Raw

[Keira25]

I think turkey is notorious for having enhancements. I would try some beef or pork. Make sure you check the sodium content. I think I read it should be less than 100 mg. I check the grocery store for meat that is about to expire so it's cheap. My local store also sells beef heart, which is also good.

 

[Elund]

Thanks. We are going to stay away from turkey until its in season and my husband hunts.

 

[charlieinnj]

About 2 1/2 months ago, I decided to make a switch to raw for my 2 Newfies. I found a butcher/supplier here in NJ that makes numerous 'blends' of raw mixtures that are nutritionally balanced and they are priced about the same as the 'Acana' kibble that I had been feeding.

After talking to many fellow Newf-owners that had switched to raw to address skin allergies in their Newies, I wanted to see if it would help my Oliver's 'Fall' seasonal allergies that start in August and last through October. For the last 3 years, it's been months of antibiotics and short-term doses of steroids because he would scratch so much that he'd end up with skin infections.

Well, I am so happy to report that since the switch, there have not been ANY issues with allergies this year.....and OMG, the 'life' that I now see daily in my dogs is beyond belief.

I couldn't be more happy about making this switch to raw and wish that I had done it sooner!

 

[MamaSu]

I am very interested in the raw diet, but like many am intimidated. I agree lenovo, your suggestion of raw feeders pros/cons info would be wonderful. And thank you Linda R. for your great info, it really helped me to see a snapshot of the diet. I have a new 9 wk old and have him on Call of the Wild dry, but would like input.
Su, Mom to Belvedere

 

[luvmynwfy]

Hi
There are several different raw diets out there, and I'm sure different pros and cons depending on which one someone is feeding. I follow the approx. 70% muscle meat (including canned sockeye salmon, eggs too but I hard boil them), 10% edible bone, 10% organ meat (liver is a big part of this) and 10% veggies/fruit/herbs, supplemented with 6000 salmon oil, B-complex and uba vet (joint supplement) daily. I feed raw marrow bones for recreation and teeth cleaning. My Timber was on this diet for over 9 years. Our River has been on it for 5 months.


Pros: never needed teeth cleaning
no bad smells, awesome soft coat
no allergies, skin issues or even one ear infection, no digestive problems or joint problems
Overall, great health and energy
Small stool to clean up (I like this one a lot).
She really enjoyed her food (and so does our recent family addition River) - I like watching them eat!
Feeding this way satisfies my own desire on how I want to care for my Newfs, a personal life style choice



Cons:
You have to follow a proper diet. Lots of research involved. You will have to tweak it for various reasons over a dogs life. I know some people who feed raw and make it up as they go. Calcium/Phosphorus ratios for example must be maintained carefully. Its not rocket science but you have to know what you're doing. It is not as easy as scooping out kibble and walking away....
- keep your freezer stocked or you will end up having to spend a fortune paying full price for quality meat.
It requires much more effort to buy and store raw meat.
Quality must be human grade (and yet even now we have a recall on beef products here with E.Coli so right now all beef is cooked _ I wont risk it).
Keep your work area, storage and feeding area very clean - every single time. This is raw meat and there is bacteria.
Many Vets are not happy with raw feeding (mine included). You will have to find answers on your own - books, groups (K-9 kitchen on yahoo is excellent)
My Timber was fed an excellent diet her entire life and still had cancer by 9 years of age - raw diet is no guarantee for a healthy dog. Many raw feeders believe that this diet will protect your dog from things like cancer and bloat - and while it may be true (or not), maybe it does improve your odds - dont count on it 100% and think you can never have to worry about those two killers. I use to believe this.

I'm sure I've missed some pros and cons but others will give their experience. I'm very happy feeding this way and my Newfs are too or I wouldn't do it.

All the best whichever you choose.
Marina

 

[Connie w Tuck]

Some Questions

We are new to feeding Raw - started labor day weekend. I have read Kymythy Schultze book and Lew Olson - Raw & Natural Nutrition for Dogs. Still reading Wendy Volhart book. But so far really like Kymythy and Lew. So my questions:
I have an order to pick up from our Amish Butcher every Saturday. One thing I found out he could get was Tripe. So I ordered it - I get it Saturday. It comes in 10 lbs frozen package. What the heck do I do with it? Do I have to grind it? Can it just be cut up?
I am searching Craigs list and the internet for a Grinder. Some people say get the $150 $180 grinder and it will work great. Do you have to grind everything? My butcher gives me frozen bags of ground chicken with neck and backs in them. He also sells me bags of ground beef, beef heart, liver and kidney. Do I really need a grinder if the butcher grinds things for me.
I have some frozen Chick Thighs - Can I just thaw them and add them to their food in chunks - or does it have to be ground.
Love reading all the Raw Threads - thanks for the yahoo groups.

 

[Capri]

Connie, don't grind if you don't have to! Dogs prefer eating pieces & it's less of a hassle for you too, especially when you realize how much tripe really smells . (note: wear gloves if/when you handle it!)

 

[BlackLightning]

Connie, don't grind if you don't have to! Dogs prefer eating pieces & it's less of a hassle for you too, especially when you realize how much tripe really smells . (note: wear gloves if/when you handle it!)

We get big tubs of tripe too and I don't grind it. I thaw it just enough to work with it (i.e. cut through it) and I DEFINITELY wear gloves!! I just cut up big frozen chunks of it and portion it with whatever else I am portioning that day. I don't grind anything.

I don't see a need to grind my raw - I've never had any issues with them dealing with the bone and you lose the benefit of natural teeth cleaning if you grind all your bone. It's also a lot more work! The one thing I do make sure of though is that the piece of meat with bone I am giving them is large enough for them to have to actually chew - I stay away from things like chicken wings because I don't want them just swallowing them whole (scared they will choke!)

 

[Connie w Tuck]

One more question. when feeding RMB's (raw meaty bones) (I am learning the terms yet!) What do you have them lay on - sit on when eating them? My one 2 year old landseer takes the turkey necks - chicken back - out of the bowl - lays on the floor and chews - eats. I have hard wood floors so after he eats I Lysol wipe where the rmb was. I tried putting a sheet and a towel down - he then burys the bone in the material and walks away. I read somewhere they use those plastic table clothes but again - I think he will bury and walk.
Love this forum!

 

[BlackLightning]

One more question. when feeding RMB's (raw meaty bones) (I am learning the terms yet!) What do you have them lay on - sit on when eating them? My one 2 year old landseer takes the turkey necks - chicken back - out of the bowl - lays on the floor and chews - eats. I have hard wood floors so after he eats I Lysol wipe where the rmb was. I tried putting a sheet and a towel down - he then burys the bone in the material and walks away. I read somewhere they use those plastic table clothes but again - I think he will bury and walk.
Love this forum!

I feed outside. Or, I will feed in a section of our garage where I can easily mop the floors. Our guys use their bowls for a total of two seconds before they have the raw meat out and on the floor!

 

[Puppypeoplenj]

Do you feed outside even in the winter? I'm sure it doesn't get as cold in Jersey as it does in Ontario, but I'm not a fan of the idea of dashing out to drop raw meat on our deck. (Although, the brisk winter walks will be necessary, so maybe I should just get used to it).

Do you clean your deck often? Put the meat directly on the wood, or in a bowl? I'm wondering, how can I keep this sanitary over a long period of time?

 

[charlieinnj]

Do you feed outside even in the winter? I'm sure it doesn't get as cold in Jersey as it does in Ontario, but I'm not a fan of the idea of dashing out to drop raw meat on our deck. (Although, the brisk winter walks will be necessary, so maybe I should just get used to it).

Do you clean your deck often? Put the meat directly on the wood, or in a bowl? I'm wondering, how can I keep this sanitary over a long period of time?

With no disrespect to those that do....the concept of feeding outside or putting down dropcloths, etc. was the reason I went with a balanced raw blend. Dogs don't need to have a consistent diet of RMBs....but I don't mind given them as an occasional treat. Within a month's time, my dog's teeth became spotless, once again. Having to do all that munching/chewing on bones isn't all that cleans their teeth. The raw diet in general, due to the change in the dog's PH level, cleans and prevents tarter from depositing. My dogs teeth are a testimonial to that fact.

 

[BlackLightning]

Do you feed outside even in the winter? I'm sure it doesn't get as cold in Jersey as it does in Ontario, but I'm not a fan of the idea of dashing out to drop raw meat on our deck. (Although, the brisk winter walks will be necessary, so maybe I should just get used to it).

Do you clean your deck often? Put the meat directly on the wood, or in a bowl? I'm wondering, how can I keep this sanitary over a long period of time?

Like Charlie pointed out, there are many different ways to go about raw feeding and it may take a bit of trial and error to figure out what works best for you. For me, I feed them in the yard, on the grass. Takes them a total of about a minute to get through their meal In the Winter, I tend to switch to the garage where I can easily mop the floors.

 

[Natasha]

Hi all!

I'm planning on taking the plunge with raw this weekend with Raleigh but I had a query regarding amounts to feed.

Raleigh currently weighs approx. 12 kg (27 pounds, 7 ounces) and I'd love it if someone could give me a rough guideline of how much I should be feeding over the course of a day. I've read that it's either 7-10% of current body weight or 2-3% of the expected adult weight for puppies - is this the same for newfs?

Thanks

 

[charlieinnj]

Hi all!

I'm planning on taking the plunge with raw this weekend with Raleigh but I had a query regarding amounts to feed.

Raleigh currently weighs approx. 12 kg (27 pounds, 7 ounces) and I'd love it if someone could give me a rough guideline of how much I should be feeding over the course of a day. I've read that it's either 7-10% of current body weight or 2-3% of the expected adult weight for puppies - is this the same for newfs?

Thanks

I've only heard of the 2-3% of their body weight. But that might only apply to adults. I'm not sure about growing puppies.

 

[Natasha]

I've only heard of the 2-3% of their body weight. But that might only apply to adults. I'm not sure about growing puppies.

Thanks for that! I'm worried about feeding him too much :s

 

[mrsnamsherf]

I just feed him outside-pretty much always. I toss it in the grass, or in a bowl if it is messy-like liver, for example. He is happy to lay outside and eat by himself, although he wants back in the instant he's finished.

The winters here are mild. But sometimes I don't want him to lay in the rain (or snow) and get soaked while eating, so I feed in the house. Or if I am cutting up some raw to freeze, I just toss him enough chunks for dinner.

I will say that blood will stain unsealed concrete...so don't feed on concrete unless you know it is sealed. I imagine this applies to unsealed wood, too.

Marie

 

[CMDRTED]

I feed ours Bravo, with added fruit and vegis, and add Sojos Fruit and Vegies also. Two of mine are alergic to Hamburger so they get Mackrel as an additive, and the other two get hamburger. Tigger gets turkey necks and wings (If I could find backs she'd get those too). All get sardines. We feed in stainless steel bowls that get washed in an anti-bacterial soap. They also get bones several times a week (so we can desensitize the allergy dogs). One day a week they eat a fasting meal (Meatless) Yougurt, Cottage cheese, fruit, vegies, Rice.

They eat inside, water outside on the deck, in the winter the bowl is heated.

 

[Rachael77]

Kelp powder supplement

I am adding kelp powder as a supplement for raw feeding my needs but am having trouble finding a way to determine the right amount to use. Can anyone help with that?

 

[BlackLightning]

I am adding kelp powder as a supplement for raw feeding my needs but am having trouble finding a way to determine the right amount to use. Can anyone help with that?

I do 1/2 tsp a day