Well, I did it again (raw)

I use raw, dry and canned dog food.

But the menu is raw in the morning, I usually have chicken backs and necks, whole rabbits,beef heart,turkey neck,pork ribs or whatever is on sale lol. Thier second meal is either high quality kibble or canned. Innova, Canidea, Chicken soup brand, etc.

Out in the field one time my guys caught a rabbit, I checked it over and fed it to them on the spot. Guess thats as prey model as you can get, Since they ate the whole rabbit I did however worm them 2 weeks later. I worm once a year and it was about that time to do it anyways.

They do great on this feeding regimine but I would like to feed only raw when I have the money to do so. Good luck and tell us how it goes!

Raw feeder here as well. I follow the prey model diet. My dogs mostly meaty bones and organs, very few vegetables/fruits and even less carbs. Veggies and carbs are usually just treats or table scraps that they get once in a while. The only thing they get canned or processed is fish.

My pups usually get a staple of chicken halves, chicken backs, chicken necks, turkey necks, turkey backs, beef necks, beef heart, beef liver, green tripe, pork neck, pork kidney, pork ribs, salmon (canned) and eggs. The biggest money saver for me is buying whole chickens on sale and cutting them up. It's so much cheaper than buying chicken legs, thighs, etc seperately.

My guys eat an all-raw diet. I used to follow the prey-model diet, which was bones/meat/organs only.

I have changed it slightly to what works for my dogs, and that is by adding in a teensy bit of fruit/veggie blend (pureed to mush) weekly. I am on the fence as to whether or not dogs can benefit from it, but I really did it for Gaci to help with her bowel movements because of past anal gland issues, and it seems to keep her bowels better and less irritated at times.

So for me, I pretty much follow an 75-10-10-5 ratio, although it's more for an "over time" thing than a daily thing. 75% meat, 10% organs, 10% bone, and 5% (if that) veggie/fruit blend is my general goal.

I feed chicken, turkey, beef, eggs, pork and heart, liver and kidneys (different animals) as the staple foods. I will occasionally feed pig's feet as treats (although because I have small dogs it usually counts as part of a meal for the day!). I feed some ground for convenience, along with bone-in meals for teeth-cleaning and mental stimulation (beef ribs are a favorite here!). A few times a month I feed beef or venison tripe as well, to round it all out. And then there is anything else I can get my hands on in the meantime! 

It's easier for me to follow a bit of a routine....I try to buy in bulk with the sales for a couple weeks at a time. I always have some fresh food on the go, and some thawing for the next few days. It's rare that you don't see some sort of raw meat thawing on the counter or in the fridge!

I've been doing it for a year now and haven't looked back.

 I feel like, if nothing else, the fruits and veggies take the place of fur and feathers. They NEED something undigestible to push things along, and cushion them from the bones. At least, that's how it works in my head..

I agree, Jennie, Makes sense to me. Ms. Levy speaks of that in her book.

I use oat bran sprinkled on the meat to simulate feathers/fur. Dogs even like to lick the bits of the bran that falls off into the bowl.

Mine are basically doing 75% RMBs and 25% grains/veg/fruit mix as a general rule with added egg, liver 2x week, assorted organs, yogurt, kelp, C,E, Fish oil. Put some molasses in their mornign meal today to see if I can get Lexi's pink nose to turn black again.

Not too bad to do- I have pre ground veggies, cut up and froze liver in ice cube trays. And I can make a few days worth of their mornign meal (grain/veg/egg/yogurt mixture) so it really takes no time at all on a day to day basis.

It's been helpful reading about what everyone uses for RMBs. I've been using so far, chicken wings (will watch for sales on whole chickens) pork and beef ribs, beef liver, chicken liver, chicken organs.  would like to try duck, rabbit (maybe, I consider them pets! LOL), lamb or goat if I could find it.

Good friend of mine IRL has been nudging me to do this for some time. I had to get over the 'scared' to screw them up somehow and 'ick' factors.

We are almost totally raw here.  Six and a half of our dogs are raw fed.  We are, for the most part, prey model feeders.  I have found a good, cheap sources for rabbit,ducks, geese, pheasant, goat, chickens, & beef they are truly prey model dogs.  I do grind for one of my dogs because he's a gulper, & pulling rabbit leg from his throat, while he's choking on it, isn't my idea of fun. 

If by some freak instance, I don't have entire prey for the dogs, then I feed 80% meat, 10% bone, 10% organs.  I think that I have had to do this twice in the past two years.

When we travel, I usually feed The Honest Kitchen foods because it is much more convenient. 

Ive been feeding raw to Bailey for I think it is 3 years now, and then I was feeding it on and off for a while before that. I feed the "franken prey" diet. 80% meat, 10%bone and 10% organ, altho I never really followed the exact ratios. I dont weigh his food anymore, I have been feeding it for so long I just know by looking at it if its enough food for him/has to much bone/has non edible bones, etc. I give him salmon oil becuase he doesnt like fish so its just easier for us this way, and he gets 1-2 raw eggs every week, he loooves them. 

BEVOLASVEGAS

 

If by some freak instance, I don't have entire prey for the dogs, then I feed 80% meat, 10% bone, 10% organs.  I think that I have had to do this twice in the past two years.

You feed whole prey? As in, just all the organs and meat from that animal, or an entire carcass?

 I feed my ferrets a natural raw diet also, they mainly eat whole prey (small rodents) and raw meat. The only supplement they get is salmon oil, because they refuse to eat fish.

Spazzy

You feed whole prey? As in, just all the organs and meat from that animal, or an entire carcass?

They eat the entire carcass.  Bevo will eat an entire rabbit in one feeding.  The smaller dogs get theirs cut up into meals that are appropriate for their size, but I just cut up an entire animal for each of them & feed them only that animal so that they eat the entire thing themselves.  It's different, but it works well for us.

BEVOLASVEGAS

Spazzy

You feed whole prey? As in, just all the organs and meat from that animal, or an entire carcass?

They eat the entire carcass.  Bevo will eat an entire rabbit in one feeding.  The smaller dogs get theirs cut up into meals that are appropriate for their size, but I just cut up an entire animal for each of them & feed them only that animal so that they eat the entire thing themselves.  It's different, but it works well for us.

Really? I think thats great. So you dont normaly feed regular chunks of meat from the store? You must have a huge freezer Bailey has never had whole prey, I really wish I could get it for him but buying it online is sooo expencive cause of shipping, and I dont know of anywhere I could buy it localy.

The ferrets looove whole prey, but I dont think Bailey would know what to do if I handed him a mouse lol

Spazzy

So you dont normaly feed regular chunks of meat from the store? You must have a huge freezer Bailey has never had whole prey, I really wish I could get it for him but buying it online is sooo expencive cause of shipping, and I dont know of anywhere I could buy it localy.

The only thing that I buy from the store is the occasional beef heart if they are in the reduced bin.  Both dobes get beef heart included in one of their meals daily, so if I come across some that's cheap, then I buy it.

Because of the amount of food we feed daily, almost 15 pounds a day, I have large 4 freezers. 

I found my rabbit, & chicken sources through our county extension agent.  He knew some 4H kids who show heavily, & always have an overabundance of stuff after the show is done.  He put me in touch with some kids who they knew would be ok with selling the culls.  They handle the kill for me, & I just have to go pick them up.  I've also came across goats, & sheep that way as well.  I get the stuff for very reasonable prices since they are just looking to get rid of them.  I also use a grocery distributor for pretty much everything else.  I have to specify that I want it unprocessed, but they have had no issue with that.

I used to give a lot of the Bravo pre made raw patties.  But, since she got sick (not from the food) I don't really get them for her anymore.  For the most part, the only raw thing she gets is the beef marrow bones. 

Well they've been on the new diet for 2 weeks and they are doing great!  Took the dogs for a walk this morning. Gobie always poops on our walks, and it's always been an issue because his poo is mush and smashes all over when I pick it up. Yes, my hand's in a poop bag but ew!

Anyway, he pooped and it was a nice, formed tird! :) Yay!!

Girls' tear stains are going away, and Darby's yeasty lips are all better :) Yay!

Anyway, he pooped and it was a nice, formed tird! :) Yay!!

Girls' tear stains are going away, and Darby's yeasty lips are all better :) Yay!_

Awesome Thats good to hear, the pups must be happy bout it too!