Gulp.

I'm going to start raw feeding. I have to put in an order for all of the supplements, but I think I'm ready to take the plunge after I get them (and maybe a food scale?).

Have I said GULP yet?!?! When it comes to my dogs...I'm so worried that I'm going to screw up!

Carbon, the 5 month old GSD has been on those pre-made patties (with ground bone, etc. included) in the p.m. and Innova at night.

The Corgi was on kibble exclusively, but I recently started giving him the patties, too, in the p.m. Maybe I'm imagining it but he already seems spunkier even after a few days. And that's only half raw, and that half that's raw isn't even the REAL raw, if you know what I mean. I feel the patties are better than straight kibble, even good kibble...but if nothing else, they're more expensive than if I do it myself.

SO! When will I be able to see noticable results in my dog...the kind that will put my mind at ease that they're not horribly nutrient-deficient?

Or maybe a better question is when would I be able to tell if I'm screwing up somehow? How long does it take for nutrition issues to show their ugly heads?

One more question: How long have people been feeding raw? Anyone have any older dogs they've raised on raw for 10 years or something like that?

Lots of questions, I know, but my confidence in my raw feeding ability is a little wobbly!

Amber why so many supplements??, yes a scale is great but after a while I can tell just by looking at it in knowing if it's right.
At first you'll see a drop in weight ,then you'll see a more toned body , more muscle definition type of look.Like with my male i noticed his shoulders coming out more and his hind legs looked more muscled up..he looks much better and he does not carry any excessive weight the way he did on kibbles.Of course they get lots of exercise so that helps too ..

Supplements: Omega-3, Super C and Kelp/Alfalfa mix and Probiotics (just in case).

I'm sure experienced people can manage without them, but if they give me peace of mind then they're worth it to me!

Carbon really has no fat on him, but the Corgi could stand to lose some cushioning. He's got some health issues that I think raw feeding will help too.

 Quote: Amber Morgan

Supplements: Omega-3, Super C and Kelp/Alfalfa mix and Probiotics (just in case).

I'm sure experienced people can manage without them, but if they give me peace of mind then they're worth it to me!

Carbon really has no fat on him, but the Corgi could stand to lose some cushioning. He's got some health issues that I think raw feeding will help too.

The fish oil plus Vitamin E are must-haves for me, and probiotics for the first couple of weeks sounds great (until the bone-digesting enzymes resume natural levels).

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

The fish oil plus Vitamin E are must-haves for me, and probiotics for the first couple of weeks sounds great (until the bone-digesting enzymes resume natural levels).

Please forgive me being a dip...

but do you mean fish oil plus Vit E as a single product or two different supplements, and if so, isn't the Omega-3 a fish oil product?

 Quote: amber morgan

 Quote: connie sutherland

The fish oil plus Vitamin E are must-haves for me, and probiotics for the first couple of weeks sounds great (until the bone-digesting enzymes resume natural levels).

Please forgive me being a dip...

but do you mean fish oil plus Vit E as a single product or two different supplements, and if so, isn't the Omega-3 a fish oil product?

I do mean two separate products, even though most Omega 3 oil supplements contain some Vitamin E as a preservative (antioxidant).

Fish oil contains Omega 3s, and, in fact, it contains the beneficial long-chain Omega 3 EFAs that dogs cannot get from products like flax, canola, etc. (Humans can change short-chain Omega 3s into long-chain, at something like a 10% rate; dogs have an almost-zero rate.)

So for me, that means I focus my $$ on marine sources of Omega 3s..... fish oil.

I don't mind buying flax oil and paying flax oil prices if I want to, but I don't want to pay fish-oil prices for a proprietary blend that isn't clear about how much of the important fish oil it contains.

An "Omega 3" product could contain no fish oil at all, in fact.

I don't but gelcaps for two reasons. One is that unless I am familiar with the brand, I know that capsules can hide rancidity (which you can small right away in the bottle of oil), and two is that the cost is way higher. I would not be giving one gelcap. I give a gram per ten pounds of dog weight, or about 1.5 teaspoons for a 70-pound dog.

Then, because dogs use Vitamin E when they process oil supplements, I also give that every day. I use the regular human ones, preferably in the form of "mixed tocopherols," and I give 200 IU for smaller dogs and 400 IU for big ones.

I'm going to have to print this out! Connie, what fish oil product do you use then, if you don't mind me asking? Is this from a particular type of fish?

Is it a good idea to give the probiotics a few days in advance of switching exclusively to raw, or is the same day okay?

PS- I am SO glad you're on this board. Thanks.

Amber,

Good for you!

You should notice a definite change in your dogs' coat and body condition/muscle tone in two weeks. You may also notice a complete lack of "doggie smell," gum and tooth health improved.

I had my dogs on kibble for a couple months (morning sickness). The last straw was Abby's gums were white and dry. Her teeth were covered with plaque. She smelled so bad I couldn't have her in the same room with me. The inside of her ears and the tissue around her eyes was definitely blue-ish. Her coat became dull and the color faded.

Her mouth health improved after one meal - she jut was not getting enough protein. The smell was fixed in a week and by the end of two weeks on raw, her coat had it's shine and color back.

I hope this encouragement enough to help you switch and stick with it!

I have not used probiotics yet, except for plain unsweetened live-culture yogurt, but that's just because I didn't know about it when I started raw.

I would now, I think, at least for the first couple of weeks.

I use a fish oil that's for humans. It's pharmaceutical quality, no fish odor or taste, and it's called Nordic Naturals. My dogs get that because it's what I want for me, so they get what I get.

Almost everyone I know uses this for their dogs:
http://www.leerburg.com/47.htm

The one I use comes from sardines and anchovies and Grizzly comes from wild salmon. Neither is a fish LIVER oil, which is good, and neither comes from a high-mercury fish (also good).

THANK YOU Connie, for helping me out with this info...much appreciated.

Anne, thanks for the encouragement and the specific time table. The Corgi has an illness that has so far been held at bay after a particularly nasty bout with steroids (I will NEVER do that to him again). I want to do what I can to keep him in remission.

Carbon, the GSD, is in fantastic shape...I can't picture him looking better than he does (his body structure is fantastic and his coat is retina-searing shiny). It ought to be interesting to see what full on raw does to him...maybe he'll explode with even MORE energy (UHG! ). I have noticed the beginnings of tartar on his back teeth, though, so raw should help that.

But that leads to another question: He's teething. REALLY teething. Bleeding gums, swollen bulges where the big-dog teeth are popping out, puppy teeth dropping like popcorn. Should I hold off on the bones for now until that's done, or will that actually help the process along?

I'm sure this has been discussed before...I'll keep looking for teething info.

Thanks again!