Exploring Raw Diets - Page 1

Hi all,

I've been a "lurker" on this board for some time but only signed up recently. I love the videos (thanks, GARD, for the "Calling You Out" thread!) and I'm trying to absorb all the SchH and protection training info I can. Meanwhile, I noticed that quite a few people feed raw diets...I'm hoping to pick your brains about it.  

I've read articles for and against raw; I have my breeder's opinion (adamantly for) and my vet's (adamantly against).  My boy Recon is two years old. I fed him Granddad's and FarMore raw diets until he was about five months old. I switched to kibble because he was wasting a tremendous amount of food (and it ain't cheap). He was one of those puppies who ate just enough to stay alive, and only if I hand-fed him. I have to say that I saw a very pronounced change in his stool and his odor when I started feeding kibble. He developed the standard dog breath--he had absolutely no smell at all before--and the land mines on the lawn were suddenly softer and twice the size. Now he gets Natural Balance dry food with a raw egg, a little olive oil, and Solid Gold Sea Meal mixed in. He eats much better as an adult and I know he'd go crazy for raw food.  I'm thinking about switching back, but I have a few questions first:

1.  What is the risk of contracting salmonella or e. coli from his stool? I'm not worried about contaminating my house...sanitation is not a problem...but I can't stop bacteria from hopping off his poop and onto my lawn. My son is four years old and I don't want to put him at risk.

2.  Which recipes/proportions have you had success with?  Does anyone include starches like rice or oatmeal, or do you go meat and veggie all the way?  

3.  Any recommended supplements? 

Any feedback is appreciated.  Thanks!

Marisa

I feed raw, and found a veterian that is supportive so I don't have to 'go a round' every time we go to the vets!

1.  Risk of salmonella in yard:  I don't know I've never gotten sick, but I don't have children around.  But I would guess that with the world filled with dead bugs, dead baby birds, cats eating mice in the yard during the night, etc. that the risk is there anyway when kids play in the dirt.   Maybe you could designate a potty area seperate from the play areas?   Also, stool from my rawfed dogs tends to be small and dry quickly;  not conducive to contaminants that prefer moist environments!  I just don't worry about it, but with small kids I can see why you might.  Lots of other contaminants possible too though, raw fed or not,  from animal stool in the soils.

2.  I have a 2 yr old female that eats 2% of her body weight/day.  We only dabble in working, active but not super active.  She is grain free raised, and does very well.   My 13 yr old on the other hand gets some oatmeal or farina about 1/3 of his meal.  He tends to be a bit more nervous/high strung on a carb-free diet, for whatever reasons.  He was raised kibble, graduated to partly raw/dehydrated,  and went all raw about 3 years ago.  He is in great health,  his vet says he is the healthiest geriatric dog in their care.

3.  Sort of part of last question too..   suppliments/recipes, etc.  I use a wide variety of things:  Bravo and Primal preground mixes,  whole grocery store meats,  organs, feet, etc.   Raw eggs with shells, kefir,  honey, salmon oil, glucosamine, left over cooked veggies sometimes (maybe not necessary, but my dogs like them!), and more.  Can't remember it all off the top of my head,  but that is our basics.

Heather

PS;  Forgot to say my senior dog gets 1.5%  of his body weight/day.   Keeps him thin, helps with arthritis.

I'll tell you that while it's anecdotal, I've been feeding raw for a little over 7 years and have never once gotten sick. And I'm not that careful.

I started feeding raw in 1998/1999 and ditto on what Jenn78 said.

I also feed 1 cup of Instinct Chicken kibble soaked in ShowStopper in the PM and 1/2 can of Instinct Chicken mixed with ShowStopper in the AM.  Both meals include various chicken parts, some chicken liver, eggs a few times a week..  I also sprinkle a 500 mg Ester C on each meal and a few pumps of high quality Salmon Oil.

My vet has come around some.  All the poison ingredients from China sure kills the kibble safety argument.

Michele

I feed a raw diet to my dog, but  I can't add much to what the other posters have said here. You might want to try this message board:  http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfeeding/   I learned a lot from the people there.
Char

IMO dogs should eat what they supposed to eat and thats meat, they are predators, not rabbits. I feed only raw meat and bones and my dogs are healthy, fit, energetic. 
All the best
Ulf

www.k9ulf.com

I have pretty much moved away from veg  in my dogs diet.  I feed mostly whole bones (chicken, venison, lamb, pork),  beef heart & beef organs, tripe & canned mackerel.  I supplement with Salmon oil and Vit E.  I toss in an egg 1 or 2 times a week.  My vet has no issue with me feeding a RAW diet. 

I don't have kids, but I have not had any bacteria issues that I am aware of.  I do think if I had toddlers I would probably not let them play where my dogs eliminated regardless of whether I fed RAW or not.

EDITED TO ADD:  I feed NO grains at all.

REGARDING THE VEG:

I notice with the Primal mixes, they are made up of 30% veg which seems like a disporportionatly high amount of veg to me.    I was unable to find out what % of the  Bravo mix is vegetable.  When I was feeding veg it sure wasn't 30% of the meal, more like a small token  "glop".

Among those who feed veg, does this seem like a higher % than what you add to your own dogs diet?

 i don't feed veggies either, but both primal and bravo also have grinds without veggies.