Raw feeding - Page 1

what types of meat do you feed.....mainly opinions on beef necks

No two raw feeders have identical feeding models.

I don't give adult dogs beef bones for consumption (ie. as part of their bone percentage) since I think they are too dense and the risk of a broken tooth ($$) is too high for me. I know that many raw feeders do feed the non-weight bearing bones of cows; I just don't feel that they are worth the risk. I suppose I could let my dogs chew the meat off the beef bone and then trade them for the bone but I'm pretty lazy.

For what it's worth, my raw feeding model is outlined here: http://flic.kr/p/c7BNgW

i feed the tissue only of beef plus I like the fat it contains. I find that chicken just does not have the right amount of fat to maintain healthy weight without having to feed the dog more. Turkey is cheap but it's the worst imo and coats suffer. Pork gives my dogs the runs if fed consistantly so I only get it if super cheap and add other ingredients to bulk it up.

Barb

I agree Baugh about beef fat - I feed beef fat regularly or my dogs get too thin. Alternatively, my male does better on turkey (watch that they haven't been injected with brine) than chicken but turkey is too expensive here (Ontario) other than after Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Hi all;  I feed all types of meats, lately more beef with fat especially for winter;  I buy a large cut (l0-15) lbs of brisket, slice in l-2 inch pieces and freeze accordingly;  then pull it out the night before.  I buy chicken thighs (boned and skinned) for my fatties;  then add either chicken necks or wings for the bone content..  My guys do better with this formula than chicken quarters as they are too large for some.  I use pork, neck bones, also pork fillets with bone in;  no problems.  I am hincky about fish so I use fish very lightly poached.  I don't give whole fish and don't feed raw due to mercury concerns.??  Just my quirk.


Laura:  the info you have posted is all excellent and unless you have years and years experience in raw feeding I suggest doing a reading/search update on raw just to remind yourself of the varieties, also if you are possibly too high/low in some areas of balance.  JMO  Thx  Nan';'

PS:  I also use The HOnest Kitchen for the extra vitamin and mineral balance and adds to the variety.  Those favorites are Preference but you have to add meat;  Zeal which is fish;  Love which is beef and has some potato;  all others I use are grain free.  Nan

I do feed some beef necks BUT I also feel the bone is too dense;  the one thing I have had trouble with is turkey legs,  won't feed those as my guys had trouble with the bone, too dense also.  Pork/lamb/neck bones my guys do well with.  Along with turkey necks are OK.  I am sure others are OK like venison if you can find it, but not readily available to me at this time.  Need to meet some hunters or something to get  variety.  Antelope, deer, great if you can get it.  Nan

"Laura:  the info you have posted is all excellent and unless you have years and years experience in raw feeding I suggest doing a reading/search update on raw just to remind yourself of the varieties, also if you are possibly too high/low in some areas of balance.  JMO  Thx  Nan';'"

Nan - No offence taken and I appreciate your concern. I look at the journal literature regularly on canine nutrition and raw feeding and often use it as part of my course work in grad school. I discuss raw feeding with other raw feeders regularly as I am open to learning new things. What I write on this forum tends to be only a very brief outline of what I actually do. I'm comfortable with my raw feeding model and can clearly articulate my choices based on the available scientific literature.

Sorry Laura, that statement was not meant for you;  but for all newbie raw feeders.  Everytime I go back and read more even if I have read it before it is a reminder for me and I usually do learn something new or maybe something I had forgotten.  When I changed to raw I did so much reading that I as on computer overload.  That is all I meant and your information was and is very excellent and a great reminder for me to keep learning and keep the variety.  Thx  again  Nan

"When I changed to raw I did so much reading that I as on computer overload."

LOL Nans. I felt that I read until my eyeballs bled.

Since we are on the subject of raw feeding does anyone use a heavy duty/commercial meat grinder to grind up the bones?...If so, where did you purchase it and approximately how much did it cost?..

* I am terribly phobic of bones splinters and choking..I know,,I know ,as long as they are not cooked they are safe!!,,I am still worried..

Thanks,,

I think someone on here got a grinder at Wal Mart;  why don't you check craigs list and get a heavy duty used one.  People do buy these then they get stuck in their storage and never used.  Or you could put a "wanted" ad.  Or just go on line and google heavy duty meat grinders.  My friend used a 3/4 HP garbage disposal that worked great for vegi's not sure about bones, maybe l HP.??

As far as the bones go, I have really never had a problem and you saw Laura's boy eating half a chicken.  I did have a little issue when I first started feeding raw (3 years ago) with Turkey drumsticks, bone was too thick so some puked it up but really that has been it.   The best think about the bones is cleaning the teeth.  NOthing like it for their teeth especially when they start aging.  I was having to do 2 dental cleanings at $800.00 each for my older girl (now just turned 14);  she also had lost like 6 or 8 teeth due to kibble that stuck on her teeth and rotted them. 

Good luck;  maybe post a new message asking about grinders?  I can't remember who it was but they were grinding up a large amount of meat/vegi's and storing it;  worked great.  Also your butcher might be able to help you, mine won't do bone though but will grind organ/roasts/other meats for me.  Bitches about it due to the fact that it has to be sanitized afterwards so I order quite a bit at a time. 

Also Bravo and K9 Kravings makes a pre-made formula with bone in it, frozen ready to eat.  Just a thought, then you don't even have to deal with it at all, they will ship direct to you.

There are also other that have pre-made formulas, frozen with bone, vegi, meats.  Nan