Good answer, Ted!

P.S. Ted, your sig pic is beautiful, but BIG. Please make it smaller. Thanks.

Anyone else: It's hard to keep up and keep posting individually..... If your sig pic forces anyone to scroll either way (right or down) to read or to get past it, it's too big. Probably beautiful, but too big.

You can always post a link to free Photobucket-type albums for lots o' big photos. Thanks!

It's been changed

 Quote: tabatha farnel

I'm in nursing school, and the other day I told another student that I feed my dog raw meat and bones. He gave me a horrified look and said, "My mom has Miniature Schnauzers, and her vet told her that they evolved to be vegetarians!"

That's funny, though I'd bet a lot of money that's not what the vet actually said (although I'm sure it's what the person *heard*). The vet probably said something along the lines of what they usually do, about how pets have "evolved" to tolerate (maybe the vet did say digest) grains and vegetables that are added to their food. I don't believe this, but it's funny that the person decided their vet said the dogs were vegetarians *and* believes this wholeheartedly. lol. (I have real evidence at my house that dogs do not digest apples or pears well )

I only very rarely feed my dogs raw due to the expense. However one day I happened to be at the grocery store and they had a huge sale on chicken necks/backs (which they don't normally even carry) and ground chicken; it was like 1/2 off or more. I bought the store's entire supply. The checkout lady was like, "are you making soup?" When I replied that it was for my dogs, she asked, "aren't you worried they'll choke?" I said no, I hold the pieces so the dogs can't gulp them. She just said "oh".

I love reading everyone else's stories, though... as when my current two fosters get adopted I plan to feed more raw to my remaining dogs and I'd like to "arm" myself in advance

What I get 90% of the time is "But I've always heard that you're not supposed to feed dogs bones." I say "That's COOKED bones." They say "Oh". And then I'll go on to tell how cooking destroys the enzymes in meat and about my dog's poop when they eat spilled grain on the farm and how it comes out looking like it went in, and then sprouts, and how all that grain in the kibble is just more poop they are paying for. Nobody tells me I'm killing my dogs or that they need grains in their diet.
Either I give a convincing arguement or they just see that I'm too fanatical to argue with.

Joyce,

I share your frustration. Anyone I talk to who is feeding kibble thinks I am nuts. I tell them don't believe me just because I say raw is good. I have them go to leerburg.com and read about feeding raw as well as other resources. I can't tell you how many conversations I have had with people who have sick dogs due to a low immune system, etc. They'll even make comments on how well my dog looks and how vibrant she is. I guess if I can help just one person help their dog it will be worth it.

I've been able to convince a few co-workers to feed their dog's better kibble (Innova/Timberwolf, etc, after feeding Pedigree/Iams), and I suspect one is almost ready to make the leap to raw.

It is very rewarding to see someone making the effort to learn about their dog, and make healthier choices for their dogs.

20 some years ago, I was one of those who fed Eukanuba and thought I was feeding great food. Then with the dog I have now, I started off feeding better kibble and then learned all about feeding raw from Leerburg's website. My learning curve took a sharp turn as soon as I learned of the emense benefits of feeding raw. In retrospect, I keep thinking "Of course it is better, why didn't I think of this sooner?"
It is really rewarding when you can see the changes in the health of the dog.
I have really enjoyed reading others' stories about what they do.
I know I am not alone, but it sure helps to hear back from you all. Thanks!

Ted, this answer was so cute, you made my day! I had a brief thought and it was ala' Far Side cartoon style, just picture the dog killing the squirel and then finding a stick to roast it over the fire to cook it.

 Quote: bill thomas

.... I can't tell you how many conversations I have had with people who have sick dogs due to a low immune system, etc. They'll even make comments on how well my dog looks and how vibrant she is. I guess if I can help just one person help their dog it will be worth it.

"I guess if I can help just one person help their dog it will be worth it."

Amen, Bill!

My pre-owned dogs, including seniors, look "like new," and are certainly healthier (even though older now) than when they came to me.

i'm lucky to have an easy way to answer this: my girl, Jersey, has had terrible skin allergies since she was a pup. i started feeding her raw food when she was about 1 1/2 years, but i've only been able to feed totally raw for the last 2 years (she's 5 now).

i used to just tell people how she would rip her own hair out and chew herself until she would bleed, and they would react pretty positively to that (since the question of what i feed her usually came after they were petting her and marveling at how incredibly soft she is, and shiny!).

now i have an iphone, and of course carry a ton of pictures of the dogs on it. i happen to have a good example of one of jersey's really bad episodes in a pic. these days if i don't have jersey with me (rare) when discussing my dogs' diet, i just show the before and after pics ... i get a really good response with that, sometimes followed by more sincere questions which i'm happy to answer, sometimes not.

i also like to mention the fact that only one of my dog's has ever had a dental cleaning, and not since feeding raw!