Hey All,

Just recently started posting on this board, and have some goodies coming for my dog and I from LB. Included in that, are the two recommended books on feeding a raw/natural diet, a new no-spill water dish (stoked about this), and supplements; Vitamin E and Salmon Oil. I just wanted to post up here, and get some feedback for starting off.

From my reading on the website, I want to start off rather slow with a few ingredients that have some well-founded success, such as ground beef and/or chicken - while avoiding organ meats so as to not upset his stomach to the new diet. In the past, the only real experience my dog has had to a diet such as this were turkey necks that I purchased from the local grocery store. He was a bit confused at first, and I think found it hard to believe I was letting him eat it, but after that they went down pretty well.

So here is what I'm thinking from what I've read so far, though I'm going to read both books before actually starting the new diet just to solidify my knowledge/understanding.

Game plan for a healthier dog!

• Throw away that darned kibble!
  
• Keep a daily log of all activity, ie. what was fed, poop, etc
  
• Start off with chicken pieces only for the first 3-4 days
  
• As long as all goes well, incorporate some ground beef, and alternate between chicken pieces and ground beef
  
• Again, after 3-4 days after ground beef has been introduced, start adding the supplements, 400 units Vitamin E and three pumps Salmon Oil (My dog is 60-65 lbs

I'm just not sure on what chicken pieces I have locally available, so I need to get out and get some research done. I'm in the Seattle area if that helps anyone for reference. I'm also not sure on the supplements - is that safe to start off with those from the get-go or as with everything else, slowly introduce it as I have planned currently?

Thanks! I look forward to being schooled in this, I know I have a lot to learn.

Depending on which side of Seattle and how far you're up to driving I may have a few resources for you. There is a pretty well established BARF group on the I-5 corridor that partners to get highly discounted protein sources. There are also several dog friendly butcher shops around the Seattle area to resource for less than prime chicken parts like backs, necks etc by the 20lb box.

The NW is a great place to raw feed dogs. ^.^ I hope you have a freezer.

 Quote: Melissa Thom

There is a pretty well established BARF group on the I-5 corridor that partners to get highly discounted protein sources. There are also several dog friendly butcher shops around the Seattle area to resource for less than prime chicken parts like backs, necks etc by the 20lb box.

The NW is a great place to raw feed dogs. ^.^ I hope you have a freezer.

Drooollllll.... I am so envious.

Chicken backs are a perfect place to start; great bone/meat ratio. If you have to start with breasts, cut off the excess meat for yourself.

Edited by Barbara Schuler (10/25/2010 09:50 PM)
Edit reason: type

Since it is going to be a short while before you start the diet, I'd go ahead and start the supplements while he is on his old food.

This will give him a few days/weeks to get use to them and make sure there are no issues. I do not forsee any. Issues with salmon oil and vitamin e are few and far between.

Chicken backs are a good beginner food. Ask around at local grocery stores. Somebody should be able to order them for you.

Let us know when you get ready to do it and we'll be glad to help.:smile: You are doing yourself a huge favor by waiting for your books. You will probably have more questions, at least to confirm a few details, but with the books you will have a working knowledge about what is going on. You'll grasp on to the concept much easier.

Thanks All!

Melissa,

I'm in Bellevue - but unfortunately my freezer isn't very big! How do these BARF groups work? Order in large quantities for an extended amount of time? Hrm.. maybe I'll have to look into getting a little mini freezer or something? Haha.

Michael,

Thanks for the advice on the supplements, I'll start him on them once my package from LB arrives.

Usually you place an order for your lbs of choice of your protein or blend of choice. It's a great source for some of the harder to find items like green tripe and other organs and to get variety like llama, lamb, buffalo, and quail.

The yahoo group for WA and OR can be found here http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/WAzzuOR_BARF/

But since you're just starting a great place to start with is the local grocery store of your choice. I get my best price on Foster Farm chicken backs at QFC by simply talking to the meat manager. I find Winco (Marysville) to have lots of pork and beef cuts and chicken at exceptionally fair rates, Top Foods also often has less than awesome cuts at very fair prices. Costco *sometimes* has something worth looking at but usually their prices for what I need are beaten by the other grocery chains. I've never had much luck at Haggen, Albertsons, or Safeway on their prices or their willingness to order anything.

The smaller butcher shops around the sound are a great resource as well often times.

Do they, such as QFC, readily have this stuff on stock?

Top foods and sometimes Winco does. QFC I have the meat dept manager order a box of them for me at a time. Usually they have the box in within 4-5 days.

Awesome! I will check with my local QFC, and possibly Top Foods, we got one of those over in Bellevue. Chicken Backs right? How does one prepare them?

I know that if his target weight is 60-65 lbs, multiply that by 16 to get ounces, then multiply by either .02-.03 for 2-3% of his weight.. then just thaw and cut up the portions? I got a nice little digital scale that I plan on using

Another question about ground beef - are we just talking about the same ground beef that you buy at the store for making burgers?

Thanks!

To start with chicken backs you need to remove the skin. So just put it on the cutting board and pull the skin off. Preparation done. Eventually you leave the skin on as your dog's digestion system adjusts to the new diet.

The ground beef I get for the dogs is the cheapest stuff they've got. It usually is in a big tube and is either 5 lbs, 10lbs, or 20 lbs. It's ok for there to be a fair amount of fat in burgers for dogs. Make sure it's unseasoned. I had an unpleasant surprise once when I opened a pack and discovered it was preseasoned taco meat.