Anyone Feed Volhard / Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog?

No, but I liked some, quite a few, of her ideas.  I'd like to know what others thought.  I liked her book better than others I read, but I didn't quite take to the morning meal idea.  It seems to me that if the dogs are going to play all day, then wouldn't meat be a good idea in the morning time (if I haven't confused her with another author I read).  I think if I'm going to go play hard, then I need meat.
 
Does she have a yahoo group dedicated to her views?  Or is it a homecooked site?  I really, really, really need to tear myself away from dog.com and visit homecooked sites.  I said I was going to do it, but look, I'm still here instead. []

I did the whole deal for about six months. I liked it a lot. I'd still be doing it if I weren't feeding, um, a lot, of dogs.

The morning carbs did extremely well for even my hardworking dogs. This is actually how I discovered that carbs were the secret to keeping my dogs in condition, since we were on BARF.

I actually did RMBs rather than the muscle meat and bone meal.

I haven't done it but read the book. I found it highly interesting.
I like that she reccomended bloodwork also. Although some of the book that wasn't about diet I was lost on.
 
 
 

I really like how clearly the diet is laid out and the reasoning behind everything in the diet.
 
I also got lost once we got past the medical/diet information... I only tried to read those last couple chapters once. *blink*

Maybe I can help?  I fed it for 3 yrs straight from scratch and then between times of feeding kibble/canned, I used the NDF, which was SO easy and quick.

Whatchaneed to know?

shamrock,
 
I get the impression that you are not  currently feeding it.  If not, then why not?   Were there things you noticed while on it, such as better coat, better energy, felt better, etc?    If you are on kibble now, instead of this diet, then is there much difference in the dog's apparence and behaviour between then and now??
 
Thanks,
Lynn
 

ORIGINAL: chasza

shamrock,

I get the impression that you are not  currently feeding it.  If not, then why not?   Were there things you noticed while on it, such as better coat, better energy, felt better, etc?    If you are on kibble now, instead of this diet, then is there much difference in the dog's apparence and behaviour between then and now??

Thanks,
Lynn
 

Well I got pregnant and that was the main reason for switching off of raw/volhard. Plus I guess I just find feeding kibble/canned a whole bunch easier.
Positives to feeding volhard to my guys were nice nice coats, nary a health problem, loved the philosophy and the 2 books.

Negatives- sometimes the dogs refused the grain meals- consistently.  Couldn't feed the food in stainless steel bowls because the yogurt I guess has some reaction and the dogs didn't like that.  Occasionally would have bouts of diarrhea either during the day or overnight intheir crates (ick).  Once I switched to kibble the overnight squirts stopped.

The NDF is WAY easy to do.  I woudl pre-mince veggies and keep it in a tupperware, fed either organic plain full fat yogurt or made kefir myself (you can get starter grains from a lady on the yahoo list).  Then a table spoon of the AM food plus T of water and b'fast is served.   PM meals were even easier- a meatball and a T of the PM meal and a splish of water.  They really did great.

I hesistate now though since I have 2 small kids and the possible pathogens in raw meat has me a bit worried .

I am actually considering trying NDF again because I can't find my PetGuard here w/out ordering it (shipping) and the Calif. Natural I thought the 3 dogs were doing well on has produced healthy coats, nice small poops but GAS!!! Oh my alll day!! Phew!  Lexi and Darby lay at my feet here at the computrer and it smells like a sewer. Ick.  Even Gobie who sits on DH's lap is gassing him out. And it's the SBD's LOL.

Ahh always the dog food dilemma with me. 

Thank you Tiffani,
 
I suppose it was the high meat portion that caused them to "have the squirts" at night.
 
You know,  I'm more inclinded to homecook, not raw feeding.  I also like mixing the grains and meats and veggies together.
 
But there were overall, in my opinion and without having done it yet, more things I like about her book - such as switching out herbs.  Giving oatmeal in winter, not so much in summer.  Things like that make sense.
 
Now, my specialy vet has a handout that said if you fed herbs reguarly to make sure and have regular bloodwork done b/c of not knowing long term what those herbs will do.
 
Herbs are medicinal - and I think like vitamins/minerals, that they need to be used in moderation. Another place where you say, "a little bit might be good, more might be bad".

  There is a website under phdpetproducts.com
In this you are able to read about and order the Wendy Volhard Diet.  They sell the AM and PM Crumble.  This is the mix that you add your yogurt, veggies and meat to. It makes it very easy. 

I followed her guide to the raw diet for a while but Dodger didn't seem to do so well on all the grains.  The brewers yeast also caused some ear issues. 
Dodger still gets mostly everything her book suggets except bone meal and wheat bran (and of course the brewers yeast).  I don't give wheat germ, kelp or cod liver oil as often as she suggests.  Instead of yogurt, Dodger only gets kefir and usually fresh garlic instead of capsule form (although he's had it both ways).  Dodger is usually only fed once a day - although we've been experiementing with RMB's in the morning and only muscle/organ meat/supplements in the evening.