Deanna ~ The bulk may be the fibers and the absorbency of the veggies. Thanks for all the info - I think this raw or organic dry raw diet is the way to go. I vowed I'd offer a good dog diet when I got another dog. Everything you've said so far has been confirming what I've read and seems the way to go.
Have you tried pumpkin? Jacqueline ________________________________ From: Deanna Corey <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, November 10, 2010 12:00:14 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Who Has To Feed Their Chi By Hand? Hi Jacqueline, REAL raw meat feeders are VIOLENTLY opposed to feeding anything but the 80%/10%/10% formula...meat/bone/organ...thats why I was scared to post anything about adding in the veggies at all LOL!!! I would NEVER mention I was doing that on my raw feeding lists as I would be blasted big time LOL!!! They are PURISTS and anything short of that and you are not part of "the club" LOL!!! and my formula was 80% raw meat/bone/organ...10% veggies...10% quinoa...so just tiny additions in comaprison. But...my dogs do seem to like it!! One drawback though is the poops...just adding the veggies for the past 2 days...and these are veggies that I have basically pulverized in my food processor...I have gotton double or maybe even TRIPLE the amount of stools... as well as the size of them is HUGE in comparison...more poop to pick up!!! YUCK!!! But...I guess it isn't that big of an issue if they are happy getting their "candy" lol!! I does show how much extra waste comes from it though! 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: Jacqueline Crawley-Ewing <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, November 9, 2010 3:50:01 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Who Has To Feed Their Chi By Hand? I've read that Raw Meat diets include Veggies - they suggest ground or diced, as veggies have a cell wall that makes getting the goodness through digestion almost impossible if you don't help out. I have a friend who has switched to dry organic - dogs love them. I've been reading that pumpkin is an excellent veggie for dogs - offered often instead of for emergencies. It add bulk if you want to get them on a diet and keeps the intestine cleaned, along with helping with constipation and diarrhea. ________________________________ From: mj turner <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, November 9, 2010 1:24:43 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Who Has To Feed Their Chi By Hand? aww, I love the way you feed them. It certainly works for you and your pack and it does sound like a delightful way to start the day for everyone. I'd sure love a video <G> ________________________________ From: Deanna Corey <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, November 9, 2010 11:11:36 AM 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
