My raw feeding pics (meals) - Page 7

**doberkim** · 03-16-2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LPacker79

I gotta say I'm enjoying this thread immensely!

The pictures are great, and though I have no plans to feed raw I find the whole thing very interesting.

I also have to say that I'm flabbergasted by how much kibble Doberkim's crew can consume! I think I've been spoiled by my 56lb boy too much. A 30lb bag of Orijen lasts him over 3 months (at 1.5 cups A DAY). Wow, I'll be in for a rude awakening whenever I end up getting that Dobie puppy.

Yeah, I'm flabbergasted sometimes too. My first dobe weighed in at 95 lbs at ate TWO CUPS of kibble (Innova Adult - this was pre-EVO days, or I would have put him on that) a day, not a piece more. When he was switched to raw, he ate 1.5-2 lbs and nothing more a day - so UNDER 2% of his body weight - and he still towards the end of his life, was slightly overweight.

Just goes to show you how funny life can be

Lexxsmom · 03-16-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doberkim

Yeah, I'm flabbergasted sometimes too. My first dobe weighed in at 95 lbs at ate TWO CUPS of kibble (Innova Adult - this was pre-EVO days, or I would have put him on that) a day, not a piece more. When he was switched to raw, he ate 1.5-2 lbs and nothing more a day - so UNDER 2% of his body weight - and he still towards the end of his life, was slightly overweight.

Just goes to show you how funny life can be

Kim, how do you know how much raw to feed? Ive always wondered this with lexx since in all my research the general thought has been about 2% of the adult body weight, for lexx this would be around 1.5-2lbs a day, but he can and will eat much more ( some days). Should I be feeding him all he will eat( he is definitely NOT a glutton and definitely not fat) or stick to the 2%?

sorthund · 03-16-2008, 05:41 PM

IMO, I would not feed him all he can - think about it, *most* dogs "are always hungry" or act like it at least. Start with the 2% and go from there. If he looses weight add a bit more and vise versa. It was so scary for me in the beginning, but all of a sudden I just knew my dog and what she needs. I must say though, due to her heat cycles, I have to constantly adjust how much I feed.

Fawn&Bear · 03-16-2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sundobe

That is a good question.

I guess one could start by mentioning dogs have a very acidic stomach (pH >1), an environment that is not friendly to any bacteria.

Secondly, there are differences between the length of our digestive tract (8-9m) and that of a dog’s digestive tract (3-4m). This indicates a shorter transient time between intake and excretion and decreases the time that the bacteria have contact with the digestive system. The shorter the transient time the less likely it is that Salmonella and other bacteria can break through the gastrointestinal barrier and enter the system.

Also important to note is the differences in the digestion of carbohydrates (significant because of the grain content in most dry dog food). Humans have a-amylase, an enzyme dogs lack, in their saliva that starts digesting carbohydrates as soon as they enter the system. Dogs do not start to digest any carbohydrates they eat until it reaches their stomach with the majority of digestion taking place in their small intestine. The high percentage of carbohydrate in most dry dog food leads to situations where the food stays in the system longer (8-12 hours). However because a raw diet is meat based takes about half the time to digest (4-6 hours), thereby limiting the time that any possible bacteria may exposed to their system.

Hope this makes sense...

This is exactly why I love this place!! I never dreamed I would get such a thorough answer ... thank you so much SunDobe!! And yes, it definitely made sense. I love technical answers (I feel they're more reliable because they are based more on fact than opinion).

Hound · 03-16-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doberkim

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.

My quarters are normally a bit over a pound each at the stores that I buy them at. Just shows how different various areas are. Giving Nyx 3-4 would be about 4 to 5 lb of food for a puppy thats a bit over 30lb. Her weight and size are proper for her age and she has more energy then I want her to have.

And the hounds are light eaters but they are large dogs not heavy dogs. My largest bitch is 48lb and my male is 62. (edited to add) The largest girl is prob eating about 1/2 of food a day right now. Its all she is interested in, and maintaining her weight just fine. I have her eating beef actually, because she isn't much interested in chicken.

If my quarters where the size of yours I'd be feeding more of them as well.

Lexxsmom · 03-17-2008, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sorthund

IMO, I would not feed him all he can - think about it, *most* dogs "are always hungry" or act like it at least. Start with the 2% and go from there. If he looses weight add a bit more and vise versa. It was so scary for me in the beginning, but all of a sudden I just knew my dog and what she needs. I must say though, due to her heat cycles, I have to constantly adjust how much I feed.

He definitely hasn't lost weight, but he hasn't gained any either. he's 10 months now and hasn't gained a pound since like... january? I'm starting to get concerned...

JavasMom · 03-17-2008, 10:00 AM

Kim, I'm not that far from you in NJ, since Top Dog is a 15-20 min drive tops from me. Which co-op do you you? Is it local or online?

The amount of food Java gets depends on what I'm feeding her (home-made or premium kibble with add-in veg, egg) and how active she is. If she is going on her 90-min run thru the woods with DH, then she always gets a noon meal of 1 1/2-2 cups of food.

**doberkim** · 03-17-2008, 09:33 PM

I drive over an hour to get to Top Dog

My CoOp is an hour from me in the other direction, in PA, but I can give you the info on it if you want, I can always be your intermediary. NJ doesn't have any good coops, believe it or not, but we are trying to branch the PA group into a NJ faction, since many of us are in NJ.

it's a yahoogroup.

Hound · 03-18-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexxsmom

He definitely hasn't lost weight, but he hasn't gained any either. he's 10 months now and hasn't gained a pound since like... january? I'm starting to get concerned...

If he is not thin I'd still not worry. He can be in a pause state. I watched one of my afghan bitches pick up 2 inches and 5 pounds (a lot I promise) around 13 months, and my one boy and his daughter both stopped at 12 and continued at 16.

I think the rest of it will hit you all of a sudden. Can you contact his breeder or and siblings/relatives and ask what their growth patterns are? Some people don't pay attention but some do.

maryellen · 03-18-2008, 09:31 PM

doberkim and luvbird, i am looking for a co op to join. i am in nj near luvbird.. i currently use a raw supplier in washington nj, as i couldnt find co ops near me. she does only premade that she makes, not bravo or anyother premades.. but i have been using her since october and her food is pretty divirsified.. chicken, beef, turkey, goat, lamb, tripe, venison.

i just got a little over 100 lbs of food for $178, which i know is expensive but its cheaper then the bravo or omas.. plus i supplement with whole chickens from weis.

i know Save A Lot Stores in port jervis ny have sales on chicken quarters $10 for 10 lbs occasionally.. but warwick and florida ny are closer to me . any places out there with savings?