| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| RosesAreRed |
Posted - Jan 16 2012 : 7:23:29 PM
Any sisters out there with Bloodhounds? We have 2, but they do not work. Mine are spoiled rotten house dogs. Red is 6 and loves him some chicken. Rosie is 4 and loves to watch chickens. In the future, I would love to train a puppy for search and rescue.
Less than 6 months ago, after 2 years of waffling and playing around, we finally ditched the kibble bag and switched to a raw food diet. We have witnessed really wonderful changes in the health and wellness in the dogs. We have a Mini Schnauzer who has serious digestive issues that have improved dramatically. One Bloodhound no longer has ear infections. One Bloodhound still has ear problems, but there is major improvement and hope. Just recently it dawned on me that my dogs no longer smell like corn, no longer have an odor about their coat... and their coat is so soft! Is there anyone else who feeds this way? |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| RosesAreRed |
Posted - Jan 19 2012 : 07:57:01 AM
my big dogs don't fast by choice, but they do have days where I will feed them less. Now, my little dog.. he fasts by choice. |
| FarmDream |
Posted - Jan 18 2012 : 11:04:11 PM
I love feeding a raw food diet to my dog. I followed some advice from friends for the raw food/B.A.R.F. diet. Maybe it's the same thing? My dog is less "neurotic" about chasing the cats. He seems more "with it." I've received great tips on pest control through garlic and cinnamon. A cost cutting feature is realizing true dogs will often fast for a day or two in the wild. So expecting them to fast one day is not too hard.
"dogs are dogs and not ballerinas"
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
| RosesAreRed |
Posted - Jan 18 2012 : 7:01:38 PM
My girl loves apples. I will give her whole apples for treats. I am so glad to find other's who feed naturally. |
| sherrye |
Posted - Jan 18 2012 : 07:15:59 AM
we feed raw here. we get the trim from a slaughter house. similar to what kris does. our dogs are super healthy since we pick up a produce route also they love the watermelon in summer etc. they eat it raw. they do get scraps from the kitchen also. just our way sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| RosesAreRed |
Posted - Jan 18 2012 : 04:51:54 AM
I think that is why I hesitate to alert my butcher about what I am doing. I need these prices to stay down. My vet would prefer I cook their food. She was the reason we went down this road leading to real food. My Red has terrible ear infections that just don't clear up. It is not uncommon for dogs to have a protein allergry or corn or anything else for that matter. She suggested I cook real food or buy kibble w/out the common lamb, beef or chicken protein. We did see great improvement on kibble of chicken or venison, no corn or wheat. It wasn't enough though. So I did some cooking on and off, then learned about raw and offered that here and there. I finally called my vet and told her that after almost 2 years of diet change and repeated visits for Red's ears..I was taking the plunge to raw food. She said she would rather I cook it, but go for it. I am not strict either way. Dogs like variety in their diet, and will jump into the trash to eat really gross things. I figure I can't mess them up to much. I can't do any worse than kibble. Ever read the ingredients in kibble? Then look up what those ingredients mean? Ewwww. :)
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| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Jan 18 2012 : 03:52:06 AM
It is amazing the differences in what people will say is ok to feed dogs. I know for the longest time we were told not to feed pork to the dogs because they'd get sick. Then we met someone else who was feeding pork to her dogs no problem. There are people who say you need to supplement with veggies, there are people who say straight meat is the way to go. We even had one woman tell us that the only thing her dogs were allowed to eat was chicken that still had the head attached because it wasn't any good if the head wasn't there. (You hear all kinds of things from people....) You are right that if you were buying the spendier kibble that the switch to raw isn't all that different in price. As far as having a relationship with a local butcher, that's a great idea! Although it depends where you live. We have found some places know that people are now feeding raw to their dogs and so they have jacked up their "Scrap" prices. ;) It all depends where you are. :) Good luck with the new doggie diet!
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
| RosesAreRed |
Posted - Jan 17 2012 : 8:01:49 PM
A friend and her group have an agreement with Walmart and purchase all the going out and out dated meats. She shares their extras with me. She has encouraged me to create a relationship with a local grocer butcher, but I haven't yet. My 2 dogs weigh a lot, and the little one not so much. I feed 2% to 3% of their body weight in meat, bone and organ. 85% meat, 10% bone, 5% organ--roughly. So, that comes out to about 5 lbs of raw food a day. You start with chicken and slowly over time add beef, pork, turkey etc, starting small and working your way up. Take your time. One of my dogs can tolerate only a little bit of beef and not all the time. Pork makes one puke, and one hates the texture. They are ALL allergic to turkey. Everyone loves and does well on chicken. SO, chicken it is. I spend about the same in raw meat as I did on kibble. Because of the beef intolerance, we had to feed "better" pricey kibble, so I don't feel the difference in my wallet. I have a price limit. I refuse to pay more that $1.97lb for breast, $1.60lb for chicken liver or gizzards or hearts, .79 lb for leg quarters, and .99lb. For whole chickens. I do splurge and buy beef marrow bone, beef neck bones and beef short ribs for treats every once in a while. I also will offer canned tuna to my small dog. I do add green beans, or peas from time to time. I also add raw egg once a week. They also get the cooked leftovers from the fridge at the end of the week. Thanks to feeding real food to my dogs, I have learned how to use beef and pork neck bones, chicken backs and necks to make incredible soups and stews for my family. There is A LOT of meat on those bones. I can feed my family of 4 humans and 3 dogs on $200 a week and this includes all those things you need that you can't eat. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jan 17 2012 : 4:21:11 PM
I get mine for free at the slaughterhouse. No cost at all except when I buy sausage and bacon. I also get free bones. They just throw them away anyway.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Jan 17 2012 : 3:03:14 PM
It is a financial investment, for sure. There have been times when we feed kibble half the time and raw the other half. You have to do what the pocket book allows. But there are obvious differences, for sure, in the dogs and cats when they are eating raw, for sure! If you'd like to email me for more information I can answer any questions or pass them on to my mom. :)
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
| Calico Hen |
Posted - Jan 17 2012 : 12:42:47 PM
Laurie and Amy - This is an interesting thread. We are getting a dog in the near future and I am interested in learning more about feeding raw to my dog and cats. What do you feed your animals (specifically-cuts of beef? chicken?) and how do you keep this financially inline without breaking the budget? |
| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Jan 17 2012 : 06:23:41 AM
Yes we feed a raw diet. My mom used to own a raw pet food business for several years but no longer does. It is amazing the changes it makes in your pet's health! We have four dogs (three golden retrievers and one lab) and nine cats who all eat raw. :)
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
