Oooooooh! I will work on uploading the pics tonight!

I am still working on what food to get and how to go about the transition, though. . .

 Quote: Suzanne Wantland

... I am still working on what food to get and how to go about the transition, though. . .

Do you have all the foods mentioned available to you?

I'd make a list of the better kibbles (Orijen, Natures Variety Grain-Free, Evo, Wellness, Core, the ones here http://leerburg.com/all-natural%20kibble.htm ) and head for the store.

Or you might want to do THK ( http://leerburg.com/honestkitchen.htm ) with raw added as a bridge to all-raw?

As for the transition, I do major switches like this gradually. When you settle on a food, you could post back and we can tell you how much of a change it is and good ways to do it.

Great minds think alike???

 Quote: alyssa myracle

Your gut instinct to feed raw is correct.

However, while you are reading and becoming comfortable with the concept of raw, and seeking out good sources of meat for your dog, here are a few good "kibble" resources:

Leerburg has an article about quality kibble, here:
http://leerburg.com/all-natural%20kibble.htm

Also, this website has a great breakdown of virtually every kibble under the sun. I'd stick with the 5+ star foods.
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Do you have all the foods mentioned available to you?

I'd make a list of the better kibbles (Orijen, Natures Variety Grain-Free, Evo, Wellness, Core, the ones here http://leerburg.com/all-natural%20kibble.htm ) and head for the store.

Or you might want to do THK ( http://leerburg.com/honestkitchen.htm ) with raw added as a bridge to all-raw?

Suzanne, once you choose a grain-free kibble, and are adding the vit 'e' and salmon oil, you should also consider adding pro-biotics on a daily or several times a week basis.
Many people here use plain, unsweetened yogurt w/ active cultures. I use it daily (a couple of tablespoonsful for my 90 lb dog).

Pro-biotics may help improve your dog's immune system and perhaps help alleviate some of the allergic reactions that she has...

Great!
Thanks y'all this gets me started and I will be back in touch when I get the kibbles (Yes, I'll probably order from Leerburg as they have not let me down yet).

I already give Amie yogurt (yay! I've got something right :-)

I really appreciate all the great feedback that I have gotten. I wasn't sure about this forum thing, but I have gotten more and better info from you than I have by searching on my own. I hope one day that I can return the favor.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Suz

 Quote: suzanne wantland

Great!
Thanks y'all this gets me started and I will be back in touch when I get the kibbles (Yes, I'll probably order from Leerburg as they have not let me down yet).

I already give Amie yogurt (yay! I've got something right :-)

Suz

If you are going to order THK from Leerburg (a good bet, IMHO, because dehydrated food is light in weight and because THK is an excellent product when you add RMBs to it; I buy THK from LB to have on hand for travel and emergencies, despite the fact that I feed raw), I highly recommend the Embark, which is grain-free.

http://leerburg.com/embark.htm

THK is very different from kibble. Several forum members use it with RMBs added, so the board can help you in making the gradual switch.

BTW, all modern canine diets (unless the dog is fishing for a living) need the addition of long-chain Omega 3s from marine sources (fish oil) and extra Vitamin E to protect the essential fatty acids as the body processes them.

Modern diets are deficient in Omega 3s, and dogs need long-chain 3s even more than humans because they don't have the human capability to convert ALA to the hard-to-get DPA and EHA. (Humans don't do it very well either.)

So no matter which food you decide on, you will use the fish oil and E.

The yogurt: You want plain (no sweeteners, no flavorings) yogurt with live (may say "active") cultures.

Hey!
I finally got Amie's pic up. . .anyone want to make a guess of her breed? She is now a year old and weighs 45 pounds. This is the pic that the foster parent posted (and I fell in love with). She raised GSD and thought she may have some Shiba Inu, the vet says part GSD, the trainer agrees with some kind of northern breed. Not that it really matters to me as I love her dearly. . .just wondering what any of you might think.
Thanks!

PS fish oil seems to make the food go through her faster. . .is this normal?

 Quote: Suzanne Wantland

PS fish oil seems to make the food go through her faster. . .is this normal?

Do you mean that the addition of extra fat (oil) gave the dog a little diarrhea, or maybe relieved a little constipation?

Good for you for wanting to switch!!! I used to feed my boy purina one. I figured it was the most expensive food at petsmart so it must be the best for him. PLUS the vet told me 'purina, pedigree, iams were GREAT brands', and excellent food choices for my dog. It wasn't until I went to our local feed store (to support them instead of petsmart) and they told me that they 'don't sell grocery store food'. I learned a LOT from them! Kota was promptly switched to innova and no more crappy snacks (those colored bone looking things that the bank gives out). His coat got shinier, I feed him less, and his poop is smaller .

I have feed innova for 2 yrs and LOVE it. If I could afford it he would get evo, but we're making the transition to raw (once I buy a freezer and read more about it). Thanks to this website in the past month I've added yogurt, salmon oil, and vit e to his routine of kibble + joint supplement. This website is GREAT, there's a WEALTH of info, from a number of different people who have had success with raw and natural foods. Now his coat is EVEN better (I attribute it to fish oil and bones) and his teeth are GREAT!!!

Search some of the threads and the ebooks, you'll get some good info!!

Oh and I think she is a kelpie mix.