Deanna, Since we are on the subject of RAW feeding, what do you think of FreshPet Vital as an alternative to me fixing up the raw food myself. Here is a little about Freshpet Vital:
<Inspired by ancestral dog diets, Freshpet Vital recipes were created to mimic carnivorous diets found in the wild.> <Dogs are descendants of the wolf family – carnivores who hunted or foraged for their food. Their diets consisted mainly of fresh meats, poultry or fish, and varied considerably depending on what was available to them. This fresh meat diet was naturally low in carbohydrates, free of grains and high in protein and fat. Although wild dogs have evolved into domestic pets, their nutritional needs have remained the same, best evidenced by their physical characteristics which have changed very little over time. Domestic dogs are equipped with sharp, pointed teeth similar to what their ancestors used for hunting. Their digestive tracts are short and simple, requiring nutrient dense and easily digestible foods. A higher concentration of stomach acid allows dogs to break down protein and fat efficiently. Dogs lack certain enzymes in their saliva which creates added stress to the pancreas when digesting an inappropriate source of protein such as grain. Understanding the similarities that exist between domestic dogs and their wild ancestors, Freshpet created Vital - a line of fresh, meat based and grain-free recipes. All recipes contain 80% or more animal protein, providing an easily digestible and 100% complete and balanced meal. Vital’s assortment of recipes offers a wide variety of meat, poultry or fish, ensuring a meal that better matches a diet naturally found in the wild.> You can go to their site and read more http://www.vitaldogfood.com/ Shanna --- On Tue, 11/9/10, Deanna Corey <[email protected]> wrote: From: Deanna Corey <[email protected]> Subject: [Chihuahuas] Peggy...my take on raw diet. To: [email protected] Date: Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 1:40 PM Hi Peggy, Dogs don't have issues with the same bacteria we do because they are designed/created way differently than we are...it is kind of like comparing apples to oranges. Their stomach acids are WAY different as well as their intestinal tract is VERY short...stuff doesn't fester in there long. The more I read about dog nutrition...the more I learned what they don't need...what we as humans "think" they need is just not acurate! It makes us feel better to give dogs food that we know is healthy for us! Dogs were designed/created as carnivores...meat eaters. They are not herbavoires or omnivores that eat both. For me giving them the added things makes "ME" feel better and I am thinking it won't be harmful. Plus...my little Chis get so excited over veggies that it is like allowing my children to have candy. Our children do not NEED candy...but they love it! It makes us feel better to give it to them...unless we are strong LOL! And...I can rationalize adding in those grains/veggies in my head with the knowledge that they eat the stomach contents of their kill in the wild...of herbivores...and really??? It just makes me happy to give them the candy! LOL! For anyone to buy in and understand raw feeding you have to believe the info that our dogs are so very close to the wolf...their genes are only 1/3 of 1% different than those of wild wolves. That is a very small difference! When you study a pack of healthy wolves you can really learn what is best for our own dogs...even behavioral training can come from studying wolves...we can see it in how our own dogs play, nurture, protect etc. We have attempted to change the make-up of our dogs..we can change looks and to some extent temprament...but mostly change is environmental. Think about it...it takes only one generation for a dog to revert to a ferral state...remove our influence environmentally and back they go! We have not been able to genetically alter away it's original design...all dog...from Chihuahua to Great Dane still are only 1/3 of 1% difference in the genes from wolves. So to me at least...it makes sense to know what Wolves need to eat! Hence the species specific/raw/prey model/regional diet. It isn't that feeding raw is the only way to feed!!! But I will tell you that so much of the issues our dogs have at present stem from our human influence on their diets. Cancer...skin issues...allergies....seizures...etc. are all results of feeding a "man-concocted" diet. Dogs only need the supplementation because the companies creating dog food have taken away or destroyed the actual nutrients from the food dogs actually need! Raw diet...80/10/10 ratio has EVERYTHING they need...it is all there...no supplemenation needed! 80% raw fresh muscle meat/10% edible bone/10% organs. Another point to mention...I feed only a quality of meat that I myself would eat! Fresh, best quality and as much organic/free range/grass fed as possible when I can. Same with anything I feed anyone! With dog food companies their "protein" is rendering plant junk, which can be dead and deseased animals, road kill etc. Very few companies use human grade meats! There are also the toxic additives and fillers that companies use...plastics from China...rotted and fermented grains etc. You have no control over what is in that bag...pets die...food is recalled...and the cycle continues. I'll take my chances with my own purchases...my own knowledge...my own ingredients. Now Peggy...I am gonna tell you that these are just my opinions...based from many years of learning...I am old!!! I am not a militant advocate on raw-feeding! Everyone needs to come up with exactly what they think...what I am militant about however is that EVERY pet owner has the obligation to do the research and come up with their own conclusions...don't take someones word for it...do your own leg-work...see what changes you yourself can create based on your own dog's needs!!! I believe what I believe because of how it changed MY house...MY dogs!! It may not be the same for you!...or anyone for that matter! I sing it's praises because I have experienced first hand what it has done for me...period! I am adding in an email I just wrote a few days back helping someone who has decided to try raw with their dogs. I add it only in case you or anyone has questions...not to persuade anyone to switch to raw...just stuff I have learned...all here in one place LOL Here it is: Raw can be such an amazing way to go...and it is so much easier than most people think! It can benefit so many things...coat, teeth, breath, skin, ears, yeast infections, UTI infections etc. It also is just about as cheap as a good dog food...or can be if you shop well. First thing you need to know is ratios and what they mean. When feeding a raw diet the ratio is 80% raw fresh muscle meat...a variety like lamb, beef, chicken, turkey, pork etc. 10% bone...edible bone from parts of the animals that are not weigh bearing...such as chicken wings, necks, oxtails, pork ribs etc. 10% organs...which are liver and kidney. Both hearts and Gizzards are considered muscle meat. That totals 100%...that is all you feed them on a raw diet...no grains...no fruits or veggies...when you have food allergies or skin issues most of the culprits are found in these last items...grains, fruits and veggies! Now...how much to feed is you next decision. The rule of thumb is to feed 2-3% of your dog's ADULT body weight. I feed 3.5% because I have active dogs. This is not a fast and hard rule... it is a guidline...but a great place to start. Once you get underway you can adjust depending on whether your dog is getting too fat or too thin. So...lets say you have a 10lb dog. 3% of 10 lbs is 4.8oz...here is how I arrived there: I took the weight of dog and multiply by 16 (the # of oz in a lb)...so a 10 lb dog would weigh 160 oz. Then multiply 160 by 3% on a calculator...the answer is 4.8...which in now your magic number...the amount of OUNCES to feed your dog....roughly 1/4 of a lb of meat/organ/bone. I would break this up into 2-3 feedings for little ones. Now...your next decision is what meat to start with. I started with chicken...chicken breasts actually because I read that chicken breast meat was the easiet to digest for a dog. and...the bones are very crunchable and safe...no splintering. Once I knew my dogs could and would thouroughly CRUNCH through bones, I started adding in many other things. Now..I have some very small dogs...2 tiny Chihuahuas in my pack. I bought a grinder that would handle chicken bones like butter...it is called the Maverick and I paid $99 and bought it from www.pierceequipment.com ...awesome little workhourse. I don't worry about bone splinters now! If you think about general cost...I can buy good chicken like Foster Farms ...not enhanced...you want to stay away from "PLUMPED or enhanced"...for $.99 a lb...if you buy a whole chicken you get the necks, the organs the whole enchilada...balance right there! I take off a lot or most of the skin...but in reality their food is .99 a lb. I was buying quality dog food...for $53.00 for a 40lb bag...thats $1.32 a lb...so chicken is cheaper. I can usually get beef for under $2.00 a lb...so it really does balance out. Shopping sales...going to ethnic markets...etc all help with variety and cost. I have discoverd so many off the wall items that my dogs just LOVE!!! Heart...oxtails, green tripe, chicken feet, necks, hooves, etc...and they are so happy!!! Benefits: Here is what I can tell you that changed for my pack! 1. First of all I have a poodle with seizures...they went from one or more a week to one every 38 days...just from going raw. We are entering a phase of more right now but the raw diet changed things IMMEDIATLY in that area. 2. The yeast infections that plagued my Shih Tzu have completely gone away...only course of action was changing diet to raw. 3. Coats on ALL my dogs got thicker, shinier, softer and filled in...on everyone! 4. Teeth got MUCH cleaner and whiter...tarter and plaque no longer exsist in my pack. Our dental check up last month for everyone astounded my vet!! 5. Fresh breath!!! YEAH!!!! 6. Stools became firm...way less than before...and basically turn to ash if left a day!...white powder...my vet says that means WAY less waste and more nutrients for my dogs!!! 7. More balanced energy in everyone. My poodle has "anxious" issues and having this diet has balanced out his head!!! LOVE that!!!! 8. Everyone's weights balanced out...none too fat...none too thin...just right!!! 9. I know EXACTLY what is in their food! I have no fears of recalls, rendering plants, rancid food, poor quailty. There are lots of groups and websites to join or visit...just do a search and start reading. I belong to a few...some of them are almost militant...so just use common sense...read and think!!! Leave what sounds nuts to you and go with your own gut and you will be fine!!! They are a great resource though for information...so use them! I hope this helps you and if you have any other questions...just ask...I would be happy to help if I can! Waggin' Tails in The Dog Park, Deanna and The Dog Park Pack: Nugget, Shuai-Li, Mouse, Myrtle, Mable, and Caleb and honorary non-dog members of The Dog Park: Stella-Macaw, Stanley-Amazon, Miles the cat www.joys4toys.com Waggin' Tails in The Dog Park, Deanna and The Dog Park Pack: Nugget, Shuai-Li, Mouse, Myrtle, Mable, and Caleb and honorary non-dog members of The Dog Park: Stella-Macaw, Stanley-Amazon, Miles the cat www.joys4toys.com From: Peggy & The Girls <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, November 9, 2010 12:46:14 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Who Has To Feed Their Chi By Hand? What I don't understand about feeding raw is how come the dogs don't get E-coli and the such? They say that beef and chicken is loaded with E-coli and that's why it should be thoroughly cooked. Uncooked pork can give you worms. So how come the dogs don't get any bacterias from uncooked meats? Also, dogs do need other nutrients to give them all the essential vitamins and minerals, so what do raw feeders supplement their diet with? ♥ Peggy & The Girls ♥ -----Original Message----- From: Deanna Corey <[email protected]> To: Chihuahuas <[email protected]> Sent: Tue, Nov 9, 2010 2:54 pm Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Who Has To Feed Their Chi By Hand? I do feed Miss Myrtle by hand...she just eats more that way and I know exactly what she is eating...she is so small compared to the other dog park constituents LOL! Ok...I do have a confession...and I am sure this would give any real "dog trainer" fits...but i LOVE to feed them all by hand...especially breakfast! It is our time to bond together all as a group...a pack!! I measure/weigh out the amounts for each one and put that amount in their bowls and then line up the 5 bowls on my coffee table. They line up at my feet and sit and wait their turn as I give each one their bite from my fingers until all bowls are empty...we work on "sit", lay, beg, shake, roll over etc during this time each morning. It does take awhile to feed everyone but I just love his time with them! I painted each bowl with their names so it really helps me keep track of who is getting what. Please guys...don't bash me for this...I really enjoy this time with them and I see many positives...I know it isn't the "correct" thing to do but I bet the "trainers" wouldn't like me dressing them up either LOL!!! The "littles" get three meals a day and the others get two and usually dinner everyone just eats from their own bowl in a line on the kitchen floor. Everyone stays with their own bowl except for Mable the Boston...she doesn't quite have the idea yet but she is getting better everyday. She is my little piggy and would visit everyone's portions if I would let her LOL! I use to have a POt Belly pig years ago...and I miss Pignellope like crazy...I always talk about getting another someday! I have to say though with the addition of this little snorting, snoring, wiggly piggy Mable...she kind of fits that bill! LOL I need to clarify that this is the feeding routine when I grind their raw. If I am feeding whole pieces then we do the line on the deck outside as they need to use the floor to help them chew things up...I am not a fan of raw pieces being wiped ccross my kitchen floor---yuck!!! I do grind chicken and deer and rabbit so the time they get "pieces" is ribs, oxtail, lamb shoulder or necks which is just once or twice a week. That way they can keep the bones outside to play with on the deck for a few days. Another confession...I just started adding quinoa, a little brown rice or organic oats with some chopped organic veggies to their ground raw meat w/bone. I want to put on a bit of weight for winter...not me...them LOL...so hence the small amounts of grain. For some reason once I tried that Honest Kitchen and saw how wild they went for the veggies I just decided to add them in as well!!! I don't think it will hurt them and I know raw feeders are 100% against grains of any kind or veggies but when ya think about it...in the wild..the first thing to be eaten from the pray is the stomach contents of an herbivore...guess whats in there?? Seeds, grains, grasses, fruits and veggies...so a tad shouldn't be horrible!!! Waggin' Tails in The Dog Park, Deanna and The Dog Park Pack: Nugget, Shuai-Li, Mouse, Myrtle, Mable, and Caleb and honorary non-dog members of The Dog Park: Stella-Macaw, Stanley-Amazon, Miles the cat www.joys4toys.com From: Kavi <[email protected]> To: Chihuahuas <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, November 8, 2010 10:02:31 PM Subject: [Chihuahuas] Who Has To Feed Their Chi By Hand? Hi everyone I know, I know what some will say. If you leave the food long enough they will eat on their own. Yes, that can be true. Ricky has been eating pretty good. He is now spoiled with my hubby feeding him our food! Now he is trying to hold out. He will eat his dog food (wellness canned) IF I NOW HAND FEED IT TO HIM. He did not eat his dog food all day. I had to dump a couple servings coz it got old. so for my dinner tonight I decided to have tomato soup. and guess what Ricky had to have?? yup... Tomato soup! with bread in it. that he ate on his own. LOL any one else have to do this handfeeding or just do it because? Shanna
