going semi raw?

ascudder

New member
I've been debating going raw with my dogs lately--and Michael and I have played around with it some. We've been mixing their kibble (Eagle Pack Holistic) with some beef or salmon roe.

Our husky hates veggies and fruit, but our Newf pup loves them! She goes crazy for peaches and bananas. I've been adding some chopped or pureed veggies to her food a few times a week.

Since our work schedule is very erratic and we sometimes (okay, often) have to call our neighbor to feed the dogs dinner I'm wondering if it is alright for them to eat a semi-raw diet?

Can I make their food for breakfast and snacks (I already make my own dog biscuits) and keep them on kibble for dinner? Or should I do a 50/50 mix of kibble and meat/veggies at each meal.

I wish that I could go 100% raw with them--but due to our jobs I don't think that is feasible.

Thoughts
 

LindaR

New member
I've been rawfeeding for only one year, so I still consider myself a newbie. I researched for 6 months before making the decision to go raw. I'd like to direct you to the rawfeeding group at yahoo. There are over 12,000 rawfeeders in that group, some very seasoned veterans who have rawfed for many years and could address your concerns. Register at groups.yahoo.com and search for the rawfeeding group. There are 2 camps in the rawfeeding arena--the prey model feeders, and the BARFERS who include raw fruits and vegies. My research has indicated that it's not recommended to mix raw and kibble as that can cause digestive upsets. I've not been sorry for a second that we made the change and will never go back. Good luck in your new adventure. Your dogs will love you for it.
 

Sailorgirl

New member
I feed half and half. Breakfast is kibble (and I had to try a few before I found one that I felt worked really well with the raw) and dinner is raw. If it were up to me I'd feed all raw but my husband can't wrap his brain around it and he's the breakfast man. I will say that it is nice to be able to feed kibble without a problem when we're traveling with the dogs or forget to thaw something out.

Anyway, we always feed raw and kibble separately. Never mixed at the same meal. Kibble and raw digest at different rates so it can be difficult for some dogs when they are mixed. We did a lot of research on raw before we started and found ourselves a few raw mentors who have been tremendously helpful. I actually think it's harder to feed half and half than it is to feed all raw. For instance, many raw feeders will do a bone meal for breakfast and a muscle meat meal for dinner. Since I'm only doing one raw meal, I do a combo of the two and it can be difficult to get the ratios right sometimes.

I've seen a lot of benefits even at half raw. I'm sure I'd see more if we were 100% raw. Be careful with raw salmon. You need to check the sources on that because Pacific Northwest salmon can contain a fluke that can be fatal. We don't feed veggies regularly (just don't feel they are needed, but we do feed them as a treat or when we have extras) but some people do.

We did have a few tummy problems with the initial changeover. Ultimately we figured out that our dogs had upset tummies halfway through the night because their stomachs were empty, which they had never experienced before on kibble (because the raw digests much faster). When you think about that it's really pretty gross and a big reason for going raw.

There are some great raw books out there and some excellent groups, as mentioned above, that can be a lot of help before you start out. Since you mentioned that your newf is a puppy I'd be particularly diligent in doing some research before starting out on feeding them raw because your pup is going through some really critical growth stages.
 

KatieB

New member
We feed half kibble and half raw. I mix kibble and raw together and ours have no digestive upset with it, but we have been doing that for over a year so perhaps their tummies are used to it. The kibble that we feed is also meant to be supplemented with raw food so that could be it too. We were feeding Nature's Variety who makes raw food in addition to kibble and are now feeding Nature's Logic (because we can get it for wholesale). I didn't start feeding my newf a large portion of raw until she was through her major growth phases as I still don't feel I know enough to feed a growing giant breed raw from puppyhood. There are many great books out there so do lots of research and make sure you feel confident before starting your pup on raw. It is great to have some mentors...one of our breeders has been ours and we are on a raw berner group that's very helpful as well. I would like to feed all raw, but with our schedules we just couldn't always make it work as best as I wanted it to. It is really nice also when we travel to be able to fall back on kibble or if we have someone watching the dogs for them to give them kibble and just add in tripe.
 

Lisa@Caeles Hills

New member
I feed raw in the morning and kibble (Eagle Holistic) at night and has been working well for us. I've been doing it 1 1/2 years and using So-Jo's Organic to mix with fresh raw meat. Havent had any problems at all except I usually give a raw bone in the afternoon to tide them over until dinner at 5 pm as they seem hungry.
 

merrymutts

New member
We are still semi-raw; dogs get Raw in the morning and smaller meal of kibble in the evening. I would like to go 100% Raw but since everyone is doing so well on this ( and based on the amount of kibble I do feed it'll be several more weeks ); I may just keep them on this regimen.

They get their RMB's just before I go to work in the morning. Hubby claims that the noise of them gnawing on the bones in the evenings reverberates through the floors .. and he is somewhat correct on this...it DOES get rather noisy.
 

ascudder

New member
Thanks for all the info. Right now I have decided to transition them into a semi-raw diet. My concerns now that it is getting colder again is to feed both dogs a higher fat diet to help compensate with the colder temperatures. Its actually very important that they both put on some weight before the winter truly starts.

I've been feeding Eagle Pack Natural and Holistic kibble (for some reason they don't like the holistic one as much....??) mixed with salmon oil, grated zucchini, 1/4 cup of homemade organic plain yogurt and raw ground meat (moose, beef or caribou).

Like some of you folks mentioned my fiance (and husband in one week!) is leery of mixing up their foods when he feeds them, so they get a good mix of kibble as well.
 

merrymutts

New member
Well...I have had a busy week filling the dogs' freezer...LOL. I ordered from some different places because I wanted to see if a higher quality might offset a higher shipping rate.

So...as of Saturday...the dogs got shipments of Rabbit from a place in Indiana, soem goat, mutton, and duck from Hare Today ( PA ) and from a new place in Tennessee, lamb ribs, chicken frames and ground turkey necks.

Yep...thought the freezer was full.....then Saturday AM got an e-mail from a local gal who had decided that her dog did not do as well on raw as he did on kibble....she had ordered a carton ( 40 lb ) of chicken necks from the local grocery...did I want it ???

"Sure", I said...and picked up the case this afternoon after Mass...carried it into the house, popped the lid and DAMMIT...the necks were frozen almost solid...so it became an all afternoon chore to that and chisel and bag and thaw and chisel & bag until finally around 3: 30 PM I had the last of the chicken necks bagged up and the carton in the dumpster.

A frantic re-arranging still led to having to store 6 of the bags in the family freezer so now...oh will my pups be WELL fed...LOL....and I have a small blister on my right hand as my (thankfully) only "battle wound"....

It will be a GOOD long while before I have to order again.....because "there ain't no room at the Inn".
 

merrymutts

New member
There's enough for one heck of a Doggie Party ! I gave the dogs each some lamb ribs the other day and they sighed with happiness !
 
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