Raw feeding shepherds. - Page 5

Yeah I was reading about the recall. Soaking in hot water gets the arouma's going and with the rib or fat Athena seems to enjoy it. My shepherd and beagle really get to attention once they smell the kibble with the hot water.  I feed fish and sweet potatoes wasnt recalled but still has me a litle nervous to say the least.

I feed only raw.  Every morning I feed tripe and organ meat  from Greentripe.com. (which is 100% grass fed and organic beef).  In the evening I feed whole bones: chicken frames/necks; ostrich backs;  lamb necks; beef necks; venison necks;  llama and alpaca whole bones too.  Once a week I try to remember to feed canned mackeral.  I supplement with vitamin E and Grizzly Salmon Oil.  I don't feed veg or fruits on a regular basis. 

I have been feeding raw for over 10 years now, my current GSD was raw fed from 7 weeks; I feed twice a day, they get any type of meat I can get hold of, fish, fruit and veg in season, the only dairy product they get is live yoghurt and eggs and they consume no grains. They do get Omega 3, Vitamin C and some herbs including garlic every day. My guidelines, for what they are worth are below. Quantities For adults approximately 2 - 3% of their bodyweight per day. Calculate this by multiplying 2/3 by your dog's weight and dividing it by 100. Eg 2 x 30/100 = 600g, 3 x 30/100 = 900g. For puppies feed circa 10% of their present bodyweight or 2-3% of their projected adult weight per day. However be guided by your hand and eye; if the dog is looking a little too ribby up the amount and reduce if the dog is looking a little too well padded! Dogs will vary on their requirements depending on age, sex, activity level, temperament and time of year etc. Frequency Dogs should be fed twice a day for the following reasons: ¿ To minimise the risk of Bloat/GDV ¿ To avoid blood sugar fluctuations Meats Lamb, beef, chicken, turkey, rabbit, pork, venison, duck, hare, and/or anything you can get your hands on; some dogs regularly chow down on more exotic species. Dogs require the correct calcium:phosphorus ratio and so it is essential to feed raw meaty bones (RMBs) as well as muscle meat. Offal such as hearts, lungs, kidneys, tripe, liver is also essential (although strictly speaking the heart is a muscle like the tongue). Fish Oily fish such as pilchards, mackerel, sardines, etc provide a good source of Omega 3; if it is difficult to obtain fresh, then tinned makes a good substitute. Tuna may contain high levels of mercury and is a less valuable source of Omega 3. Vegetables Onions must not be fed to dogs in any form as they can cause haemolytic anaemia which can be fatal. Avocados contain persin which can produce problems in some animals. All other vegetables may be fed however, for a dog to get any nutritional benefit from vegetables, they must either be pulped or frozen, otherwise they go out the way they went in and can only be used as source of fibre. Oxalic acid can interfere with calcium absorption; so don't feed too much of Spinach or Chard. Care should also be taken not to overfeed vegetables from the cruciferous family eg cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, kale, swedes, turnips and broccoli to dogs as this may inhibit thyroid function. Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and aubergines all belong to the nightshade family of plants. Dogs who have arthritis may be sensitive to these foods which may exacerbate their condition. It is doubtful if raw potato can be digested successfully in any case. Garlic is a useful addition to the diet as it performs an antiseptic, antibiotic, antifungal function. Fruit All except grapes (and raisins) which can cause kidney failure and death in even very small amounts. Bananas are an excellent source of pre-biotics essential for gut health. Bear in mind fruit and/or vegetables should not make up more than 10% of diet and can have a laxative effect! Dairy No animal post weaning consumes milk bar humans however live yoghurt can be very useful for poorly stomachs because of its probiotic content provided that dogs are not intolerant to lactose (milk sugar) and casein (milk protein). As puppies leave their dams equipped with a full set of teeth bones are a more appropriate source of calcium. Eggs can be given raw each day, the shells are good sources of calcium but only when powdered, otherwise they merely provide roughage. Grains/cereals There is no proven need for carbohydrates in the dog¿s diet and of course these need to be cooked before they can be successfully digested by the canine. Books (in order of simplicity/accessibility) ¿ Switching to Raw by Sue Johnson ¿ Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats b

Langhar, thanx alot for the info. That is exactly what I wanted pretty much a formula for 100% raw. The only reason I havent gone 100% is I wanted to make sure my dogs get all the nutrients they need. Some use supplements and give omega 3 and 6 and that discouraged me from ending kibble all together. But I think your post may have helped me turn the corner.

Gemini,Yu wont regret going raw.yu,ll only wonder why yu didnt do it earlier.i feed my minced meat meal in a morning with my supplements(as my 2 girls are now getting on in yrs.)and my raw meaty bone meal in the evenings.treats are i charcoal bonio a day each and a couple of fish4dog treats.the only problem i have encountered is my 2 are fussy with regards to FISH.dont know why coz in the beginning both would eat whole raw fish but as they,ve got older they have refused to eat em and now i,m having problems with my 10 yr.old in getting her to eat even the canned versions.Any suggestions folks.just vary the meats as much as yu can.Good luck.Carole Spelman Rheinmeister GSD ENGLAND.

Has anyone received a copy of the breeders guide for raw  the person dmedia was talking about  cause I got absolutely NO response from that poster Denise after sending her a PM.Thanks

Still hoping for a glimpse at that guide.

Thanks for the very informative post Langhaar!! Much appreciated. I sent you a PM for more information. :)

If someone could give a tip on offal. If I cant get green tripe what is a good subsitute. I am going 100% raw and wonder alternatives to green tripe. I didnt realize the drastic differences in green and white tripe and bought some white tripe and I actually tossed it once I found out no value for dogs. I am considering pig intestines but not sure if this is recommended or if would have the same value as green tripe. To get green tripe I would have to pay to have it delivered and the cost continually starts to make raw feed pricey. Thanx in advance

Reggie

There are many sources for green tripe.  I order it every so often and keep it in the freezer.

Michele