RAW FED PUPS VS. KIBBLE FED PUPS- PICTURES - Page 14

Yes, Molly. She did catch up in size. I want to say around 6 months she was the same size as her sister. Either 5 or 6 months, I cannot remember which. Up until then, she was always MUCH smaller. The raw food really slowed her growth rate down. This was the first time I had ever seen a pup fed raw only AND had the comparison of litter mates on kibble. It was very interesting, to say the least.

My only observations were the coat, which was nicer on the raw fed pup. It always had more fluff and shine to it. She also grew slower. However, by the time they were 5 or 6 months, they were the same size and same coat length. I still noticed a bit more shine on the raw fed pup, but to be honest I have no idea what brand of dog food was being fed to the litter mate at that point in time.

For me, I plan to continue any future pups on raw aftr seeing the difference in the corgis. With the HD rate on GSDs, I can only imagine the slower growth rate will help. But again, I have easy access to raw food. If I didn't, I would most certainly feed a good quality kibble.

I have also seen dogs look good on crap food. My question is, how much BETTER could they look on a higher quality kibble or raw? We won't ever know, because most of the time the owners will never switch kibble.

Michele, narcissism, anyone? You think that was all about you?  

I'm feeling philanthropic today, so I'll give you a hint. Your argument and your "burden of proof" rant is misdirected, and ridiculous, as you're basing it on me saying "kibble is crap" and that kibble is detrimental. Find where I said that (as opposed to the many many posts where I have discussed various kibbles with many many posters) and then we can go from there. 

To me, the main obvious difference, with 100% accuracy, is in condition of teeth. I have never had any kind of cleaning done on my dogs' teeth and they are spakling even into old age, with no loss or gingivitis. Every kibble fed dig I have ever seen had horrifying teeth and breath into old age...not to say they all do, just the ones I have seen, which I will clarify for those with reading comprehension problems.

In my old training group, my TD had a 2 year old Dobie who had such gingivitis that his teeth were barely even visible, and the ones I could see looked like they were made out of milk chocolate. After two weeks of raw feeding, which included good therapeutic use of pork neck bones, that dog had the mouth of a healthy two year old again.

None of my dogs have nasty breath, which is a huge indicator of health or lack thereof. I have NEVER met a kibble fed old dog that had fresh breath, EVER.

EDIT TO ADD: I forgot to mention that the dobie above also had weight problems...couldn't keep any on. On raw food, he reached a more normal weight. Never did get very bulky, though.

Jackie, that's just what I was going to say. Take the best-looking kibble (exclusively) dog and then your raw dog and look at back molars. No comparison after a few years. Spare me the pictures of the one year olds as evidence that kibble is good for teeth;-)

I have never had my dogs' teeth cleaned, and the day I brush their teeth....................

Jenni, now I'm narcissistic? (Now Carly Simon's song is playing in my head) The first statement of the quote, genious without reading comprehension, was refering to me, the rest of it was for other posters.

If you want others to believe that raw is better, for the sake of the dogs being fed kibble, you have the burden of proof when it comes to showing raw is better than kibble.

Jenni says:
"What I fail to see is how someone can doubt that fresh food is better than chemically processed, extruded, nearly incinerated, dog food."

You portray kibble in a pretty negative light which hints at what you truely feel about kibble.

My dogs' teeth have never been cleaned - not one of my dogs, not one time.  I don't brush my dogs' teeth, and I've never once taken one to the vet for a teeth cleaning.  I've never had a dog with nasty teeth or mouth - fed kibble, and an occasional chew bone (not a real bone).  All of my older dogs have excellent teeth, white and clean.  I've seen "genetically" nasty teeth, mainly in small dogs - my Tigger (chihuahua) gets a daily dental chew to hopefully avoid vet dental cleaning, so far so good she's 3 years old and her teeth are so far so good.  But the GSDs - nope, nothing needed.  How about you other kibble-feeders, do you have dogs with dental problems? 

Next point?

molly

You don't want to hear my next point, Milly.

Hard to find a picture that actually shows molars - but here's one - 11 years old.


Also 11 years old, white teeth never cleaned, always fed kibble


Bodo v Tiekerhook, picture taken at 10 years old

My understanding was always that canned food led to the worst dental problems, not kibble.  My late Am lines fella had his teeth cleaned once, I think at age 10.  None of the other dogs, though.    

For the past year and a half I've been giving the dogs beef bones to gnaw in the evening, which really seems to be doing a good job of keeping their teeth clean.  I originally did this to help get my female's ears up, as she has HUGE ears with somewhat thin ear leather that needed all the help they could get to stand.  They get new bones at least five nights each week, and after about six months my ears finally became to become impervious to the endless racket they made.

I'm sure there will be a next point Jickie, because that's what you raw-feeding extremest people do - try to make claims that are not factual, and are not held up by proof.  Keep 'em coming though, interesting to see you try.

molly