Thinking of switching to *gulp* raw...

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    Thinking of switching to *gulp* raw...

     So, raw is one of those things I'd always dismissed as being a) expensive and b) inconvenient.  The first is a weak argument considering what I pay for Orijen, but I hadn't ever researched what raw would cost me.  The second is blown out of the water by the human-grade raw food supplier who provides, amongst other things like RMBs, various kinds of bone-in minced (ground) meats conveniently packaged in 1 lb servings, which I think is about what Ben would need.  (Waiting on nutritional analysis now.)

    All of this at prices which have turned both Becca and Lani green with envy. ;)  After crunching some numbers, I can save about 50% on what I pay for his kibble now for raw delivered to my door once a month, although I actually think the minimum order would last us longer than that.

    Dipping my toes in the water...any advice?  

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    Benedict
    Dipping my toes in the water...any advice?  

     

    Dive!  Dive!

    Love, your emerald green friend. . .  

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    brookcove

    Benedict
    Dipping my toes in the water...any advice?  

     

    Dive!  Dive!

    Love, your emerald green friend. . .  

     

    LMAO I'm diving, I'm diving, I just need to get the freezer-space issue sorted out.   For *now* I think I've sourced some appropriate raw stuff I can get in smaller quantities so that I can use my freezer until we can get the shed wired. 

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    brookcove

    Dive!  Dive!

    Love, your emerald green friend. . .  

     

    Ditto.

    Delivered... prepackaged.... under a $1.00 a pound.  ((GUFFAWS)) .... if only.....

    I think i'm verging on purple, actually ;)
     

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    Sera_J
    I think i'm verging on purple, actually ;)

     

    That's a good look for you.  Big Smile

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    Don't make me start singing.....

    "I love you..... you love me... we're a happy family with a great big hug and kiss from me to you........"

    ((sing along you know you are...)
     

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    Before you dive however, are you sure your dogs can handle raw diet?

    I wanted so badly to do the raw thing, but 2 of them just can't handle it.

    So we homecook instead cause yes, I agree, Orijen was costing me more.

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    Sera_J

    Don't make me start singing.....

    "I love you..... you love me... we're a happy family with a great big hug and kiss from me to you........"

    ((sing along you know you are...)
     

    I was enjoying a Barney-free life. Now, I think, I need some de-tox tea. Would you like some? It might helps with those fits.Big Smile

    Don't make me dig out a Fred Rogers classic.

     

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    stanton
    Before you dive however, are you sure your dogs can handle raw diet?

     

    Not for certain, no, but I am planning to start out with just a few raw meals over a week to see how he does.  If it really doesn't agree with him, then I'll homecook much the same foods as I'm planning to feed raw.

    In all honesty I don't foresee problems - he's a lab with a rock-solid digestive system.  

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    Oh Ron, I'd rather watch hours and hours of Mr. R rather than one more second of the Purpley One.  My youngest did the Dinosaur Thing for a while - ugh.  When #2 came along, I put my foot down and banned Barney.  Especially since it was followed by those creepy little things that didn't talk and had video screen on their bellies.

    I'll have some honey with my tea.

    I think Ben has already had regular recreational bones.  The plan is to make tripe a part of the diet, which is very palatable and highly digestible. 

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    brookcove
    I think Ben has already had regular recreational bones.  The plan is to make tripe a part of the diet, which is very palatable and highly digestible. 

     

    Yes, he has, once or twice a week since he was a little pup. :)  No problems there, ever. 

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     Those prices sound great!  I don't feed raw, but please if you dive in let me know how it's going.  The SO and I are toying with changing up Ari's diet but haven't settled on what we're going to do differently.  I'm considering doing some home cooked...but I did test her out a few times now with raw chicken necks which she loves and handled well (unlike Ben, Ari doesn't have a rock solid stomach sadly).

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    You know when I switched over to Raw, one of my JRTs didn't fair too well. Explosive diarrhea of the worse kind. It lasted for 24 hours and still had the squirts a day later. I called the raw food distro to tell what was going on. She told me to add rice and back off on the raw portion and probiotics. She said I could have went too fast with the switch over. Sure enough after 7 days of backing off the raw portion and then increasing it. He was absolutely fine on raw.
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    Mine have never gotten diarreah nor vomiting with the raw, they just don't *act* right, I don't know how to explain it.

    I honestly don't know, in reality however, if there really IS a difference in total nutrients in raw versus slightly cooked of the same meat/diet, I think it's more of what's easier for the *server* or cook.

    I am going to start giving the beef heart raw, along with the chicken gizzards, just so I don't have to smell them Ick! while they're cooking.

    My dogs do get plenty of recreational raw bones and adore them, never with any issues. Perhaps some day I'll get the courage to throw the big guy a raw leg quarter, for now he's doing excellent on slow-cooked chicken. I'm just glad he's actually able to eat it, for a while I thought that's what was causing is itching...my sister slipped in treats that had wheat in them.

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    stanton
    Mine have never gotten diarreah nor vomiting with the raw, they just don't *act* right, I don't know how to explain it.

     

    No diet is going to work for all dogs, I will be on the lookout in case Ben has issues, of course, and adapt accordingly...but I won't know unless I try LOL.

    stanton
    My dogs do get plenty of recreational raw bones and adore them, never with any issues. Perhaps some day I'll get the courage to throw the big guy a raw leg quarter, for now he's doing excellent on slow-cooked chicken. I'm just glad he's actually able to eat it, for a while I thought that's what was causing is itching...my sister slipped in treats that had wheat in them.

     

    Oddly, chicken is the protein source Ben has probably had the least of, of the "normal" ones.  He's had chicken treats and scraps, but he was originally on a rotation of food that had turkey, duck and fish as the protein sources (one brand, I rotated through flavours) and then onto Orijen fish with a quick Timberwolf stop on the way.