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Post by BorderTerrier on Jun 20, 2013 16:10:14 GMT
Please could we have some information on raw feeding to your dog please? We have loads of NI; a prize we won, but my parents would like to know more on raw feeding before we take either a mini plunge and let Earl have just a little as treats etc, or we take the full plunge, with I doubt we will.
If this fails, we will give the food away to someone, or a charity if possible, with it being frozen food!
So any raw information please! Much appreciated!
Thanks. BT
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Post by SarahHound on Jun 20, 2013 17:01:38 GMT
Well I'm not happy with feeding bones, so I joined a RAW feeding group on FB, saying I don't have to give bones every day. Turns out I can supplement it with bone meal powder stuff from Amazon.
So I'm giving mince, green tripe and gizzards on a daily basis. The mince will be chicken one week, beef the next week, then lamb, then fish etc. Green tripe every day, and a small amount of gizzards. Raw egg 3 times a week, raw carrots for Katy, a few chunks per meal. Then they can have bones as treats for cleaning teeth but not necessarily for eating.
Need to feed 2-3% of your dogs bodyweight per day. 2% is your dog needs to lose a bit of weight, 2.5% - 3% to maintain, and maybe a bit more if your dog needs to gain. Mine need 520g (Todd), 600g (Lucy) and 450g (Katy) each day, and I've worked out the ratios of mince to tripe, to gizzards to the extras.
As I get more confident I hope to go fishing for my own fish, and hopefully get some game from local gamekeepers/roadkill (the roadkill is very much a maybe at the moment).
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Post by SarahHound on Jun 20, 2013 17:04:02 GMT
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Post by BorderTerrier on Jun 20, 2013 17:34:33 GMT
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Post by AnnaAmber on Jun 20, 2013 18:06:21 GMT
Here are some random things on raw feeding which may be of use to you! Feed 2 to 3% of body weight daily, I go for 2.5% If you are feeding Natural Instinct, then that is complete so you won't need to add anything to it. However, I would still give Earl some chewy things to help with teeth cleaning. Our little dogs love chicken wings, poultry necks, pork ribs etc. So maybe a raw meaty bone a few times a week. I would give quite a bit of variety (with the NI too) so chicken, lamb, tripe etc. I find our dogs are healthier and happier since going raw, they have thicker, glossier coats, cleaner teeth, much less waste and firm poops, they drink less, are lean and just love their dinners. I was always concerned about bloat but on raw there is a much reduced likelihood of them getting bloat. Also another raw feeding group on facebook which is very good: See here Another great thing is some really good books - I'd recommend "Work Wonders - Feed your dog raw meaty bones" by Tom Lonsdale If you are feeding NI it won't be massively different from kibble hassle wise - it's pretty easy - just need to have freezer space & remember to de-frost it. Then just put it in Earl's bowl and your done. That's the advantage of pre-prepared raw!! Hope that helped you!?!
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Post by BorderTerrier on Jun 20, 2013 18:08:13 GMT
Oooh thank you AnnaAmber! It really did help me!! Thank you!
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Post by caz2golden on Jun 20, 2013 19:04:49 GMT
Have you looked at Smokeybears post I posted about on your NI thread? www.yourpetforums.co.uk/thread/123/raw-feeding-guidelinesIt gives you a good foundation on where to start including list of books. There are lots of websites on the subject. I would get a few good books and read. That's probably the best way to get a good idea about raw feeding. Little dogs can sometimes need more than the 3% depending on activity level and metabolism. I would stick to one or two protein sources and then slowly add more (i.e start with chicken then add turkey ......). The only things I have had problems with are pork and tripe, I will try both again once dogs are fully established on raw.
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Post by orpheous87 on Jun 20, 2013 20:00:25 GMT
I can't add much more than the others have said really!
Both Ellie and Pepper get 2% of body weight, although Pepper is getting 2% of the body weight I want her to be, rather than 2% of her current body weight.
So far, I've been lucky and haven't had any trouble with anything I've fed in the way that Caz has.
Pepper has thrown up her entire meal twice, but both times the food I'd given her (Honeys mince) hadn't quite defrosted fully so (at the moment) I'm putting it down to that as she's eaten the same variety since with no issues. However, she had no trouble when I gave her the frozen lamb neck so it must have been something to do with the minced meat as opposed to the whole chunk of neck.
I recommend the Tom Lonsdale book too. Honeys do a book too which is very simple to understand. And definitely check out Smokeybear's thread that Caz linked you to. Lots of useful information there!
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