I bought frozen, premade raw (jennie_c_d)

    • Gold Top Dog

    I bought frozen, premade raw (jennie_c_d)

    So... I was poking around online, looking for places near dog shows I'm going to. I've been pondering the idea of using some sort of premade raw food. It just... would be nice to let somebody else deal with cleanup. I don't mind making her food, but I hate food processors. They're a PITA, and I feel like I'm not getting the thing clean. I hand wash it, then run it through the dishwasher, but I'm paranoid, dang it. It has too many parts!

     

    Anyhow, while I was poking, I found that a local pet supply shop is now carrying Bravo! We went in, today, on our way to the beach, for a toy and a price check. It's not badly priced, at all, for what it is (free range meat, all ground up with bone, organ, and simple veggies). We picked up a bag of the beef patties and a roll of the lamb blend on the way home. The patties are in their own individual bags, so thawing? Is nothing. Set the thing on the counter for a few hours. Done. Dump it in a bowl, add joint stuff and fish oil, and you're in business. Emma scarfed it. I couldn't be happier. If I decide to feed this way, I'll have to have them order the veggie blend, as well, so I can add extra veggies to it.

     I know their food processor has lots of parts, too, but I don't have to *look* at them. And easy? Anybody who's iffy about raw should try premade. So cool!
     

    • Gold Top Dog

    Great news! Smile

    I do have a question though...

    I was looking at their site, and they (as do alot of companies) advertise "antibiotic free" meat.  Now, I know that antibiotics are given to feed-lot animals when they have some sort of infection, and I do know that they aren't allowed to be slaughtered for consumption until a certain amount of days (after it is passed through the system), so why is it a big deal?  I mean, animals that are classified as "antibiotic free" are slaughtered for consumption WITH infections b/c they aren't given antibiotics, which to me is worse.

    Just curious for some other opinions!

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    I really want to add some raw into Prancer's diet, and I'm afraid of bones so I wanted a premade ground raw.    But it seems they're all pretty high in fat which concerns me (Prancer doesn't do well with fat, plus Miniature Poodles are genetically prone to pancreatitis anyway).    I've been saving chicken necks from when I buy whole chickens - I have about 6 of them in the freezer.   But I'm a sissy because of my bone fear.

    I've been giving her "nearly raw" lowfat meat.  I bring water to a boil, toss the meat in, bring it back to a boil and then turn the heat off.   And I always give her the chicken heart raw (LOL the first time I did it she took one chew and spit it out).    I wish I could do raw bones ... I'm just too scared.   Premade would have been the answer if it weren't for the fat content :(

    • Gold Top Dog

     I wouldn't be doing raw at all if it weren't for pre-made. However, it is pretty expensive. I'm already seeing the benefits of it though in the dogs "output".

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    • Gold Top Dog

     just curious how much a 5lb roll is?

    I'm sure it is WAY too expensive to feed Bugsy this way but I am curious. 

    LOL it would be $60-$70 a WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I just start making him eat his beloved moles  Wink

    • Gold Top Dog

    papillon806

    Great news! Smile

    I do have a question though...

    I was looking at their site, and they (as do alot of companies) advertise "antibiotic free" meat.  Now, I know that antibiotics are given to feed-lot animals when they have some sort of infection, and I do know that they aren't allowed to be slaughtered for consumption until a certain amount of days (after it is passed through the system), so why is it a big deal?  I mean, animals that are classified as "antibiotic free" are slaughtered for consumption WITH infections b/c they aren't given antibiotics, which to me is worse.

    Just curious for some other opinions!

     

     

    It doesn't mean antibiotics for infections, but some animals are treated with various things, usually hormones, to make them have more muscle (meat), etc.  So no you aren't getting gross infected meat, it's actually a good thing!  (kinda like buying organic)

    • Gold Top Dog

    NicoleS

    papillon806

    Great news! Smile

    I do have a question though...

    I was looking at their site, and they (as do alot of companies) advertise "antibiotic free" meat.  Now, I know that antibiotics are given to feed-lot animals when they have some sort of infection, and I do know that they aren't allowed to be slaughtered for consumption until a certain amount of days (after it is passed through the system), so why is it a big deal?  I mean, animals that are classified as "antibiotic free" are slaughtered for consumption WITH infections b/c they aren't given antibiotics, which to me is worse.

    Just curious for some other opinions!

     

     

    It doesn't mean antibiotics for infections, but some animals are treated with various things, usually hormones, to make them have more muscle (meat), etc.  So no you aren't getting gross infected meat, it's actually a good thing!  (kinda like buying organic)

     While I know where you are coming from, it is two different things.  If it is hormone-free, it will say hormone-free.  If it is antibiotic free (which some "natural" feed-animal lots do) it means they are not treated for antibiotics for infections Wink (they wouldn't use antibiotics for any other reason)
     

    • Gold Top Dog

    It smells similar to the free range beef I've used for her. Doesn't smell like grocery meat.


    She puked it on my pillow at 2 am, LOL. I have *no idea* what that was, but she gets a half-portion, tonight. I may have fed her too much.

     

    I paid $31 for a 5 lb bag of beef patties, and a 2 lb roll of lamb. IF Emma finishes it, that will last her a good two weeks, I think. I've got to add veggies. I'm thinking the fat could have been a bit much, for her. I usually feed a higher veggie content. 

    • Gold Top Dog

    I've been feeding Zoe the Nature's Variety raw medallions for her evening meal and it couldn't possibly be easier!  I just toss two of the medallions in a baggie in the fridge in the morning, then come home after work and throw them in her bowl.  If I had to make raw myself, I'd never do it either.  Well, maybe I would for a week or so, but all the work and cleanup would get really old, really fast.  Last Sunday, I fed her raw for both the morning and evening meals, and her poop was miniscule.

    • Gold Top Dog
    I've been feeding Nature's Variety frozen raw for a few days now.  A 3 lb bag of chicken medallions (48 1oz medallions) cost me $11.50.  A 6 lb package of chicken patties (12 8oz patties) cost $21.50.  So I save $1.50 on every 6 lbs by buying the patties, even though the medallions are a little more convenient for my size dogs.
     
    One of my dogs weighs 20 lbs and the other weighs 18 lbs.  I think I've got their intake just about adjusted correctly and if so, they will both be getting 7 oz per day.   That equates to approx $1.60 a day to feed each dog. 
     
    Prior to feeding NV, I had been feeding Honest Kitchen dehydrated.  The frozen is going to end up costing me approx $25 more per month (total) than the dehydrated.
    • Gold Top Dog

    I would like a less smart dog, please. She won't touch the beef patties, now. I would like to see if feeding  her less would have a different result, but NooooOOoo! She won't have it, even mixed with other stuff. 

     

    I guess we'll try a little of the lamb blend, LOL.  

    • Gold Top Dog

    Jenny, have you looked at any of the dehydrated foods?  HK has one formula, Preference, which makes a grain free base-food that you add protein into.

    • Gold Top Dog

    They all have stuff in them she can't haveSmile I got her some Addiction dehydrated. It looked fine, but made her throw up.

     

    Emma has throw up issues, LOL. I fed most of the dehydrated stuff to Teenie, but she went to the Bridge before she finished it, so I gave it to my friend. Hopefully, Em will decide to eat this Bravo. If not, I'll just... give it away, too. 

    • Gold Top Dog

    papillon806
    (they wouldn't use antibiotics for any other reason)

    You probably know more about this than I do, but I thought that factory farms just routinely fed animals antibiotics, to try to somehow keep them from getting sick? I hear all this stuff about factory farmed meat contributing to antibiotic resistance, because it's just mixed into their feed... is that just BS?

    Edit: I found this. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/meat/safe/overview.html I'm not done reading it yet, but I thought it was interesting.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Thats what antibiotic free means.  They make all kinds of feed with antibiotics added.  Chicken and goat feed seem to have it the most.