Connie or anyone that knows it without having to use a calculator like me ,
Could you explain the percentage ratio for amounts to feed? I feed my dogs 2-3% of their total body weights and this seems to be about right for them, I will up it or reduce it based on what the dog looks like and we also do visits to the vets office just to use the scale. Plus I am not sure if it the same calculations for pups as it is for adults.
Mauricio was asking if 4 cups a day was too much for a 22 week old pup and since it is a mixture of foods and not a Raw diet, I would not feel comfortable answering as I am just getting the Raw diet down.
I know there is links also but cannot seem to find the ones I want to give him......

I'm sorry, i wrote the earlier e-mail quite fast w/out proof-reading. The pronoun for my dobe should be changed to he. Also, the retail person the the holistic pet store stated that "IT WASN'T" a good idea to suddenly change his diet.

I feed a pre-packaged "raw" diet to my Dobe, which consists of 2 pounds of defrosted Bravo (I rotate between their chicken, lamb, and beef blends to vary the source of protein) and 1 1/2 pounds of THK Force per day, split into two feedings. The Bravo has ground up bones, organ meat, and some vegetables in their blends. I also supplement with wild Alaskan Salmon oil, Vitamin E, and a multi-vitamin powder from Animal Essentials. I'm thinking of bumping up the THK to 2 pounds as well since my boy still seems a bit ribby to me.

As for the amount of stool, my 1 year old dog has a bowel movement about 4 times a day. For the most part, the stools are formed, usually light tan to whitish in color, and not very stinky.

I'm still working up to phasing in real raw food. It's going to be SO MUCH cheaper AND better for him.

Hi again Mauricio. When we made the switch to raw ourselves, we did it "cold turkey." We did not try to transition with part kibble, and believe me, we kicked a mountain of various kibbles to the curb.

The minor transitional issues we saw in our older dogs IMO had nothing to do with the kibble - rather just helping their digestive systems make the transfer. Based on advice given here, some unflavored, live culture yogurt got us over that hump.

If the investment you've already made $$ wise in whatever store of kibble you still have is a concern.....here's how we rationalized that. We started feeding raw because we came to believe our dog's health would be vastly improved. Whatever $$ in kibble we kicked to the curb on one day can't possibly compare to the investment we make in our dogs over the long haul.

You've made a great decision IMO, and I think you are smart to come here asking lots of questions!! Don't know about you, but I personally learn a lot from other people's questions.

Beth

Thanks Beth,

I'm really confused as to this whole "RAW" OR "BARF" diet. I feel like the acronyms are alot easier to comprehend than the diet itself. The actual diet is missing the old "KISS (KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID) acronym. From what i've read, there are a lot of supplements and measurements that need to be made when on the "RAW" diet. That said, I don't know how comfortable I am in doing so. I'm not a nutritionist and won't even dare to start mixing in vitamins or other minerals that may be needed because of the "RAW" diet.

I've read numerous articles and other threads by people who have switched to the RAW and have witnessed better health for their companions. I guess in many ways, those articles pursuaded me to change my dog's diet. I too have noticed a considerable change in my dobie's health (the bump or pimple) disappeared almost immediately after changing his diet. However, I've also read that the "RAW" diet needs to be supplemented w/vitamins and oils, etc., because it doesn't contain all the nutrition that a dog needs.

A diet soley based on whole chickens, turkeys, meats, etc is very pricey. Yes, you can make the argument that in the long run the cost benefit is greater than exposing your dog to ill health beacause of commercial dog food. However, I can't see myslef going in too deep for my dobie when I myself don't prepare these meals for myself.

Basically, what is the healthiest, simplist and fastest way to feed my growing dobe (aside from whatever commercial dog food is out there)?

Hi again Mauricio. We found the massive amount of info (often conflicting) available on the internet confusing at first too. After much research, we've settled into a meal plan that closely mirrors the sample raw feeding meal plan (for adult dogs - that's what we have) presented here at Leerburg. We also buy most of our supplements here - we have come to trust the meal plan+supplement recommendations here.

LOL - I hear you on shopping for higher quality dog food than people food. We often share meals with the dogs - i.e. defrost a 10 pound pack of chicken parts and feed theirs raw, and put ours on the grill. And while I'm ashamed to admit it, there are too many more evenings where they get a great chicken, turkey or fish dinner, where we humans eat something stupid like frozen pot pies, or worse.

Mean time, we have learned to shop smart for our dogs, even if we don't do as well for ourselves. SHOP THE SALES!! I can realily and regularly find chicken parts for 39 cents per pound. IMO, start checking out all grocers - regardless of what part of town.

Then if you are like me, you will be saying to yourself...HEY!!!...My dogs are eating better than me!!! And if that's true, you've done a great job for your dogs. (and then you will be motivated to do better for yourself..)

Beth

 Quote: Carol Boche

Connie or anyone that knows it without having to use a calculator like me ,
Could you explain the percentage ratio for amounts to feed? I feed my dogs 2-3% of their total body weights and this seems to be about right for them, I will up it or reduce it based on what the dog looks like and we also do visits to the vets office just to use the scale. Plus I am not sure if it the same calculations for pups as it is for adults.
Mauricio was asking if 4 cups a day was too much for a 22 week old pup and since it is a mixture of foods and not a Raw diet, I would not feel comfortable answering as I am just getting the Raw diet down.
I know there is links also but cannot seem to find the ones I want to give him......

I don't have puppy experience. I've read that the 2-3% that is about average for adult dogs might be as high as 10% for puppies. But again, someone with puppy experience can answer that; I can't.

Aha, I just found this: http://leerburg.com/feedingarawdiet.htm

Scroll down to How Much Do I Feed and see that Cindy E. Rhodes mentions 5-10% for growing puppies.

 Quote: Carol Boche

I feed my dogs 2-3% of their total body weights and this seems to be about right for them,

Me too.

Mauricio - look for "meat wholesale" in the yellow pages, it's the best thing you can do for your wallet

You can buy the meats and bones in huge cases as long as you have the freezer space.

Raw feeding does not have to be expensive. I spend an average of 2$ a day to feed my two adult German shepherds. It's even less than that if you make friends with butchers and hunters who can provide you with lots of free stuff.
My dogs have actually been eating raw for FREE for the past 3 months thanks to all the game meats (moose and deer) that I got from hunters.

One person usually can't (or won't) eat a whole moose - once they get tired of eating it they're usually very happy to find someone to take the extra meat off their hands

But yeah, wholesale is the way to go (try pork riblets, they're often much cheaper than chicken). If I tried buying only from the supermarket or grocery stores (even on sale) it'd cost far too much to feed raw.

You don't HAVE to feed chicken - I'm not sure why so many people obsessively feed chicken. Just use what's cheapest and readily available where you live

 Quote: Beth Fuqua

Hi again Mauricio. We found the massive amount of info (often conflicting) available on the internet confusing at first too. After much research, we've settled into a meal plan that closely mirrors the sample raw feeding meal plan (for adult dogs - that's what we have) presented here at Leerburg. We also buy most of our supplements here - we have come to trust the meal plan+supplement recommendations here.

LOL - I hear you on shopping for higher quality dog food than people food. We often share meals with the dogs - i.e. defrost a 10 pound pack of chicken parts and feed theirs raw, and put ours on the grill. And while I'm ashamed to admit it, there are too many more evenings where they get a great chicken, turkey or fish dinner, where we humans eat something stupid like frozen pot pies, or worse.

Mean time, we have learned to shop smart for our dogs, even if we don't do as well for ourselves. SHOP THE SALES!! I can realily and regularly find chicken parts for 39 cents per pound. IMO, start checking out all grocers - regardless of what part of town.

Then if you are like me, you will be saying to yourself...HEY!!!...My dogs are eating better than me!!! And if that's true, you've done a great job for your dogs. (and then you will be motivated to do better for yourself..)

Beth

Ditto!

I think that a beginner could follow the Leerburg diet, even looking at the pictures and copying them, to get started.
http://leerburg.com/diet2.htm

IMHO, as someone who feeds a little produce and figures that the essential vitamins and minerals are covered in what I feed, the one vital supplement is salmon oil (and E because dogs use E in processing oil supplements).

But again, I do agree that you could easily follow the Leerburg diet plan and feel safe.

Mauricio, maybe you can use the kibble up by feeding raw and THK at breakfast and the kibble at the later meal?