11 replies to this topic

[jagger]

Over the last 4 months, Monty is slowly evolving into my dog, been a fun ride to say the least. He's gotten chubby over the winter so it's diet time. Won't be long running it off in the spring but... Taken to adding defrosted veg (corn, beans, carrots etc) and some type of fruit to his diet mainly as filler and cutting back the meat. Oddly enough, he loves all fruit and veg. We're getting more warm days now which allows run time off leash in the parks, so we can both work our guts off

 

Socially he's sound, great with dogs as long as they are good with him. Very calm, very confident. Great around children, big bonus coming from a family with kids - and generally fine being picked up and cuddled by any strangers.

 

He's full raw, stomach on 4 legs really. If I'm in the kitchen, he's kicking his food bowl around looking for eats. Think he's getting tired of eating bone in chicken, so I think I'll start grinding it. He's taken to hiding whole chicken, found out the hard way when I started pulling raw chicken wings out of my couch and closet. Ewww.

 

Bugger won't touch raw wild meats, tried him on moose, deer and rabbit, turned up his nose every time, wouldn't even taste it.

Not a big fan of raw fish but loves canned sardines in water, so that's another good protein. Tried him on mackeral, did a weird dance around it but wouldn't eat it.

Tried him on lamb, turned up his nose.

 

Loves the beef and pork but I'm running out of options for rotations - but a big bonus, he'll eat the organ meats raw, loves raw liver.

 

Beef and pork wouldn't be enough - I need some more options. Mainly bone options.

 

 

 

 

 

[naturalfeddogs]

I would keep trying the lamb, and do ribs. He's being very picky and sort of training you. Try lamb again, and keep offering at each meal until he eats. If he's healthy, he'll eat when he gets hungry. They do have their preferences just like we do, and some things I don't push the issue on, but others I do. If he will start eating some lamb in the rotation, you would be ok considering he's eating organs well. Beef, pork, lamb and chicken(which I wouldn't grind), and organs would be fine.

[TRDmom]

Being "devils advocate" -- why wouldn't beef and pork be enough? Especially if he's eating organs. You did say there was some fish he likes, so you've got three sources there. Have you tried turkey or quail?

[naturalfeddogs]

Even with organs, its best to have at least four proteins in the rotation. The more the better, but if lamb were added that would be three good red meats, then chicken. That would be fine. 

[TRDmom]

I'm not sure the scientific basis for needing at least four different meats to be rotated in a dog's diet. Nutrition research I've read indicates amounts of protein/fat/vitamins/minerals needed, but usually don't dictate how those needs are to be met.

I am part of a raw feeding mailing list-- nearly everyone has a different way of feeding their dog (even ways that I wouldn't feed my own), but the dogs are healthy (vet information is exchanged in the group as well). The goal is to meet nutritional needs, not offer a varied diet. Why? It is possible to feed 20+ different "proteins" and still not meet nutritional needs if you're not offering parts of the animals necessary to meet nutritional requirements (eg. No bones or organs). Yes, it is a good idea to provide variety-- I'm sure the dogs enjoy it--but the main objective is meeting nutritional requirements.

Theoretical question (for everyone):
If nutritional needs are met by one animal, eg. goat, then why is it necessary to rotate through multiple kinds?

[naturalfeddogs]

If goat alone is all you want to feed, then try. But I prefer all the protein varieties I can get, to stay balanced and not become deficiant in a nutrient somewhere over time. Different proteins have different nutrients. But if someone is ok with just one protein.... 

 

We went through a tough financial patch last year for some time, and our dogs ate majority chicken, some,pork and beef liver. I could tell a difference in coat, activity level and even weight. Once we got back to being able to add beef, venison, pork, lamb, some duck, heart,and turkey, it all changed. Skin and coat, activity levels came back, weight came back nice where it should be. Variety does make a difference.

[jagger]

Ended up throwing out the lamb I bought, he wouldn't touch it and I don't like it. Not cheap around here.

Never thought about duck, maybe i'll give that a try. Going to have to take a run to the asian market, see what they have.

He does get pork ribs, loves them, just had to cut back due to his weight gain. Seem like pork is getting fattier every time I buy it, last pack was more like bone in bacon, gross.

 

I generally mix in a little vitamin powder when I feed sardines. This was the result with canned mackerel in water, weird dance but he wouldn't eat it.

 

[TRDmom]

Cute! It looks like he's enjoying the aroma  

[jagger]

I threw in the towel in PMR for now. having a heck of a time moderating his poop and getting the bone into him. Bought a months supply of K9 commercial raw, it's an 80/10/10 mix and he seems to like it.

 

Still giving bones to chew on and I'll still feed him sardines and such. So far his poop is good.

[naturalfeddogs]

That should be fine if he seems to do better.  It's still way better than kibble. I would, however try to rotate the formulas do some different proteins. I don't feed commercial raw, so I'm not real familiar with the different brands and proteins used.

[jagger]

I'm switching meals between chicken and beef at the moment, will see what else they have in stock that i can rotate in. Going to steer clear of pork for the time being til his extra weight comes off. Small dogs aren't so easy to balance out, especially if they are a little picky.

 

Gave him a piece of beef rib, he's currently wandering around whining trying to find a good hiding spot. I'll have to dig it out in a bit and toss it back in the freezer.

[naturalfeddogs]

I can imagine small dogs being harder to feed. I'll stick with my medium ones!