Author Topic: Raw diet help needed  (Read 6016 times)

Offline People Whisperer

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Raw diet help needed
« on: October 16, 2006, 09:56:27 am »
Hi everyone! I am in a great need of help.
I have a 14 weeks old puppy. We have started her with Solid Gold Wolf Cub and now changing to Innova Large Breed Formula. Even though it's a high quality food I am not too happy with pup's health. I mean...she is very healthy. It's just that her breath stinks and she itches quite often.
I used to have a Newfoundland and he was on raw his whole life. He had never had any problems. I put him on raw when he was about a year old.
Now... with this puppy I am very scared to go on raw. I have no idea how to make sure that she will get all the vitamins and minerals. And how much should I feed her? As of now, I give her raw bones and cottage cheese, yogurt and bread...every other day or so. It seems like she could eat a lot more of raw food then of her kibble.
Could someone please tell me how to start and what to do?!
Thank you
"To once own a Great Pyrenees is to love and want one always."
Mary W. Crane

I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it :)


Offline BabsT

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Re: Raw diet help needed
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2006, 01:18:14 pm »
Start off with one protein source... turkey necks worked well for me and a good meat to bone ratio.  Stick to that until she handles it well. 

If the poops are runny add more bone.  If the poops are too hard, add more meat.

Pork necks also add a good meat to bone ratio but pups young teeth might not be able to handle it.

Take a whole chicken cut it down the middle and remove the breast meat... that too is good meat to bone ratio

In regards to vitamins and minerals... it will all balance out over time.  Add the organ meat once the pup handles the other stuff well.  Liver is very rich so start that in small incriments because it may lead to cannon butt.

I dont use any vegetables and have been feeding raw for almost 2 years to my 2 dogs... if you have any more questions, email me at babs.t@verizon.net  I can give you a ton of websites etc...if you need them

http://www.rawfeddogs.net/
http://www.rawdogranch.com/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/rawfeeding/
http://www.rawfed.com/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/CarnivoreFeed-Supplier/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/RawPup/
http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.rawfed.com/myths/index.html
http://www.rawmeatybones.com/
« Last Edit: October 16, 2006, 01:24:26 pm by BabsT »
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Offline mynameislola

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Re: Raw diet help needed
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2006, 01:34:44 am »
My only experience with the BARF-type diet is with our poor Newfoundland who was damaged for life from a few weeks eating raw food.

Our Newfie was fed on a raw diet until we got him at 12 weeks.  Our Vet. says that his deformed leg bones were caused by an imbalance of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.  He suggested that, unless we had access to a lab to analyze the mineral content of the food, we stick to a professionally prepared food.

The pup also arrived with a bacterial infection, worms, and dry brittle fur from the raw meat.

Here is a link that gives information on the other side of the BARF discussion. 

www.secondchan ceranch.org/rawmeat.html

So far, his twisted legs have resulted in $4,000.00 worth of surgery, and that is only for one joint on one leg.

How do you raw feeders ensure that the mineral balance is correct?  Most commercial dog food is just nasty.  I am getting a Cane Corso pup and do not want to repeat the mistakes the Newfie's breeder made with him.


The canine kids:
     Cody Newfoundland
     Wally Italian Mastiff
     Zita Italian Mastiff
     Sparky Chihuahua

Offline People Whisperer

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Re: Raw diet help needed
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2006, 01:53:12 am »
It seems like your biggest problem is not a BARF but the irresposible breeder you got your dog from. I know a lots of people who have very positive experience with raw diet. Yes, there is no guarantee that your dog will get the perfect amount of minerals and vitamins but what about people...how many of us eat perfectly balanced meals?
If you do a comprehensive research you will find out how many dogs suffer various illnesses due to low quality dog food or food too high in supplements which damage dogs later in life.
The only righ thing that we all can do as resposible dog owners is to be informed.
 
"To once own a Great Pyrenees is to love and want one always."
Mary W. Crane

I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it :)


Offline MafiaPrincess

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Re: Raw diet help needed
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2006, 03:11:51 am »
A dog with ill formed leg bones at 12 weeks isn't a result of barf.. It's as was said above having bought a dog from a less than reputable breeder.
~I'm changing my naughty ways to naughtier ones~

Offline BabsT

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Re: Raw diet help needed
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2006, 09:41:59 am »
Amen to that... my pup was weaned onto raw and a picture of perfect health... and my male was switched at 11wks and he too is a picture of perfect health.

If that was true, then all those wolves and wild animals would have some major problems as a result of their diet.  A dog and wolf have identical digestive tracts
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rickysmom1

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Re: Raw diet help needed
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2006, 01:43:49 pm »
If a dog is only getting raw meat w/no bones of course the dog would have a calcium deficiency. From the little amount I've researched so far, you're supposed to include bones when doing a raw type of diet for your dog. Even if you feel the vitamin and mineral amounts are too small you can always buy supplements and add them to the food.

Offline mynameislola

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Re: Raw diet help needed
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2006, 12:26:54 am »
Yes, it was a dietary deficiency for about eight weeks that caused my Newf's Rickets.  He got too much meat which is high in phosphorus and was also probably low in vitamin D which regulates calcium and phosphorus.  He needed more bones and sunshine.  That was why I asked the raw feeders how they evaluate the phosphorus to calcium ratio.

My Vet. says that calcium deficiency used to be much more common in dogs in the olden days who ate only table scraps.  In modern times, too much calcium has been linked to skeletal abnormalities like hip dysplasia, HOD, and OCD.

I wish I understood it better.  We are in a rural area and can have yummy livestock.
The canine kids:
     Cody Newfoundland
     Wally Italian Mastiff
     Zita Italian Mastiff
     Sparky Chihuahua

Offline BabsT

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Re: Raw diet help needed
« Reply #8 on: October 18, 2006, 01:24:44 am »
If that truly was the case, than the breeder was just an idiot....  Prey model is the best meat to bone ratio... or go by stools... if it is too hard than there is too much bone or if it is too soft/liquidy than too much meat

My female was weaned onto raw from 3-4wks and never never had a problem and my male was switched from kibble at 11wks

MY CO breeder has always weaned her pups onto raw and never once had an issue...

I feel that it was lack of education on the breeders part.  BUT, pups can also get rickets on kibble. Being deficient in vitamin D or the B complexes usually only occurs to animals which grow very fast and have been malnourished
Zero 23mth  Central Asian Ovcharka
Anchara 16mth old Caucasian Ovcharka