Raw, healthy diet?

[Tairasai]

So we cannot afford to feed RAW constantly and for every meal, but we do want to give them the best we can. Right now both my dogs get Primal RAW once a day and then get kibble the next meal. Some people have mentioned to me that adding some oatmeal to their meals a couple times a week can help their stomachs. I also give them green beans with their kibble sometimes, my Golden Retriever is on a diet.

I have a Kai Ken puppy and a 4 year old Golden Retriever.
What kind of vegetables can they eat? What should I stay away from?
Also, could I mix some of their kibble in with the RAW? They both eat it so fast. They both eat Natural Balance.

Can they eat the canned vegetables? Or should I just stick with the fresh?
What meats can they eat? I know a couple people who hunt deer, would it be safe to feed them some ground up deer?

They get meals twice a day and the puppy gets an extra little snack time, she's growing like a weed!

 

[Claybuster]

I don't think it is a good idea to mix the raw and the kibble. Raw does not have to be chewed, but they need to chew the kibble. A natural tendency to gulp one food, and forced to chew at the same time?
Me personally, I would avoid the oatmeal. If you have to add something stay non-allergenic, go with white rice. I would also avoid any added vegetables. I'm sure there is plenty in the Primal Raw and the kibble you are using where adding any extra can I think can only do more harm than good. The money would be better spent on meats and fats as opposed to more vegetables IMO. Charlie

 

[Renee750il]

Venison is a great addition for your dogs!

The green beans are a smart choice when you've got a dog who needs to trim down some. Carrots are good, too. Brown rice is always a far better choice than white rice, but there's nothing wrong with oatmeal.

Most vegetables are fine for dogs, with some exceptions like anything from the onion family, including garlic (especially raw). If they get some leftover marinara, though, the garlic in it isn't really going to do any harm.

Yogurt and buttermilk are good additions, especially for a growing puppy.

My dogs chew their raw food, especially when it is meat with bones. Watch yours and see how they eat.

One way to slow them down with the kibble is to feed them in a large flat dish and set an obstacle in the middle, like a small, upside down bowl. They have to work around it. Another way is to use an interactive toy, like a Tug-A-Jug

 

[Corky/Max]

So we cannot afford to feed RAW constantly and for every meal, but we do want to give them the best we can. Right now both my dogs get Primal RAW once a day and then get kibble the next meal. Some people have mentioned to me that adding some oatmeal to their meals a couple times a week can help their stomachs. I also give them green beans with their kibble sometimes, my Golden Retriever is on a diet.

I have a Kai Ken puppy and a 4 year old Golden Retriever.
What kind of vegetables can they eat? What should I stay away from?
Also, could I mix some of their kibble in with the RAW? They both eat it so fast. They both eat Natural Balance.

Can they eat the canned vegetables? I would stay away from canned--most is full of salt and most of the nutrients are gone too. Cooking/heating destroys about 60% of the vitamins, etc. Fresh is best and frozen is 2nd. When feeding raw veggies, you need to grind real fine as dogs cannot break down the celuloid wall of veggies--Try to grind not much bigger than the size of a pin head. Or should I just stick with the fresh?
What meats can they eat? I know a couple people who hunt deer, would it be safe to feed them some ground up deer? You don't need to grind it--just cut in small chunks. Actually venison is one of the best meats to feed!

They get meals twice a day and the puppy gets an extra little snack time, she's growing like a weed!

I am going to give you a link on vegs. I did in another forum: About Feeding Fruits & Vegetables - Dog Health & Nutrition - Dog Forums - I-Love-Dogs.com

Another link you may find helpful: Foods that are hazardous to a dog - Dog Health & Nutrition - Dog Forums - I-Love-Dogs.com

 

[Renee750il]

When you're looking for foods that are okay for your dogs, google is your best friend I've written several articles on the subject and the amount of good info is surpassed only by the amount of spurious info, but a little common sense will enable you to tell the real from the rest.

We have quite a few raw feeders and if you'll use the search feature you'll find TONS of info, too

 

[Tairasai]

Thanks for all the info, seems like I'm not too far off track.

I was also wondering if the 21% protein thats in their kibble is enough for the puppy? Plus the 13% in the RAW? I dont want to stunt her growth or deprive her of anything...

 

[Renee750il]

Here's a thread that has a pretty good discussion on the puppies and protein question http://www.chazhound.com/forums/t106746/

 

[dobesgalore]

So we cannot afford to feed RAW constantly and for every meal, but we do want to give them the best we can. Right now both my dogs get Primal RAW once a day and then get kibble the next meal. Some people have mentioned to me that adding some oatmeal to their meals a couple times a week can help their stomachs. I also give them green beans with their kibble sometimes, my Golden Retriever is on a diet.

I have a Kai Ken puppy and a 4 year old Golden Retriever.
What kind of vegetables can they eat? What should I stay away from?
Also, could I mix some of their kibble in with the RAW? They both eat it so fast. They both eat Natural Balance.

Can they eat the canned vegetables? Or should I just stick with the fresh?
What meats can they eat? I know a couple people who hunt deer, would it be safe to feed them some ground up deer?

They get meals twice a day and the puppy gets an extra little snack time, she's growing like a weed!

If you are going to feed raw, feed only raw. No mixing with kibble because of different digestion rates. Raw is acually much cheaper than kibble. I feed raw, feeding six dogs on about $100 month. I don't like Natural Balance because meat is not the first ingrediant. As far as veggies go, you can give them but there is really little to no nutrition for a dog. Ground meat isn't the greatest because of an increased risk of bacteria being introduced. Mine only get ground meat in small amounts in little meat balls to give them their omega3-6-9 caps. I would give them chunks of the deer meat, and try to include bones(ribs preferably).

 

[Claybuster]

Brown rice is always a far better choice than white rice, but there's nothing wrong with oatmeal.

Why do you think "brown rice is always a far better choice than white rice"? Is it the higher fiber content and gluten from the hull that makes it a better choice? My thinking would be less is aways best when it comes to fiber and gluten source proteins for dogs.

Charlie

 

[Renee750il]

White rice is highly processed and refined. Less tampered with is always a better choice in my experience -- for man or beast. Just as an example: diabetics should steer clear of white rice, it spikes blood sugar like crazy, but brown rice actually helps regulate blood glucose levels. It's pretty much common sense if you stop and think about it.

 

[Claybuster]

If you stop and think about it, less fiber and gluten is best for our animals.
White rice is superior to brown rice for dogs. Gluten is damaging to the body and probably the leading cause of allergies in dogs. Brown rice contains gluten which makes plain white rice (unbleached) the much better option for dogs IMO. It maybe wholesome food for people (brown rice), but that by no means makes it a better option for dogs (carnivores).
Charlie

 

[Maura]

I do not routinely feed rice or oatmeal. For veggies, the dogs get leftover carrots or potatoes (Peruvian blue, best potato) when I cook a roast or chicken (cooked in the meat juices), sometimes green beans or other green. More important is to remember to give them organ meat at least twice a week. Unless you sometimes have some leftover oatmeal, don't worry about adding it.

 

[Renee750il]

If you stop and think about it, less fiber and gluten is best for our animals.
White rice is superior to brown rice for dogs. Gluten is damaging to the body and probably the leading cause of allergies in dogs. Brown rice contains gluten which makes plain white rice (unbleached) the much better option for dogs IMO. It maybe wholesome food for people (brown rice), but that by no means makes it a better option for dogs (carnivores).
Charlie

I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I'll continue to use common sense -- and follow Mordy's research.

I've never had a dog with allergies. Brown rice and all.

 

[Claybuster]

I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I'll continue to use common sense -- and follow Mordy's research.

I've never had a dog with allergies. Brown rice and all.

Yes, we have to agree to disagree. I will use common sense too and listen to what my dog food manufacturer says, not what just another website owner thinks. Regardless of how popular she may be or her website, she never made dog food. She is very good a regurgitating information found in AAFCO statements.

 

[release the hounds]

i find it simple, I just avoid rice except for maybe 2-3 times per year if they get some of our leftovers, then it's sometimes brown and sometimes white

 

[Renee750il]

Yes, we have to agree to disagree. I will use common sense too and listen to what my dog food manufacturer says, not what just another website owner thinks. Regardless of how popular she may be or her website, she never made dog food. She is very good a regurgitating information found in AAFCO statements.

Actually, she's one of the best researchers I've ever run across -- and I've spent years doing research and investigations myself and working with excellent professionals. Mordy debunks more AAFCO statements -- and dog food manufacturer statements (yah, like what the manufacturer says isn't self-serving) than she "regurgitates." Her site is an outgrowth of her dedication and a by-product of the practice she's built by finding real answers through her own research and investigation, taking nothing at face value, and getting results through good nutrition for dog owners who were looking at losing their dogs because the standard rhetoric put out by pet food manufacturers, AAFCO and ascribed to by too many vets failed miserably.

But hey, if you want to believe whatever your favorite manufacturer tells you, go right ahead. I'm sure it's quite profitable for them.

 

[Claybuster]

But hey, if you want to believe whatever your favorite manufacturer tells you, go right ahead. I'm sure it's quite profitable for them.

I'm not sure how profitable they are, their focus is not sales appeal. When people hear the words chicken by-product meal, lard, and beef meat and bone meal, forget about white rice, they're already running for the hills and stay far, far away.

Another point about white rice that I think is worth mentioning, when you hear of people whose dogs get sick, they say the Vet will typically recommend a bland diet like chicken and white rice. Why is that? Because they know white rice is non-allergenic, easily digestible, and will never hurt your dog. Less is best when it comes to any carbs for dogs. Knowing that the best choice is the lesser of two evils. Brown rice contains gluten from the hull and it is higher in fiber than white rice. In this case, the lesser of two evils for dogs is the white rice....regardless of what food critics like The Great Dane Lady and Mordy would profess.... They know all about highly profitable diets with a ton of sales appeal.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Regardless of how popular she may be or her website, she never made dog food. She is very good a regurgitating information found in AAFCO statements.

It's easy to judge when one only has a view from the outside. Mordy doesn't mass produce her own brand of dog food(s), but she makes recipes all the time in consultations and she helps dogs and their owners live healthy lives.

 

[DanL]

the first step towards saving money while feeding raw would be to stop buying premade raw food. I might understand if you fed tiny dogs that don't eat much, but a Golden is going to need 1-2lbs of raw food a day depending on activity level. Read the stickies here and learn how to feed an inexpensive and well rounded diet.