Quote: Connie Sutherland

CJ asked: "And are there certain kibbles that would be potentially "safer" to feed amongst raw? "

No. It's the kibble process that makes kibble take 3x as long as fresh to clear out.

Thanks Connie, that makes complete sense. A totally organic matter and a processed one would have different digestive times regardless of content that was processed.

Sort of, I think, but I get what you're saying.

Interesting, interesting, but I am lost on the MM. What does it stand for?

Muscle meat. The boneless-meat part of the diet.

The MM is where most raw feeders introduce variety in the protein sources, since RMBs (with digestible bone) are limited for most people to poultry and maybe rabbit.

I agree that most rmb for dogs are parts that humans do not eat. Its not hard to find abf free or organic rmb because they don't get used in human food. I'm lucky I live in farm country in pa and can get chicken at cost. We also have 7 acres and raise our own beef (now also for dogs). You can try turkey necks and beef necks if you have a butcher near you. A meat market might not be able to get them. Someone who actually kills the animal will normally work with you on anything you want because they don't get much for what's left after the human food is removed. I have mastiffs so I can use parts that some cannot use because of the size of the dog.places that process deer can also be a good place to look.

Bulk has a lot to do with prices when feeding raw also. If your dog does not eat something new. Try playing with the food a little and let the dog get frustrated so they have more drive. I find they except most things that way but start with small amounts and see how your dog does with that befor you add a lot.

Bulk has a lot to do with prices when feeding raw also. .... start with small amounts and see how your dog does with that {first} .....


Anne Jones here makes great use of the bulk principle. Maybe she'll see this and pop in. I believe she buys from a restaurant supplier, in fact!

Sorry I type as I think. Not think as I type.

The only problem I have found with bulk is you really have to know what you are buying and where it came from as said befor by someone else!

I buy wholesale bulk from a restaraunt supplier. I pay 30 cents a lb for fresh chicken neck & backs in 40lb cases. 89 cents lb for ground turkey in 10 lb rolls.

I use the backs to make stock for soup & the ground tukey for meatloaf for myself.

I also get other muscle meats & organ meat. Too much to list here. I also purchase whole chickens at Costco & a local supplier of Amish chicken. I also eat these.

So I would not agree that the food that I feed my dogs is not something that I would not eat.

I don't feed kibble & never have. My dogs have also been raised from weening to raw by their breeders.

I would never feed kibble & raw in the same meal. I will say that I know people that do & have had no issues but I also know a number of people that have had VERY serious issues in doing to. They ended up with VERY sick dogs that almost died & very high vet bills to save them. Not worth the risk to me.

It goes without saying really, that you need to have the freezer space to buy in bulk. I usually buy 200lbs at a time. I travel an hour away to purchase at these prices. Worth the trip every 3 months & the 1 1/2 hours that it takes to package it all up when I get it home. Just what works for me.

ETA...

Although I would love to be able to afford to feed my dogs a totally organic food diet or food raised on the farm next door....that it not possible for me. I do the best that I can...which is feed my dogs a diet of foods that I would eat & the thousands of people do when they freequent the restraunts that my wholesaler sells his stock. This wholesaler is in a major city in CT.

Dillon (and others), if you want to say where you are located, you will probably get resource suggestions.