That bleached tripe reminds me:

I hope this is an appropriate place to recommend again (and remind all of us) that a chicken quarter a day is not all there is to a complete raw diet.

I do use poultry for almost all the RMBs I give, but the added muscle meat can be varied infinitely (and should be), along with plain live-culture yogurt, occasional eggs, maybe, and canned mackerel, etc. In addition, for the many raw feeders who cannot readily get green tripe, I believe that varied (although small) produce is vital. A dog in the wild would not have a diet of clean poultry quarters or red meat steaks.

The raw diet books http://leerburg.com/935.htm and http://leerburg.com/970.htm as well as the LB sample diets demonstrate nicely that even relying on convenient poultry for the RMBs does not mean that we have to sacrifice the variety that a wild canid would devour and is designed to eat.

 Quote: connie sutherland

How often is his thyroid testing done? When was it last done? By "complete blood work," can you tell us which thyroid tests?

She, his vet, hasn't said often he should be tested, but I think it should be every two months for at least a year, and of course, during his senior panels. His senior panel was done September and his recheck was done October 7th and all tests were normal. I haven't been there to get a copy, but am going after work this week to get a copy and to schedule an appt. for for a December blood draw.

The Salmon oil is Alaskan Salmon Oil and it just looks like so much coming out, but I will measure it and see.

As to the organ meat, I apparently didn't have ENOUGH coffee..sigh. Thanks for the catch.

On to red meat and organ meat. I can get a whole beef liver and lightly freeze it and slice it at home, so I can premake and freeze his meals. He and I will be eating the same foods (except tripe and I can't find that anyway), so do I buy stew meat, inexpensive roast, beef heart? I got hamburger for us today and two Cornish game hens. Necks and backs come with it, so I can just chop off the back for him and give him the necks. (I get the heart). I will look for beef heart later this week.

We both love kippers (smoked herring) and he loves the sardines with the heads on, so thats an easy buy, and he loves canned mackerel.

He loves cooked collards and turnip greens. (Having read all the things he loves, why didn't I go raw years ago!?)

No menudo, gotcha.

I will look for a different vet in the area that is amiable to raw feeders, but it may be difficult. Maybe I can sway the young partner he has....she is the one that did the blood panel.

Thanks again, all of you, for your replies.

You keep talking about a big variety of foods already. I just wanted to make sure that you are going to keep it simple at first.

Those game hens, with the skin and excess fat removed, would be a good place to start. After you've gotten a few good, no diarrhea days with that, start leaving on more skin and fat. Then a few days after that, leave more......and so on, 'til you don't have to remove any skin or fat. I would say, all this over a matter of weeks, or a month or two. Slow.

Get the picture. Slow and steady will get him switch faster, and with the least amount of digestive upset.

Same with organs. None at first. Then after a week or so add a very small amount of liver. Gradually increasing to the desired amount.

Any type of RMB or meat is fine. Shop for the cheapest you can get. Fido doesn't know filet mignon from beef tongue.

Anyway, just wanted to make sure that "slow switch" was the only thing on your brain. Nothing wrong with thinking ahead, though.

Good catch, Michael.

I should have emphasized this too.

Variety is a goal for after the switch has been made.


P.S. I would ditch the kippers and all salt-preserved or cured foods, BTW.

Yes, I will definitely keep it simple. I am bipolar and sometimes I get a little "enthusiastic", but I am keeping it simple with him.

He ate two chicken wings the other day and no diarrhea. Perfect poop.

Game hens aren't thawed yet enough, so I am stuck with thighs and wings (once a day, the other times he gets his kibble).

Thank you for your reining in.
JO

Swing in to your local butcher shop when you get a chance.
Ask about raw dog food. You'd be surpised how many butcher shops are starting to get into the raw dog food supplying business.

See if they have cheap meat, look for things like "stew meat", which can be an easy way to add red muscle meat to the diet.
Also check in to organ meat (livers, kidneys, hearts).

Most butchers, if they are like mine, will save the scraps when they are cutting meat for you as well.

Once a week I stop in and pick up two or more boxes of goodies for the dogs. I have to trim a bit of fat, but hey it is a small price to pay for free dog food.

They also make a box of knuckle, rib, hip sockets and other large bones for recreational bones for the dogs too. Those are free as well.

 Quote: connie sutherland

How often is his thyroid testing done? When was it last done? By "complete blood work," can you tell us which thyroid tests?

His first test was Sept. 12 and they only did the TSH and T4 (they were supposed to do a full thyroid panel) and numbers were:
TSH = 2.65 and T4 = 1.16

After med, sample is:
TSH = <0.10 and Free T4 (Equilibrium Dialysis) = 29.4

He gets repeat test April 09, but I am going to watch him, and if he shows signs of anything different, he goes back.

Ms. Carol and Alyssa, Thanks for the butcher suggestions. I printed out the types of meat and will start networking now so when he switches full time, I will have a source. I will also look into the raw food co-op and see if there is one around here.

 Quote: connie sutherland

Do you have access to another vet? I would hate to look ahead to any possible thyroid problems/issues with this dog and know that my vet would probably first blame his diet. In fact, this would be the case, thyroid replacement or not.

Not yet, I am in the process of deciding if I should call all the vets in the area and just ask if they are raw friendly, or continue searching the interent. Finding the time to call while they are in is difficult. I still hope to sound out the young vets at the clinic and get their opinions without telling them he is switching...neat trick, huh?

Ms. Connie, I do appreciate your telling me about your dogs with hypothyroid and that they do well with replacement meds and raw diets. That is just what I needed to hear.

Hambone is doing well on the thigh or chicken wing once a day. He hasn't figured out how to lay down and eat and /or put his paw on the wing...(this from a dog who will stand on plate left lying around and lick it clean.)

I have added Vitamin E (the "d" not the "dl") to his food, one 400 I.U. pill.

Thank you all for your support and patience.