My raw feeding pics (meals) - Page 5

jatango · 03-15-2008, 07:18 PM

If you were going to do an occasional raw meal in the evening, what's the best way to set everything up? Fast in the morning? Kibble in the morning and feed the raw late? Chicken quarters without the skin to start? If I can't afford to feed exclusively raw, some is better than none right?

Hound · 03-15-2008, 07:28 PM

Why without the skin?

Why two meals? A chicken quarter is a lot of food for a young dobe. Its almost a full meal for a large one. Add a nice chunk of meat and poof you are done. Nothing special.

So far I'm dropping less on raw then kibble and I'm feeding eight large breed dogs. I just surf the shelves for the discounted meat.

jatango · 03-15-2008, 07:32 PM

'Without the skin' because some dogs are sensitive to the amount of fat in the skin when they start raw.

Two meals because W vomits in the AM without a meal and I can't monitor him in the AM.

I'm just worried that the raw is going to hurry through and get blocked up behind the slower digesting kibble. I've been told that can create issues.

Hound · 03-15-2008, 07:55 PM

Nod. I'm a big fan of try and then see. So far none of my have had issues with skin. If you feed twice try to seperate it by 10-12 hours. The digestive tract is mercifully short.

jatango · 03-15-2008, 07:59 PM

I'm a big fan of not cleaning up blow out diarrhea at 3am.

I think I'll try it without the skin and then see if I feel comfortable enough with his reaction to let him have it.

I'll definitely take your advice on spreading out feedings!

Hound · 03-15-2008, 08:32 PM

Three AM is never fun. My GSD has always been mister sensitive stomach and soft plops and he does great. I admit I'm highly interested in the skin and fat but then my afghans are so skinny

**doberkim** · 03-15-2008, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hound

Why without the skin?

Why two meals? A chicken quarter is a lot of food for a young dobe. Its almost a full meal for a large one. Add a nice chunk of meat and poof you are done. Nothing special.

So far I'm dropping less on raw then kibble and I'm feeding eight large breed dogs. I just surf the shelves for the discounted meat.

Respectfully, you've only fed one dobe pup, right? your hounds must be light eaters

I feed my pup 3-4 quarters a day, and rah eats about 6-8 a day if I only feed quarters. One meal for Berlin is 2 leq quarters. I'm not sure where one leg quarter can be almost a full meal for an adult large dobe.... Unless somehow in your state all your chickens are slaughtered at a much later date than in mine, our leq quarters average 1/3-1/2 lb each.

My cats eat a whole quarter each, though

THEY are greedy little bastards though.

I'm also not sure why you would add a chunk of meat to a leq quarter - it's pretty meaty as is... and for a dog prone to the runs like Wonder, I'd actually go for MORe meat than bone, since more meat is going to lend to diarrhea for him. He's one of the few dogs I'd consider starting on something like turkey necks or something like that, since they are so boney. But they are a lot easier to choke on...

Jess - for Wonderbread, since he has a pretty sensitive digestive tract, I'd probably fast him for at least 12 hours before you try this, and yes I'd take all the skin off him the first time. Your issue is going to be switching back and forth between kibble and raw, his GI tract may never have a chance to adjust to raw but its going to depend on each dog - if his GI tract has "settled" now that hes on TOTW he may tolerate raw a lot better now. Lydia is in your situation now too - Mercury never tolerated any raw before, but now that he's doing well (he's eating CORE), she wants to try to intro some.

**Doberdog** · 03-15-2008, 08:59 PM

I admire you guys. I could never feed Q raw, it is too gross to me. I would vomit. My husband says that I cook the life out of everything, it can't have even a drop of pink in it. Sometimes even cooked meat grosses me out. I could almost be a veg eater except I love an extra-well done ribeye too much. Anyway, I know you guys are doing what is best for the dog, I just don't have it in me.
I must say Q is doing great on the Innova adult dog food. His coat is Soooo soft that I can't keep my hands off of him. He feels fake it is so soft. He eats about 1 2/3 cups, twice a day. Sometimes he gets a snack at midnight to 1:30am. We pay about 42.00 for a 30lb bag. He used to eat 2 heaping cups, 3 times a day but has slowed down only in the last month.

jatango · 03-15-2008, 09:03 PM

I may try turkey necks because he is a very good chewer. Very methodical about his food. Now who can I get to give me necks?

I'll just feed him early and fast him while i'm at work so he's asleep.

sorthund · 03-15-2008, 09:17 PM

Just check with your local butcher to start with. If possible ask for Tom necks, as they're bigger so less risk for chocking. Make sure they don't cut them into smaller pieces, tell them you want as big as possible. And PLEASE watch him the whole time he's eating!