Judy is the best and sure put my mind at ease through this whole process....

If it wasn't for you I'd have given up when my dogs just couldn't eat those bones.
My dogs are doing so well, even my old ladies! I was really worried about such a drastic chnage at such an old age, but they are thriving.

Cathy
when she first came home

in raw feeding once you feel comfortable...but you also have to do what is right for you and what makes you happy and content....i very rarely tell horror tales...but i do grid and why a good friend of mine had a bulldog who had a elongated soft pallet....for some reason the bone got caught and sat thier why or how we dont know...the dog ended up with a massive infection that went thru his whole body....
this is why i grind my bird bones....thats me...and it makes me happy....i have one with a hypolastic trechea so no chances on my part....
they get lamb rib bones whole....
again feeding raw is fun...we should feel comfortable and enjoy it as much as our dogs do....
i think its great what your doing and see your dogs are in the best of health...
love to see other people sharing their diets...and what they feed....and how they feed...

her nose rope turned gucky, nasty, black and gooey, and it took a good 10 whole weeks to see a noticeable improvement. It went from needing to be cleaned every day, to needing it every other day now. It really could have used two or three times a day cleaning, but I was concerned that that much cleaning would just irritate it more.
We started her on Primal, which has veggies, and now that we've switched to meat only, her eyes are actually getting cleaner too.
It has been 13 weeks since the original switch form kibble to raw.

Cathy
when she first came home

i use 1 /2 ounce olive oil with 200 vit e and 1/4 teaspoon of tea tree oil....
also a tea of st johns wort (hypericum) is another good topical herb as it is anti infective and will soothe irritated painful ears....
find the book by vet don hamilton homeopathic care for dogs and cats...it will give you all the doses for homeopathic needs...you will love this book....its my bible as it is ver simple to use gives you all the doses and amounts....
dont be discouraged....

that's why I think you COMPLETELY misunderstood my post before.
It is NOT a rigid, structured, one way only, method to feed every single dog on the planet.
I have 3 dogs, and only one was able to eat it un-chopped. Instead of stressing about the other 2 losing the chewing bone benefit, I just chop it for them. No worries! I know I have to make up for that loss by teeth brushing, and nylabone chewing.
I measure the chopped food because I have no clue what 6, or 7, or 12 ounces of meat looks like. I imagine that after measuring for a while I'll be able to eyeball it much better.
If they have loose stools, I make sure they get more bone next time.
I no longer worry about any of my dogs choking on the raw bones. Choking is NOT the issue at all with my 2 that need it chopped. They are just un-able to eat them in a way that is compatible with human co-habitation. One is 13 years old and has terrible teeth, and Audrey is only 15 months old but I don't think her teeth are right.

Cathy
when she first came home

I'd stop feeding him food with carrots in it.

There really is no need to worry about getting the veggie portions right, they don't need them so there IS no correct amount. I am not saying veggies are going to hurt your dog, but they aren't going to provide any signifigant benefits either.

Same for carbohydrates. Dogs are NOT humans with human digestive needs and processes. Here is a study on nutritional REQUIREMENTS, not what they are able to digest, but what is required to live.
National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, 2006 Edition, National Academies Press, Washington, DC
You see, according to the National Research Council and compared to the other major nutrients proteins and fats no carbohydrates appear to be essential for the typical canine diet.1

We have been bombarded all our lives by advertising telling us why we NEED to feed our dogs commercial foods, and they try to make dog nutrition a very complicated, difficult thing that us mere pet owners couldn't begin to get right. People have had domesticated dogs for 14,000 years, WWAAYY before commercial dog food companies came along to save our poor starving, malnurished dogs. If you are a dog food company it IS an extremely complicated thing. Trying to turn corn, potatoes, wheat, rice, barley, veggies, and other very CHEAP food sources into a form that a dog can actually digest and get some nutrition out of is not easy. They have to come up with some smooth talking to convince us that not only do our carnivore canines NEED the ultra cheap food sources, but it is the ONLY thing that's good for them. The fear factor is a powerful tool.
Don't believe it!

I would highly recommend listening to Judy, she makes it so simple and practical. It really is NOT that hard!

Cathy
when she first came home

I see so many of you doing it and all the beautiful bully babies here and so something is going right for you all. My babies will be happy I'm sure they love their treats that they do get when we go out somewhere and bring back for them. It's expected now!! Of course. I forgot one time and my new tennis shoes got the punishment for that! LOL Thank you all!!!

J-ME, Digger & Roxie

I am thinking about grinding too..
i have been hacking the bones up into smaller pieces, but she has such a small mouth that she can't seem to handle anything..

anyway, i will let you know how the tea tree oil stuff works.

Thanks


Tiffany and Stella

just try a bit here and there
the dogs do enjoy it
they were a hoot to watch here with the pock hock..bought it at the grocery store
but it was fun to watch them all try to eat it...
when they were done testing and chewing I tossed the rest of it out
it can be a bit messy..
make sure you give it to them in a place that you can wash easy..

This site has been incredible with helpfin advise on raw...Judy helped me a lot mentally, she kept telling me - "just have fun with it" and that's what I had to keep telling myself, until I finally believed me! LOL

now I do have fun with it and so do my dogs....of course I'm relaxed because I also give Nature's Variety raw patties, so I know they are getting what they need and then I just play with whatever else I give them, that took a lot of pressure off me! LOL Yeah, I worry a lot too!!

I live in a small town in Wyoming. Can I just get that stuff at my butcher's do you think?

J-ME, Digger & Roxie

I asked some of these same questions and she posted some awesome lnks on feeding raw.
do not remember them at the moment
maybe she will see this thread and help you

I bought some pork hocks just for something different for the dogs here to try.
what a hoot.
it was an excellent chew
they did not get that far with it
but all 5 dogs loved it
and I would do it again

I do not feed raw
but here and there is fun to try
I also use the marrow bones as well all the time

I have 5 dogs and they all had a blast with the pork hocks and I had a good laugh too..

If your dogs are doing great on what you are feeding (which it sounds like they are) don't change it in my opinion! Yes, raw is better (I could write a book on why) but honestly, what matter is that your dogs are healthy and happy. Just my opinion. Maybe as a treat get some raw marrow bones or throw them a chicken back now and then, keeps the teeth clean too.

Tammy

I am just flabbergasted by all that i am reading here. I have always been told to never feed your dogs any kind of bones and I'm seeing all this and I am amazed at what I am seeing. Is this all good for your dogs? Am I doing wrong by mine by feeding them science diet dog food? My vet recommended it. They have never had any allergies, skin probs., or anything else that I have seen going on here, but now I'm wondering if I should try something different or what would you suggest for me. My male is 14 months weighs 54 lbs. my female is 17 weeks and is 20.5 lbs. They were just at the vet today and she says they are both healthy and look very good. What are your suggestions on me trying a raw diet for them?

J-ME, Digger & Roxie

Judy...Do you know the formula for the tea tree oil olive oil and something else? I saw the formula on BDW mixed it up and used it on wrinkles, nose, and ears. I loved it but now I am out and can't find the formula. Colleen

http://www.rawfeddogs.net/Recipe/List

Honestly, I've been feeding our 18 monnth old Bulldog raw since 10 weeks of age. Never bought it pre-made, never grind, just thaw and serve! Chicken backs mainly, salmon heads, beef ribs, pork necks, ribs, turkey necks, pigs feet, you name it...she eats it! Bison, lamb, deer, trout...the list goes on. I also give her the occasional meal of sardines mixed with eggs (shell and all). Pumpkin mixed with yogurt, apples or veggies seldom...maybe when there are leftovers I might throw them in a blender with a little molasses for taste. Teela has NEVER had skin, ear, eye, weight issues...she is the picture of health. Never had an allergy, coat is shiny, stools always firm. I think people try way too hard sometimes, think to much, worry too much. Teela has never choked on a raw bone. I've only ever had one issue and it was when I made the mistake of giving her a "smoked" bone she was given as a xmas present. She chews and swallows raw beef, chicken, lamb, pork bones. Her teeth are spectacular as a result. Ok, I've rambled enough. Go to your local butcher, ask for a case of chicken backs (they cost me $10 for 20lbs) and try feeding those to start.

HTH
Tammy & Teela (the dog that eats everything) except bread & pizza crusts, hates anything that isn't MEAT!

if you make a 100lb batch...it stays the same 80% meat 10% bone 10% oragns....
my guys are 52 and 60 lbs i feed 1 to 1 1/2 lbs of food a day.....

charlie with his pig foot....

have you added an omega like cod liver tabs?? now is the time....thier is a great holistic product called tea tree oil...go to the general discussion to annie its about the fourth discussion down.....the product is great...and is holistic...you can use it on the ears and for the idc problem....
dont get discourged we cant change things over nite...it will work...you might want to go to pork...also if you feel the main protein is not working....i had to go to rabbit with wilson then turkey then back to chicken...so some times we have to change our main proteins....
good luck and look into the tea tree oil...i have a couple of other sites also....

on food amount or calories? so say i was going to grind up enough food for a month say 30 pounds 80% of that would be 24 so out of the 30 pounds would 24 of it be meat and then three pounds of organs and three pounds of bone?

we're in the same boat together!
We've been feeding raw for about a month and we have yeasty ears, paws and face, pink and itchy.
I am trusting that it will clear up, but it is pretty frustrating to see my Stella with these issues.

As far as I know and I am no expert, vegetables are not necessary.
I feed the ratio that Judy posted 80/10/10
Stella loves it!


Tiffany and Stella

so maybe the idc and swollen paws were part of the detox and not neccesarily an allergy. he is allergic to carrots which the natures variety has but i would assume it is such a small amount. he had a few very small idc's and i did notice some bumps on his skin almost like little zits. maybe ill just stick with the natures variety for another month or so and see what happens. thanks for the info

80% meat 10% bone and 10% organs....
i would stay with this basic meal for at least a month do not put anything else..ru...also remember some dogs will go thru a detox yeasty ears,idc,bumpy skin....
i listed in a early thread hw much bone in chicken ect,,,,, but if you cant find it i will relist for you....
also if you have any other questions feel free to ask...i have been a raw feeder for over 20 years

Thanks for the tips, yes I started adding omegas a week ago.
I saw a tea tree oil product posted on the general board for ears, but it was store bought. I am in Canada, and can't always find the same products.
Is there one I can mix up here at home?

Thanks again for all the support Judy! I appreciate it!


Tiffany and Stella