RAW feeding

[Charlotte Beeney]

Hi everyone.

I was just wondering if we have many raw feeders on the site? I'm considering changing my Irish Finn and my Lab Milo onto the raw diet as Finn has some allergies (we're not sure what they are yet) and I've heard that even if the allergy isn't to food, a raw diet can help relieve symptoms.

I tried Milo on raw a while back, but only lasted a week as the worry over him choking and me not giving him all the right bits drove me half mad! 

I'd do a lot more research this time and plan ahead a bit more, but the amounts that need to be fed are the bit which most confuse me - especially with Finn being a puppy.

[Rita Wilson]

Adult dogs can be fed between 2-3% of the their body weight. We recommend starting with 1/2 pound of food per 25 lbs of body weight daily and make adjustments according to your dog's age and activity. We also suggest that the daily ration be split to feed morning and night. Remember that a healthy dog is not overweight. 

Our setters weight roughly 25-30kg and they get roughly 2lb a day.

Feed puppies up to 10% of their body weight. Therefore, if your pup weighs 10 lbs you should feed 1 lb of food divided between 3 or 4 feedings per day. Growing puppies, especially the large breeds, should be kept lean so adjustments to feeding amounts will have to be monitored closely. 

You can feed (examples)

• Chicken backs/carcasses
• Chicken necks
• Chicken wings (good ratio meat to bone)
• Chicken legs (thigh & drumsticks)
• Turkey Backs
• Beef chunks
• Lamb ( it can be rich)
• Lamb ribs & laps
• Fish: Mackerel (can be boney) Sardines, Sprats, etc. Canned fish (never in brine, so Spring Water, or Oil), or whole fish - head, tail, etc included. Salmon should be frozen first if it is fresh.
• Offal: Organ meat - heart, kidney, liver, tripe (also very rich)

To know if your dog is 'just right,' rub the back of your hand.....his/her ribs should feel the same. If you can't feel his/her ribs, then reduce the daily food intake.

If you've to much bone in the diet the stool will crumble, poo patrol is a great way to see how your dog is doing on the diet.

I've fed raw for nearly 4 years now 

[Ossian]

Good post !

[june walsh]

Have fed raw foods  like Tripe,  Beef, Lamb with wholemeal biscuit for the last  30 years with no additives.The dogs have raw meaty marrow bones to chew on.

[Charlotte Beeney]

Thank you for all the info everyone.

I'm still in the process of thinking about what to do - but I'm learning more towards raw so we'll see how it goes!

[silvia]

Hi Charlotte

in the attempt to find something that Oberon likes (he's VERY picky) I am trying raw food since the last couple of weeks. I see you are in the UK: try Natural Instinct: is a "complete" raw food, with 80 or 85% meat,  that comes frozen to your front door, so you are sure he has all the nutrients he needs.. They have a web site where you can make the order. http://www.naturalinstinct.com/categories/Adult/

I think is brilliant. Nothing lasts >3weeks with Oberon, so I need to keep rotating, and sometimes is raw, in some other months everything must be cooked;)

I hope it helps!

[Cathy Smythe]

I wonder if any of the more experienced raw feeders would be prepared to set up a group that members could join for further information/support/advice?  

[Charlotte Beeney]

That would be extremely helpful. I'm sure there are quite a few people in my situation that are afraid to take the plunge!

[Teresa Jones]

Charlotte please don't hesitate my Murfee looks like an adult dog already at 8months his shoulders and legs are so muscular and he absolutely adores chicken wings although the UK raw feeding forum advise that he could do with eating bigger bones than this I am currently feeding him Honey's complete human grade raw food which has a mixture of bone meat and veg but unfortunately he doesn't always want to eat it whereas the wings he eats in a couple of minutes.  I was like you at first terrified of him choking but I always supervise just in case he currently weighs 28.5kg.  Gr8 advice from Rita which I will be using myself as soon as this food has run out.  I found out about raw feeding from an IS owner at the London pet show she said she never takes any of her dogs to a vet (other than jabs) because none of them are ever ill.  It's reaL food after all you wouldn't give your children biscuits soaked in water every day!  Take the plunge you won't regret it and your dog will absolutely love it.

[Rita Wilson]

I'll set up a group and put all the information I have on raw feeding up. 

[Charlotte Beeney]

Thank you so much Rita, if you could let me know what it's called when you've done it that would be great.

Wow Teresa, you really make me want to go for it! Finn is 7 months and only weighs about 18kg :s that's a huge difference to your Murfee! 

I'll get researching right away :) 

[Ossian]

there is a great Yahoo group called Rawsetters - they are a mine of info

[Charlotte Beeney]

Thanks I'll check that out :)