raw feeding faq - Page 22

sorthund · 08-14-2008, 02:01 PM

Carol, you don't even have to cook the veggies. Just puree them raw. You'll probably have to add a little water though. I feed all kinds of veggies. Some people use drained and rinsed canned string beans when putting their dogs on a "diet", as it fills them up a lot.

**doberkim** · 08-14-2008, 02:07 PM

Every dog is an individual - I had a 100 lb male that only ate 1.5 lbs as an adult. Petey was overweight at his prior weight, and still needs to lose weight - so Carol is decreasing the amount of food that he eats as he continues to lose weight, and is making up some of the bulk with veggies (just as an aside Carol - when I did feed veggies years ago, I also fed fruits - my dogs like fruit better than veggies!)

Growing puppies in their rapid growth phases are a lot different than an adult male that has been over 100 lbs for a long time - Petey is nearing 2 years old and while not mentally mature, his body is nearing physical maturity and his body has aged, IMO, prematurely since he has been overweight.

I think Carol's kids also didn't help the situation since her sons left a TON of people food around that he was cleaning up around the house. I don't feed backs a ton, but I find them to be TOO boney for my taste and I strive to feed whole as much as possible, which that being the ideal bone/meat ratio - so if I feed backs, I add in extra meat to make up the difference.

I've got a 97 lb-er here right now, and over the summer he eats just about 2, 2.5 lbs to maintain his weight. Over the winter, this increases to 4-5 lbs. As a puppy, he ate over 6-7 lbs a day! Berlin ate 4-5 lbs as a pup, and she is currently at about 3, 3.5 lbs a day with fluctuations (training days she gets about 2 lbs).

Cathy, those have to be the largest chicken backs on earth to be 1 lb each!

REmember - the average feeding to maintain weight is 2-2.5% of body weight - 2% of 100 lbs is 2 lbs --- which is what Carol is feeding.

**Luvbirds59** · 08-14-2008, 02:25 PM

For the record...Petey's all time high was 112# and when Kim met him he was down to 108#. We had been working on his weight. I was given a couple of very stern lectures for allowing my dog to get so fat, Kim was very nice to me about his weight, but a few others I recently met at a couple of Doberman functions really let me have it. Here I am a good pet owner and failing my dog in the most important department....his health. I took it to heart, and have been working on his weight everyday. When Kim sees him next....in October....I want her to see a new man!

Thanks everyone for your help. Sounds great to just puree the veggies....less work! I will also be getting some ground Chicken and Turkey frames to add in my ground mix!

Carol

maryellen · 08-14-2008, 04:57 PM

if he still needs to lose more weight keep up the exercises, and switch them around and do other stuff too. mine on raw act like they are hungry more then when on kibble.. if you want to decrease his weight more, keep the food at the current and increase his exercise ... do you have a treadmill? you can teach him to use that too, and maybe get him a flirt pole to tone him up as well.. even swimming will help.. he did look overweight when i met him that day too.. you are on the right track, so keep up the good work

**Luvbirds59** · 08-14-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maryellen

if he still needs to lose more weight keep up the exercises, and switch them around and do other stuff too. mine on raw act like they are hungry more then when on kibble.. if you want to decrease his weight more, keep the food at the current and increase his exercise ... do you have a treadmill? you can teach him to use that too, and maybe get him a flirt pole to tone him up as well.. even swimming will help.. he did look overweight when i met him that day too.. you are on the right track, so keep up the good work

You were nice too.....he was 112# when you met him!!

Carol
ox

**Luvbirds59** · 08-21-2008, 07:26 PM

Petey is eating better then ever....last weekend while camping he fished two nice perch out of the fish bucket and promptly ate them! I thanked my BIL for the healthy good meal and he thanked me for the laughs! No one could believe their eyes when Petey went bobbing for fish, caught them and then proceeded to eat them like he had been doing it everyday.

He is doing well with his diet, only a few more days of free for all food all over the place, as the kid go back to school SOON! One son leaves for college tomorrow.

Carol
ox

**kais_mom** · 08-22-2008, 03:10 PM

Carol, I mix my veggies (all chopped up) in with my hamburger (or whatever ground you want to use) almost like a meat loaf type thing. I would say that when I am done it is near half and half (half veggies half meat) and then I form it into patties and freeze. Then I take it out the day before I feed it, put it in the fridge to thaw and then serve. Kai devours it. There are veggies in it that he would not touch on their own, but mixed with ground meat he eats it all.

Zucker · 08-22-2008, 04:32 PM

Thanks Kim and every one else for contributing to this, it's been a great read. I started Choo on raw a few weeks ago and he absolutely loves it.

Got a couple questions for you Kim...

Do you think there is any nutritional value to feeding the rodents with their fur on? I would imagine it's rather minimal and maybe there would be more of a physical benefit to this? Do you see it come out the other end?

Most recently Choo's breath has gotten a raw food hint to it, that's the best I can describe it. It's a hint of what you would smell if you were to lean over a heap of muscle meat. He's never had bad breath or really any form of a smell to his breath before. I'm just curious if anyone else has experienced something simillar?

When we first started, he was getting a store bought raw mix and chicken necks. I found his poo started becoming very hard, you think that could have been a high bone intake issue? We've now moved onto half chicken meals and various beef parts. He also ate baby whole mackarels and loved them!

**Luvbirds59** · 08-26-2008, 07:00 PM

Score....thanks to Maryellen....30# of beef heart at an incrediable price! Best part of all....Petey and Ruby got to meet! Pictures to follow.

Carol

michael327 · 08-26-2008, 07:59 PM

My two love veggies and fruit, have yet to turn anything down. I run all veggies raw through a juicer, reclaim all the solid matter, mix it and the juice in with the meat. Adds moisture content, bulk, and presents in the most digestible form I can think of for a dog. also preserves all vitamins and enzymes that can be lost during cooking. Their stool is fine and since switching off kibble hardly any more dobie farts making my eyes water.