http://leerburg.com/feedpups.htm

Scroll down to the amount to feed.

These are very loose guidelines, obviously. (I mean, 10% is twice as much as 5%; there is a lot of allowance for the individual's metabolism and growth rate.)

Thanks so much, Carol and Connie, I REALLY appreciate the help.

I need to get those doggies on the scale, THAT should be interesting. LOL

 Quote: barbara fisher

Thanks so much, Carol and Connie, I REALLY appreciate the help.

I need to get those doggies on the scale, THAT should be interesting. LOL

Don't hesitate to ask. You won't look back, I feel sure, once you start feeding fresh food.

BTW, THK is very versatile. I know people who use it as a "gravy" over a regular raw diet (see below for two sample one-week menus of a raw diet), people who use it just to add variety to their fresh diet, and people who use it as the basis of the dog's diet, with RMBs added per the package recommendations. I have also recommended that last option as a "bridge" for people who are uneasy about switching from kibble to raw, and who feel more confident at first with a commercially balanced food plus their fresh RMBs.

I always keep it on hand for travel and for any unexpected empty-fridge situation.

http://www.leerburg.com/honestkitchen.htm

http://leerburg.com/feedingarawdiet.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/feedingqa.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/feedingqa.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/diet2.htm

Don't forget the #1 rule for a dog like yours: Slow and gradual. I would remove the fat from all the RMBs at first, add only one new ingredient at a time, start very small on the organ meat and eggs, and separate the day's food into small meals while you make the switch.

I'd also give this dog high-quality plain (no sugar and no flavoring) live-culture yogurt. If he has problems with new forms of fat, you can start with low- or no-fat yogurt. You can also start with goat yogurt to give the most easily digested form.

 Quote:

Don't forget the #1 rule for a dog like yours: Slow and gradual. I would remove the fat from all the RMBs at first, add only one new ingredient at a time, start very small on the organ meat and eggs, and separate the day's food into small meals while you make the switch.

I'd also give this dog high-quality plain (no sugar and no flavoring) live-culture yogurt. If he has problems with new forms of fat, you can start with low- or no-fat yogurt. You can also start with goat yogurt to give the most easily digested form.

I will do that. I am giving them free-range eggs, and the yogurt is organic, plain. Should I save the organ meats until last in the introduction process? I probably should remove the skin from all poultry to make it lower fat.

It will be very interesting to see how my older dog is in about 6 months.

My local retailer that carries THK and Bravo has a web site that says they embrace a holistic approach to animals and makes references to veterinarians that practice the same. When I go on Monday I may ask them for a list of veterinarians, just in case I feel the need to change. My pup goes in to my regular vet in about a week. I have never talked to her about feeding raw or not vaccinating. I didn't know any better, and never knew you could choose to not vaccinate.

If the eggs are already successful, then no problem. I mentioned them because I have had one senior who had to go slowly with them at first, presumably because of the fat in the yolks.

Organ meat is rich, so with a dog who has stomach issues I would start it at very small amounts. (The goal with organ meat is only 5 to 10% of the total diet.) Organ meat is very good for the dog; it's just one of those foods that some dogs need to go slowly with at first.

If you have organic yogurt, chances are that it's also not heat-treated after culturing and so has living active cultures, but you can check on the label. It will say with "live" or "active" cultures. The more the merrier, too. For example, I have found a couple of organic yogurts with as many as eight different strains. Six is good, too.

 Quote: barbara fisher

I didn't know any better, and never knew you could choose to not vaccinate.

Except for rabies, you can choose your dog's protocol, from none to minimal (such as the Dr. Jean Dodds protocol) to core-only to no-annual-boosters.

I'd recommend that you read up on the subject. There are books and articles on the Leerburg site, and here's an overview that is also very well reasoned and researched:
http://www.caberfeidh.com/Revax.htm

There's even a support group -- "Beyond Vaccinations" -- at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/BeyondVaccination/

Ya know....I think it was Steve Lepic or Mike Morrison (I amy be wrong on both names though) that posted a spreadsheet with all the calculations for raw.....All you did was enter your dog's weight and VOILA...it gave you the amounts of RMB, Organ, Veggie (if used) . I have it saved at the office but not here at home.

Anyone remember that and any inklings on what thread it was???? That was AWESOME for me when I first started.

http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/140316/page/0/fpart/1

Here is the thread with the spreadsheet Carol mentioned.

There is one for veggie feeders and one without.

That is great and very helpful. Thanks! I saved it to my desk top.

My pup seems to be growing in leaps and bounds so I can update that very easily to keep up with her.

Connie, my yogurt does have the six active cultures.


I just weighed my pup and she is 25 lbs! Wow, maybe I need to check that again. She is about 13 weeks by weeks but will be 3 months on the 19th by the calender. Does that make sense? She was born Jan 19th.

Now, I need a puppy grow chart like they do for kids. LOL Is there an age when you can just double their weight to get an idea of how big they will be when fully grown?

 Quote: Barbara Fisher

.... my yogurt does have the six active cultures. ....

I switch back and forth among three different ones. I chose them because although they all had overlap in the strains they contained, each of the three had one or two strains that the others did not have.

It's just a quick couple of minutes in the yogurt/kefir aisle to determine that, and then you know that you are giving all the probiotics you can.

I have trouble finding plain unsweetened kefir (although they carry it, it's frequently out), but I'd add that to the rotation if possible.