Quote: susan tuck

This article seems to be saying that if you don't get the percentages just right (over or under) the dog dog could face problems later in life.

And you don't think that that feeding the dog what the dog evolved eating for a zillion years (fresh prey) would be the right percentages of calcium, etc.? But somehow in the middle of the 20th century Nestle Purina and Hill's figured out a secret way of replicating the mysterious percentages in a bowl of kibble? Only better?

I know I sound sarcastic.... I mean to, but in a nice way. ... so you regain that "aha" moment where it's crystal clear that packaged processed foods, fractionated and made to have eternal shelf lives, have not been a positive step for any of us -- dogs or humans.

Susan, think about it, a wolf or a dog in the wild doesn't stop by the Vet's to get his blood levels checked. That would be pretty funny thow!
I can't believe that a dogs that sensitive to vitamin and calcium intake.
I also can't believe that dog food manufacturer's really give a rats ass about proper levels either. They don't seem to have very much if any quaility control as it is. It would cost them money to test and control vitamin and calcium levels it their products. It's obvious they don't seem to make enough as it is since they feel compelled to source ingredients from China.

It's all BS if you ask me, I'll take my chances on feeding RAW over commercial food any day! Someday my dog will thank me!

If you feel uneasy, I would strongly recommend that you read a couple of the books here, written by vets who rebelled against the BS that the rest of them were swallowing (along with sizeable cash profits) -- Billinghurst and Lonsdale in particular:

http://www.leerburg.com/feedingdogs.htm


P.S. It's completely possible, BTW, to feed an unbalanced raw diet. People have been known to feed nothing but no-bone muscle meats, for example.

But it's not rocket science to feed a nutritionally balanced diet. It's not a secret or a mystery.

I have been gung ho about RAW ever since my Zorba passed away. I read the articles and the books. I have been through the heartbreak of hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis and cancer with a number of my GSD dogs. My hope is that by feeding a RAW all organic, hormone free, & antibiotic free diet, I can maybe avoid what has become an all too familiar scenario. I realize there are no guarantees in life, I'm just doing the best I can to stack the deck in my dogs favor. The article I linked now has me second guessing everything I'm now doing. I will continue to research & question. I was hoping someone with a better mind than mine would tell me this article was flawed. Thats all folks.

Susan,
The article was probably written by someone who is not really pro RAW.
I had blood panels done on my dogs before starting and they were okay, one thing high, one low (not terribly or threatening)......I would have to look to see which is which, however 30 days later the panels were normal and the vet was impressed.
Now every six months I will have this done. Just for MY peace of mind.
I feel a lot better knowing this information.

There are so many things out there to "scare" us into what is best to feed and I truly believe that this is for monetary gain and not for the best well being for our animals.

I go with my gut and what my dogs "tell" me. They are happy, shiny, energetic, sturdy dogs that want to get out and work and exercise and although they were good on kibble, they are GREAT on RAW. I notice a big difference.

I hope this helps a little bit......

I also agree with Ed....Thankfully my vet is great about raw and also researches if I ask a question he really cannot answer with 100% confidence.

 Quote: susan tuck

I have been gung ho about RAW ever since my Zorba passed away. I read the articles and the books. I have been through the heartbreak of hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis and cancer with a number of my GSD dogs. My hope is that by feeding a RAW all organic, hormone free, & antibiotic free diet, I can maybe avoid what has become an all too familiar scenario. I realize there are no guarantees in life, I'm just doing the best I can to stack the deck in my dogs favor. The article I linked now has me second guessing everything I'm now doing. I will continue to research & question. I was hoping someone with a better mind than mine would tell me this article was flawed. Thats all folks.

I knew you had been an enthusiastic raw feeder and wanted you to get back your confidence.

I read the article and didn't really see in that old stuff what made you worried. It would be possible to screw up raw feeding, as I mentioned, by not feeding the bones or the Omega 3s..... but feeding the diet that you feed (the Leerburg diet, besically) is feeding what the dog has evolved to eat.


You ARE doing "the best you can to stack the deck in your dogs' favor" favor.

After a ton of research and classes, and after switching many adopted dogs from the worst of the kibbles to fresh food, there is zero doubt in my mind AT ALL as to what the ideal canine diet is.

I do think that these days am owner can buy and feed a commercial food that a dog can thrive on, with the recent regional natural foods that have come up in the last 10-15 years.

But nothing trumps real fresh food, IMHO.

Susan, I've been in the same boat as you. In fact I'm getting help right now on how to improve my dogs diet. I've questioned myself alot. One thing that helps me know that I'm doing O.K. is remembering how many times I have heard of dog foods having a "new and improved formula". If its new and improved than it wasn't complete and balanced as they claimed the dog food was before. What I'm getting at is that dog food companies HAVE to have science to prove themselves. And in a year they will have a new study that makes everything they knew before obsolete. And the year after that...... I have looked and looked and posted some "scientific" info that I had found before in an effort to find proof that raw is better than kibble. I've found that all the proof I need is ma nature. She don't need no freakin' science. Like Connie said, it is possible to screw this up, but there are so many people here and so many resources available that even if you hit a bump, some lookin' around and asking will get you the answers you need. So no, I'm not smart enough to know if that article is flawed, but I bet in a few years those same scientist that wrote it will prove it's flawed.

Sue,

You know who wrote that article?

The director of research for Hills-Science Diet.

I was just reading an old Q and A column by the same guy. Someone wrote in about her dog's terrible breath and oral health.

Richardson's response:
Science Diet® Oral Care® Adult Dog food is available at veterinary practices as well as pet specialty retailers carrying the Science Diet product line. It is an appropriate choice to maintain a clean, healthy mouth in adult pets with no current health issues. If a pet suffers from gingivitis or is at risk of more serious dental disease, Prescription Diet® t/d® may be a better choice. END

Thanks everyone for the support. I really needed to hear it, because I was feeling a little shaky. You know, after my Zorba passed I actually seriously considered getting away from GSD's & getting a schipperke, just to avoid HD, ED & OD. Then I came back to my senses!
Connie, thanks for letting me know the author was researcher for Hills-Science Diet. That alone lets me know the information is skewed.