Feeding raw - Page 1

I'm thinking about starting to feed my 2 year old GSD and 7 month old GSD raw. I've heard mixed opinions on it, and don't know where to start. Anyone have any suggestions? Any problems with raw? I currently feed the best processed food I can afford, but I've heard it tends to be cheaper to feed raw, and better at the same time. 

I've been feeding raw for a couple years now. I have had no problems what so ever.
As a matter of fact, I've seen nothing but improved overall health. From teeth to coat and energy levels. Many great links out there on this. I would send some, but I'm on a phone and don't know how.
The hardest part is getting started, and yes, it's cheaper than any half way decent kibble. Good luck! Take Care

I too would like to feed raw. I do give my pups when I have them, half and half.
Now this new little girl I have is also getting "some" raw. She is a spoiled picky little brat. Refuses to eat the dry.
Just out of curiosity, how many pounds, per dog, per day would you say an adult dog would need, to keep up a good weight.
I like my dogs to have "no ribs"showing. I now feed a rather high protein, high fat diet to everyone.
My dogs do get ample exercise and actually are busy, active dogs.
I know my African lion used to eat between 3 and 5 lbs a day on average. In the winter I would push 7 to 10lbs a day on her and she was in excellent condition and health. She weighed in excess of 600lbs
Which is better, chicken or beef?

Hi guys, come March I will have fed raw for 3 years.  I find it much healthier for my dogs and teeth/coat/energy at optimum for them and I have 2 seniors, Cloud will be 14 years old on Dec. 28, 2012;  Rocky my picky,finicky,skinny kidney challanged in tact boy is 12.5 years old other 2 are 3 & 6.  Each dog is different as far as how much to feed, rule of thumb so to speak is about 2% of their body weight; BUT after you figure out how each metabolizes their food and what it will take to keep optimum weight and they will automatically keep better muscle tone on raw.  So a 75 lb dog will get approx 1-l l/2 pounds of meat or maybe even as much as 2 lbs per day if very active or hyper dog.  I figure l cup or 8 oz of wet or dry food to be equivalent to l/2 lb of meat (half pound).  I however do not find raw to be any cheaper, if anything it is more.  I do buy from grocery stores though (human grade) rather than prey model or doggy grade??  Not sure what that is but my guys get the same food I would feed my family.

Here are some of my favorite and informative websites for you to read up on.  Love VonLotta's puppy menu covers from 0-18 months;  SOS or Save our Shepherds website also excellent for info particularly for the Shepherds;  also liked Jane Anderson's PWD site;  has fed raw prey model style for 20+ years and overall health/condition and weights at optimum.  Prides herself on almost never needing vet's.  Love that.  There are some others but I will have to look them up and I will forward to you on this post.  Great days everyone  Nan

My rule of thumb is about 80/10/10 and that is 80% meat; 10% organ meats; 5% bone and 5% whatever else maybe ground vegi's/fruits.  However that is only approx and you can use a preground meat formula from like bravo or K9 Kravings or Natures Variety or whatever you want.  I personally like The Honest Kitchen and I add some ground meat of various types for my AM feeding as the crunching/grinding in the AM at first was awful, am used to it now though. 

I think one of the most successful parts of the raw feeding is variety.  I use chicken/turkey (ground)/beef ground or whole chunks;  pork ground and chops/pork necks which is pretty soft bone; you can use rabbit/Ostrich/any type foul; venison and any type game meats if available to you, I mean the list goes on and on.  I do NOT use squirrel or any other rodents or any type of road kill.  JUst don't want to.  Deer is as exotic as I get.  But read Jane Anderson's site and anything goes.  OK  Bye for now.  Good luck in your new ventures.  Nan  Oh one more thing I don't feed raw fish I poach it lightly just for safety, particularly Salmon.  I even use canned salmon from Wal Mart brand I do rinse it off though as it is packed in salted water.  Bye

Thanks! My boyfriend is a big hunter and all of his friends are big hunters, so I'm hoping to be able to get some deer and turkey from them. I asked my local store, but they don't really do any doggie grade stuff, so they have some beef and turkey. I'm hoping to try the other store and see if they have any of the bones or innards that they'd like to sell.