raw feeding - Page 1

I have tried raw feeding and both my gsd love it,but get the runs,any suggestions on what I can do to get them through this

What are you feeding exactly?  What were you feeding prior to feeding raw?  When did you switch?

Sounds like you just fed them ground meat.  The crushed raw bone makes there output firm.  Too much meat and fat makes it loose.

Michele

We dont know what you are feeding for your protein source and it may be that the dogs just cant digest it. Not all my dogs get bones in their food so imo I dont think that not adding bones will cause this. But I can get loose stools if the dog cant digest that particular protein or the dog is getting too much chicken skin. Straight fat is hard to digest and the pancreas has to work extra hard to put out enough enzymes to break it down. I would be adding digestive enzymes. I think its best to get a grinder and grind the meat yourself bones and all.

Ive fed just about every protein and my dogs had the hardest time with pork. Its fatty and it didnt work well for them. I didnt grind it but fed it cut up in cubes. It was not pleasant.

I feed raw pork bones with good luck, have used farmer style spare ribs (no bone) with OK results;  but with these guys I know it really easy to over feed them so be aware of that and if the stools are loose according to VM  you need to feed more bone, less organ meat;  but you still need to feed muscle meats, beef, pork, lamb, etc.  I do use SOME ground meat with OK luck and variety is important.  I primarily use chicken leg quarters for the main source of bone/meat and can add some to that but have to be somewhat selective mixing proteins and using too much fat;  too much of any fat can cause loose stools and not enough bone.  Good luck  Nan

PS:  sorry about that, I hit the wrong key.  Also just wanted to bring up the l.5-2.0% of the dogs body weight;  If you are feeding more than this you are over feeding.  And I find the 1.5% for the german shepherds is plenty on a normal day;  of course if you work extremely hard and the dog is using many more calories than a normal day you can go to the 2.0% of the body weight;  but my boy is getting fat on the 2.0 %.  So 2.0% of 50 lbs of weight is l pound of meat per day for the dog;  100 lbs of weight at 2.0% is 2 lbs per day and so on and so forth.  I am finding this to be a pretty good scale of measure for the average dog given age, weight and activity.  Of course my 11.5 year old at 50 lbs does not need quite a lb of meat per day so she gets 3/4 lb or so, giv e or take a little on h er exercise also and she is doing fantastic.  So that is the measuements I have found to be successful.  Good Luck  Nan

And finally, pumpkin is supposed to help the runs; and also is supposed to help with the opposite.  gl  Nan

you have to switch to rw, gradually.you can't give them ole roy one days then move to T bone steakdinner the next.


if the dog has the runs, move it gradually, you can mixit with kibble for a while and also give him some beed rib bones, chicken necks, turney necks,turkey legs,wings etc...


Also, add some plain yoghurt to it, and one clove of garlic, every second meal (my dog gets it every meal,so he has garlic breath, he, he he, which I love). Fleas hate garlic in the veins and it is a good flea repellant.

Also, summer days are coming and I always freeze chicken broth stock in one of those ice cube plastic makers in the freezer and I give him a few during a hot day, if he was running outside. Cool cnacks that cools him down on a hot day.


Hope that helps.