I just want to give him the healthy diet that he has been neglected and get him at a healthy full look. I just wonder what is the best way to do it. Like I said I love to do raw. I am just a little fearful of my lack of knowledge.

I'd probably choose one of the kibbles mentioned in the thread or the THK plus RMBs linked below, and I'd also order that small, inexpensive, and accessible raw book (also linked below) for deciding whether or not you want to go raw.

Then after reading that little book, you should feel free to ask us any and all raw questions! We have many raw experts here.

I think you will probably get more kibble recommendations, too, for the period between now and maybe switching to raw.

 Quote: connie sutherland

There's also the option of the "in between" of The Honest Kitchen with add-ins. On its own, it's pretty spendy; with inexpensive RMBs added (say, chicken backs), it's less so. And it's better with, IMO.

BTW, my dogs are all adopted, and many have been adopted as seniors. They have all been switched from a lifetime of kibble to raw.

I'm not saying that's the only way to go; I am saying that age and past feeding history aren't reasons for deciding against it.

http://leerburg.com/honestkitchen.htm

http://leerburg.com/970.htm

The Honest kitchen is pretty pricey. I wonder if I do some more research if I can go around the honest kitchen and mix a little bit of kibble to what I make up for a meal will it make the switch over easier for him. Much like when you do switch from one kibble to the other. Mix them up and gradually have it totally out of the diet and be soley on raw. Research here i come and wonder what your thoughts are and if maybe you could list a type of meal you make up. Like I said Id like to put about 10 pounds on him so something not maintenance.

Do you mean mixing kibble and raw? I strongly urge against that.

Quoting myself:

"{The} speed of fresh food's transit (along with very caustic stomach acids) is what disallows food pathogens time to colonize and cause illness.

If you slow the fresh food down by combining it with kibble, thereby presenting any pathogens present with triple the colonizing time, you're doing major tinkering with the dog's big defenses against salmonella and the like."

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=33&Number=331239&Searchpage=1&Main=29870&Words=colonize+Connie+Sutherland&topic=0&Search=true#Post331239

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=134&Number=334998&Searchpage=1&Main=30109&Words=colonize+Connie+Sutherland&topic=0&Search=true#Post334998



And see the fourth through the sixth posts here:

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=33&Number=248648&Searchpage=1&Main=23947&Words=+Stephanie+Wilson&topic=0&Search=true#Post248648

Joseph, if you bump this thread tomorrow, I'll have more time to help with either using THK more economically or cutting raw costs or both. (Others will too.)

I do recommend that you get that little book I linked you to earlier and also read the LB site articles on sample diets and Q &A (all on raw). Over on the left of Leerburg dot com, click on "feeding dogs."

I feed performance dog food to my active dogs, with a 30/20 protein fat ratio. Right now the dogs are eating Native dog food
http://www.nativedogfood.com/products/level3.php, which is the kibble of choice for many hunting dogs, sled dogs, or other dogs that need to maintain weight during periods of high activity.

Native is very reasonably priced and readily available. No corn, wheat or soy. It's not raw, but I consider it to be good quality and my dogs have solid muscle tone, sleek coats, and high energy. They also enjoy the taste. My GSD had some serious bleeding in her upper GI tract when I tried to switch to raw, so it does pay to be careful, watch your dog carefully, know your meat sources (pathogens are rampant in factory farm meat processing plants- where most of the cheap meat originates) and do your homework before switching.

If you want your GSD to gain muscle weight, and can't afford, or don't know enough to feel comfortable feeding a raw diet, I'd recommend one of the high quality performance kibbles. I don't see the difference between pototoe and rice when it comes to the 'grain-free' foods, which also tend to be very pricey.

Keeping the same diet and offering better treats during the day will increase calories, and if you keep at it, will increase weight.
A few handfuls of cut up cheese, a cooked hamburger or cooked liver, a chicken breast cooked and diced up and offered during training will eventually lead to weight gain. Taste of the Wild kibble works well for me as training treats, I had to quit that as my dog was getting fat.

I too used to feed the California Natural Grain Free Venison. I have seen a change since the company was bought out by P&G as mentioned before. Clients have also reported a change. I now feed Regional Red by Orijen.

http://www.orijen.ca/orijen/products/regionalRed.aspx

It is 75% meat and 25% veggies and fruit. They are switching to 80 20 soon. It is made with free-range red meats, including wild boar, beef, lamb, heritage pork and bison, plus wild-caught fish. It is also cooked at a lower temp than other dog foods. The ingredients are all local so they are not preserved and most are before getting to the plant. I am really happy with the food and drive 30 mins to buy it. I feed 5 dogs of different size and breed. My cats also love the cat food.
Good Luck!

This looks like a great I.L.
http://www.orijen.ca/orijen/products/regionalRedIngredients.aspx

My one small concern would be what protein source I'd reserve against a possibility of a future elimination diet to isolate an allergen. It looks like venison could be a reserved protein source.

I think with Orijen that you are paying a whole lot for a food that is over-representing it's free-range, etc. local ingredients. Great marketing- but you're paying a whole heck of a lot for another lamb-meal based dog food. The fresh 'local, free-range, heritage' meat is probably a relatively small part of the actual nutrients in the food, because fresh meat is over 80% water. Hence, lamb meal, is #1 meat ingredient. How are peas or potato starch part of the ancestral diet?

I've become a bit cynical of the whole grain free movement. Marketing genius, for sure.