Re: Raw feeding advise Please
[Re: Pam Smart ]
#14065 - 12/17/2002 08:54 PM |
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Ok! I’m a little confused here...are you simply saying I should be careful feeding raw bones, or avoid them????
Also just got of the phone with a friend who is very much against raw feeding, she was saying that she will send me a list of info by vet’s telling people not to feed raw due to high risk of contamination in this day and age. I still feel it’s the way to go.
As for chicken, do you also feed this raw and the bones????
What type of bone has the lest chance of splintering and causing damage???
If you cooked the meat but added Enzymes, would you still get much the same benefits as an all raw diet?
Thank you for your replies Pam.
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Re: Raw feeding advise Please
[Re: Pam Smart ]
#14066 - 12/17/2002 09:00 PM |
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With my gang, chicken necks and backs, and turkey necks and backs caused no problems at all, and they love them. They are kind of rubbery and I can't see them splintering, altho who knows. The so called "recreational bones" as in big raw soup bones or marrow bones were the ones that splintered with my crew. They were fresh. I have most of the barf books, and being disagreeable disagree with some stuff in them, but I would really watch the large bones, and I personally, and I know many other have different opinions, would not feed most other bones. Necks and backs are the safest in my experience. I don't mind that many will disagree - my gang is much too important to me to risk it. Oh - and I have never had any problems with any type of raw meat. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
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Re: Raw feeding advise Please
[Re: Pam Smart ]
#14067 - 12/18/2002 08:39 PM |
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I just started (this week Sunday) feeding my dog raw chicken backs. I feed them in the AM and his regular kibble (a good quality natural kibble) with Natural Balance in the PM. Up until today everything seemed fine. He loves the raw chicken and really looks forward to it. However, today I noticed that he has diarhea. Is this a natural ajusting process for him? He hasn't been getting any table scraps or anything else and I don't feed him the dry food with the raw (I feed them separately).
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Re: Raw feeding advise Please
[Re: Pam Smart ]
#14068 - 12/18/2002 09:46 PM |
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Michelle.. if you are going to feed dry too.. you should do it on different days.. the digestion of kibble and raw foods is very different.
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Re: Raw feeding advise Please
[Re: Pam Smart ]
#14069 - 12/19/2002 05:30 AM |
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Laurreen, appreciate the info on the bones, will look into this about the splintering a bit more. As to many disagreeing, well that’s the purpose of gathering info, each person has different experiences, each something valuable to say. At the end of the day I’m going to have to take everything I have learned and make my own decision on what I’m going to do, rightly or wrongly.
Michele, looks like Jody knows what she talking about here so I would follow her advise. I only know that no matter the change in any dogs diet it should be done slowly. Good luck with the changing over, and hope everything goes well.
Regards Pam.
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Re: Raw feeding advise Please
[Re: Pam Smart ]
#14070 - 12/19/2002 07:58 AM |
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As far as bones go, there is nothing to look into. NEVER feed them cooked. Unless you mean looking into the possibility of raw bones splintering. This is very unlikely, although even Billinghurst himself says you can't 100% rule out that possibility. If your that worried about the potential for raw bones splintering then the solution is to grind them up.
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Re: Raw feeding advise Please
[Re: Pam Smart ]
#14071 - 12/19/2002 10:41 AM |
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Yes Chuck,
That is my concern, the bones splintering. Sorry if I was not clear about that in my post.
I understand the point you made about grinding them up, in fact I do that for my existing dog, or add bone meal to his food. The reason I was considering the raw bones was to help keep the teeth clean along with brushing.
I did at one time give my dog bones lightly cooked (I now know this is not good) he did fine on them and his teeth looked great. Last year a friend had a ( not sure if it was raw) bone splinter on her large dog, the splinter went up into the gum, They got it out, but about a week later the dog developed a large lump on his neck. Anyway, they took him to the vet, who explained the infection was caused by the original bone splinter, and was so bad it had traveled down to where it was. About $1500.00 later and a lot of sleepless nights, the dog is fine. I know this was probably just a freak thing, but I have been afraid to give my dog bones since, and he will not chew on anything else I have tried.
But your right, if I continue to be this concerned I should be looking for an alternative to bones before I get my new dog.
Your input was greatly appreciated. Pam.
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Re: Raw feeding advise Please
[Re: Pam Smart ]
#14072 - 12/19/2002 12:40 PM |
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I have been feeding raw for over 8 yrs. I recently had my 12 yr. old and 10 yr. old to the vet for bloodwork etc. My 10 yr. old had not been to the vet since she was 3 (for a c-section then). I am happy to say that thier blood work is great. In fact, the vet actually commented that he was surprised that I have not seen or had any significant problems with any of my dogs. I was having a few problems with the 12 yr. old around bowel consisitancy but after 'every' test (they tried growing bacteria from everything several times, had a toxoplasmosis test, giardia, etc etc)....all came back negative. Even when I took my 10 yr. old in for an injury the vet asked to run a toxo test as she was on raw meat...course, it came back negative as well.
Every concern the vet has given me for not feeding raw has never been my expierince. They don't get worms, bacterial infections, giardia, and so on. In fact after all the tests on my 12 yr. old the vets (and specialists) said he is the healthiest 12 yr. old gsd they have seen. Now, I did have to add some supplements to his food and have done some homeopathy with him for the stools and they have also been great lately.
I will say though that I have chosen to have my chicken necks/backs ground up instead of feeding it to them whole. The reason is that 2 of the dogs are gulpers. They never take the time to chew them meat, just gulp it down. For my peace of mind, I decided to have it ground. Just easier. My butcher does it for me.
I don't often feed ground beef, but if I do , I fed the regular. They can use some of the fat in it. My butcher does up a beef mixture of the cuttings off of the meat (steaks, roasts etc) and adds kidney, heart, liver and then grinds it all together, freezes it and then cuts it up for me.
I only feed the chicken necks/backs as these bones are smaller and softer than the thighs and legs. Easier for the dog (first starting out on raw and older dogs) to digest the food.
I also feed raw tripe, and I raise my own lamb/mutton for them. I will also feed sardines/fish once in awhile.
For a treat, I will sometimes buy ostrich, buffalo, etc. Depending where you live in Canada (I am on the west coast) they are some great sources to buy the meat.
I fed grains to the dogs up until 4 yrs. ago. I then decided to go without to see the difference. I personally feel that they do much better without the grains. Their stools are better , coats are better and energy is better.
It really is important to feed the meat raw. I don't feed a lot of recreational bones but when I do it is usually the leg, knuckle bones. I give them to the dogs when I am around and if some parts come off that could cause a problem I take it away. I personally do not feed pork bones.
White teeth does not come from feeding raw bones and having your dog chew on them. (although I am sure it helps and is good for them) It comes from an enzyme that is in raw meat. This enzyme is released into the mouth and cleans the teeth etc.
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Re: Raw feeding advise Please
[Re: Pam Smart ]
#14073 - 12/19/2002 02:13 PM |
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I really don’t know how to thank all you people, what a great amount of accumulated knowledge you all have. I’m spending some time right now printing out everything for my folder. I think that’s okay as it’s for my own personal use.
Shelly, After reading your post I have to wonder why my vet has never told me any of this, in fact I have been meet with nothing up until this new guy (who is still learning, but at lest willing to do so) with negative remarks.
This was really interesting about the teeth, I thought it was all due to the bones. My small dog had a build up of tarter, not much, but as he was going under for some tail surgery I had the vet polish them up thereby consolidating the cost. The bill for the teeth on their own would have been in the $370 to $460 Canadian range. This is a lot of money. I have pet insurance, but they will not cover teeth cleaning.
I read a lot about the grains, but wonder if a small amount of brain/whole wheat would be good for the bowels. The book I have right now say’s yes, but will see what the new one suggests.
My Thanks Pam.
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Re: Raw feeding advise Please
[Re: Pam Smart ]
#14074 - 12/19/2002 02:49 PM |
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