The fact is that the natural food you are feeding is being absorbed into the dog's system better than the commercial diet causing the dog to have firmer, less frequent stools. I'ts the same thing as when one switches from a cheap dog food to a higher quality commercial food, although many here would argue that all commercial foods are crap! I won't argue when compared to all natural, but some comercial foods are clearly a big step up from others. Just make sure the dog is getting enough fatty acids.

Just a note. Cod liver oil is not a source of fatty acids. I thought it was and was corrected on the canine nutrition list. Switch to salmon oil, or there is a brand called omega-derm which has all the essential fatty acids needed. They are very important. It will probably take about 3 months before you see an improvement in your dog. You can read an article on detox here on Ed's site. Mine fortunately never went through this, but others have experienced this. Good luck.....

I just started my dog (1-year old GSD male) on a raw diet, so he's in transition. I've started with chicken backs and necks, and green tripe, for about a week now; still feeding Innova with ground beef and a little yogurt as well.

The results have been startling. No more doggy breath, no more scratching at fleas, solid feces (he was loose on whatever commercial food I tried). I'm going to go totally raw as soon as I can.

My butcher ordered a 40-lb box of chicken backs for me ($0.69/pound), bags them in 6-lb lots, and keeps them for me until I have room. Green tripe is available locally for $0.89/pound. I'm going to talk to the butcher about getting scraps and "expired" meat, and to the produce manager about wilted veggies.

The only problem with green tripe, of course, is the odor. Faugh! I feed it outdoors. But my understanding is that with green tripe you don't have to worry quite so much about what veggies you feed.

BTW, this BBS was the inspiration for my trying the raw diet. Thanks, Ed!

Folks,

I've seen California Natural pop up on the discussion board and I've switched my dogs to CN off of other foods and it has been a good choice for them.

My male GSD was ravaged by food allergies since he was 2 months old, extremely young to develop food allergies. The breeder had him on Purina Puppy Chow. Gross! I started him and his sister on Iams Puppy and he started breaking out all over. It was just awful.

The vet put him on Eukanuba Response KO, which is only available through vetenarians, and cost $50 for a 30 lb bag. The two main ingredients were oatmeal (for a carnivore?) and kangaroo meat. It cured his food allergy problems, but I didn't like the fact that I'm feeding my carnivore oatmeal. Would like some bluberries with that? Give me a break!

I heard about the Innova line and started him on CN Lamb & Rice Puppy and the results have been great. No more allergy problems. Great skin and coat. Good energy level. Stools are regular.

Now that he is 17 months old I have him on CN Lamb & Rice Adult. His sister is still on Puppy food because she is so high energy. I'm doing Agility and SchH with her and she still has her ribs poking out. If I give her extra food, she'll just leave it, so I've switch back to puppy food because she truly is super active.

Bottom line: raw food is certainly better, but if you're going to feed kibble, then CN is about as good as you're going to get.


Yvette

Yvette - I have seen good results with California Natural too, I have a GSD female with EPI, and a senior GSD with a chronic yeast infection in her ear (she had this prior to me adopting her) - I use the Chicken formula.

yes raw food is best if you have read up on it and get everything righti understand that its not that time consuming iether .we feed canidae with excellant results and i feel it is the best kibble you can buy for any money

I just wanted to say that I'm already seeing some good things happen, and I've only been feeding raw for about a week (I was mixing things with the kibble for about six months prior, but have just started feeding exclusively raw for one meal per day). One thing, is my Lab's eyes are less goopy. Ever since I got him, he's had eye boogers all the time. I chalked it up to allergies, perhaps to pollen, dust or mold (or food). Well, they aren't completely goop free all the time, bu there is a *noticeable* difference. Also, my mixed breed was having anal gland problems, where her anal glands had to be purged by hand. Now that she is eating raw, her stools are much firmer, and some of them are mucousy, which, from what I understand, is the anal glands emptying when she poops. I'm so happy!
They had their first oxtails last night. It was a joy to watch them crunch away so happily.
I have tried several brands of dry kibble, and never had such good results.

Glad to hear it!

And not having to express anal glands is a definite plus in my book...

Tell me about it! I never did really get the hang of it, the vet would do it and I'd feel guilty and neglectful...I really tried, but it's not as easy as it looks!

I'm sure my dog must be feeling more comfortable anyway!

Congratulations!

So did ya buy that big freezer? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />