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  1. #1
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    I want to go raw. Where do I begin?

    After thinking about it for quite some time, I have decided to go raw with my boys. I have started feeding them veggies (green beans and broccoli), fruit (apples, bananas, and blueberries), raw eggs in the shell, plain yogurt, and recently, beef bones with the marrow and fat. I wanted to see how they did, digestive-wise, and I'm happy to report that their poo is firmer and smaller in volume than ever.

    I was also was thinking of cost and have started paying more attention to dog food expenses as I thought raw would cost more. I had been purchasing their food (@ $72 per 27 lb bag -- with one eating 4 cups + per day and one eating 2 cups per day). I found it on Chewy.com for $65 per bag with free shipping and way easier since there was only one store in the area where I could get the food. The nail in the coffin was when I set up autoship, I set it up for every four weeks. Well, I ran out of food after just over two weeks which means that I am spending more on dog food than I thought I was! Twice as much! Plus supplementing with canned at $2.50 per can x two per week.

    So, where do I begin? I know there are links, but it's just too many options. I need something simple, as in -- feed this on Monday, this in Tuesday, etc. My only problem is freezer space, but my parents who live close-by got a free giant freezer for fishing bait (my mom won't let him put stinky fish in the food freezer) and use half of it.

    My goal, besides saving money, is for my dogs to be healthy. Even though they are well-exercised, I am noticing they are kinda skinny-fat, and I think a lot of that has to do with nutrition. Sort-of like if you are lifting weights you don't get the full benefit unless you are eating good, natural, protein.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
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    I've made the switch cold turkey. At first I've fed one type of protein in the beginning (chicken), and no organs. After a couple of weeks I've introduced him to some organs and other protein (beef). Then I added fish, sheep, goat... I feed around 80% muscle meat, 10% bone and 10% organs. You can also check these videos, which I've found a couple of days ago, they are very informative:

    Raw Feeding For Dogs Dogs Naturally Offers
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

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  3. #3
    Real Retriever
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    Start simple.

    Pick ONE meat source and stick with it for at least 2wks, least that's what I did.

    In the beginning, I was using Bravo's pre-packaged rolls with ground turkey and bone; after a good 2 wks it became TOO much bone. In which I started adding grocery purchased ground turkey to mix with it, and only fed 2 different vegetables with yogurt.

    That literally was all I fed for 4wks or so. At that point I started adding in chicken, more vegetables, eggs with great results.

    I think at the 6-8wk mark is when I started adding in organ meats.

    Rivers had awesome stool and digestion from day one. I too switched cold turkey; one day he got dry food; then next day, in the afternoon after fasting for 8-10hrs, I started him on raw.

    With Rivers, all of his meats have been fed ground with and without bone; he's a gulper and I don't care to feed him bones he can literally gulp whole.

    Right now, 60% of Rivers meals consist of ground beef (80/20), lean beef heart, whatever veggies from my garden, yogurt (daily) and whatever else I care to throw in.

    To offset those meals I use pre-packaged Lamb from *small batch*; venison additions (never really a complete meals worth, but an add in), salmon, Pollock and ground turkey a few times a month.

    Rivers doesn't do good on poultry; chicken is totally out for him.

    Whatever you do, start VERY slow and remember they are going to vomit in the beginning; generally from empty tummy syndrome until you get the portions right. RAW digests a lot faster and I find myself having to feed 3 meals a day - but it doesn't have to be that way.

    One can feed 2 meals easily and just provide a snack a bedtime.

  4. #4
    Senior Dog shellbell's Avatar
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    Here is a link to a simple guide I followed when I transitioned three years ago. Where do you live? Might know some sourcing options in your area. I followed the below link pretty much exact, a nice slow transition helps avoid digestive upset. It is for Prey Model Raw, so meat/bone/organ only. No fruits or veggies.

    How to get started feeding a Prey Model Raw Diet - Raw Chat - PMR Articles - articles - Prey Model Raw

  5. #5
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Thanks for all of this! Question -- Sam is a total fata$$ (it's genetic). Should I go ahead and plan on adding veggies and fruits? Linus, so far, stays lean on a lot of food. And to be honest he's not a fan of veggies. He only eats them if Sam is eating them. He does like fruit, however. I do want to feed veggies as I always have a surplus and it can't be bad for them.

    Should i do prey model with added veggies? Or go with another option?

  6. #6
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
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    Feed whatever makes you feel more comfortable. I am more comfortable with the BARF model, so I add around 20% of veggies and fruits to Cookie's meals (I rarely feed fruits though). And Cookie is doing great.
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

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  7. #7
    House Broken petitesalmon's Avatar
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    If you're on Facebook join the group BARF DIET CHAT - it has heeeaps of useful documents written on starting out and lots of knowledgeable people on the group. People are always asking questions about starting out so there is always helpful info.
    Also I recommend reading Billinghurts books as they are a good place to start

 



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