Raw Pet Food

Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.
Raw Pet Food

A forum for raw-feeding families to chat, discuss, and learn!


4 posters

    New to raw

    nbloch64
    nbloch64


    Posts : 35
    Join date : 2009-07-07
    Location : Denver, CO

    New to raw Empty New to raw

    Post  nbloch64 Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:35 pm

    Hello Everyone!

    I am new to raw and have been reading as much as I can find. My white golden (20 mos), Jedi has allergies, but I am not sure to what. At this point, I believe him to be intolerant of kibble and who would blame him! My vet believes he may have developed a protein source allergy to chicken. He has little sores on his neck and back, which are almost all cleared up. He is currently on antibiotics and antihistamines - yuck! Nugget (3.5 yrs), my border collie / chesapeake mix has a stomach of steel and can handle anything except lamb. Of course, the only reason I believe her to be allergic to lamb is because of previous feedings of lamb based kibble. She has had total hip replacement before the age of 1 and has developed a bit of arthritis in the other hip, which my vet says is unavoidable because of her genetics. I want to make sure she is being provided the healthiest diet possible to help her body cope with these items the best it can. Of course, I am not expecting a miracle cure, but nutrition is important for all of us.

    I am so paranoid about giving them the wrong thing, I don't know what to start with. I went to the local pet store and bought some pre-made beef patties of Nature's Variety and I am not too happy about that. I would love to go out to the store right now and buy some nice RMB's to give them, but not sure what to get. Can I start out with beef? Should I take a plunge with chicken and see how Jedi reacts?

    I read the recipes and suggestions on raw carcasses, but I am still hesitant. I am not hesitant to switch, but more apprehensive due to my lack of knowledge on the topic and process. I don't want to harm my dogs by doing the wrong thing or not providing the proper food items. Do I start the first month with just RMB's and then start introducing organs?

    Thank you for any advice. I am also a member of the raw feeding group on yahoo, which is a great resource. I guess I just need to take the plunge and do it, but I want to make sure I am doing it right. I appreciate the support and suggestions!

    Best,

    Nicole
    List
    List


    Posts : 3
    Join date : 2009-03-11

    New to raw Empty Re: New to raw

    Post  List Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:58 pm

    Hi Nicole,

    I'm pretty new here too. I've been feeding raw to my 2 dogs and three cats for over a year and a half. Its been great!

    If you want to avoid chicken to start, try pork. Its inexpensive and easy to get, and the bones are digestible (unlike most beef bones). Buy slabs of pork ribs, pork breast bones or even pork necks. All can be found at most grocery store chains and usually they are pretty cheap. Pork is fattier than chicken so may cause some loose stool, but at my house its a fav.

    And there is always the possibility that Jedi won't react to raw chicken protein. It might be worth a try. Chicken leg quarters are an easy way to start. They are already portioned for you, and are great for newbies.

    Don't stress too much. It becomes pretty routine fast enough and then it becomes fun

    Lianne Very Happy
    Kelly
    Kelly
    Admin


    Posts : 400
    Join date : 2009-02-15
    Location : London, Ontario

    New to raw Empty Re: New to raw

    Post  Kelly Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:25 pm

    Welcome! Glad you could join us. Smile

    First: Let's see pics of those babies! Razz

    I would bet both your pups aren't allergic to the meats themselves, so much as the other stuff in the kibble. So don't start off by limiting yourself in choices.. although lamb isn't something you'd feed often unless you have a good supplier (it's pricey!), chicken is often cheap and reliable.

    I would caution pork as a starter meat, just because I know how all my new dogs took to it (the runs!). Most pork you buy is seasoned and high in sodium. Start with chicken, as most dogs with "chicken allergies" do well with raw chicken (our dog was allergic to chicken, and once on raw, she did fine with a mostly chicken diet; she also had those sores all over).

    I would suggest you start with chicken, and mostly boney pieces and breasts. Leg, thigh, neck, back, halfs. You do have large dogs, so a turkey neck is a better option than chicken. No small pieces of bone. Half a chicken, quarter of a chicken, legs/thighs. You don't need to do organ just yet, just get them used to the raw stuff first.

    Sorry this isn't more helpful, it's late and I need sleep.. hopefully others will chime in with more coherent advice!
    avatar
    steviesun


    Posts : 51
    Join date : 2009-06-21

    New to raw Empty Re: New to raw

    Post  steviesun Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:49 am

    Hi Nicole,
    you've probably learnt the gist of the basics from the rawfeeding group on yahoo. I would personally give chicken a go as a starting point, even with that kibble allergy. Quarters or chopped up whole chickens.

    I don't like thinking in terms of RMB, I prefer the term 'body parts'. A chicken quarter isn't a RMB, it's a raw body part, for example. I am truly sorry if that adds to your confusion, but put another way - until you and your dogs are happy and comfortable you are simply feeding through chicken body parts. Or rabbit body parts. Or pork. Or turkey. However you choose to start.

    And welcome to raw feeding Nicole, good choice.
    nbloch64
    nbloch64


    Posts : 35
    Join date : 2009-07-07
    Location : Denver, CO

    New to raw Empty Great so far

    Post  nbloch64 Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:35 am

    I went to the local meat shop and picked up a bunch of chicken backs. I started both Nugget and Jedi on them last night and they loved them! I looked more into weights of the pieces and weighed a few this morning along with doing some calculations as to how much each dog would need to meet 2% of their body weight daily. This morning, Jedi had 2 backs and Nugget had one, with much of the fat trimmed off the backs. Jedi had his first poop since starting on the chicken and his stools are very small and look fine - he didn't strain to push anything out. Nugget has not done anything yet, but does not look to be straining to go either. So, I guess I will keep on the chicken backs for a week and then move on to the next item - maybe add chicken quarters or halves with backs for another week?? I would like to introduce fish into their diet as well, once to twice a week, but I know this is probably not good for at least a month after they have started. Do you have any suggestions for the third week menu, preferably something other than chicken?

    How do I post images without them being on a web server or hosted on a website?

    Thank you,

    Nicole, Nugget and Jedi
    avatar
    steviesun


    Posts : 51
    Join date : 2009-06-21

    New to raw Empty Re: New to raw

    Post  steviesun Wed Jul 08, 2009 4:37 pm

    Nicole,
    chicken is chicken is chicken. Doesn't matter whether it's backs, quarters or halves. I would suggest mixing in some other bits of chicken at some point this week.

    Things aren't don't strictly week by week or month by month. You judge by the dogs, but give them a bit of time.

    Sponsored content


    New to raw Empty Re: New to raw

    Post  Sponsored content


      Current date/time is Thu Mar 28, 2024 8:13 am