Greetings,

After reading some thread about what to feed a my growing dobe, I decided to switch to the "Raw" diet. I'm feeding my dobie The HOnest Kitchen's Embark and he appears to like. Recently I posted that I found a "pimple" or bumb looking thin on his forehead and nose. Since switching his diet, they have all disappeared. I guess it was the food he was on earlier. However, I noticed that he goes poop more often. Is that normal? I was under the impression that they would go less while on the Raw diet.

Also, he about 22wks now. How much should he weigh?

I think I've read on here that most dogs will "go" more often at first until their systems detox.

From what I know also is that not only do they detox and clean themselves out but if you are feeding too much they will "go" more also.

he gets fed a total of 4 cups a day. maybe a little less sometimes. is that too much?

Hi Mauricio. Congratulations on your decision to improve your dog's diet!!

I don't have an answer for you, but I do have a related question of interest to me, and maybe to others.

We feed THK as our "backup" to regular raw "meant for people" food. We use THK for travel, and for "I forgot to thaw something" situations primarily.

I have noticed a difference in stools when we feed THK v. regular raw meals. (softer, larger, and possibly more frequent, but I will pay closer attention to the frequency going forward)

I always assumed that this difference was at least in part due to the fact that THK does not contain full actual bones, and probably does contain a wider variety of veggie/fruit component than the regular meals do, on average. But maybe I'm wrong, and need to look more closely at our "regular" meals.

I'll be interested in the thoughts of the more experienced here!

Thanks Beth.

Well, I failed to mention that I mix Merrick and either raw chicken filets or ground beef. Basically, they get fed twice a day and each meal consists of 1 cup of THK, 1/2 cup raw meat and 1/2 cup of the Merrick.

I hear that Merrick is a top quality kibble and it also has whole vegetables and fruits that you can acually see, unlike the THK grinds it all up.

does that sound like a good combination?

I am not familiar with Merrick food. If the version you are feeding is high in veg/fruit content, is it possible between that and THK combined it might be a bit much? I'm not sure at all - but I would be interested in the opinions of the more experienced.

Also, among our 4 dogs, we figured out that one of them has a problem with beef. That would be another possible are (IMO) to look at - i.e. drop the beef for a bit and see if anything changes.

Best wishes!!

Beth

 Quote: MauricioVilches

Thanks Beth.

Well, I failed to mention that I mix Merrick and either raw chicken filets or ground beef. Basically, they get fed twice a day and each meal consists of 1 cup of THK, 1/2 cup raw meat and 1/2 cup of the Merrick.

I hear that Merrick is a top quality kibble and it also has whole vegetables and fruits that you can acually see, unlike the THK grinds it all up.

does that sound like a good combination?

QUOTE: I was under the impression that they would go less while on the Raw diet. END

I have to say that this isn't really what I'd call a raw diet. It's raw meat added to a dehydrated-plus-kibble diet.

I'm only pointing this out because the small-poop thing is generally referring to a raw diet (all raw).

Merrick has quite a bit of grain (example in one: oatmeal, barley, and brown rice).

Again, not saying you have chosen a bad combo or anything like that; just saying that it's not a raw diet and probably won't generate similar poops.

Beth, I too use THK Embark or Force as backup, as we have discussed, and I too see different poops. I attribute it to the produce; THK uses a lot more than I do when I am feeding raw. It's good produce choices, IMHO, and it's a very good food, again IMHO, and I VERY much like the fact that because it isn't baked extruded kibble, I can add RMBs/meat, but it still has much more produce than I use otherwise. So the bigger poops didn't really surprise me.

I hadn't thought about the no-actual-bone thing. Good point!

 Quote: MauricioVilches

Thanks Beth.

Well, I failed to mention that I mix Merrick and either raw chicken filets or ground beef. Basically, they get fed twice a day and each meal consists of 1 cup of THK, 1/2 cup raw meat and 1/2 cup of the Merrick.

I hear that Merrick is a top quality kibble and it also has whole vegetables and fruits that you can acually see, unlike the THK grinds it all up.

does that sound like a good combination?

I don't think it's a good idea to mix kibble and raw in the same meal. Raw and THK, yes; raw with kibble, best not.

Kibble takes about three times as long as raw meat to go through, thus potentially slowing up the transit time of the raw meat and potentially exposing the system to pathogens for unnaturally long periods of time.

Well, I haven't he hasn't been on the THK for that long and the salesman at the holistic pet store indicated that she should finish whatever kibble he has as to ensure a smoother transition. He indicated that it was a great idea to just suddenly change his diet.

That said, we still have plenty of kibble left over.

I'm not looking to get too out of control in what i feed my dobie. I love him to death, but I barely ever cook for myself. That said, i read some where that THK in combination w/some meat and/or kibble is not a bad combination. But from what Connie just mentioned, it appears as though that is not a good idea.

Considering what the THK 10lb. bucket costs, adding in only raw meets will get pretty expensive. I'm assuming an all raw diet must cost well over $100 a month. Am i correct?