Quote: Michael_Wise

Without medical reason, or a truly stubborn switch, leave the grinding to the dogs.

But don't let fear of bones keep you from real food (I add for the benefit of others reading this). If you have to start by grinding to get your raw-feeder toes wet, do it (with the bones, of course).

And of course, we have several forum members (me too) who grind certain items in order to offer extra variety.

Just didn't want a reluctant person who wants to grind in order not to be nervous to think that they cannot.

But not really on topic here .... so back to our regularly-scheduled programming.

The feeding amounts seem to vary depending on what method is used.

If I use the percentage of his current weight method using 5% (.05 * 43 = 2.15) leaves me with a little over a pound per feeding based on two feedings per day. Simply can't do three as I am not home during the day. Need to work so I can buy his food!

If I use the % of adult expected weight method ( .03 * 90 = 2.7) so this is in the ball park but off by about half a pound per day.

From what I can tell from reading this really doesn't matter as this us just a guide. The real test comes from looking at the dog and making adjustments as needed. But it serves as a place to start!

Any thoughts on starting with smaller than usual meal for the first one or two feedings considering that he already has some pudding like poop going on? Say maybe 1/2 lb for dinner and 1/2 for breakfast then if all poop looks okay but him up to his normal amount and see how he fares?

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will post, but, natural, raw feed does not stay in the digestive tract as long (4-5 hours?) as commercial dog foods (12-14 hours?).

Yes, that sounded like a starting point.

The first meal or two on the new food for any dog being switched from one food to another should be small.

This guy, maybe even more so, with his pudding-poop leanings.

Connie, I was wondering....if the pudding poops continue - what about adding some extra bone? Or giving recreational bones (size-appropriate and supervised, of course)? I find a high-bone diet tends to harden up poops but wasn't sure if it would be appropriate in this situation (vs. fasting/bland diet/pumpkin etc). I didn't want to post it as a suggestion as I've no idea if it would be appropriate, but I've been wondering since I first saw the post....

I'm guessing that the appropriate meat-bone ratio will indeed work well.

We did talk a bit about poops and bone-to-meat in a PM. You're certainly right that too much mm to bone can result in pudding poop, but of course, the pp so far has been on kibble. I betcha that if the fat is added gradually, the (later) organ meat is added slooooowly, and the mm/bone ratio is maintained daily for this lil guy, that there won't be a problem.

Don't you love when we get to "watch" a dog switch to fresh food? I love these threads best of all.

I will post what happens this evening in terms of what his first impression was, how he managed to get on with his feeding, and what happened afterwards in terms of poop!

If I can get my wife to video tape I'll post his 'real food adventure' ! Or if I can figure out how to work her camera I'll do it myself.

Even a photo of his happy face is good.

I cannot help but share this, one of my favorite photos--a 5-pound Corgi puppy, 10 weeks old, enjoying her first chicken wing. This is what contentment looks like!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/luca-stl/IMG_1217.jpg

Well folks Kaiser ATE ! All I could think of at the very onset was holy *&#$ he's actually doing it.

He ate 1/2 lb of chicken breast (1/2 - 3/4 of the meat was removed) and weighed in at exactly 8 ounces. Half of what he should be eating but to start it was agreed this is where he should be starting.

I wasn't sure how long it would take him to eat this - it took several minutes as he wasn't quite sure what to do with it. He started off licking it, then pulled it from his bowl and onto the floor. Several minutes later he got it down - and then was LOOKING FOR MORE!

I managed, with the help of my wife, to video tape this experience. I will post this on youtube or one of our servers ( I own a web hosting company ) in the next day or two. When I have this online I will come back here and update this thread with the link to the video!

I have gained a new respect for Kaiser.

After about 30 minutes he wanted to go outside - that would have coincided with about 12 hours from his last kibble meal. It came out like pudding - as I had expected.

Now we wait to see how he is in the morning or during his walk later.

Thanks to ALL that have helped me and Kaiser. So far you have managed to sway me and save Kaiser from neutering and have helped put him on the track to the optimum in a healthy diet.

I will find a way to repay you for your help.

The most sincerest thanks.