If your pup is 8 weeks, s/he should be able to handle chicken necks and ground meat just fine. Stick with chicken for the first week and slowly add in other proteins. Only a little bit of organ meat. I would order some green tripe too, so many benefits in it. A just weaned pup is usually 4-5 weeks.
I gave my pup(who was weaned onto raw) chicken legs or thighs at 8 weeks, but he inhaled the first few meals so I decided to go with necks and ground mix.
Make sure you are feeding at least 3 meals a day and an 8 week old pup should be getting close to 1.5# per day. At 12 weeks my pup ate 2# daily 3 meals. I dropped the mid-day meal at 16 weeks but gave a midnight snack for another few months so he wouldn't barf bile early in the morning.
Exciting time for you!!! Get some sleep before the weekend zookeeper, you'll be wishing you could have more of the zzzzz's by Monday! Congrats on your new addition

 

thank you so much for your input! we are crazy excited

 

I just got my gsd a couple months ago and a friend of mine turned me onto raw food for him. I noticed the difference in his coat in a couple weeks and he smells MUCH less. I still feed him half kibble half raw but im not sure if thats ok. I read that the Blue Buffalo i feed him has some vitamins, minerals and anti oxidants im positive cannot be found in raw meat which is why i decided to continue to feed him it along with the raw meat.

 

We became very interested in the RAW diets prior to Miakoda getting a serious baterial infection but when we called the vet and asked questions about raw foods, even fruits and veggies, the vet stated sternly, "I'd advice against giving any animal raw foods." We asked why and the vet states, "There's way to many bacteria and viruses that result from raw foods." Now as an over aware eater myself, don't like additives and preservatives, well I just wanted the best for Miakoda. So as I appreciate this I'm totally confused but understand the sponsored by a kibble producer statements, I think the same way.
So a neighbor said cooked chicken is the best but I think the bones are dangerous and would never give them, another says just fruit and veggies no nuts of any kind and so on. Then the last person I spoke to said, I think a raw diet like beef, chicken and fish would make a dog go wild and crazy and basically completely nuts. I know chocolate, grapes, onions, garlic, raisins and avocados can be or are poisonous to dogs but what about nice fruit salad with some veggies on the side or frozen fruit ice-cubes? Is there a book on this that would come highly recommended? I asked the vet for a list of foods and plants which were known to be poisonous to dogs and she stated they didn't have a list like that compiled, I think that's important. Is there a book or thread with a reliable list?

I would like to give Miakoda trail mix when we go for our trail walks.
I would like to know if raw fish is alright or if that in fact is poisonous.
Please help.

 

Uhh... Cooking the bones will change the molecular structure of the bone and that is what dogs choke on. But a raw meat and a non-cooked bone is perfectly fine for dogs and I don't think there has ever been an incident of a dog choking on a non-cooked bone. Also dogs aren't vegetarians so they should eat meat and not a full veggie meal. Adding SOME veggies are fine though. This information is just my 8 months of research and still learning .

 

When feeding raw, the bacteria would not affect the dog because raw passes the digestive system faster so all the dirty stuff cannot harbour and multiply

A dog going wild on raw is a myth. He probably saw a dog resource guarding his food

 

Okay so now I have taken complete time and read the rawdogranch information and now know that fish is not poison to dogs. I know how to prepare it and where to buy if I want to go that route, fortunately for us we have a butcher (because we like to help out the farmers) so I think the next step is to call and see if they provide a RAW package and if not just order what is needed. The only question left is, do I still continue to give the fish oil or glucosamine? If I'm correct the glucosamine is for calcium but if the RAW diet has bones isn't there enough calcium? I think this is all the questions for now thank you so much.

 

Ohh, I can share this here:

K9 Instinct - Dog training, dog obedience training, raw diet, raw feeding, minimal vaccines: Raw Feeding for Dogs: Frequently Asked Questions (Part 1)

 

Thank You

 

Only supplements I use are the Grizzly Salmon Oil, daily

 

Question- when Mikko eats something like a drumstick he moves it back and forth through his mouth, chewing the bone inside very well, but once the bone is chewed, he gulps it whole. As long as the bone is crushed well, does this matter?

Thanks!

 

That is how he is supposed to eat.

 

Well, don't I feel silly :blush:

He's always eaten this way, but for some reason I got it stuck in my head recently that they should tear the meat from the bones.

Thanks!

 

Well, don't I feel silly :blush:

He's always eaten this way, but for some reason I got it stuck in my head recently that they should tear the meat from the bones.

Thanks!

Only when the bone is too large to consume.

 

I really admire the time and decication that everyone has devoted to feeding their dogs a raw diet. I am currently feeding my pup Orijen that I switched over from Natural Balance LID and he is still loose in the poop department I am now considering switching him to a raw diet.
First, should I switch cold turkey or gradual? Also I don't have the freezer capacity to go bulk or the time to devote to preparation so I was wondering if premade raw was just as good an option?
I went onto Lauri's web site and she listed a few premade company's.
The one in particular I was interested in was Bravo.
Does anyone have any experiences with this company?
Thanks for all of these informative posts and thanks to Lauri & the Gang for an awesome website!
Victoria

 

I didn't want to do all of the butchering and we don't buy in bulk. We buy a pet grind containing beef neck meat and organ meat from the local university's meat processing center, chicken necks/backs from a farmer's market, canned fish, Blue Ridge Beef's premade venison and turkey for variety, and local whole rabbits- the only thing that requires butchering.

Personally, I prefer the premade diets that don't have fruits/veggies in them. Since the grind I get doesn't have bones, I add the chicken necks/backs and sometimes drumsticks or similar for bone and that adds the benefit of keeping teeth clean.

 

Do you have to switch up a dogs diet with a variety of different meat? I have a good connection on whole chickens and really don't want to spend more on beef or turkey if I can give my dog 1/2 of a whole chicken each day. I throw in some beef heart and kidneys to complete the diet. Could I just give him the same meal for years?

 

Yes, in order to provide a balanced diet containing all of the necessary nutrients, you have to give different proteins. On the Raw Dog Ranch site, Lauri recommends 3-5 different protein sources.

I base my dog's diet on mostly beef and chicken, but add turkey, venison, and fish (used to be able to get rabbit too) a couple times a week.

 

How do you tell if you are providing your dog with everything he needs?

What will their coat or poop or whatever look like:
I know if you feed too much bone, you'll see it in the poop.
What about too little bone? Watery poop?
Too little organ meat?
Too much organ meat?
Not enough variety?

 

Hi Guys

Right ok, we have 3 year old german shepherd dog named Thor and he is gorgeous! He has elbow displaysia but his hips are fine.

We have fed him on a number of different foods, he was on bakers for a while and when i found out this was a terrible dog food we changed to other brands however this is effecting his skin and he is very sensitive and riffy. To help him with this he has a little olive oil on his dinner.
I do however want the best for my dog.

I think his average weight is about 6 stone.

So the questions.

For his weight how much meat will he need per day (grams please)?
what types of meat should i feed him? (i just want a basic idea of what he should have a day to get the best nutriets)
should i include egg and fish? would tinned tuna be ok?
How often?
what is a must have?
Can i buy it from the supermarket i.e Aldi?
should i gradually introduce it to him? or mix with his normal dry food for a couple of weeks?
will he have side affects while changing over?
supplements? where do i get them from?
should i include veg?

i think that is it. i have ordered a few books to read but i prefer to here peoples opinions also i am pregnant and due in 8 weeks time so would like get this established before the baby comes.

Thank you for all your help.

 

Hi Guys

Right ok, we have 3 year old german shepherd dog named Thor and he is gorgeous! He has elbow displaysia but his hips are fine.

We have fed him on a number of different foods, he was on bakers for a while and when i found out this was a terrible dog food we changed to other brands however this is effecting his skin and he is very sensitive and riffy. To help him with this he has a little olive oil on his dinner.
I do however want the best for my dog.

I think his average weight is about 6 stone.

Sorry about the late answer - can you give Thor's weight in lbs or kgms? Us North Americans (even Canadians) are not familiar with stones.

So the questions.

For his weight how much meat will he need per day (grams please)?

I'm really lazy and have never bothered to calculate grams. I start with about 2 lbs of raw a day, keep a close eye on my dogs' condition, and adjust up or down as needed. My Rottie mix is 65 lbs and puts on weight easily - she gets about 1 to 1.5 lbs a day. My GSD is 82 lbs and is very active, tall and lean - he needs more to stay in good weight. He gets 2 to 3 lbs a day.

what types of meat should i feed him? (i just want a basic idea of what he should have a day to get the best nutriets)

Different meats have different nutritional profiles, and different good/bad omega oil ratios. I have read that the most nutritious meat (for people) is pork - but still not perfect. So we in order to feed a balanced diet, the thing to remember is to feed variety: chicken, turkey, pork, beef, fish, rabbit, lamb and any other food-animal that you can think of. I've fed Buffalo, deer, quail, duck (dogs did NOT like the quail and duck - how strange!).

When feeding raw pork, find out about the risk of Trichinosis in your area. Trichinosis has pretty much been eliminated from pork in North America, but I don't know about other countries. If Trichinosis if common, you may not want to feed raw pork.

should i include egg and fish? would tinned tuna be ok?
How often?

Oh yes! Excellent food sources. I feed about a whole raw egg once a day, and add fish every other day or so. One of my dogs does not care for raw fish so I give a can of sardines or tuna or salmon two-three times a week.

what is a must have?

Things that have made feeding raw a lot easier for me are a good pair of kitchen shears for cutting up chicken, and a small hack-saw for cutting up bigger bones like turkey, or the deer bones I get from my hunting friends.

Can i buy it from the supermarket i.e Aldi?

Yes, I buy most of my stuff at the supermarket - I stock up when things go on sale. You can find meat suppliers that will sell at a low price too.

should i gradually introduce it to him? or mix with his normal dry food for a couple of weeks?

I'd go slow, but start with only one source of protein for a week to start with. Give ONLY chicken for a week, then add some beef for a week, etc .

will he have side affects while changing over?

You dog may experience some runny poops at first. Should clear up in a few days.

supplements? where do i get them from?
should i include veg?

I supplement with Salmon Oil and Vitamin D. Supplements won't hurt - bun avoid supplementing with Calcium. Too much calcium is not good.

 

Is a lamb chop a RMB? Thanks

 

I am having trouble getting my guy to eat bones . He loves him some ground beef which I mix with veggies for his veggie content. Would it be a good idea to supplement with bone meal until he adjust to eating the bones all the time and do you have any brand suggestions? I just want whats best for him and I know that taking the time and providing him raw is the best but I feel like hes not balanced. Thanks

 

Jourdan, try different types of bones. Beef and pork ribs, venison ribs, neck bones of any animal, lamb bones, whole uncooked poultry carcasses, chicken feet-- just no hard leg bones or any cooked bone at all. Also try whole raw fish--it contains small amounts of bone.

Our problem is organ meat--she won't eat any. Let me know if you find a solution for that one!

 

Thanks for the tips! We don't feed chicken turns out it was the reason he scratched so much.

Well he also turns his nose at whole hearts and gizzards so I just finely blend them with his veggie and ground meat mix at night. However he does go after the liver I give him but it upsets his stomach so he only gets it a few times a week.


Sent from my iPhone using PG Free

 

I just made the switch to raw and fed my boy a chicken quarter this afternoon in his crate for dinner. My wife is concerned with him dragging it all over the crate and getting it on his paws and fur and then passing salmonella around the house; and possibly to her because she is pregnant. Obviously I can clean the crate but any recommendations for cleaning him off?

 

Most likely he will clean himself off. You can put a large bath towel in his crate when you feed him and then just wash them.

 

State of confusion

So i just left from the vet with my new puppy jigga who previously stated is a german shepherd. She is 14 weeks and 4 days and only weighed 21lbs. The vet said she is underweight and her coat is dry. I have been feeding her a raw diet following every meal to the tee! My dog is actually getting the reverse of The benefits that a raw diet is suppose to have. The vet said all of her problems are from the raw diet and i need to switch her to kibble. Are there any raw feeders out there please tell me your opinions and suggestions. She doesnt have any worms or parasites either! And also she was 12lbs at about 9 weeks

 

I have a 14 1/2 week old male GSD. I brought him home at 10 weeks old and was on kibble. I have changed his diet to RAW this week. He had a skin infection, which the vet gave me antibiotics for him. He scratches at two spots. I feel very confident that changing his diet is going to clear these issues. Just after 3 days his coat is less dull, he is so excited at meal time and he doesn't look bloated like he did before. He energy level is higher as well. Any advise or experience in feeding puppy RAW, please share. Thanks,

 

Hi Erron1116,
It is VERY unfortunate that you are having this experience with your pup when you are trying to do the best for him. I've been feeding raw for 19 years and have never seen this!
Everyone has a different type of raw diet that they follow and have different opinions of what to add and what not to add. I would assume that you are feeding organs, muscle meat and bones at particular percentages each and rotating your meat.
I personally include a multiple vitamin/mineral and the following below since it is not a "fresh kill" for the dog and certain nutrients are deficient because of this.
I use mostly human grade products for better quality unless the pet food company uses organic/and or human grade ingredients. Pet food companies typically use inexpensive lower quality ingredients. IMHO, if a product is cheap…..it’s probably not going to give you the results you are expecting.
Start each oil at half dose so as not to cause gut upset. Work up to regular dose as you see fit for each individual dog.

Digestive Enzyme/Probiotic Combination Powder: “Digest All Plus” The Wholistic Pet

Krill Oil: Given on days when not feeding fish. Or every other day.
• 250mg daily for small dogs and toy breeds (1-14 lbs)
• 500mg daily for small dogs (15-29 lbs)
• 1000mg daily for medium dogs (30-49 lbs)
• 1500mg mg daily for large dogs (50-79 lbs)
• 2000mg daily for dogs 80+ lbs
Krill Oil capsules (60 per bottle): 1 bottle - Mercola.com 60 capsules = $25. For puppies or small dogs: Krill Oil For Pets - Mercola.com pump spray 116 ml = $25

Hemp Oil – Cold Pressed: When feeding Beef: provides the linoleic acid that the beef is missing. Overall ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids is improved. This is found in the refrigerator section of your local health food store. 1 cup of food = ½ teaspoon, 2 cups of food = 1 teaspoon. Nutiva: 12 ounces about $10.50

Flax Oil – Cold Pressed: When feeding Fowl: To increase the linoleic acid and the alpha linoleic acid in ratio of 2:1 to 6:1. This is found in the refrigerator section of your local health food store. 1 cup of food = ½ teaspoon, 2 cups of food = 1 teaspoon. Barleens: 12 ounces about $13.00


You could also add Coconut Oil: anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties. Also, promotes a healthy balance of organisms in the gut. 1 teaspoon per 10 to 20 pounds. USDA Organic, raw, cold pressed, no hexane, non-gmo, unrefined, chemical free, glass jar. Found in the health food store.” Nutiva” 15 ounces = $11. “Garden Of Life” 16 ounces = $15.50

Hope this helps!
Moms

 

How much raw food do you feed a puppy? and how much once they become an adult? How many meals a day? Also a easy and cheap recipe if you have one.

 

Feeding raw is a “life style”, and commitment, for your dog AND you! It’s not just a simple recipe. You can’t just go to the store, purchase a package of cut up chicken, feed it every day to your dog and expect acceptable results, because a package of chicken does NOT contain the vital life nutrients that a dog needs.
It can be as expensive or a cheap as the foot work you are willing to put into it!

Dr. Karen Becker, DVM, says that she is “seeing more and more “raw fed dogs’” come into her clinic with medical problems because the raw feeding is done incorrectly.”
Just as the FDA requires kibble to be a balanced diet, feeding raw also needs to be balanced because your dog is not eating a “fresh kill” which contain all of the nutrients and roughage needed for maximum health.
I would suggest that you down load Steve Brown’s ABC Way for $1.95, make his recipe (which this small book contains), and try it for a month, just on the weekends to see if it is something that you can commit to full time. It will give you the experience you need of feeding raw. It is found here: See Spot Live Longer the ABC Way - Electronic Download | Product Catalog
The diet consists of animal hearts, sardines, eggs, and vegetables and shows you how much to make for the size of your dog. Steve Brown also gives facts and information about a dogs health, activity, allergies, arthritis, inflammation, performance and other thought provoking items in this 40 page booklet.
If you decide that raw is for you, contact a raw feeder from this blog to mentor you, or purchase one or two of the following books to guide you through the process.

“Real Food For Healthy Cats & Dogs” (May 1, 2013) by Dr. Karen Becker & Beth Taylor Amazon.com: real food for healthy cats and dogs: Books


“Give Your Dog A Bone” by Ian Billingsworth Amazon.com: Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs for a Long Healthy Life (9780646160283): Ian Billinghurst: Books


“Natural Nutrition” by Kymythy Schultze

“Raw Dog Food” by Carina Beth MacDonald Welcome to Dogwise.com

Or even pay for a consultation by someone like: Sabine Contreras: Better Dog Care, Better Dog Nutrition - Creating Healthy Lifestyles for Canines: Philosophy

Hope this helps!
Moms

 

Feeding raw is a “life style”, and commitment, for your dog AND you! It’s not just a simple recipe. You can’t just go to the store, purchase a package of cut up chicken, feed it every day to your dog and expect acceptable results, because a package of chicken does NOT contain the vital life nutrients that a dog needs.
It can be as expensive or a cheap as the foot work you are willing to put into it!

Dr. Karen Becker, DVM, says that she is “seeing more and more “raw fed dogs’” come into her clinic with medical problems because the raw feeding is done incorrectly.”
Just as the FDA requires kibble to be a balanced diet, feeding raw also needs to be balanced because your dog is not eating a “fresh kill” which contain all of the nutrients and roughage needed for maximum health.
I would suggest that you down load Steve Brown’s ABC Way for $1.95, make his recipe (which this small book contains), and try it for a month, just on the weekends to see if it is something that you can commit to full time. It will give you the experience you need of feeding raw. It is found here: See Spot Live Longer the ABC Way - Electronic Download | Product Catalog
The diet consists of animal hearts, sardines, eggs, and vegetables and shows you how much to make for the size of your dog. Steve Brown also gives facts and information about a dogs health, activity, allergies, arthritis, inflammation, performance and other thought provoking items in this 40 page booklet.
If you decide that raw is for you, contact a raw feeder from this blog to mentor you, or purchase one or two of the following books to guide you through the process.

“Real Food For Healthy Cats & Dogs” (May 1, 2013) by Dr. Karen Becker & Beth Taylor Amazon.com: real food for healthy cats and dogs: Books


“Give Your Dog A Bone” by Ian Billingsworth Amazon.com: Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs for a Long Healthy Life (9780646160283): Ian Billinghurst: Books


“Natural Nutrition” by Kymythy Schultze Amazon.com: Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats (9781561706365): Kymythy Schultze: Books


“Raw Dog Food” by Carina Beth MacDonald Welcome to Dogwise.com

Or even pay for a consultation by someone like: Sabine Contreras: Better Dog Care, Better Dog Nutrition - Creating Healthy Lifestyles for Canines: Philosophy

Hope this helps!
Moms

Thanks! I will take a look at the book! I will try it on our Great Dane (3 years old) once i get all the information from the books to CORRECTLY start him on a raw food diet. And once we get our GSD puppy this November we will have some experience with the raw food. thanks again.

 

Why do people not warn you about the CRUNCH of a dog chewing a turkey wing? I've only gotten brave enough to feed a whole hunk of meat and bone in the past few days (mostly feed kibble), and I just cringe when I hear them crunching on the bones.

 

Normal



I've been feeding Zeus a raw diet for half a year. The crunch is normal. Its what they do in the wild. Keeps them healthy.

 

It's disgusting to me too. As soon as our dog hears the crunch though he goes nuts

 

Ohhhhh.... the little things that fill our dogs with JOY!!!!