Another Question about the RAW diet

Hi all - hope someone can help - I am expecting to have an 8 week old labrador puppy next week and want to feed him RAW. Am thinking of making it easier for me to start with by buying it in from one of the main suppliers. I may go DIY in the future. But my question is - he is being fed BETA Puppy at the moment - does anyone have any advice on how best to manage the change over? Should I do it graduallly, or just make a quick change. Would I be better letting him settle in first for a week or so, and then change it?

Thanks very much for any advice.
 
Bustermartin said:
Hi all - hope someone can help - I am expecting to have an 8 week old labrador puppy next week and want to feed him RAW. Am thinking of making it easier for me to start with by buying it in from one of the main suppliers. I may go DIY in the future. But my question is - he is being fed BETA Puppy at the moment - does anyone have any advice on how best to manage the change over? Should I do it graduallly, or just make a quick change. Would I be better letting him settle in first for a week or so, and then change it?

Thanks very much for any advice.
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This is a variety of ideas:
http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-nutrition/210591-advice-starting-raw-feeding-please.html

You only need to read the first few pages of this:
http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-nutrition/111437-raw-feeding-everything-you-need-know.html

And here's a supplier list:
http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-nutrition/197702-raw-food-supplier-list.html

And in return, lots of puppy pics, please!
 
You will find this forum incredibly helpful with this. Wouldn't have dared try putting whippy pup onto raw without all the advice I got and she LOVES it!
 
I often use the small butcher at the village for meat for us and I ask for a bone from the slop bucket thrown in.

The butchers are sometimes nervous about what to give me - even when I reassure them that whatever they have is fine. (Then they see the size of the wolf and calm down;))....

But today the girl behind the counter almost refused to give me pork bones "because they are not good for dogs and they can splinter and choke the dog."
banghead.gif


Apparantly her own dog had a problem and so this makes her an expert on the subject
rolleyes.gif


I was treated to a full lecture while she bagged them up and I was instructed to supervise my dogs closely
blahblah.gif
.

Needless to say I left the dogs with them while I went to the stables
eek.gif


Patronising cow
flamingmad.gif
 
To be honest, I don't leave the dogs unsupervised with bones, pig ears etc. One of the pups nearly choked on a cow ear one day and it is recommended that you keep an eye. Better safe than sorry, IMO and they're not in the wild, survival of the fittest blah, so I'd rather keep an eye. Wussy, maybe, but I'd never forgive myself if anything happened.
 
cinammontoast said:
To be honest, I don't leave the dogs unsupervised with bones, pig ears etc. One of the pups nearly choked on a cow ear one day and it is recommended that you keep an eye. Better safe than sorry, IMO and they're not in the wild, survival of the fittest blah, so I'd rather keep an eye. Wussy, maybe, but I'd never forgive myself if anything happened.
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Hubby was in the house;)

It was the insistence that I hover over them while eating:p
 
OK - so puppy will be here in two days and although I have read up lots and lots I just have a couple more questions so if one of you lovely people who know about this could help, I really would appreciate it!!

I have wimped out a bit really and bought some of Natural Instinct's chicken with bone as a gentle starter for both of us, but in the first few days is that all I should give him? I'm guessing he will weigh around about 11lb at 7 weeks old (lab) so how much would you recommend he has? He is currently on 3 meals of BETA Puppy food. Do you think I should split it into three meals or perhaps 2 meals of meat and give him some egg or yoghurt for the third? Someone said that goats milk is good for puppies - any thoughts on that?

You would think I have never had a puppy before in my life the amount I am worrying about it all!

Thanks for any help anyone can give.....
 
I'm really sorry I don't have time to read all the thread, are there links to feeding raw being good for anal glands, this has come from a comment made on another thread so I was just wondering

Thanks
 
NOISYGIRL said:
I'm really sorry I don't have time to read all the thread, are there links to feeding raw being good for anal glands, this has come from a comment made on another thread so I was just wondering

Thanks
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Yes. As I understand it the bone content firms up the consistency of the pooh, which means that the anal glands are used for what they were designed for, ie assisting with passing solid motions, expressing the glands each time the dog poohs.

Few dogs fed a raw diet need to have their anal glands manually expressed, although there are some that still need help in this area.
 
I had my monthly delivery from Durham Animal Feeds today.
DAFdelivery.jpg

This is their different components that I get out of the freezer each day (it changes every month)
dogsmonthlyportion.jpg

And a daily portion for them both (larger portion to get some room in the freezer)
dogsdailyportion.jpg

Tomorrow's portion defrosting in the shed.
dogdailyportionboxed.jpg
 
I didn't get a delivery this month, I really need ne every six weeks, but the DFC only do monthly. However, scary men with guns at yard yesterday gave me 10 of these!

IMAG0474.jpg


If I'm desperate, a local bloke supplies greyhound trainers with green tripe and Morrisons isn't far. :)
 
Ok, so planning on getting our first dog in the next month or so. I’m think RAW is the way to go, but I have a few questions. Planning on getting a Border Terrier.
-How much do I feed?
-How often do I feed?
-What should you feed a RAW puppy?
-What should I avoid?
-How much does it work out to feed the average terrier?
-To start off with is there a company that I can order from (we’re in the Cotswolds)? How much is this likely to cost per week? Is it feasible to have a week’s worth of small dog food in our freezer? How much is that likely to cost?

Starting to feel owning a dog is scarier than owning a horse for the first time!
 
Dizzle said:
-How much do I feed?
-How often do I feed?
-What should you feed a RAW puppy?
-What should I avoid?
-How much does it work out to feed the average terrier?
-To start off with is there a company that I can order from (we’re in the Cotswolds)? How much is this likely to cost per week? Is it feasible to have a week’s worth of small dog food in our freezer? How much is that likely to cost
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Feed 10% of breed standard adult weight.

Feed four times daily, late as poss at night.

Puppies can have anything, no weight bearing bones, nothing likely to break teeth, star with chicken wings, hold so he doesn't try to inhale them (wean off food breeder gave slowly)

Avoid offal for first few weeks, introduce new type of meat every week after first two weeks on chicken or turkey.

Rawtogo deliver nationwide (based in Wales). For such a small puppy, I'd use the local butcher to start with (Morrisons is fab too).

Read the first three pages:
http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-nutrition/111437-raw-feeding-everything-you-need-know.html

Supplier list:
http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-nutrition/197702-raw-food-supplier-list.html
 
Dizzle said:
Ok, so planning on getting our first dog in the next month or so. I’m think RAW is the way to go, but I have a few questions. Planning on getting a Border Terrier.
-How much do I feed?
-How often do I feed?
-What should you feed a RAW puppy?
-What should I avoid?
-How much does it work out to feed the average terrier?
-To start off with is there a company that I can order from (we’re in the Cotswolds)? How much is this likely to cost per week? Is it feasible to have a week’s worth of small dog food in our freezer? How much is that likely to cost?

Starting to feel owning a dog is scarier than owning a horse for the first time!
Click to expand...

Firstly, don't be scared. Feeding raw is just like anything else, once you get the hang of it & build your confidence it's second nature.

I have a Border Terrier who I feed raw. I got him at 8 weeks old & was planning to continue with the dry food he had at his breeder's until he had settled in, but as soon as he saw what my lab got to eat he refused to eat his own food, so I switched him at about 10 weeks.

I have found that puppies adapt really easily & will pretty much eat what is put in front of them. To start with I bought food for him from the shops (farm shop & supermarket) as I still had a lot of raw food in the freezer for the lab, but most of it was too big for a pup. I stuck to chicken wings for the first week, then added a few meals of small lamb ribs (from Morrisions) for the second week. After that I introduced new meats more frequently with no problems at all. Sprats, prawns, cans of tuna in spring water, liver, kidney, heart, pork ribs, braising steak, mince etc whatever is reduced or on special offer really.

I used to get my raw food from Landywoods, but a new supplier has just started locally so I now support them, although they are a little more expensive the quality is far better. I have a huge chest freezer & tend to order 2 or 3 months worth of food at a time.

A terrier is very cheap to feed. I would think that if you are good at hunting out bargins & have room to store extra food you could probably do it for about £10 a month, although this will be more if you buy everything at full price in the shops.

I agree with cinammontoast re amount & frequency of feed. Puppies need little & often. By the age of about 4 months I dropped to 3 meals a day, 6 months 2 meals & will aim to take that to 1 meal at about 12 months, but it does depend on the dog. Use your eyes to judge their weight.
 
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davisn said:
Firstly, don't be scared. Feeding raw is just like anything else, once you get the hang of it & build your confidence it's second nature.

I have a Border Terrier who I feed raw. I got him at 8 weeks old & was planning to continue with the dry food he had at his breeder's until he had settled in, but as soon as he saw what my lab got to eat he refused to eat his own food, so I switched him at about 10 weeks.

I have found that puppies adapt really easily & will pretty much eat what is put in front of them. To start with I bought food for him from the shops (farm shop & supermarket) as I still had a lot of raw food in the freezer for the lab, but most of it was too big for a pup. I stuck to chicken wings for the first week, then added a few meals of small lamb ribs (from Morrisions) for the second week. After that I introduced new meats more frequently with no problems at all. Sprats, prawns, cans of tuna in spring water, liver, kidney, heart, pork ribs, braising steak, mince etc whatever is reduced or on special offer really.

I used to get my raw food from Landywoods, but a new supplier has just started locally so I now support them, although they are a little more expensive the quality is far better. I have a huge chest freezer & tend to order 2 or 3 months worth of food at a time.

A terrier is very cheap to feed. I would think that if you are good at hunting out bargins & have room to store extra food you could probably do it for about £10 a month, although this will be more if you buy everything at full price in the shops.

I agree with cinammontoast re amount & frequency of feed. Puppies need little & often. By the age of about 4 months I dropped to 3 meals a day, 6 months 2 meals & will aim to take that to 1 meal at about 12 months, but it does depend on the dog. Use your eyes to judge their weight.
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Thank you this is super! When you say it's 10% of adult body weight, is that per day or per meal? I don't want to be feeding him 10% 4 times a day for him to go POP!

(btw, put down a deposit on our Border today :D)
 
Fab, thank you! I bought a few things for him in town today such as brushes and toys, I take it all the treats in the shop are out of the question, a few were called 'meaty' treats and what about raw hide chews?

For his first day or so would it be best to start with chicken breast then introduce bones on day two or three once he's used to proper meat? I just worry about tiny teeth and bones (obviously my brain is basing this on his two week old self I saw last night not his 8 week old self!)
 
I personally would not feed anything from the pet shops, rawhide etc, (it's usually bleached to within an inch of its life and can swell in the gut, I don't even feed pigs ears any more after getting a rollicking from a raw feeder :p) the 'bones' are often incinerated and splinter easily, the filled hooves are full of crap (read the label).

Treats for my lad would include hearts, chicken wings or a stuffed Kong, the Nylabone dental range is good too for a non-edible chew.
If you're getting a puppy a frozen carrot is also a great time-waster and will help with teething pain.
 
Rawhide makes my terrier very very sick. I second Nylabones, mine has had her puppy wishbone for just over a year and got a 'big' dog one for Christmas :) Kongs are great too but they get shredded very quickly here :(
 
That's weird, I have heard a lot of people say their dogs wreck Kongs, my fella is a chomper and a shredder, tennis balls are destroyed in seconds, he has to have towels and fleeces instead of a bed, he's wrecked pillows, rugs, cushions...but he has never tried to do a number on his Kongs!
I am using the XXL tough ones though.
 
'My terrier has been doing well on raw for 6/7 weeks but on Friday she sort of choked on a chicken wing bone (eating too fast) and had to go to the vet for xrays to make sure the bone wasn't stuck. She is ok, no stuck bones, but I'm now a bit apprehensive to give her chicken again. She has been having beef mince and oxtails since Saturday but yesterday she struggled to poo and was squealing Can someone hold my hand/kick my backside and tell me what to give her please? '
Why if your dog is struggling on this diet do you not say, well maybe its not for her? I'd ratehr feed dry than risk an obstruction :/
 
'I often use the small butcher at the village for meat for us and I ask for a bone from the slop bucket thrown in.

The butchers are sometimes nervous about what to give me - even when I reassure them that whatever they have is fine. (Then they see the size of the wolf and calm down)....

But today the girl behind the counter almost refused to give me pork bones "because they are not good for dogs and they can splinter and choke the dog."

Apparantly her own dog had a problem and so this makes her an expert on the subject

I was treated to a full lecture while she bagged them up and I was instructed to supervise my dogs closely .

Needless to say I left the dogs with them while I went to the stables

Patronising cow '

How ironic- RAW feeders are allowed to share their knowledge and advice but 'others' are not?
 
My butcher always questions chicken and turkey bones but I just agree to disagree with him :) it's my choice, my old girl nearly died swallowing a pair of tights :o

I personally do not think all dogs suit the raw diet/it suits them. B tore all his hair out, maybe I should have continued with the cold turkey but I wasn't prepared to subject him to any more pain/discomfort, and his sister puked everything back up. Covered in smelly green bile. Niiice.
 
SusieT said:
'My terrier has been doing well on raw for 6/7 weeks but on Friday she sort of choked on a chicken wing bone (eating too fast) and had to go to the vet for xrays to make sure the bone wasn't stuck. She is ok, no stuck bones, but I'm now a bit apprehensive to give her chicken again. She has been having beef mince and oxtails since Saturday but yesterday she struggled to poo and was squealing Can someone hold my hand/kick my backside and tell me what to give her please? '
Why if your dog is struggling on this diet do you not say, well maybe its not for her? I'd ratehr feed dry than risk an obstruction :/
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If i wanted to avoid an obstruction i sure wouldn't be feeding dry food. Dry food swells massively in the stomach and causes obstructions regularly.

You likely are feeding to much bone which is why she is struggling to go. If you are feeding just chicken wings for a meal they have around 30% bone so you need to add more muscle meat to even it out or you will get trouble with bowel movements.

I don't feed wings. To small and not enough meat on them. Thighs are much more balanced.

How long have you been feeding raw? what meat have you introduced so far?
 
Dizzle said:
Fab, thank you! I bought a few things for him in town today such as brushes and toys, I take it all the treats in the shop are out of the question, a few were called 'meaty' treats and what about raw hide chews?

For his first day or so would it be best to start with chicken breast then introduce bones on day two or three once he's used to proper meat? I just worry about tiny teeth and bones (obviously my brain is basing this on his two week old self I saw last night not his 8 week old self!)
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Sorry, I've been a bit busy & didn't have time to respond earlier.

A few training treats won't do any harm, but I'd steer clear of recreational treats like raw hide chews & roasted knuckle bones. There are plenty of alternatives, some suggested above.

I gave small chicken wings from day one (cut in half at the joint if too big), but you could do breasts for a couple of meals or even de-bone some thighs. Also minced chicken. If you go to a raw supplier rather than a supermarket you can get minced meat with bone added or chicken necks (our local farm shop sells these & you may get them from a butchers). You'd be surprised how well they cope even at that age.

I meant to say before, Morrisons sell packs of bones for pennies (for making stock I guess). They may be a bit big for food when you first start, but they could make great recreational bones as they still have some meat left on. Their packs of liver, kidney & heart are frequently reduced right down in price, as are packs of fresh sprats.

It will cost more to buy this way, but if you are limited for space it may help. Many raw suppliers have a minimum order of about £30, which would last a BT ages.

Also, I remember now that I had to cut his food back a bit as he was getting a bit porky, so keep an eye on the weight & shape.
 
SusieT: MY dog will not eat dry kibble food, this is why I am giving raw a try. She ate a chicken wing too quickly and was showing signs of having a bit stuck so I took her to the vet to be checked out. She has not been given chicken wings since for 2 reasons: she eats them too quickly and they are too boney so she struggles to poo. She has gone from a dog who refused to eat kibble (starving herself for more than a week) to one who squeaks for her dinner every night. I am doing what I believe to be the best thing for my dog = feeding her as nature intended dogs to eat.
 
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