The Dogmother Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Glad to hear there's another dog owner seeing the benefits of feeding raw I've always fed raw to my dogs; they don't generally go mad when I get our own raw meat out of the fridge, but I do make sure they stay on their beds. Having said that, I do need to shut them out of the kitchen if I have pheasants, partridges or freshly despatched chicken in there while I am prepping it. They are working dogs though, so love anything dead I have an under counter freezer in the utility room (courtesy of Freegle) which takes all the dogs' meat and bones, which I get from the local butcher. LBB's dogs do look good on their Nutriment, and like mine, they are always getting compliments on their condition. My Cyrus is a rescue lurcher of about 9-10 years old, he was in a pretty bad condition when I got him, but he loves his raw now, and apart from having had teeth out since we got him (due to historic decay) he is the picture of health and bops around like a much younger dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 So, how is it going bluekarin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 Still waiting for her kibble to be eaten up to a point I can start the intro properly. I swear this bag has lasted longer than any other bag of kibble EVER! Another week or so and I shall be able to report properly, but from her 5 day trial of it I would say it will be good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Okedokey, ...look forward to hearing how you are getting on in due course. In particular re smell of meat etc, that seems to be the only negative thing about it looking at Nutriment's web site customer reviews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 It does smell of raw meat, there's no really getting away from it to be honest. Reminds me of raw minced beef. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 I made the switch from Natural Instinct a few weeks ago and have say that Milo really likes the Nutriment (despite refusing a sample of it at a show last year!) He readily eats it whereas he was starting to turn his nose up at the NI and would leave it for a while before deciding to eat it. With only the one dog I prefer the smaller pack size and...when I visited their stall at Dogfest last week discovered that it was fine to refreeze in a Kong. I had always thought you couldn't refreeze something defrosted but they said its not so important with dogs - their digestion is different. So while the weather is still OK and he can eat it outside I'm going to give it a go. As I like to feed in occupational toys that has been one of the downsides of raw food so he gets one meal as kibble in a Tug a Jug or Roll Ball. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 That's good to know re the refreezing. Neela loves her Kong but she only tends to have cheese or peanut butter in it - not the healthiest I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 A frozen Kong is great for keeping them occupied - I usually freeze something like Lily's Kitchen canned food in them - makes about 5. Or sardines mixed with cottage cheese - or and a good tasty one is foregoing the chicken stock from roasting a chicken in a Roast a Bag - the dog gets it frozen! You do have to bung the end though with peanut butter or try cling film wrapped tight. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Still ooming and arring about Nutriment, think I will go for it...but how do you break it up for meal? Does it come in a solid block or cubes? Any tips on what bones/ treats to give to a 5 month spaniel. Also her treats are biscuits at the moment which she has to work for. When introducing yummy ( I hope raw) the value of the food will be increased to 100% I would imagine, so what does anyone suggest for treats eg when out on a walk and rewarding her for good recall. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted August 24, 2014 Author Share Posted August 24, 2014 It comes frozen in a tray which I leave out the night before needing it and then keep it in the fridge. One tray will do 4 meals for my dog, but obviously more for a younger one who will be lighter than a 2 year old. Will be starting the change over this week, as I measured out her food and bagged it up so I could see how many days left. I have kept some back for treats as she does like them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 My dogs are fed raw, the only treats they get are either dried liver (cut up and dehydrated in the oven) or I make liver or sardine cake. Try starting her on some raw chicken wings, but hold one end to encourage her to eat slowly if she's not used to raw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 DM, Thank you but I am too much a scardey cat to go straight for the chicken wing thing. Have found natural instinct for puppies and I can buy 1 packet to see if Maisy likes it (ha ha ha, she likes anything to eat so far!!!). Would like to feed raw and buy from the butchers (or it might be nearly free with some luck) when I have got my head round the nutritional requirements. TBH, at the moment I just need it to be easy, so I can concentrate on new puppy, training, socialising and life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 So...if I give my 4 month old working cocker spaniel puppy a chicken wing weighing approx. 100g, I take it that is one meal....she is presently getting about 125g of natural instinct puppy raw food per meal, evenings only, beginning on breakfast tomorrow, but looking out for chicken wing bargains in the supermarket. Does anyone do the veg gloop thing, if yes how much do I give and say a couple of times a week?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 I'd give your dog more than that, but you will need to 'feed to effect', in other words adjust how much you feed until your dog looks 'right'. so, not overweight, but with good definition and so you can see the last two ribs. I don't do the veg thing - mine hate it, but they do like frozen peas and carrots and they get a wee sprinkle of Dorwest Herbs' Keepers Mix supplement and also some Easy Greens in their breakfast mince... along with salmon oil, and raw eggs and a dob of coconut oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted September 6, 2014 Author Share Posted September 6, 2014 Neela has been on Nutriment for approx a week now and seems to be okay on it. She did have a bit of a problem going to the loo this evening, not helped by a friendly spaniel who wanted to play so I think she needs to have a carrot a day to help that out. Otherwise, she is looking fitter, her coat is shiny despite needing a bath and her poos are tiny and much firmer and less smelly. About to order some more food, and want to go for the 1.4kg chubbs. I believe they are in a sausage type shape I am imagining not too different to a roll of sausagemeat. Can anyone give me any measurements, so I can work out how many will fit in my freezer drawer? Edit - just seen DMs post. I feed Neela 150g per day. She was approx 11 and a bit kilos when she was weighed earlier this year and I don't think her weight has change too much. I am feeding her to what her ideal weight should be as she is a fairly smaller cocker. Do you think this is enough? She does have treats throughout the day as well (a rawhide twist with chicken around and the odd treat when out on walkies for good heel and recall). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 You are right to factor in the treats that you feed to her daily requirement. Feed so that they feel lean and muscly when you stroke down their sides, you should be able to see/feel their last two ribs, they should have a tucked tummy, and their bum should feel muscled with just a hint of the hip bones felt through the muscle. Pups obviously need little and often, and what they eat (much like with us) should depend on how much they expend in energy. Do you add any oils Karin? Salmon oil (Fish4Dogs) or Gold Label Four Oils are both very good, as is coconut oil. The harder poos will ensure that their anal glands are stimulated and emptied regularly, so less problems in that area too. Try her on a tin of pilchards (Glenryk) in the morning - she'll love that!!!! There are some tips here, and also in the chat section, but you need to register to access that part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 I agree with DM, feed by eye and whether the dog looks over/under weight. Tango is also 11ish kilos but eats about 300g of raw per day (split over 3 meals - used to be 2 meals but she kept bringing up bile overnight) so quite a bit more than Neela. It's dependent on the dog' activity levels and metabolism as much as anything. I don't weigh out her food - I used to, but now just go by what looks like the right amount. It doesn't mean that one of us is over feeding or the other is under feeding, it's just what's right for each dog ETA - I don't feed veg either, but like DM I am a Keeper's Mix fan. I also add a splosh of salmon oil or a blob of coconut oil a few times a week. Great for super shiny coats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share Posted September 7, 2014 Just reread my post. It's 250g per day not 150g! Poor pooch! She'll think she's being starved if it was that little! I haven't put any oils on her food as I thought the Nutriment contained it. Her coat is already looking shiny so I think she is getting enough. I will pop over to the forum you mentioned and see what's said there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 That sounds spot on. Tango is super active which is probably why she eats a wee bit more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Thanks DM for saying about the oils etc you add especially the Dorwest Keepers Mix. Do I need to get both salmon and coconut oils....if I feed an oily fish once a week would that be enough....was wondering about a tin of salmon every now and then or the pilchard thing. When we have fresh fish, I give her the cooked skins which she gobbles down. I like the idea of mince in the mornings, nice and easy to do first thing. Maisy is keen on runner beans, she has been "picking" her own from the garden (stealing!) the last few days...which she eats like a chew and also she has picked up one of our 4 pears from our small pear tree and tried eating that...not to mention raspberries, but they are too special so she is not allowed those! Meanwhile I can't wait for her to finish her kibble so she can have her diet 100% raw. The raw she is getting at the moment she wolfs down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Mine get a small squirt of salmon oil every day, and a small 'dob' of coconut oil too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Thanks DM, the salmon oil...do you buy it online/pet shop etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Lots of online pet stores sell salmon oil. I use Salmopet oil, but there's lots of different ones. Jon Angell, Fish4Dogs and Kronch are all good brands too. If you decide to add coconut oil too then you need to buy the unrefined virgin oil. Personally I don't think either of them are 'necessary' per se, but they definitely offer health benefits. In fact if you google the benefits of coconut oil, you might just start to wonder how we've all managed for so long without it I don't give the oils every day as I feed quite a lot of dried sprats as training treats, so Tango gets quite a lot of omega 3, but that's just my way of doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 I feed 'an oil' daily as Cyrus is an old boy and inclined to be a bit stiff sometimes; it definitely helps him in that respect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Thank you DM and LB, much appreciated. Have just done a bulk order of Natural Instinct as so far so good with it. It might just be coincidence of Maisy growing up but since being on raw albeit for a third of her diet, seems calmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
