i need to proof read more carefully, stuff like that drives me nuts!

Cathy
when she first came home

I think I am going to start on a pre-prepared frozen raw diet because she needs food NOW and I need to do some local searching for decent meat sources, as well as come up with a way to grind bone. How do you grind bone? And what about veggies and starches? Do you ever give potatoes or rice, raw or cooked veggies? I am very grateful for your help.

Cathy
when she first came home

their is nothing better then a raw diet....i dont discourage people from cooking either...either method is better than kibble.....first many people blame the ingredients in dry foods and that is not always the problem...alot of times its the chemicals that preserve the foods that are the real problems in allergies.....
when i first started it was because my dogs were "allergic" to chicken.....when fed raw chicken they were fine.....my current rescue brandy came to me with mange....infected skin from itching horrible ears.....in one week the ears are 90% cleared up....no more constant itching...hair growing back on her tail and under her chin...that in one week on raw slightly cooked she is 9yo and some times older dogs have a hard time digesting raw....i put her food under the broiler for three minutes....
my second story is charlie a sb boy....constant pooping gross does not discribe the problem 2 weeks on raw....he poops twice a day.....and is 56 lbs of love....
here are the basic rules 80% meat 10% bone and 10% organs.... start out simple chicken is always a good start....i am very old school so i grind my chicken bones....i use maily beef hearts and claf liver for my orangs...and throw in tripe for a treat....raw bone are always lamb ribs or legs when i can get them...also pig feet.....i also use cod liver oil...and vit c...
some one here wrote an incrediable article on raw...i think you can find it on the front page.....
you will be amazed and putting it under the broiler is not going to ruin a better diet than dry food......


charlie with his pig foot......

I will do that!

Cathy
when she first came home

cross post this on forum one also. You'll probably get more responses. And you'll get many different responses. I've never seen one food that worked for every dog. But when you do find one that works stick with it!

I have been feeding Ruby Eagle Pack Holistic for several years now. She has always done great on it. She ate the anchovy sardine one. But then I switched flavors to give her a change and her left ear has been goopy and itchy. I've been cleaning in regularly so it doesn't cause her a problem. But on Friday I will be going back to the anchovy sardine flavor. I don't know if it's the different grain or protein or something else that is causing it.

Food can be so tricky!! I wish you much luck in finding the one that works for Audrey.

You'll get lots of opinions in this area!

to feed this food exclusively, and really not necessary if we can make it at home. There are no additives in the food, here's a link to the kind I got:

http://www.primalpetfoods.com/product/detail/c/7/id/4

so a lamb shank is basically a lamb's leg? and they eat the bone with no trouble? I don't know why the thought of bones scares me but it really does.

My other question is about Toxoplasmosis. Have you ever had problems with this parasite from feeding raw? Does Audrey need any extra and/or different tests if she eats a completely raw diet?

Thanks again for your help! I really appreciate it.

Cathy
when she first came home

their not that expensive and they can grind bone.....i only grind chicken or bird bones.....i never grind my lamb or beef shanks....
check your pre mixed raw diet and make sure their are not to many additives in it...otherwise you may keep having the same problems.....a whole chicken is only around 6 to 7 dollars from the grocery store....whole chicken quarters are less some times.....
i do add parsley,alfalfa,celery,garlic,squash,kale,mint,cottage cheese,yogurt in small amounts...i make 5lb batches at a time and freeze them.....enough for a month...
wilson is 52 lbs and charlie is 56 lbs...they get 1 to 1 1/2 lbs a day...brandy at 36lbs get 1/2 to 1 lb a day.....i feed twice a day.....
the book i suggest for you and you will like it alot is....
**Home Prepared dog&cat diets** by Donald Strombeck dvm
this breaks the diets down so you know the kilocalories,grams protein,grams of fat and caloric needs....the diets are easy to do and you will feel very incontrol of what your feeding and how much to feed.....
i started this way and then developed my own diet plans to fit the needs of my dogs.....
always start simple and get comfortable....have fun with the diet.... food should be fun and intresting...... it is for people and it should be for our dogs......