Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 32
  1. #1
    Senior Dog beth101509's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Southeast USA
    Posts
    701
    Thanked: 280

    Post How do you go Raw?

    I have read several things about going raw. At first, I thought it was just a fad and dogs have survived on kibble for many, many years but now I am thinking raw may be the way to go. I do have a lot of questions first:

    1. My understanding is that you want to wait until the dog is an adult before you switch from kibble. Is that correct?

    2. How much does it cost on average per month to feed raw?

    3. I found a co-op not far from me so I would probably shop there and they have a suggested weekly feeding schedule to help with the switch. Does this look good? Raw Menu Wks 1-8

    4. I read that you should feed the dog 2-3% of their desired adult weight in raw food, so that would be around 2 lbs of food a day separated into 2 meals, does that sound correct?

    5. Also, I thought you weren't supposed to give your dog chicken bones as they can splinter and choke the dog. Is that no longer a rule?

    6. How much food do you need to purchase to last a month? For example, this place I am looking at has Whole Chicken Leg Quarters in a 40 lb frozen case, that should last about a month, right?

    Any advice would be appreciated.
    “Don't allow your happiness to be interrupted by overly judgmental people. The problem is not you, because even if you do good all the time, they would still find a way to judge you wrongly.”
    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content



    Hidden Content

  2. #2
    Senior Dog beth101509's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Southeast USA
    Posts
    701
    Thanked: 280
    I thought of another question:

    Are there dogs that just won't eat raw?
    “Don't allow your happiness to be interrupted by overly judgmental people. The problem is not you, because even if you do good all the time, they would still find a way to judge you wrongly.”
    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content



    Hidden Content

  3. #3
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Belgrade, Serbia
    Posts
    4,081
    Thanked: 4633
    1. When and if I get a puppy again, I'll start it on a natural diet right away. Many people raise their dogs from puppies on raw with no problems. My dog was 6 years on kibble and had his fair share of joint issues. Two years on raw now, they disappeared like magic. I don't think that kibble is the best thing you can feed your dog, I actually have my doubts as to how much really balanced it is and whether a dog can use the synthetic vitamins, minerals and proteins to the same extent as the natural ones from raw.

    2. Depends on where you buy and how much you buy. It costs me around 60$-70$ per month, which is less than I used to pay for a bag of kibble.

    3. I've started with chicken too, but I don't think I waited so long to introduce new protein.

    4. Yes, but always watch your dog, if you see he is gaining weight reduce the amount and vice versa.

    5. You must not give *cooked* chicken bones. Raw chicken bones are fine, I've never had any issue. I feed chicken backs and necks, wings, quarters...

    6. You will see with time. For two weeks for example, I buy ~ 5 pieces of chicken backs, 1/2 kg gizzards, 1/2 kg liver and hearts, 1/2 kg chicken wings or quarters, one beef heart, one beef tongue (these go up to 2.5 kilograms), 1 kg of sardines, around 2 kg of salmon (heads and tails) - just make sure feeding raw salmon is safe in your area, 1/2 kg beef tripe, 1 kg beef kidneys, 1 kg beef lungs and trachea. I cut all these and pack them in bags (1 bag = 1 meal). I tend to follow the ratio 80% muscle meat : 10% bone : 10% organs when I pack the meals.


    I wrote about our experience with raw here (such a shame the picture links don't work anymore): One Year On Raw - Our Experience (re-posted)


    Hope this helps!
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content
    Hidden Content | Hidden Content | Hidden Content | Hidden Content

  4. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Berna For This Useful Post:

    beth101509 (01-16-2015), Carlos (02-12-2015)

  5. #4
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Belgrade, Serbia
    Posts
    4,081
    Thanked: 4633
    Quote Originally Posted by beth101509 View Post
    I thought of another question:

    Are there dogs that just won't eat raw?
    Yeah, I know of one dog...

    One year I made a cake for Cookie's birthday with raw ground beef, polenta and sour cream. That dog ate everything but the ground beef!
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content
    Hidden Content | Hidden Content | Hidden Content | Hidden Content

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to Berna For This Useful Post:

    beth101509 (01-16-2015)

  7. #5
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    3,947
    Thanked: 2421
    Quote Originally Posted by beth101509 View Post
    I have read several things about going raw. At first, I thought it was just a fad and dogs have survived on kibble for many, many years but now I am thinking raw may be the way to go. I do have a lot of questions first:

    1. My understanding is that you want to wait until the dog is an adult before you switch from kibble. Is that correct?

    2. How much does it cost on average per month to feed raw?

    3. I found a co-op not far from me so I would probably shop there and they have a suggested weekly feeding schedule to help with the switch. Does this look good? Raw Menu Wks 1-8

    4. I read that you should feed the dog 2-3% of their desired adult weight in raw food, so that would be around 2 lbs of food a day separated into 2 meals, does that sound correct?

    5. Also, I thought you weren't supposed to give your dog chicken bones as they can splinter and choke the dog. Is that no longer a rule?

    6. How much food do you need to purchase to last a month? For example, this place I am looking at has Whole Chicken Leg Quarters in a 40 lb frozen case, that should last about a month, right?

    Any advice would be appreciated.
    I'm not pro as I started late this summer, but I can tell you how it's going for me.

    1. As far as I know people feed pups raw, but I don't know that I would start there as a beginner. I will with my next pup, but by then I'll have years of experience and confidence under my belt.

    2. If you think of how much your dog weighs, so let's say 75 lbs as that is about average, the fact that they generally eat between 1 and 3 lbs of food per day, and how much you are willing to pay per lb, you have your answer. For me, Sam is 100 lbs but he's 4 and a chunker, so he's eating about a lb a day. Whereas Linus is 18 months, 95 lbs, and eating about 2 lbs per day (down from 2.5). I imagine I spend, on average, about $2 per lb (that's a bit high, but I will give you a high estimate). So, for same that is about $60/month and for Linus about $120/month. I used to spend $75 per month on 37 lbs of dog food which I had to purchase on average 2.5 times per month. Expect to feed more to a younger dog and decrease the amount as they age, depending on type of dog and energy level. If your dog is an active field Lab, you'll be spending more per lb of dog, most likely.

    3. I think the Raw Menu looks fine except I would not feed chicken necks to a dog just starting out in the even they are a gulper.

    4. Yes. But it depends on the dog, really.

    5. Don't feed the dog cooked bones. Raw bones are fine. I have had one dog barf up the end of a drumstick once. It had been in there for a long time and it was with about a TB of bile. Just didn't want to digest. And, recently, Linus has been doing something similar with some lamb neck bones. You don't want to feed anything too small, for example, cut lamb necks (should be whole) and some dogs can't do chicken or turkey necks. Also, I have heard people have issues with turkey legs because the bones are not as flexible.

    6. A 40 lb frozen case of chicken should last longer because you'll also be feeding other things. I buy about three types of meat at a time, plus offal. For example, I will get a case each of chicken backs, lamb necks, and pork hearts (which I feed at muscle meat not organ meat) and then some pork or chicken livers. Most of the raw meat -- no bone -- I get from the store when it's on sale though right now I am feeding elk and venison scraps.

    Finally, I imagine some dogs do not like raw. So start by buying meat from the store in case you run into something your dog doesn't like so you're not stuck with 40 lbs of it. Sam will eat anything. Linus is a little picky.

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to Labradorks For This Useful Post:

    beth101509 (01-16-2015)

  9. #6
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Belgrade, Serbia
    Posts
    4,081
    Thanked: 4633
    Cookie Black Snowflake
    July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.

    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content
    Hidden Content | Hidden Content | Hidden Content | Hidden Content

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to Berna For This Useful Post:

    beth101509 (01-16-2015)

  11. #7
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    2,598
    Thanked: 2588
    I don't do all meals raw, so I can't answer all the questions. I do think it's healthy to give them a chance for a varied diet. And even if it's just to add raw meaty recreational bones, it's something good for the dog. My 90# dogs get 10 oz. a meal of raw when I feed raw, so definitely not 2# a day. I like feeding chicken necks because the bones aren't that big and the dogs love to chew them.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to JenC For This Useful Post:

    beth101509 (01-16-2015)

  13. #8
    Senior Dog charliebbarkin's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    here
    Posts
    838
    Thanked: 647
    When ordering in bulk, you're going to need a chest freezer. Variety is key, so you'll need more than just the one case of leg qtrs. you can try raw starting with their BRB and adding some RMBs like the turkey necks.

    Good luck. That's a great co op.
    Charlie and Burton


  14. The Following User Says Thank You to charliebbarkin For This Useful Post:

    beth101509 (01-16-2015)

  15. #9
    Senior Dog beth101509's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Southeast USA
    Posts
    701
    Thanked: 280
    Based on the pricing I found at the Co-op in Nashville, I can get 325 pounds (total) of chicken necks, whole chicken thighs, whole chicken gizzards, whole chicken leg quarters, whole chicken backs, whole turkey hearts, beef for dogs, whole duck carcass, and beef liver for $295.95 (includes delivery) which I estimate would last anywhere from 7 - 10 months which would be around $29.60 - $42.28 a month. That is good, right?
    “Don't allow your happiness to be interrupted by overly judgmental people. The problem is not you, because even if you do good all the time, they would still find a way to judge you wrongly.”
    Hidden Content

    Hidden Content



    Hidden Content

  16. #10
    Senior Dog charliebbarkin's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    here
    Posts
    838
    Thanked: 647
    Indeed it is.

    Also if you're ever in GA, there's a sister site for GreenTripe.com there. Great products.
    Charlie and Burton


  17. The Following User Says Thank You to charliebbarkin For This Useful Post:

    beth101509 (01-16-2015)

 



Not a Member of the Labrador Retriever Chat Forums Yet?
Register for Free and Share Your Labrador Retriever Photos

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •