[driller killer]

Hello,
I have a new pup and have been doing a bit of research in to raw meat and bone diets, have read a BARF book and a raw meaty bone book, the BARF diet consists of a certain % of raw blended veg but the raw meaty bone diet only really includes occasional table scraps.
Any opinions on feeding raw veg??? or not????
Also does any one have any negative stories/opinions on these diets, its easier to find positive feed back as aposed to negative and would like to hear both sides of the story.
Many thanks
Neil

[Kay]

Not sure what you would label my dogs diet now, i feed lambs hearts , cooked pasta , small amount of veg & some brown bread & a little plain mixer

They have chicken wings & lambs heart alternate nights , to start with the dogs didnt crap for a few days , they then had the runs a bit but after nearly 2 weeks there bellys seem to have settled

the biggest difference i have noticed is there breath dont stink now & they dont fart either , there no calmer or anything like that but the coats are improving slowly

Maybe after about 6 weeks or so i will see more differences

[Hannah4181]

There is so many for and against arguments on the subject of raw feeding. I feed completely raw and think my dogs thrive on it, they get a massive assortment of flesh, bones, offal, and raw fish. I don't feed vegetables, mainly because they hate them, i try to get 1 meal a week down them of blended veg with tripe and a couple of raw eggs. I don't use suppliments and they are all in my opinion in excellent condition.

My advice would be to try it and see how you get on, you will soon tell if the pup is lacking in something and will be able to rectify the situation. I think sometimes you can research it to the point that it puts you off doing it! I also feel a lot of people worry about vitamin intake etc too much. The proof is in the pudding so to speak, if my dogs were lacking in a certain food group their condition and performance would suffer. I know a lot of people feed a combination of raw and kibble meals maybe on alternate days with great success. IMO a good varied diet combined with exercise and mental stimulation, leads to a happy, healthy dog.

Have a try and see how the pups takes to it, try not to worry about it though. Good luck.

[skycat]

I find it amazing that people are writing books on BARF (biologically appropriate raw food) and Raw Meaty Bones: talk about wanting to confuse the readers!

To me BARF and RAw Meaty Bones are one and the same type of feeding: natural!

Mine get a mixture: they will get minced rabbit bones and all plus minced veg and fruit, on top of which I'll chuck a couple of pieces of chicken carcase or a piece of breast of lamb (ribs). Sometimes they'll get some chunks of fresh tripe or some minced beef, plus the chicken carcase, or breast of lamb or whatever. It all depends on what I have available. Sometimes I'll throw in a handful of Vitalin for carbs and roughage (fibre), once a week I cook up a giant dog omelette when I have too many eggs. A couple of times a week I'll add a slosh of Cod Liver Oil, and so on.

OK, I'm lucky that I get a lot of stuff free from the butcher BUT IMO THE SECRET IS to feed a balanced diet over a week: the dog doesn't have to get the same thing every day, no more than us humans do. So if they get more red meat one day they will probably get tripe the next. If they don't get veg one day , so what! If they don't get much fat one day, I'll make sure they get more the next, especially if the weather's cold and they're working hard.

Simples!

[Kay]

Thanks Skycat & Hannah thats given me some ideas of other things to feed as a raw meat newbie :yes:

[blackpack]

spot on skycat mixed and varied diet easy as that.

[Hannah4181]

Kay, on Oct 22 2009, 11:03 PM, said:

Thanks Skycat & Hannah thats given me some ideas of other things to feed as a raw meat newbie :yes:

Heres a list of the variety of stuff i feed mine, hope it helps.

Chicken carcasses/wings
Turkey necks
Beef Rib
Breast of lamb
Duck pieces, thigh/breast/wings
Turkey legs
Tripe
Whole rabbit
Horse mince
Venison bones
Lamb/beef/venison Offal
Pheasant . . . normally whole, feathers as well!
Lamb necks
Minced flesh . . lamb/beef/pork/chicken
Whole mackerel

And then normally once or twice a week . . .

Whole eggs, including shell.
Veggies, blended.
Fish oil.
Natural yogurt

And any table scrapes.


I try to feed 3 days bone then 1 day mince and veggies, so a wet meal . . . . to keep them loose.

They all thrive on this diet, and as has been stated above just try to keep it as varied as possible. :victory:

[sweeper1gg]

should never give a dog chicken wings or bones, Come on they splinter

[Kay]

Thanks Hannah

I will copy that list & try some of the other meats as well , i think they will enjoy the plain yoghurt as well :yes:

[riohog]

sweeper1gg, on Oct 23 2009, 10:32 AM, said:

should never give a dog chicken wings or bones, Come on they splinter

utter crap !! been feeding them for years as has many others

[Kay]

sweeper1gg, on Oct 23 2009, 10:32 AM, said:

should never give a dog chicken wings or bones, Come on they splinter

Raw chicken bones are fine , its cooked you shouldnt give them

[Hannah4181]

Kay, on Oct 23 2009, 10:32 AM, said:

Thanks Hannah

I will copy that list & try some of the other meats as well , i think they will enjoy the plain yoghurt as well :yes:

I have a supplier for most of that list Kay, his produce is excellent and his prices competetive, and he delivers. Depending where you are in the country you could get a lot worse. If you want his number then PM me and i will pass it on.

If i had time to trawl round all the local butchers to collect stuff i would, however quite simply i dont! For me its worth paying the extra to have a freezer full delivered 6 weekly . .. job done!

Just as a rough idea, i spend £120 every 6 weeks, that feeds 2 lurchers, 3 labs and a terrier with ease, most days breakfast and dinner. :notworthy:

[kiz]

Remember if you do order frozen food for delivery to make sure your freezer is big enough :thumbs:

[driller killer]

Thanks everyone for the replys, it was mostly about adding veg that i was not sure about, as the BARF diet includes (off the top of my head i think its 20%) raw minced veg, and the raw meaty bones diet includes no veg, apart from the occasional table scraps. I think thats pretty much the only differance skycat but apart from that pretty similiar, and i think ya right, you can easily get hung up on getting it too balanced, we survive quite well on what we eat.
Cheers everyone, will start my new pup on it soon, just gonna let her settle in a bit first.
Neil

[skycat]

I wouldn't say mine get 20% veg with their meat, but per dog it works out at about 1/2 a medium sized carrot, a couple of small cabbage leaves, or the outers of half a dozen brussel sprouts, 1/4 apple, half a stick of celery and all summer they've been getting french and runner beans, probably about one each per meal. Cauliflower, spinach beet, green and red peppers minus the seeds, a pear sometimes and so on. Only things I don't feed are raw parsnip etc, and NEVER potato or onion raw, and not if I can help it cooked either.

As I said before, I don't get all worried if they don't have veg at every meal, though they probably get it every other day: stops them getting constipated with bones and also I've noticed they don't eat cow shit etc when they're out if they're getting veg at home.