Anyone else feed their dog REAL food?

[berrybunches]

I also want to second the point that cooked bones are very very bad- they cause choking. I know some people who feed them to their dogs and the dogs are fine - I guess they are used to them and were raised on them but I would not take that chance.

Very hard raw bones are also bad as they can chip teeth. You want soft bones that can be chewed up easily.

Small raw bones are also bad. The bones need to be to big to swallow, forcing the dog to chew and crush. All dogs are different sizes so while a chicken wing may be okay for a toy dog it would not be okay for a large dog.

Most dogs are not use to chewing bones and have to learn how. Big bones are good to start with. Raw chicken bones are good as they come in different sizes to please different dogs.
I think when they get use to chewing bones you can feed them almost any size. Just keep it to raw and soft bones.

I give my dog raw pigs feet, the whole foot unseasoned. They are a good size for her.

 

[voytechs]

My dog eats BARF baby!!! and he is a happy puppy.

 

[Jochebed]

My dog eats BARF baby!!! and he is a happy puppy.

That picture is...fantastic! LOL. Love it. I might have to send that to some food animal people I know...

 

[Jochebed]

And berrybunches, I also wanted to say that you clearly have done your research. I still would suggest actual food testing to be sure what you're feeding is adequate, especially since you have a good system of preparing and storing your food.

I just get tired of talking to pet owners in various places that think the raw diet is just feeding beef and chicken from the supermarket...and then their puppy ends up with multiple pathologic fractures because they're reabsorbing calcium due to their calcium deficient diet. AYYYY! Way bad. So...anyway...

 

[Roxi]

i ran a great dane rescue for 5 years, and we got some donations of food, but not enough so i made my own to supplement, and when our doggy cousin ruby comes to visit, i make her home made dog food because she loves it

 

[voytechs]

You can use BARF (Bones and Raw Food) on your own. I chose to purchase patties from a local dealer. I use Bravo which is the most convenient. Nature's variety is also very good, but I like bravo better since patties are individual wrapped and easier to defrost.

 

[jblosser]

If you are new to the idea of raw feeding you must read Dogs in Elk:

http://jerrypournelle.com/reports/jerryp/dogsinelk.html

 

[UnReconstructed]

The easiest way to feed raw I think is to grow rabbits. You need to start with a breeder pair and keep some of the females for breeding later. Take all the bucks and hang them up by their feet. Pull them down by the ears and hit them sharply in the back of the head with something blunt. Cut the head off and let it bleed out. Throw the carcass to the dog and the head in the trash. Wash the blood out into the grass with a garden hose.

 

[olehounddog]

The easiest way to feed raw I think is to grow rabbits. You need to start with a breeder pair and keep some of the females for breeding later. Take all the bucks and hang them up by their feet. Pull them down by the ears and hit them sharply in the back of the head with something blunt. Cut the head off and let it bleed out. Throw the carcass to the dog and the head in the trash. Wash the blood out into the grass with a garden hose.

What's wrong with the head

 

[UnReconstructed]

I don't want to see it in the yard later on.

 

[berrybunches]

And berrybunches, I also wanted to say that you clearly have done your research. I still would suggest actual food testing to be sure what you're feeding is adequate, especially since you have a good system of preparing and storing your food.

I just get tired of talking to pet owners in various places that think the raw diet is just feeding beef and chicken from the supermarket...and then their puppy ends up with multiple pathologic fractures because they're reabsorbing calcium due to their calcium deficient diet. AYYYY! Way bad. So...anyway...

I understand your sentiment. People have a way about jumping into things, especially when they say "natural" thinking that "well its natural, nothing could go wrong."
A lot of kids get hurt from well meaning over eager parents self medicating also.

I think most people on RPF are good at doing our research, its in our cynical nature.

 

[berrybunches]

The easiest way to feed raw I think is to grow rabbits. You need to start with a breeder pair and keep some of the females for breeding later. Take all the bucks and hang them up by their feet. Pull them down by the ears and hit them sharply in the back of the head with something blunt. Cut the head off and let it bleed out. Throw the carcass to the dog and the head in the trash. Wash the blood out into the grass with a garden hose.

I think that is a good idea but I just could not kill something myself. I am very sensitive. I saw my dog injure an adolescent bunny once and instinctively yelled at my dog to leave it alone; I saw the bunny laying there gasping for breath until it died and I poured tears. I must mention that I am 24 years old and this was last year lol.
I have a major soft spot for animals, I think most dog lovers probably do and therefor it would be hard for most to kill rabbits everyday.

 

[Andrew Ryan]

Nope. I feed my dog kibble

 

[tmosley]

Dogs have much better nutrient factories in their body than we do. They can take basic food and turn it into all of the vitamins they need (the only essential nutrients dogs need are minerals which can't be synthesized, and should be abundant in raw meat and bones).

It's evolution at work. Humans were selected for smarts and sociability, where most animals are selected for survivability under any circumstance. Being able to manufacture your own vitamin C is a big step in that direction. Humans and Guinea pigs are the only animals that can't synthesize their own vitamin C.

Anyways, I've started supplementing my dog's diets with leftovers, mainly old bread (homemade!) and leftover meat. I generally give them that and a cup of dog food each every day (they are big dogs, the lightest one is 35 lbs, the biggest over 100).

 

[HonestyInMedicine]

I feed my cat a home prepared natural organic diet that is based on the B.A.R.F. diet which stands for bones and raw food. I do sometimes actually give my cat some raw chicken wings or a thigh to chew on with the bones and his teech are healthy and white and strong thanks to his diet...and due to the fact that except for a rabies shot he gets no vaccinations. If you want to cut the lifespan of a beloved pet, do everything your orthodox vet says including having your pet vaccinated every six months.

A really good website on the feline diet is www.felinefuture.com

Another good one and where I go in a pinch if I run out of home prepared is www.halopet.com. They also have dog food. All their food is human grade.

A reeally good (starter) book (or Bible) for Dog and Cat owners that care... is Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Dr. Pitcairn DVM. It has recipes as well as natural medicines for various conditions for both dogs and cats.

 

[Wendi]

So, if raw (real) food is so bad for dogs - how'd they survive all those centuries until dog food was invented?

 

[Jochebed]

So, if raw (real) food is so bad for dogs - how'd they survive all those centuries until dog food was invented?

If humans survived all those centuries without medicine and processed food, how'd we survive?? Well we survived...but not as well as we do now. Why do all animals that are afforded protection and regular balanced meals live longer than they do in the wild?

I'm not saying "all raw food is bad" or anything, but in the hands of uninformed and overzealous petowners, envigorated by a few websites they read it's VERY dangerous. And those who fuel it by saying "it's more natural" are only adding to the problem. For me and my dog, "natural" doesn't come into the picture. I want to feed what is going to keep my dog the healthiest, as well as what is convenient, if that happens to be "raw food", so be it. But I'm not going to look at that as my ultimate criteria.

Not all commercial food is good either, but commercial pet food companies are required to balance their diets (to a degree, the AAFCO standards are actually pretty lax about what has to be on a petfood label) as well as put their food through rigorous food trials to show that long term feeding of their diet will not lead to pathological or fatal nutritional imbalances.

A petowner in their kitchen with some chicken necks, some carrots and a pack of ground beef does nothing of the sort. They may also be introducing Salmonella into their home, which is another danger.

I'm also irked by the raw food movements application of natural - folks want to get back to "more natural" feeding...what about "more natural" lodging - you know, kick the dog outside and let him fend for himself. If dogs did it in the past, why do they need to be in the house? "More natural" immunity - let them develop their own immunity to whatever diseases they pick up - they survived without vaccines before, why do they need them now? "More natural" medicine - if they break a leg, let it set on its own. Dogs have survived that way in the past, why should we provide veterinary treatment? Etc., etc. We do these things for our pets because we love them and want to care for them and help them live longer, happier, healthier lives and...they do!

Raw food, is slaughtered by a human, packaged by a human, purchased by a human, prepared by a human, sorry but that's not my definition of "natural".

 

[voytechs]

Here is a safe and easy way to feed your dog raw food:
http://www.bravorawdiet.com/

and

http://www.naturesvariety.com/

I like bravo better because of better packaging. I get it from a local dealer.

 

[Nirvikalpa]

T.J. Dunn D.V.M."There is ample proof that today's pet dogs and cats do not thrive on cheap, packaged, corn-based pet foods. Dogs and cats are primarily meat eaters; to fill them up with grain-based processed dry foods that barely meet minimum daily nutrient requirements has proven to be a mistake."

William Pollak D.V.M. "Severe nutritional deficiencies and toxic states have been known to mimic almost every known disease in veterinary medicine. In chronic conditions, some developing over several generations, improvement in health can take months or years."

Alfred Plechner, D.V.M "The most common and most visible symptoms of nutritionally caused deficiencies are allergies of one kind or another. Because many commercial foods are woefully deficient in key nutrients, the long-term effect of these foods makes the dog hypersensitive to its environment. . . . [It's a dinosaur effect. Animals are being programmed for disaster, for extinction. Many of them are biochemical cripples with defective adrenal glands unable to manufacture adequate Cortisol, a hormone vital for health and resistance to disease." Allergies can be, and often are, unrecognized deficiency diseases.

Dr. Francis M. Pottenger's nutritional studies have shown that a regular diet of cooked or canned foods causes the development of chronic degenerative diseases and premature mortality.

Elizabeth Hodgkins DVM- "My own cats eat ONLY raw meat. It is a very good way to provide some of the natural, unprocessed nutrition the cat evolved to utilize best."

Dr. William Pollak D.V.M. "Recent studies have shown processed foods to be a factor in increasing the numbers of pets suffering from cancer, arthritis, obesity, dental disease, and heart disease. Dull or unhealthy coats are a common problem with cats and dogs, and poor diet is usually the cause, according to many veterinarians and breeders. "Dogs, cats, and other animals live for years on foods that come out of bags, cans and boxes. But do these foods promote health? If they did, our companion animals would enjoy long, happy lives free of arthritis, hip dysplasia, eye problems, ear problems, fleas and other parasites, gum disease, lick granulomas, thyroid imbalances, skin and coat problems, personality disorders, birth defects, breeding problems, diabetes, cancer and other major and minor illnesses. Before World War II, most North Americans fed their pets raw bones and table scraps. Today, everyone uses convenience foods, and pet food companies are industry giants. Diet isn't the only thing that has changed. So has life expectancy, with the life span of many breeds now less than half what it was two or three decades ago. Skin and coat problems are so common that we accept them as unavoidable, and today's vets routinely treat conditions that used to be unusual or even rare." Learn more: The Poisons in Pet Food

Dr. Kollath, of the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, headed a study done on animals. When young animals were fed cooked and processed foods they initially appeared to be healthy. However, as the animals reached adulthood, they began to age more quickly than normal and also developed chronic degenerative disease symptoms. A control group of animals raised on raw foods aged less quickly and were free of degenerative disease. In nature, we see another example of wild animals eating entirely enzyme-rich raw foods being free of the degenerative diseases that afflict humans.

My dog gets a mix of rice, cooked meat (slowly starting to wean off and introducing raw meat), and vegetables

As an owner you have to be very conscious that you can not stop feeding hard food cold turkey - you have to do so in smaller increments with more raw food and vegetables and let them adjust to the changes. Pay attention to what they like to eat and do not eat - animals have instincts which tell them to consume this type of food that has this type of vitamin they lack, etc. I checked my dogs stool every day to make sure she did not have diarrhea.

 

[MsDoodahs]

BARF Combo (Beef, Lamb, Pork, Chicken) Patties:

Beef, Lamb, Chicken, Pork, Finely Ground Beef Bones, Beef Liver, Egg, Broccoli, Celery, Spinach, Carrot, Ground Flax Seed, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Beef Kidney, Unbleached Beef Tripe, Apple, Pear, Grapefruit, Orange, Dried Kelp, Cod Liver Oil, Garlic, Cayenne Pepper, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide.

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein minimum 13.5%
Crude Fat minimum 11.0%
Crude Fiber maximum 5.0%
Moisture maximum 68.0%
Calcium minimum 0.60%
Phosphorus minimum 0.30%
Calories expressed as Kcal per patty= 1205
12-8oz patties/package - 4 pkgs (48 patties) per case

BARF Chicken Patties:

Chicken with Finely Ground Bones, Chicken Liver, Egg, Broccoli, Celery, Spinach, Carrot, Ground Flax Seed, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Apple, Pear, Grapefruit, Orange, Dried Kelp, Cod Liver Oil, Garlic, Cayenne Pepper, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide.

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein minimum 12.0%
Crude Fat minimum 10.0%
Crude Fiber maximum 5.0%
Moisture maximum 72.0%
Calcium minimum 0.35%
Phosphorus minimum 0.20%
Calories expressed as Kcal per patty= 1185
12-8oz patties/package - 4 pkgs (48 patties) per case

BARF Beef Patties:

Beef with Finely Ground Bone, Beef Liver, Egg, Broccoli, Celery, Spinach, Carrot, Ground Flax Seed, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Beef Kidney, Unbleached Beef Tripe, Apple, Pear, Grapefruit, Orange, Dried Kelp, Cod Liver Oil, Garlic, Cayenne pepper, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide.

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein minimum 14.0%
Crude Fat minimum 10.0%
Crude Fiber maximum 5.0%
Moisture maximum 70.0%
Calcium minimum 0.60%
Phosphorus minimum 0.30%
Calories expressed as Kcal per patty= 1167
12-8oz patties/package - 4 pkgs (48 patties) per case

BARF Lamb Patties:

Lamb with Finely Ground Bones, Lamb Liver, Egg, Broccoli, Celery, Spinach, Carrot, Ground Flax Seed, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Lamb Kidney, Unbleached Lamb Tripe, Apple, Pear, Grapefruit, Orange, Dried Kelp, Cod Liver Oil, Garlic, Cayenne Pepper, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide.

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein minimum 14.0%
Crude Fat minimum 14.0%
Crude Fiber maximum 5.0%
Moisture maximum 65.0%
Calcium minimum 0.60%
Phosphorus minimum 0.30%
Calories expressed as Kcal per patty= 1379
12-8oz patties/package - 4 pkgs (48 patties) per case

Barfworld.com

I do use their patties for convenience.

eta: my girls love them.