Bulldogs World

Here are some links

http://dogfoodchat.com/forum/raw-feeding/

http://preymodelraw.com/how-to-get-started/

"Do you think it is easier to feed your dog raw diet over regular dog food?" It is not as easy as scooping kibble and pouring it into a bowl but it is not overly complicated either. It is much easier to feed raw than it is to cook for your dog.

"I see that you just give a dog a whole raw chicken leg...aren't there concerns about getting sick from raw chicken or is it different for dogs?" It is not as easy as just giving the dog a whole raw chicken leg. That chicken leg is only one part of the total diet. Chicken alone does not provide all the nutrients a dog needs. You must feed a variety of meat. Beef, pork, lamb, eggs, fish, chicken, turkey, game hens, deer, rabbit -there are so many possibilites! You do not need to find every single protein source there is, but should aim at making sure you have a few, and red meat must be included.  Secreting organs like liver, kidneys or pancreas. Raw bones.  There are not concerns about the dogs getting sick from raw chicken.Their digestive systems are designed to handle raw meat.  Their teeth are designed to chomp, rip, tear only, not pulverize. They have no digestive enzymes in their mouths. They have a very low acidic pH and food moves through them very fast. It is a good idea to start probiotics when you start raw because it will help their digestive tract achieve a healthy bacterial balance. You should not have to feed the probiotics indefinitely.

"What about the bones...don't you have to be careful with them too? "  Yes you do need to be careful with bones. Raw bones only, never cooked. No weight bearing bones (legs) from larger animals as part of their diet. These are considered recreational only and not intended to be fully eaten. You need to watch your dog eat bones, then you can decide how you want to handle it. My husband chops Audrey's chicken bones with a meat cleaver, because she has a very difficult time with them. I have been relying on chicken only for bones and really need to find another source. It is not a good idea to only feed the same thing exclusively.

"I haven't been able to read into the raw diet too much but I am considering switching my dogs over to is"  Dogs can really thrive on a raw diet, I highly recommend it! Read as much as possible. There is no one correct way to do it, but there are some guidelines that need to be followed to make sure you are feeding a balanced, nutritionally complete diet. It is really not very complicated, but you should be familiar with the basics and have an idea of what you need to feed before you get started.

"Can you still feed them dog treats if they are on the raw diet?"  Yes, as long as you don't feed them something processed and something raw at the same time.

 "Also, I have two yorkies....would they be able to eat a raw diet too?"  Yes, Yorkies can eat raw too. The same basic principals and requirements will apply to all dogs, only the size of the cuts of meat will be different and the amounts fed. It will be GREAT for their teeth! And their coat.

that it's easier, but it's alot more fun.

Kofi got bored with her Kibble, although I was feeding her a very good one.

My recommendation is that you read all that you can and then develop a system that works for you. It's really not that complicated.

I started by reading Raw Dog Food Make it Easy For You and Your Dog by Carina Beth MacDonald. That gave me the confidence to begin.

I have since developed my own system which continues to evolve. At present, I grind the chicken bones that I give to Kofi, except chicken backs (which I chop).

I give her lamb chops whole and pork ribs (the bones of pork are softer than the beef ribs, but she also gets beef ribs occasionally). She get's soup bones to chomp on once or twice a week.

I rotate between her ground chicken mixture which contains pureed veggies, apple cider vinegar, garlic and whatever I feel she may need in that mixture, and the ground beef mixture which I add raw eggs to with the things mentioned above.

Also chicken or beef liver a couple of meals a week or so.

In between days sometimes lamb chops, canned sardines, and she loves mackerel and canned salmon.

I really have no set routine. I watch her poop, and vary her diet according to what I feel she needs.

I probably have left something out, but you get the idea.

At first it seemed a bit awkward, and I proceeded cautiously. Now it's second nature, and quite natural to throw her a chickens foot for a treat.

I still give her Wellness treats, and she shares a few kernels of pop corn with me in the evening.

She's doing well on raw, and it seems to be the thing to do for us. There are many ways to feed raw, and I just chose to proceed according to what works for us.

I hope this helps some, and that if you decide to go raw that you relax and enjoy!