread and the reality of any brand having the potential for the same, I am interested in what other feed in the way of NON KIBBLE DIETS,,,

I am not a fan, though my fiancé is of a total raw diet for our 18 month old male. So, I’d prefer thoughts and opinions on a diet of both cooked and raw whole foods and supplements.

Thanks 😊

Well I have to agree the processed s- - - is not what I want to feed; however, not all can take raw, which is my case. What about cooking with a small amount of kibble.

Dogs only need meat; they do not need vegi's or any potato or grain or carbs for that matter. It's nice however not necessary yet does need to be balanced. No go figure that one out.

The only thing I can figure is that OK so you pick your meat, and pick enough that you can change their proteins about every 3 months; on a rotation; OK and TRY to find a vitamin that you can give to could possibly balance their nutritional needs. So far I have not been able to find that and it should NOT be that difficult. Your thoughts are welcomed. Nan

Nan~ you were reading my mind with regard
to the supplement!
The protein in the biggest part of the diet and that’s easy enough, but making it balanced is the tricky piece.
I can’t wrap my head around throwing a piece of (raw) meat into a bowl and calling it dinner lol ~
The addition of a supplement would put my mind at ease, but isn’t easy to find a simple answer to.
I feel adding yogurt and pumpkin are beneficial too,,,,

Ruger you can add to raw meat/fat food anything (macaroni, rice, oats, corn, bread, potatoes, etc) as long as dog do not refuse to eat.
just do not make proportion of supplement bigger than protein base. what is good for you, in most cases will be good for dog as well.
and avoid onion and garlic.

Valk ~ Do you supplement with a vitamin/mineral additive?
Are you ever concerned with the dogs getting a well balanced diet this way?
How long have you fed your dogs like this?
😊

I‘ve been feeding raw and home cooked for a long time, about 14 years or so. I don‘t trust manufactured dog food. It might have started when my mom fed our dogs GainesBurgers in the 60’s that smelled and looked suspiciously like my toy PlayDough 🤢. Although I do feed Victor NutraPro kibble occasionally, if I travel. Which is one of the better ones and the dogs do good on it.

Once you get the hang of it, its easy. I only have 2 dogs, so I don‘t have to feed a whole kennel of dogs. It can be more expensive, depending on how and where you source your meat. 

There are a lot of schools of thought on what to feed. There are the people that only feed muscle meat, 10% organs and 10% bone and are adamantly no carbs at all...and those that feed the same, but add pureed vegetables and a small amount of fruit, with some dairy like yogurt or kefir, a small amount of carbs. And some cook the food. And/or add table scraps (add: for those that are not familiar with raw...never-ever feed cooked bones - they splinter and can kill your dog).

I do a combo of all methods. Dogs are scavengers, and have been under human influence for many thousands of years..so apparently they have adjusted and can digest a bit of carbs, compared to wolves.  Here are some meal samples of what I feed my 70-80 pound shepherd dog;

Green Tripe, plain Kefir, beef and chicken feet

Eggs, rib bones and beef, banana and broccoli blend.

I personally do give them a 1 clove of garlic, and a chunk of raw ginger to the vegetable blended glop once a week to help with gut parasites. I don‘t feed onions though. They also get sardines and kelp ( for iodine)  once a week or so.    Depends on what I have at home. Rarely any other vitamin supplements though as I think this is pretty balanced, and vitamin supplements are very controversial too for several reasons. 

I kind of hesitate to post because there are a lot of passionate folks feeding their dogs and think their method is the only one...nothing is as divisive as talking dog food! Well, maybe only politics lately....

 

 

Jesse, what about an invitation for dinner? 😀😁😂

My dog gets a good variety but primarily raw. I switched over to feeding raw about a year ago, using the Titan premixed grinds. Dog lost weight at first and really had to play around with the amounts to get her weight right, she is extremely active and apparently all the carbs in kibble were helping to keep weight up. She gets grain free kibble for tracking only.

75% of what I eat is wild game that I've hunted and processed myself so I share with her whatever I'm eating, a tiny bit cooked and also make raw grinds as a supplement to add to her purchased raw. I've been thinking of getting a few more deer a year and making 100% her own raw.

I never really noticed any big difference between feeding raw and kibble. I don't like how kibble is constantly being recalled and I'm to the point now that purchased raw even concerns me. Having only one dog makes how I feed pretty easy, would definitely feed just high quality kibble if I had more dogs.

Jessi~ Your pictures are lovely !! Those are some lucky doggies 😊 I would love to hear about any other recipes you have and want to pass along.

I agree with you and feel that a little variety using some veggies, fruit, and dairy is the best option too.
I agree with the garlic as well as long as it’s used sparingly.

This is the big issue for me. I CAN NOT for the life of me, as hard as I try to brave it, and even though I know many do without issue give my dogs raw bones!!! I DO give him the big bones with the marrow for chewing, but I’m talking about the bones in the meat that he can actually swallow. I have a concern of him getting a perforated bowel 😳or a puncture in his esophagus! I know; I know but I can’t change how I feel, so I need another option

I am going to have to find another way to incorporate the bone via a bone grinder or if anyone has any other suggestions.

And what about vitamin /mineral supplements ? Does anyone use them ?

Astrovan~ thanks for the post!
What are raw grinds? Does this include bones too?

I’m with you in the concern for the constant recalls on the kibble food! That’s the main reason for wanting to go the homemade route. I am not opposed to giving a quality kibble from time to time, but the steady diet of kibble day in/ day out is not settling well with me.
I don’t think any kibble manufacture is beyond having a recall and the ones that are most unlikely to recall like Orijen, are so terribly expensive I can’t personally justify spending that kind of money on kibble.