Anyone feed a raw diet or raw frozen/freeze dried kibble
- Thread starter Violet
- Start date
shellyk
New member
We feed our 2 Newfs and Lab raw food. We source our raw meat from a local coop and the grocery store. It is all human quality meat. We have a freezer on our back patio used exclusively for dog food. We have a mini refrigerator in our garage used exclusively for thawed dog meat. We only use one counter in our kitchen for preparing their meals and clean it often. We keep a small scale for portioning out for each meal and use a stainless steel bowl on the scale that is easy to clean. We feed them portions that fit in a normal food dish - luckily none of our dogs like to walk around with their food. We have yet to have any issues with contamination.
We have tried both freeze dried raw kibble and dehydrated raw food when we were traveling. Our dogs liked both equally. I preferred the freeze dried that didn't have to be reconstituted with water. The freeze dried brand we tried was NRG. We have also tried commercially prepared raw food but it is too expensive for 3 big dogs and tends to be over processed.
We have tried both freeze dried raw kibble and dehydrated raw food when we were traveling. Our dogs liked both equally. I preferred the freeze dried that didn't have to be reconstituted with water. The freeze dried brand we tried was NRG. We have also tried commercially prepared raw food but it is too expensive for 3 big dogs and tends to be over processed.
CathyC.
New member
We just started obi on a fish based commercial raw food mixed with vegetables. He really likes it and seems very healthy. His stools seem to be a better consistency. I think too many sardines can make them very loose sometimes but we have only been offering the raw food for just over a week or two. He will even eat it from frozen readily though he does like to carry it around a bit. He had no digestive issues in the transition. It comes bagged in frozen patties separated by a bit of waxed paper which makes it easy to serve. We still offer his regular kibble at lunch though. The kennel we like won't feed raw/frozen diets but will feed the kibble and sardine diet so we will keep that in the mix. I can't remember the brand name atm.
CathyC.
New member
The brand is canadian made: big country raw. http://www.bigcountryraw.ca
R Taft
Active member
I have preapred my own raw now since 1990.....I have never even considered contamination. I do prep most of my offal in a different area, but our dogs are fed in the kitchen and our dog food is defrosted in our own fridge. I always freeze all their food and defrost it in the fridge as needed. Mike and I have never been sick or had issues and the same with the dogs. Maybe being around everything has made us tougher.......The only thing I do keep seprate is green tripe, I don't like the smell so I prep it a fair way away from the house.... dogs love it, but it is kinda ewwww to us.
The other thing I notice is all the poop issues people seem to have with their dogs.......we don't, we very occasional have a loosish stool, we feed more bone. We have a more constipated one, we withold bone. My dogs are hardly ever sick. My issue have been sticks, which my sweet Yussie munched and she perforated her gut
The other thing I notice is all the poop issues people seem to have with their dogs.......we don't, we very occasional have a loosish stool, we feed more bone. We have a more constipated one, we withold bone. My dogs are hardly ever sick. My issue have been sticks, which my sweet Yussie munched and she perforated her gut
Last edited:
victoria1140
Active member
I feed a mix of raw and dried food.no issues with either .
reeves
New member
I, like Violet, am trying to figure out what a raw food diet would look like for my Newfs. I hadn't even thought about the issue of a kennel not allowing raw food diets, though it certainly makes sense for their liabilities.
I've been doing a bit of reading and I find a lot of different opinions on the amount of (or even inclusion of) fruits and veggies. One forum I read said 2-4% of the dog's weight in raw food (so, 2-4lbs for a 100lb dog depending on activity level, etc).
I realize every Newfie is different and diets will have to be adjusted to what their calorie requirements are, but I'd love it if those of you who feed your dogs a primarily raw diet would post the dog's age, weight, and what a day's meals would consist of (items and amounts). Also, how much variety do shoot for in a week's meals - different meats every day, generally whatever meat you're cooking for yourself...?
Thank you all so much for the input!
I've been doing a bit of reading and I find a lot of different opinions on the amount of (or even inclusion of) fruits and veggies. One forum I read said 2-4% of the dog's weight in raw food (so, 2-4lbs for a 100lb dog depending on activity level, etc).
I realize every Newfie is different and diets will have to be adjusted to what their calorie requirements are, but I'd love it if those of you who feed your dogs a primarily raw diet would post the dog's age, weight, and what a day's meals would consist of (items and amounts). Also, how much variety do shoot for in a week's meals - different meats every day, generally whatever meat you're cooking for yourself...?
Thank you all so much for the input!
shellyk
New member
We have a 90 lb, 3 year old female Newf who eats twice a day about 9 oz of raw food. She doesn't like chicken or fish. Sometimes I can sneak a piece of frozen sardine or mackerel in with her food. Our staple is pork cut into 1-2 inch chunks. To this we add random grind mixes with bone and organ, We get beef tripe, pheasant, turkey, and beef from a raw COOP. We also have flash frozen whole sardines and mackerel. About once a year we can get Emu meat which is really red and juicy. We supplement with vitamin E, salmon oil, a powder supplement called Longevity, fresh wheat grass, turmeric, goat milk and garlic pills for flea treatment. For special treats she loves yogurt, cottage cheese or any cheese and peanut butter.
We also have a 120 lb 2 year old male Newf who eats 14 oz twice a day. He will eat anything. He gets a piece of chicken wing/leg in the morning and will eat any and all fish or meat given to him. He gets all the same supplements as the female. He loves the same treats as our female but will also eat fruit and veggies. He loves to munch black berries which are plentiful on our walks now.
I just ordered a grind mix of rabbit so we will see how they like that.
We also have a 120 lb 2 year old male Newf who eats 14 oz twice a day. He will eat anything. He gets a piece of chicken wing/leg in the morning and will eat any and all fish or meat given to him. He gets all the same supplements as the female. He loves the same treats as our female but will also eat fruit and veggies. He loves to munch black berries which are plentiful on our walks now.
I just ordered a grind mix of rabbit so we will see how they like that.
R Taft
Active member
I feed what have on the day. I also do not feed by weight, I feed as to how much energy my dogs are using and by feel of the ribs. I reduce if I think someone is getting a bit flabby. I feed whole fish often and whole chicken carcasses. They have the kidneys and liver still attached. I love those,becuse they are from an organic farm. Dogs will get a who;le one some mornings. Biggest to the leanest dog and down to half for tessa who is not a newfie. i also feed a lot of meaty bones, so that means I will reude the ground meat. I cut up hearts, kideny and liver and feed it at about 10% of the whole meal. Some days there is none. And some days might only be lots of meaty bones and only a small amount of ground meat for all the of the dogs. I do feed some veggies and fruit as mine love it, it is their fave. And they will go searching in our veggie garden if we do not include it. I have sometimes had blood tests done on my dogs and they have all been good so far....When we do a lot of water training the food amount goes up. They might all get a chicken carcass in the morning and I will share about 2lbs of ground meat, 1/4 of a lamb heart and maybe some liver or kidney... They will always get at least one meaty bone a day, I do not use the weight bearing parts of the bone, we cut the shatfs off. But i will use any other bone, I love the ribs and spine for ours. pork is mostlikely the meat I feed the least of. And tht is becuase pork is farmed in shed and I only feed my dogs on pasture beef/lamb and organic chickens. That is more becuase of what i believe is right for the cows, chickens, lamb and pigs. I refuse to support farming in small areas/cages/yards. Purely personal....
I love feeding my dogs whole fish and sardines and herring are my fave. Salmon heads are also they often get from our butcher, they love them. The other thing my dogs nearly get daily from the organic chicken farm is chicken feet, they are great for young dogs, becuase of the cartilage and such in there and we use them as a training treat..they love them, I hate the look of them. There ae many good books on dogwise and I would buy some e-books if I was starting out. I did a lot of research, but now it just happens. I have done it for so long, I am used to it. And it also depends on what I can get. My fave meat is kangaroo... we are able to source it sometimes, but it is rare. It is a very healthy meat as is Deer and Emu. My dogs also eat rabbit (whole) as they are feral here and damage our environment, so we also buy those sometimes from local shooters.
I love feeding my dogs whole fish and sardines and herring are my fave. Salmon heads are also they often get from our butcher, they love them. The other thing my dogs nearly get daily from the organic chicken farm is chicken feet, they are great for young dogs, becuase of the cartilage and such in there and we use them as a training treat..they love them, I hate the look of them. There ae many good books on dogwise and I would buy some e-books if I was starting out. I did a lot of research, but now it just happens. I have done it for so long, I am used to it. And it also depends on what I can get. My fave meat is kangaroo... we are able to source it sometimes, but it is rare. It is a very healthy meat as is Deer and Emu. My dogs also eat rabbit (whole) as they are feral here and damage our environment, so we also buy those sometimes from local shooters.
BlackLightning
New member
A typical day in our raw-fed household looks something like this:
2 Newfs - both almost 7 years old
Weight = 110-115 lbs
Energy level = low (sloth-like)
Fed approximately 1 1/2 lbs a day spread over two meals each day
Meals include a mixture of the following (I buy everything in bulk, portion it and each meal consists of a number of these items):
- pork heart
- chicken feet
- green tripe
- turkey necks
- liver (from various animals)
- kidney (from various animals)
- whole mackerel
- 80/20 beef mix
- whole chickens
- anything else that looks good when I'm at the meat packers
Things I personally stay away from (from bad experiences):
- pork necks
- any turkey bones
- beef bones (except a knuckle bone for recreational chewing)
- salmon
- anything that is sourced from Asia
I do not feed any veggies or fruit, except as a treat or add-on. I essentially follow the prey model. 80% meat, 10% bones, 10% organs (of which, 5% is liver). I usually package my meals by a main protein source. For example, I have bags with fish as the main protein and then other bags with pork or chicken. Then I just alternate proteins with each meal. Everyone will do this differently and I think as long as you are giving them a variety of options on a regular basis, you'll be fine. It's all about balance over time, not in every meal, which is hard sometimes for kibble feeders to adjust to. I have literally fed my guys just a meal of nothing but green tripe. No big deal! Because I know their next meal will have other stuff in it. I consider raw feeding a lot more in-line with how we feed ourselves. We do not sit down and eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day and sometimes we eat more balanced than other days. I feed my dogs somewhat like that too. Today, maybe they will get a bunch of fish, but tomorrow they will get turkey necks... That's the beauty of a raw diet!
I do weigh all my meals, but lots of folks don't. I do this because my female can gain weight just looking at a meal, so I have to watch her intake very closely.
I also do not concern myself with any ratios like calcium/phosphorous, etc. I think as long as I am giving them variety and a good mix of meat, bones, and organs, there is no need to stress over it.
2 Newfs - both almost 7 years old
Weight = 110-115 lbs
Energy level = low (sloth-like)
Fed approximately 1 1/2 lbs a day spread over two meals each day
Meals include a mixture of the following (I buy everything in bulk, portion it and each meal consists of a number of these items):
- pork heart
- chicken feet
- green tripe
- turkey necks
- liver (from various animals)
- kidney (from various animals)
- whole mackerel
- 80/20 beef mix
- whole chickens
- anything else that looks good when I'm at the meat packers
Things I personally stay away from (from bad experiences):
- pork necks
- any turkey bones
- beef bones (except a knuckle bone for recreational chewing)
- salmon
- anything that is sourced from Asia
I do not feed any veggies or fruit, except as a treat or add-on. I essentially follow the prey model. 80% meat, 10% bones, 10% organs (of which, 5% is liver). I usually package my meals by a main protein source. For example, I have bags with fish as the main protein and then other bags with pork or chicken. Then I just alternate proteins with each meal. Everyone will do this differently and I think as long as you are giving them a variety of options on a regular basis, you'll be fine. It's all about balance over time, not in every meal, which is hard sometimes for kibble feeders to adjust to. I have literally fed my guys just a meal of nothing but green tripe. No big deal! Because I know their next meal will have other stuff in it. I consider raw feeding a lot more in-line with how we feed ourselves. We do not sit down and eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day and sometimes we eat more balanced than other days. I feed my dogs somewhat like that too. Today, maybe they will get a bunch of fish, but tomorrow they will get turkey necks... That's the beauty of a raw diet!
I do weigh all my meals, but lots of folks don't. I do this because my female can gain weight just looking at a meal, so I have to watch her intake very closely.
I also do not concern myself with any ratios like calcium/phosphorous, etc. I think as long as I am giving them variety and a good mix of meat, bones, and organs, there is no need to stress over it.
Last edited:
reeves
New member
Thank you so much to those who've responded so far! I hope more will chime in so we have a variety of knowledge to draw from.
Kaila - can you tell me why you stay away from salmon?
For those who feed fish to their pups - do you ever feed fish you've caught yourself? (Salmon, trout, bluegill, perch...?) If so, anything you'd say to be cautious about?
Kaila - can you tell me why you stay away from salmon?
For those who feed fish to their pups - do you ever feed fish you've caught yourself? (Salmon, trout, bluegill, perch...?) If so, anything you'd say to be cautious about?
BlackLightning
New member
I stay away from salmon because of the risk of salmon poisoning. I fed it to my dogs a few times and it was bad news for us. Lots of vomiting and loose stools. Won't feed it again. Others may have no issues feeding it raw. I just don't trust it. IF you wanted to try feeding it I would highly recommend that it be deep frozen for a number of weeks first. There are enough other protein sources out there that I just avoid salmon altogether. Here's an article discussing salmon poisoning. http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/10/07/salmon-poisoning.aspx
Now, it may be rare and maybe people regularly feed their dogs raw salmon without incident, but no way am I doing it.
In terms of fresh-caught.... I'd likely still freeze it first. Maybe I like to be a little more cautious than others, but deep freezing will help to kill any bugs in the fish. My guys hate fish that we've caught (even when it's been frozen). I have no idea why! They just look at me like I am nuts when I try to feed it to them. We stick with mackerel.
Now, it may be rare and maybe people regularly feed their dogs raw salmon without incident, but no way am I doing it.
In terms of fresh-caught.... I'd likely still freeze it first. Maybe I like to be a little more cautious than others, but deep freezing will help to kill any bugs in the fish. My guys hate fish that we've caught (even when it's been frozen). I have no idea why! They just look at me like I am nuts when I try to feed it to them. We stick with mackerel.
Last edited:
BlackLightning
New member
If you're on Facebook I would also highly recommend joining the Holistic Newfoundland Group. TONS of support and information in that group!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/311004038985386/?fref=nf
https://www.facebook.com/groups/311004038985386/?fref=nf