Lavenders_Blue Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 I'm thinking of having a go at raw feeding Tango. As far as I can tell, it's the best option in terms of health and cost. At the moment I feed her Naturediet but it's pricey in terms of dog food, so if I can feed an equally good/better diet for less cost then that seems like a no-brainer really. I've looked into this before, but to be honest was totally baffled by the info out there on raw feeding. There seem to be different opinions on what you should feed, how the diet should be made up, and so on. What I need is an idiot's guide to get me started! What I do know is that a raw diet needs to be introduced gradually, so with that in mind, I've bought a bumper bag of chicken wings from the butcher and plan to start with giving Tango one each day, with the rest of her food being her usual Naturediet, so that I can start to get her used to some raw food whilst I figure out how a raw diet works. Now, obviously a dog cannot live on chicken wings alone, so what sort of meats can also make up the diet, and roughly in what ratios? For example, would I need to feed a meat containing bone (such as a chicken wing) every day? Or only a few times a week? Would I feed mince/chunks of meat to make up the rest? Does offal need to make up part of the diet, and if so, how much/how often? Do I need to include veg at all? And again, if so, how much and how often? And this may seem like a stupid question, but what exactly is a raw, meaty bone? I guess a chicken wing or chicken drumstick would constitute a raw, meaty bone but what else? As vegetarian from early childhood, I really no nothing about bones and their meatiness! I would be so grateful if anyone could explain to me (preferably in words of one syllable ) how a basic raw diet works - I'm sure it can't really be that complicated, otherwise no-one would ever do it?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 There is a lot of information out there on raw feeding, and you can make it as difficult or easy as you like TBH. I have always fed my dogs on a mainly raw diet, but after a non-dog gap of 6 years had to remind myself of it when I got Ruby 3 years ago. My two lurchers are fed on a small amount of fish and rice kibble (no gluten) I usually buy either James Wellbeloved/ Skinners or Jon Angell with some raw mince in the morning. Of an evening they have raw meaty bones; either red meat bones or chicken carcasses which I chop up into portion sizes. I also add a raw egg to their breakfast and a sprinkling of seaweed and/or cod liver oil when I remember. I am lucky to have sourced a free range butcher (where I get our own meat from) who saves all the meat off-cuts, heart and other offal and minces it up, then freezes it in 1lb bags for me. The bones are also frozen so that i can use them as I need them. I have a small under-counter freezer which I got from Freecycle and it suits our needs well. I find this easy and the dogs thrive... it also make poo picking a whole lot less unpleasant Lillybettybabs feeds her working dogs on BARF and may well be along with more advice. Good luck with your choice; you will see a difference in your dog's health and appearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Thanks DM, that sounds suitably un-scientific which is exactly the kind of reply I was looking for! So much of what I have read seems to be feed 80% this and 10% that and that which has already made me wonder how on earth you are supposed to know whether you are getting it right - how can you know the weight of a bone when it still has meat attached?! And I can't imagine that wild dogs weigh their food anyway... Are there any meats that are off limits? I have read in some places that pork is not recommended, then in other places that it is okay. You can see how I am confused! Also is raw fish recommended as part of the diet? I imagine the oils would be useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Pork isn't usually well tolerated by hounds, or any dogs for that matter. Lamb is OK but a bit fatty so try to feed less lamb bones... having said that, mine love a bit of lamb ribcage to tear into, but it does smell stronger than other meats. If your dog tries to bolt the chicken carcasses, then hand feed him to make him eat slower; hold onto the bone as he eats until he gets used to it. I feed mine their bones on an old, washable mat/dog towel on the tiled kitchen floor, so hardly any mess. They get roughly 100g (i just go by eye) of kibble in the morning with their meat. Once or twice a week they get to share a tin of pilchards in tomato sauce... you'd think it was doggy crack the way they hoover it up! Feel free to PM me if you need any more info. Basically steer clear of gluten, too much liver, and dairy and you'll be OK. Mine don't get any human/processed food but then lurchers do better on a natural type of diet. If you want to add any greenstuff then Dorwest Herbs' Easy Green is good stuff and easy-peasy to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 I'm not overly worried about Tango bolting her food too much (although she is a greedy eater) as she catches/scavenges rabbit carcasses on a fairly regular basis and quite happily chomps her way through with seemingly no ill effects. In fact I had an incident a few weeks ago where she caught a rabbit and no way was she going to give it up, so I had to twiddle my thumbs for 45 minutes in a freezing cold field whilst she dined. That was a thrilling walk, I tell you She spent the whole of that evening with a very smug, satisfied look on her face which was rather amusing. So basically, pork is not recommended, lamb is okay but in moderation, everything else is okay? Looking forward to getting stuck into this (and making friends with my local butcher). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Yup, that's it hard 'red bones' are great for their teeth too, so you'll see a decrease in any tartar he might have and fresher breath. Just introduce it gradually and see how it goes. It's far cheaper then regular dog food, you get through less kibble, the food smells less than tinned, their poo smells less and is smaller/more compact, and the dogs don't really 'smell' either Mine love rabbits too also those tree rats they call squirrels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I remember when i decided i wanted to BARF feed, Some of the advice needed a degree to understand! I worked out a few of my own rules: Feed to condition as every dog is different. Tripe or chicken/turkey mince (you can get it with ground bones in) is a good food source. plenty of bones (we use lamb spines or chicken carcasses/wings but no weight bearing ones). I mix in raw greens (you can cook them). adding Veg oil is a good way of fattening up if ever needed. I like to add fish oil and glucosamine chondroitin. Natural Instinct or Natures Menu are good balanced food to start on until you have sourced cheaper meat and bones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Mine LOVE lamb spines! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Mine LOVE lamb spines! They seem to be the best, sadly my source has given up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Call Steven at Brackley Butchers (and say that you know me) if he can't do them then let me know as I can usually get them from my other butcher at Stratford Farmers' market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 Thanks folks, such great straighforward advice. Things have accelerated a little faster than planned today... Tango caught and ate a pheasant while we were out walking this afternoon! Well, I say we were out walking, I did quite a lot of walking but Tango didn't do much, too busy eating. Her stomach now looks enormous! I have a butcher who I am sure if I asked nicely would be happy to save some meaty bones for me, especially the more unusual bits and bobs that people wouldn't normally buy (surely there can't be much demand for lamb spines?). I will pop in to see him and suss him out. I don't really have much freezer space so can't buy anything in bulk for now, but if I get into this, then I'll start scouring Freecycle for one as bulk buying will be a good idea I'm sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I found a small freezer without any trouble and it holds enough to feed the hounds for 2 weeks. Good one Tango - fresh pheasant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
